Peace light from Bethlehem: Linz sets signs of hope and unity!

Peace light from Bethlehem: Linz sets signs of hope and unity!

Linz, Österreich - The nine-year-old Matthias Secklehner from Gschwandt near Gmunden ceremoniously handed over the ORF peace light to the Linz city government on Thursday. This light, which is inflamed every year in the birth grotto of Jesus in Bethlehem, is a strong symbol of peace, hope and cohesion. The executive mayor Dietmar Prammer (SPÖ) accepted the light on behalf of it and emphasized: "The peace light reminds us that peace is not a matter of course." Against the background of global crises, especially the war in Ukraine and the tensions in the Middle East, this tradition is particularly important, as meinbezirk.at reports . Linz, which has been considered the official peace city since 1986, implements numerous peace -promoting activities every year.

global poverty and scope for action

The topic of peace is currently all the more relevant because the world continues to be faced with enormous challenges. Despite a remarkable decline in global poverty in recent decades, according to the World Bank estimates in 2024, almost 700 million people still live in extreme poverty. This means that many people continue to live under conditions that deny them access to basic resources such as food and education. The loosening of the Covid 19 pandemic has the progress in combating poverty in many regions, and geopolitical conflicts also contribute to this situation. Especially in regions such as the Middle East and North Africa, the situation has further exacerbated, such as Statista shows .

In order to counteract these challenges, initiatives such as the Billa donation campaign "a donation that fed up" were launched in Austria to support people in need. These actions are part of a greater endeavor to counteract poverty and the associated problems. However, the gap between people's life realities in different regions remains a central topic that must continue to be addressed.