DAA Review

November Member Meet-Up: we watch the Iron Curtain fall with an eyewitness

As the meet-ups begin, in the pleasant and comfortable surroundings of our separate room at the Lion Rampant Pub, there are always those newcomers who somewhat warily enter the room and politely ask if this is where Democrats Abroad Austria will be meeting. This is inevitably followed up by a reassuring affirmation, a short introduction of self and small talk.

At the last meet-up on 24 November there was a newcomer who was going to lend the entire evening an unexpected and enlightening dimension.

The theme of the meet-up was reflecting on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the accompanying political changes in Central and Eastern Europe based on the screening of a 49-minute BBC documentary film narrated by the husband of a member of Democrats Abroad. In the course of getting acquainted with our guest, Silvia, we learned that she had been drawn to our gathering because she was intrigued by the topic. She had grown up in East Germany in the city of Dresden and had personally experienced the momentous events preceding and following the ninth of November, 1989 with her entire family as a thirteen-year-old young lady.

As the screening progressed the audience was apparently taking mental notes since there was a spontaneous flood of questions directed to our guest as soon as the film ended. Having a live, well-informed witness to the course of events portrayed in the absorbing documentary, a person who was able to corroborate and expand on so many facets of the fall of the Iron Curtain, left a deep impression on all present. The questions and Silvia’s answers covered a huge range of issues relating not only to the former German Democratic Republic but also to Eastern and Central Europe in general. We talked among others about the participation of Silvia’s family in the demonstrations in Leipzig and Dresden preceding the fall of the Wall, about the omnipresent secret police and living in a police state, and about suddenly being able to experience western wealth and opulence. The dialog eventually led to a sobering evaluation of conditions today in eastern Germany. 

We learn about the connection between Capitalism and author Shelley Stark's book “Hidden Trehhand”

After watching Moore's movie at the Votivkino in the 9th district, about 30 of us strolled — talking loudly and enthusiastically about the huge range of issues raised by the movie — through the brisk and chilly late autumn weather to our reserved room at the Gösser Bierklink in first district for further discussion of the movie and a presentation by Shelley Stark, author of "Hidden Treuhand — How Corporations and Individuals Hide Assets and Money."

Ms. Stark personally explained to us what part Hidden Treuhand plays in the global financial crisis. Many of us were surprised to learn that The Hidden Treuhand is the single most powerful business tool in the globalized world of today. With a Hidden Treuhand, companies and individuals can can anonymously exercise complete economic rights in all commercial markets worldwide, hiding money and assets from stockholders and taxation alike.