Danube Day 2007:
protecting our river, protecting our cultures

Celebrations across the basin reflected the diverse cultures and traditions of the people living along the Danube and its tributaries. Credit: Various

The theme of Danube Day, ‘celebrating Danube cultures’, inspired people across the Danube basin, with folk groups, dancing, music, colourful costumes and traditional crafts. The Prut River in Moldova played host to a folk festival, with dancing,
costumes, music and craft stalls. “Preserving Danube cultures gives Moldova a chance to be closer to european values”, said Dumitru Drumea, head of Delegation for Moldova of IcPDR.

In Slovakia, almost 500 children with their families enjoyed cultural performances alongside scientific demonstrations, discussion forums and a chance to meet turtles.

In Vienna, Austria, a 10m by 5m puzzle of the Danube Basin inspired residents and visitors by the many connections and influences that exist between the countries of the basin. “The Danube River is a European lifeline that also binds us in joint responsibility to do everything possible to preserve this common living and cultural environment”, said Ursula Plassnik, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs.

“Water is the blood of life. Protect the river for the next generation.” Peter visvader, Director of the Public Relation Department, Ministry of the environment

Education and learning. Education was a focus for many countries – through field trips, eco-camps, environmental competitions, scientific demonstrations, talks and films. More than 200 people visited the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in Ukraine as part of an associated campaign to raise awareness of theecological importance of the river and the need for environmental protection. “There are no similar regions where the river unites a whole group of countries located on its banks – it is more than just a geographical notion”, said Aleksandr Voloshkeyvych, Director of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.

Practical actions to make a difference. Many Danube Day celebrations were accompanied by hands-on projects to help clean up the river and educate people about how their actions can contribute to change. A major clean-up project took place in Belgrade, at the Lido Beach on the river island of Veliko ratno ostrvo.

In Miskolc, Hungary, there was a fascinating exhibition of messages and art in PET bottles, as well as a huge raft of PET bottles on display, which was floated down the Bodrog River from Slovakia. PET bottles are the most visible form of rubbish found on the river, and focusing on them in this event inspired students
to get involved for cleaner rivers.

The Danube Art Master Competition inspired children across the basin to think about the long journey their river takes through many different lands across Europe.

Art and inspiration for the river. The Danube Art Master competition had another successful year, inspiring more children than ever across the basin to participate in an international competition to celebrate the Danube and its tributaries (see article on page 9). In Germany, children and young people from the upper reaches of the Danube were asked to think about the long journey their river takes through many different lands and cultures across Europe. Inspired by these connections, children created works of art that reflected the Danube’s value. “The Danube is a mirror of our lives: diverse, constantly changing and solid at the same time”, said Wolfgang Kunert, Head of Government, Administration District Oberpfalz.

Danube Day events in the Czech Republic highlighted both the protection of the environment and the celebration of art and culture. In Prague and Uherské Hradiště, more than 200 pupils watching screenings of Czech and international environmental films to educate a new generation about the importance of nature and ecological issues.

Celebrating Danube cultures. Mixing art with serious concern for the environment, students from the Biotechnology Education Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, created a traditional Water Dragon, the city’s symbol, in front of Municipality House. Using stone from the Sava River, they shaped the fantastic dragon sculpture to draw attention to the importance of conservation for both the Sava and Danube Rivers.

Danube Day coincided this year with celebrations of the 115th anniversary of the birth of Bosnia’s famous Nobel-prize-winning author Ivo Andric, whose novel ‘The Bridge over Drina’ celebrates the construction of the old bridge in Visegrad during the Turkish period. Each chapter of the book ends with a few sentences about rivers and bridges, and their connection to life. Celebrations and round tables on Andric’s work took place in schools across the whole country.

Promoting cross-border cooperation. Danube Day served as a forum to inspire new ways of working together. An international conference on the Danube in Ruse, Bulgaria, brought together Bulgarian regional officials and representatives of international organisations to discuss greater cooperation over Danube policies.

In Bucharest, Romania, Danube Day began with a symbolic water filtration event attended by the Romanian government ministers and representatives of other Danube countries, the ICPDR, Coca-Cola and environmental NGOs. River water collected from every Danube country was passed through a special filtration system and poured into a large aquarium, into which native Danube fish and plants were then introduced. This symbolic event represented the long cleaning process of the Danube’s water, so important to maintaining the health of the river’s environment and biodiversity.

On 29 June, ships sailed down the Danube from Vukovar to Ilok, Croatia, to symbolise the links between Croatia and the other Danube countries by taking part in the ‘Greeting the Danube’ ships’ horn blast. Once in Ilok, visitors were treated to a rich cultural programme, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and Hrvatske vode (Croation Waters)

Kirstie Shepherd is a freelance journalist living in Vienna and has
called the Danube River Basin home since 2000.