INTERVIEW WITH JANCIS ROBINSON MW – PART 001
Posted on: Januar 6, 2010
This is definitely a WOTR LIGHT episode but it was much fun to produce none the less. Having Jancis in front of the lense and to myself for an hour was an experience I’ll never forget. The themes covered…The themes covered in the first part of the Jancis interview series are the following:
1. Mosel Bridge – B50 “One reason why I don’t like politics” (That’s me quoting me, not Jancis)
Some politicians (Germany’s Kurt Beck of the SPD party for one) has OK’d the building of Germany’s longest bridge (B50) in the Mosel Valley in order to shorten commuters’ routes by approx. 30 minutes – all in the name of progress! Not so far off is the Frankfurt Hahn airport which is one of Germany’s Ryan Air hubs… no wonder. With this behemoth they will also be destroying thousands of years of history. Great huh?
Link to Jancis Robinson’s article on the subject
More info on the Mosel Madness can be found on the Dr. Loosen site
Latest update offered by Sarah Washington (JAN 11-2010): The bridge building has not yet started, but trees are being cut down. The local resistance is growing now that the project is visible. Still a long way to go, but it is increasingly encouraging to see people fighting on all fronts – costs, environment, prize vineyards, lack of traffic, unstable geology, tourism, UNESCO etc.
The German press is finally taking notice – in no small part due to criticism from abroad. National radio will be here for a live radio debate on 13th January with the State Transport Minister. That will be noisy!
2. Cellared in Canada – “Another political schlamazel!” Me again.
The provincial governments of Canada (except Alberta, which is private) have their fat little fingers firmly grasped around the large alc cake, better known as a monopoly – but there’s no play money involved here. Billions of Canuck Dollars flow here in tax revenue and it’s all in the name of “responsible drinking” and “control”. The current cherry on the cake is the “Cellared in Canada” issue – wines are bought in bulk from wherever and once bottled in Canada, they receive this wonderful marketing slogan which nobody really cares to question. Jancis brings up some great points about this.
Join the Boycott Cellared in Canada Wines Facebook group
Link to an article on the subject – The WineHub
Part 002 will be online on Monday, JAN11 – come back soon now ye’hear!?
And keep on keepin’ ON!




Januar 6th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
What’s up with the Mamma Mia?
Januar 6th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
What?! You don’t like ABBA?
Januar 7th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Looking forward to the next two episodes … can’t wait to hear what music you pick for them, too!
Januar 7th, 2010 at 10:10 am
I’m from Finland…by nature I have to hate ABBA because it comes from Sweden =)
Januar 7th, 2010 at 10:20 am
@Wink – edit’s pretty much done, was asking myself the same Q ;-)
@Ilkka – ABBA isn’t Finnish… ooops? Does that mean you don’t like Roxette either?
Januar 7th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
They should build a transparent bridge maybe ;) ! Just kidding, this is very questionable idea with the bridge. And I’m truly not an anti-car activist!
Januar 7th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
When a project which was asleep for 40 years (and costs over 200 Million Euro) finally gets passed – very quietly may I add – one has to question the intentions of the politicians getting such projects pushed through.
As Jancis mentioned, if it wasn’t for the foreign uproar regarding this, I didn’t hear a word about it in the German press. If you enter the following search criteria on spiegel.de B50, Moselbrücke, Brücke Mosel, Brückenbau Mosel, Brücke B50 – absolutely nothing shows up. Funny huh?
Januar 9th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Tear down that Bridge!
Januar 11th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
The bridge building has not yet started, but trees are being cut down. The local resistance is growing now that the project is visible. Still a long way to go, but it is increasingly encouraging to see people fighting on all fronts – costs, environment, prize vineyards, lack of traffic, unstable geology, tourism, UNESCO etc.
The German press is finally taking notice – in no small part due to criticism from abroad. National radio will be here for a live radio debate on 13th January with the State Transport Minister. That will be noisy!
Januar 12th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Greetings Sarah,
Thank you for taking the time to update us on the current status. It’s about time the German press starts taking notice!!
Any news on petition results or feedback from Angie?
Look forward to meeting personally some time.
Januar 13th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Angie remains as tight-lipped as ever, so we must take the fight to her back yard.
The Prime Minister of Rheinland-Pfalz (Kurt Beck) refuses to make an appointment to accept the Feinschmecker petition. There were 3122 signatures, one third from outside Germany.
There is a new petition running until the end of Jan by the German Friends of the Earth:
http://www.bund-rlp.de/themen_projekte/verkehr_flaechenverbrauch/b50_hochmoseluebergang/
It is in German, but open to all and you can add comments to the national traffic and finance ministers.
Greetings also, to you and all monster bridge opponents!
Februar 6th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Have you got to be a certain age to use this?