How can we build peace in a world full of ecological crises, social inequalities and cultural fractures? This question was at the heart of this year's Mission 21 International Forum for Peacebuilding, a two-day online event that brought together voices from churches, academia, indigenous communities and youth movements. The urgent message: there is no peace without ecological justice. Already to [...]
Right at the beginning, the speakers reminded us that peace is more than the absence of war - peace is created where we live in community with the earth.
The opening keynote by Professor Debjani Bhattacharyya impressively showed how closely colonial history, fossil energy and today's global inequalities are interwoven. Climate justice therefore also means redistributing responsibility and power.
The contributions from activists from Ghana and Kenya were particularly inspiring: they advocated not only "including" young people, but also taking them seriously as a creative force, in line with the principle: "Nothing about us without us".
Several speakers gave insights into indigenous spiritualities in which rivers, mountains and forests are living relatives. Their perspectives show ways to live in mutual responsibility - "I share, therefore I am."
"Our hearts beat like a common heartbeat - for the earth that sustains us."
(Closing words from the forum)
Examples from Peru and Colombia, where rivers have been granted legal protection, prove that such visions can inspire concrete political action.
At the end of the forum, a joint appeal was made: Peace on Earth = Peace with the Earth. The participants want to continue to exchange ideas and, as a next step, make actions for the future of our planet visible worldwide until the next Earth Day (on April 22, 2026).
The most important suggestions from the forum:
- Peace is holistic - socially, ecologically and spiritually connected.
- Indigenous perspectives open up alternative paths to justice and reconciliation.
- Young people and people with disabilities belong at the heart of climate action.
- Spirituality can give strength for change and connect people across borders.
The shared insights and inputs in words and pictures: Video recordings and presentations of the forum will soon be available here
