By Daniel Spichtinger
Austrians
have always had a special relationship with the Danube. Some look nostalgically
at it, remembering the time when many of the countries on the Danube were under
Austrian rule – providing the Austro-Hungarian Empire with the alias “the
Danube Monarchy” and its unofficial anthem, the Blue Danuebe Waltz.
Later the
Danube turned into a border river and the countries beyond the Iron Curtain
used the river the same way they used their guard towers and barbed wire. Now,
twenty years after 1989 the Danube has reclaimed its position as a river in the
heart of Europe and consequently Austrian interest in cooperation with the
other countries on the river. On the EU level a strategy for the Danube region
is being discussed to bring these countries together and to jointly realize
“flagship projects” in the field of flood protection, economic as well as
cultural cooperation. A conference
in April 2010 in Vienna focused specifically on transport, energy and
environmental issues.
A recent
exhibition and discussion session entitled “Die Donau - (K)Ein langer, ruhiger
Fluss / The Danube – (not) a long and quiet river” organised by the Austrian
MEP Hannes Swoboda and the Forum Weltoffen International discussed some of
these points, in particular the cultural dimension. The region was presented as
a multifaceted space with a history and a potential for conflict as well as
cooperation covering a variety of cultures. After all it flows through 10
countries! The exhibition featured photographs and other artwork from artists
from many of these countries and also includes highlights the “wider Danube
area”, including Istanbul and the Black Sea area.
This
“rediscovery” of the Danube in recent years has also had special implications
for Vienna. For a long time the districts that “counted” where those in the
centre while those on the other side of the river – sometimes referred to as
“Transdanubien” where neglected. This started to change with the creation of an
artifical island as flood protection which was finished in 1988. Regarded by
some with the typical Viennese sceptisims the “Danube Island” as it was soon
called proofed not only to be efficient in the huge 2002 floods, which passed
Vienna by, but also developed into an extreme popular leasure area, with space
of cycling, swimming and even nude sunbathing. Anchored on the island is a
school-ship for children from the surrounding areas. The most significant
event, though, is the annual Danube Island Party (Donauinselfest) which draws a
crowd of up to 3 million (in 2010) from Vienna, Austria and the neighbouring
countries. Sponsored by the Social-Democrat Party of Vienna, it features famous
bands all for free.
Surrounding
the area a new part of the city was constructed in the eighties and has since
then been considerably expanded. Consisting of modern, high-rise buildings and
sky-scrapers the area has been nicknamed “Vienna’s Manhatten”. Work on the
latest building, the DC Tower 1, which is scheduled to become Vienna’s highest
building has just started. The city planers foresee further buildings in this
area, so there is room for additional skyscrapers for the moment.The Danube’s aspects for Viennese life are
therefore manifold: political, cultural, economic and social. It even included
a flashmob of people dancing the “Danube Waltz” on Danube Day (June 29). The
city itself has been reshaped by this river – in the past through flooding and
in the present through development projects – and will continue to do so.
