Rural Europe on the move English_chap7_13 | Page 33

Surviving below sea level
Transition needs time
Thirty years have now passed since
Pellworm island for more than 30
years.
“A newcomer from the mainland like
Soil, plants, animals,
humans - time to
think in terms of ' WE'
we founded our island association. me or a local resident ready to step out The fundamental changes our of the row - makes no big difference generation has achieved are clear. when it comes to struggling against of Ökologisch Wirtschaften! with a
Pellworm now produces its own headwind. We were and still are in week of farm visits and round tables
electricity from combined renewable opposition to mainstream thinking, but – ‘fishbowl sessions’. Our themes focus
sources - wind, sun and biogas. we are also an innovative experimental on transition towards sustainable
Wind turbines, solar panels and a hub. When we decided to use our local island farming. It is time to think
biogas plant are owned by islanders, potential to become economically beyond conventional and organic
not mainland investors, so that the independent and stay close to nature, farming and to talk about common
added value stays mainly within the we stepped out of the widespread spirit challenges. We have chosen the
local island economy. The number of being disadvantaged.” items soil, plants, animals, and our
of wind turbines was strictly limited
Uwe Kurzke likes challenging
In May 2018 we celebrate 30 years
human relations with them. Part of
to avoid impact on the landscape. business as usual. But he has also our soils have suffered from the use
Pellworm today exports electricity to built bridges between the different of heavy machinery and monoculture;
the mainland. It has become popular ideological clans on the island, plants have become dependent on
for our tourists to subscribe and especially in the field of renewable pesticides and artificial fertilisers;
consume Pellworm electricity at their energies and climate protection. we start to realise that we have too
homes in Hamburg or Berlin. German “Cooperation between individual cells many animals on the land regarding a
energy law makes this possible. Our is the key for our health and survival as balanced nutrient cycle; transport to
local community energy project has an organism. That is also true for our the mainland for slaughter is too long.
attracted many visitors to learn about island community. In the past we had As stubborn islanders we often have
decentralised renewable energy to build our dikes against the sea. Now a hard time talking to each other. We
systems. we need community spirit to join forces rather talk about others. It is time to
and create a resilient island economy.” think in terms of ‘We’.
Dr. Uwe Kurzke leads an energy
working group which keeps up a
dynamic process of integration of
diverse renewable energy sources.
“Maybe Ökologisch Wirtschaften!
offered a home for the homeless,” says
Uwe Kurzke, general practitioner on
“We were and still are in opposition
to mainstream thinking, but we are also
an innovative experimental hub.”
Uwe Kurzke
109