World Union for Protection of Life
Encyclopedia
The World Union for Protection of Life (German: Weltbund zum Schutz des Lebens, French: Union Mondiale pour la Protection de la Vie, Russian: Всемирный союз для защиты жизни) is an international non-profit organization and non-governmental organization which was founded 1958 in Salzburg
(Austria) by the writer Günther Schwab
. The concept Protection of Life is considered to be different from the protection of the environment
as it has been used by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), though that organization was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment
in 1972.
Günther Schwab
is known as the author of the screenplay for the movie Der Förster vom Silberwald (Heimatfilm
, literally homeland film), released 25 November 1954 in Vienna (as Echo der Berge) and 8 February 1955 in Munich
. In his novel Der Tanz mit dem Teufel (Dance with the Devil) Günther Schwab
gives his expressions to sentiments for nature
protection and describes the destruction of nature as a plan of a devil who seems really existent. The book was translated in many language
s, the first English translation was published 1963. In the year 1958 Schwab started to setup an organization with the name World Union for Saving of Life which was registered as World Union for Protection of Life two years later and soon activated branches in more than 30 countries all over the world.
Around the year 1968 the organization had several thousand members in the Federal Republic of Germany. Famous members were the physicist Karl Bechert
and the chemist Hans-Adalbert Schweigart
.
The organization played an active role during the foundation of the German Green Party
, especially in Lower Saxon. .
The greatest group – concerning the numbers of members – is still in Austria and is an open institution for everyone. One of the famous members was the biologist Annie Francé-Harrar
. The Austrian anti-nuclear power activist Robert Jungk
engaged himself for the WUPL.
A scientific advisory board of 400 scientists out of 53 countries supported the work of the organization. Among them were 40 Nobel laureates. President of the board was Linus Pauling
. Günther Schwab
himself held about 1500 public readings.
In Australia the WUPL tried to ward off the dangers connected with the building of the Atomic Reactor at Jervis Bay
, only about 130 miles from Sydney
.
The World Union for Protection of Life gave the Hans-Adalbert-Schweigart-Medal
to:
In 2008 – 50 years after foundation – the organization pledged for the Global Population Speak Out (GPSO
). Since 2009 the international stage was activated by scientists in 13 countries. For many organizations with similar goals has been set up since the 1970er, today the WUPL is only open for elected representatives of organizations with equal goals and members with a scientific qualification. In October 2009 the German text of the foundation document was published in the internet. International Members take part in the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009.
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
(Austria) by the writer Günther Schwab
Günther Schwab
Günther Schwab was an Austrian writer and author, and member of the Nazi party. He founded the World Union for Protection of Life.-Early life:...
. The concept Protection of Life is considered to be different from the protection of the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
as it has been used by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), though that organization was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment
The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was an international conference convened under United Nations auspices held in Stockholm, Sweden from June 5–16, 1972...
in 1972.
Günther Schwab
Günther Schwab
Günther Schwab was an Austrian writer and author, and member of the Nazi party. He founded the World Union for Protection of Life.-Early life:...
is known as the author of the screenplay for the movie Der Förster vom Silberwald (Heimatfilm
Heimatfilm
Heimatfilm is the name given to a film genre that was popular in Germany, Switzerland and Austria from the late 40s to the early 70s. They were usually shot in the Alps, the Black Forest or the Lüneburg Heath and always involved the outdoors...
, literally homeland film), released 25 November 1954 in Vienna (as Echo der Berge) and 8 February 1955 in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. In his novel Der Tanz mit dem Teufel (Dance with the Devil) Günther Schwab
Günther Schwab
Günther Schwab was an Austrian writer and author, and member of the Nazi party. He founded the World Union for Protection of Life.-Early life:...
gives his expressions to sentiments for nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
protection and describes the destruction of nature as a plan of a devil who seems really existent. The book was translated in many language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
s, the first English translation was published 1963. In the year 1958 Schwab started to setup an organization with the name World Union for Saving of Life which was registered as World Union for Protection of Life two years later and soon activated branches in more than 30 countries all over the world.
Germany
International congresses with scientist and church organizations mainly took place in German speaking countries.Around the year 1968 the organization had several thousand members in the Federal Republic of Germany. Famous members were the physicist Karl Bechert
Karl Bechert
Karl Richard Bechert was a German theoretical physicist and political leader. As a scientist, his contributions were in atomic physics.-Scientific career:...
and the chemist Hans-Adalbert Schweigart
Hans-Adalbert Schweigart
Hans Adalbert Schweigart was a German chemist and researcher in nutrition. He studied chemistry in Berlin and Munich. In 1935 he created the general term vital substances. He was director of the Institute for Care and storage of agricultural trade research at the Friedrich-Wilhelm University in...
.
The organization played an active role during the foundation of the German Green Party
Alliance '90/The Greens
Alliance '90/The Greens is a green political party in Germany, formed from the merger of the German Green Party and Alliance 90 in 1993. Its leaders are Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir...
, especially in Lower Saxon. .
Austria
The organization was officially registered as World Union for Saving of Life on 24 September 1958 in Salzburg and is therefore one of the oldest anti-nuclear organization.The greatest group – concerning the numbers of members – is still in Austria and is an open institution for everyone. One of the famous members was the biologist Annie Francé-Harrar
Annie Francé-Harrar
Annie Francé-Harrar was an Austrian writer and scientist.Francé-Harrar created the scientific basis for the humus-compost-economy together with her second husband Raoul Heinrich Francé...
. The Austrian anti-nuclear power activist Robert Jungk
Robert Jungk
Robert Jungk , also known as Robert Baum and Robert Baum-Jungk, was an Austrian writer and journalist who wrote mostly on issues relating to nuclear weapons....
engaged himself for the WUPL.
International activities
According to its own publications the WUPL had sections in Australia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Belgium, Brasilia, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, South-Korea, South-Africa, Yugoslavia and USA.A scientific advisory board of 400 scientists out of 53 countries supported the work of the organization. Among them were 40 Nobel laureates. President of the board was Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
. Günther Schwab
Günther Schwab
Günther Schwab was an Austrian writer and author, and member of the Nazi party. He founded the World Union for Protection of Life.-Early life:...
himself held about 1500 public readings.
In Australia the WUPL tried to ward off the dangers connected with the building of the Atomic Reactor at Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is a large bay bounded by the state of New South Wales, the Jervis Bay Territory, and a detached enclave of the Australian Capital Territory. HMAS Creswell is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch in the Jervis Bay Territory.-History:...
, only about 130 miles from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
The World Union for Protection of Life gave the Hans-Adalbert-Schweigart-Medal
Hans-Adalbert Schweigart
Hans Adalbert Schweigart was a German chemist and researcher in nutrition. He studied chemistry in Berlin and Munich. In 1935 he created the general term vital substances. He was director of the Institute for Care and storage of agricultural trade research at the Friedrich-Wilhelm University in...
to:
- 1979: André GernezAndré GernezAndré Gernez is a French non-conventional physician. He created a global non-governmental organisation Organic Union International in 1989 with doctors Jacques Lacaze and Jean-Pierre Willem....
and Konrad LorenzKonrad LorenzKonrad Zacharias Lorenz was an Austrian zoologist, ethologist, and ornithologist. He shared the 1973 Nobel Prize with Nikolaas Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch... - 1983: Rosalie BertellRosalie BertellRosalie Bertell is an American physician and epidemiologist best known for her work in the field of ionizing radiation. A dual citizen of Canada and the United States, she has worked in environmental health since 1970....
- 1986: Franz WeberFranz WeberFranz Weber is an environmentalist and animal welfare activist.- Life :Franz Weber began his carrier as a journalist and reporter...
- ????: Ralph Graeub
- ????: Peter WeishPeter WeishPeter Weish is an Austrian scientist , author and environmental activist.Peter Weish studied biology, chemistry and physics at the University of Vienna...
In 2008 – 50 years after foundation – the organization pledged for the Global Population Speak Out (GPSO
GPSO
The GPSO Global Population Speak Out is a special project of the international non-profit organization and non-governmental organization Population Institute...
). Since 2009 the international stage was activated by scientists in 13 countries. For many organizations with similar goals has been set up since the 1970er, today the WUPL is only open for elected representatives of organizations with equal goals and members with a scientific qualification. In October 2009 the German text of the foundation document was published in the internet. International Members take part in the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009.
External links
- UNEP, Official Website www.unep.org
- WUPL, Official Website wsl-int.de