1 00:00:00,343 --> 00:00:02,627 And here we go again: 2 00:00:02,627 --> 00:00:08,680 Summer is beginning, and the usual headlines are filling the pages of the media, such as: 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:16,773 “Is the Elbe River in Magdeburg Facing a Historic Low Water Level?” or “Low Water Levels Are Disrupting Shipping.” 4 00:00:16,773 --> 00:00:22,424 These alarm messages are now broadcast every year, and they could cause people to worry. 5 00:00:22,424 --> 00:00:32,120 Last year, headlines read: “Elbe River at All-Time Low” or “Water levels on the Elbe in Magdeburg are lower than ever.” 6 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:39,487 But last summer, Simon was already on site along the Elbe, explaining what the low water levels were all about and 7 00:00:39,487 --> 00:00:44,128 what tricks are used to generate fear-mongering headlines. 8 00:00:44,128 --> 00:00:53,580 In this program, learn what the Elbe River looked like in 1904, for example, and what reasons for concern actually exist. 9 00:00:56,762 --> 00:01:01,760 Hey! I read something interesting in one of the latest issues of S&G. 10 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,960 If you're not familiar with S&G yet, check it out here. 11 00:01:04,960 --> 00:01:11,450 The S&G article referred to a *Der Spiegel* article from July of this year with the headline: 12 00:01:11,450 --> 00:01:17,091 "The Elbe River has reached a historic low near Magdeburg." 13 00:01:17,091 --> 00:01:24,700 Excerpt from the *Spiegel* article: “The water level of the Elbe River near Magdeburg has fallen to a historic low.” 14 00:01:24,700 --> 00:01:28,882 At the Strombrücke, the water level was 44 centimeters. 15 00:01:28,882 --> 00:01:35,380 "That would be the lowest water level ever recorded at this location." 16 00:01:35,380 --> 00:01:40,435 Other media outlets also sensed an opportunity and ran headlines such as: “Elbe at its 17 00:01:40,435 --> 00:01:43,627 lowest water level ever,” as reported by *Bild*. 18 00:01:43,627 --> 00:01:51,320 And: “The water level of the Elbe River in Magdeburg is lower than ever,” says MDR. 19 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:57,830 The *Der Spiegel* article continues: “The environmental organization BUND is alarmed.” 20 00:01:57,830 --> 00:02:07,320 "In light of the low water levels, she is calling for consideration of ending shipping on the Elbe." 21 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:15,490 Changing the subject: If by any chance you need a postcard from this beautiful spot where I’m standing right now, but you don’t 22 00:02:15,490 --> 00:02:23,854 really like the relatively new bridge in the background, I have a postcard here of what I believe is the bridge before that one—it 23 00:02:23,854 --> 00:02:28,992 used to stand a few hundred meters further downstream back then. 24 00:02:28,992 --> 00:02:33,600 The postcard is actually a bit older—it's from 1904, to be exact. 25 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:40,704 Here you can see the bridge as it was back then, and below it, a few children splashing around in the waters of the Elbe. 26 00:02:40,704 --> 00:02:46,377 15 centimeters above sea level at the measuring station. 27 00:02:46,377 --> 00:02:53,017 Maybe I should send this postcard to *Der Spiegel* later, with a few helpful notes on the back—for example, that comparing 28 00:02:53,017 --> 00:03:00,320 water level readings is a bit tricky because the Elbe has been dredged several times to accommodate shipping traffic. 29 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:06,600 Today, the Elbe River is deeper, the riverbed is narrower, and as a result, the water flows faster. 30 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:12,880 As a result, the same water level usually results in a higher flow rate than before. 31 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:17,622 Water levels have been measured in Magdeburg since 1772. 32 00:03:17,622 --> 00:03:25,519 In fact, the lowest documented flow rate of the Elbe at the Magdeburg Strombrücke—the location under review—is not 33 00:03:25,519 --> 00:03:34,773 this year’s approximately 130 cubic meters per second, but rather 95 cubic meters per second from the year 1904. 34 00:03:34,773 --> 00:03:40,060 Let's take a closer look at the example year 1904. 35 00:03:40,060 --> 00:03:43,440 The Sächsische Zeitung published several photos related to this. 36 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:50,020 Since we shouldn't compare the levels anyway, let's just compare the pictures instead. 37 00:03:50,020 --> 00:03:53,315 Here, too, you can see children swimming. 38 00:03:53,315 --> 00:03:59,202 People searching for treasures that had fallen into the river, and boats that their owners from Gag had 39 00:03:59,202 --> 00:04:02,731 pulled along the riverbank in horse-drawn carriages. 40 00:04:02,731 --> 00:04:07,020 Or here's a little game of skat under the bridge pier. 41 00:04:07,020 --> 00:04:12,851 The entire article in the *Sächsische Zeitung* describes the many small, special events taking place along the 42 00:04:12,851 --> 00:04:17,056 dried-up Elbe in a relatively cheerful and relaxed tone. 43 00:04:17,056 --> 00:04:25,239 Did people back then—without today’s caring and considerate media—simply not think far enough ahead to allow 44 00:04:25,239 --> 00:04:30,309 for the appropriate level of panic in such a situation? 45 00:04:30,309 --> 00:04:38,820 Here's a video from the "Catastrophic Year of Low Water Levels, 2025" for a direct visual comparison. 46 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:53,720 If this year is the worst year since water level records began, why, the SZ asks: 47 00:04:53,720 --> 00:05:00,922 “Crossing the river now, despite its supposedly low water level, is extremely dangerous. But 48 00:05:00,922 --> 00:05:05,601 in 1904, even that was possible.” End of quote. 49 00:05:05,601 --> 00:05:13,600 The MDR also warns: “The police point out that the water level does not correspond to the actual water depth.” 50 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:18,080 It is still not possible to cross the Elbe on foot. 51 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:23,480 "Any attempts would be life-threatening due to the current." 52 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:30,244 Oh, I see. Well, okay. The worst drying up of the Elbe was probably also a bit “asymptomatic” 53 00:05:30,244 --> 00:05:36,780 and not very noticeable, just like with COVID-19. 54 00:05:36,780 --> 00:05:44,181 This leaves us with the question: Why do our media outlets try to use every event—even one that’s only halfway relevant—to 55 00:05:44,181 --> 00:05:48,600 the climate crisis for the sake of our climate education? 56 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:55,648 This question is explored in this excellent Kla.TV report, which I'd like to recommend to you here. 57 00:05:55,648 --> 00:06:02,216 A minor spoiler: This section clearly identifies the origins, the initiators, and the names of those profiting from 58 00:06:02,216 --> 00:06:05,992 this business model, and explains how the whole thing works. 59 00:06:05,992 --> 00:06:08,914 So check it out! Ciao.