People from Germany seem to me to be the most adventurous travelers. I can recall finding remote places in my home state of Colorado and thinking I’d found a secret spot, only to be surprised by a fit German couple hiking up the trail. I’ve encountered a number of German couples on my voyage. Many have offered to opinions on climate change but none has volunteered to make their views public. David is the first. His opinions are below.
David (28) Southern Germany
What is your favorite part about living in Germany?
I am from the south of Germany. I love the mountains there. Especially the lake of Constance and the area around it.
What is your least favorite part of Germany?
I am from Ravensburg. It is near the place in Germany where all the SUVs and sports cars are made. I am not proud of that since I don’t think we should focus on building those types of cars. I live very close to work and ride my bike or take the bus.
Do you see the weather changing in Ravensburg?
In southern Germany the weather has become erratic. There is much more flooding and the lake this year is very low. The last few years the weather has been different. For example, there is no snow in November anymore. Several places that used to be ski areas no longer get snow.
Do you feel that the activity of humans has contributed to these changes?
Yes, I think that climate change is real and because of human activities. There will always be some people that say it is a normal cycle but the rate of change I do not see as normal.
Is there anything else you would like to tell me about Germany
We have just elected Kretschmann, the first Green Party president in Germany. The Green Party is strong in Germany. We are not proud of the Volkswagen diesel scandal. That may have contributed to the green parties success. We have our next election in 2021, 2 years from now and I hope the green party continues to be strong.
I am a citizen of both Canada and America, is there anything else you would like to tell me?
I think Canada is a great country but I think the US would be better with another president. Trump is not a good leader
David was concise, very tall and thoughtful. I let him know that I viewed Germany as one of the countries leading the world in renewable energy and waste reduction programs. He seemed unmoved and replied that he felt he countries progress towards these goals had stagnated in the last few years. He expected Germany to continue to make progress. His apparent lack of appreciation for a complement to his country’s combined with his hopes that his country would do more seemed to me unusual. Although he did not show pride, I feel that somewhere buried inside his expectations and hopes that he was proud of his countries green initiatives. Germans are relatively easy to communicate with as our languages are similar but I have much to learn about the German people.
-Matt Ryle