Hamburg, 2011-11-19: For our British friends, “Benidorm” is a prime-time sitcom of the British ITV set in Spain1. For all the others it is a holiday resort at the coast of Costa Blanca, half an hour away from Alicante, Spain. It is known for its Manhattan-like skyline, a symbol for the cementation of Spain’s shoreline, for its building and ground speculation scandals since the late 1950s, and a synonym for cheap underclass holidays.

Prize for Environmental Journalism

I was in Benidorm last summer on the occasion of the award ceremony for the First International Prize for Environmental Journalism about the Mediterranean Sea, worth 18,000 EUR – thus a really big one.

The Prize was announced by Casa Mediterraneo, a cultural organisation for networking with all states around the Mediterranean Sea under the umbrella of the Spanish foreign ministry. However, applications were welcomed from all over the world as long as the works deal with the environment of the Mediterranean. It was endorsed by EUSJA member AECC, the Spanish Association of Scientific Communication, and also by the Spanish Association of Environmental Information Journalists – thus an honourable one. EUSJA and the World Federation of Science Journalists WFSJ circulated the call for applications a year before2.

The first prize went to Felix Tena, editor at the Spanish Canal 9 TVV, for its documentary “El Pais de las palmeras” and to Jacopo Pasotti3 for his excellent story “Mare Nero” in National Geographic with his own pictures documenting the oil pollution and the chase for polluters in the Mediterranean Sea. Jacopo Pasotti, writing in several languages, is member of actually two of EUSJA’s associations, the Swiss Club of Science Journalism and the Italian SWIM.

Off the symbol of cementation

I went out to the island off Benidorm in order to gain the full view of the sky-scraping hotels along the two small people covered beach stripes. The view was negatively impressing, but positively impressing was the island itself, a well preserved nature reserve of high ecological value4.

The environmental journalism prize was scheduled to be awarded every two years, with the the award ceremony taking place in Benidorm. Thus this year (2011) Casa Mediterraneo advertised the second round for the prize during the World Conference of Science Journalists WCSJ in Doha, Qatar. There EUSJA board members met the director of Casa Mediterraneo, Yolanda Parrado, the officer responsible for the prize, Elia Carceller, and the mayor of Benidorm, socialist Agustin Navarro. Of course we asked: “Why Benidorm, a resort with quite a low reputation of sustainability?”

Already in 2008 the BBC published a piece entitled “Benidorm - the new face of eco-tourism”5. And now we heard even more astonishing things: Wastewater recycling, energy efficiency, solar power, environmental education, regional food, great nature reserves.

Curious about eco-tourism

Yes, we became curious as we received information demanding more closer looks, promising good stories.

Thus we asked the people from Casa Mediterraneo and the mayor if they would not be interested to show the efforts of Benidorm to become the most sustainable holiday resort in Spain. They promised to consider our proposal.

“Tourism in Benidorm: sustainability with Mediterranean taste” was the title of an urgent study trip invitation sent to the EUSJA delegates on 19 October, as a result of our talks in Doha. But the trip was already scheduled for 27 to 28 October, thus the deadline for an application had to be the next day. EUSJA had never before announced a study trip with such a short deadline.

But the EUSJA journalists showed enormous flexibility as applications rushed in, but only 12 could be considered. Their names were sent to our Spanish host.

The outrageous happens

As soon as Casa Mediterraneo received the names of the EUSJA journalists, immediately 7 were rejected and uninvited – another unparalleled incident in the 40 years long history of EUSJA.

As a reason the organiser said, that no journalists from southern Europe were on the list, and that it now wants to look for other, even non-science journalists on its own.

The EUSJA Board considered this a serious offence against the European science journalists and the European public. For the Board it was absolutely not acceptable that journalists were disregarded this way, and that a lot of time and effort had been trashed. Thus we complained strongly in a letter to the Director of Casa Mediterraneo.

We even asked the selected participants to boycott the trip, if they can still manage it. Some thought about it, but had already reserved newspaper space or airtime for a story.

However, the endeavour to find other journalists from southern European countries seemed to have failed. So two days before departure, the study trip was completely cancelled by Casa Mediterraneo.

Controversial opinions

A lively e-mail discussion among the delegates sprang up. Some complained about the short announcement, while others wrote, that journalists have to be flexible.

One complained that the Board accepted an invitation from a “tourist board” while having no influence on the programme. However, Casa Mediterraneo is not a “tourist board” as mentioned above and the idea for the trip was born during WCSJ in Doha.

Others demurred also of the PR character of the trip. But every study trip has a certain amount of PR messages, even WCSJ was full of such PR messages, as one replied.

There was even a voice that Benidorm is the “opposite to sustainable tourism and the worst you can imagine to be done in an originally very nice Mediterranean village. Benidorm promoting a prize on environmental journalism … seem to me like an contradiction.” But our own researches and talks gave us different pictures – which could have been verified by seeing the place and talking to residents.

A closer look is necessary

Thus it is a pity that EUSJA now missed a quite interesting, maybe also controversial trip. The discussions after the cancellation showed us that prejudices are still governing our minds and prevent us from looking closer at things. “Science journalism critical questioning in the public sphere” is the motto of the next WCSJ 2013. This is just what could have been done during a study trip to a critically discussed tourist resort. We should indeed be more open while at the same time discriminate between PR, sitcoms and facts.

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Hanns-J. Neubert
2011-11-19
Length: 6.500 characters, 1.160 words
Written for EUSJA-News Autumn 2011

Jagdzeit in Schweden — wie immer im Oktober und November. Dann trotten die Elche auch durch den Zeitungsblätterwald.

KÖNIGSJAGD

In Vänersborg war — ebenfalls wie in jedem Jahr — der Jagdbesuch des Königs das große Thema, der hier auf Halle- und Hunneberg dem König der Wälder nachstellt. »Es ist wie eine Militärübung«, beschreibt Sofia Hjelte, die Reporterin des Lokalblattes »TTELA«, ihren Eindruck.

Carl Gustav kam diesmal mit seinem Sohn Prínz Carl Phillip. Beide hatten schon am ersten Tag Jagdglück. Am Donnerstag 2007-10-25, erlegten sie beide je einen Elch.

Doch während der König stolz darauf ist, dass sich auch seine Kinder für die Jagd interessieren — Prinzessin Madeleine hat ebenfalls gerade ihren Jagdschein gemacht, war aber nicht mit dabei — häuft sich in den Leserbriefen die Kritik an an dem Mittelalterlichen Brauch.

König Carl Gustav im Vorgrund, im Hintergrund Prinz Carl Phillip. Foto: Stephan Bennhage, TTELA

ZUR SELBEN ZEIT ...

Als der schwedische König sich früh morgens am 2007-10-25 zur Elchjagd fertig machte, fand ein verschlafener Hausbesitzer in Halland an der schwedischen Westküste einen Elch in seinem Swimmingpool. Die Elchkuh hatte nachts nicht bemerkt, dass die Persenning, auf die sie trat, ein zwei Meter tiefes Schwimmbecken bedeckte. Und jetzt kam sie nicht mehr raus.

Der herbeigerufene Rettungsdienst ließ erst einmal das Wasser ab, damit das Tier festen Betonboden unter die Hufe bekam. Dann wurde ihr aus Paletten eine Treppe gebaut, denn im Grunde sind Elche nicht dumm. Aber sie beschnüffelte die Paletten nur und machte keine Anstalten, hinauszuklettern.

Elch im Pool. Foto: Håkan Johansson/Hallands Nyheter, DN

Als die Elchkuh auch am nächsten Tag noch immer zwischen den Poolwänden stand, holte man denn doch einen Jäger, der sie betäubte. Während ein Bauer sie mit einem Gabelstapler aus dem Betongeviert hievte, strich ein junger Elch durch die Büsche, offenbar ihr Junges. Nach einer Stunde wachte sie dann auf und trottete ungerührt mit ihrem Kalb zurück in den Wald.

Hier die ganze Bildgeschichte — und wie das Elch-im-Pool-Drama ein glückliches Ende fand (Aftonbladet)

UND NOCH EIN ELCH ...

Bei Svenljunga half ein Elch der Polizei, einen Verurteilten zu finden, der eigentlich im Gefängnis sitzen sollte.

In der Mittsommernacht vor zwei Jahren stach ein Mann einem anderen 17 Mal einen Dart-Pfeil in den Rücken. Der Verletzte erholte sich zwar wieder, aber der Angreifer erschien nie zum Gerichtstermin. So wurde er in Abwesenheit verurteilt.

Vor zwei Wochen trat ein Elch aus dem Wald auf eine Straße, als ein Auto auf ihn zuschoss. Es gelang ihm, in den Wald zurück zu springen, doch der Autofahrer war ausgewichen und im Graben gelandet. Zwar blieb er unverletzt, doch die Polizei kam vorbei und kontrollierte seine Papiere. Siehe da, sie hatten einen seit zwei Jahren Gesuchten vor sich. Quelle: Metro-Sverige

Spricht das nun für die Intelligenz von Elchen, oder die Unfähigkeit der schwedischen Polizei?

Hanns-J. Neubert [2007-10-30, Länge/length: 3.000 Zeichen - ddd

Strömmarn is demolished. Build in 1871 by Anders Strömmers as the tavern »Strömborg«, one of the oldest dance houses in Sweden is gone. It makes room for more parking places for the surrounding shopping centre.

Picture: Marlene Stadie (www.marlene-stadie.de)

Even during the 80s dance bands played every evening. In 1984 Olov Palme gave a press conference in Strömmarn during a travel around the country. During the 90s, Wednesdays have been pub evenings, Thursdays dance bands were playing, on Fridays more mature people enjoyed their music, and on Saturdays a discotheque attracted the youngsters.

But since then the wooden wall became rotten, and with increasing energy prices it became too expensive to heat non-isolated building during cooler spring and autumn days. In winter the building was closed.

Early on 6 August 2007 the dredger came rolling and started to tear off the dance floor. Literally in the last minute a family from Blåsut, a quarter opposite Vänersborg, west of Vänersviken and the small port, bought the tower to have it transfered to its garden. A picture of this transport is shown on the web-pages of the local newspaper »TTELA«:

Foto: Ingemar Larsson @ www.ttela.se

More about Strömmarn:
A video report, in Swedish, is presented on »TTELA« (Video by Jonas Myrholm).
Safe Strömmarn 2005-08-16
Follow-up 2005-08-26

Hanns-J. Neubert
Hamburg, 2007-09-30 [eee]

Please read here:

http://eusja-blog.blogspot.com/

All the best
/ Hajo

Bild 1: Neue Rohre für die städtische Fernkühlung in Helsinki

Bild 2: Dank Fußwegheizung trockenen Fußes zum Shopping durch die Innenstadt von Helsinki

Hamburg 2006-01-28

Es ist nicht oft, dass die Sonne in Hamburg scheint. Aber wenn sie denn scheint, öffnen die Cafes an Elbe und Alster ihre Freiterrassen. Auch bei klirrender Kälte, Schnee auf den Straßen und Eis auf dem Strom.

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Hanns-J. Neubert
Länge/Length: 209 Zeichen/Chars [ddd]

Vänersborg 2005-08-26

Something is happening — not with Stömmarn, but with the boring street and the car parking places beyond »Gamla Hamn Kanal« opposite the yellow chateau. It is closed for traffic and dredgers tear the street open. On the home page of Vänersborg's community I read yesterday that a »garden lane« is planned to be ready next spring — only for strollers and for the cars of the abutters.

More about Strömmarn:
Safe Strömmarn 2005-08-16
The last 2007-09-30

Hanns-J. Neubert
Vänersborg, 2005-08-26 [eee]

Vänersborg 2005-08-16

Be warned: This is a melancholic story about a building called »Strömmarn« somewhere in a small town in northern Europe.

Strömmarn, seen from the Old Harbour Kanal in Vänersborg/Sweden

At the southern tip of Europe's third biggest lake, the Vänern in Sweden, lies the small and cosy city of Vänersborg. Well, if you look closer, it's a bit north of the dead end of the lake, on the eastern shore. Nowadays the national street 45 goes by beyond the woods west of the narrow bight. But its worth to make the turn and see the town and its inviting surroundings.

In the middle of the bight an island is lain, leaving way for two water passes. One is the old harbour canal, bridged by two shallow bridges. Of that, the part leading into the open lake is part of the joining sport boat harbour, a quite contemplative place. The other passage, overbuild by a huge valve bridge, is a transit for seagoing ships between the lake and the Kattegat of the Baltic Sea, 100 kilometres down the Göta river. Viewing from the bridge lake Vänern gives the impression to be the open sea.

Half of the island is dedicated to a small harbour with port buildings and small port related businesses, housed mainly in small wooden buildings. The other part, divided by the ramp to the huge bridge, is dominated by the marina on one side and on the other by a cold, practical, unadorned shopping centre with parking places of that kind you'll usually find outside towns.

But in between, right opposite the central town, shines a yellow wooden building full of baroque balconies, oriels and alcoves, a turret and a roofed dancing floor. That is »Strömmarn«, the "house at the stream", build probably a hundred years ago or more. Standing there as a treasure island itself within the surrounding commercial desert, it might not be an architectural pearl, but with its numerous add-ons from different ages it is full of charm. It must have seen glamorous parties over the decades, chivalrous men and proud women, dancers, coffee and spirit drinking friends, writers, musicians, and of course tourists. In front of the chateau stretches a green walk along the old harbour canal where a fountain spies its water up in the Swedish summer sky. A picture of romance if you ignore the shopping buildings.

But as charming as the chateau looks from the town side, as boring is the view from the green in front of the picturesque house. Beyond the fountain stretches a parking lane. Except for the only restaurant giving colour to the street and an imposing stone mansion as old as the chateau, the rest of the building row looks dull and sad.

Imagine there is also a green walk with some benches, some small motor boats towed to the pier, some shops, and more colour on the walls. What a difference. But it currently is not like that.

Thus it is no wonder, that the cosy gem is empty and vacant. Who wants to sit there and watch people parking their cars?

Well, Vänersborg is a small town with a number of nice cafes and restaurants in nice places. Even if the parking lane might get a more vivid touch one day, from where will the people come to rest and relax in the pleasing environment of an old dancing house? And will people have more time to relax and to rest in times of tougher economies and growing working stress? Today the Swedes still keep their calm way of life, but with their opening to the European Union they will not resist totally the influences of the fallback of capitalism into its early stages, which is increasingly stifling the people on the continent.

Once a Hamburger chain was interested purchasing the chateau. Maybe it would have vitalized the building. But to the disadvantage of the street kitchens with their traditional "korv med bröd", sausage with bred, the pizzerias, and the homey cafes in town.

Now the nearby super market bought the ground. The local newspaper TTELA reports that it wants to tear off the chateau - for parking places. A wave of indignation reached the newspaper through readers letters. The letters are sad and angry, but no one had an idea what to do with the municipal pearl. And of course, as long as the surroundings do not change - the shopping centre and the canal side of the town -, as long it will not be attractive to go there.

Preparing for a swim in »Gamla Hamn Kanal« with »Strömmarn« in the background

Time passed by over the yellow gem and Vänersborg forgot to take one of its treasures into consideration as it planned to make this part of the island aside the city a clueless, profitable ground. How could that happen in a small town with wonderful buildings, nice narrow shopping malls, a great central place with a marvellous park and an impressive church? With a former picturesque prison changed into exclusive flats? A vivid marina with a swimming cafe? A nicely restored, beautiful train station? And one of Europe's oldest, although small museums?

»Lilla Paris«, Little Paris, call the Vänersborg people call their town. Quite crazy. But they derived the name from Birger Sjöberg (1885-1929), a famous writer, poet and singer here. He once lived a time in Paris, but could not afford the expensive way of life in France. So he returned and dreamed Paris into his home town. He did well. And indeed, the yellow wooden chateau reminds in a way of some of the curious stone buildings in Quartier Latin.

This story will not change the course of time. It is a sad story happening somewhere in northern Europe in a place one rarely knows, a story that could well happen elsewhere in one of those numerous, small, cosy, unnamed towns somewhere in the world. For the inhabitants it is most important - it is their live. So this story is dedicated to all of those citizens caring for their environment, their »Strömmarn« elsewhere.

The other side: Strömmarn within the shopping centre

More about Strömmarn:
Follow-up 2005-08-26
The last 2007-09-30
Article from »ttela« 2005-08-05 by Wiveca Ström (in Swedish, of course).< - All the interesting readers letters have only been published in the print edition.

Hanns-J. Neubert (Text & Photos)
Länge/Length: 5730 Zeichen/Chars [eee]

Deutsche Städte im Portrait
Portraits of German Cities

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Jetzt in der neuesten Ausgabe des japanischen Lifestyle-Magazins
»Wine Life & Style« von Mai 2005. -- Beispiel hier...

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Text und Bildrecherche: Hanns-J. Neubert
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