Dear humanists,
The year 2023 has once again shown us that our world is facing many challenges. War, hatred and violence, misanthropy, climate crisis and social polarization, growing poverty and homelessness are just some of them. The advancing role of artificial intelligence is also shaking up our way of life. It almost seems as if new crises are constantly being added to the old, unresolved ones.
What helps us at this time is the confidence, or at least the hope, that humanity is capable of turning back, of acting in a more humane way. For us humanists, hope is not just a feeling, but an active call to action. Hope drives us to achieve great things on a small scale and gives us the energy to work with all our strength for peace, education and social commitment. For a world that is characterized by the humanistic values of self-determination, solidarity and tolerance.
At a time when we are facing the global challenges of war and peace, we call on you to actively work for a better world. Peace begins with our daily actions, with conversations, with our willingness to listen to and understand each other. Through constant dialog, we can build bridges of understanding and help to resolve tensions.
For 2024, we encourage each and every one of you to play an active role in shaping a more humane world. Only through concrete, human action can we bring about positive change. A world in which the dignity of every human being is respected can become a reality through our individual and collective efforts.
With the power of hope and commitment, we wish all members, supporters and friends a fulfilling and healthy New Year!
The Federal Board of the Humanist Association of Germany
Thomas Fehse, Christiane Herrmann, Erwin Kress, Christian Lührs, Katrin Raczynski
