One's for me and the three others are for you.
The worst is always the friday.
Most people arrive friday evening and night.
They start partying on the motorway already in the traffic jams.
They're already dancing and god knows what else.
I always say that we should let them party - they put on a good event
and they don't bother anyone else too much.
Gerd Sievers raced here a while back and his wife was finnish.
She was also at the race and said it was beautiful here and a lot like in Finland.
Because of all the lakes and forests and the small number of people and villages.
She felt right at home.
Not everyone can leave though.
If there was work here, and we could offer jobs and prospects, lots of people would come back.
It's all about jobs.
LAND AHOY
It's always the same when people come here from the city.
For example, one guy got on and asked ''How often does the bus go?''
I said: ''Twice.'' He said: ''What, only twice a day?''
I said: ''No, twice a week!''
It's hard for them to even imagine that.
So now we're driving to Maxi's place, as I promised to give her my Fusion ticket.
It's not really my thing. I prefer being on stage to watching. That's just how I am.
I don't like just being a spectator.
For example, there was a trucker convention here. They said ''Mr. Mayor, you have to come along and drive a tank.''
They had a tank there and I chose the route it would drive.
I was invited to get in the tank with the guys and off we went.
It would have been better if could have driven it though. That would have been exciting!
I didn't like just being in the passenger seat.
We want to have a feeling of space here - it's an enormous area.
People don't come here just to fly around.
They come because they want to discover the region.
Are you ready?
Okay, my name is Berthold Held.
I'm the director of the company developing and operating Müritz Airpark.
We are developing a project on the former military airfield in Rechlin-Lärz
To the north here you'll find the 'Kulturkosmos'.
Many people ask us if that might trigger conflicts. But we're neutral on that issue.
I always compare it to Namibia.
The air is similar here, not so warm unfortunately, but the air quality is similar.
I currently live in the Rhine-main region.
And once you've experienced the climate in Rhine-Main, you really learn to appreciate it.
Yeah, the last time we saw each other was when you played on 1st of may in Berlin.
I thought, ''Wow, we really need to get them back at Fusion.''
No, I'm here on the airfield in Lärz.
Everything's full for Thursday already. Friday could be difficult.
Don't worry about it.
Yeah, we'll try and sort out friday or saturday.
When we discovered the site and had our first event here, we had around 800 people.
It wasn't even called Fusion festival then. We weren't thinking about a festival at all.
But it was clear that this site had a lot of potential.
We went to the mayor and told him we had held an event.
Back then, the issue was that we hadn't announced it in advance.
We told them that we wouldn't register how many people would be attending future events either.
We wanted to see who would be interested and let it grow of its own accord.
We said the big festival would cover all our other activities.
We created our own cosmos of funding and subsidies.
That's cool how they're pulling that thing down. Construction and deconstruction.
You mentioned that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern doesn't have much infrastructure.
Does Fusion have an influence in the region?
Regional influence? I don't know. At the start, we were the West Germans.
The West Germans who were weird and threw strange parties.
Which conflicts came along with the growth of Kulturkosmos?
Actually it was more what happened around the festival.
The people here suddenly had people around them
that didn't belong here and who were quite alternative.
And they saw the festival as attracting a particular clientel who came here to take lots of drugs.
When we talked to the organisers they saw it differently, emphasising the cultural aspects of the festival.
They said that it was the cultural aspects of the festival that attracted people.
It is difficult for us to prove that that isn't the case.
That's difficult.
It was impossible to prohibit it.
Also because it wouldn't have made any sense from our point of view.
But we said to ourselves: "It would be reasonable to enter in a dialogue."
It was clear from the start that if we wanted to be welcomed here, we would have to approach people
ourselves and that we couldn't just ignore any concerns or resentment people had.
We represented a confrontation for them. Initially, they were just stunned.
What is this? How does it work? Right from the start, it was also fascinating for them.
This electronic music was new to us, this boom, boom, boom. Then you had this avant-garde art or whatever it's called.
This was all unexplored territory for us. We thought: Oh God, this is just all about doing drugs.
Shall I? ''Citizens of Rechlin, awake from your slumber! Do not allow parts of the airfield to be sold
to the organisers of a drug-fuelled event. All our livelihoods are at stake here, our children,
our beautiful countryside, our region's reputation!''
So yes, you're right. It was that controversial, that extreme at the time.
We'd just lived through the reunification, no one really knew what was ahead.
What would our future even look like? Everything just caved in on the people here, in such a small town.
But in terms of quality, so much has changed! - Not just in terms of quality!
These days everyone knows that Eule or Kulturkosmos, that you're genuinely creating jobs and generating business.
That's also an essential point, how the shops benefit from it. The supermarkets, the whole region,
the farmers you do business with, the young people earning some extra money at the event.
You have partnerships with the youth club, with schools, you've built up long-term relationsips with them, Frau Lindner!
We've come so far, by this point, that it actually is like a drug. If we didn't have it, we'd be suffering from withdrawal!
Yes, that may even happen, as we're thinking about skipping a year next year.
Ah! That is the reason for the rumours!
So, on you come!
Kulturkosmos is an integral part of the airfield.
As for development of the region,
I wouldn't really say so.
They support some individual projects in the cultural sphere,
but it doesn't go much further than that.
I don't see anything else substantial.
Development would mean creating jobs,
generating tax revenues for the local governments.
That's what we need.
Financially, we need to a large degree rely on ourselves.
The allotments from the state have halved.
We used to get more than 200,000 Euros.
Now we have 100,000.
That is the deficit we have.
We have a shortfall of 116,000 euros.
That's the amount that's been cut by the national government.
And the Kulturkosmos brings no money?
No, not in the municipal fund.
The airfield!
To think of all the things we've been through.
What hasn't been tried out or planned here over the years?
And everything has failed.
I mean, when you look at all the things you can do with a hangar!
It's something else altogether.
It's exciting (the Müritz Airpark).
And at the moment our project is the only one to be taken seriously.
We've made a short video showing all the leisure activities our project could offer.
We have the opportunity here to create a great 18-hole golf course.
Here you can see the marina, which would look like a small fishing village.
It would also be the shape of a natural lake, not a rectangle.
And here's the really special thing: you would be able to drive your plane right into your own personal garage.
Meanwhile, there is a clear trend towards subsidizing gulf courses,
as this attracts a different clientel.
We create employment.
Another advantage is that there aren't many opponents to the plan as the area is so sparsly populated.
Everything looks to be in order here.
So, all aboard!
When you're in another part of the world and someone asks: ''So where are you from?'', ''From Müritz.''
''Where's that?''
Then you say: ''I'm from Lärz.'' And suddenly people know it.
''Oh, Lärz! I've been there!''
I'm the kind of guy who take a lot of ideas away from it.
I'm actually a bit of a handyman myself.
I like making these kinds of gnomes or fantasy figures.
I really like watching what's on at the cinema.
And when they show a film with live music, with someone actually playing at the front,
that's really fantastic.
Also when you get to see films from your own childhood.
They don't get shown anywhere else.
Jörg, what is your impression: How do people here in the region perceive Kulturkosmos?
Honestly, there are a lot of people that have never been here.
They ask : "What should I do there?"
They just make this boom-boom music.
Lots of them don't even know the site here.
And then I tell them: "Come on. Go and have a look."
"Especially when it is getting dark and the lights are turned on."
"All these impressions you can take with you."
But some people are simply not interested.
The youth is really open-minded.
They all come here.
Alright guys.
Before we get to the scores, I'd like to welcome you all here today.
20 years of the Youth Fire Service - it's a very good volunteer programme and a worthwhile activity
for these children and young people. It means they're not hanging out on the street,
they're coming here to learn skills that benefit the community.
Alright, so why don't we bring the day to a close with three cheers:
''Good hose! Good hose! Good hose!''
Thank you! You're free to go, have something to drink, something to eat.
You can also attend our next event, as we're about to inaugurate our playground.
We love our home,
when the deer call in the morning.
When the wind quietly echoes
through the green canopies.
Come, let yourself be led astray,
youÕll see, it's never too early.
You want to feel nature more deeply,
a day more beautiful than ever.
No, get out of here!
It's time for the official handover now, get out of here!
- Didn't you say I can put your medal on?
No, I didn't say that. So, go on over there now! Scram!
I hope you can hear me okay, let's have some quiet now
so we can get started with the handover of the playground.
A very important aspect for the future will be citizen engagement for their own communities.
Kulturkosmos has been around for many years, since '97 I think. But they're doing it more for themselves.
And above all these are people you're not really in contact with.
It's very reminiscent of the '68 generation, the Red Army Faction era and so on.
And that's an important thing, to remain in the trusted circle of the municipalities.
Well, if the festival came to us and said, ''Would you like to perform your dance show one year?''
It's about an hour or ninety minutes long. We'd have to talk about it, we'd have to think about it.
The Müritz dance team!
One more dance? - Yeah!
I can see the ladies are willing! they're bopping along already.
Eule, can we take it step by step?
- That's what I also think.
Then let me welcome you first of all to today's Culture Meet-Up.
Naturally we're focusing on preparations for the 775th anniversary.
The most pressing matter is how to organise the parade. We have the individual elements,
but it's a matter of arranging them, deciding on the order and passing on this information clearly.
I just have to say briefly, about this event on Friday, when I read your letter I got the feeling
it's going to be a CDU Party event. When I see, Òour honoured guests Rehberg, Seidel, Ringuth, Diener.
- But they are the ones that said they're coming. - Are the public invited here?
Not to today's meeting.There's no point. - Why not? - They won't come.
I'm wondering, where are the associations here, who can provide people and get things done?
What associations do we have? Apart from the sports club and the dance club. There aren't any others.
You know what I think is lacking here in Lärz? There's a lack of people acting on their own initiative who say,
''I'll do this, I'll do that, and I'll do that.''
But here we are, two weeks before the event, with around eight people. - When really the room should be full.
Well we've also got the choir the village church, they're also preparing something.
- Yes, but Hartmut, what are they doing? I've already said, our firefighters all have their hands full already,
because we have to transport all the equipment and everything.
The riding club is out, so's the cycling club, and so on. Everybody's asking who is going to do everything.
There are only a few of us.
I'm wondering whether we might be creating a bubble and we're going to be left standing there with a few bumpkins.
And this is quite clearly a question for you, whether you could persuade a few of your people to join in.
- Sureley there are also Lärz residents who would also participate.
- Well, you know, it can't be the case that Kulturkosmos picks up the slack for those.
If I say to the people who work for us, ''Come along!'' Then maybe some will come,
but I can't say to them, ''Come along, because there's someone missing here,
and someone missing there.'' They'll say, ''Are you crazy? It's Saturday, it's the weekend.''
Hallowed be thy Sunday shopping, thy leaflets come,
thy deals be done, on earth as in H&M,
give us this day our daily coupons and extend our overdraft as we place our faith in our solvency.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from all spirituality,
for thine is the Walmart, the purchasing power and the instant gratification,
forever and ever, Amen.
The next one's the track from the album, right?
Right!
Unbelievable! The things you do for Acker Records!
Why SOS?
Well, one of the reasons behind it was:
SOS - nothing's happening, SOS - no one's doing anything,
SOS - we need to do something ourselves.
That was the original idea.
Some of the people from the collective went to Berlin,
because of course the career prospects were better,
but some few have come back.
And since being right wing became part of the youth culture in Neustrelitz we said to ourselves:
''We've got to do something about this!''
''More and more refugees are arriving on the Italian island of Lampedusa''
Over the years we've often met people, young people, who say:
''We think it's great what you're doing and we want to help.''
Every month there's an SOS party, and I go every time.
What is it?
SOS Underground.
It's not so square, you know?
These days you go to a club, everyone's wearing their baseball cap, they're so full of themselves, with their tank tops.
And here everything's so peaceful,
you don't see anyone giving anyone else shit.
Everyone wants to get along with each other and that's just awesome.
If you have a ticket voucher, please go under the white gazebo, that will be a lot quicker!
To the left of that is the Job Centre. Anyone with a PDF that says ''Arbeitsamt'' on it, go to the Job Centre.
And to the left of that is the Embassy. Anyone else can go there.
Do you still have the group under control?
7020, do you still have the group under control?
We're gasping for breath in here.
- Sorry? - We're gasping for breath in here.
The "Utopian Socialists" used to be there too one day.
That is the philosophy that Mr. Eulenhaupt represents:
With the motto "Everybody is free there."
But this is actually not entirely like that.
They've got their own rules and ways of doing things. And their house rules work in their own special way.
I'll give you just one example: festivalgoers are given a rubbish bag with their entrance tickets.
And when they bring back that rubbish bag, they get ten euros.
I think that's a good, progressive way of doing things.
It's been like that for years, and it works!
And that's the reason why I say: Okay, this is a lawless space,
but there are still rules that everyone follows.
Thanks to the festival, I would say, the youth learns to help each other.
I never experienced that, in case that somebody is off his feet, others would leave him on the ground.
Either they checked and said "sleep a little".
Or they brought him immediately to the medical service.
I welcome all this.
I never had problems there. On the contrary:
I asked them: "Do you have any concerns?"
Then I took some eggs and said:
As I know that they are working all night long.
"Put them in a pan and fry them."
So and they were always thankful. And everytime I come they say: Ah, there you are!
And I say: I still have chickens.
I go upstairs to get it. To show you that it is not witchcraft.
That it is not a make up I can show you in cold print.
I will keep it until -
One moment.
There it is!
Hold your horses!
Look.
This is my contract that I insisted on.
And if I stay in contract
more order will be established.
There's reason for suspicion here. Drugs. That's why we're not letting her drive any further,
and the woman has refused to take over the vehicle for whatever reason.
So we've pushed it over to the side.
We can hardly let her drive again once we've established our suspicion.
IÕm sure your attitude to life plays a role as well. If you're just seeking this infinite freedom,
perhaps you're inclined to do something like that. It's difficult.
- Where did you get this phrase from, infinite freedom?
Yeah, this! In conversations you hear these things. Or maybe I read it somewhere.
I don't know! The things you're asking me.
Great, thanks a lot!
This here seems to be the world of my nephew - of our Dirk, our Dirki.
And again that was something where at first I said: why does he have to come here?
Could he not do something else?
But now I'm really proud that one of our clan is involved, that he adds his own thread to this wonderful tapestry.
I think he would be pleased to know that I said that?
My first impression of Fusion was terrible. I thought it was nothing but organised noise.
Boom, boom, boom - all day and all night. And I thought Òthose people must be insane.
I dealt with the festival from he legal and regulatory side of things.
That's when I rang Eule. I said to him: it is such a big hurdle,
this permit - I'm going to have to deny it.
Because it isn't your average weekend event with a carousel and three shooting galleries.
The event has to be cancelled.
Eule said: ''Okay fine, I won't do anything. But youÕll have to make it clear
to the 30,000 people on the motorway on their way over here that they have to turn around and go home.''
And I said: ''Okay, then come!''
The switch flipped for me after chatting to a police officer, Inspector Etzold. He said to me:
''Eule and his team have held a lot of talks with locals.
You just have to accept the fact that we have more fights, more trouble and more stress
at every small village fete here than we do with this huge event.
Thousands of people from all over the world just come here and have a good time.''
And that's when the switch flipped and I said: he is right, that guy is right, he's absolutely right!
Another great concept: a job centre!
When I first heard that there was a job centre, I though: ''Oh god, oh god.
Have they got things massively wrong here?''
But no, it's a really different kind of job centre! just brilliant!
The "Arbeitsamt" did an excellent job. That is definite.
Otherwise, as in the past years, you would not have been able to walk along here due to the bottles and the debris.
That is definite.
For our region, this is a big benefit.
I even argue for an expansion of this site,
because the demand is still rising.
But the amount of work that goes into preparing everything, hardly anyone sees that.
I accompanied a 92-year-old woman because her granddaughter asked me: could you fix it for my
grandmother to see what's happening on the site. So I picked her up.
I had to carry her into the car because the old dear wasn't so steady on her feet.
In her youth she did her service here on the airfield, during the war and even before the war.
She used to work here so she simply wanted to see, what's happened to this airfield now?
And she was so overwhelmed, that was actually the most beautiful experience I had here.