Northrhein Westfalia at 75: Unser Bundesland - A History

In the final part of the series "Our Country", WDR and BROADVIEW TV take a look at NRW at the beginning of the 21st century. Past meets future! The structural change that people in the Ruhr region have long dreamed of - it is bearing fruit. The land of coal and steel is changing its ways, becoming global and green. Renewable energies are slowly replacing mine gold. The SPD is voted out of office for the first time in 39 years. NRW is a media center, hosts the world at major events and focuses on integration. But the newly created togetherness is repeatedly put to the test. RUHR 2010 - representing the 53 cities of the Ruhr Regional Association, Essen is awarded the title "European Capital of Culture". For one year, NRW is the cultural center of the entire continent. Cultural events, structural support and marketing campaigns bring new momentum to North Rhine-Westphalia. The RUHR 2010 motto "Change through Culture - Culture through Change" stands for the entire decade. Not only culture but also technology blossoms in "our state": The world's largest wind power test field is opened in the former opencast lignite mine near Grevenbroich. The German Aerospace Center is developing the technology for solar power plants that could soon supply NRW with solar power from the Sahara. By promoting renewable energies, NRW is becoming a pioneer throughout Europe. Even the farewell to coal is sealed by law. Our State" is also progressive on integration issues: Germany's largest mosque is built in Marxloh within just four years. German and Turkish miners, who have worked together for years, support each other here. The mosque becomes a milestone, the city a model of integration in action. A capital that will be continued during the 2006 World Cup. The summer fairy tale will become reality, especially here in NRW. With Dortmund, Cologne and Gelsenkirchen, NRW provides more venues than any other federal state. Under the motto "The world as a guest of friends", "Our state" is presenting itself from its best side. A boundless wave of euphoria sweeps through the state, all of NRW is up in arms. The most inconspicuous symbol of this unbroken sense of community in North Rhine-Westphalia is and remains the "Büdchen. That rustic meeting place where people buy their bread rolls in the morning or get together after work. Nowhere in Germany is there such a high density of Büdchen as in the Revier - 15,000 are counted. Here, people stand together and reminisce about old times underground - or make plans together for the future. Great stories and little anecdotes unfold between kiosk culture and technical awakening - an exciting journey through time and at the same time the crowning finale of the series "Our Land", which brings the diverse history of North Rhine-Westphalia to life.