News

Demography, culture and life in the Alps

08.08.2016

Migration and depopulation, perspectives of traditional crafts, climate change and health are some of the topics that will be discussed during the AlpWeek 2016. Organized by the main Alpine organizations, AlpWeek 2016 will take place on 11-15 October 2016 in Grassau, Germany. Numerous thought-provoking sessions, market stands and exhibitions will offer the chance to find common solutions to the current challenges in the fields of culture, demography and quality of life in the Alps.

The numerous cyclists who are enjoying the sunny days to discover the German Alps on the way from Lake Constance to Lake Königsee have the possibility to make a refreshing cultural break at the Museum Salz & Moor in Grassau. In the special exhibition on the topic “Alps and people,” they can, for example, learn that some valleys in France and Italy are losing inhabitants while some villages in Germany and Austria are getting more populated, along with many other exciting and unexpected facts about the thrilling relationship between the Alps and people. To any visitor who wants to discuss the topic further, there is one answer: “Come back in October for the AlpWeek!”

AlpWeek 2016

The manifold aspects of the relationship between the Alps and the people who live, work and spend leisure time there will be the main focus of the fourth edition of AlpWeek.

The starting statement is that major future challenges are facing Alpine people, and they are the key movers to cope with them. Social psychologist Harald Welzer, speaker at the opening plenary of AlpWeek 2016, writes, “Climate change is […] a cultural change and an outlook on future living conditions” (Das Ende der Welt, wie wir sie kannten: Klima, Zukunft und die Chancen der Demokratie).

The purpose of AlpWeek is to share existing Alpine experiences in order to find new Alpine-specific solutions for the future that can retain its social, cultural and natural heritage. To show the variety of approaches available and to discuss sustainable development options, AlpWeek 2016 will be encouraging a broad and diversified dialogue focusing on three main fields of action: demography, culture and quality of life. Social scientist Harald Welzer, cultural scientist and European ethnologist Bernhard Tschofen, as well as entrepreneurs Sandrine Percheval and Anne Lassmann will be some of the many international speakers that will join the discussion about these topics.

About

AlpWeek is an international event dedicated to new and promising prospects of sustainable development in the Alps. Organized jointly by the main alpine organizations engaged in regional and sustainable development, it is held every four years. This edition of the event is being organized under the German Presidency of the Alpine Convention.

Registration is currently open.

AlpWeek is an event jointly organized by:
Alliance in the Alps, Alpine Convention, Interreg Alpine Space Programme, Association Alpine Town of the Year, International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA), Club Arc Alpin (CAA), International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps (ISCAR) and Ökomodell Achental.

With the financial support of:
German Ministry for Environment, for Nature Protection, Building and Nuclear Security, and Bavarian Ministry for Environment and Consumer Protection.