All around the globe the ©old war armies are re-structuring and re-arming: What before was called "defence", now is proclaimed as "peace-keeping". What before ended on the national borderlines, now is "implemented" on world scale. What once was obvious as a militaristic thinking and acting, today is sold in the camouflage dress of civic tasks as "international solidarity". Less army – more militarism is the consequence of this world-wide struggle for a new legitimacy of old armies without enemies.

But, keep sober and do not let yourself be cheated: Solidarity and peace do not come out of guns, and the chains of tanks do not keep any society together.

On the 17^th of March 1997, the Group for Switzerland without an Army GSoA started two constitutional amendments (called initiatives in Switzerland): "Solidarity creates security – For a voluntary Civil Peace Service" and "For a credible security and a Switzerland without an army". If within the next 18 months each of the two proposals is signed by 100'000 Swiss citizens, then Switzerland will get the chance just after the turn of the millennium, to vote on these constitutional amendments and changes.

The Group for Switzerland without an Army makes the 1^st of August, the Swiss national day this year an international event. Against the idea of a closed and introverted state, we stress the open-minded solidarity of the society. Against the militaristic myth of the Swiss defence during the World War II, we struggle for the perspective of a civic enlightenment. While the official Switzerland is commemorating this year its birthday and national day by looking back into the past and the inside of the country, we are looking ahead and around. Europe and the world need us and we need them. Sustainable peace can grow only being built as a civic project together, and not in a militaristic race against each other.

Saturday, August 1st, 1998, 2-4 pm, on the Grosse Schanze
Opening discussion: Making peace with Europe. Visions for starting the discussion from

• Renate Wanie, Werkstatt für gewaltfreie Aktion Baden, Heidelberg/BRD
• Uli Wohland, Kampagne Daimler-Minen stoppen! BRD
• Günther Lott, Netzwerk Friedenssteuer, BRD
• Tobias Henkel, Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft - Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen DFG-VK; Bundesrepublik ohne Armee BoA
• Herbert Peherstorfer, International Fellowship for Reconciliation Austria
• Andreas Zumach, journalist and correspondent at the UN in Geneva
• Angeline Fankhauser, MP of the Social Demokrat Party of Switzerland SPS
• Jean-François Steiert, secretary general of the Social Demokrat Party of Switzerland SPS
• Ursula Häberlin, national youth secretary for the Trade union for construction and industry
• Maja Wicki, Philosophin/Publizistin, Zürich
• Hansjörg Braunschweig, longterm peace-worker

1. Security instead of defence - against the militaristic myth of total security
   with Uli Wohland (BRD), Tobias Henkel (BRD), Hans Hartmann (GSoA)
2. Solidarity creates security - civil acting and civil peace services for civil risks
   with  Renate Wanie (BRD), Herbert Peherstorfer (A), Jürgen Störk (PBI CH), Nico Lutz und Tobia Schnebli (GSoA)
3. War in Kosov@ - breaking the escalation of violence with political steps
   with Nena Skopljanac (Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien), Roland Brunner (GSoA)

1. Male and military - no peace between the sexes; with Uli Wohland (BRD), Jürgmeier, Marco Tackenberg (GSoA),
2. War as a Trauma - Traumatisation as consequence of war violence; with Jasna Bastic, Journalist from Sarajevo
3. War media and peace reporting - the role of media for war and peace; with Nena Skopljanac, Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien, Andreas Zumach

Partynight from 10 pm to 6 am at the big hall of alternative cultural center (Grossen Halle) Reitschule
DJs Oliver Bondzio, Styro2000, Vision E, Geisah, Chris Liebing, Cybe Dexter.

Alternativ program movie "Dr. Seltsam oder wie ich die Bombe lieben lernte".
Bar, Sounds and fireworks openair on the Grosse Schanze

Technical information

Place: The festival will take part as an open air event, in a festival village on the Grosse Schanze, beside the University, in the very heart of the town - with a splendid view on the Alps. There are facilities for eating and sleeping (big tents, bring sleeping bag), where you can stay also overnight.

Costs: The participation of our international guest in all the activities is for free!

You do not pay any contribution to the activities and for sleeping facilities. We even can give some small financial support to people coming from abroad in groups, if you announce your coming. All you will have to pay for is food and drinks for three days.

Application: Please inform your friends all around the globe about this event. We are very much looking forward to welcome you. Please fill in the application form next page and mail it back, to make our preparation easier. You can only ask for a contribution to group travel costs by applying and contacting before.

With our very best regards, looking forward to meet you

Renate Schoch, Roland Brunner, Nico Lutz

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