Peace Prize Winner Schloegel: Conscription is 'timely' - Auma Obama Wins German Book Trade Peace Prize for African Education Initiatives
The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade has been awarded to Auma Obama for her dedication to education and civil society initiatives in Africa, particularly for girls and women. The prize, worth €25,000, was presented at the traditional ceremony held in the Paulskirche at the close of the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Obama, the half-sister of former U.S. President Barack Obama, was recognized for her work in promoting education and empowering women and girls in Africa. She has been instrumental in founding several initiatives, including the Sauti Kuu Foundation, which focuses on education and leadership development.
Meanwhile, historian and Russia expert Karl Schloegel has weighed in on the current geopolitical climate. He acknowledges the return of war to Europe, citing Russia's occupation of Crimea in 2014 and its attack on Ukraine in 2022. Schloegel, who refused military service during the Vietnam War era and served in a hospital as an alternative, now considers mandatory conscription in Germany to be timely. He believes that history, while informative, does not provide a blueprint for peace. Instead, he views the threat posed by Russia, as highlighted in President Vladimir Putin's recent speech, as a real and present danger.
Auma Obama's commitment to education and empowerment in Africa has been recognized with the prestigious Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. Meanwhile, historian Karl Schloegel's perspective on the current European landscape and the potential need for mandatory conscription in Germany adds a sobering note to the discussion on peace and security.
