Peace Festival in Stralsund: Waffles instead of weapons on the Bundeswehr day!

Peace Festival in Stralsund: Waffles instead of weapons on the Bundeswehr day!

Stralsunder Fischmarkt, 18437 Stralsund, Deutschland - In Stralsund, a deliberately targeted street festival will take place on June 28, which is directed against the Bundeswehr day. Die Linke Vorpommern-Rügen, supported by the youth organization "Solid" and the German Peace Society-United War Service (DFG-VK), has set up a colorful program. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Stralsund fish market becomes a scene for discussions and more. Under the motto "Waffles instead of weapons", over 500 visitors are to be attracted:

The festival offers various activities, including music, games and deep discussions about the role of the Bundeswehr in society. An important program item is the venue in the old market at 3 p.m. In addition, a discussion about the compulsory military service is opened at 12:30 p.m., which will talk about the delicate topic of the refusal of war and the recruitment of minor soldiers, among others, from the DFG-VK. Around 2000 young people under the age of 18 who are considered “child soldiers” are the focus. According to Kinder Soldiers.info it is important to protect the rights of these young people and to show them alternatives.

society in change

Another highlight of the festival is the appearance of the left-wing member of the Bundestag Dietmar Bartsch, who will speak for missions and arms exports from 1 p.m. Angela Schäfers, who heads the event, clearly emphasized that although the Bundeswehr is necessary for defense purposes, more diplomacy and sanctions are urgently required, especially in the context of Russian attack on Ukraine. "We have to discuss how to manage and think about the planned militarization of government spending," said Schäfers. So it's not just about a critical examination of the military, but also about the question of what peace policy can look like.

In the background, the militarized rhetoric in the media is a decisive topic. As the bpb , terms such as "heroes" and "bloodoll" have found their way into what the attitude of the company for the Bundeswehr influenced. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urgently warns of a "war -tired" population, while Defense Minister Boris Pistorius calls for being "warming". The role of the Bundeswehr in civil society is growing steadily and with it the number of minors recruited.

critical discussions and the future view

The debate about militarization of everyday life does not tear off. A new law in Bavaria obliges schools to cooperate with the Bundeswehr and also civil protection exercises are increasingly required. The critical attitude towards arms deliveries and arms exports is not only reflected in politics, but also in historical lessons from the world wars that many citizens are careful about military upgrading. This also becomes clear in the publications of children's soldiers.

The event on June 28 is more than just a celebration; It is a call to the social discussion and to reflect on the role of the military in our time. The goal is to raise awareness of the challenges and dangers of militarism and to show alternative ways of commitment. And with a variety of program items and discussions, Stralsund will surely be a place of lively and important discussions on this day.