Appeal for Peace and Disarmament
Alarmed by the Orwellian language that has taken hold in European political discourse—where war is seen as the path to peace, while peace is said to lead only to more war—we call for sanity.
We, the European citizens, have become involuntary passengers on a train driven by leaders who, under the declared pretext of "making Russia bleed," choose to ignore the disastrous consequences of a conflict in which we will all be losers.
On the eve of past European conflicts, such as World War I, courageous intellectuals from the warring nations—including Jean Jaurès, Romain Rolland, Bertha von Suttner and Bertrand Russell—publicly spoke out for peace, though sadly, their voices were not heeded.
Today, the silence of intellectuals across all countries is deafening. Like the rest of European citizens, they seem worryingly anesthetized. And when someone dares to raise their voice in favour of diplomacy, they are immediately slandered as a "puppet of Putin."
We unequivocally condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a violation of international law. However, we also recognize that this tragedy is partly a consequence of the persistence of NATO, a military organization labelled as "defensive," which, far from dissolving after the fall of the communist bloc, continued expanding right up to Russia’s borders—despite high-level promises made to Russia at the time.
The war in Ukraine has now lasted three years. The casualties on both sides far exceed one million, including the dead, wounded and permanently maimed, though neither country provides official figures.
On top of that, millions of Ukrainians have fled the country—some to Western Europe, others to Russia—all seeking to escape the violence. A true human disaster.
Donald Trump's United States, more focused on what it perceives as China's growing power and the situation in the Middle East, seems determined to exploit Ukraine while also indebting Europe, further weakening its social welfare systems for the benefit of the U.S. military industry.
And our governments, refusing to accept that, given the imbalance of forces, the war is lost, continue to support the Ukrainian president by promising more weapons and money so that the Ukrainian army can fight to the last man or woman.
All of this while they push for the rapid militarization of our nations under the spectre of an impending conflict with Russia.
Have our leaders considered that, since the arms limitation agreements signed during the Cold War—so crucial in maintaining peace—no longer exist, a military confrontation with a nuclear power like Russia could lead to a third, and this time final, world war?
We call on politicians not to forget the two great wars that bloodied the continent in the last century. Abandoning George Orwell’s newspeak, they must work actively in favour of diplomatic solutions.
It is the only way to prevent future massacres that devastate nations for the mere profit of the powerful arms industry.
SIGNATURES in alphabetical order :
Fernando Aguiar González (investigador)
Javier Aguirre Santos (profesor)
Luis Alegre Zahonero (profesor de universidad)
Tariq Ali (escritor e historiador británico de origen paquistaní)
Luis Alonso (artesano comerciante)
Txetxu Ausín Díez (investigador)
Daniela de Barros Barreto (arquitecta y artista plástica)
Olga Belmonte García (profesora)
Constantino Bértolo (crítico cultural)
Marie-Hélène Caillol (politóloga y profesora)
Jorge Cano Cuenca (profesor de Filosofía Antigua)
Marta Castellanos Garcés (profesora de enseñanza secundaria)
Alberto Conde (profesor, filólogo y traductor jubilado)
Juan Luis Conde (profesor de universidad y escritor)
Federico Corriente Basús (traductor y autor de informes críticos)
Inés Delgado-Echagüe (masetra de educación infantil)
Graciela Fainstein Lamuedra (investigador)
Thomas Fazi (periodista y escritor angloitaliano)
Carlos Fernández Liria (profesor de universidad)
Amelia Gamoneda (profesora de universidad y traductora)
Marysol García Martínez (pintora)
Susana Gómez López (directora teatral)
Belén Gopegui (escritora)
Ulrike Guérot (politóloga alemana)
Gabriele Gysi (actriz y directora de teatro alemana)
Pollux Hernúñez (traductor jubilado)
Maite Imbernón (profesora)
Corinna Kirchhoff (actriz alemana)
Bernard Legros (periodista belga)
Félix Manzarbeitia Arambarri (patólogo)
Bernd Marizzi (profesor de universidad)
Elisa Martínez Garrido (profesora de universidad)
Ricardo Martínez Llorca (escritor)
Pilar Muñoz (periodista)
Emilio Muñoz Ruiz (profesor emérito)
Viviana Paletta (poeta y editora italiana)
Pepe Peña (profesor de Filosofía, editor, documentalista)
Kees van der Pijl (politólogo neerlandés)
Rafael Poch-de-Feliu (periodista jubilado)
Manuel Quejido Villarejo (pintor)
Joaquín Rábago (periodista)
Hauke Ritz (escritor alemán)
Andy Robinson (periodista y escritor)
Jorge Rubio Redondo (maestro)
Matilde Sáenz (profesora)
Javier Sáez de Ibarra (escritor)
José Luis Santalla (fotógrafo)
Fernando Sanz Santa-Cruz (médico)
Berta Sarralde (profesora)
Michael von der Schulenburg (europarlamentario alemán)
Federico Soto Díaz-Casariego (profesor jubilado)
Peter van Stigt (periodista neerlandés)
Olegario Torralba (periodista)
Luis Torrego Egido (profesor de universidad)
Jorge Valdano Sáenz (guionista)
Once launched, Mateusz Piskorski, Anne Morelli, Jayati Ghosh, Herman Michiel, Alain Bihr et Yannis Thanassekos, Juan Carlos Mestre, the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation (Tony Simpson), Paul Murphy, The Movimiento por la Paz (MPDL), Ramesh Jaura, Klaus Dräger.... have shown their support for this appeal.
LINK to support this appeal on OpenPetition
In English
Please note that you must confirm your signature after receiving a link via email!
If you'd like collaborate by collecting paper signatures, download PDF sheets here.
Removable tab sheet with QR code.
Related Information
Un “llamamiento a favor de la paz y el desarme” une a personas de la academia, las artes y el conocimiento
Decenas de intelectuales europeos denuncian en un manifiesto la escalada en la retórica bélica que se vive en el continente europeo.
El Salto, 11.03.2025, 11:00
Llamamiento a favor de la paz y el desarme
Pedimos a los políticos que no olviden las dos grandes guerras que ensangrentaron el pasado siglo el continente y trabajen activamente a favor de las soluciones diplomáticas
Ctxt, 11.03.2025.
Hier ein von Spanien ausgehender, inzwischen aber europaweiter Aufruf für Frieden & Abrüstung, gegen die Politik der #EU
Ulrike Guérot, X, 11.03.2025.
Llamamiento...
Pressenza. International Press Agency, 11.03.2025.
Iniciativa colectiva: Llamamiento a favor de la paz y el desarme
Rafael Poch de Feliu, Blog personal, 11.03.2025
«Ukraine-Russie: en marche vers un conflit général ?», sur QG TV.
Aude Lancelin avec Jacques Baud.
Donald Trump avait promis de mettre fin à la guerre en Ukraine dès son arrivée au pouvoir. Les États-Unis ayant désormais retiré leur soutien militaire à Kiev, l’UE hausse le ton. La France, en première ligne, se distingue par le discours martial d’Emmanuel Macron, qui a étonné le 5 mars dernier.
Alors que le conflit semblait s’apaiser, un risque d’escalade inquiète. Pour éclairer la situation sur QG ce mardi 11 mars en direct à Paris, Aude Lancelin reçoit un des meilleurs connaisseurs du conflit russo-ukrainien. Jacques Baud, ancien membre du renseignement stratégique suisse et ex-chef de la doctrine des opérations de maintien de la paix à l’ONU. Auteur de nombreux best-sellers aux éditions Max Milo, parmi lesquels « Gouverner par les fake news » et « Opération Z », il est l’un des seuls observateurs à avoir vu juste depuis l’invasion de l’Ukraine en 2022. Son expertise est particulièrement bienvenue, alors que les opinions publiques s’affolent et que la propagande fait rage.
Europa asume el liderazgo del “free world”
Dos películas de Peter Sellers ayudan a entender la trayectoria de Europa y la OTAN en tiempos de guerra
Andy Robinson, Substack, 12.03.2025. Et sur le site de La Vanguardia, 12.03.2025.
Appeal for Peace and Disarmament
Andy Robinson, Substack, 12.03.2025.
Llamamiento a favor de la paz y el desarme
Rebelión, 13.03.2025.
Against Militarization: Scientists Unite in Opposition to EU Rearmament, 14.03.2025.
Scientists are uniting to voice against the recent proposal to rearm the European Union. They have released "Scientists against rearmament - A manifesto" and are calling on scientists, engineers, medical professionals, mathematicians, scholars, and the broader science community to support their stance. Here is the link to the manifesto for endorsement.
Europa in Gefahr | Ulrike Guérot & Jonas Tögel, Westend Verlag, 16.03.2025.
In diesem Gespräch diskutiert Katrin Seibold mit Jonas Tögel, Autor von “Kriegsspiele”, und der Politikwissenschaftlerin Ulrike Guérot über heute öffentliche Simulationen zur Zukunft Europas nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg.
[In this conversation with Jonas Tögel, author of “War Games”, and political scientist Ulrike Guérot, Katrin Seibold discusses about today's public simulations of the future of Europe after the Second World War.]
Brave EMP Speaks Truth on EU Madness: US-Russia Push Ukraine Surrender.
Michael von der Schulenburg, Neutrality Studies, 17.03.2025.
[Cf. On Building Peace. Rescuing the Nation-State and Saving the United Nations]
Amenaza rusa
Joaquín Rábago, Opinión | 360 grados, La Opinión A Coruña, 18.03.2025, 6:01.
Oproep voor vrede en ontwapening
Herman Michiel, Ander Europa, 18 maart 2025.Verleden week lanceerden enkele Spaanse burgers een oproep voor vrede en ontwapening aan de Europese regeringen. Hierin wordt de Russische invasie in Oekraïne ondubbelzinnig veroordeeld. Maar ook de poging van de Europese leiders om burgers schrik aan te jagen voor een Russische inval alhier, en zo een massale bewapening van de EU te legitimeren wordt aan de kaak gesteld. Een zeer interessant pleidooi dat we hier in Nederlandse vertaling weergeven (ook beschikbaar in het Spaans, Engels, Duits en Frans). (...)
Open brief - Juan Luis Conde Calvo, e.a., DeWereldMorgen Vertaaldesk
Stop de EU-bewapeningswaanzin en de drang naar nucleaire oorlog
Terwijl Europese leiders steeds luider pleiten voor herbewapening en confrontatie met Rusland, waarschuwen critici dat dit de welvaartsstaat ondermijnt en de kans op een nucleair conflict vergroot. Een petitie roept op tot diplomatie en ontwapening als enige weg naar duurzame vrede.
Dinsdag 18 maart 2025, 15:42
An important initiative against the drive to further militarise Europe. Please sign and share.
Paul Murphy, Irish MP 🏳️⚧️ @paulmurphy_TD, 12:05 p. m. · 21 mar. 2025.
THE GRAYZONE, MAR 21, 2025
The Grayzone's Aaron Mate argues that the US and NATO provoked Russia in Ukraine by expanding NATO, dismantling arms control, installing military assets threatening Russia, meddling in Ukraine, and blocking multiple opportunities for peace. From a debate hosted by Young Voices in New York City on March 19, 2025.
Link to the full debate video here.
EUROPEAN PEACE PROJECT and its MANIFESTO – 09/05/2025@17:00
On May 9th at 5 p.m. – it is time to show our commitment to a future in PEACE in Europe!
Facebook.
X account.If the EU and its national governments want to lead us into a war against Russia, they are betraying all fundamental European principles of peace, democracy, freedom and understanding between peoples!
Therefore, we, the citizens of Europe, are taking the future of this wonderful continent into our own hands!
We hereby launch the European Peace Project. On May 9, 2025, at 5 p.m., let us all simultaneously proclaim PEACE in every country on the European continent and in every European language with a performative speech act from our windows, on our balconies, and in our squares! Then, let's celebrate!
The text of the proclamation is already available here in numerous languages. If your national or local language (Catalan, Gaelic, Alsatian, etc.) is missing, please send us the translation! Feel free to modify the proclamation text (add or omit something). In that case, please incorporate your signature as the legal person responsible for the published content.
Manifiesto: 'No nos resignamos al rearme y a la guerra en Europa', 26.03.2025, 12:00.
(…) We refuse to accept war, because we don't want the peace of cemeteries, because history shows us that the only realistic path to peace is not military, but political. Get to work and work for peace, we demand it.
First signatories from cultur, academia, and activism:
Aitor Merino, Alberto San Juan, Almudena Carracedo, Amparo Sánchez (Amparanoia), Ana Rosetti, Ana Turpin, Àurea Márquez Alonso, Carlos Bardem, Carlos Olalla, Carolina Yuste, Edurne Portela, Enrique Gracia, Fele Martínez, Fernando Berlín, Gabriela Wiener, Gerardo Tecé, Gervasio Sánchez, Gorka Otxoa, Guillermo Toledo, Isaac Rosa, Javier Bardem, Javier Corcuera, Javier Gallego, Joan Roura, Jonathan Martínez, Jose Ovejero, Juan Diego Botto, Lola Bañón, Luis Pastor, Luis Tosar, Luz Olier, Manuel Rivas, María Botto, Marta Belenguer, Marta Sanz, Marwan, Montserrat Cano, Montxo Armendáriz, Muerdo, Nathalie Poza, Nüll Garcia, Nur Levi, Olga Rodríguez, Pedro Pastor, Puy Oria, Raúl Tejón, Roberto Montoya, Rosa Maria Artal, Rosana Pastor, Rozalen, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Teresa Aranguren, Victor Claudin, Albert Caramés, Alejandro Pozo, Amaia Pérez Orozko, Ana Barrero, Carlos Taibo, Carmen Magallón, Cecile Barbeito, David Bondia, Elena Grau, Enric Tello, Enrique Quintanilla, Eva Aladro, Fernando Luengo, Fernando Valladares, Ferrán Izquierdo, Gabriela Serra, Helena Maleno, Irene Comins, Itziar Ruíz Gimenez, Jaime Pastor, Javier Raboso, Jokin Alberdi, Jordi Calvo, Jordi Mir, Jordi Muñoz, Jorge Riechmann, José Angel Ruiz, Josep M. Royo, Juan Hernández, Koldobi Velasco, Luca Gervasioni, Luis Rico, Manuela Mesa, Marco Aparicio, Maria Oianguren, Mario López, Martí Olivella, Maria Villellas, Marina Caireta, Miquel Carrillo, Montserrat Cervera, Pedro Ramiro, Pepe Beunza, Pere Brunet, Pere Ortega, Salvador López Arnal, Sani Ladan, Sonia París, Tica Font, Tom Kucharz, Vicenç Fisas, Víctor Alonso Rocafort, Yayo Herrero.
Kit de supervivencia
Joaquín Rábago, Opinión | 360 grados, La Opinión A Coruña, 27.03.2025, 6:01.
Trump, Putin und der Westen: Zerbricht die alte Weltordnung?.
Interview with the German writer Hauke Ritz, Neutrality Studies, 28.03.2025.
Steht Europa vor einer neuen Provinzialisierung? Verfolgt Russland wirklich imperiale Ziele – oder wird es nur so dargestellt? Und warum fürchten die USA das intellektuelle Potenzial Russlands mehr als seine militärische Stärke?
Im Gespräch mit Hauke Ritz diskutieren wir über historische Narrative, geopolitische Strategien und die Frage, ob der Westen dabei ist, den „Code der europäischen Kultur“ umzuschreiben. Ein Interview über Macht, Deutungshoheit und die Zukunft der Weltordnung.
Is Europe facing a new provincialization? Is Russia truly pursuing imperial goals—or is it just portrayed that way? And why does the US fear Russia's intellectual potential more than its military strength?
In conversation with Hauke Ritz, we discuss historical narratives, geopolitical strategies, and the question of whether the West is rewriting the "code of European culture." An interview about power, interpretive sovereignty, and the future of the world order.
Global Campaign On Military Spending
The Global Campaign On Military Spending works through the cooperative efforts of its members. So far more than 100 organizations from 35 different countries have joined the campaign, working within their particular contexts to raise awareness and change government policy and practice on military spending.
GCOMS is run by a steering group of peace activists from all over the world, coordinated by the Centro Delàs d’Estudis per la Pau (Centre Delàs of Peace Studies, in Barcelona, Spain), which works as a decentralized office of the International Peace Bureau.
Tony Greenstein: "I admire anyone campaigning for peace now, but I am too busy in Palestine solidarity work now to be able to do anything else, I'm afraid, but I wish you and your brother well.", 4.04.2025, 17:10.
La maquinaria bélica y la austeridad europea. La Unión Europea socava la diplomacia en Ucrania para transformar el estado del bienestar en un estado belicista.
Fabian Scheidler, Ctxt, 5.04.2025.
Para un desarrollo más amplio, ver la entrevista de Pablo Elorduy con Fabian Scheidler: “Si intentamos dominar a la naturaleza, acabaremos destruyéndola”. El autor de ‘El fin de la megamáquina. Historia de una civilización en vías de colapso’ ha desarrollado la metáfora del capitalismo como una máquina destructora y reivindica que hay oportunidades para el cambio, El Salto, 6.04.2025.
Proposal for European mobilization for peace – May 9, 2025.
Carlo Volpi, Pressenza, Redazione Italia, 17.04.25. Our friend Carlo Volpi sent us this proposal, which he is sending to all pacifist and nonviolent organizations in an attempt to reach the whole of Europe. Pressenza is publishing it and gladly supports it.
This post is also available in Italian.
Intermedio ucraniano. Entre el acuerdo ruso-americano y la transformación de la guerra en Europa.
Rafael Poch, Blog, 27.04.2025 and Ctxt, 28.04.2025.
The Ukraine conflict and Trump's uncertainties.
Rafael Poch, revista Papeles, 28.04.2025 (although the text was written in March 2025).
La gauche belge contre le réarmement. Secrétaire général du Parti du travail de Belgique (PTB), qui a réalisé une percée lors des élections fédérales de 2024, M. Peter Mertens présente ici l’analyse de sa formation politique face à la perspective d’un grand réarmement européen pour affronter la « menace russe ». Contrairement aux discours dominants, rappelle-t-il, préparer la paix n’implique pas nécessairement de faire la guerre.
Peter Mertens, Le Monde diplomatique, mai 2025, page 23.
["Secretary General of the Belgian Labour Party (PTB), which made a breakthrough in the 2024 federal elections, Mr. Peter Mertens presents here his political party's analysis of the prospect of a major European rearmament to confront the "Russian threat." Contrary to prevailing discourse, he points out, preparing for peace does not necessarily imply waging war.."]
Tradução para português: A esquerda belga contra o rearmamento.
Jeffrey Sachs: An Open Letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz: Security Is Indivisible — and History Matters.
Jeffrey Sachs, SCHEERPOST, 18.12.2025. In a video conference with Glenn Diesen, Jeffrey Sachs elaborates on his open letter to Chancellor Merz from Belgrade airport, hours after its publication (video, 25:57):
