Rural Europe on the move English_chap7_13 | Page 47

The Art of Being Different
“We want this to be
a type of tourism
which encourages
social cohesion,
values local tradition
and encourages
rootedness."
E
THE LESACHTAL EXPERIENC
25
years after my first time in Lesachtal, I can
see that the struggles facing the region are
a little different in nature but have in common the
ongoing trend toward centralisation, dependency
IN A NUTSHELL
“Rural areas need to welcome
newcomers, they can bring new
ideas and innovative approaches."
on multi-national corporations and bodies and
the loss of self-sufficiency. However, I see that
I also notice the smiling faces and companionship
the Lesachtal still has the capacity to resist trends of my neighbours who have come together to clean
which silently rob it of its authenticity. The art of up. The main help comes from the locals: skilled
being different seems to build upon a mixture of farmers or foresters do not need to wait for external
resistance and innovation, mutual assistance and professionals to begin the work. These ‘stubborn and
private conflicts, of personal appreciation of our old-fashioned’ people - what a treasure their skills are!
own roots. A friend of mine is stuck with a vast quantity of milk
The creativity which has helped Lesachtal deal
she cannot deliver because the roads are blocked.
with difficulties in the past is more necessary than Quick-thinker, she instead made a large batch of
ever. I write these lines with the sounds of military butter and a kind of soft cheese, the ‘Schottekigilan’.
helicopters endlessly whirring above the valley. For A speedy and creative response to disaster!
the past week they have tried to restore electricity Lesachtal has taught me many things. It has
connection and clear roads after extreme storms. shown me the worth in confronting my prejudices
Heavy rainfall, mudslides and floods pummeled our and opening up. I hope I have taught Lesachtal the
valley, destroying vast chunks of forest as well as same. Rural areas need to welcome newcomers,
homes and vital infrastructure. It makes for a sorry, they can bring new ideas and innovative
painful sight - 30 or 40 year-old pine trees snapped approaches. This is needed to keep these places
like toothpicks, a devastated landscape peppered lively and connected to the wider world. Sometimes
with homes without roofs and whole slopes which it is difficult to straddle the preservation and value
have been washed away. We are fragile in the light of the local with the connection to the global but
of such disasters, and we can expect more of them Lesachtal, with creativity and courage to resist the
as the climate changes. trends, has done just that.
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