“War begins within the minds of men” – as does peace

This newspaper has repeatedly highlighted the artificially fuelled and media-amplified new “readiness for war” in EU Europe, noting that it not only tests our cognitive abilities but also dulls our sensitivity. This trend is particularly evident in the German-speaking regions. In my youth, the recent statement made in NATO command centres that “Germany must learn to fight wars again” would have provoked unanimous public outcry. However, in the EU model country Germany, the politically indifferent Switzerland, and the now less vigilant Austria, there has been no noticeable opposition. On the contrary, the belligerent message from Germany to the world was recently reaffirmed by the current German Minister of Defence in even stronger terms: Germany must become “war-ready” again.¹

Brief reflection period

This was different in the past. Growing up as children still under the impact of the horrors of World War II, we learned much about it at the lunch table and later in school. It was widely accepted that war, as a means of resolving international conflicts, had proven to be hopelessly outdated and ineffective throughout history. Wars turn nations into enemies. During the Cold War, this understanding was largely lost. Today, it is evident that the roots of World War II can be traced back to the “Peace Treaty” of Versailles at the end of World War I in 1918. If the true intent behind a peace agreement is the permanent weakening of the opponent, the prospects for lasting peace are bleak. This was evident 15 years later when Hitler seized power in Germany and rapidly set the country on its World War II program. Afterward, the new rival for the emerging global power, the United States, was Russia, and it remained so even as the Cold War (only cold in Europe, hot in countless conflicts worldwide, from Vietnam to Afghanistan) gave way to the U.S. campaign against changing “rogue states.” Today, China is the target for the ongoing and unbroken U.S. claims to world dominance. What will this mean for the precarious state of world peace? A radical shift in thinking is the only solution to this perilous game, where the threat of nuclear destruction is ever-present. Such a shift is championed by courageous researchers, forward-thinking politicians, and, encouragingly, governments from other powerful nations.

Never Again War!

This newspaper previously highlighted that the UN, three years after the end of World War II, founded UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) out of the recognition that wars and war readiness primarily stem from the mental dimension.
  The preamble to UNESCO’s charter reads: “The governments of the States Parties to this Constitution on behalf of their peoples declare: That since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defence of peace must be constructed”; and further on it says: “that the great and terrible war which has now ended was a war made possible by the denial of the democratic principles of the dignity, equality and mutual respect of men, and by the propagation, in their place, through ignorance and prejudice, of the doctrine of the inequality of men and races[…]”.²
  The main goal of UNESCO is to support the “defence of peace” through targeted measures, particularly focusing on the younger generation and schools worldwide. A school system that fosters peaceful attitudes is seen as an invaluable contribution to global peace.

The capability for peace
is an indispensable educational
goal for elementary school

Eliane Perret, an experienced psychologist, educator, and school director, emphasises the importance of instilling a mindset against violence and war in children and adolescents. She argues that the social nature of children aligns with this goal and underscores the duty and opportunity for a humanistic elementary school education system in a democracy, especially for parents and teachers. Perret illustrates, through examples, that education towards a capability for peace is both an obligation and a chance for the younger generation. Children and adolescents are realists, and fostering a capacity for critical thinking about life’s questions, tailored to their age, is crucial. This, as Perret stresses, requires close emotional contact between responsible teachers and students, a key element that was part of discarded educational plans labelled as “temper development.” This approach involved singing, memorising poems, nature excursions, and, most importantly, ongoing class conversations facilitated by trained teachers. To find out how this can work out in the current situation, the recently published book “How I talk to children about war and other disasters”³ by Eliane Perret and Rüdiger Maas is a literal treasure chest.

Other Disasters …

Natural disasters, much like wars, have always been present. However, their impact often becomes more dramatic when occurring in tandem with wars. Recently, there has been an increase in rockfalls, mudslides, and floods, alternating with periods of severe drought, often attributed to global warming. The consequences are particularly severe in less developed countries. In the non-Western world, which is more heavily affected, voices are rising, speaking of injustice or introducing the concept of climate justice. Countries that were once colonies and did not stand on an equal footing with the Western economy perceive it as a double burden. In addition to their often-high levels of debt, they now also have to compensate for significant disadvantages, often linked to the historical overexploitation of their resources. One could legitimately speak of a war here, a global economic war.
  Global warming, decarbonisation, zero growth in greenhouse gases, climate neutrality, and the attainment or non-attainment of ambitious “global climate” goals will soon share international headlines with war-related news. From 30 November to 12 December 2023, the 28^th UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, will convene in Dubai, UAE. Preceding this conference, a summit of top religious dignitaries (faith leaders) from around the world took place for the first time. Their appeal to humanity, as quoted in the introduction to Jeffrey Sachs’ address (see this issue of Current Concerns), urged addressing climate change and its consequences in peace and through collaboration.
  The Secretariat of the UN Climate Change Conference is located in Berlin. In the lead-up to the Dubai conference, the Federal Foreign Office of the German Federal Government organised a briefing to prepare for the conference. However, this was not in the spirit of world peace and cooperation but rather of green dogmatism. In her statement on this occasion, Annalena Baerbock (The Greens) insisted on the Paris goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions “to net zero by 2050.”⁴

Labelling “the culprit” is not
a contribution to the climate issue

Baerbock knows who should be seen as the biggest climate sinners and should therefore be asked to pay for the global energy transition according to her recipes at the upcoming COP28. It is hardly surprising that they see China and the Gulf states (one of which will be the host) as the main culprits. As Baerbock literally said, “historically speaking, they are among the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases”. She added: “Anyone who wants to take geostrategic responsibility must also take global responsibility for climate policy.” And dig deep into their pockets.
  This means that the current German leadership has already taken a strong stance in advance. The main culprits are named who now have to fill the climate pot. This means that the green side, here too from a Western perspective, is continuing to cause controversy and strife, something that is diametrically opposed to the recommendations of the aforementioned pre-conference of religious leaders around the world. Bickering and finger-pointing solve nothing, neither in this world problem nor in the problem of martyred world peace. Know-it-all behaviour is of no help whatsoever to the peoples most affected by environmental disasters on this plagued planet. There, too, forces are at work that promote war and inhibit peace. They are fuelled by the spirit of arrogance. Jeffrey Sachs cites it as the main problem of our torn world. As an attitude and world view, it is a heavy legacy of European colonialism. This divided the peoples of the world into two parts: Elites and masses. Here, too, the guiding principle was racist: there are born rulers and born servants. In contrast, the UN Charter says: All human beings are born equal in rights. Why? Because they are human beings.
  And speaking of “geostrategic responsibility” and historically gaping climate sins (see above): Has anyone actually attempted to extrapolate the ecological as well as the human, industrial and social damage caused by the numerous armed interventions by the USA since 1945 – most of them in flagrant violation of international law, especially the wars of aggression against Yugoslavia, Sudan, Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq, to name just the more recent ones? Where, think the fighters for clean air and decarbonisation, who are partly responsible for the devastation, including ecological devastation, in at least three cases (Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan), where do they think the pollutants have gone everywhere and where are they still going? And then even ammunition with depleted uranium, carcinogenic, with monstrous consequences (see the interview with Prof Srdan Aleksić in this issue). Incidentally, this is also being used again in Ukraine.

Major crises can only be
overcome through cooperation

The world is also divided on the climate issue due to the premature ideologisation of the debate. Here, too, there is a tendency to quickly adopt a position and apportion blame. Like the question of world food, world health, and world peace, the question of how people treat their overused planet is also a question for the global community. Without keeping an eye on the big picture, every endeavour is doomed to failure. The world cannot be saved as long as a country sees no other solution than the downfall of “its” enemy. Even in the past, empires were a spawn of megalomania. Today, in view of the threat of a nuclear strike, the military quest for world power is galloping madness in purely military terms.
  The deeper background to every current global problem, including global warming, is clearly illustrated by Jeffrey Sachs’ intervention at the aforementioned pre-COP28 conference in Abu Dhabi. He also sees the danger of war in our souls, driven by the negative impulses of arrogance, envy, greed, and the inability to recognise false prophets (warmongers) and to focus on the truth. But this also mentions the healing powers on the other side of the spectrum, which are also of a psychological nature: instead of arrogance, modesty; instead of envy and greed, joy in one’s own, decently acquired possessions and satisfaction that others are also allowed to possess; instead of warmongering and striving for dominance, peaceful exchange of acquired goods and knowledge – in a word: co-operation. The inherent evolutionary characteristic of cooperation in humans has survived previous catastrophes. It must and can also guide us in the face of today’s disasters.  •

¹ cf. Müller, Karl-Jürgen. “What to do in times of war”, in: Current Concerns No 24 of 21 November 2023
² cf Eliane, Perret. “War is not a necessary evil of humanity”, in: Current Concerns No 22 of 23 October 2023
³ Perret, Eliane and Maas, Rüdiger. How I talk with children about war and other disasters; ISBN 978-3-96890-115-2
⁴ Federal Republic of Germany, Federal Foreign Office: Speech by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the opening of the briefing on COP 28 “Global Energy Transition Now”; www.auswaertiges-amt.de, accessed 20 November 2023