Why Walk For Peace
Why add your feet to the many walking for peace?
An estimated 90 armed conflicts plaguing our world (warwatch.ch) such as those between Israel and Palestine, in the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, or Myanmar, have been inflicting unimaginable suffering on people for decades. What many in Europe had considered impossible has come to pass with Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The U.S. and Israel have waged a war of aggression against Iran that ignores and tramples on international law. Faced with these unsettling realities, people feel helpless, paralyzed, only able to survive or turn a blind eye in response.
In times like these, it can help to walk together. In Switzerland, there is a Trail of Peace, the Brother Klaus Trail, that runs 17 kilometers from Stans, Nidwalden to the Flueli Ranft, Obwalden. On June 6, 2026 from 16:00 - 21:00 you are invited to join us – physically or virtually – as we walk to honor our world and the peace we seek to promote and protect.
Everything You Need to Know
When
June 6, 2026
From 14:45 to 22:00 CET
Where
In-Person, Online, On Your Own
The rhythm of the walk includes three elements:
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five short readings on the hour starting at 15:00 CET;
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the invitation to walk and reflect alone;
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the invitation to enter a small listening group (listening vs exchanging) at 15:30 CET.
Sign up to receive:
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the Walk for Peace Booklet with readings;
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updates as the Walk for Peace approaches;
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press releases before and after the walk for those of you who would like to promote and report on this international walk in your local media.
Everyone is invited to participate in the way that they see fit. Here are some options:
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On the Trail: walk the Klaus Trail in person with others;
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Zoom & Trail: walk locally (solo or as a group), join Zoom from your phone on the hour for the reading and / or on the half-hour for listening;
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Online Group: join the Zoom gathering without doing a walk;
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Offline Group: use the Walk for Peace Booklet, walk or not (solor or as agroup) at the time of your choice;
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Solidarity: However you choose to participate, please add a photo of your feet walking for peace. This way we can show each other and the world, the feet who are committed to Peace.
The Brother Klaus Peace Trail
The Ranft is the ravine - home of the 15th Century Swiss hermit and national saint, farmer, soldier and judge, Brother Klaus. He called on people to “always look towards peace” and he himself facilitated and contributed to peace in Europe.
The route between Stans and the Ranft has a story. In the 1400’s when the Swiss Cantons were fighting wars and collecting bounty, they gathered in Stans to determine how the riches would be divided. For months they could not come to an agreement. On December 22, 1481, the Priest of Stans sat all day listening to the debates. He sensed that the group was on the brink of giving up, which would lead to division, unrest, perhaps even conflict and violence. After a day of unsuccessful negotiations, the priest ran 17 km to the hermitage of Brother Klaus to ask for his advice. Klaus gave guidelines with a message, which was to be shared with the representatives in a closed room. The priest ran back to Stans in time to offer Klaus’ message and guidelines. An agreement was found and conflict was avoided.