A happening for peace and non-violence in Ukraine was held on 15 May in Prague: a meeting of people of different nationalities in an atmosphere of strong concern but also of dialogue and friendship.
Tania Bednarova from the organisation World without Wars and Violence opened the event:
“We are here today to express our concern, dismay and indignation and that of all peaceful and non-violent people on the planet at what is happening in Ukraine these days. We feel deeply touched by the violence that is unfolding very close to us. We do not feel represented by politicians, who, once again, are incapable of avoiding wars and resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.”
“However, today we don’t want to make speeches, interpretations or make accusations. We want to show that it is possible to communicate even when you do not have the same point of view and when you do not think in the same way. Today we want to show that non-violence is possible, it is possible to understand the other person even when you do not agree with their ideas.”
“Let us not be divided by suspicion and hatred! Let us not be divided by those who manipulate only for the economic interests of small groups! Together let us feel our solidarity with all the good people of Ukraine and send them our hope and demand that the violence stops immediately.”
“Together we are sending a clear message to the ‘powerful of today’: their manipulation will not win over our future”.
The Czech people are very sensitive to ‘bullying’ whether it comes from Germany, Russia or the United States. In fact, thanks to a great protest by the whole of civil society, it managed in 2009 not to have a US military base installed as part of the so-called ‘star shield’ programme. Just a few days ago, Defence Minister M. Stropnicky expressed his doubts about the possibility of stationing NATO troops on the territory of the Czech Republic’. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Bednarova concluded her speech by calling for ‘a non-violent resolution of the conflict, the immediate and decisive intervention of the United Nations, and the establishment of a round table between the various parties to the conflict coordinated by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)’… The situation may degenerate into a dramatic and highly dangerous spiral of violence that could spread beyond Ukraine’s borders.