Ahimsa Conversation # 107 Jørgen Johansen
Channel: Ahimsa Conversations
Date: 18/03/2022

Jørgen Johansen was 18 years old when he was sent to prison for refusing to become a soldier. This act of defiance shaped the rest of his life because NATO, the army he was being compelled to join, could punish him but not bend him to its will. In this conversation Jorgen describes a life-long engagement with peace activism and reflects on the anti-war movement and varied dimensions of nonviolent resistance. Speaking about the conflict in Ukraine Jørgen says that instead of boycotts what is now needed are ‘girlcotts’, a term he has coined, which in this case means reaching out to the best voices inside Russian society – those who dare to stand up against the war. This is a creative and humanitarian approach of reaching across borders to stand in solidarity with those who support justice and peace for all. He also talks about the inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi and philosopher Arne Næss. 
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