Interview with Holger Knaack- president of Rotary International, written by Lucija Mulej

Holger Knaack, a member of the Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany, has been selected to serve as president of Rotary International in 2020-21. He holds a degree in business administration from the University of Applied Sciences Kiel.  Since 1995, Holger has been owner of the real estate company Knaack KG.  Previously, he was a partner and general manager of bakery Knaack Enterprises, a 125-year old family business. Holger is chairman and founder of Karl-Adam-Stiftung (Karl Adam Foundation).  He is a founding member of the "Studentenhilfe Viadrina e.V.," and the Foundation "Der Rotarier." In his community, Holger is a founding member of the Civic Foundation of the City of Ratzeburg. Rotarian since 1991, Holger is a Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation, a member of the Paul-Harris Society and the Bequest Society. Married to Susanne for 45 years, the couple has hosted more than 40 Rotary Youth Exchange students.  In his leisure time, Holger enjoys sailing, skiing, and playing golf.

1. Mr. Knaack, you have served as President of Rotary International for one year now. What lessons have you learned and which messages can you share with us

To be invited to Rotary means to be invited to new, awaiting and given opportunities. And the world as a globe is full of opportunities for some and perils for others. Last year was demanding and challenging. So, focusing on this unusual year is a chance to take a step forward and take peril as opportunity. That's the way we can develop the economy and our society in a new manner. This is our opportunity. And I believe there has never been greater chance to co-create the world than the chance we have now. But it was also the year of new insights. We must re-think, again, how to develop ourselves. We have been forced to change and now we think of ways of how to do things differently: we travel and communicate and serve our communities in a different way. We must embrace the beneficial changes and develop in the levels of empathy and understand, which changes no longer serve us. Let us maintain the good things, let's not go back to the old "normal". Let's create a new normal. That is the basis for new change. The main messages are those of serving together, let us serve the common good.

2. In your mandate you strongly focus on environmental issues. You are especially concerned with active membership and support of peoples' actions, true?

This is always what Rotary emphasises. Rotarians since decades have protected the environment and served the general, common good. This is one of the major issues we all stress and goals we strive towards. Again, because of all these issues we see now, we are not just talking about climate change: recently we faced floods in Germany, bush fires in Sweden, Australia, North America ...for us, it is an alarm clock. We see it is not just fighting climate change but an intelligent use of energy. Also, what you are doing in Slovenia, trying to avoid useless plastic, with the movement of adijoplastenka.si. https://adijoplastenka.si/ , is of great importance, without a doubt bringing forth big impacts.

3. The green economy and green transformation and decarbonization are a new societal and economic shift of understanding "the normal", do you agree?

Yes, green energy starts with people. It starts with you and me. And Germany is a good example, especially with the automotive industry. Electric cars are a necessity and young people are against all old faces of power. They prefer bicycles instead of fast cars. And if there is pressure, people become innovative. And through these doors we open new ideas to new economic solutions and new socio-economic models. Pressure makes people more innovative and versatile. The new economy must be embedded in new thinking to function and bring changes. And we, right now, at the moment of speaking, are on the edge of a new general change of our lives and thinking. More than that - we are on the edge of a new paradigm. So, we started to think about using less energy to achieve the same results and about clean, decarbonized clean energy.

4. Is Covid a special touch of karma, of God?

And Covid is a special, magical, and traumatic moment coming at the right time: we are forced to think differently. It looks like a touch of God. And if we are ready for change, then we must change our lives, which is the hardest thing. Our customs, and habits are imprinted in our neurology, and we must accept new conditions and once again reflect upon our values and norms which are supporting our comfort zones. We are in a transition of behavioural shifts. For example: how to travel, how to intelligently use energy, how to communicate online... Finally, such sorts of shifts do transfer our relations and conduct, behaviour and our ways of life. It's about changing our comfort level. In general, that is all there is.

5. So new aspects of ascetism are needed?

Probably we need to seek, work, and thrive for the right change. And finding the "middle" path is the hardest part.

6. Can you access the linkages between the corona epidemic and social change? It seems our civilization is undergoing a special and profound transformation right now, and many people avoid being vaccinated for example?

Yes, vaccination for example shows that people have some interesting interpretations of the power of medicine and vaccines. Measles, smallpox, and polio... From my point of view, there is no reason to avoid vaccination against Covid-19. Medicine helped us in the past and so it will in the times to come, in our common, yet undefined future. And yes, covid is forcing us to evolve

7. Is covid-19 promoting other values? Love between nations and peoples for example?

Covid is perhaps forcing us to be more loving to each other. If you are vaccinated, you are also taking care of others. Our reason for being is to love each other and to take care of each other, which is the basis for peace, and this starts in the family. And not just the nuclear family, but also taking care of our neighbour next door. If we take care of our neighbours next door, we actualise the roots for peace and understanding. So, the idea of family is not related only to blood ties, it is, through environmental perils and dangers, connected to all of humanity. Only then we can all live in peace. So maybe we need to redefine the meaning of family - we are all one big family. So, radical individualism works only when there are no problems. But, if a flood comes, or fires... you need others to survive. We need each other, regardless of the borders and walls we create. We will survive only if we start to work together. That is at the heart of Rotarian thinking.

8. Are we now more subtle and awakened in this ecological respect to comprehend the damage of our civilization, imprinted into the environment?

I agree, I think so. Nearly everybody knows we are "five to noon" regarding the perils we are facing. And there is no time left. We need to evolve. Cooperate, evolve, and change. But the problems of the "developed world" are just small. We have sub-Saharan Africa, southeast Asia and the perils of hunger, drinkable water... And if we want the delicate scales of peace in equilibrium, we must take care of these nations and people. Hunger, disease, the exodus of people saving their lives, by coming to Europe, is our test. The problem is elsewhere, in the world's periphery. And we will see many more people to come and closing our borders is not the solution. Climate change and climate refugees could be an issue if we do not start with a new order and evolve now. But the other thing is to bring more Rotarian and other projects to this area and to educate people, giving "alive" solutions, that are simple and usable. Intelligent and powerful.

9. This year's initiative of a new Rotary International President is to empower girls in this area. Is that so?

Yes, this year's initiative is to empower girls of Asia, Sahara, Africa, and India, which is of essential importance. Through knowledge we can change almost anything. And building bridges in these areas is essential for world peace.

10. Slovenia is a "green "oasis in the heart of the Europe. Rotary Slovenia has under its governor Mr. Iztok Seljak and his assistant Mr. Janez Podobnik just recently introduced the adijoplastenka.si movement, concerned with microplastic and plastic in general, thrown into the nature s heart. And the movement is stronger each day, supporting the so called "organizational goodness". Can you tell us how you feel with this new paradigm, aiming to echo worldwide?

Firstly, I'd like to congratulate you for this initiative, this small step can start to change these important values, and it can bring about a snowball effect. And I believe this initiative is one of the smartest solutions, an intelligent one. Many small steps will amount to a huge change, the power of the water on the rocks is biblical. In Europe we are very proud of our innovative solutions. And we must be focused to move these solutions to Africa and other parts of the world at risk. These easy-to-do solutions are a great hope. And of course, you can spread the idea to other European clubs and initiatives. And I personally encourage you to do so.

Delegation adijoplastenka.si with the Slovenian president Borut Pahor; Holger in Suzane Knaack, Iztok Seljak, Janez Podobnik, Miha Murn, Lucija Mulej, Pamela Compoblanco

11. Serving good causes is at the heart of the idea of Rotary, the oldest humanitarian organisation worldwide with more than 1.2 million members volunteers.  I believe Rotary can contribute to world change in a greater manner than perceived earlier, do you agree?

Certainly, and the initiative and movement adijoplastneka.si can contribute a lot, as well as other project, like cleaning lakes and rivers and having the initiative to teach new environmental values in kinder gardens. Initiatives and solutions can really set a strong movement of change. And I would like to add that young people are more environmentally engaged, with lifestyles that are much more progressive and simpler. And their philosophy to work and joy is a big challenge to old centres of power and meaning.

12. Especially within the field of environmental issues and ecology, each individual counts. Agency of system is no longer necessity, the raised consciousness on the other hand is, would you agree?

Certainly, each individual counts.There are also solutions for drinking water, with a backpack having an integral filter - you put wastewater in and get clean, drinkable water out. In areas where there is no clean water, this initiative is cardinal. And here, Rotary can answer to many dangers and challenges, and intelligent solutions should be simple to maintain and copy anywhere.

13. The movement adijoplastenka.si is a new social business model, aiming to teach people that through the common good, we can achieve also pragmatic solutions. What do you think is the future of the European economy?

This new change will arise bottom up, and such movements will influence old centres of power. Also, young people are forcing us to change. We have no more second chances. We must change now. Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. In the EU, we are rich and can change, and we can show the world that the old Europe is able to create intelligent solutions, helping the rest of the world that is less fortunate. A society that is more open is a more successful society: people can learn, grow, educate... and this is the foundation for common peace and development. And people, migrants will come, and we must give them a chance, because openness will be the best way to ensure success for society.  Each country has its own challenges, and we need to embrace differences to create common values for prosperity. Closing our doors won't be the solution. So, again, together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Interview was written by Prof. Lucija Mulej, Ph.D.  She is a renowned author, columnist, writer, anthropologist, and sociologist. Her emphasis is on developing human potentials. She has developed personality management trainings Budnjani 4 Q, where she is connecting intelligences, Iq, Eq, Sq and Pq.