The+Borna+Perspective





** The Goal of Scientists 2010: The Future of Energy **

** I ** s mankind threatened by an energy shortage? Will oil and gas deposits really be enough for the next forty or fifty years? When will world-wide rising demand for energy be fulfilled? When fewer media reports are exaggerated, this will still be certain: the question of a sustainable energy source, that is safe, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly will be of central importance to mankind in the coming decade.

The scientific community has devoted itself to the future of energy. In the middle sit the new approaches for world-wide energy development and in the spot light is the work done by German researches across a variety of disciplines. They work towards an environmentally friendly and efficient use of different energy sources, dividing their time equally between new resources.

Of course, solutions for storage, distribution and transport are also being sought. Researchers are giving us a look into the energy sources of tomorrow. Be it hydro power, fusion or biofuel, scientists are opening their laboratories to visitors and bringing the newest technologies and methods visibly to life.

** Issues of Scientific Interest: Energy ** There are four fields that deal with the future of energy but for each, this remains true: only when a variety of different scientists work together can a sustainable solution be developed. This systematic approach is the basis for successful research.

** Responsible Energy Use: Research for Climate Protection ** How much longer can fossil fuels provide energy for us? How can we reduce emissions? Why do we store CO2 underground?

** Intelligent Energy Use: Research into Efficiency ** How can we save energy at home or at work? What role does controlled consumption play? How will power be divided into “intelligent networks?”

** Developing Alternative Energy Sources: Research into New Resources ** What can we learn from nature? How can we make use of renewable energy sources? Will nuclear fusion usher in a new era?

** Understanding Global Energy: Research into International Discourse ** How can we solve the issue of fair distribution? How can we bring about worldwide understanding? What can German research contribute?

** Germans convinced of climate change ** Many see snow masses as exception; global warming confirmed

The amount of snow in Berlin last December is no argument for climate change. Germans everywhere are in doubt of global warming. According to a survey done by the German News Agency, almost 60% of Germans see the “Ice-Month” as an exception to global warming while almost 80% do not believe that climate change can be stopped. Stephan Rahmstorf, one if the leading German researches of climate change gave his statement on the phenomenon. This year has been the warmest the world over since measurements began being taken in the 19th century. At the same time, however the ice cover on the arctic sea reached a new depth record in 2010. Many other researcher are taking note of the weather extremes and claiming they are symptoms of climate change. Meteorologist Andreas Friedrich sees these as chaotic coincidences while Hans Schipper notes the increase in the earth’s temperature. Of the 1020 polled, everyone agreed that the policies put forth cannot overcome global warming. Seventy-eight percent believe that conferences simply cannot bring about the measures that need to be taken. Germans are also not ready to dig deeper into their pockets to pay for an ecological change. The percentage of people willing to purchase climate-friendly, renewable energy dropped roughly 70% to 46.7%. This is connected to the fact that in 2011 all energy service providers increased their prices by 3.5 cents, almost double the previous price.

**__ Neuseenland in Saxony __**

**__ Geographic Location __** The notion //Southern Surroundings of Leipzig// marks a **landscape and an area of settlement and economic activity** as well. It is situated between Leipzig in the North and the cities of Zeitz and Altenburg and the landscape Kohrener Land in the South. It covers in Saxony an area of **530 square kilometers with 120 000 residents living in 32 cities and villages.** It is not a region in the traditional sense, there are neither geographic conditions as mountains are a costal shore nor mental peculiarities that could constitute an regional cohesion. It is almost solely the experience of a remarkable common economic and social history. For a better understanding our present situation and a future aspirations I am going to to outline as short and roughly as possible the most important features of this history. The fertile water meadows provided the Südraum a reasonable income for several centuries. 200 or 300 years ago it was a very beautiful landscape with lakes, small rivers, splendid woods, large meadows and rich soils. = The Solution?  =