Blumauer Manifest

Every crisis represents a chance for a new beginning.

The general wisdom of this proverb may also be applied to the economic and financial crisis which started off in 2008. For this reason the three entrepreneurs Josef Zotter (Zotter Schokoladen Manufaktur), Robert Rogner jun. (Spa Therme Blumau)  and Johannes Gutmann (Sonnentor) gathered together and reflected about what could be done in order to overcome the crisis. They finally came up with an explanation with the title Bad Blumauer Manifest which is named after its place of origin (Bad Blumau). This manifesto demonstrates in three points (New Accounting Standards, Qualification, Global Responsibility) how the solution of this crisis is possible against the background of sustainability and ethics.

Josef Zotter who has already gained experiences with crisis at the time when he owned four confectioneries writes the following about this: All the attempts to save anything which may still be saved are nonsense. It is in vain to forcefully maintain a system which does no longer work. As we know, the mistake is inherent in the system. What we really need nowadays is a new approach. Why do the consumers have to pay a higher price for organic goods or fair trade products than for conventional products? After all the companies which operate in a sustainable and organic manner invest in the future of our world instead of investing in yields! We need to change our mind altogether because we bear a global responsibility.

Here you may read the Blumauer Manifest.