Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden - Comparing Environmental Policies in 16 Countries - page 61

the government's electric utility for dams, with mixed success. It formed
alliances with the Isar Valley Society, the national Conservation Ring,
and the Alpine Society. As the post-war Economic Miracle began, the
now prosperous workers flooded out of cities in their new automobiles
to remote beaches, lakes, and mountains. A ski resort company proposed
to construct a lift to the peak of Jenner Mountain, famed for its jagged
beauty. Preservationists objected. Eventually, they compromised with the
tourist industry in return for its promise never to build any other ski lifts
nearby. When forests were endangered by clear cutting and demands for
fuel, people organized the Protective Association for the German Forest.
High demand for coal prompted a proposal to strip mine near the Hohe
Meissner, a unique geological formation. This triggered formation of
a group to protect the site. Ultimately, the government permitted strip
mining, but with safeguards. 15
Water pollution loomed as a problem. The Rhine was labeled “Germany's
Biggest Sewer.” One study recorded more than a hundred major fish kills
in the country every year. Detergent suds caused foaming in streams
and canals. Run off from oil and gasoline fouled them. The Alliance for
Protection of Germany's Waters, founded in 1951, called for a national
water pollution control law. The group was a federation of nature groups
plus individual members. It cooperated with groups like the Federal Union
of German Industry. 16
During the 1950s concern emerged that the industrial recovery of West
Germany was damaging the workers' mental and physical health. Diseases
like high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, and cancer were increasing.
The solution advocated was to get back into closer contact with nature.
Therefore, the country needed more parks and peaceful oases. These
did not necessarily have to be wilderness areas, of which virtually none
existed but could be recreated with rehabilitated forests, streams and
lakes. By 1962 21 parks had been established with an extent of 2½ million
acres, and more were added later. 17
Air pollution became an issue in the 1961 federal election, with Willy
Brandt, the Socialist candidate for chancellor, calling for “Blue Skies over
the Ruhr.” Not enough voters were persuaded (since his party lost), and
industry was opposed. Although the effort was not effective at the national
level, in 1962 the North Rhine-Westphalia state (Land) legislature enacted
a comprehensive air pollution control law. 18 The Socialist Party was strong
in this state. Soon four other states passed similar laws. The national gov-
ernment had passed the Clean Air Maintenance Law in 1959 in order to