The Isel: A retreat for the soul in East Tyrol!

The Isel: A retreat for the soul in East Tyrol!

The Isel, the majestic glacial river in East Tyrol, is the focus of a special survey by environmental lawyer Johannes Kostenzer and the editorial team of Dolomitenstadt. This initiative calls on all members of the region who have a connection to the Isel to share their personal experiences and memories. This is happening as part of the Isel Year 2025, which is intended as a platform to celebrate the beauty and importance of the river Dolomitenstadt.at reported. In particular, the descriptions of Neslihan Tozar, who describes her retreat at the Iselkai in Lienz, show how the calm and inspiring atmosphere of the water invites inner contemplation.

While the Isel survey aims to capture the voices of the community, another pressing issue in society is being discussed at the same time: gender-appropriate language. This is seen as necessary to make women and people who do not strictly identify as male or female visible in the language. A controversial discourse is developing around the use of the gender star, which is defended by some as an important development in linguistic justice, while others find it unnecessary and disruptive. This debate was triggered by a survey in which participants were able to express their preferences regarding different linguistic variants. According to the information from Daily Gazette This survey was not representative, but was helpful in illustrating the varying views on gender-inclusive language, reviewed by researcher Ursina Anderegg.

The results of both projects reflect a strong need for identity and expression in current society. While the Isel connects people through personal stories and memories, the debate about gender-appropriate language raises important questions about fairness and representation in our communication. Different perspectives meet here, opened up by individual experiences and social demands.