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Bärbel Bohley, Human rights activist:
"The work of the Society is for me at a time of growing egotism as the result of fear among the nations a true work of love and therefore work for the future. How we are to overcome fear is something we can learn from precisely the small, marginalized threatened peoples.”
Willi Brandt, former Federal Chancellor:
"The question of human rights deserves the place of a high political task. Occasional protests against unjust systems are not enough. It is for example of great importance that organisations like ‘Amnesty International’ or the ‘Society for Threatened Peoples’ are listened to; that purposeful citizens stand up in public without fear of intimidation or disadvantage – right here in the Federal Republic.”
Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize 1989:
"The key to creating a better and more peaceful world lies in the ability to feel love and sympathy for others. This means that we must take care of our brothers and sisters who are not as favoured as we are. The organisations which are independent of government have here a key role. It is not just that they point out how important it is to respect the rights of all human beings, but that they give all victims of the infringements of human rights hope of a better future.”
Marek Edelman, last surviving commander of the Jewish resistance in the Warsaw ghetto, Lodz:
"I consider the Society for Threatened Peoples very important. At the end of the 20th century, when thousands of people are threatened by nationalism and chauvinism, when death and hunger kill thousands, its activities force the general public to become active and to combat injustice. For this reason I consider that everyone has the responsibility of supporting its activities morally and also financially.”
Ralph Giordano, Jewish poet and writer:
"When, Europe, will you finally make an end to your shame, which is called ‘former Yugoslavia’ – when? Help for Srebrenica – at once! Bread, medicine, consolation! And absolutely clear signs for the aggressors that their time is up if they continue. An end to the encirclement before winter breaks, an end to the starvation, the killing, and end to the madness – peace at last! Tilman Zülch writes: ’The fact that precisely the central European Bosnian Muslims, hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women and men in Srebrenica, Gorazde, Zepa, Bihac and Sarajevo are being left to their fate by the western world will one day rebound on us all.’”
Günter Grass, writer:
"On the occasion of your 60th birthday, dear Tilman Zülch, I should like to thank you for your work on behalf of the threatened peoples which has been an example to me because it is so persistent.”
Freya Klier, director and journalist:
"I acknowledge with thanks that the Society for Threatened Peoples has for many years never allowed itself to be used by an ideology. In this way it sets standards for credible human rights work.”
Lev Kopelev, writer and critic of the Russian regime:
"The Society for Threatened Peoples is one of the promising germ cells of the new global humanity, since understanding, tolerance, solidarity and the preparedness to help other peoples are necessary to secure life on our planet.”
Rigoberta Menchú, Nobel Peace Prize 1992, Ambassador of the International Decade of the world´s Indigenous People 1994-2004, Guatemala:
"We need lobbying in Germany. The GfbV can apply pressure on governments which are responsible for the oppression and persecution of minorities and indigenous communities. Informing the general public on infringements of human rights is important and can contribute to the survival of threatened peoples.”
Yehudi Menuhin, Violin virtuoso, in his speech of thanks on the occasion of receiving the Peace Prize of the German Book Fair1979:
"I am not convinced that I have done very much myself, but then I can produce examples from the circle of my friends and associates. Amnesty International, of whose unselfish work you all know, the Society for Threatened Peoples, with its leader, Tilman Zülch, Green Peace, that admirable organization which arrests whale pirates on the high seas and prosecutes them, or Gary Davis’ World Service Authority, which provides refugees with passports – for they are the strong arm of the world conscience, the first elements of a worldwide working justice, of which no government by terms of its own definition is capable.”
José Ramos-Horta, Nobel Prize for Peace 1996, today Foreign Minister of East Timor:
"More than one third of the people of East Timor have died as a direct result of the Indonesian occupation. The heads of countries and governments throughout the world tended to look the other way for fear of losing the lucrative deals with President Suharto if they paid attention to the victims or went so far as giving them aid. Nevertheless our country was given support by committed people. The Society for Threatened Peoples has never relented in its struggle for our cause and its support of peace.”
Simon Wiesenthal, Documentation Centre of the Association of Jews Persecuted by the Nazi Regime, Austria:
"In this year too – and perhaps particularly in this year – the Society for Threatened Peoples was and is a shaft of light and trace of hope at a time in which Europe and on the other continents peoples, minorities or refugees are threatened in their existence.
Every day it is forced on us how many people are affected, and my thoughts turn then to the Society in Göttingen because this deserving association is always the first on the scene – thank God it does not remain alone in its efforts – when it is a matter of assistance and problem-solving for threatened people. Your work is unfortunately necessary over and over again in many parts of the world.” |
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