On Sunday, July 18, came about something that we haven’t seen since the oil crisis in the 1970ies: the motorway A40 (near Dortmund) was car-free! But that was not due to the high gasoline prices, but due to culture in and around the Ruhrpott. A passage of 60 kilometers length between Duisburg and Dortmund was occupied by the festival “Still-Leben” – a lot of creative people, musicians, artists, as well as picnickers came together to celebrate.

And, needless to say, the Debattierclub Münster did not miss the opportunity to debate publicly during that cultural event – with the help of the debate club Debatte Dortmund. Nearly a dozen speakers debated on the motorway!

There were three public debates on the following topics (freely translated):

• Can we litter that or is it art?
• We need a 17th federal state Ruhr!
• No more air conditioners in ICEs!

The last debate attracted the most people, when the government called for changing the ICEs to “saunas on wheels” in order to make it easier for people to get to know each other. But as well the statement against art (from the “trucker from Wattenscheid”) was acknowledged with applause!

Putting it in a nutshell: 10 debaters, a temperature of about 50°C (at least that is what it felt like), two tables, 60 kilometers of closed motorway, three public debates, one sunburn per person and three millions spectators. That’s how it has to be!

Katharina Röhm / glx / saj