Danube-Networkers

Interview with Wolfgang S. (Aubesetzung Hainburg part 2)

Interviews: Veronika Schnablegger, Gerti Zupanich

Videos: Christoph Pöltl

Since 25 years the name "Aubesetzung Hainburg" has been a synonym for protecting the nature and against destroying the wetlands in Austria. 25 years ago protecting the environment and waste prevention were not general public themes. General resources seemed to be unlimited and what we get from the nature was returned as trash. Barrages and riverbank fastening along the Danube devastated most of the wetlands. Since 1952 has existed a plan - nearly forgotten by the public:

 

On the last wetland-section from Vienna to Hainburg (near Slovakia) it was planned to build a new hydro-power station. Many machines to cut down trees were ready to start in the last days of the autumn of 1984. But groups of environment activists, students and other citizens opposed the beginning of cutting down the forest. Artists and other well known persons started a campaign "Press conference of Animals" (Some of them were dressed like a deer or a redbreast bird ...). These are things which are noticed from the media and the public.

 

But the government of Lower Austria gave the authorisation to start clearing the wetlands and furtheron to build the hydro-power station.

 

At first there were only hundreds of environment activists. But the activities extended more and more. Many civil people supported the "Hainburger Au activists". They collected warm clothes - it was very cold on these days of December - and vitamins from a hospital and brought them to the people in the wetland.

 

The first success was the proclamation of "Christmas-Freedom" and a "Christmas-matins" in the fields of the Danube  wetland. The greatest success and a result of the initiative of thousands of civil people and activists was that the plan to build a hydro-power-station was given up.

 

Two years later a nature-protect-committee started the project "Naturpark Donauen".

 

Veronika and Gerti decided that this engagement from civil people, protecting the wetlands of the last unchanged section of the Danube in Austria, is important enough to have a place in our Danube-Networkers-Project.

We started to talk with two time- witnesses and activists, Elisabeth and Wolfgang.

 

 

Wolfgang:

... „I was excited about the great feeling of freedom that overwhelmed me. Not only the government, political parties  and organisations like trade unions are the owner of power in this land..."

... " It was my personal decision to cycle every cold day with my backpack, full of food..."

"Meanwhile both - activists and policemen - occupied the "Hainburger AU". It became a little bit dangerous. But he policemen avoided to look at me when I was cycling by with my backpack..."

„There were thousands of citizens and organisations who were against the plan to destroy the nature."

"The feeling of a great freedom is my remembrance of this event 'Hainburg 1984'."