Call for openness and humanity

Preamble
Against the backdrop of recent developments in Zittau’s civic society—which most recently culminated in the disruption of a Zittau City Council meeting by angry citizens in connection with the planned housing of refugees in the Hirschfelde neighborhood—Zittau University of Applied Sciences/Görlitz and the IHI Zittau at the Technical University of Dresden issue the following appeal:

We are living in challenging times. Our society faces multiple and complex challenges that call into question what we have come to know and trust, and require new proposals, solutions, and their critical evaluation. These challenges create pressure to act and cause uncertainty—for society as a whole, but also for each and every one of us.

Our society is changing rapidly. We are part of global and European dynamics of change and, at the same time, are busy solving our own development challenges. The issues that concern us all range from an aging population and the growing shortage of skilled workers to climate change and digitalization, as well as refugee migration and regional structural change in connection with the decision to phase out lignite-fired power generation.

Shaping the future requires a culture of democratic debate. Whether we’re discussing these issues at home around the kitchen table, during a break at work, or in political decision-making bodies, a democratic culture is essential. It requires recognition of others and their positions as equals, the ability to listen, and the willingness to solve problems democratically and collectively.

Humanity is a prerequisite for any democratic debate. Without humanity, a society risks becoming callous and losing its social cohesion. We act humanely when we provide recognition for one another as people with fundamentally equal rights and treat one another with respect, support, and solidarity—whether they are old acquaintances, German citizens we do not know, or people seeking protection in our country from persecution, war, or work and personal happiness in our country. We in the tri-border region have experienced firsthand in the past what closed borders mean. This makes us appreciate all the more that we can move freely and without borders today. It has become part of our everyday life.

As academic institutions in the Tri-Border Region, we embody openness, humanity, and democracy. Our students and colleagues come to us from all over the world. What sets us apart as institutions of education and science is that we are both family-oriented and globally focused. The people and the economy of our tri-border region also benefit from this diversity, openness, and global cooperation.