Germany Is Better Than Its Neighbors - 1665 Words

1. Uekà ¶tter says, â€Å"What all this comes down to is that having environmental potential and using it are two different things. Conditions in a certain country can offer a certain solution, but it is by no means certain that the country will take that path† (19). He goes on in the same paragraph to also say, â€Å"Rather than pondering the question of whether Germany is better than its neighbors, it brings us to as whether, when, and to what extent Germany realized its possibilities† (19). In my opinion, I believe that the second quote directly reflects upon the first quote. He is not trying to compare Germany to every other country, and talk about how much better and efficient it is, he is simply trying to talk about Germany’s environmental†¦show more content†¦Tying this quote back to the others from Uekà ¶tter, I believe that he is describing this to be Germany first finding out about its potential, but at the same time, Germany was hesitant to do anything about the growing problems. Officials were unsure and wanted to keep control. â€Å"It is quite telling that American city governments eventually found a more efficient strategy in the fight against the urban coal smoke nuisance than did German administrators† (19-20). This goes back to potential. Germany had the potential, and they did not take it, whereas the United States did. The post 1914 era was filled with war. The world wars had major effects on the environmental movement for Germany, leaving it at a â€Å"standstill† as Uekà ¶tter describes. After the first war, though, in 1935, Germany passed a conservation law. He goes on to describe many more new types of environmental advancements, but adds, â€Å"And yet these were isolated achievements, devoid of synergies and a common identity† (20). Once again, the potential was there, and Germany was finding it, but the people were not really using it. As for a more modern day Germany, environmenta l protection became a â€Å"household term† (20). Uekà ¶tter really describes the 1980’s as a big time for Germany, making it appear that Germany really reached its full potential in that time. When he talks about Germany at a high potential, it is in more modern times, and Germany has not only realized its