Solidarregion Weiz

Project owner: Solidarregion Weiz

Responsible person: Mag. Fery Berger

2009

1,000 Euro Prize

AT

What is it about?

As a reaction to a regional crisis, people from the Styrian borough of Weiz decided to take action. In 2005, they set up a grassroots initiative group and since then have devoted themselves to a fundamental regeneration of society in economic, social, ecological and ethical terms. On this basis, they have developed concrete projects: a solidarity savings account and solidarity loans improve the regional economic cycle, while solidarity companies receive awards and solidarity prizes are awarded. The local food supply has been boosted and a local currency has been (further) developed. A donation of one euro per inhabitant means that €80,000 per year is forwarded to “One World projects”, which shows how the local and the global can complement each other.

Appreciation of the Jury

In 2009, the jury awarded a prize of €1000 to the “grassroots movement par excellence” for its “unusual combination of far-ranging, visionary, and fundamental issues with small, concrete and selective activities”.