The Leipzig Book Fair is a sign of human rights and freedom of expression. At the opening ceremony of the four-day literary marathon the Association of German Publishers and Booksellers appealed on Wednesday to authors and publishers to step in and personally show the flag. “We need a counterweight to those who ask politically, without offering solutions,” said chief Heinrich Riethmüller, “the more striking propaganda chase, and who are so much louder than the thoughtful in society.”
The Berliner historian Heinrich August Winkler award at the event at the Gewandhaus with the Leipzig book prize for European understanding. The 77-year-old urged a “sustainable asylum policy” on. You must observe not only the limits of the reception and integration ability, but also retain the political support of the population.
Winkler received the prize, with 20,000 Euro award for his four-volume mammoth work “History of the West”. “The art to combine precise analysis and descriptive narrative, Winkler dominated like no other German historians,” said presenter Volker Ullrich.
Gewandhaus audience celebrating democracy
On each of 1900 lay courts Gewandhaus a poster to hold up with the admonition “for the word and freedom”. Riethmüller said: “We want to show that it is not we do not care if our values are taken into disrepute.” The unique publishing and literary scene in Germany was one of the pillars of democracy
Alexander Skipis. the chief executive of the Booksellers Association, said at a press conference beforehand, the association see with great concern the development of freedom of expression worldwide. He cited, inter alia, Turkey, where media have been put under state supervision.
The EU’s common values must also not be overlooked, “only because Turkey is to solve a problem that actually solve the Europeans themselves would “, Skipis said, referring to the planned refugee pact with Turkey.
Paper industry shows the future
the industry is, according to his words, despite a slight decline in sales last year (minus 1.7 percent) are optimistic about the Bücherfrühling. The trade has mastered the challenges of digitization in the last decade, so Skipis. “The industry is more sustainable than ever.”
At the Leipzig Book Fair to introduce yourself to the Sunday, 2250 exhibitors (previous year 2263) from 42 countries. “Leipzig Reads” Together with the accompanying reading festival organizers expect as last year around 250,000 visitors.
With the theme “Europa21″ it should go primarily to the future together with migrants and asylum seekers. Authors, philosophers and scientists from home and abroad to have their say in different events. “We in the exhibition business need an open society,” said director Oliver Zille.
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