Munich
American Peace Committee (MAPC)
Introduction
The Munich American Peace Committee (MAPC) was formed in 1983, joining
the growing West German peace movement's activities against the
escalation of armaments in Europe. Membership grew
as a result of the foreign (and domestic!) developments, reflected
especially in militarism, unilateralism and the reduction of civil
liberties and democratic rights. We monitor German and American
policies affecting our lives as American citizens/German residents.
Principal goals
- To increase availability of information, largely ignored by
the media, concerning the diverse opinions existing in the
U.S. We want to draw attention to the supporters of the
American peace movement and its counterparts in Germany and the rest of
the world.
- To distribute this information through e-mail contacts,
media interviews, newspaper articles, public appearances, and monthly
Radio Lora programs.
- To encourage our compatriots to join us in active
participation in political life, to influence our governmental
representatives here and in the United States to use peaceful means of
settling differences and achieving productive cooperation.
- To help disillusioned American soldiers who want to leave
the military. We co-operate with the Mennonite-supported Military
Counselling Network and other GI support groups. We raise
money to support the counsellors' work and individual
soldiers who need financial help for their legal fees. We
give moral support by phone and email to the GIs and their families and
help spread the word to GIs, most of whom are not aware of their rights
to seek discharge as conscientious objectors.
Activities
Since our debut in 1983, we have continued to participate in
the Easter Marches, blockades, demonstrations, and vigils at the Munich
Consulate against US involvements such as in Irak and
Afghanistan. We participate with the Munich
Coalition of peace groups in the weekly vigil against war every
Thursday afternoon at Richard-Strauss-Brunnen.
Themes
Our emphasis has included such subjects as: U.S.military intervention,
disarmament, conversion, and non-violent resistance. More
recently MAPC has focused on the worldwide effects of
globalization, especially as a result of U.S. foreign policy.
Naturally, our activities increase during times of crisis. Thus we
presently deal intensively with topics relating to the terrorist
destruction of the World Trade Center and its aftermath, the conflict
between Israel and Palestina, and the intensification of U.S.
unilateralist policies.
Organization
MAPC meetings take place once a month to exchange information
and ideas and to plan activities. We often have speakers or a special
theme for discussion. We welcome new English-speaking participants!
contact@mapc-web.de