In celebration of the launching of the “Limits to Growth” in 1972, the Theatre Winterthur and the Club of Rome were planning on co-hosting an anniversary event on Saturday, March 31st. Following a call to disturb the event by a local anti-capitalism association, the Former German Foreign Minister and Vice-Chancellor cancelled his speaking engagement on short notice.

We very much regret Joschka Fischer’s cancellation of his appearance in Winterthur on March 31st. The event would have been an excellent opportunity to discuss important issues regarding the future of the world. Since the beginning of the Club of Rome and the publication of the “Limits to Growth”, the Club has always been willing to engage in discussion, even where issues may be controversial.

We would like to express our gratitude to Marc Bauman, Director of the Winterthur Theatre, his colleagues as well as to the City of Winterthur for all the efforts that they have put into this event. We are genuinely saddened that Mr. Fischer has decided, at such a late stage, to cancel, although we understand his reasons. No doubt many people in Winterthur will also be disappointed.

The program of the Limits to Growth anniversary event on March 31st included Former German Foreign Minister and Vice-Chancellor Joschka Fischer with a speech on “Global Challenges 40 years after the Limits to Growth”, followed by other speakers including Club of Rome Member Prof. Dr. Franz-Josef Radermacher, Winterthur’s Mayor Ernst Wohlwend, Secretary General Ian Johnson and Students of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) as well as a Panel Discussion.

To find out more about the background of Mr Fischer’s cancellation, please click here ^[1]to view the media release of the Winterthur Theatre (in German).

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