Green cascades in Kassel: Environmental protest ensures mixed reactions
Green cascades in Kassel: Environmental protest ensures mixed reactions
in Kassel has caused an unusual protest. The environmental group "Climate Court of Kassel" colored the water features in the Wilhelmshöhe Bergpark with a harmless green color to draw attention to water pollution by the K+S company. But the response to this protest raises interesting questions about the perception and importance of environmental activism.
symbolism and effect of the images
A central element of the protest was the visual meaning of the campaign. At a time when pictures are omnipresent by social media, it was aware of the activists that an impressive sight would attract many people. The bright green water features in the mountain park immediately caught the eye and were widely discussed on social networks and media. The success of the campaign lies in the creation of attention, which would have been difficult to achieve with conventional measure, such as demonstrations.
missed message
Despite the impressive images, the actual message of the protest, the concerns regarding the water pollution by K+S, remained largely unvapting. Many of the visitors did not know the company and had little information about the background of the campaign. This shows that this type of protest design was visually impressive, but the criticism of the message could not be adequately conveyed. The short saying band "drinking water instead of poison water" and the included handouts made it difficult to grasp the deeper meaning of the protest.
inappropriate place for protest
The Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, known for its impressive water features, proves to be a inappropriate place for such a protest. Many people wondered what the dirty waters of the Weser had to do with this historical heritage. It would have been more effective to express the criticism directly at the company location or the responsible political authorities that decide on the limit values of the salt.
division of society
The protest also reflects a growing social division. Many people reacted angrily to the action and the mood among the audience was tense. This indicates that the emotions related to climate protection are heavily polarized. Instead of leading a constructive dialogue, many tend to harden in their positions.
meaning of the water features
The reactive attitude of the Kassel citizens could also be due to the water features that are important to the people in the region. These monuments are not only attractions, but also part of the city's identity, which meant that interventions or changes are particularly sensitive at this point.