Wall-building manifesto penned by Voigt: Exercise in Unfreedom - Barrier Construction: Document of Restricted Liberties
In the heart of Germany, Thuringia is taking strides towards preserving a significant portion of its natural landscape. Commissioner Peter Wurschi has expressed his support for the Green Belt to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Green Belt, which spans over 765 kilometers in Thuringia, is a valuable and diverse ecosystem that is home to a variety of endangered species. This stretch of land emerged on the former death strip, a chilling reminder of the Berlin Wall's division.
The Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War, was constructed 64 years ago on August 13, 1961. It sealed the division of Germany and resulted in the death of at least 140 individuals, according to estimates. The wall marked the division of Germany and was a significant event etched into collective memory.
Fast forward to 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall signaled the end of the SED dictatorship and paved the way for German reunification. The SED dictatorship, led by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), governed East Germany with a strict communist rule from 1949 to 1989.
Now, Thuringia is looking towards a brighter future, with Wurschi initiating an event series with the Thuringia Nature Conservation Foundation to raise awareness of the Green Belt. The Green Belt was placed on the German preliminary list for a UNESCO application as a World Heritage site in 2024.
This move towards UNESCO World Heritage status for the Green Belt is a testament to Thuringia's commitment to preserving its natural heritage and promoting sustainable development. As Wurschi aptly put it, "Freedom is not negotiable, and neither is the protection of our natural world."
References: 1. Berlin Wall 2. SED Dictatorship 3. Green Belt Germany 4. Fall of the Berlin Wall 5. Thuringia
- The commissioner's initiative for the Green Belt to become a UNESCO World Heritage site aligns with Thuringia's policy-and-legislation that prioritizes the protection of its natural world, a shift from the past strict communist rule during the SED dictatorship.
- As Thuringia navigates the politics of designating the Green Belt as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the community policy emphasizes the importance of sustainable development and the preservation of endangered species, a stark contrast to the general-news of the Berlin Wall's division that marked a significant period in German history.
