30 years in action: The peace initiative has a big anniversary
Created: 05/08/2022, 09:30 am
By: Elena Royer
Looking back on 30 years: (from left) Hans Gärtner, Andreas Wagner and Helmut Groß.
© arp
On the occasion of their 30th anniversary, the members of the peace initiative look back at a press conference.
A concert with a round of talks is planned for May 8th.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen
– It was created in January 1991 to protest against the Gulf War. Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the existence of the peace initiative in the district.
Due to the corona pandemic, the anniversary celebration did not take place.
At a recent press conference in the Tölzer Café Höckh, the members Helmut Groß, Andreas Wagner and Hans Gärtner reported on how it is to take place on Sunday, May 8th, and what the peace initiative has achieved over the past three decades.
No celebration due to the current situation in Ukraine
"Actually, our 30th anniversary would be a good reason to celebrate, but because of the current situation, that has passed," said Helmut Groß.
According to Groß, the initiative has now put together a "slimmed-down program".
On Sunday at 11 a.m. there will be a panel discussion with the former members of the Bundestag Klaus Barthel (SPD) and Andreas Wagner (Die Linke) in the Kulturbühne "Hinterhalt" in Gelting.
Both are founding members of the Peace Initiative.
The topic of the discussion is “As a peace movement in the Bundestag – possibilities and limits of lobbying for non-violent foreign policy”.
Afterwards, at 12.30 p.m., the duo “Zeitreise”, consisting of Nicoline Pfeiffer and Hans Gärtner, will play peace songs from three centuries.
Free entrance to this event.
Donations are being collected for war refugees and the Chak Hospital in Afghanistan, which has supported the initiative since 2001.
Discussion, concert and fundraising for war refugees
In the past 30 years, the initiative has gotten a lot rolling in the district.
"It's impossible to assess what has been achieved in people's minds through demos and other campaigns," said Groß.
He named some excerpts from the merits of the initiative.
“Specifically, we helped prevent Wolfratshausen from sponsoring a warship.
That was what the mayor at the time, Reiner Berchtold, suggested.” In addition, the peace initiative is involved in the organization “Mayors for Peace” (mayors for peace) for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Looking back on 30 years of the peace initiative
The peace initiative also claims that it uncovered the "scam" initiated by the Swiss Ivo Sasek in 2014.
Behind supposed peace vigils was the sect "Organic Christ Generation" (OCG).
"We exposed the OCG, then it was over quickly," reports Groß.
Furthermore, the peace initiative is involved in the "Vacation from War" project by taking on sponsorships.
"This enables young people from war and crisis areas to have holiday camps," explains Groß.
“Many come from Bosnia and the Middle East.
This project is very important to us.” Groß also looked back on the founding of the association.
"It gave us a financial basis." Since then, for example, it has been much easier to pay a speaker.
Bad-Tölz-Newsletter: Everything from your region! Our Bad Tölz newsletter regularly informs you about all the important stories from the Bad Tölz region - including all the news about the Corona crisis in your community. Sign up here.
You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.
