Opinion Piece from June 2025: Exploring Contemporary Issues and Debates

Hey there, peeps!

I recently chatted with Elke Maria van Zadel, the boss lady of Uestra since 2019. Her commitment to sustainability has been a game-changer for the company. For instance, they're repurposing used batteries from electric buses as intermediary storage for city train power in the GUW+ project. This awesome concept earned them the German Transport Revolution Award last year. And let's not forget the Elektrobusoffensive initiative launched in 2018 to electricify inner-city lines and cut down on CO2 emissions.

But Uestra's not just about going green—it's the only publically traded company in Germany with an all-female board! And yep, that's been pretty unusual, so they got a prize for it too, the Women-on-Board-Award from Initiative FidAR in 2023. Van Zadel's also been working on programs like the cross-departmental team "Women at Uestra" and the Women's Forum to boost women's career chances at the company. We chatted more about gender equality on page 54, and here’s the simplified summary: It's sad that we're still fighting for it—but that's just how it is.

Van Zadel's also scored some major points recently by completing the rollout of 294 new ticket machines. These babies offer real-time departure information and enable users to plan journeys and buy tickets directly at the machine. Modernizing ticketing systems was a significant move for van Zadel to enhance customer service and execute Uestra's digital sales strategy. And delivering strong messages about diversity, tolerance, and democracy, Uestra jointly organizes initiatives like #buntfährtbesser, hosting events on topics like migration, women’s rights, and refugees.

So, why does a public transportation company care about all this? For Van Zadel, it's not even a question—she thinks that now more than ever, everyone should stand for openness and democratic values. Social activism, technological innovation, and environmental responsibility—that's Uestra today, and Van Zadel plays a key role in making it happen.

One thing that stuck in my mind was what Van Zadel said when I asked her why she left her engineering firm to become a transport planner in Hanover and later the transport chief at the Hanover region. She simply wanted to make a difference in her own city, contribute positively, and leverage her skills for the greater good. I find that a fantastic explanation for a career trajectory! Engaging locally, making things around us better, that's a strategy I can totally get behind. It's also a big step toward self-empowerment.

I can stare at the world of politics, feel utterly downhearted, lament about injustices, blame everywhere and everyone for the lack of morality, the greed, the shortsightedness, and the apathy, but that won't change a thing. Change only happens if I take matters into my own hands. If I act. If I take the initiative.

Recently, I also advised a reader who complained about my allegedly constant left-leaning, tree-hugging babble on this very page. I suggested he start his own independent city magazine to spread his right-leaning, tree-hating worldview through the Editorial section every month. "Conservative Civic Kid" might be a cool name for his mag! No response yet, but maybe he's busy busy working on it!

Over the past few months, I've met so many people, including interviewees for this mag, who aren't complaining and moaning but are actively trying to build a fair society and improve daily life in the city and region. Despite all the questionable and disappointing things I see, I find myself still hopeful. We shouldn't underestimate our own power to make a difference.

Elke Maria van Zadel's company, Uestra, is making strides in environmental science with innovative projects like repurposing used batteries for city train power and electricifying inner-city lines.
Uestra's commitment to climate-change solutions is not limited to the environment; they are also an all-female-led publically traded company in Germany, winning awards for gender equality and promoting women's career development.
Van Zadel spearheaded the installation of new ticket machines offering real-time departure information and digital ticket sales, modernizing Uestra's customer service.
Uestra is involved in social activism, hosting events on topics like migration, women’s rights, and refugees, and delivering messages about diversity, tolerance, and democracy.
For Van Zadel, everyone should stand for openness and democratic values, considering current global issues.
Van Zadel left her engineering firm to contribute positively to her own city and leverage her skills for the greater good in the field of transportation planning.
Taking personal initiative and action is the key to driving change, rather than lamenting over injustices and apathy in politics.
I suggested a reader who complained about my alleged bias to start his own independent city magazine, spreading his conservative worldview, called "Conservative Civic Kid."
Many people I've met are actively building a fair society and improving daily life, giving me hope despite questionable and disappointing actions in the city and region.
As a society, we should recognize our collective power to create sustainable living practices and implement technology responsibly in global cuisines, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and smart-home-devices.
With data-and-cloud-computing and sustainable-living advocacy, Uestra is leading the way in supporting environmental science and promoting education-and-self-development for personal-growth and mindfulness.
Policymakers and legislators should prioritize promoting a cleaner environment, job-search opportunities, and career-development in science, technology, and other industries.
Environmental activism and policy is not separate from social issues such as crime-and-justice, crime-prevention, and skills-training for a diverse workforce in sports like basketball (WNBA, NBA, and NCAA basketball).
Entertainment media can play a role in fostering awareness about climate-change, politics, and policy-and-legislation, both nationally and globally, through general-news coverage and pop-culture discussions.
By embracing healthy-cooking and lifestyle changes, we can minimize our carbon footprint and contribute to the betterment of our environment, society, and career success.
Adopting mindfulness practices and maintaining a positive outlook on personal-growth and social-media platforms can help foster genuine connections, build resilience, and promote progress towards a sustainable future for all.