reprinted with permission from
Poison Fire, Sacred Earth,
TESTIMONIES, LECTURES, CONCLUSIONS,
THE WORLD URANIUM HEARING, SALZBURG 1992
page 9
We've structured this week around into four specific days: The Day of the Mountains, The Day of the Forests, The Day of the Deserts and The Day of the Waters. We decided on this structure because radioactivity does not recognize national boundaries, and because national boundaries exist only in the minds of humans, and because if one looks at the planet from space, there are no national boundaries to be seen.
Claus Biegert
Opening Speech(This speech was held originally in German)
I greet all the guests from the five continents. It is impressing to realize from how far some have come: Some of the speakers travelled for four days before they arrived in Salzburg. And it is also very edifying to see that we have no difficulties in justifying the term "World" in the title of "The World Uranium Hearing". We are practically forced to do so, often it is an effort to call an event international.
We've structured this week around into four specific days: The
Day of the Mountains, The Day of the Forests, The Day of the
Deserts and The Day of the Waters. We decided on this structure
because radioactivity does not recognize national boundaries, and
because national boundaries exist only in the minds of humans,
and because if one looks at the planet from space, there are no
national boundaries to be seen.
It is very important that the testimonies given this week find
their way back to the countries where the witnesses come from. And
in agreement with the film crews present, the following plan has
been developed: Everyday, a group should build a panel. For
example, the guests from North America -- let's say, the North
American Southwest so as not to let it get out of proportion --
find each other, get together and choose experts whom they
consider to be important for their presentation, and this little
panel will be filmed. And then, enough copies will be made so
that each group taped can take these little films home with
them, show them to their communities and also offer them to their
local television broadcasters. For, the testimonies that will be
filmed here are hours worth of tape, and getting them into
presentable form will take a few weeks. It is our goal that those
who deliver their testimonies here will be able to take the material
from this week back home with them. Barbara Pecarich will head the
coordination of these little panels which will last throughout the
week, and if you're looking for anybody, simply go down to the
registration and we'll find the people for you.
As you all know, there is a fire burning on the hill where the
opening ceremonies took place; and it is everybody's wish that this
fire accompanies us through the entire week. And down by the
registration, there is a white board on which a schedule for the
week will be posted, and volunteers who are prepared to guard the
fire in shifts can put their names down there. We're still looking
for people, because it's not good if somebody's up there sitting all
alone. Especially since we've learned that our presence in the city
has led to the breaking in of one of the hotel rooms.
Right now, I'd like to introduce Prince Alfred von Liechtenstein who
has helped found and heads an Academy for Future Issues in Vienna and
whose goal it is to bring people together who otherwise may not have
had the chance to meet, but who have something to say to each
other. Since it is also the intention of this meeting to bring people
together whose paths would not cross under other circumstances, it was
also somehow inevitable that our paths would cross, and I am very
happy that it is possible for him to remain with us throughout the
week and that he is able to deliver the introductory and welcoming
message.