The Greens answer the questions of the Carinthian Homeland Service

Which measures are most urgent for your party in the next legislative period of the Carinthian state parliament, to ensure the well-being of the country and its citizens?
In the area of ​​protection of the natural landscape, the environment and the climate?
Green: In any case, we will give nature conservation a higher priority and increase the financial resources for it. Regional planning and the nature conservation framework require further construction of near-natural habitats, e.g. shore zones, exclude, to preserve the natural and cultural heritage in the regions. Concrete instruments for this are, for example, the strengthening of the environmental ombudsman, the further development of the nature conservation advisory board into a fully-fledged state environmental ombudsman, the consistent implementation of the Austrian biodiversity strategy and the increase in the biodiversity fund. This is how we do it, in addition to our beautiful natural landscape, there is also biodiversity, to preserve near-natural watercourses and valuable trees.
It is extremely important when it comes to climate protection, act now and get going quickly. The impact of the climate crisis, we experience directly in Carinthia: heavy rain, debris flows and floods, rapidly melting glaciers, devastating storms, Hail events and withered fields, droughts, Forest fires, Bark beetles and new diseases threaten our livelihoods. All this shows us, that we have no more time to lose. Our goal is clear: We want Carinthia through ambitious, Forward-looking politics from mobility to the economy to the energy transition to pioneers in climate protection and up to 2040 make climate neutral. For that we have to do research, in climate change adaptation measures, in education etc. invest.

In the field of social justice and the preservation of prosperity?
Green: Climate protection is also a deeply social issue: The more decisively and quickly we act, the greater the chance, that we can leave our children and grandchildren a planet worth living on! It's perfectly clear, that the path to climate neutrality involves change. But there are also many opportunities along the way – for a better quality of life, more social justice and climate-friendly prosperity for all people. That is why we stand up for a courageous and future-oriented Carinthia, which pursues an ambitious climate protection policy, Promotes innovative strength and promotes the conversion to a climate-neutral economy. Because this is how we create the best conditions, not just to keep existing jobs, but also to create many new ones. Let's set appropriate investment impulses, we secure the prosperity of our society in the long term.

In the area of ​​maintaining and strengthening the business location?
Green: The economy is severely challenged by the scarcity of oil and gas and the problems in the supply chains. Now it's time for a reboot, for investments in green future technologies, that lead us out of our dependence on fossil fuels. It's out of the question, that innovation is essential for Carinthia as a business location. Against the background of the climate crisis, however, this can only happen on a sustainable basis. This requires the right location concept for Carinthia, which specifically strengthens regional economic cycles. In addition, economy in Carinthia is more than tourism. Economy in Carinthia can innovate, Start-Ups, Reconciling science and international contacts. In this way, Carinthia becomes more independent of global supply chains and thus more resilient to international crises. Carinthia has a wide range of potential, which only needs to be used.

In the field of education and job security?
Green: When it comes to education and job security, we also have to think about our universities. Both the state of Carinthia and the city of Klagenfurt are required, the students, teachers and also the downstream research- and business location with a future-oriented university strategy to create incentives, promoted Carinthia to the top league of European universities. To position Klagenfurt as a future location for students in Austria and abroad, must be the goal. Together with our university and the university of applied sciences, we can make Carinthia the driving force and innovation engine on the way to a climate-friendly economy and society. An ambitious climate protection policy and the conversion to a climate-neutral economy offer the best opportunities, to keep existing jobs as well as good ones, to create fair-paying jobs for men and women. They arise in crafts and the construction industry, in new industrial sectors and the circular economy as well as in new service fields. With an educational- and qualification offensive in the form of work foundations, innovative apprenticeship training and university courses, we make employees fit for the industry of the future, the energy transition and digitization.

What attitude does your party take towards the Carinthian homeland- and traditional associations, who feel committed to maintaining national patriotism and the traditions of defensive struggles and referendums?
Green: The Carinthian homeland service has so far failed to distinguish itself from National Socialism. Former SS members and neo-Nazi groups have marched at events in the past and the Carinthian Homeland Service continues to serve myths such as Carinthia's self-liberation after the 2. world war. For us, this is tantamount to revisionist historiography.

How do you rate the joint commemoration for all victims of war, Dictatorship and violence on Carinthian soil?
Green: There is no neutral commemoration for all victims. It was important to us as Greens, to ban the annual Ustasha meeting in Bleiburg, to counter precisely this revisionist historiography.

What is your understanding?- and reconciliation work of the home associations in relation to the Carinthian minority issue and ethnic group politics?
Green: It is almost a mockery of Carinthia's history, when the KHD speaks of reconciliation work. Just the town sign tower before 50 years, organized by the Carinthian traditional associations, has shown, how the traditional associations deal with the Slovene ethnic group and their rights. Today one tries to embrace the Slovenian ethnic group in a different diction, but expresses itself just as xenophobic towards other migrant and religious groups. Would one take reconciliation work seriously?, one would have to ask oneself, whether traditional associations, who celebrate German Carinthia, still correspond to the social requirements of the time.

What measures do you want to take to preserve the historically grown Carinthian identity, an indispensable part of which is also the Slovene language and culture?
Green: Important measures for this are the equality of the Slovene language in the bilingual area in the Carinthian state constitution and the fulfillment of all documented constitutional and legal minority rights.

What measures do you intend to take in the future to maintain and strengthen the Alps-Adriatic Peace Region??
Green: Working for peacekeeping means dialogue on an equal footing and cooperation, in order to exploit the potential of the regions.

Which projects would you initiate in the sense of "senza confini" in the coming years??
Green: We have to live the neighborhood, Use synergies and bring the individual potentials in front of the curtain.

What options do you see for the shutdown of Krkso?
Green: Krsko is the only nuclear power plant in Europe, located in an earthquake zone. Nevertheless, there do not seem to be any strict requirements in terms of earthquake safety. The extension sends the wrong signal. To rely on nuclear energy now, in no way corresponds to a sustainable energy policy. In any case, we will continue to advocate for the earlier shutdown of the power plant. Austria has also filed a lawsuit in this regard and has clearly positioned itself. In the future it can only result in the shutdown of the power plant.

How do you feel about the dialogue between former opponents of the political and military conflicts of the 20. century?
Green: To enable a dialogue, War crimes must first be solved. A clear confession of the perpetrator is required. A dialogue to downplay war crimes does not ensure peace.

What possibilities do you see for the old Austrian remaining ethnic group with German mother tongue in Slovenia to obtain ethnic group rights?
Green: Minority rights simply have to be fulfilled - in and outside of Austria. And that's what I'm consistently committed to as spokeswoman for the Greens in the National Council.