Newsletter #16
23-03-2026
Dear friends of peace,
Jeffrey Sachs recently said in an interview with Glenn Diesen, “we are in the first days of World War III”!
It is up to us to stop this development – never has it been more important to advocate for peace than now! With the European Peace Project, we have a unique opportunity to set an unmistakable sign for peace in a low-threshold, Europe-wide, indeed worldwide, decentralized, and uncomplicated manner, in which all peace organizations, individuals, artists, politicians, and activists of all generations can work together. No matter where you are, read our manifesto on May 9th at 5:00 PM, ideally in an artistically designed speech act. On our website, you will find the new manifesto for 2026 already available in many languages. If your language/regional language is not yet included, please send us the translation – we will then add it to the website. Help spread this action so that it becomes even larger and more effective than last year!
From April 1, 2026, you can also register your events that you are planning as a group or as an individual for May 9th on our website, so that others can find you and participate.
Regarding the illegal war of aggression by Israel and the USA against Iran, which threatens to drag us all into the abyss of decline and war, we issued a statement directly in early March https://europeanpeaceproject.eu/erklaerung-des-european-peace-projects-zum-israelisch-amerikanischen-ueberfall-auf-den-iran/
as well as a supplement to the manifesto https://europeanpeaceproject.eu/project-2026/supplement-manifest-26-05-09-deutsch/ which you can also find in several languages.
We are aware that, due to the abundance and speed of events worldwide, our manifesto is of course only an offer to you, which can naturally be supplemented by everyone with their own contributions.
We will likely create a current supplement shortly before May 9th that captures the MOMENT in its full European scope…
All updates can of course be found on the website and here via newsletter.
Please go to the Easter Marches – they take place over the Easter holidays in almost all major cities and they are the next opportunity to stand up for peace as well as to advertise our European Peace Project action on May 9th with flyers, postcards, etc. You can find flyer templates, files for postcards, and flags again under Artwork https://europeanpeaceproject.eu/artwork/
We now not only have a Persian translation of our new manifesto with supplement on Iran, but Mohammed, who translated the manifesto text into Persian, has also written an article about the EPP and our manifesto: jonoubejahani.com
Our anniversary event of the European Peace Project on March 9, 2026, in Cologne with the Russian Consul General Oleg Ju. Krasnitskiy and Ulrike Guerot was a wonderful evening. In a packed hall, we experienced that civil society in Germany continues to maintain and appreciate dialogue with Russia, and that we are jointly striving for a sustainable peace solution through dialogue. If EU governments refuse diplomatic conflict resolution, indeed even obstruct it, we, the population, must advocate for it ourselves!
The European Peace Project and the European Transcontinental Initiative https://www.european-transcontinental-initiative.org/ are instruments for this.
If now is not the moment for an energetic attempt at a European-Russian peace solution, so that this greater Europe/Eurasia understands itself as an important voice in shaping the multipolar world, then when?
Half of Europe and most of the world have already understood that the devastating war-mongering USA/Israel axis must no longer dominate global development!
Especially Germany, as a country dependent on energy imports, must finally, in a phone call between Merz and Putin, extend a hand to Russia for a peace solution, secure and repair the Nord Stream pipelines, convert all weapons production back to a civilian economy, stop all military aid, cooperation, weapons deliveries, etc., for Ukraine, Israel, and the USA, terminate all US troop deployments on federal territory, and use the billions freed up in this way to secure infrastructure, affordable energy supply, and public services. This is the only way to save civilization and freedom in Germany and Europe, which are endangered by energy shortages, price increases, existential and distributional struggles, and, on top of that, renewed refugee flows from the US/Israeli war!
Spain is currently the only country taking the right course to restore Europe’s honor.Spanien ist gerade das einzige Land, das zur Ehrenrettung Europas den richtigen Kurs einschlägt. In addition to blocking bases and airspace for the USA/Israel for their illegal war, they have, among other things, implemented a reduction in energy taxes of 11% for electricity, gas, and fuels as an immediate measure.
We, as the population/sovereign, must do everything so that the governments of the other EU states also follow Spain’s example.
Here is a petition directly related to this: https://www.openpetition.eu/petition/online/offener-brief-unterstuetzung-fuer-spaniens-haltung-gegen-eine-militaerische-eskalation-mit-iran?fbclid=
Another exemplary case: The Croatian President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Zoran Milanović, has prohibited the Croatian army from any military cooperation with Israel. Furthermore, in his view, there should be no business dealings in the area of weapons or military equipment with Israel.
Switzerland is also learning and has suspended all arms exports to the USA, citing its neutrality and the War Material Act. The far-right, war-crime-committing Israeli government has not received any arms exports from the Swiss for years. However, military cooperation with NATO and the EU endangers its neutrality, so here is another important petition calling for the termination of corresponding agreements, the withdrawal of the “Swiss Security Strategy 2026,” and active commitment to de-escalation in the UN.
Neutrality is strength – especially in a world full of conflicts: https://mailchi.mp/bene.swiss/petition-bundesrat-nato-eu
We need peace with Russia, European sovereignty, and emancipation, not as a military power, but as a non-aligned mediator between East and West. The future belongs to BRICS. In this context, here is a highly recommended conversation, also referencing our European Peace Project, between Ulrike Guerot and Sahra Wagenknecht https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSHxttqJFqY
Under no circumstances must European/NATO governments, as desired by Trump, allow themselves to be drawn into the war in the Gulf and into the abyss by the declining, ruthless powers of the USA and Israel https://apolut.net/das-imperium-der-gewalt-auf-selbstzerstorungskurs-von-tilo-graser/?fbclid=
Fortunately, there are still some sensible voices in the USA: Joe Kent, former director of the US National Center for Counterterrorism, who resigned yesterday, explains to Tucker Carlson why he does not consider Iran an “imminent threat”: “The Israelis pushed the decision to take this action, knowing it would set off a chain reaction as the Iranians would retaliate.” https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17qzWJYrs7/
Tulsi Gabbard, US intelligence coordinator, also questioned President Trump’s justification for starting the Iran war in statements to Congress and confirmed that there is no intelligence information about a nuclear program or an imminent attack by Iran. With the “Baby in the Incubator” lie or Saddam’s alleged weapons of mass destruction, it took years for the US government to be exposed. This time, it’s happening in real-time. The only terrible thing is that none of the Western politicians seem to care!?
Unfortunately, the crimes of the Israeli army in Lebanon, which follow exactly the pattern of Gaza, are also being ignored or, as in the shameful case of the German government, continue to be covered up. At the head of Israeli politics is the vision of an ethnically cleansed Greater Israel, which has its roots in messianic Zionism and whose adherents view the current war as a divine fulfillment. https://www.nachdenkseiten.de/?p=147880&fbclid= https://www.nachdenkseiten.de/?p=147880&fbclid=
Moreover, Israel is criminally spraying glyphosate and other carcinogenic plant poisons on the fields of Lebanese and Syrian farmers. The spraying of glyphosate in South Lebanon and Syria “cannot be viewed separately from the scorched-earth policy pursued by the Israeli army. It is part of a pattern of systematic destruction of agricultural land, including the burning of around 9,000 hectares using white phosphorus and incendiary ammunition,” says the organization Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.
The US evangelicals are also going completely off the rails: Trump’s preacher Paula White, like a war-mongering Energizer Bunny, calls for killing in Iran in “God’s own name.” The “Deus Vult” tattooed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth calls for war crimes: “This should never be a fair fight… We hit them while they’re down, and that’s exactly how it should be.” Not only international law but even the laws of war, which are meant to protect civilians from war crimes, are being broken here with advance notice. Finally, Peter Thiel, of all people, is raving about the danger of the Antichrist to expand his global surveillance!? https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/politik-gesellschaft/geopolitik/peter-thiel-antichrist-geheimvortraege-enthuellt-li.10025462?fbclid= https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/politik-gesellschaft/geopolitik/peter-thiel-antichrist-geheimvortraege-enthuellt-li.10025462?fbclid=
While the USA continues to aim illegally for regime change or even the destruction of Iranian statehood, Iran itself formulates very rational war aims: Brigadier General Mohammad Akbarzadeh: “The establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the permanent closure of American bases [in the region] will be among Iran’s key regional goals.”
Tehran thus also declares itself the protecting power of the Palestinians, which, in addition to the already increased solidarity from many Muslims, will bring the country further support in the Arab world. Bases, meaning armies, should in principle, except for an authorized UN mission, only be present within the borders of their own country! That should be the lesson and general regulation from all the blackmail and trouble caused especially by the USA with its over 800 foreign military bases. This applies, of course, also to Europe. Close US bases, the Bundeswehr only within Germany without offensive capabilities – then you can easily manage with fewer armaments and soldiers!
Two insightful assessments of the situation from our colleague Michael von der Schulenburg, who writes to us:
“the war against Iran is not only a crime but also an enormous stupidity. I don’t know which is worse now. The US-Israeli war and the applause from many EU politicians have something suicidal about them. While ‘the West’ is still in a war in Ukraine that it is losing, we have been plunged into a new war in Iran that we will also lose. Already, the US-Israel ‘strategy’ of causing internal uprisings and a military coup through a decapitation strike has collapsed. Now they will criminally concentrate on destroying Iran from the air – because they have no options left. The intense airstrikes on Tehran are the beginning.
The economic, social, political, and moral consequences for us in Europe will be enormous – not just at the gas stations…. With great concern, Michael”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5dnmSeyc0M – Glenn Diesen’s channel is generally recommended
and
The German mainstream media continue to be a tragedy – propaganda, stupefying the people, and world champions in double standards: https://www.nachdenkseiten.de/?p=147482
In contrast, Ulrike Guerot is now producing a regular, exciting new video format: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVx4mxwldso in which our #europeanpeaceproject is also presented and soon a representative of the student strikes against conscription, whom we support, will be a guest.
The sun over Tehran is often no longer visible due to the thick black smoke clouds bringing toxic rain. This crime against humanity and nature must be stopped immediately. All environmental/human rights and peace activists must focus their actions on this!
Not only because US bases are magnets for retaliatory strikes, but because war must never again originate from Germany, as Germany is becoming complicit again in war crimes by hosting, supporting, and supplying the US and Israeli military: Terminate the US troop stationing treaty immediately! The announced breaches of the laws of war and international law by Israel and the USA must be condemned and have consequences! https://www.stoppramstein.de/
Here is a Russian perspective worth reading https://globalbridge.ch/wie-sind-trump-und-die-us-politik-insgesamt-nun-zu-bewerten/?fbclid=
And while everyone is focused on Iran, one should not forget this: https://space4peace.blogspot.com/2026/03/nato-cold-response-26-has-begun-in.html?fbclid=
Amidst so much war, here is a good example of how it can be overcome. The initiators of the petition for a German-Russian Youth Foundation made this wonderful film in 2023 during their joint musical peace camp with German and Russian youths – watch it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwecmUXovPA and support the petition: https://www.change.org/p/pl%C3%A4doyer-f%C3%BCr-ein-deutsch-russisches-jugendwerk?source_location=