Ernst Löschner
Ernst Löschner (born May 20, 1943 in Schwarzach), is a former bank director who has been active in social and refugee aid since 2007. He spent the first 13 years of his life in Zell am See, later in Salzburg. After completing his studies in Vienna, he spent 7 years in the US, first with a Harvard scholarship in Boston, then professionally in Washington, D.C. Since 1976 Löschner lives with his family in Vienna, where he worked until 2010 in a managerial capacity for various banking companies. In 2007, Ernst Löschner founds the APC peace initiative, establishes the APC Peace Hike and the Krimml Peace Dialogue as an annual event. Together with Hans Nerbl, Löschner develops the "National Park APC Peace Path" (2013). In the same year he initiated (with Michael Kerbler) a petition to the Austrian Federal Government and the Parliament "Against Inhumanity. For a human refugee policy ", coordinating 15 organizations. The petition was signed by more than 30,000 people online and supported by 300 VIPs with personal quotes. In addition to the ongoing funding of individual initiatives for refugee aid and integration, Ernst Löschner (together with Hans Nerbl) has designed "Musik verbindet" ("Connecting Music") with 30 events in Salzburg and the project "AT HOME - Guarantees for Refugees" with Norbert Wallner (2016). The latter was awarded the Sozialmarie in 2018. In 2017, Löschner devotes himself to the establishment of the Grove of Flight and the development of social innovation "We give - in kind donations for jobs". Ernst Löschner was awarded the Walther Kastner Prize (1983), the Golden Medal of Honor of the Republic of Austria (2002) and the red-white-red PaN Medal of Honor (2009).
My Testimonial for Tree 49
Since I am the initiator of the Grove of Flight I did not want to beat myself for a tribute. However, my fellow board members said I should not miss the APC tree, so I take this opportunity to do my motivations that led me to found and why I am very happy that the grove now exists. The grove was a heavyweight, because many people and institutions had to be convinced and we had to meet countless ecological requirements. So I have reason to thank the National Park Office and the farmers and all the many helpers, especially Judith Forthuber, that my vision became reality. The grove became the most important and beautiful CULTURE PROJECT of APC! Of particular importance to me are the 19 trees that were set up for our Jewish fellows, because for them the camp Givat Avoda in Saalfelden and the flight over the Krimml Tauern had existential significance. We have sought to identify as many witnesses as possible - even after 60 and 70 years - and to honor them and their descendants and other Bricha refugees and their descendants who have participated in the APC events in Israel. ..metioning their FULL names that were replaced with a number in the concentration camp. The grove is planted to the left and right of the path they went in 1947, and we, who are "going through" there today, are reminded of what these people "had to go through." May the grove of flight therefore be understood as a symbol of empathy with all people who had to leave their homeland, and also as a small but visible symbol of the hope that with goodwill on both sides in 10 years finally peace between Palestinians and Israelis may.
Letter to Ernst Löschner
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