THE ANIMALS' CONFERENCE

THE ANIMALS' CONFERENCE

Erich Kästner a German author wrote the children Book „The Animals`Conference“ (die Konferenz der Tiere) 1949 after world war two.

It is a pacifist satire, a story about a conference of all Animals who get together at an Animal Skyscraper to find a solution about the terrible situation of humanity. Led by Leonard the Lion and Oscar the Elephant, the Animals think that boundaries, red tape, the military and the People's disregard for their children are the cause of wars. The animals try to convince the humans who gather at another conference to disarm and make peace and issue an ultimatum to them. But they don´t listen, so they send mice to demolish the People's paper work, moths to devour their uniforms. After nothing is working they gather all the children from the world and bring them to an hidden island. This shock at last is changing the people and new human aims are established.

Kästner wrote for children because of his belief in the power of youth. He was opposed to the Nazi regime and based on his experiences he raise his voice against injustice his hole life.

Many decades after he wrote this book, I am on stage playing Oscar the Elephant. 

The auditorium is completely dark and I hear the children whispering. The spotlights go on and Oscar the Elephant is appearing on stage. Actually you can only see his big shadow thrown on the wall. And then a landscape arise around his shadow. The beautiful landscape is painted by a young artist who is sitting in front of the children. His drawing is beamed by a camera to the wall so that flowers and tress grow next to Oscar the Elephant. But suddenly everything changes and the landscape gets destroyed by humans. Two children appear and tell Oscar that they had to leave there homes and that they had to flee to another place. Oscar get´s very angry and so he gathers all his animal friends - and the story takes its course…

I worked many years full-time part as an actress bevor I studied anthropology and I loved this theater play especially because of the reaction from the kinds: their open minds and empathy.

Later thinks get more complicated. 

But even though thinks get more complicated I think Kästners voice is inspiring. It can help to raise our voice against injustice. 

And to look out for the kid in ourselves and others.

References:

Kästner, Erich.1949. Die Konferenz der Tiere. Zürich: Europa Verlag.