Gütersloh's Storytelling Café Honors Six Decades of Peace Activism on March 4
The 19th Storytelling Café will take place on Wednesday, March 4, at 6:00 PM in the auditorium of Gütersloh's Adult Education Center (VHS). This year's theme, 'With Courage and Hope: Peace Activism in Gütersloh', explores the city's long history of anti-war and anti-nuclear movements. The event is free to attend, though registration is requested via the VHS Gütersloh website.
The evening will feature a moderated discussion led by historian Dr. Franz Jungbluth. Panelists include Ludger Klein-Ridder, Eckhard Möller, Marianne Fuller, and Frido Jacobs, each with deep ties to Gütersloh's peace campaigns. Their stories will trace the movement from 1960s anti-war protests to recent Ukrainian solidarity demonstrations.
Eckhard Möller first protested at age 13 in 1967, later becoming a conscientious objector. Monika Füller organised *'Silence for Peace'* gatherings in Martin-Luther-Church and anti-nuclear actions at the local airfield in the 1980s. Ludger Kleine-Ridder led *'Electricity Without Atoms'* demonstrations and environmental education projects. Recent activism includes 2026 student strikes against military conscription and Ukrainian diaspora protests marking the Russian invasion. The event is a collaboration between the Department of Culture, Gütersloh City Archives, the City's Office for Gender Equality, and VHS Gütersloh. Audience members are encouraged to share their own experiences. A recording will later be published on the Cultural Portal. For more information, contact Lilian Wohnhas from the Department of Culture at 05241 / 82-3659 or via email at *lilian.wohnhas@ourwebsite*.
The Storytelling Café offers a chance to reflect on Gütersloh's peace activism across six decades. Attendees can engage with panelists and contribute their own memories. The recorded session will remain available online for those unable to join in person.
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