MOTHER NATURE MOTHER NATURE vs. vs.

THE STATETHE STATEProtecting the Protecting the

Environment Against State Environment Against State Policy in Austria and the Policy in Austria and the

Women Behind the ProtestWomen Behind the Protest

Austria’s National ParksAustria’s National Parks

is a green ribbon between the is a green ribbon between the conurbations of Vienna and conurbations of Vienna and BratislavaBratislava

protects the largest natural protects the largest natural riparian wetlands in Central riparian wetlands in Central Europe, which are still to a high Europe, which are still to a high degree ecologically intact degree ecologically intact

is vitally influenced by the is vitally influenced by the practically free-flowing stretch of practically free-flowing stretch of the River Danube, which in this the River Danube, which in this area still has the characteristic area still has the characteristic phenomena of an alpine streamphenomena of an alpine stream

represents a complexity of represents a complexity of ecosystems with an enormous ecosystems with an enormous diversity of habitats, plant and diversity of habitats, plant and animal speciesanimal species

offers home and refuge to many offers home and refuge to many endangered plants and animals endangered plants and animals

deeply impresses visitors with the deeply impresses visitors with the particular beauty of its landscape particular beauty of its landscape

provides a natural overflow for provides a natural overflow for floodsfloods

guarantees high-quality drinking-guarantees high-quality drinking-water water

acts as filter and climate regulator acts as filter and climate regulator for the whole region for the whole region

serves as a recreation area for serves as a recreation area for people living in the surrounding people living in the surrounding region.region.

Donau-Auen National Park contains:Donau-Auen National Park contains:

* more than 700 species of vascular plants* more than 700 species of vascular plants* more than 30 mammal and 100 breeding bird * more than 30 mammal and 100 breeding bird

species, 8 reptile and 13 amphibian species and species, 8 reptile and 13 amphibian species and more than 50 different species of fish more than 50 different species of fish

* an abundance of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates * an abundance of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates

Previous Environmental Previous Environmental Conservancy ActionConservancy Action

1973: first plans regarding the establishment of a National Park Danube-1973: first plans regarding the establishment of a National Park Danube-March-Thaya-Auen March-Thaya-Auen

1978: the Lobau area is declared a nature preserve (since 1977, the Lower 1978: the Lobau area is declared a nature preserve (since 1977, the Lower Lobau has also been an UNESCO biosphere reserve) Lobau has also been an UNESCO biosphere reserve)

1979: the riparian wetlands of the rivers Danube, Morava and Dyje in Lower 1979: the riparian wetlands of the rivers Danube, Morava and Dyje in Lower Austria are declared a nature reserveAustria are declared a nature reserve

1983: the riparian wetlands of the rivers Danube, Morava and Dyje and the 1983: the riparian wetlands of the rivers Danube, Morava and Dyje and the area of the Lower Lobau are classified as wetlands of international area of the Lower Lobau are classified as wetlands of international importance (according to the Ramsar Convention) importance (according to the Ramsar Convention)

1984: the most significant incident which led to the creation of the National 1984: the most significant incident which led to the creation of the National Park was the prevention - by public protest - of the construction of a hydro-Park was the prevention - by public protest - of the construction of a hydro-electric power station near Hainburgelectric power station near Hainburg

Groups Involved in the ConflictGroups Involved in the Conflict

Supporters of the DamSupporters of the Dam- The federal governmentThe federal government- The officials and speakers of the The officials and speakers of the

three political parties as three political parties as represented in parliamentrepresented in parliament

- Austria Social DemocratsAustria Social Democrats- Austrian Liberal PartyAustrian Liberal Party- Austrian People’s PartyAustrian People’s Party- Danube Power CompanyDanube Power Company- Austrian Labor Union FederationAustrian Labor Union Federation

DefendersDefenders of the of the ForestForest

- Women and youth of the Women and youth of the political partiespolitical parties

- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)World Wildlife Fund (WWF)- Austrian Student AssociationAustrian Student Association- Spontaneous groups, artists, Spontaneous groups, artists,

intellectuals, scholarsintellectuals, scholars

Transcription of EventsTranscription of Events- 19451945:: Austria begins economic recovery WWII:Austria begins economic recovery WWII:

- companies established to build and maintain hydroelectric power plants companies established to build and maintain hydroelectric power plants - 1980:1980: Austrian Federal Government is formed Austrian Federal Government is formed

- coalition between the largest (Social Democrat) and smallest (Liberal) partiescoalition between the largest (Social Democrat) and smallest (Liberal) parties

- November 1984November 1984:: Permit is granted to begin construction Permit is granted to begin construction - November 29, 1984:November 29, 1984: Women call a press conference Women call a press conference- December 8, 1984:December 8, 1984: Protest march to the forest gathers 8,000-10,000 Protest march to the forest gathers 8,000-10,000

- thousands camp out for the next few days in non-violent protestthousands camp out for the next few days in non-violent protest- police forces called in and attempted to “clear” the unarmed protestorspolice forces called in and attempted to “clear” the unarmed protestors

- December 21, 1984:December 21, 1984: A “peace” is called to allow reflection on the issues A “peace” is called to allow reflection on the issues- December 25, 1984:December 25, 1984: 10,000 people gather in the forest to celebrate mass 10,000 people gather in the forest to celebrate mass- January 1985:January 1985: Ecology Commission submits its report; Hainburg site is Ecology Commission submits its report; Hainburg site is

rejected for ecological reasons rejected for ecological reasons

If the plant had been If the plant had been built…built…

hundreds of hectares of riverine hundreds of hectares of riverine forest would have been irretrievably forest would have been irretrievably lostlost

the Danube would have been the Danube would have been

dammed up. This means that the dammed up. This means that the last free flowing stretch of river in a last free flowing stretch of river in a basin, in the alpine-like stretch of basin, in the alpine-like stretch of the Danube, would have been the Danube, would have been destroyeddestroyed

the river banks would have been the river banks would have been replaced by dikes; islands and replaced by dikes; islands and gravel banks would have been gravel banks would have been destroyeddestroyed

the wetlands would have been cut the wetlands would have been cut off from flooding, which would have off from flooding, which would have stopped the characteristic dynamics stopped the characteristic dynamics of a flowing river of a flowing river

the natural dynamics of the ground the natural dynamics of the ground water would have been altered, water would have been altered, which would have affected the which would have affected the quality of the ground waterquality of the ground water

Live via telephone:Live via telephone:Freda Meissner-BlauFreda Meissner-Blau

Born: March 11, 1927Born: March 11, 1927

Journalist and Green Party Journalist and Green Party ChairwomanChairwoman

Prominent environmentalistProminent environmentalist

Ran for President of Austria in Ran for President of Austria in 1985; received 5.5% of votes1985; received 5.5% of votes

Women in the Austrian Federal GovernmentWomen in the Austrian Federal Government20032003

ELISABETH GEHRER Federal Minister for Education,

Science and Culture

BENITA FERRERO-WALDNERFederal Minister for Foreign Affairs

URSULA HAUBNERState Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Social Security, Generations and

Consumer Protection

MARIA RAUCH-KALLAT Federal Minister for Health and

Women’s Issues

Results of the Hainburg ConflictResults of the Hainburg Conflict From 1985:From 1985: development of alternatives for the hydro-electric power station at development of alternatives for the hydro-electric power station at

Hainburg by the Ecology Commission (maintaining the free-flowing stretch of the Hainburg by the Ecology Commission (maintaining the free-flowing stretch of the Danube and National Park or new options for a power station). Danube and National Park or new options for a power station).

1986-1989:1986-1989: scientific research for a future National Park by the scientific research for a future National Park by the Nationalparkplanung Donau-Auen; at the same time, discussion of new possibilities Nationalparkplanung Donau-Auen; at the same time, discussion of new possibilities regarding a power station at the highest political level. regarding a power station at the highest political level.

1989:1989: 411 hectares of the riparian wetlands near Regelsbrunn were purchased as a 411 hectares of the riparian wetlands near Regelsbrunn were purchased as a result of the WWF initiative “Ransom of Nature”. result of the WWF initiative “Ransom of Nature”.

1990:1990: agreement regarding the establishment of a National Park signed by the agreement regarding the establishment of a National Park signed by the Republic of Austria and the Provinces of Lower Austria and Vienna. Republic of Austria and the Provinces of Lower Austria and Vienna.

1991-1995:1991-1995: planning phase of the National Park by the “Betriebsgesellschaft planning phase of the National Park by the “Betriebsgesellschaft Marchfeldkanal”. Marchfeldkanal”.

1996:1996: Donau-auen National Park is officially opened. Donau-auen National Park is officially opened.

* Information provided by http://www.donauauen.at

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