Previous discussions on the necessity of brown coal energy and the associated implications are rife with allegations of miscommunication and misinterpretation of data. There are further allegations of rash judgment, imparting half-truths, concealing and withholding information, lack of transparency, and corruption. This greatly disrupts productive discourse. So far, no constructive conflict could result from it. The consequences are hardened fronts, lack of trust and understanding, ignorance, fears and a sense of being patronised. It is clear that information, data and facts have a range of possible interpretations. Accordingly, each interest group constructs and advocates different truths (see Fig. 06). In addition, affected groups are exploited by, for instance, the media, or a respective interest group, for example in politics.
of the facts, information can be brought together on a single plane. This approach is not meant to take away from the issue, but rather offer one common plane. All interest groups are to be included and should aim to debate constructively with a common ‘language’. Through effective conflicts forward-facing decisions and solution models can be identified. Criticism and questioning are the basis for any development: to give shape to opportunities and problems. Methodology The subject at hand is treated with a methodology similar to the one used by “The wandering hole” in researching the area and structures : The topic is fragmented, analysed, organised, and reordered; and thus fully refurbished. This full refurbishment is equivalent to the regional development6 by RWE; one of the reasons RWE gave for restructuring the cultivated land was redevelopment of the region in light of current standards. The fragmentation, like in the project “Disassemble” by McLellan (see Fig. 07) enables the illumination of each individual part of a complex.
Design Approach The necessity to implement this issue as an information design project lies in the objective to create transparency . A clear portrayal of the issue at hand results from a critical, rational, equal and accurate examination of the ‘Garzweiler II’ project. There is an opportunity to create clarify, order, and, through the multitude of possible interpretations, at least an attempt at equal treatment of the various ‘truths’. Misinterpretations and false information are to be avoided in the process. Through a detailed and investigative analysis
A multi-page analysis of the respective components renders the deposited complexity as a whole more tangible and transparent. 6 Source RWE Website : http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/de/1140406/umsiedlung/ wie-funktioniert-umsiedlung/vertraege-regelwerke/bkp-braunkohlenplan/ (28 February 2015)
Figure 07 : Project ‚Disassemble‘ by the canadian photographer Todd McLellan. His latest series shows daily items in a unique, dismantled and exposed form ; 2013 16