“The borders of Europe, human rights and the impact of climate change” are the focus of the European tolerance talks in 2016, which take place before Pentecost in the Carinthian mountain village Fresach. The opening ceremony will start on Wednesday evening (5/11) with Governor Peter Kaiser and Mayor Günther Albel in Villach. Nearly 50 top authors, environmental scientists and migration experts are expected to come, including UNDP Executive Director i.R. Klaus Töpfer and the Civil rights activist Stephen Bradberry from New Orleans. Tickets are still available: http: //www.fresach.org or phone 0699-11063656. The Dialogue Forum is aimed primarily to municipalities, politicians and public responsibles in charge for education and integration, who have to deal with the consequences of global environmental changes at a local level. “Flight, migration and climate change are not new phenomena, they are rather in a direct relationship with the progressive industrial exploitation of nature”, the president of the Council of the European tolerance conversations, Hannes Swoboda says. “If we want to change something, we need to make the causes aware.” Opening with Prof. Klaus Töpfer The opening speech of 2016 will come from the former German Environment Minister and Chief of the United Nations Environment Programme, Prof. Klaus Töpfer (5/12). He is a sharp critic of careless handling of the natural resources and points out that climate protection is also active peace policy. http://www.pressetext.com/news/20160316003 The American civil rights activist and Robert F. Kennedy Award winner Stephen Bradberry will speak on Friday (5/13). He sees the western turbocapitalism as a major cause of the more stringent climate change. Disasters like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or the hurricane Kathrina were caused by wrong policies. http://www.pressetext.com/news/20160420002 Solutions for the future Not only weak points in the global economy development are pointed out in Fresach, also solutions will be discussed. For example, the physicist Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci will show boundaries of the University of Linz scenarios for a better world without (new) borders. Thursday afternoon the costs of climate change will be set on the agenda, with environmental historian Verena Winiwarter, climate researcher Helga Kromp-Kolb, economist Karl Steininger and Environmental risk economist Franz Prettenthaler. This is followed by a discussion of possible strategies against the migration of peoples, the legal philosopher Reinhard Merkel, the Africa expert Harald Stoisser and philosopher Pravo Mazumdar. Other highlights include a Climate Reality Speech by US-Senator Marc R. Pacheco and a “Pain-workshop” with well-known Viennese neurologist Harald Kollegger. Friday (5/13) brings a strategy session on “Europe in the dilemma of climate refugees and the limits of what is reasonable”, including the economist Henning Vöpel from the Hamburg Institute of International Economics, and a workshop on the basics of “Successful Meetings”. In the afternoon “Practical tips for a better society” will be discussed with integration expert Bernhard Perchinig. The migration expert Peter Huber talks about the opportunities and risks of integration in the labor market. Finally there is a discussion on the conditions for integration, inter alia, with Hubert Stotter of the evang. Diakonie Carinthia. International authors stocktaking Each discussion will be opened with a poem. PEN president Helmuth A. Niederle will present a number of top international writers, including Nahid Bagheri Goldsmith (Iran), Hassan Baroud (Egypt), Seher Çakır (Turkey), Lev Detela (Slovenia), Ishraga Mustafa Hamid (Sudan), Aftab Hussain, Sarita Jenamani (India), Chibo Onyeji (Nigeria) and Serafettin Yildiz (Austria). “For us, Fresach is an opportunity to analyse the current developments. These authors will show us where we stand in Europe today. And where we can go.” Evening entertainment The ambitious program of the European tolerance talks in 2016 is framed by ethno-jazz and cabaret. Highlights include a concert by Karen Asatrian (Echoes from Armenia on 5/12), including a speech to the nation (Franz Ferdinand Kratzl) and a cabaret performance by Thomas Maurer (The Tolerator, 5/13). Finally there is a poetry slam on Saturday, May 14th on the topic “Excluding, narrowing, circumscribing. 5 minutes to the borders. 5 minutes limitless free.” Responsible for the overall program ist Think.Tank.Fresach. http://www.fresach.org Much support The European tolerance talks in 2016 are supported by numerous sponsors, organizations and institutions, especially from the writers’ association PEN Club Austria, the city of Villach, Carinthia, the Federal Chancellery and the Foreign Ministry.
