Rural Europe on the move English_chap7_13 | Page 37

Surviving below sea level
E
THE PELLWORM EXPERIENC
Y
ou do not need to live on an island below
sea level to realise that climate change and
IN A NUTSHELL
Ökologisch Wirtschaften! reached out to other
European islands by launching the European
rising sea levels will change your life. However, Eco-Island Network and cooperating with other
growing conflicts between ‘business as usual’ and rural projects in Europe through Forum Synergies
endangered nature become more visible in a small network. The island community is still going
and remote place like an island. Conflicts between through high waves of successes and setbacks,
humans and nature are more graspable and economically, environmentally and in human
limitations of resources and business more costly. relations. We have learned to struggle and accept
Islanders are sceptical about solutions and
that there is not just one solution, but many. For
investments imposed from outside and from above. a long time we have had to defend ourselves
But Ökologisch Wirtschaften! did not reject the idea against the sea and we will have to do more to keep
of a national park, nor did the association use that afloat. We need innovation and inventiveness but
idea just as an add-on to tourism. Members of the most of all a spirit of community. We are an aging
association try to turn perceived disadvantages population with a shrinking farming sector. Our local
into energy for change. Pellworm has now businesses are increasingly dependent on tourism.
achieved renewable energy independence as a This is risky business because the tourist season is
new economic pillar for many and the association short, and infrastructure like school, medical care
proudly shares its experiences in this transition and social services needs a minimum of inhabitants
process with other islands and communities. to be economically viable. Pellworm is a good place
Experimenting solutions for the future seems to be to experiment the balance between survival and
the key reaction to the growing challenges. pioneership.
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