As of: February 27, 2024, 8:53 a.m
By: Moritz Bletzinger
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Are worlds really colliding here?
Reinhold Messner and climate activist Anja Windl at “Hard but Fair”.
© Screenshot/ARD
In “Hard but Fair” Reinhold Messner taunts against climate stickers - and makes a plea against devastating Alpine tourism, which activists are likely to agree with.
Munich – “Mountains without snow: Is Alpine tourism still okay?” Behind this rhyme lies a serious question in “Hard but fair”.
There is a threat of landslides, there is no snow, and climate change is eating away at the mountains.
Nevertheless, the avalanches of metal are rolling into the Alps, and holiday planes are packed.
In the ARD talk the question: “Can things continue like this?”
Alpine discussion on “Hard but fair”: Messner takes issue with mass tourism on ARD
And moderator Louis Klammroth had a guest who knows the mountains very well: mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner.
The South Tyrolean has been acting as a warning voice for years, complaining about modern alpine tourism and warning about the disappearance of glaciers.
His “hard but fair” settlement with the Alpine vacation was still not uncompromising.
Yes, the Alps must be protected, explains Messner.
The permafrost, which holds the mountains together like a frozen mantle, is gradually disappearing.
The ground starts to slip and chunks as big as houses can come loose.
“Global warming is responsible for this,” states the South Tyrolean.
And there are enough examples: rock falls in the Alps are increasing dramatically.
Messner calls the problem by its name: man-made climate change.
Climate change will not end tourism: Alpine residents rely on holidaymakers
But, he objects: “Climate is change and change, that needs to be made clear.” Tourism will not disappear from the Alps.
After all, around 16 million residents depend on the holiday industry.
What to do?
The keyword for the solution could be “soft tourism”.
Messner demands an end to crowds of visitors and hordes of skiers, also for the benefit of holidaymakers: “We finally have to understand what people are looking for when they come to the mountains: the silence, the majesty, the peace.
And they can’t find that anymore.”
“Climate Shakira” is a guest on “Hard but Fair”: “Last Generation” is wary of calls for a ban
Anja Windl must have pricked up her ears.
The activist of the “Last Generation Austria”, also known as “Climate Shakira”, was also a guest on the ARD talk.
And surprisingly close to Messner's opinion.
Snow cannons are used to create the illusion of an “ideal world” in the Alps, which distracts from the real problem: the climate crisis.
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She describes herself as torn, sad that ski tourism is no longer possible without technical assistance.
And “insanely grumpy” at those who are responsible for it.
The climate activist is nevertheless wary of calls for a ban.
Citizens – or politicians – would have to decide whether snow cannons are still justifiable.
Messner tackles climate adhesive – and agrees with the great wish of the “last generation”.
And then Messner steps in, apparently wanting to contradict, but essentially agreeing with the activist.
“Of course we can lead by example.
We can learn to do without.
If we all give up what we don't need, we won't have to stick ourselves to the streets," he rumbles.
And gets applause.
The “Last Generation” no longer does gluing anyway, Klammroth objects – but the group is still doing it in Austria.
It makes sense to stop, Messner teases: “You have turned people against you.
That was absolutely counterproductive.”
Dispute over protest methods or not: Messner and Windl actually want the same thing.
Healthy Alps for everyone.
Tourism that will preserve the mountain world for a long time.
The mountain sports icon on TV and the “Last Generation” on the street warn about this.
Activists emphasize enough that they would prefer if the protest were not necessary.
(moe)