23 January 2019 No 2 ISSN 1664-7963

Current Concerns PO Box CH-8044 Zurich Current Concerns Switzerland The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, Phone: +41 44 350 65 50 Fax: +41 44 350 65 51 and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law

E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.currentconcerns.ch English Edition of Zeit-Fragen

100 years after Versailles War and peace The tasks of the historical sciences by Wolfgang van Biezen Anyone who seriously cares about why and what for there are still wars in this world, although it has long been clear that the past and present wars have not brought humankind one millimetre fur- ther, will sooner or later deal with history. For example, the sad story of the Congo or how over the centuries the people of the Swiss Confederation have succeeded in resolving conflicts peacefully. One can also begin with the history of Russia or with that of Israel, which is closely relat- ed to that of Germany. Or with the histo- ry of China, in which a great, millennia- old culture becomes visible before it was destroyed from within, especially in the 19th century by European “merchants of death”. For a hundred years, these “mer- chants of death” violently forced Bengali (British) opium into Chinese society with 1919: Europe is redevided. British geographers draw new borders in Versailles the help of their gunboats. This kind of 1 genocide was paid for with Chinese sil- (picture Nicholson) ver until China became poor and England rich. Alexander VI had given his ecclesiastical prevailing and still valid doctrine among blessing, so to speak, to the Portuguese academic historians today is that Germa- Contexts – we almost inevitably and Spanish dynasties to divide the whole ny bears sole responsibility for the two end up with the British world from now on – according to papal world wars. No wonder that this under- No matter where we start, if we want to demands. From then on, for the first time standing of history is also part of the pub- deepen our understanding the contexts of in human history, there were global claims lic and published opinion among non-ac- the present, we almost inevitably end up of ownership legitimised by the Church – ademics. with the British and their more than five Portugal in the eastern hemisphere and Willy Wimmer3 states that the histo- hundred years old colonial history. Spain in the western hemisphere. How- ry of Germany is still written by the Al- Thomas Morus (1478–1535) was in ever, once in Europe, the knowledge of lies today. Thus, it is a history of the win- close contact and often in line with the the spherical shape of the earth had hard- ners, namely the winners of the First and most outstanding European philosophers ly been established to some extent in in- Second World War. He considers that until and theologians of his time. Already tellectual and thus also in ecclesiastical today an objective history based on facts around 1500, in his work “Utopia”, he circles, when the raid, which continues to has not yet been allowed to be written. gave the British King Henry VIII a “God- this day, began. Otherwise, it would not have been wanted” justification for the occupation of As we have learned in school, Henry possible for Germany to pay its repara- foreign lands that is still valid today for VIII did not recognise the Pope also be- tions payments, imposed after the First colonists. For example, it is stated that na- cause of his affairs with women. As an World War, properly with a final pay- tives have an abundance of farmland and absolute ruler he has founded his own ment of 200,000 euros to France just in would “possess it without meaning and church. Since then, the British royal fam- 2010 (!).4 Even after the German war purpose”. Therefore, they do not cultivate ily and thus the reigning monarch is head debts had been paid off by various ces- this farmland. Thus, there is a quite legiti- of the Anglican Church for all times. This sions of territory (about one third of the mate reason to expel the natives and/or ac- is still the case today. national territory went to other states), quire the land.2 followed by the expulsion of the German Who wrote the history people, destruction of the fleet, confisca- th The division of the world of the 20 century so far? tion of industrial plants and goods, etc., th since the 15 century Looking at modern history, broadly the Allies hesitate to allow a fact-based Why not, because a few years earlier, in speaking, there are two approaches re- historiography. 1494, in the Treaty of Tordesillas, Pope garding Europe and the World Wars. The continued on page 2 No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 2

”War and peace” reader is imperceptibly captivated by ba- dle East. The Poles were promised a new continued from page 1 nalities or slippery portrayals. state in the territories of the German Reich What about Christopher Clark? There is an overwhelming abundance and Austria-Hungary was promised Italy of individual events that miss the whole the Dalmatian coast, Bulgaria ..., Roma- Therefore, the German media were de- context. The misery of historical scienc- nia ..., Hungary ... and so on. The British lighted, when the book by Christo- es seems to be once more that through the themselves took care of filleting the Otto- pher Clark entitled “the Sleepwalkers” intended abundance, atomisation and mar- man Empire. was published just before the centenary ginalisation of events, a coherent continui- of World War I in 2013. This book was ty of events is not or insufficiently worked How the First World War was planned praised as encompassing, promising a out. Reading Wolfgang Effenberger’s book new perspective. However, what is al- this becomes evident: people with motifs lowed here in search for causes 100 years More than “sleepwalkers” also planned and carried out this armed after the terrible world war is old wine in In contrast, geo-strategists such as George engagement. These people have names. It new wineskins. “Sleepwalkers” stagger- Friedman, Obama’s adviser and former is proven that a group around the “Prince ing into a war? That is unrealistic. Not a head of the private news service Strat- of Wales”, the later King Edward VII, con- word about the fact that the First World for, are able to explain complex contexts sisting of British high and financial nobil- War was preceded by extensive (not only, and Anglo-American military doctrines ity, made the plan in 1887 to ally Russia but above all) British planning. Never- to laypersons in just thirteen minutes and France and to start a war against Ger- theless, the celebrated Christopher Clark on YouTube: That it has been American many. Immediately after planning, secret was ennobled for his point of view by geostrategy for 100 years that Germa- diplomacy began its work under British Queen Elizabeth II. Why and for what ny and Russia cannot go together. The control.9 becomes slowly clear when you read the US will continue to wage wars in the In each of these exciting booklets, book. Clark teaches his readers by claim- future. The United States should follow Wolfgang Effenberger takes the reader on ing that the First World War was not an the example of the British, who let oth- a geopolitical journey of the time before Agatha Christie thriller. The investiga- ers lead their wars. Now it would depend the First World War. The conception of his tors in search for guilt tended to construct on Germany! Germany is still hesitat- books are very clear and easily to under- decision-makers’ actions as “planned and ing.7 Thus, if Germany is currently cred- stand. It is to his credit that he refers to the driven by a coherent intention.” There was ited with strong leadership on the conti- present at appropriate points every now “no evil plan” (!). nent, every citizen should see the warning and then and impresses with many litera- Anyone who takes the trouble to strug- signs. NATO is at the Russian border. ture references. gle through this especially in Germany However, if Germany wants to become a He describes the role of American praised book to page 716, learn in all se- truly sovereign state, its history must be high finance, especially that of the bank riousness “that the available sources do worked up truthfully and without taboos. J.P. Morgan, during the war, and why the not substantiate such an argumentation That’s why I’d like to draw attention to course of the First World War was the op- [that there would be such a plan]”.5 You two new booklets that deserve attention portunity for the USA, as a neutral state, can only wonder what kind of information for precisely this reason. mind you, to position itself as the only Christopher Clark has on his desk. The world power with British know-how. Ar- available sources …! That really is some- Two new books thur Ponsonby and the principles (still thing to be savoured. Of course, In Germa- by Wolfgang Effenberger valid) of war propaganda complete the ny it is still a matter that the winning na- Wolfgang Effenberger8, as a representa- booklets.10 tions drive through the country with their tive of a historiography committed to the Even today, enemy images trickle into tanks or jeeps. The Russians have already facts – and more than sufficient in terms our brains through various channels every left. However, without the slightest hint of of the sources meeting the demands of day. In fact, such reading invites each of indignation, American President Trump, professional historiography – knows how us to reflect on how, in a world that is an- for example, recently visited US troops to convincingly present the read thread ything but peaceful, every citizen could still stationed in Ramstein. in brief. This means that these books are contribute to sustainable peace-building.• In a chapter in his book, “Eng- particularly worth reading both for fur- land, die Deutschen, die Juden und das ther research and for interested layper- 1 Nicholson, Harold. Friedensmacher 1919. 20. Jahrhundert” (England, the Germans, sons, due to the extensive literature used. (Peacemaker 1919), Berlin 1934. Harold Nichol- the Jews, and the Twentieth Century), He points out, who had an interest in son had to map in Versailles as British Secretary Peter Heisenko aptly described this repres- the new order of Europe at the end of of State of Foreign Minister Sir Edward Gray, sion of history – and thus the present – as the 19th century, who laid the fuses in the border shifts negotiated in ever-emerging se- cret treaties. a collective and socio-psychological phe- the background, since when this war was 2 Presented excellently in: Munier, Gerald. Thomas nomenon of the Germans.6 He called it na- planned, why it was necessary for the Brit- Morus, Urvater des Kommunismus und katholis- tional masochism. ish Empire and how the planning was pru- cher Heiliger (Thomas Morus, forefather of com- munism and catholic saint), Hamburg 2008, dently, perfidiously and almost impercep- pp. 136 and the original text: Morus, Thomas. Uto- Connections are hidden tibly launched. Which role Iswolski played pia – Lateinisch/Deutsch (Utopia – Latin/German), Christopher Clark’s “The Sleepwalk- as a diplomat for the Pope in mediating Stuttgart 1964, pp. 129 3 Wimmer, Willy. Deutschland im Umbruch (Ger- ers” turns out to be another spin-doctor- between Republican France and the Czar- many in Upheaval), Höhr-Grenzhausen 2018, al work. As a historian, he sticks to the ist Empire. And last but not least, which p. 133 100-year-old reading; he makes use of, al- promises were made in advance to many 4 Kellerhoff, Sven Felix. Deutschlands Repara- beit linguistically honed, the long refuted European states in order to make this tionszahlungen laufen aus (Germany’s repa- “Fischer controversy,” according to which armed engagement palatable to them. ration payments expire). In: “Die Welt” from German historians prove that the Prussian The Pope, for example, was to have his 28.09.2010. militarists absolutely wanted the war be- own state again. Russia was offered Is- 5 Clark, Christopher. Die Schlafwandler (The fore the First World War. He lays wrong tanbul and the much-needed Dardanelles. sleepwalkers). Munich 2015, p. 716 tracks and portrays the British Empire and France should be rewarded with the west- its politics in the most harmless light. The ern part of Africa and areas in the Mid- continued on page 3 No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 3 1244 – A Key to Peace in Europe Defending Serbia’s right to the province of Kosovo and Metohija by Marina Colic, Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals

The oldest Serbian Publishing House – of Equals, and the Serbian Literary Co- more reflection on herself and her long- Serbian Literary Cooperative – has re- operative. term interests, and to a lesser extent on the cently promoted the book “1244 – A Key According to Professor Milo Lompar current expectations by the international to Peace in Europe”, authored by Živadin the book reflects continuity of the au- stakeholders, since the latter, in their posi- Jovanović, a former foreign minister of thor’s views on statehood and national tioning vis-à-vis Serbia, are guided solely Yugoslavia (1998–2000). Other promo- interests of Serbia and the Serbian peo- by their own geopolitical interests. Serbia tions which followed in Belgrade, Novi ple, readily recognisable in his decades- should adhere to the fundamental princi- Sad, Subotica, and other places in Serbia, long career in diplomacy and in his pub- ples of the international law and the UN have aroused attention and interest for the lic engagements up to the present days. SC resolutions, regardless of who may or book among scholars of international re- The author’s continuous advocacy for may not find it suitable, and develop bal- lations, security, analysts of contemporary the full respect of the basic International anced relations with all key internation- geostrategic tendencies, of the roll of in- Law Principles and UN Security Council al actors, particularly with proven, long ternational public law, and of stability and Resolution 12441 in resolving the prob- term friends who did not partake in the cooperation in the Balkans, and Europe. lem of the Serbian Province of Kosovo 1999 NATO aggression and have not rec- The book is a collection of the author’s and Metohija reflects both – the author’s ognised the ensuing illegal, unilateral se- articles, interviews and public speeches understanding of the long-term and cur- cession. Vučićević also highlights the au- related to the Autonomous Serbian Prov- rent importance of Kosovo and Metohija, thor’s thesis principled that Serbia needs ince of Kosovo and Metohija which have not only for Serbia and the Serbian peo- the European Union only to the extent the been published in the past 20 years (from ple, but also for the peace and stability in European Union needs Serbia, and that 1997 through September 2018). the Balkans and Europe. With over 1,300 EU membership is a legitimate goal inso- This includes a number of interviews Serbian medieval monuments, headquar- far it is not conditioned by surrendering with renown international medias such ters of the Serbian Orthodox Church her sovereignty and territorial integrity. A as: Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine Patriarchy – Kosovo and Metohija are just and durable solution for Kosovo and Zeitung, L Soire, Pravo, ABC, Nezavi- deeply interwoven in the state, national, Metohija is only possible on the basis of simaya Gazeta, Al Ahram, Elite, as well cultural and religious identity – consid- observing the principles enshrined in the as radio and TV networks, such as BBC, ers professor Lompar. He concluded that UN Charter, the OSCE Final Act (1975), CNN, CBS, Chinese Central TV, Al the book of Mr. Živadin Jovanović reaf- UN SC Resolution 1244 (1999) and the Jazzera and others. firms the statehood roots and tradition of Constitution of Serbia. Attempts to im- The book (890 pages) comprises 5 the Serbian nation re-established in XIX pose solutions on Serbia which legalise vi- Chapters: The Time of Terrorism, The century as well as the right to equality olations of the basic principles of Interna- Time of Aggression, The Time of Illu- and self governance of all citizens and tional Law and of European Security and sions, The Time of Waking up, and The national communities living in the Prov- Cooperation as well as UN SC resolutions Documents. The reviewers are Academi- ince regardless of their nationality or re- would only pave the way to the spreading cian Vlado Strugar, Prof. Dr Milo Lompar, ligion. He particularly praised the high of instability and the build-up of conflict and Prof. Čedomir Štrbac and the editors documentary value of the book as its spe- potential in the Balkans and in Europe – Ambassador (retd) Dragomir Vučićević cial feature. warns Vučićević. and the writer Dragan Lakićević. The pub- Ambassador Dragomir Vučićević singls lishers: The Belgrade Forum for a World out the need for Serbia to dedicate much continued on page 4

”War and peace” continued from page 2

6 Heisenko, Peter. England, die Deutschen, die Juden und das 20. Jahrhundert. (The Germans, the Jews and the 20th century). Munich 2010, p. 297 et seqq. 7 Friedman, George. Rede beim Chicago Coun- cil on Foreign Relations Anfang 2015 (Speech at the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations in early 2015), You Tube 8 Effenberger, Wolfgang. Europas Verhäng- nis 1914/18, Die Herren des Geldes greifen zur Weltmacht. (Europe’s doom 1914/18, The mas- ters of money reach for the world power). Höhr- Grenzhausen, May 2018 9 Riemeck, Renate. Mitteleuropa – Bilanz eines Jahrhunderts. (Central Europe – The balance of a century). Freiburg 1965 10 Effenberger, Wolfgang. Europas Verhängnis 1914/18, Kritische angloamerikanische Stim- men zur Geschichte des ersten Weltkrieges (Critical Anglo-American voices on the history of the First World War.) Höhr-Grenzhausen, No- vember 2018 ISBN 978-3-943007-19-0 ISBN 978-3-943007-20-6 No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 4

”1244 – A Key to Peace …” din) how realistic is it now, 20 years after, continued from page 3 to resolve the issue of the status of Kosovo Resolution 1244 and Metohija being the main consequence This resolution, adopted by the UN Se- Renown Serbian historian, member of of that war, keeping Russia outside of the curity Council on 19 June 1999, ended Serbian academy of science and art Vlado whole process! Is the Russia of Putin today the 78-day NATO aggression against Strugar, underlines that this book is a less relevant, less capacitated for the peace- Serbia (Federal Republic of Yugosla- unique thesauri of documents and analy- ful solution of international problems, in- via), enshrined the guarantee of sover- ses to be researched by historians and all cluding the problem of Kosovo and Meto- eignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and substantial autonomy for the prov- others researchers devoted to establishing hija?! Or, to put it differently, is the West ince of Kosovo and Metohijen within the truth about Kosovo and Metohija, the a stronger, dominant player in the global Serbia. Nonetheless, in 2008, the pro- most important national and state issue of and European arena today than it was in vincial leadership proclaimed the uni- Serbia, as well as about attempts of certain 1999!? Jovanović added that UN SC Reso- lateral secession of Serbia, which in re- Western powers to exploit this issues for lution 1244 (1999) comprises the positions turn was recognised by NATO and EU expansion of their hegemony toward East. and interests of all key actors in European members, with the exception of Spain, General (retd) and professor Radovan and global relations, Russia and China in- Romania, Slovakia, Greece and Cyprus. Radinovic considers that the author refuted cluded. Taking that this was true back in the chief argument of the West, that Kosovo 1999 – at the peak of dominance of the un- Illegally according to international law and Metohija was lost in the war, and that ipolar world order – it follows that today, remains illegally according to international Serbia was defeated and thus left without under the backdrop of multipolar global re- law, one turns and turns it as one wants. It the right to claim the end of occupation and lations, this is no less than imperative. A seems that this process has neither been suffi- reinstitutions of own constitutional order. bid to resolve it within an EU-only format ciently dealt with politically, legally nor mor- Western geopolitics are well aware that reveals the intention to exclude Russia and ally. How else would it be possible for the 1999 NATO aggression was not aimed at China and to resort to blackmailing in order German warmongers to escape so cheaply, protecting human rights of the Albanian na- to impose geopolitical interests of the West, without much fuss, without loud outcry, with- tional minority. Real objectives have been namely, the EU and NATO. Acceptance of out internationally devastating criticism? In and remain up to present times, geopolit- such attempts would go against the global any case, too little of it could be heard. ical expansion towards East, instate full trends, and would result in further desta- The present Merkel government now control and lasting presents of US troops in bilisation of relations in the Balkans and openly admits that it is advising and finan- the Central Balkans. “Kosovo and Metohija in Europe rather than in introducing a bal- cially supporting its then foster children – are not an issue of human rights, but of the anced and sustainable solution. the KLA – in transforming them into a reg- Western geopolitics” – says General Radi- Jovanović recalled of the coming 80th ular army in Kosovo. What is the point of novic and concludes: “This book helps bet- anniversary of the Munich Agreement on this? As soon as the dead of 1999 are bur- ter understanding the recent history. Those Sudetenland ostensibly to “protect” the ied, the next bestiality arises before our eyes: who govern history are the same who gov- rights of the German national minority the building up of an army in Kosovo means ern the present and the future”. and “save” the peace in Europe. We all nothing other than: “We are continuing”. The most renown Serbian islamologist, know who took part in, and who was in- The former Foreign Minister of Yugo- Serbian ambassador at UNSEKO, profes- tentionally excluded from, this “agree- slavia Živadin Jovanović (1998-2000) sor Darko Tanaskovic considers that the ing” and what was the outcome of this now publishes – together with the „Bel- book “1244 – a key to peace in Europe” “comprehensive legally binding agree- grade Forum for a World of Equals“ – a is precious well of documents, facts, and ment” of 30 September 1938 – warned new comprehensive book dealing with the unavoidable testimonies of the dramatic Jovanović. • peace policy in Europe and in particu- history of the Balkans and Europe, at the *** lar with UN Security Council Resolution crossroads of the 20th and 21st centuries. After the end of the war against Yugo- 1244 and its far-reaching consequences. He underlines that the author is witness slavia in 1999, the UN Security Coun- An overview in English is already avail- and direct participant of the crucial efforts cil adopted Resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 able, the translation of the entire book not only to resolve all the problems in Ko- June 1999, also known publicly as the from Serbian will probably follow. sovo and Metohija by peaceful means, Kosovo Resolution. Almost 20 years have but also of the forces whose geopolitical passed since then. 20 years ago, in Oc- Barbara Hug aims have been quite different. “All those tober 1998, in a fateful vote in the Ger- who study today, or who will be studying man “Bundestag”, the German partic- UNSC Resolution 1244 in the future, will ipation in the war was decided – with find this book very useful, resourceful and an overwhelming majority. You read the even guiding towards a better understand- shorthand report of the 248th session of ing of processes in the Balkans and great the German “Bundestag” on 16 October powers relations” – considers professor 1998 (Plenary Protocol 13/248). Tanaskovic. German experts in international law The author recalled that UN SC Reso- and lawyers’ organisations filed criminal lution 1244 (1999) was the outcome of ex- charges against the war-mongers of the tremely difficult two-month negotiations time. The then Federal Prosecutor General under Russian mediation, while the NATO Nehm dismissed these charges on the justi- aggression was unfolding. According to fication that the term “war of aggression” him, it is quite improbable that the pre- should not be understood too narrowly as sent day narrow and closed Brussels’ nego- a military operation. The Federal Govern- tiations format would produce a balanced, ment used the construction of “humanitar- just, and sustainable solution to the Kosovo ian intervention” to justify this war, but this and Metohija problem. If the West was un- was also done without the decision of the able to end the NATO War in 1999 without UN Security Council. the key role of Russia (Viktor Chernomyr- No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 5 The yellow vests movement or the unhealed wound of the 2005 referendum by Arnaud Benedetti, France*

Arnaud Benedetti ment, unites the directly affected politi- Influenced by the unhealed wound of the sees the Yellow West cal, intellectual, administrative and eco- 2005 referendum,1 the Yellow Vests are the movement as having nomic forces that want to save and protect first popular movement to succeed in ques- entered into a virtu- all their achievements. On both sides the tioning the technocratic doctrine of Maas- ally revolutionary way leads to extremes. According to the tricht. phase. The underly- bourgeois rules of decency, the partici- An additional tax, the government’s lack ing anger has inten- pants presume excesses in the confron- of understanding of the rising displeasure, a Arnaud Benedetti sified thus far as the tation, which are a sign of obvious detri- pinch of disregard have sufficed for a situa- (picture arnaud- desire for more pop- ment to the institutional basis of the regime. tion to have arisen before our very eyes the benedetti.com) ular sovereignty in Some demonstrators – but by no means all beginning of which is discernible, but the favour of technoc- – do not hesitate to provoke violent clashes end of which is not. The “national debate”, racy has been increasingly cut back. with the police; the executive, for its part, which completely ignores the EU and mi- uses a language and behaviour that are ex- gration issues, shows that the executive has The yellow safety vest is first and foremost a plicitly divisive and authoritarian, and are no intention of making any concessions to signal. It illustrates the crisis of Macronism, by no means conducive to calming the dis- the nature of its worldview. • which has its origins in an earlier world Ma- turbing mood. Source: © Arnaud Benedetti, Le Figaro of 7.1.2019 cron and his entourage of the “En marche” What we’re seeing here is nothing but (Translation Current Concerns) movement only inherited. The story resem- a power struggle. But a fight that devel- bles the Russian Matryoshka dolls which ops outside the given, mutually accepted 1 On 29 May 2005, in a national referendum, French voters rejected the “Constitutional Trea- are placed one inside another. The outer playground. The street has once again be- ty for Europe” presented by the EU with 55 % shell touted something new, while bygone come the scene of eruptive political con- of the votes. Two days later, the same thing hap- times are inside. In fact, the “En marche” trasts. The irony of history is that the “new pened in the Netherlands. In 2007, the EU sub- movement defended an old perception of world” has unexpectedly turned into a mitted a slightly amended new version to the member states under the name “Lisbon Trea- Europe, without being aware of it: that of “time machine leading into the past” in ty”. In 2008, the then French President Nicolas Maastricht, opportunistically defending the order to explore pre-modern forms of pol- Sarkozy, with the support of Parliament, amend- institutions of a weary Fifth Republic and, itics anew. ed the Constitution in order to be able to enforce above all, a technocratic conception of poli- Some people today wrongly believe this EU Treaty three days later – without a refer- tics. At all levels, the various areas of pop- they are seeing signs of the 1930s. This is endum. (translator’s note) ular sovereignty have been increasingly re- the expression of a short-sightedness that stricted. The dissatisfaction associated with refers all events of our time back to the this is demonstrated Saturday after Saturday 20th century, to the interwar period and the Current Concerns in an uncontrolled and tumultuous manner. Second World War! But there is no doubt The international journal for independent The yellow-vest movement [“giletisme”] that we must turn our attention to another thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, reveals first of all this. A disruptive situ- century – not to the 20th century, marked and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights ation in which a turning point takes place by totalitarianism, but to the one that dealt and humanitarian law – something that creates radical new cir- with the question of democracy and the cumstances. When commentators and par- freedom of peoples, the 19th century. We Publisher: Zeit-Fragen Cooperative ticipants have a tough time when they at- are much closer to 1848 than we were in Editors: Erika Vögeli, Eva-Maria Föllmer-Müller tempt to grasp this moment, to understand 1934 or even 1968. Address: Current Concerns, what is happening, it is because the situation The outbreak, which initially took P.O. Box, CH-8044 Zurich goes against all norms and rules – as it is the place because of the tax and social situa- Phone: +41 (0)44 350 65 50 characteristic of a revolution. tion, is de facto a political one. Political- Fax: +41 (0)44 350 65 51 Many things collapse, confuse and ly, because in the course of the mobilisa- E-Mail: [email protected] amaze. The process that we have been wit- tion the initiators discovered that the only Subscription details: nessing for a some weeks is of this nature: way to conduct the debate on social and published regularly electronically as PDF file it is quasi revolutionary for at least two rea- economic issues was to focus on the issue Annual subscription rate of SFr. 40,-, € 30,-, £ 25,-, $ 40,- sons: On the one hand, because it express- of democracy. This seems to be blocked, for the following countries: es a spectacular and worrying questioning however, by the Maastricht Treaty, which, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, of the “rational legal framework” – to use among other things, has excluded the eco- Cyprus, , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hongkong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, a term by Max Weber – in which we in- nomic sector from any challenge or re- Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Nether- teract. On the other hand, because it leads versibility. Macron himself is only the ul- lands, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, in return to a kind of “new” reaction that, timate executor of this Maastricht fixation Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab ­Emirates, in an irrepressible self-defending move- on the economy, to which everything po- United Kingdom, USA litical must subordinate. Annual subscription rate of * Arnaud Benedetti is an associate professor at the SFr. 20,-, € 15,-, £ 12,50, $ 20,- He is the prodigal son who has prom- for all other countries. University of Paris-Sorbonne. He had positions firstly as communications director of the ”Centre ised to master everything – a return to a Account: Postscheck-Konto: PC 87-644472-4 national de la recherche scientifique”, then of the form of power of politics. After eighteen The editors reserve the right to shorten letters to “Centre national d’études spatiales” (CNES) and fi- months in office, however, he gives the the editor. Letters to the editor do not necessarily nally of the “Institut national de la santé et de la re- impression that, like his predecessors, he reflect the views and opinions of Current Concerns. cherche médicale” (Inserm). His latest book is titled “Le coup de com permanent” [The permanent PR is following a roadmap that is not in the © 2019. All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or hands of the sovereign people but in com- transmission of this publication may be made without written action]. (Edition Cerf, 2018), in which he analyses permission. Emmanuel Macron’s communication strategies. pletely different hands. No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 6 Lessons for democracy when looking at France by Karl Müller The French president’s offer to hold a the president of the country is one among president confirmed. Thus, the call for “great national debate” with the citizens the citizens. genuine self-determination “by the peo- of his country from 15 January to the end However, in the past weeks he got into ple for the people” becomes louder. Swit- of March 2019 is – even before the start of dire straits by a nationwide protest move- zerland is regarded a model. A right of the “debate” – more likely a sham pack- ment – the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) – referendum and initiative is called for. It age. Emmanuel Macron obviously in- and had signalled concessions. Particular- should be possible to dismiss even elected tends to use modern control and govern- ly strongly denounced law projects ought representatives, members of the govern- ance techniques to get the citizens under to be subject to a temporary moratorium ment and the president himself by a ref- control. The process calls for fundamen- or be withdrawn. Above all: Emmanuel erendum. However, here Macron and his tal considerations. Macron promised a “great national de- government are not making any conces- bate” about the concerns of the people in sions. They speak of “agitators”, threaten- Drawing too many parallels between dif- the country. ing a crack down on them. ferent historical epochs is generally ques- Now it has emerged that this “great na- tionable. But it can be interesting to take a tional debate” was not supposed to be an To prevent violence look at how the powerful of different ep- honest dialogue, but a farce, a spectacle. Louis XVI had no success with all his at- ochs dealt with the concerns of their sub- Walter Ulbricht, a German Communist tempts to remain in power. The history jects, today citizens. and later Secretary General of the Central of the revolution is tied to a terrible trail Committee of the East German SED, ap- of blood. Switzerland’s path towards di- Louis XVI ... parently said in 1945, with regard to his rect democracy in the 19th century, on the When Louis XVI and his advisors in the strategy for the Soviet-occupied zone: “It other hand, was largely non-violent. Yet, it 1780s no longer knew how to navigate the has to look democratic, but we must have was not given to the Swiss on a silver plat- heavily swaying ship of the French state in everything under control”. Emmanuel Ma- ter, it had to be struggled for politically – the future, and above all how to remedy cron obviously did the same – but it was and it was a long way. the ailing state budget, they had an idea. uncovered. They called for the assembly of the es- Macron wanted to limit the topics of Is France not tates, which had not met for centuries, to the dialogue with the citizens of the coun- everywhere in EU-Europe? help them. This was intended to give the try from the outset and Chantal Jouanno, France’s president and his politics not only impression that all three estates of socie- a civil servant, intended as head organis- find parallels in France’s history. They also ty, i.e. nobility, clergy as well as peasants er and coordinator of the debate – with- have parallels with what is happening in and bourgeoisie could participate in the so- out consultation with the gilets jaunes: many European countries today. The pro- lution of the state crisis – even if the repre- She has been president of the CNDP vocative and quite radical French writer sentatives of the third estate (peasants and (Commission nationale du débat public) Michel Houllebecq has just published his bourgeoisie), that made up more than 95 since March 2018. Particularly offensive latest novel “Serotonin” – simultaneously per cent of the population of France, only was the fact that the former minister and in French and German. The thoroughly ir- had one third of the votes in this assembly prominent top athlete chosen to be coordi- ritated life of his protagonist does not have of estates. nator earns almost 15,000 euros a month to be the subject here; but the background In addition, there was the idea of giv- in her current position as a civil servant against which the novel is set has a lot to ing all subjects the opportunity to formu- – ten times the official minimum wage in do with reality: A French peasantry and late complaints and submit them in writ- France. Now that this has leaked, the co- working class impoverished by globalisa- ing – an interesting idea in view of the ordinator designated by Macron has re- tion and EU politics. The pattern is appli- fact that the majority of people, especial- signed from her post. cable to other European countries. ly those from the third estate, could nei- It still seems to “work” when only gov- ther read nor write. However, the king and Modern techniques ernments are changed or even brand new his advisers had miscalculated. The letters of control and governance parties replace the previous ones in the ex- of complaint were unvarnished testimony We know this kind of top-down policy – in ercise of power. Macron and his “move- to the situation of the people in the coun- which those over whom decisions are made ment” were make believed as saviours in try and to the glaring injustice – for the should have the feeling that they have made times of distress. dissatisfaction and indignation had mean- their own decisions – from change manage- Now for how long will they get away while spread to representatives of all es- ment for control and governance process- with something like this? In France, the tates, and very, very many spoke out. The es in companies or administrations, from writing is on the wall. Not only when assembly of the estates also dissolved after “future workshops” and the like – Macron looking at the protests of the past weeks, it had barely met, and the first revolution- wants to try it with the whole of France. but also when looking at how the political ary act took place: The tennis court oath A telling detail: In the Elysée Palace, Ma- class is dealing with these protests. Where [serment du jeu de paume] to give France cron’s strategy towards the gilets jaunes in EU-Europe are the concerns of the citi- a constitution and the formation of the Na- runs under the name “Operation Recon- zens and their rights as a sovereign, really tional Assembly. quista” – as the “Frankfurter Allgemeine taken serious? Zeitung” wrote on 9 January. However, in the long term it will not ...and Emmanuel Macron work out. Taking the citizens serious as a All this was almost 230 years ago, today ... or direct democracy? sovereign can only mean living direct de- there are no kings left in France. France The attempt will most likely fail, and it mocracy. To hope for the political class on calls itself a republic with civil and human is plausible that the opposition is calling this path will not lead us anywhere. For us rights, it is supposed to be a country in Macron’s attempts an “alibi exercise” and as citizens it is essential to stand up for di- which all citizens have equal rights – and sees its fundamental distrust towards the rect democracy. • No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 7 Legalising Cannabis – who will profit from it? by Professor Dr med Jürg Barben, MD, FMH (Swiss Medical Association) Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, specialised in pulmonary diseases Forty years ago, it was hard to imagine, tion of Cannabis in the US over the past nausea and vomiting side effects accom- today it is reality: Although being classi- 20 years for the first time15. In this report, panying cytostatic or radiation therapy fied as an illegal drug on a federal level it becomes clear how the fight for the au- in the course of cancer treatment. An- in the USA, 30 US States approved Can- thorisation of Cannabis for medical pur- other drug containing THC, Dronabinol, nabis for medicinal use and 10 States de- poses was used as a preliminary stage for was approved for the same indications. In clared Cannabis as free to use for leisure a subsequent full legalisation. Since 1996, Switzerland, medical use is possible with purposes1. Following Uruguay (2014), three billionaires – George Soros, Peter an exemption permit issued by the Federal Canada now declared its intent to legal- Lewis and John Sperling – have contrib- Office of Public Health (FOPH). The ac- ise Cannabis for recreational use as well2. uted about 80% of the money used for the tive substance is mainly administered in This is despite the fact that the medical votes on Cannabis matters in multiple US the form of a solution and may be used for benefits of Cannabis are low and multi- States. Back in 1992, George Soros, who loss of appetite and nausea due to serious ple adverse effects have been known to made his fortune as a financial speculator, illnesses, severe pain and spasticity. the medical community for years3–7. Since donated USD 15 million to the legal battle mid-2016, marijuana products with a Δ9- to legalise Cannabis for medical purposes tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of and later used his Open Society Founda- Since mid-2016, mari- less than 1% have been legally available tion to fight for a full legalisation, starting in Switzerland and following the legali- in Uruguay16. Peter Lewis and John Sper- juana products with a sation, 580 companies entered the legal ling, both deceased today, made their for- Δ9‑tetrahydrocannabinol Cannabis business. In 2017, the upturn in tunes in the insurance industry and the for (THC) content of less than these businesses added 15 million Swiss profit education movement. All three of francs to the treasury8. them saw the opportunity to fully legal- 1% have been legally avail- ise Cannabis by first introducing a legal able in Switzerland In the meantime, an enormous Canna- bis industry has emerged in the US, with businesses worth millions9. These busi- “To reach the goal of legal- However, the effect of these two THC- nesses could rely on the experiences and containing drugs are low and can easi- knowledge of the tobacco industry10, 11. In isation, the effects of Can- ly be achieved with other medications. the States that made Cannabis legal, sales nabis have been actively In 2017, the US National Academies of reached 8 billion USD in the last year; downplayed, and a few are Sciences (NAS) published a very com- sales in 2025 are estimated at 24 billion prehensive publication on Cannabis: The USD1. In the process, these states received making billions of dollars Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannab- 745 million USD in taxes last year, and by with it”. inoids: The Current State of Evidence 2025 they are estimated to be around 4.3 and Recommendations for Research12. billion USD. However, this revenue will Analysing a total of 10,700 abstracts not cover future follow-up costs of Canna- use for medicinal purposes. In 1993, Rich- taken from publications on Cannabis bis use such as health costs, occupational ard Cowen, former director of the Nation- use since 1999, the report concludes that losses and social costs, as it was the case al Organization for the Reform of Mari- medicinal effects have only been scien- with the tobacco epidemic. juana Laws (NORML), stated in a press tifically proven when used for chemo- The number of Cannabis users in the conference that “the key to it [full legali- therapy-induced nausea and AIDS-in- US aged 12 years and older, is estimated sation] is medical access. Because, once duced cachexia, and partly when used for at 22 million. 10% use Cannabis only for you have hundreds of thousands of people chronic pain and muscle spasms in multi- medical purposes. The number of Canna- using marijuana medically, under medi- ple sclerosis patients. While the positive bis smokers has increased from 6.2% in cal supervision, the whole scam is going effects are low, the NAS points out that 2002 to 8.3% in 201512, Cannabis addicts to be blown. The consensus here is that Cannabis use increases the risk of traf- were estimated at 2.7 million in 2014, medical marijuana is our strongest suit. fic accidents and the risk of intoxications, with 9% of all Cannabis users becom- It is our point of leverage which will move ing addicted. This rate increases to 17% us toward the legalisation of marijuana if Cannabis use starts in adolescence, and for personal use”15. “Pregnant women and nurs- to 25–50% if Cannabis is consumed on a ing mothers are strongly dis- daily basis1. Since 1992, the average level Cannabis as medicine? of Δ9‑tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the Scientific data on the medical use of Can- couraged to use Cannabis” major psychoactive substance of Canna- nabis and positive effects is rare. System- bis, has increased from 3 to 12% in 2012. atic and high-quality scientific research, in THC content in concentrated Cannabis oil particular prospective, randomized, place- especially in children, as well as the risk can be as high as 75%1,13,14. bo-controlled, double-blind studies, hard- of developing schizophrenia, anxiety and ly exist7. Back in 1975, Nabilone – a fully psychoses. In addition, the report also Who financed the synthetic derivative of THC – was pat- points out how Cannabis use results in a legalisation of Cannabis? ented by the US company Eli Lilly as an limited attention span, memory loss and “National Families in Action” (NFA) anti-emetic and tranquilizer. Later it was a decreased learning ability. When used published an indepth report, “Track- approved by the US Food and Drug Ad- in childhood and adolescence, Canna- ing the money that’s legalizing marijua- ministration (FDA) for treating anorexia bis is highly likely to lead to addiction. na and why it matters”, documenting the and cachexia in AIDS patients. It was also money flow used to vote for the legalisa- approved to be used as an anti-emetic for continued on page 8 No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 8

”Legalising Cannabis – who …” normal life, or end up needing long-term 12 National Academies of Sciences. The Health Ef- continued from page 7 3, 13, 21–23 fects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current care . State of Evidence and Recommendations for Re- In addition to organic Cannabis prod- search. 2017. http://nap.edu/24625. A recent paper highlights devastating ef- ucts, an increasing number of synthet- 13 Yazdi K. Die Cannabis-Lüge – Warum Marihuana fects of Cannabis use on the brain devel- ic cannabinoids have been produced in verharmlost wird und wer daran verdient. Berlin: Schwarzkopf-Verlag; 2018. opment of unborn children and newborns countless laboratories since the 1980s. 14 Kilmer B. Recreational Cannabis – Minimizing and hence, strongly discourages pregnant Today, these cannabinoids are be- the Health Risks from Legalization. N Engl J Med. women and nursing mothers to use Can- yond control and have led to numerous 2017;376(8):705–7. nabis17. deaths24, 25. Cannabinoids are also becom- 15 Rusche S. Tracking the Money That’s Legalizing Marijuana and Why It Matters. 2017. http://www. ing increasingly popular among young nationalfamilies org/ survey_report.html. Consequences of legalising Cannabis people for “vaping” in modern multi- 16 Monsanto plant gentechnisch verändertes Mar- Legalising Cannabis for recreational use functional e-cigarettes, which have be- ihuana. Deutsche Wirtschaftsnachrichten. 17. opens up vast opportunities for com- come particularly popular in France26. Dezember 2013. https:// deutsche-wirtschafts- nachrichten.de/2013/12/17/monsanto-plant-gen- mercialisation. Consequences following technisch-veraendertes-marihuana. these opportunities are difficult to fore- Conclusion 17 Jansson LM, Jordan CJ, Velez ML. Perinatal Mar- see10,11. Debates on how to limit health Like tobacco, trading Cannabis means to ijuana Use and the Developing Child. JAMA. problems caused by the use of Cannabis, do business with an addictive substance 2018;Jul 16 [Epub ahead of print]. 18 Barben J. Tabaklobby und Kinderfänger – wie for example by means of new regulato- with well-known physical and psycho- cool ist rauchen wirklich? Teil 1: Tabakepidemie, ry measures, will tie up enormous finan- logical consequences. To reach the goal Werbung und Manipulation. Schweiz Med Forum. cial and legal resources14. The Canna- of legalisation, the effects of Cannabis 2011;11:370–5. 19 Barben J. Tabaklobby und Kinderfänger – wie bis industry might again take notes from have been actively downplayed, and a cool ist rauchen wirklich? Teil 2: Passivrauchen the tobacco industry, which managed to few are making billions of dollars with und Strategien der Tabakindustrie. Schweiz Med turn a cigarette into a perfect nicotine it13. The Tobacco Framework Conven- Forum. 2011;11:389–93. dispenser in the course of the last cen- tion on Tobacco Control (www.fctc.org) 20 Rusche S, Sabet K. What Will Legal Marijuana Cost Employers? 2017. https://www.nationalfami- tury. Adding to that, the tobacco indus- has achieved its first successes worldwide lies.org/reports/What_Will_Legal_ Marijuana_ try perfidiously promoted their products fighting the tobacco epidemic. With the Cost_Employers--Complete.pdf. and the number of cigarette smokers rose legalisation of Cannabis, a new epidemic 21 Lynskey M, Hall W. The effects of adolescent can- 10,18,19 nabis use on educational attainment: a review. Ad- from 1 % in 1880 to 50% in 1950 . will be created, with unforeseeable con- diction. 2000;95(11):1621–30. 22 Bray JW, Zarkin While only a few will benefit financial- sequences. For this reason, various med- GA, Ringwalt C, Qi J. The relationship between ly from commercialising Cannabis, the ical organisations such as the German marijuana initiation and dropping out of high legalisation of this drug will, as it was Society of Pneumology or the American school. Health Econ. 2000;9(1):9–18. 22 Bray, J.W.; Zarkin, G.A.; Ringwalt, C.; Qi, J. The with tobacco, entail a series of unprec- Thoracic Society published position pa- re­ lationship between marijuana initiation and drop­ edented health and safety issues, as well pers and reports to call attention to the ping out of high school. Health Econ. 2000;9(1):9– as financial consequences for individuals dangers of Cannabis use7, 27. • 18 14,20 23 Horwood LJ, Fergusson DM, Hayatbakhsh MR, affected and for society as a whole . References Najman JM, Coffey C, Patton GC, et al. Canna- Like alcohol, Cannabis will become bis use and educational achievement: findings from a relevant issue in workplaces and on 1 Haffajee RL, MacCoun RJ, Mello MM. Behind three Australasian cohort studies. Drug Alcohol the road. THC has long-lasting effects, Schedule Reconciling Federal and State Mari- Depend. 2010;110(3):247–53. juana Policy. N Engl J Med. 2018;379(6):501–4. 24 Trecki J, Gerona RR, Schwartz MD. Synthetic which will have an impact on the quality 2 Felder K. Kanada – eine Grossmacht im Cannabis- Cannabinoid-Related Illnesses and Deaths. N Engl of work; injuries and endangering human Geschäft. “Neue Zürcher Zeitung”. 16 Mai 2018; p. J Med. 2015;373(2):103–7. lives will become more frequent. THC is 26. 25 Adams AJ, Banister SD, Irizarry L, Trecki J, 3 stored in adipose tissue due to its high fat Taeschner KL. Cannabis – Biologie, Konsum und Schwartz M, Gerona R. “Zombie” Outbreak Wirkung. 4., expanded edition. Deutscher Ärzte- Caused by the Synthetic Cannabinoid AMB- solubility which means that it can be re- Verlag; 2005. FUBINACA in New York. N Engl J Med. leased back into the bloodstream hours 4 Volkow ND, Baler RD, Compton WM, Weiss SR. 2017;376(3):235–42. Adverse health effects of marijuana use. N Engl J 26 Pourchez J, Forest V. E-cigarettes: from nico- Med. 2018;370(23):2219–27. tine to cannabinoids,the French situation. Lancet 5 Hall W, Degenhardt L. Adverse health ef- Respir Med. 2018;6(5):e16. doi: 10.1016/S2213- “The NAS analysed 10,700 fects of non-medical cannabis use. Lancet. 2600(18)30069-9. 2009;374(9698):1383–91. 27 6 Douglas IS, Albertson TE, Folan P, Hanania abstracts taken from pub- Schuurmans MM, Befruia N, Barben J. Factsheet NA, Tashkin DP, Upson DJ, et al. Implications 1: Cannabis. Primary and Hospital Care – Allge- of Marijuana Decriminalization on the Prac- lications on Cannabis use meine Innere Medizin. 2016;16(20):384–6. 7 tice of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Med- since 1999.” Kreuter M, Nowak D, Ruther T, Hoch E, Thoma- icine. A Report of the American Thoracic Soci- sius R, Vogelberg C, et al. Cannabis-Position Paper ety Marijuana Workgroup. Ann Am Thorac Soc. of the German Respiratory Society (DGP). Pneu- 2015;12(11):1700–10. mologie. 2016;70(2):87–97. after use and be detected in urine for 8 Friedli D. Cannabis bringt Millionen ein. NZZ am days6. In addition, an increasing number Sonntag, 8. April 2018; p. 9. Source: Schweizerische Ärztezeitung – Bulle- 9 Grundlehner W. Cannabis benebelt die Investoren. tin Des Médecins Suisses – Bollettino Dei Medici of young people quit school or appren- Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 27 June 2017; p. 29. Svizzeri 2018; 99(48): 1710–1712 ticeships due to the so-called, Cannabis- 10 Richter KP, Levy S. Big marijuana – lessons from induced “amotivational syndrome” and big tobacco. N Engl J Med. 2014;371(5):399–401. Published under the copyright license “Attribution 11 Barry RA, Hiilamo H, Glantz SA. Waiting for the – Non­Commercial – NoDerivatives 4.0”. No com ­ need the help of social workers and vari- opportune moment: The tobacco industry and mar- mercial reuse without permission. See: http://emh. ous state institutions to return to a more ijuana legalization. Milbank Q. 2014;92(2):207–42. ch/en/services/permissions.html No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 9 Free-for-all in the cannabis industry? by Dr rer. publ. Werner Wüthrich

For some time now we have, from var- company entirely. The value of the Cronos normal and ordinary and is generally ac- ious parts of the Western world, been share already doubled in the summer. So cepted, the step to further intoxication reading reports and initiatives to legal- now it has risen by a further twenty per drugs is inevitably smaller and even more ise Cannabis and other drugs – and we cent – and did so in only one day. Other tempting. Who will then effectively help rub our eyes in disbelief as we see: It is large corporations have similar goals. Co- parents who will be even more confronted no longer the “drug mafia” that is to earn ca-Cola wants to launch a beverage line with their children’s addiction problems? the big money, but the states, the tobacco, containing cannabis (“Neue Zürcher Zei- Who will support them when problems alcohol and cannabis companies. There tung” of 29 September 2018). Also large, arise at school and in professional train- are plans to make the black market dis- globally oriented breweries and spirits ing? We are left with question upon ques- appear and to guarantee the protection of companies have already invested billions tion. young people through legal consumption. to produce non-alcoholic cannabis-con- We always hear in the propaganda for Not a word is uttered about the serious taining beverages. Heineken, for example, drug liberalisation, which is also very effects on psychosocial and physical de- has already launched a sparkling water present in Switzerland: With legalisation velopment, especially of young people. of this kind in California. Newly created (also in euphemistic terms called “regu- Not a word about the effects of the in- sweets containing Cannabis (lollipops and lation”) the business will be taken from creasing use of drugs on social areas such gummy bears, etc.) are also coming onto the drug mafia”. Justin Trudeau also used as families, social security, road traffic the market. Wall Street analysts estimate this argument in his bid for liberalisation. and occupational life. – After numerous that the cannabis industry in the USA has He announced the law change on Twit- US states had released cannabis contain- already made 11 billion sales in 2018. This ter using the following sentence: “It was ing THC for medical purposes and also could rise to 75 billion by 2030. Today, too easy for our children to get marijua- as a stimulant, Canadian Prime Minister only one per cent of the world’s popula- na – and for criminals to pocket the prof- Justin Trudeau recently vehemently advo- tion has access to legal marijuana. There- its”. – I think the criminal organisations cated liberalisation and a state-controlled fore the market potential is huge. were among the first to realise that they market – also as an election campaign It seems that an actual “gold rush” has can do much better business with a mas- promise. This promise was realised on 17 begun – as was once the case in Califor- sive expansion of drug use. And they will October 2018. That day the shelves in the nia, when gold was found and people felt certainly be able to sell more and stronger shops were empty after a few hours, and they could become millionaires with- substances in this new, more tolerant envi- more than $40 million in cannabis prod- in days. – There are signs that marijuana ronment. Even the drug legalisation move- ucts were sold in the course of two weeks. consumption will multiply under the new ments, so well networked in our western The news magazine Der Spiegel reports conditions. This “gold rush” will contin- world, will certainly not stop at cannabis that former German Foreign Minister and ue in the new year. If you read online Wall products. Already “drug experts” are to be Vice Chancellor Joschka Fischer has be- Street stock market commentaries, you found in Switzerland and the surrounding come a member of the international ad- will quickly find what you are looking for. countries who advocate liberalisation/le- visory board of the Canadian cannabis On 9 January, for example, stock prices galisation/regulation of all drugs. society Tilray. Together with the Belgian- generally slumped by 3.2 per cent due to Brazilian brewery InBev, the company de- various uncertainties (trade dispute with UN countermeasures velops non-alcoholic beverages contain- China, budget dispute in Congress, finan- During the UN General Assembly in New ing the active ingredient THC. cial worries, etc.) – not so cannabis stocks. York in September 2018, in a few weeks Shares of the Boston-based cannabis com- ago, the US President attempted to coun- Mike Gorenstein, CEO of the Canadian pany MariMed rose by 9 per cent that day, ter this trend. He called upon the world to Cronos Group, had his say on CNN Busi- after its share price had already risen by become active and to contribute to the so- ness. His company distributes cannabis 371 per cent in 2018. The company sees lution or that is to say the defusing of the products on all five continents: itself as a “multi-state cannabis organisa- drug problem, and not to give up hope. He “This is a watershed moment that will tion that develops, owns and manages can- identified four areas for action: (1) More get the ball rolling globally, as well as in nabis facilities and branded product lines”. prevention and mindfulness in educa- Canada, for all participants in the canna- tion and schools should help to reduce de- bis industry. Congratulations to the many Is youth protection still mand, (2) health efforts are to forestall ad- leaders and advocates who have worked possible under these conditions? verse effects and to save lives, (3) and (4) so hard to reach this milestone”. It is not intended to question here the in- better police and judicial cooperation are In recent weeks, Wall Street investors tention of Canadian and American author- to contribute to the reduction of produc- have also jumped on the bandwagon. The ities to regulate the market and protect tion, cultivation, manufacture and trade share prices of some smaller companies young people. But – will they succeed, if and thus to lessen supply (United States producing cannabis products, including an even much greater amount of Canna- Mission in The United Nations, 24 Sep- those in the USA, have doubled and tri- bis is consumed? How will children react tember 2018). UN Secretary General An- pled in a short period of time. Now, large when they see their parents or even their tonio Guterres expressed his gratitude: tobacco companies have registered in- teacher consuming Cannabis as if this “You, Mr President, are spotlight- terest. Altria Group, the world’s largest were quite normal, a common phenome- ing this global problem. That was never American tobacco company, which among non of life? Who will then protect them more necessary than right now.” 135 coun- other things sells Marlboro cigarettes, has from the temptation to try not only Canna- tries have signed the action plan. Above announced that it will buy 45 per cent of bis, but also cocaine or heroin, of which it all Asian countries such as China, Singa- the Cronos Group for 1.8 billion dollars. is also being said that they are not so very pore and others continue to pursue a con- In addition, it will have the right to buy dangerous and that one can stop consum- sistent zero-tolerance policy. Nor is drug another ten per cent of their shares for an- ing them at any time? If the use of can- other billion dollars, and to take over the nabis products is regarded as something continued on page 10 No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 10 Enough with “schbas” (fun)! Objection against learning hindrance in our schools ds. Under the title “The ‘schbas’ [the Ger- allowed to instruct children to use the cor- start,” writes the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” in man ‘Spass’, written in the way of ‘writing rect spelling. This would disturb the cre- the aforementioned article. by listening’] is over in Nidwalden”, the ativity and joy of writing; “fil” instead of Already 5 years ago, Der Spiegel had “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” reports on 29 Oc- “viel” (much), “schbas” instead of “Spass” called attention to the “spelling disaster” in tober 2018 that the supervising school au- (fun) or “anxt” instead of “Angst” (fear) are Germany caused by Reichen in the leading thorities in the canton of Nidwalden have not wrong in the first years of school, but article of issue 25/2013 under the title “Die given in to the demands of “annoyed” par- creative and original. Really a crazy idea neue Schlechtschreibung” (The new bad ents and that pupils can now learn to write that children should become more creative spelling). Even then, renowned experts de- correctly from the second grade onwards. and enjoy writing more if they can write manded a ban on this method. Meanwhile Until then, teachers were only allowed to everything wrong. it was forbidden in several federal states to show children how to write correctly from “A study published this autumn by sci- teach according to Reichen’s method. grade 3 onwards. entists at the University of Bonn, however, What would it be like if the canton of A Basel primary school teacher named gives Reichen’s legacy a bad testimony. The Nidwalden and, of course, all other Swiss Reichen has invented this absurd method, researchers came to the conclusion that pu- cantons would completely do without according to which children in their first pils at the end of grade 3 were significantly “schbas”? After all, you don’t let the chil- school years learn to write only by hearing better at spelling if they had been taught ac- dren in grade 1 believe that 2+2 is 5, but and not correctly. It has spread throughout cording to the classical alphabet book meth- then correct it in grade 2. the German-speaking world under names od. The children get a picture of a bird with But perhaps more “annoyed” parents such as “reading by writing” or “writing by the word bird next to it. In this way they are needed who object to learning hin- hearing”. Neither teachers nor parents are memorise the correct spelling right from the drance in our schools. •

”Free-for-all in the …” be legalised and the market regulated – continued from page 9 first for medical use and later also as a stimulant. Anyone wanting to buy canna- liberalisation an issue in Japan. It is no- bis in the future should do so in a phar- ticeable that precisely Asian states are macy. In this way, the association wants increasingly setting the tone in global to fight the flourishing black market and economy. Switzerland has not signed the save the costs for “repression”. “The out- action plan. Most of the media have hard- dated drug policy must be dedusted”, ly noticed this. Former Federal Council- writes one of the newspaper’s commen- lor Ruth Dreifuss is President of a private tators. First statements from the parties international drugs commission to legal- are already available. This is probably the ise all drugs (Global Commission on Drug starting signal for a new propaganda cam- Policy). She was present in New York and paign even in Switzerland, and it is proba- opposed President Trump’s proposal. bly inevitable that this will lead to anoth- Since the beginning of her time as Feder- er referendum. al Councillor, she has been committed to In 2008, the people voted on an initia- the liberalisation of drugs and to a state- tive to liberalise cannabis. 63 per cent of regulated market (Swiss radio station SRF, voters and all cantons rejected it. What “Rendez-vous am Mittag” on 27 Novem- surprises today is that in recent years, cig- “Cannabis – Informationen zu Wirkung ber 2018). arette consumption has been somewhat re- und Auswirkungen auf Körper und Psyche” duced through great efforts (pictorial cig- (Cannabis – informations on the effects and Is it acceptable also in our country to arette pack warnings, high prices, bans on consequences for the body and psyche) is a earn money from just anything? smoking, etc.). The tobacco companies 12-page brochure for young people, parents, It is clearly evident to everyone that the certainly did not like it. And now exactly teachers and other interested parties.. wave of marijuana legalisation from the the opposite is happening with cannabis. USA and Canada is currently washing It is likely that even greater efforts will Editor: Verein Jugend ohne Drogen, Zürich, over Switzerland: On the first page of be needed at some time in the future to www.jod.ch; Vereinigung Eltern gegen Dro- the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” of 11 Janu- counter this trend, to curb the rising con- gen, Bern, www.elterngegendrogen.ch; ary there is a report on a position paper sumption of marijuana and to combat its Dachverband Drogenabstinenz Schweiz, of the Apotherverband der Stadt Zürich consequences. – In relation to drugs, we Bern, www.drogenpolitik.ch (Association of Pharmacists of the City of are presently experiencing very alarming Can be ordered by: Zurich). The authors feel that prohibition social processes and events on a global [email protected] must come to an end and cannabis should scale! • [email protected] No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 11

Federal Referendum of 10 February 2019 Reflections on the popular initiative “Stop urban sprawl – for sustainable urban development (urban sprawl initiative)” by Dr iur. Marianne Wüthrich

On 10 February, the Swiss people will mony with a high quality of life and and trees between the blocks of flats – is vote on a single bill, the urban sprawl in- special protection provisions. up to them. itiative, submitted by the Young Greens, 6 New building zones may only be In the countryside, the situation is together with a number of environmental separated if another unsealed area quite different. As Hans Marti, farmer organisations and several other parties of at least the same size and com- and advocate of the initiative, says in a (SP, Juso, Alternative Linke AL). parable potential agricultural yield personal conversation, some people in Switzerland is a small country with value is zoned out of the building their place of residence and other com- high population growth, high immigra- zone. munities do not like it when blocks of tion1 and a flourishing economy. Ac- 7 Outside the building zone, only flats are built in the village after old de- cordingly, the built-up areas are growing site-specific buildings and installa- tached houses have been demolished. under the control of the Confederation, tions for soil-dependent agriculture Should more meadows and fields be built the cantons and the communes, but in the or site-specific buildings of public over instead? The urban sprawl initia- opinion of many citizens they are still not interest may be approved. The law tive wants to counteract this by obliging sufficiently orderly. In recent years, Swit- may provide for exceptions. Existing cantons and municipalities to ensure the zerland has already taken various meas- buildings enjoy a guaranteed exist- necessary framework conditions for more ures to counter urban sprawl, i.e. the zon- ence and may be slightly extended compact settlements, even in the vicinity ing of more and more cultivated land. On and slightly converted. of cities (for example, good public trans- 11 March 2012, for example, the popular port connections, permits for small busi- initiative “Stop the boundless construc- Sustainable neighbourhoods and nesses within the settlement). tion of second homes” was adopted by housing cooperatives in the cities a narrow 50.6 % of the votes in favour, On Federal Constitution Art. 75 para. 4 Inward settlement development – demanding that no new second homes new: does this require an initiative? should be approved in municipalities with The urban sprawl initiative calls for a sig- On Federal Constitution Art. 75 Para. 5 a proportion of more than 20 % of second nificant improvement in the framework new: homes. In 2013, the people said yes to the conditions for sustainable neighbour- In principle, many people support the revision of the Spatial Planning Act and hoods. idea that, whenever possible, construction thus decided that building zones may only According to the initiators, the feder- should take place within existing build- meet the expected demand for 15 years. al government’s 2011 “Sustainable neigh- ing zones, i.e. in towns and villages rather Building zones that are too large must bourhoods” publication describes an than on greenfield sites. This is because therefore be reduced in size. “urban space with around 500 inhabitants, in Switzerland, which is a small and rel- In the opinion of the initiators of the a local centre, generous green space and atively densely populated country with urban sprawl initiative, however, these nevertheless very low land consumption. 25 % of its unproductive land (rock, gla- stricter regulations have not prevent- [...] Ideally, it [the neighbourhood] should ciers, etc.) and more than 31 % of its ed new building zones from being es- be arranged in a ring or U-shape. A green forest and woodland, cultivated land is tablished nevertheless. The initiative inner courtyard or park brings the green scarce and must therefore be used re- therefore calls for a zoning stop: “The space into the settlement. The separation sponsibly and in an environmentally initiative ensures that the landscape and from the street makes the living space and friendly manner. This is also the most quality of life are preserved. It makes up open space quiet. On the ground floors important objective of the urban sprawl for the shortcomings of the revision of the there is space for local businesses, rang- initiative. Spatial Planning Act and makes it possi- ing from neighbourhood pubs to grocery Paragraph 5 of the initiative text is in- ble to deal with the land economically.”2 stores. There is also a kindergarten.”4 tended, among other things, to make “a The initiative and the most important A really positive form of living togeth- moderate increase possible, especially in arguments for and against are to be pre- er, although we already have the legal low-density zones”. This means, for ex- sented here. container for it: cooperative law in the ample, that a third floor could be built on Swiss Code of Obligations (OR). “The top of a two-storey building, but not only Initiative text utopia has long since become reality”, for profit purposes, but “while maintain- The Federal Constitution is amend- the initiators correctly point out. In the ing or increasing the quality of life”. This ed as follows: housing cooperatives of various Swiss is often not permitted in today’s building cities, many people have been living for Art. 75 para. 4–73 zone plans. “Exceptions are buildings that a long time on relatively small plots of are particularly worthy of protection (e.g. 4 Within the scope of their responsi- land and in modest apartments, but still historical buildings).”5 bilities, the Confederation, cantons in a bit of greenery. In recent years, how- There is disagreement as to whether and communes shall ensure favour- ever, many of these settlements have been the new Spatial Planning Act (SPA) can able framework conditions for sus- demolished and rebuilt according to the also achieve increased inward settlement tainable forms of living and work- above pattern. Whether or not a com- development, or whether the initiative’s ing in small-scale structures with a munity culture develops depends less on more radical methods are needed. Here high quality of life and short trans- the construction method than on the per- are the two opposing points of view: port routes (sustainable neighbour- sonal commitment of some active resi- – Federal Council: Switzerland’s more hoods). dents. And whether people want to live recent building zone statistics show that 5 The aim should be to develop set- in densely built housing estates – with a tlements inwards that are in har- larger green space instead of meadows continued on page 12 No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 12

”Reflections on the popular …” the exchange of building zones in more velopment sustainably anyway. These continued from page 11 detail, some tensions would presumably communities prove that the demands of arise, i.e. some disputes would have to be the urban sprawl initiative can be imple- the total area of building zones has re- fought out in court. mented well.”16 mained constant since 2012, although Another controversial question is the population grew from just under 8 whether or not housing prices would rise Restriction of agricultural million to 8.5 million during this peri- with the initiative: buildings outside the building zone od. According to the Federal Council, – Federal Council: “Where building land On Federal Constitution Art. 75 para. 7 the implementation of the revised Spa- is scarce, there is a growing risk that land new: tial Planning Act is in progress: “The and housing prices will rise.”13 The initiative aims at restricting the per- cantons must adapt their structure plans – Initiators: “The initiative creates the mission of agricultural buildings outside and have them approved by the Federal possibility of creating more living space the building zone. Some Swiss farmers Council by the end of April 2019 with the in many places by means of high-quality find paragraph 7 too far reaching. stricter measures against urban sprawl. densifying. This keeps the living space af- The formulation that outside of build- After this date, they will not be allowed fordable and at the same time stops urban ing zone shall only be permitted “build- to create new construction zones until sprawl. The existing reserves to be used ings and installations at specific locations their structure plan has been approved are so large that they do not even have to for soil-dependent agriculture” [highlight- by the Federal Council.”6 be fully exploited.”14 ing mw] means, for example, vegetable and – Initiators: “The current spatial plan- Another question raised by both the in- fruit products “if the plants are rooted in ning law continues to lead to a steady itiators and the Federal Council is: “Are the soil”.17 growth of the settlement area at the ex- not the cantons and communes that have This means that greenhouses with hors- pense of green areas. The faster the been careful with the land not being pun- sol production could only be built within ground is built over, the faster new build- ished?” the building zone, just as stables for cows, ing land is zoned in. This in no way stops – The Federal Council affirms this and poultry or pigs, if most of the fodder is urban sprawl. The urban sprawl initiative states: “This is unfair.”15 not produced on the farm, but bought closes the gaps in the Spatial Planning Act – Initiators: No, because among other in. While Markus Ritter, Director Swiss by supplementing existing measures with things “[...] progressive communities are Farmers’ Association, speaks of an “unac- continued on page 12 effective landscape protection.”7 much less affected by the initiative if they ceptable ban on all soil-independent pro- have already planned their settlement de- duction”, Markus Schwegler, member of Zoning stop: necessary or too radical? On Federal Constitution Art. 75 Para. 6 new: SVP farmer and politician backs Green initiative The zoning stop is one of the most con- troversial points of the initiative: accord- mw. In a personal conversation, Hans Wouldn’t we also have to include better ing to paragraph 6, new building zones Marti* reports that he supports the in- management of immigration in order to would only be permitted “if another un- itiative out of concern for the ongoing counter the overbuilding of our small 8 overbuilding of Swiss soil. This has been country? sealed area of at least the same size and under discussion for decades and now comparable potential agricultural yield Of course, we also have to bring immi- action is finally needed: “In the canton gration under control, that is my per- value is zoned out of the building zone.” of Solothurn, the vacancy rate is over sonal opinion. – Initiators: “This means that the total 3 %, i.e. there are over 4,000 empty Is it not too radical to demand that number of building zones remains con- apartments. In Huttwil, BE there are some agricultural buildings be located stant. However, municipalities can ex- over 14 % empty apartments. However, in the construction zone? change building land among themselves. construction is still continuing unabated. No, because farmers can still build the This guarantees that the remaining re- In Biberist, an extremely large amount barn and the house in the agricultural serves can also be used where they are of land is being zoned from the agricul- zone. Hors-sol greenhouses over large tural zone to the construction zone. The needed.”9 areas, however, should be regarded situation will not change as long as the more as industrial production. It is up – Federal Council: “A rigid building investor has to pay negative interest on zone stop ignores the needs of the pop- to the legislator to create a balanced his money lying on the bank. The worst regulation here. ulation and the economy, as well as can- thing about it is that what has been con- Do you think the urban sprawl initiative tonal and regional differences.”10 It would creted once will never be reversible.” has good chances with the population? also leave open “how exactly building Current Concerns: With the urban zones would be redistributed if new build- sprawl initiative, wouldn’t the real es- Yes, because it is in everyone’s interest ing land had to be created in a canton – tate companies in particular be the win- to stop urban sprawl and protect the country, including for our descendants. whether only within the canton concerned ners, which could rent out or sell the apartments more expensively because The main reason for rejection would or also beyond cantonal borders through- of the scarcity of supply? be that the initiative comes from the out Switzerland. The costs associated with Hans Marti: Rental prices rise when living Young Greens. That is why I support it, the abolition and redistribution of build- space becomes scarce. But because the irrespective of party membership. What ing zones are also uncertain.”11 existing reserves are large enough, there is needed is a regulation such as the one To ensure that the area of the fertile will be no rising rents. Most real estate we have for forests: Every piece of for- soil remains constant, the yield value companies have recognised that there est that is cleared must be reforested of the soil would also be decisive in ac- is no demand for compression without accordingly. cordance with paragraph 6. The Feder- quality. The internal reserves are so large Thank you very much, Mr Marti, for the al Council specifies: “The agricultural that we have enough living space, even interview. yield value is calculated on the basis of if the population growth is higher than expected by the Federal Council. Mod- * Hans Marti lives in Biberist, a commune of 8,775 inhabitants near Solothurn. He soil quality and other criteria such as cli- erate measures are sufficient to create mate or slope gradiant.”12 is a farmer and a former SVP cantonal even more living space, e.g. three-storey councillor. Without being able to go into the pos- instead of two-storey buildings. sible procedure and the circumstances of No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 13

”Reflections on the popular …” able land in the small state of Switzer- 2 Abstimmungsbüchlein (Voting booklet) on the continued from page 12 land. The majority of the electorate voted referendum of 10 February 2019, p. 5 in favour of the revised Spatial Planning 3 Federal Constitution Art. 75 Spatial Planning Par. 1–3 so far the board of the Small Farmers’ Associa- Act. 4 tion, believes that “sustainable food pro- On the other hand, the opinion to give Federal Office of Energy & Federal Office for Spatial Development. (2011). Sustainable duction is absolutely bound to soil” (“St. the new Spatial Planning Act a chance neighbourhoods: Challenges and opportunities Galler Tagblatt” from 9 January). for a few more years and, if necessary, for urban development. For a more detailed There are good reasons to agree with to amend the law, could also be agreed description, see the initiative’s homepage. either of these opinions. However, it is with. Another aspect to be taken into ac- Sustainable neighbourhoods. https://www. difficult to expect parts of Swiss agri- count is the high level of immigration zersiedelung-stoppen.ch/initiative/ 5 Homepage of the initiative, “Moderat aufstock- culture, which in any case can hardly (see footnote 1). Anyone who comes to en”. https://www.zersiedelung-stoppen.ch/initi- compete with the low prices of foreign Switzerland as a worker or refugee right- ative/ products, to construct buildings in the ly enjoys all rights as a resident of our 6 Voting booklet, p. 7/8 with references to “Bau- expensive building zone. A further diffi- country, including the right to family re- zonenstatistik Schweiz (2017)” (are.admin.ch/ culty for the building permit authorities unification. However, if more and more bauzonen) and to the latest version of the struc- would be to decide which farm produces people live here, this will necessarily re- ture plans: are.admin.ch/richtplan enough products “rooted in the soil” and sult in an expansion of infrastructure: 7 Abstimmungsbüchlein (Voting booklet) p. 13 which does not. The comment of the ini- residential buildings, schools, roads, bus 8 Unsealed areas are meadows, paths, fields, gar- dens, etc., where the resulting water can seep tiators on this point rather leads to further and train lines, etc. For this reason, the away. “Sealed areas are in particular buildings uncertainties: “It is the task of the legis- sovereign’s decision to control immigra- and roads. Sealed areas mean that the soil loses lator, with an appropriate mix of regula- tion once again independently must be its natural ecological function as habitat, res- tions and exceptions, to make both local taken into account when dealing with the ervoir and filter, as well as its ability to convert plant production possible and at the same scarcity of land. Furthermore, it’s econo- and degrade substances.” (Swiss Federal Sta- tistical Office, Environmental Indicator – Soil time prevent entire areas from being cov- my that needs land: The creation of new sealing) ered with greenhouses. One possible jobs, which is welcomed by everyone, re- 9 Homepage of the initiative. Define building means for this could be special agricul- quires available space. zones to a reasonable extent. 18 tural zones.” It is the privilege of every citizen in 10 Abstimmungsbüchlein (Voting booklet), p. 5 direct democracy to inform himself be- 11 Abstimmungsbüchlein (Voting booklet), p. 10 Conclusion fore this referendum as before any other 12 Abstimmungsbüchlein (Voting booklet), p. 9 The concern of the initiators and of the referendums, weighing pros and cons, 13 Abstimmungsbüchlein (Voting booklet), p. 14 more than 110,000 citizens who signed forming an own opinion. These lines are 14 Homepage of the initiative, notes. Ad par. 6 the initiative is very legitimate in view meant to be an aid. • 15 Abstimmungsbüchlein (Voting booklet), p. 14 of the fact that for decades there has 16 been undue overbuilding of cultivated Homepage, Questions & Answers. 1 17 land, semi-natural landscapes and other Population on 31.12.1997 (before the free Homepage, Questions & Answers. Does the movement of persons agreement with EU): initiative harm Swiss agriculture? green spaces. There is an urgent need to 7,096,465; twenty years later, on 31.12.2017: 18 Homepage, Questions & Answers. Does the manage economically the scarcity of ar- 8,484,130; increase of almost 20 % (19.5 %). initiative harm Swiss agriculture?

Current Concerns The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law Subscribe to Current Concerns – The journal of an independent cooperative The cooperative Zeit-Fragen is a politically and financially independent organisation. All of its mem­bers work on a voluntary and honorary basis. The journal does not accept commercial advertisements of any kind and receives no financial support from business organisations. The journal Current Concerns is financed exclusively by its subscribers. We warmly recommend our model of free and independent press coverage to other journals. Annual subscription rate of CHF 40,-; Euro 30,-; USD 40,-; GBP 25,- for the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hongkong, Iceland, Ireland, Is- rael, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Swit- zerland, United Arab ­Emirates, United Kingdom, USA Annual subscription rate of CHF 20,-; Euro 15,-; USD 20,-; GBP 12,50 for all other countries. Please choose one of the following ways of payment: - send a cheque to Current Concerns, P. O. Box, CH-8044 Zurich, or - send us your credit card details (only Visa), or - pay into one of the following accounts: CH: Postscheck-Konto (CHF): 87-644472-4 IBAN CH91 0900 0000 8764 4472 4 BIC POFICHBEXXX CH: Postscheck-Konto (Euro): 91-738798-6 IBAN CH83 0900 0000 9173 8798 6 BIC POFICHBEXXX D: Volksbank Tübingen, Kto. 67 517 005, BLZ 64190110 IBAN DE12 6419 0110 0067 5170 05 BIC GENODES1TUE A: Raiffeisen Landesbank, Kto. 1-05.713.599, BLZ 37000 IBAN AT55 3700 0001 0571 3599 BIC RVVGAT2B No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 14 Education in the service of peace To the book by Sara Randell “Ending the War — Operation Sunrise and Max Husmann” by Dr phil. Winfried Pogorzelski

At the beginning of 1945, the Second World War came to a head: on all fronts in Europe, Asia and North Africa, the sit- uation was hopeless for Hitler’s troops, as it was on the southern front in north- ern Italy. On 2 May 1945 at 6 p.m. – less than a week before Hitler Germany’s ac- tual surrender – Winston Churchill an- nounced that Army Group C of the Ger- man Wehrmacht had capitulated in northern Italy. This was due to intelli- gence activities known as “Operation Sunrise”, which have been the subject of several publications.1 Last year anoth- er book was published by Dr Sara Ran- dell, historian at Oxford University, enti- tled “Ending the War – Operation Sunrise and Max Husmann”.2

Education and training for peace Husmann, the teacher. Josef Ostermayer, who succeeded him as director of the insti- Dr Max Husmann (1888-1965) was a ped- tute, described Husmann as particularly talented in explaining complicated mathemat- agogue and founded the Institute Mon- ical problems. (Picture from the reviewed book) tana on the Zugerberg in 1926, an in- ternational school that still exists today classes (ten to a maximum of twelve stu- the envoy of the US secret service OSS with a boarding school, bilingual prima- dents), age-mixed cohabitation also out- in Berne at the time. Opposite him stands ry school, Swiss grammar school and the side lessons in the boarding school, with Karl Wolff, advisor to Hitler and Himmler, International School (High School, IB). daily homework (“study”), sports and the highest SS and police leader in Italy, He headed the school until 1946. I my- games, meals and excursions. for whom the defeat of the Axis powers self worked there from 1990 to 2017 as a in Italy can no longer be averted and who grammar school teacher for German and Operation Sunrise – a varied course promises mitigating circumstances for the history and witnessed how Sara Randell and a happy ending time after the war if he advocates an ear- presented her book at the alumni meeting The course of Operation Sunrise can be lier end to the fighting. This is where Max last summer. summarised as follows:5 In spring of 1945, Husmann takes up the challenge by prom- As the title suggests, Max Husmann the war is lost for Germany on all fronts. ising Wolff to put in a good word for him. was not only active as a pedagogue; he The surrender of the armed forces is only It is also clear, however, that the capitula- was also significantly involved in the Op- a question of time, also in northern Italy, tion of the Germans must take place un- eration Sunrise. The author’s main aim in where destruction is threatening on the conditionally and it must not be specu- her work is to show that Husmann, with principle of the scorged earth by the Ger- lated on “separating the Anglo-American his activities in the aforementioned secret man military. Husmann meets the Ital- allies from the Soviet allies and to fight service operation and his commitment as ian baron and businessman Luigi Parrilli, Stalin in a united front.”6 a school founder and active teacher, pur- whose nephew was a student at the Insti- Waibel and Husmann succeed in bring- sued his most important concern, namely tute and who has contacts to high-rank- ing Karl Wolff to Switzerland under the to make a contribution to peace and inter- ing SS people who are willing to surren- strictest secrecy. During the train journey national understanding. By founding the der. Thereof Husmann informs his friend accross the Swiss Alps, Wolff and Hus- institute and intervening in the course of Max Waibel, the officer of the Swiss in- mann talk for two hours in private behind time in the form of the Operation Sunrise telligence service. Waibel and Parril- closed curtains. Husmann sees a chance to at the end of the Second World War, he put li meet and negotiations begin that must convince Wolff of the point of a premature “his views on the ethics of war and peace remain absolutely secret. For one before surrender. At first, however, Wolff takes into practice”.3 the Federal Council because of the neu- the position that the “pillars of human ex- After the First World War, the worst of trality of Switzerland and also before the istence” are “obedience and vows. We can all wars up to that point in time, Husmann Allies, since according to a correspond- die for them, but we cannot break them studied the question of how catastrophes ing agreement between Churchill, Roos- and continue to live.”7 According to Max of this magnitude could be prevented in evelt and Stalin it was strictly forbidden Waibel’s notes, Husmann replies, with the future. His pedagogical approach was to hold talks among each other without the words of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi: to bring together students from different the knowledge or participation of the Rus- “Does the principle of obedience forbid nations, to impart “respect for their fel- sians. In addition, Berlin, in other words thinking?”8 According to this great Swiss low human beings and clear thinking” Hitler, was by no means allowed to learn pedagogue and writer, obedience means to “resist propaganda”.4 He attempted to about the attempts to convince high Ger- being freed from the constraints of one’s achieve this aim with his pedagogical con- man military leaders to capitulate. own selfishness and be able to follow one’s cept, which can be outlined as follows: In- Max Waibel, who had been contact- struction in smaller, internationally mixed ed by Husmann, turns to Allen Dulles, continued on page 15 No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 15

”Education in the service of peace …” the First World War. For Husmann, who al- was a commemoration ceremony for Max continued from page 14 ready as student gave private lessons – es- Waibel. It was only in 2005, on the oc- pecially in mathematics – nothing would casion of the 60th anniversary of Opera- own conscience. According to Husmann be more natural than to found a school to tion Sunrise, that official Switzerland rec- towards Wolff, personalities in responsible work towards a society that would find ognised the importance of the operation. positions should not carry out orders with- “ways other than bloodshed and battles”11 Samuel Schmid, then President of the out contradiction and unconditionally, but to solve its problems. Swiss Confederation, expressly appreci- reflect on them. Finally, Husmann succeeds That is why he founded the Montana ated Max Waibel’s actions and also “ac- in convincing Wolff that unconditional sur- Institute, which he called his “dearest knowledged the important role that Max render is not a betrayal of the Führer, but a child”.12 According to the countries of or- Husmann had played”.17 patriotic act for the German people. Later igin of the students, he establishes differ- Wolff says that he had become aware that ent sections where they not only acquire Lessons from the past he had actually sworn his oath on the Ger- “the academic qualifications of their home and for the future regarding peace man people and not on Hitler. country”13 but also come to the conviction I was particularly impressed by the chap- The path from the first talks to the sign- that “one must know and respect the val- ter titled “Politics and Peace” towards ing of the capitulation documents is not ues of the own country of birth. Only then the end of the book, where Sara Ran- only rocky, but also complicated and some- one can appreciate those from other coun- dell quotes the Geneva philosopher Jean- times confusing, as Sara Randell illustrates tries”.14 Together with one of the most Jacques Rousseau: “War is then not a re- in her book.9 A variety of people of differ- important teachers of his school, Hul- lationship between one man and another, ent origin and position were involved. The drich Sauerwein, Husmann may be un- but a relationship between one state and plot of this political thriller took place at derstood as a representative of the reform another, not as men, nor even as citi- various locations in Italy, Switzerland and pedagogy, whose aim it was to go beyond Germany. More than once the operation the mere teaching of subject material but continued on page 16 was about to fail because of unexpected to impart a kind of education that ena- problems. Various difficulties have to be bles their students to cooperate in build- overcome, such as the transfer of Albert ing a better world in the future. Sara Ran- Kesselring, the supreme German army and dell mentions the names of John Dewey, air force officer who advocates Operation Georg Kerschensteiner, A. S. Neill, Ru- Sunrise, to the Western Front, or the fact dolf Steiner and Maria Montessori, who that the Western Allies are now informing in 1932, along with Sauerwein spoke to the Soviets about the operation … In addi- the League of Nations in Geneva about ed- tion, the Allies are launching a new offen- ucation and peace and who organised sev- sive in Italy, where the soldiers were to be eral peace conferences. ordered to lay down their weapons. Wolff has quite a hard time convincing the gen- Husmann’s commitment to erals with their “stubborn egos, with their Karl Wolff at the Nuremberg Trials fear of Hitler, but also with their unshake- Husmann is committed to Karl Wolff at the able loyalty to the Führer.”10 Finally, on 2 Nuremberg Trials: If a military capitula- May, after the news of Hitler’s suicide (30 tion and thus a shortening of warfare could April) had arrived, and only one week be- be achieved, you might have to “sup with fore Germany’s final surrender on 8 May, the devil”15 if necessary. Wolff had been the weapons in Italy remain silent. Already promised loyal treatment after the war, since March, i.e. since the talks with Max “and so today we have no right not to keep Waibel, Wolff had renounced the planned our promise on the grounds that he was an and partly ordered destruction of industri- SS General and the entire SS organisation al plants and traffic routes. Thus the impor- was condemned as a criminal organisa- tant supply routes for Switzerland – ports tion”.16 In Nuremberg, Wolff appears as a and railway lines – were saved. witness only, probably also for the reason that the Allies want to prevent Operation Max Husmann’s background – Sunrise from becoming publicly known. motivation for his commitment In 1964, the Munich Regional Court sen- The chapter “Learning Tolerance” is re- tences him to 15 years in prison for aiding vealing, where the author gives an insight and abetting the murder of 300,000 Jews. into Husmann’s biography in order to in- Thus, Max Husmann has to live with the vestigate the question of why the founder of fact that he stood up for the refraining from the Montana Institute was committed with enforcement of arrest of one of the biggest heart and soul to peace and international war criminals of the Nazi era. understanding. 1889 born in Ukraine into a family with Jewish roots that suffers under Aftermath of Operation Sunrise the Russification policy of Tsar Alexander Finally, the historian devotes herself to II, he experiences the brutal consequenc- the aftermath of Operation Sunrise from es of nationalism and anti-Semitism. The the times of the cover-up right after the family with roots in the Lucerne village of war, in which the role of Max Husmann Malters emigrates to Zurich when Max is was examined with a good deal of mis- ten years old. From safe Switzerland the trust, to the rehabilitation in the 1960s. On family and Max, who is now a student, wit- 6 May 2002, the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” nessed a cruel suppression of the independ- published an article entitled “Den Krieg ence movement in Ukraine at the end of verkürzt” (The war shortened), which ISBN13: 978-3727260148 No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 16 Cooperative Medical Centre Town of Tengen founded by Jörg Sieg, Gottmadingen, Germany “I will become a member of the cooper- ative because I think it is important that we citizens of Tengen can independent- ly and mutually co-determine and help shape our future in our small town.” – This statement of a Tengen citizen on a flyer of the town reflects a core idea which is directly connected with the co- operative principle: Cooperatives are not only able to solve the most diverse tasks in the manageable economic, cul- tural and social area, they also do this in an outstandingly humane way, name- ly jointly and self-determined. This also applies to the newly founded coopera- tive for a medical centre in the town of Tengen.

There are 1,001 municipalities in Baden- Württemberg. Of these, 180 already have no longer any medical care. 30 % of the Tengen, a German town on the Swiss border. (picture city of Tengen) established doctors in this southwest Ger- habitants. And of course, it has the same On 19 December 2018, 300 Tengen resi- man state are older than 60 years. The problems as many other German munici- dents and interested guests from other plac- “retirement wave” is underway. A fami- palities. Now, however, Tengen’s priority es met in the fully occupied hall of the Ten- ly doctor practising today, who is, how- was to secure medical care! Especially for gen Randenhalle for the foundation of the ever, also getting older, would have to fill the future. cooperative. Mayor Marian Schreier and three positions. Young doctors are urgent- The Tengener had an idea of how to Tengen physician Dr. Andreas Luckner pre- ly needed. solve the problem of the treat of inad- sented the new project: The financing vol- Tengen is one of the 1,001 municipal- equate medical care in the town: found- ume for a new building for a medical cen- ities in Baden-Württemberg. It is located ing a cooperative for the construction of a tre amounts to 1.9 million euros. Initially, right on the Swiss border on the southern medical centre through the joint efforts of the municipality had asked itself various edge of the Black Forest, about 10 kilo- interested citizens, the municipal admin- questions: Are we looking for a private in- metres from the Swiss city of Schaffhaus- istration and other important local institu- vestor? Should the municipality bear the en in the south and a little further away tions. The aim is to ensure that all Tengen investment costs? Or should the town and from the next larger German town of Sin- doctors remain in the town. gen. Tengen is a small town with 4,550 in- continued on page 17

2 ”Education in the service of peace …” commitment as an educator and as a con- Randell, Sara. Ending the War: Operation Sunrise and Max Husmann, Berne 2018. continued from page 15 temporary who actively intervenes in cur- The following references to pages correspond rent affairs remains impressive and exem- with the German edition of the book: “Den Krieg zens by accident.”18 The author then lets plary to this day. • beenden – Die Operation Sunrise und Max Hus- Max Husmann have his say: He saw his mann” 3 cf. ibid., p. 8 task in “shifting the sense of responsibil- 1 Dulles, Allen; from Schulze-Gaervernitz, Gero. 4 ibid., p. 64, cf. also ibid. p. 104-107 ity to the conscience of the individual ap- Operation Sunrise, The secret history of the end 5 Joseph Mächler also gives an informative overview part from political duplicity”.19 She sums of the war in Italy. Vienna 1967 Fuhrer, H.R., of the operation in his book “Wie sich die Schweiz Orlansky, Michael. Pushers and Pushed. The rettete, Grundlagenbuch zur Geschichte der Sch- up: “It may be that one does not always weiz im Zweiten Weltkrieg” (“How Switzerland act correctly. The challenging ethical con- ‘German participants’ and the early end of the war in Italy, 1945. In: Operation Sunrise. Atti saved itself, Basic Book on the History of Switzer- siderations in connection with the trial del Convegno internazionale (Locarno, 2 mag- land in the Second World War”), Zollikofen 2017, against Karl Wolff show how difficult it gio 2005), a cura di Marino Vigano e Dominic pp. 480-484 6 Randell, Sara, op. cit., p. 29 M. Pedrazzini, Lugano 2006 is to distinguish between black and white. 7 ibid., p. 61 But the history of Operation Sunrise de- Halbrock, Stephen. Operation Sunrise: Amer- 8 ibid., p. 62 ica’s OSS, Swiss Intelligence and the German 9 scribes Max Husmann’s very human en- A chronology of events and a list of persons would Surrender 1945. In: Operation Sunrise. Atti del be helpful. deavour to find a way through the ambi- Convegno internazionale (Locarno, 2 maggio 10 ibid., p. 83 guities of politics to achieve the real and 2005), a cura di Marino Vigano e Dominic M. 11 ibid., p. 61 ultimate goal: Peace.”20 Pedrazzini, Lugano 2006 12 ibid. Waibel, Max. Operation Sunrise 1945 – Surren- 13 ibid., p. 105 Sara Randell’s richly illustrated book der in Northern Italy, original report by the me- 14 ibid., pp. 105 not only offers an extremely exciting diator, Schaffhausen 1981 15 ibid., p. 96 read, centred on one of the most impor- Den Krieg verkürzt.(War shortend) In: Neue 16 ibid. tant epochs in history, but also reveals to Zürcher Zeitung of 6.5.2002 17 ibid., p. 116 Ginsberg, Inge. Wie die Schweiz den Krieg 18 ibid., p. 117 the reader what kind of committed per- 19 verkürzte.(How Switzerland shortened the war) ibid. 20 sonality the founder of the Montana Insti- In: Weltwoche, 23.4.2015, ibid. p. 64, cf. also ibid. tute was. His attitude to war and peace, his ibid. p. 104-107 (Translation Current Concerns) No 2 23 January 2019 Current Concerns Page 17

”Cooperative Medical Centre town …” operative members will then decide on medical centre and to promote social co- continued from page 16 further processes. There is no obligation hesion in the town of Tengen”. (Empha- to make additional contributions beyond sis by the author) its citizens establish a cooperative? – This the shares of the cooperative members! After the introductory speeches, there would allow all the citizens of the town to Of course all formalities, for example the was not only a lot of applause, but many participate. The concept of the founder of foundation report, are to be examined by questions were also asked, for example: the cooperative, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeis- the cooperative federation. Can the share be inherited? Can a cooper- en, helped them in their considerations. Even before the meeting, many people ative member resign? Is the purchase of a Now, 40 % of the 1.9 million euros are had decided and bought 200 shares. At share dependent on age? to be covered by equity capital, which is the end of their presentation, the speak- The atmosphere in the hall was great. 760,000 euros. There are 200,000 of these ers emphasised why citizens should par- I have heard that the citizens are happy as public subsidies, so the cooperative ticipate: The future security of medical to finally be able to participate directly still has the task of getting 560,000 euros care in the town can be secured – without without being dependent on anyone. together. And if 1 share certificate has a a foreign investor. Everything remains on There was a great rush for the “Letters value of 500 euros, 1120 such share cer- site. The cooperative is committed to the of intent for participation in the coopera- tificates are to be issued. long term. And the greatest attraction of tive Medical Centre in the town of Ten- The local council very quickly agreed the project is that everyone can join in. gen” as well as for the prepared flyer with to found such a cooperative. Each mem- As the “Declaration of Intent on Partic- all informations and tips. The author of ber receives 1 vote, no matter how many ipation in the Town of Tengen Medical this report was also enthusiastic about the shares he or she has. The town of Tengen Centre Cooperative” states: “Each signa- good atmosphere in the hall and the great will probably subscribe 320 shares (more tory declares: “The aim and purpose of willingness of the citizens to participate. shares are not possible for a single coop- the cooperative is to ensure and promote And he thought: Tengen – that could be erative member). The majority of the co- medical care by building and renting a anywhere in Germany. •