There are still 91 days until the European elections, never was a choice for the future of the Union as crucial as this. Many people in Munich are aware of it – at the Gasteig, you sing for Europe.
Pia Ratzesberger Pia Ratzesberger
the study of Economics, politics and Intercultural communication in Erlangen, Bologna and Munich. Scholarship holder at the Institute to promote journalistic talent (Ifp). Traineeship at the SZ with stops in Berlin and Brussels.
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The chorus comes in for the last Time to the sample, and a man in the Background brings out his cell phone. He’s wearing the only one in the room in a black suit. Prior to his screen more than 600 people sing the lines from John Lennon: “Imagine all the people, living life in peace”. The man in the suit coordinates in the Gasteig is actually the work of the technicians and the stage Manager – a Job that you have to much running through the corridors. But in some moments the head of service must remain even for a moment and films. This Sunday morning, so a the Moment.
In the Gasteig gathered hundreds of people, a song for Europe, to rehearse, and on the same day on the square in front of the cultural center to perform. “Imagine” by John Lennon. There are many young people came and many of the Older ones. Parents with their small children and adult children have brought their parents. On the front of the podium, the conductor Jens Junker, who rehearsed with his so-called Go Choir Singing in the Clubs of the city within a few hours of a song is, and how then is also true today that everyone is allowed to come to the would like to. In this choir, whether to sing. It is alone that’s what you want, and today that you desire for Europe.
There are still 91 days until the European elections, never was a choice for the future of the Union as crucial as this. With the UK, the first member will leave the community, the opponents of the EU are getting louder and stronger, also in the national parliaments. At the last European election in 2014, only about 40 percent of all of the Beneficiaries gave their voice. The city of Munich has therefore launched last summer, a campaign to make the citizens call on their right to perceive – and to inform, about the advantages of the European Union. Big blue letters Hiking since then from place to place, in the Olympic Park and at the Oktoberfest of the word “Munich 4 Europe,” this Sunday, he is now arrived at the Gasteig. That is why the choir. Hundreds of people at noon in front of the lettering and sing. They all have in common that they want to work for the European Union, even if they may have different ideas from you. So it’s time to ask the Munich Europeans, what do you value in the European Union and what they want for their future.
freedom
“Europe means freedom for me”- Barbara Schneider, 61.
(photo: Robert Haas)
Barbara Schneider, 61, Secretary: “Europe means freedom for me. The feeling can easily in a different country. I did not realize as a child how the people in the GDR were able to. I grew up in Germany and had no relatives, but I also knew as a child that there was a wall and the people come behind out. For me, it was at that time inconceivable that wall could fall once, and maybe we should address also the future of Europe. With the Confidence that we are going to create much of what we are capable of us today are not present. We will still have to overcome many boundaries, but that only works if the people are also open. This choir would not unfold with ten people voting to violence as hundreds of people – and so it is with the European Union.”
identification
“I see myself as a European,” – Silke Zernik, 36.
(photo: Robert Haas)
Silke Zernik, 36, a graphic designer: “Europe means to me the unity of Differences. I think it is a pity that there is currently such a strong national tendencies. There are, however, once you think about it, actually, almost nothing more, what can you own – both on the social level as well as on the economic. I see myself as a European. Probably also, because you can have due to the German history really is a problem with a German ID. The European Union stands for the exact opposite of what happened back then.”
usage
“We should do something”- Amadeus Gebauer, 25.
(photo: Robert Haas)
Amadeus Gebauer, 25, a Student: “means Europe for me to be able to travel anywhere and to be welcome everywhere. Only last year I was a Erasmus-like programme in Lausanne, and even though Switzerland is not part of the EU, I have met thanks to this program, people from many different countries of the European Union. From France, Sweden and Italy, for example. We have cooked together and were together at the lake. That there are no limits, is a luxury that my Generation has become accustomed to, also offers such as Interrail. I would hope that in society and in politics more the positive sides of Europe, as I have perceived, for example, in the election campaign of President Emmanuel Macron, France. In the election to the Bundestag fight for us, I’ve missed this – has happened since then in regard to the happiness a little. It also gives me a good feeling that at least in my environment, the majority of people see the benefits of Europe. My Generation had to fight for Europe. But for now, we should do that.”
diversity
“it means Europe’s cultural diversity”- Teresa Mangold, 2.
(photo: Robert Haas)
Teresa Mangold, 24, statistician: “Europe means to me cultural diversity. My European identity is to me especially aware of when I’m on a different continent. For example, I was once in New York, and some people did not even know exactly where Germany is – with Europe, they were able to start what. It was then that I also realized how great it is that we only need to travel short distances, and then in another country with a different language and a different culture. I have just a little bit of fear to the Europe in which I grew up – we must stand up even stronger for it. I would hope that more people realize how important the EU is for you. Much of our life is just so easy, because there is the European Union. I, for example, no border know controls more.”
Cohesion
“With the Oktoberfest, it is like Europe” – Manfred Schauer, 65.
(photo: Robert Haas)
Manfred Schauer, 65, chief of the Schichtl: “I am now for 35 years at the Oktoberfest and have recently calculated. I have experienced approximately 202 million visitors to the Oktoberfest, and most of the guests come from all over Europe, even if I have not had the privilege of meeting all of you personally. With the Oktoberfest it is similar with Europe, the Oktoberfest brings people from different countries – after the second Mass to do it easier with foreign languages, Yes, sometimes. Europe should have no borders, no boundaries. For me, this means that it protects, to a certain extent, what one has to press without prior obligations. Anyone who needs help must be helped, but not everyone needs my opinion to help. I hope that Europe will remain as it was.”
democracy
“No boundaries” – Olav grove, 55, & Melanie Zuzan, 50.
(photo: Robert Haas)
Melanie Zuzan, 50, and Olav grove, 55, a technical Director: “You need not travel far to understand, what are the advantages of the European Union. You only have to drive two hours to Switzerland. It is, for example, a packet where to send it and it is expensive to change money. You will feel in a other time offset, and realize again, how important it is to have no limits – for the future of our children. We remember our own children, as a matter of course the Union for this Generation is today. We must not lose sight of the common democracy, and would also wish that the UK is back in the European Union. There is so much value that you can go anywhere and work anywhere. We feel as Europeans.”
