Program Overview
see internet: www.netzwerk-friedenssteuer.de
Berlin: Opening speech
“War, Money and Conscience”
Canon Dr. Paul Oestreicher, Brighton/Great Britain
The right, not to carry and use a weapon leads - especially with an increasing use of technology in war and an abolition of the compulsory military service - to the right not to have to pay for weapons. It is necessary to couple the government's right to use weapons for defense with the individual alternative right to resist military service and war financing. This special right of a pacifistic resistance to pay taxes solely applies to the case of the national power monopoly.
Welcoming and Introduction
of the 96 participants from 16 countries, Hirschluch
Africa: Ghana, Congo, Sierra Leone, (arrived late)
Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal America Canada (2), USA (6)
Europe: Belgium (3), Denmark, Germany (60), Great Britain(6), Italy, The Netherlands (7), Norway (2), Spain
7 speakers, 8 interpreters, 1 technician
Short-term cancellations: 10 participants from 3 more countries, 2 speakers
Reports from The Countries
2000-2002
Compilation of reports: included in the documentation
Indications exist that the war tax resistance can politically only be asserted, if the right to conscientious objection is acknowledged. The abolition of the compulsory military service complicates the assertion of this concern.
Four Workshops resulting in suggestions and requests
The workshops worked mostly within the actual contents.
From 14 scheduled workshops 11 took place.
Workshop 3
‘Terrorism and Non-Violence’
Host Clemens Ronnefeldt (Versöhnungsbund)
- The participants of this workshop urge to sign a self-commitment for resistance and suggest (de)centralized demonstrations in case of a war with Iraq.
- They recommend that all people refuse taxes immediately, if the Federal Republic participates in an attack on Iraq.
- They call up all churches and religious societies to speak up clearly and definitely against a war against Iraq.
Workshop 5
‘How do we win support for resistance on grounds of conscience from churches and religious societies?’
Host Lutz-E. Bohr (Netzwerk Friedenssteuer ‘Steuern zu Pflugscharen’
(Taxes to the Ploughshares))
- The participants of this workshop urge the Ecumenical World Church Council to include the resistance to war tax or the peace tax campaigns in the Decade to Overcome Violence.
- They suggest to use 21 September / UN ‘Peace One Day’ also or a day of action for the resistance to war tax / the peace tax campaigns.
Workshop 6
‘The issue of the freedom of conscience within the process of the European Constitution’
Host Dr. Wolfgang Ullmann (former MdB and MdEP)
- The participants of this workshop favor the inclusion of the right of freedom of conscience in the European Constitution
Workshop 9
‘Last resort and conscience’
Host Sepp Rottmayr (Pax Christi and Netzwerk Friedenssteuer)
- The participants of this workshop refuse the application of military force as a ‘last resort’.
International Support Project
2002/2004
Selection Committee:
Robert Antoch /Deutschland,
Piet Kruithof /Netherlands,
Lynnet Rita Martin /Bangladesh
(For details see documentation)
The non-governmental organization CPTI (Conscience and Peace Tax International) should be provided with additional funds for public relation work in order to step up their lobby work and the work within the Human Rights Committee at the United Nations in Geneva.
Further recommendations of the Selection Committee included:
- All national organizations are requested to continue their donations for the Support Project 2000/2002 (return of the land to Adivasi/Central India).
- All national organizations are recommended to continuously support the International Peace Brigades (PBI) financially.
- Especially the US American organizations are asked to adopt the Legal Aid Center for women in San Marcos/Nicaragua as a project deserving support;
- responsible: twinning Jena-San Marcos. All participants are requested to look for ways to equip a radio station within the Democratic Republic Congo;
Contact partner: Dieudonné Bwelongo Kambilo.
Panel discussion:
“Alternatives to military peacekeeping”
Participants:
- Ulrike Hopp, BMZ Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
- Dr. Klaus Stephan Otto, Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst
- Roland Vogt, GRÜNE / Bündnis 90, Conversion Delegate Of the State of Berlin-Brandenburg
Host: Robert Antoch, Netzwerk Friedenssteuer
Hopp: The German third world aid policy as an important part of the extended security policy starts with the structural causes of war and terror, of a violent settlement of conflicts. It wants to contribute to the improvement of the structures within the countries concerned to support the civilian society and alliances for peace. - Even after violence and war have ended third world aid policy must aid reconstruction and reconciliation. - Within the own country it is important to sensitize and inform people. - Third world aid policy must definitely cooperate with foreign affairs, the defense policy but also with the economic and trade policy and furthermore achieve more coordination and cooperation internationally. The much quoted ‘Culture of Prevention’ must be started.
Vogt: Prior to the federal election 1983 the GRÜNE agreed to a resistance to war tax; a small group has practiced this. - Germany needs a policy inspired by non-violence, which is also supported by the whole economy (against all black economy of armament and war).
Otto: The Zivile Friedensdienst (ZFD) aims for a strengthening of the idea of an active non-violence within national social as well as international conflicts.
Practically this means influencing conflicts nationally and internationally by reducing or preventing violence with trained qualified peace workers, organizing aid for victims, demanding compliance with human rights, supporting democratic processes or accompanying the reintegration of refugees and displaced persons.
Trained qualified persons usually work one to two years on a project. - The forumZFD was able to gain their latest experiences in ex-Yugoslavia, Palestine and on Cyprus. (see also www.forumZFD.de). - Still unsolved is the problem: there are still no appropriate civilian means for a concrete violent conflict.
CPTI(Conscience and Peace Tax International)
NGO with a special advisory status at the United Nations in New York and Geneva
Internet: www.cpti.ws
Two Board meetings took place as well as the General Assembly (GA) with all conference participants:
- Passing of the minutes of the GA of July 2000 in Washington, DC
- Reports about the lobby work in New York (Marian Franz, Rosa Packard) and at the Human Rights Commission in Geneva (Derek Brett)
- Approval of the annual financial statements 2000 and 2002 and the draft budget for 2003-2004
- Expressing thanks to the retiring members of the Board:
Gerald Drewett /Great Britain, Jackie Hoskins /Great Britain, Christa Voigt /Deutschland
- Election of new members to the Board:
Bart Horeman /Netherlands, Hannelore Morgenstern-Przygoda /Deutschland
- Confirmation of the chairman:
Erik Hummels /Netherlands
- Focus of the work: stepping up lobby work especially with the Human Rights Commission at the UN; documentation of court cases; support of a provision concerning a conscientious objection with weapons and taxes; contacts to the European Constitution Convention
Spiritual Encounters
Hirschluch:
Morning and evening services with involvement of:
- Michael Badasu / Mennonite Church / Ghana,
- Sepp Rottmayr / Roman Catholic Church /Germany,
- Henning Utpatel, Brunhilde Stötzner and Gisela Lattmann-Kieser / Protestant church / Germany,
- Gary Lapreziosa / Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) / USA
Berlin:
Meditation hour of the religions ‘Live Peace - Create Peace’ with 8 religious societies, organized together with the World Conference of Religions for Peace, Berlin
Berlin:
Political Discussions in Small Groups
Partners in talks:
- Matthias Berninger / GRÜNE/Bündnis 90, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection
- Elisabeth Schroedter/ GRÜNE/Bündnis 90, MdEP
- Diana Gnorski / PDS, Candidate for the Bundestag
- Stefan Liebig / PDS, MdL Berlin
- Bärbel Grygier/ PDS, MdB
Berlin:
Visit of the Foreign Ministry,
Department of Global Issues / GF 02
Partner in talks:
André Scholz, Assistant Head of the Department
It is the first time that the red-green Federal Government drew up an overall plan concerning the prevention of a crises with an integrated approach for all political areas. The current budget is 14 Mio € [Note: 0.056 % of the total budget!].
The focus is on: UN peacekeeping, projects within UN missions, support of NGO projects working to prevent an outbreak of violence. In addition, military peacekeeping is considered imperative. The department limits its public presentation as not to raise unrealizable expectations.
In July 2002, the Zentrum für Internationale Friedenseinsätze (ZIF Center for International Peace Work) was officially opened in Berlin with the fields of activity:
- continued education,
- personnel deployment,
- recommendations for deployment and
- self-projection.
(budget: 2 Mio. € from the overall funds mentioned above).
A compilation of all budget titles of the 11 ministries does not exist.
Internet: www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Evening of The Countries
After listening to and comparing the reports from the countries the “Evening of The Countries”, starting with a dance, brought some relaxation. The late summer evening was wonderfully warm; the outside illumination created a nice deep dusk and the dance loosened up legs and heads. Then several participants presented poems, prose and sketches, the participants listened to the sounds of piano and guitar tunes as well as songs.
Pantomime
In this multi-language atmosphere actions without words were something that united in a special way. With the pantomime Günther Richter we presented the joie de vivre as a fantastic sculpture on the one side and on the opposite side avarice, rage and hatred in form of live sculptures clarifying plainly what it is they rob the joie de vivre of.
Public Relation Work
A press conference was held and a final press release submitted with the final announcement (see documentation) The event was covered by broadcast, press and TV on a local, regional and national level (completely listed in the documentation or on the web site)
Organization
A team of 9 voluntary persons plus Friedrich Heilmann working on a fee basis organized the conference (photos see web site) The translations were done by four voluntary participants.
Co-organizers
Co-organizers included: Bund für Soziale Verteidigung, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Brandenburg, Stiftung Mitarbeit, INKOTA-Netzwerk e.V., Kooperation Eine Welt- Katholischer Fonds für Bildung
Finance
The budgeted costs (50,557 € ) were paid: by the participants 19%, by grants 56% and donations 25%
International Conference of War Tax Resistance and Peace Tax Campaigns 2004
The Belgium action VRAK invites to Brussels for 8 -11 July 2004.
Thus an international conference takes place in Belgium again after 12 years.
October 2002 Hannelore Morgenstern-Przygoda