16 May 2024 – “Your humor and your work are a shining example of the power of the individual. You manage to develop a positive vision of the future and create acceptance for necessary changes,” emphasized laudator Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Professor of Environmental Medicine at the University of Augsburg, in her speech about Eckart von Hirschhausen to around 450 invited guests from politics, business, culture and urban society. Traidl-Hoffmann, who is one of the most important environmental physicians in Germany and a member of the Federal Government’s Scientific Advisory Council on Global Change, went on to explain in her laudatory speech how important it is to create profound social connections in the face of climate change, for example when von Hirschhausen remarked to political decision-makers that everything is connected to everything except the German ministries, which still work mainly for themselves. Climate change affects everything and everyone. And everyone can and must do something about it.
At the Evening of Hope, Eckart von Hirschhausen expressed his gratitude for the award and for the opportunity to once again reach a large audience for one of his currently most important messages: “We know that our hut is burning. We know we have an emergency. In my medical training, I learned that in an emergency in the emergency room, I don’t deal with the athlete’s foot first, I look at the cardiovascular system and stabilize it. We finally need to prioritize what we take care of as a society.” In his emotional and humorous speech, von Hirschhausen did exactly what laudator Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann had previously praised him for. He inspired and stimulated thought with catchy images. For example, when he compared behavior with regard to the climate crisis with a situation that is familiar to everyone. Waking up in bed at night with a full bladder. And instead of getting up, hoping for a moment that things will work out. But that is exactly what is not happening. The climate crisis will not simply disappear, no matter how much we ignore it. We must finally get up and do what is necessary.
For years, the doctor and science journalist has been building social bridges between climate protection and healthcare with his Healthy Earth Healthy People Foundation and, above all, has been campaigning for a better understanding of climate change in all social classes and areas. He and his team are tireless in their efforts to clarify the interrelationships and build networks in order to promote the necessary dialog and cooperation to overcome the climate crisis. As an award winner, von Hirschhausen is therefore also an exemplary ambassador for today’s DAY OF HOPE, which kicked off with the EVENING OF HOPE and the atmospheric award ceremony.
Kick-off for the DAY OF HOPE
The DAY OF HOPE will take place for the second time on May 16, 2024 at Werksviertel-Mitte. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be an extensive program on this day with many free hands-on and information offers and the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of a sustainable urban district operation. Points of contact in the district such as the WHEEL OF HOPE (at the UMADUM Ferris wheel), the STAGE OF HOPE (in the WERK7theater) and the MARKET OF HOPE (Knödelplatz and Container Collective) will focus on different topics. The aim of the day is to sensitize students and Munich residents to the topic of sustainability. Because: “Everyone can do something.” This is the motto of UN Messenger of Peace Jane Goodall, patron of the DAY OF HOPE. This year, we would like to thank Bayernwerk for its great support of the DAY OF HOPE.
Isabell Zacharias, Managing Director of the Otto Eckart Foundation, once again emphasized the importance of events like these. “The challenges are huge. And time is running out. At our DAY OF HOPE, we therefore want to show Munich residents from all generations in a concrete and playful way what they can personally do today to make their own lives and our future more sustainable. And we want to give them the hope that they can make a difference.” It is not the size of each individual’s steps that counts, but the collective number of steps taken by everyone. A message that also made an impression at the EVENING OF HOPE.
