No new attendance record on site, but a significant increase in online viewership – that’s the result of the 11th European Tolerance Talks 2025. Over 8,000 interested people followed the 14 panel discussions via livestream, an increase of more than 25 percent compared to the previous year. On average, around 400 participants participated in each
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At the conclusion of the European Tolerance Talks 2025, the Board of Trustees of the Carinthian Democracy Workshop Denk.Raum.Fresach adopted a policy paper for a new understanding of the current global situation. The “Fresach World Order” provides explanations for historical developments and proposals for the future of Europe in an increasingly turbulent environment. Every single
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Longtime correspondent and war reporter Dr. Friedrich Orter (75) was awarded the European Tolerance Prize for Democracy and Human Rights by the City of Villach on Thursday evening. His gripping reports from many recent crisis regions and war zones have made television history, his commitment to truth and peace in the world is legendary, and
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Cathrin Kahlweit, longtime correspondent for the Süddeutsche Zeitung in London, Vienna, and Kyiv, advocates for a foreign and security policy buildup against internal and external enemies. In her speech at the opening of the European Tolerance Talks 2025 in the Carinthian mountain village of Fresach, the former peace activist emphasized the need to defend the
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Europe and its Enlightenment, the philosophers of the postwar period (Ghosts of the Present), concepts for more orientation (instead of order), ways out of the current labyrinth, and a compelling appeal for more independent thinking in dealing with concrete life situations were the focus of Renate Schmidtkunz’s opening discussion with the Berlin historian of philosophy
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Comedian Hosea Ratschiller and 70 students asked questions, and Hatto Käfer, a well-versed EU expert and former Commission official, delivered dry answers. This year’s youth forum at the Neue Bühne Villach was an entertaining hour of democracy education for young and old. The topic: Europe in Madness – Only with Humor 🙂 was met with
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The Tolerance Talks 2025 opened in Fresach on June 1st with an extraordinary reading by Carinthian author Lydia Mischkulnig and a brilliant performance on the significance of historical women’s literature by the two authors Elisabeth Hafner and Regina Klein. The event honored Enheduanna, the daughter of the Sumerian king Sargon of Akkad in Mesopotamia, the
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Klagenfurt Cathedral Pastor Peter Allmaier pointed out that the current madness in politics and society can also be viewed as a “consequence of a wrong lifestyle.” The Bible, in particular, provides numerous examples of how people became mad because they lived wrongly, Allmaier said at a press conference at Denk.Raum.Fresach in Klagenfurt. Allmaier’s entire statement
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Trump, tariffs, and the Ukraine war: Is the whole world in disarray? No, not in Fresach. Preparations for this year’s Tolerance Talks on the insane year of 2025 are running like a clockwork. The annual posters are already hanging on the Tolerance Museum’s wall, and the special exhibition on the topic “Madness – A World
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The spokesperson for Denk.Raum.Fresach, the Protestant superintendential curator for Carinthia and East Tyrol, Margarethe Prinz-Büchl, was a guest this week of Carinthian Governor Peter Kaiser, who thanked Kaiser for “her important commitment and the always attractive program of the tolerance talks.” Prinz-Büchl reported, among other things, on this year’s accompanying art project, which is being
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Hannes Swoboda, Chairman of the Board of the European Tolerance Talks, fears that politics is maneuvering itself into a situation from which it can no longer find a way out. Since the ideological and religious frameworks have largely dissolved, we should not be surprised that we are now stumbling into a society of madness, said
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The well-known Viennese essayist and author Franz Schuh thinks, current global political developments are no cause for concern, and the parallels to the years of rising fascism very theoretical. However, the gap between what is happening and what individuals suffer seems unbridgeable. Schuh quoted Niklas Luhmann: “We live in such a way that everything can
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The European Tolerance Talks will take place in Fresach and Villach from June 1 to 7. Experts from literature, science, and business will discuss Europe and the new world order for a week under the motto “Madness – A World in Disorder?” “Oligarchs of all countries, unite with anti-democratic politicians and divide the world among
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In the presence of Governor Peter Kaiser, Villach’s Mayor Günther Albel, and Cathedral Priest Peter Allmaier, the program presentation for the European Tolerance Talks 2025 took place on March 18 in the Hall of Mirrors of the Carinthian federal government. Prior to this, the board of directors, consisting of Manfred Sauer, Margarethe Prinz-Büchl, and Doris
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European Forum with Franz Schuh on the Occasion of the Tolerance Talks 2025 Never before in recent decades has the global geopolitical situation changed so dramatically, disruptively, and overnight as in the past few months since the re-election of the new and old US President. Security guarantees thrown out the window, trade customs suspended, deals
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“Madness – a world in disarray?” is the theme of the 11th European Tolerance Talks from June 1 to 7, 2025 – and the focus is on the diverse worries and concerns about the increasing erosion of the rules of the game in international relations that have been in place for decades, the consequences of
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In the super election year of 2024, the search for truth in times of fake news, AI and manipulative algorithms was the focus of public discussion, and the European Tolerance Talks got to the bottom of the increasing loss of political perspectives. The results of the interdisciplinary literature and science talks are now available in
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The 10th European Tolerance Talks scored new highs among visitors on site and on the Internet. Over 1,000 truth seekers took part in the twelve discussion rounds, more than 6,000 people followed the lectures and panels live on the Internet, and Armin Thurnher’s opening on Thursday morning was attended by over 1,000 interested people on
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At the conclusion of the European Tolerance Talks 2024, the Denk.Raum.Fresach Board adopted a truth charter in which the principles and methods for researching truth are defined. Governments and civil society are called upon to strengthen trust in scientific methods for finding the truth, it says. This cannot be achieved through regulations or laws, but
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In his opening speech at the European Tolerance Talks in the Carinthian mountain village of Fresach, the editor of the Vienna city newspaper FALTER, Armin Thurnher, called for a Europe-wide strengthening of public broadcasting as a counterweight to the global power of the tech giants. For him, it is “completely otherworldly that our rulers do
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The European politician Hannes Swoboda (78) was honored on Thursday evening in Fresach for his political life’s work in the spirit of tolerance, democracy and human rights. Swoboda gained respect and recognition for his social commitment across ideological boundaries; he built bridges with his political and cultural commitment and encouraged many people to think and
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The Czech author and translator Radka Denemarková (56) accepted the European Tolerance Prize for Democracy and Human Rights from the city of Villach on Thursday evening. According to the jury, Denemarková knows how to weave a wide variety of characters and anecdotes into an imaginative literary tapestry like no other political writer. Her uncompromising commitment
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Big surprise: We won the Austrian European State Prize 2024 in the “Europe in the Community” category with the European Tolerance Talks! Fresach-Mayor Gerhard Altziebler and the Denk.Raum.Fresach (DRF) team accepted the award from European Minister Karoline Edtstadler in Vienna on Tuesday. “For us, this is a special recognition,” said Wilfried Seywald from the Denkwerkstatt.
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The Carinthian mountain village of Fresach is among the finalists of the Austrian “European Award 2024”. The municipality was able to convince in the “Europe in the community” category with the European Tolerance Talks. With this project, Fresach is making a significant contribution to achieving the common goals of European understanding and strengthening European awareness,
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“Truth – What is real?” is the subject of the 10th European Tolerance Talks in the Carinthian mountain village of Fresach from May 15th to 18th, 2025 – and the focus is on the diverse concerns about increasing attempts to influence democratic elections through news manipulation and alternative facts. Over 30 experts from philosophy and
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Europe before the elections – Europe before the elections Three dozen philosophers, scientists, authors and economists will discuss the topc “Truth and what is real?” at the 10th European Tolerance Talks, which will take place this year from May 15th to 18th in Villach and Fresach. The topic is particularly relevant in view of the
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In the town hall of the city of Villach, Denk.Raum.Fresach presented on Thursday the program of the 10th European Tolerance Talks from May 15 to 18, 2024. Three dozen philosophers, scientists, authors and economists will discuss “Truth and what is real?“ The topic is particularly relevant in view of the upcoming European elections in June
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Truth from the perspective of reality: When a quotations researcher and a computer science philosopher meet a psychotherapist and a politician, different definitions of terms naturally arise. The panel at the presentation of the 2024 Tolerance Talks on Thursday evening in Vienna agreed on one thing. The digitalization and the associated algorithmization of all processes
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Truth is a big word and, especially in politics, a requirement that can hardly be fulfilled. Social and economic coexistence is almost always about asserting interests and distributing resources and not about finding the truth of all. The 2024 European elections are therefore an opportunity to shed light on many truths that are being widely
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At the end of the European Tolerance Talks 2023, the board of trustees of Denk.Raum.Fresach published a growth charter in which the increasing social inequality in the world is denounced. Future growth must be lived, organized and operated in terms of sustainability. Only then can the dynamic that sustains life and improves the living conditions
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The former bishop of the Evangelical Church in Austria, Michael Bünker (69), was honored with the European Tolerance Prize from the city of Villach and Denk.Raum.Fresach. As a moral authority with a high level of social commitment, Bünker has always advocated dialogue, democracy and human rights, according to the jury’s reasoning. His voice has the
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The consequences of excessive economic growth and the growing inequality in the world due to the overexploitation of fossil and regenerative resources are the focus of the 9th European Tolerance Talks (ETG), which begin on Wednesday evening in Carinthia. More than 30 thinkers will take part in the dialogue forums, which will take place in
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At a lecture in Vienna, the Israeli-American psychoanalyst Era Loewenstein warned of the burgeoning right-wing extremism in Europe and the USA, but at the same time added that there is no escaping these tendencies. The ugly face of fascism is a constant by-product of modern democracies, the only effective remedy is constant work to remember
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Under the title “Growth at the End – What now?” around 35 experts, scientists and economists and their audience are invited to discuss the meaning of growth and its effects on society. The European Tolerance Talks will take place from May 24th to 27th, 2023. The talks will open this year with a double premiere.
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The traditional Carinthian Writers’ Association (KSV) will in future enrich the European Tolerance Talks as a source of ideas and a cooperation partner. Past President Gabriele Russwurm-Biró and the new President Alfred Woschitz will join the Board and the Board of Trustees of the Tolerance Talks. This was announced by DRF chairman Superintendent Manfred Sauer
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In the mirror hall of the Carinthian state government, the Denk.Raum.Fresach (DRF) presented its program of the European Tolerance Talks 2023 today, Tuesday, and the mood was – like every year – very optimistic, full of hope and expectation. Under the title “Growth at the end – what now?” this year, around 35 experts, scientists
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No prosperity without growth, no development without hunger for more – the problem of growth has always divided experts from left to right – 50 years after the “Club of Rome” report “The Limits to Growth”, the European Tolerance Talks 2023 in Fresach will deal with the Theme. On the occasion of the presentation of
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Climate change and species extinction pose enormous problems for mankind. Scientists say: We have to change our lives and our way of doing business, because natural resources are finite. But is that even possible? Is it so easy to flip an economic system based on growth? The European Tolerance Talks from May 24th to 27th,
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Climate change, war and pandemics – the many crises have made us thoughtful, and in some cases even worried. 50 years after the Club of Rome report “The Limits to Growth” we are still confronted with the negative effects of uncompromising growth. The European Tolerance Talks 2023 are dedicated to this red-hot topic, the program
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The reading book of the Tolerance Talks 2022 “CHANGE – How does the new get into the system?” is now available, with a series of contributions to the discussion, for members and friends of Denk.Raum.Fresach, which can now also be ordered online on Books on Demand. https://bit.ly/3QOH7PP For Hannes Swoboda, President of the Board of
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Climate change, pandemic, high inflation and the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine are forcing global travel to undergo a course correction, the effects of which are not yet foreseeable. In order for travelers to continue to be able to live out their longings in the future, however, radical rethinking is required. “Continuing as before
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In Fresach, the German-Afghan Islam researcher Ahmad Milad Karimi encouraged a new understanding of the major world religions and called for a new start in interreligious dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims. In doing so, he held his own fellow believers responsible in particular. “Muslims must rise up in revolt and stop pretending that everything
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The well-known Munich neuromarketing expert Hans-Georg Häusel explained in his introductory statement “How does the new come into the world” that it is primarily the emotional systems that drive us. It is the ongoing tension in the brain that people try to balance and thereby intuitively cause change. Two central tasks drive humans evolutionarily. survival
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“The change in our society is currently not coming from democratic-political movements, but from autocrats, war and the pandemic. This presents our democracy with major challenges that we can only master if we overcome the polarization of the population and learn to make compromises again.” Political scientist Sieglinde Rosenberger came to this conclusion during the
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The Viennese political scientist and integration researcher Sieglinde Rosenberger was awarded the European Tolerance Prize for Democracy and Human Rights by the City of Villach in Fresach on Thursday evening. According to the jury, Rosenberger had sensitized generations of students to political participation, diversity and inclusion. Sieglinde Rosenberger researches and teaches at the University of
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The European Tolerance Talks 2022 were opened on Thursday in the Carinthian mountain village of Fresach with a historically based plea for a “post-national European democracy”. The European Union has always developed out of and through crises, and is currently confronted with “multiple crises”. In order to overcome these crises, Europe must bid farewell to
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The European Tolerance Talks (June 1 to 4, 2022) will again be broadcast in full and live on the Internet this year. “We want to make it possible for the many international supporters of our dialogue forum to be there if they are unable to come themselves,” says Superintendent Manfred Sauer from the Carinthian organizer
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This year’s European Tolerance Talks from 1 to 4 June 2022 in Fresach promise nothing less than a program for the reorganization of Europe. On the occasion of the presentation of the program on March 9th in the Club Carinthia of the Oberbank Vienna, the President of the Board, Hannes Swoboda, said: “Regardless of what
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Climate change, the corona pandemic and now the Russian aggression war towards Ukraine have taught us with all severity: The world is in upheaval, and CHANGE is mostly the result of external constraints. This raises the question of how complex systems work and how new things can be established. This is exactly what the European
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At its Annual General Meeting in Klagenfurt on Wednesday, the Board of Trustees of the European Tolerance Talks 2022 presented its 2022 program and in this context called for a systemic change in politics and business. The talks will take place in Villach and Fresach from June 1st to 4th. The Federal Government of Carinthia
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