The International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) marked its 100th anniversary of promoting nonviolence with a centennial conference and range of anti-war actions in Konstanz, Germany 1-3 August.
Protest rally at the memorial to Count Zeppelin, one of the early arms manufacturers in the Konstanz region
On Friday August 1, approximately 100 people from around the world staged a protest rally at the memorial to Count Zeppelin, who had been one of the leading arms manufactures in Konstanz, a region now hosting approximately 15 weapons-producing corporations.
Mairead Corrigan Maguire (Nobel Peace Laureate) and others do 'die-in' in front of CommerzBank
The rally then proceeded to the central market place to conduct a die-in to protest against nuclear weapons and the banks which are investing in corporations making them.
As half of the participants lay on the ground in mock death from a nuclear explosion, others distributed fake Euros to the public – complete with information about the massive spending on nuclear weapons and the Don’t Bank on the Bomb campaign to oppose it.
Delegation in mock German Football Team sweaters and fake logos enters the bank
A small delegation led by Marta Przyrembel (Fellowship of Reconciliation, Germany) and Alyn Ware (Right Livelihood Laureate, New Zealand) entered the Commerzbank, the second largest German investor in companies producing nuclear weapons to delivered a letter to the duty manager protesting the bank’s support of nuclear weapons and informing them of the campaign to encourage account holders to shift accounts to alternative banks that do not invest in nuclear weapons.
The delegation was dressed in sweatshirts similar to the German World Cup Football team, but with mock sponsorship logos showing nuclear weapons inside the Commerzbank logo.
Marta Przyrembel and Alyn Ware lead delegation to deliver the letter to the bank
After delivering the letter - which was co-signed by Mairead Corrigan Maguire (Nobel Peace Laureate), Alyn Ware and other participants of the rally - the delegation had a 10 minute discussion with the duty bank manager on the illegality of nuclear weapons and the responsibility of banks to divest from corporations manufacturing them. They noted that Commerzbank has already ceased financing multi-industry companies which produce cluster munitions, and should thus adopt a similar policy regarding nuclear weapons which are even more destructive.
Commerzbank - the bomb at your side, a pun on the motto of the bank: Commerzbank - the bank at your side
Photo: Benjamin Puetter
Already, several governments - including Norway and New Zealand – have put restrictions on nationally controlled public funds (such as Pension Funds) from investing in nuclear weapons producers. Switzerland has gone one step further in its War Materials Act (revised 2013) by making it illegal for Swiss banks to invest in nuclear weapons, landmines, cluster munitions, biological weapons and chemical weapons.
The IFOR Centennial included other actions and events to oppose nuclear weapons, militarism and war.
On August 1, a group of six participants commenced a nuclear disarmament fast lasting until August 9, the anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki.
Wolfgang Schlupp-Hauck, organiser of the IFOR anti-nuclear actions and member of the fasting team
The fast, which took place next to the Constance Cathedral, provided another excellent opportunity to discuss with public the imperative to act for a nuclear-weapon-free world, and the complicity of Germany (and other NATO countries and nuclear armed States) in the continued crime of nuclear deterrence. In 1996, the International Court of Justice determined that the threat or use of nuclear weapons is generally illegal and that there is an unconditional obligation to achieve their elimination. The non-compliance by nuclear armed States of this obligation has led to the Marshall Islands lodging follow-up cases against them in the International Court of Justice.
The fast was linked to similar anti-nuclear fasts during August in France (Paris, Dijon, Saintes), Germany (Büchel nuclear weapon base) and the United Kingdom (Burghfield nuclear base).
Kristin Stoneking, Executive Director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (USA), at the IFOR Assembly
The IFOR Centennial included a powerful public meeting with rousing speeches against militarism and war by Mairead Corrigan Maguire (click here for her speech), Beena Sebastian (FOR India), Suvlak Sivaraska (Right Livelihood Laureate), Blas Garcia (SERPAJ, Colombia) and Richard Okwera (Uganda).
The Centennial also included an interfaith ceremony featuring reconciliation in the traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.