tv Reporter Deutsche Welle February 29, 2020 3:15pm-3:30pm CET
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cast peaked you're watching d.w. news coming to you from berlin a quick reminder now of our top story the united states and taliban have signed an agreement aimed at ending nearly 2 decades of conflict in afghanistan the court paves the way for the west to gradually withdraw its troops from the country. you're up to date now thanks for watching. this for me. is for. children is for. beethoven is for. beethoven is for. beethoven 2020. 5th anniversary here on.
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diego chargers are back with africa's most successful radio drama series continues . are available online if you can share and w. africa's facebook page and to other social media platforms. to me now. it doesn't look much like winter in germany. here steers snowboarders and ski resort operators are suffering from the mild temperatures. and. other ski areas have shut down in recent years but inventor. they're expanding their winter sports activities and trying to keep one step ahead of climate change.
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you know snow is thawing during the high season. still all of the ski lifts are in operation and all of the slopes are open then to bed is fully booked it's one of the most popular ski areas north of the alps but unlike in the alps white winters can't be taken for granted here at 670 meters above sea level normally lies right on the climatic snow line and studies show this line could rise even higher in the years to come. nico brinkman operates several ski facilities in. his family has long lived from tourism and provides employment for around 50 people.
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on how does it look. problems. it's not against happy. that's how it's done. it. was she good beauty and went out as far as the facilities are concerned hunter bank is certainly one of the most modern ski areas in germany. we've also invested in increasing our snow making capacity just to be able to offer skiing for 2 to 3 months again. she between. some $360.00 snow can and stand at the ready at temperatures of minus 2 degrees celsius or below they can make snow and secure the resorts operations throughout a normal winter but it's 3 degrees above 0 inventive to warm to operate the snow cannons so on a few of the slopes they're employing what's called a snow factory it can produce snow at 4 degrees celsius but environmental activists
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criticize the vast amounts of energy and water it consumes the resort operators won't say much about that and we can only film what's on view to the public the snow guns out of which fine snow is shot but not the technology behind them but one thing is crystal clear artificial snow secures jobs here it's. got to if we didn't have it that we could kiss the christmas season goodbye you're forgetting. are getting country we definitely would have had any snow because the temperatures never dipped to minus 2 degrees the snow cannons need. this moment karl-heinz runs one of the ski schools he employs 70 ski instructors he hires some of them specially from abroad because people from many different countries learn how to ski here. and his skis school is constantly expanding.
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was there tend. to trend towards learning to ski and going to ski school continues unabated yes. it's not fun doing the. due to the numerous snow cannons we can finally be assured there'll be snow sneezy hard. i can assume that i'll be able to run my ski school for 60 to 80 days. that's something i can do before this county fire ravaged ok this is from the defeat. these days his ski school is attracting lots of guests from the netherlands it's a 3 hour drive from venture back to the dutch border. for many this is their 1st time skiing. because i we're going to ski you out of the nature's beautiful yeah and there are mountains so let's let's go to sleep yeah yeah it looks very nice it's books i didn't expect so much snow expect so much.
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so much people told her for the school holidays have started in the netherlands it's the weekend and there's enough snow most of the businesses here make over half their yearly income in winter. i when things get too busy the luke and family take refuge in their trailer. they're in no hurry to hit the slopes because they can't hear long term their trailer is cold weather proof the winters here are never really harsh. to distribute a war it's gotten much milder there's a lot less snow than in recent years. often we were half submerged in snow. with. the retired miner has been coming here for close to 20 years it's just a 2 hour trip from his home city of do's book. but soon he may only be able to hike here because temperatures keep rising in the hordes of tourists are taking their
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toll on the slopes. nico blink man is also concerned rising temperatures are eating away at the blanket of snow covering the slopes during what should be the most profitable period of the year when at the moment it's still good for ski bot if it rains answers for cost it could be that we won't be able to run the summer ski lifts due to the lack of snow cover. we hope that it won't come to that but it could happen. the fight to save every square meter of snow on the slopes really begins in earnest when the tourists have returned to the ski lodge for the night johann is on to and his colleagues prepare the slopes for the next day with their snow groomers.
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it's really pretty windy up here and i come down number 7. come down. ok. thanks a lot of us me just for today it was really fall so the ruts are quite deep so you need to go over it a lot. but can take 4 hours for one driver. software that works with data collected by g.p.s. lets your harness know just how much snow the ice beneath his snow groomer. yes it just 70 to 80 centimeters. sure that's ok. no new snow has fallen for weeks there's only what's been produced by the snow factory . thanks. and. this is over snow from the snow factory officiant you can move it around
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easily because it's quite sandy tales of i rolled right before the blade and it binds together pretty well once we have gone over it and then you have a really good ski slope history of the time well johan is does his rounds the tourists enjoy some place the fun the touch the touch the next morning the party's over on the slopes as well overnight the rains came and melted most of the snow leaving grass the mud in their wake but undaunted some winter sports enthusiasts gather on the slopes where skiing and snowboarding is still possible playing.
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field. i mean. at least the slopes yohannes to groom to the night before are still open thank you. thank you. however nico blink month slopes are pretty much snow free the ski rental business he runs on the side is also deserted. even one off day can cost him several $100.00 euros for cards when they're told last night it rained on fortunately and now it's raining again and that's not what i really noticed the sudden change because many davies are just simply staying away so we have lots of equipment on hand and we can't rent it out temperatures are forecast to remain above 0 for the next few days so there's little hope things will
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improve more and more ski lifts are shutting down. but yulian papa vinterberg top weather expert is looking on the bright side the geographer runs his own weather service just for this region and operates about 40 survey stations. he believes the current mild weather has less to do with climate change and global warming than with natural fluctuations which have always existed. believe me you don't actually much here we live in a climate zone that strongly influenced by the atlantic ocean to what happens on the atlantic has a big effect on us. that means and winters where the atlantic is calm cold winters . into. he doesn't foresee warm weather putting an end to winter sports in the central uplands anytime soon relation of it as it is we don't expect a repeat of this winter it's an exception it's warm and changeable phases of the
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next winter to be significant in colder snowier that's what we expect will happen. and many inventive big share his optimism including nico playing the man still he's been making provisions for years along with the ski lifts and ski rentals he also runs a hostel the bookings from schools and clubs mean he's no longer reliant on holiday years who stay away if the snow does such obvious. winter like this one would think if you didn't have a 2nd source of income. but most people here do. sure it's not nice and here and there it can be problematic when a winter like this happens. he's already preparing for spring when the ski slopes are transformed into a mountain biking adventure park that also helps to make him less reliant on snow.
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clear of us all of us. used to be that a bad winter would bring you to the brink of bankruptcy existence. luckily now we've gotten our bodies so a bad winter isn't quite so critical missile thoughts or critters. but sure when you're self employed and everything's at your own risk a winter like this can give you a sleepless night or 2 off and otherwise one that started out at her school. but now if he has another sleepless night he can just go night skiing that also brings in more income and more visitors in the short ski season. it's things like this that are helping people invent a bad keep their faith in winter sports in times of climate change.
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rediscovering barry in metropolis isn't. immune to kill himself and things. clearly and look at his d.v.m. arse themselves in the city's exciting history rich culture and cullen mary diversity. chick you. next on w. have fun in shunning. the capital city of north korea is reinventing itself but only a few people can enjoy the benefits. and insidious reward system coerces people into loyalty towards the regime. those who don't make it into the fun the trouble is live in poverty. have fun in pyongyang. become 45 minutes on d w. earth the home worth saving google india's tell stories of
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creative people and innovative projects around the world ideas to protect the climate and boost green energy solutions by global i do is the in blue series of global 3000 on t.w. and online. welcome to another special edition of czech and we're heading off to one of germany's favorite travel destinations but there yes.
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