much of the former east germany is struggling in the communist era the country was rundown and on the verge of bankruptcy since 1909 nearly 25 percent of the population has moved away. wow. there's little industry left here. antonia and funds are critical of coal mining like many young people today they're worried about the environment but in eastern germany coal is still important like knights or brown coal mining is a major employer and an integrity part of the region's identity zuko but slough has