News Archive

gbs Annual Review 2022 [2]

A year of ups and downs

2022/12/15

2022 marks the end of an eventful year in which the Giordano Bruno Foundation (gbs) achieved remarkable successes, but also suffered painful losses. For example, the gbs celebrated the abolition of § 219a StGB with physician Kristina Hänel, but also had to bid farewell to its founder Herbert Steffen, who died at the age of 88.

The End of an Era [3]

Eulogy to Herbert Steffen

2022/11/21

Herbert Steffen is dead. The founder of the Giordano Bruno Foundation, who strengthened the secular forces in Germany like few others, died last Friday at the age of 88. His friend and companion Michael Schmidt-Salomon commemorates a remarkable person.

The Authoritarian Threat [4]

Identitarian politics as a danger to the open society

2022/09/25

Putin's attack on Ukraine is also an attack on the open society. The Russian ruler, however, is by no means alone in his religious-nationalist propaganda. Identitarian thought patterns are on the rise worldwide – as Michael Schmidt-Salomon explains in an article for the "bruno." annual magazine, which will be published at the beginning of October.

»This could be the beginning of the end of the Islamic regime!« [5]

The protests in Iran are drawing many people to the streets in Germany as well

2022/09/23

Since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in the custody of the religious morality police, tens of thousands of Iranians have been protesting against their own government. The challenge now is to prevent the mullahs' regime from striking down the protests as bloodily as it did the "Green Revolt" in 2009.

»Fundamentalists will not stop us!« [6]

Ex-Muslims from all over the world demonstrated in Cologne for Salman Rushdie

2022/08/23

Last weekend, leading representatives of the ex-Muslim movement met in Cologne to "celebrated dissent". They were supported by Western critics of religion such as Richard Dawkins, Dan Barker, and Michael Schmidt-Salomon.

Solidarity With Raif Badawi and His Family! [7]

International fundraising campaign launched for the Sakharov Prize winner of the European Parliament

2022/03/19

The Giordano Bruno Foundation, in association with other organizations, has launched a fundraising campaign for the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was released from prison a week ago but is still not allowed to leave Saudi Arabia. Donations are now possible via the platforms betterplace.me (German-speaking/Europe) and gofundme.com (international) or by transfer to a trust account in Germany.

Illuminating Myths Artistically [8]

DA! Art Award 2022 announced

2022/01/29

"The power of myth" is this year's theme of the DA! Art-Award, which will in 2022 be awarded for the third time. The prize, totalling 10,000 euros, is offered every two years by the Düsseldorfer Aufklärungsdienst (DA!) and aims to inspire artists to take a critical look at religion and irrationalism. As in previous years, the award is supported by the Giordano Bruno Foundation.

gbs Annual Review 2021 [9]

Foundation activities in the second Corona year

2021/12/13

Many successes despite Corona: As in the previous year, the Giordano Bruno Foundation focused 2021 on "The high art of rationality – facts, fakes and perceived truths". The highlights of the year included the activities for Hans Albert's 100th birthday, the founding of the Bertha von Suttner-Studienwerk, nationwide campaigns for freedom of speech and against the criminalisation of abortion, attention-grabbing art campaigns in front of Cologne Cathedral and much more.

»Strategies for the future« [10]

Interview with gbs managing director Elke Held

2021/11/01

Since its foundation in 2004, the Giordano Bruno Stiftung (gbs) has continuously grown and evolved. In the current issue of the "bruno." annual magazine, gbs managing director Elke Held shares some insights into the Foundation's history and explains its plans for the years to come.

#Chatcontrol: Taking Action Against the Abolition of Digital Privacy [11]

Why the "European Task Force on Child Abuse" opened letters to EU parliamentarians

2021/07/02

Citizens have a right to confidential communication - that's what the European Charter of Fundamental Rights says. But members of the European Parliament recently received suspicious mail: The letters have been torn open, inspected by a "European Task Force against Child Abuse" and sealed with a warning label. Those taking a closer look discover that this is a campaign by the Giordano Bruno Foundation (gbs), protesting against the planned search of private chats and emails.

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