On 28 December 2019, ElasmOcean, our association, was founded in the "Römer" forest inn in Leverkusen-Opladen. We share a special connection with the "Römer" and its proprietress Sigrid Fischer, who was also the first supporter of the young association and remains so to this day.
Built in 1915, "Der Römer", as the locals call it, is located in the immediate vicinity of the River Wupper. In over 100 years, the forest inn, which originally served as a summer residence for the local Römer family of industrialists, had never been hit by flooding to the extent experienced on 14 July 2021: the floodwaters inside the building rose up to 1.80 metres high. For days on end. And not just the inn: the whole of Opladen was submerged under metres of water. No one, not even the oldest residents, can recall such a disaster, despite the district being situated directly at the confluence of the Wupper and the Rhine. Clean-up operations began on Friday - and several of us actively helped on site. Friends help each other import to cope with a situation that is essentially overwhelming. And, indeed, we are familiar with this overwhelming state, and it motivates us. Climate change and species extinction, the two greatest challenges currently facing humanity, are overwhelming, especially if we do not finally take countermeasures.
Much remains to be done, not only to restore the "Römer" to what it once was, but above all to educate people about the devastating consequences of climate change for our oceans and for all of us. This week was a foretaste - perhaps, as a wake-up call, some good may come of this disaster.
A wave of solidarity and assistance has commenced in the disaster areas, not only in NRW. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this flood disaster. We wish strength, courage and hope to all those affected.
And we pledge to continue contributing through education and science to help overcome and, ideally, resolve these central crises.
