Lena

The threat of global mass destruction felt extremely real and close to home to many during the Cold War. The conflict between the United States and Soviet Union went beyond the two nations’ borders, threatening citizens around the globe. People felt paralyzed by fear, something illustrated by letters to advice columnists: Dear Ann Landers, should we put our surplus income towards a family vacation or home bomb shelter? (Answer: Fallout shelter.)

However, this angst turned into activism as world citizens took action, expressing themselves and raising awareness in their communities and beyond. Nena’s “99 Luftballoons” became a mainstream international hit in 1983; its strong antiwar message especially resounded with young people in Germany and the US. People were now informed and concerned, mad at government muscle flexed at citizen expense. The tension had eased considerably in the late 1980s, and this period of conflict had ended by the early 1990s. Petra Kelly was at the forefront of this movement (and so much more), responsible for working in both a governmental context, and for inspiring and organizing everyday activists across the Atlantic.