Green memories: a spirit of optimism in Cuxland in the 80s!

An exciting reunion with the history of the Greens: Members of the party came together in Bülkau to commemorate the beginnings of the Green movement in the region. Historical photos and leaflets by Hans-Jürgen Kahle and Hans-Jürgen Klein took those present back to the 1980s, when the Greens gained a foothold in the province with a fresh and creative approach. Despite modest resources and a manageable number of seats in the local council, the “eco-parties” managed to raise people's awareness of important issues such as disarmament and environmental protection, as reported by CNV media.

The first steps of the Green Party, which was founded in Hemmoor in 1980, were anything but straightforward. Supported by personalities like Gerd Rüsch, who ensured respectability in the troops as a savings bank employee, the newcomers fought for their convictions in the political landscape. These early Greens were particularly fond of writing and used local party newspapers and even a pirate radio station to spread their message. The event made clear how the founding of the party represented not only a political movement, but also a cultural one.

Hans-Jürgen Klein and his political path

Hans-Jürgen Klein, a long-standing and active member of the Green Party, illustrates the optimism of the Green movement. He joined in 1998 and has been active on the Wermelskirchen council since 1999 and on the district council since 2014, as the information on the Green Wermelskirchen website shows. His focus is on climate and environmental protection, for which he calls for a 58 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. Klein emphasizes that mobility and the hydrogen economy are crucial for the future. This memorable day in Bülkau reflected what the early Greens once were and how far they have come.