World Union for Protection of Life
An international non-governmental organization founded in 1958 to promote the protection of life, nature conservation, and opposition to nuclear hazards.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The World Union for Protection of Life, known in German as Weltbund zum Schutz des Lebens and historically also as the World Union for Saving of Life, is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization founded in Salzburg, Austria, in 1958 by the writer Günther Schwab. Its central idea of “protection of life” combined nature conservation, criticism of industrial pollution, concern about population and technological risks, and opposition to nuclear power. The organization presented this concept as broader or distinct from the environmental-protection framework later associated with the United Nations Environment Programme. The union emerged from the intellectual and political milieu surrounding Schwab’s environmental writing. His novel Der Tanz mit dem Teufel, translated into English as Dance with the Devil, portrayed the destruction of nature as a deliberate and destructive force and helped communicate the movement’s themes to a broad readership. Schwab reportedly delivered approximately 1,500 public lectures in support of the organization and its outlook. The organization was initially registered in Austria under the name World Union for Saving of Life on 24 September 1958; it adopted the World Union for Protection of Life name two years later. During the 1960s the union developed an international network of national sections and claimed activity in more than 30 countries. It held international congresses, particularly in German-speaking countries, with participation from scientists and church organizations. Around 1968 it reportedly had several thousand members in West Germany. Its scientific advisory board was described in its publications as comprising approximately 400 scientists from 53 countries, including around 40 Nobel laureates. Named supporters included physicist Karl Bechert, chemist Hans-Adalbert Schweigart, biologist Annie Francé-Harrar, and anti-nuclear campaigner Robert Jungk. Linus Pauling was identified as chair of the scientific advisory board. The organization’s anti-nuclear activity became one of its most visible areas of work. In Australia, it campaigned against a proposed atomic reactor at Jervis Bay, near Sydney. According to accounts summarized in reference material, the campaign coincided with opposition from the Australian trade-union peak body, and the Australian government ultimately cancelled the project. The union also participated in wider debates about environmental policy and contributed personnel and ideas to the formation of the German Green Party, particularly in Lower Saxony. The organization’s history is politically controversial. Several prominent German members had previously belonged to the Nazi Party. Werner Georg Haverbeck served as president from 1974 to 1982, and his wife Ursula Haverbeck later became known for Holocaust denial and related prosecutions. The German branch Collegium Humanum was prohibited by Germany’s Federal Minister of the Interior in 2008 under the Association Act. This episode significantly affects the organization’s historical reputation and distinguishes its record from that of mainstream environmental NGOs. The union’s international headquarters changed over time, including moves associated with Hannover and Bad Reichenhall. After Schwab’s death in 2006, the organization underwent restructuring. In 2008, its fiftieth anniversary year, it supported the Global Population Speak Out initiative. From 2009, its international platform was described as being activated by scientists in 13 countries, and members participated in the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Later descriptions characterize the organization as more selective, with participation limited to elected representatives of organizations with aligned aims and members holding scientific qualifications. The current operational scale, leadership, membership, and legal status are not clearly established by the available material.
History
The World Union for Protection of Life was established in Salzburg in 1958 by Günther Schwab, a German-language writer whose fiction and public lectures focused on the consequences of environmental destruction. It was initially registered as the World Union for Saving of Life and adopted its present English rendering two years later. The organization’s name appeared in several languages, reflecting its intended international scope. Its founding philosophy centered on the protection of life as a broad political and ethical principle. This included the preservation of nature, resistance to pollution and destructive industrial development, and opposition to nuclear technology. The organization distinguished its terminology from the environmental-protection framework later institutionalized through the United Nations Environment Programme, which was created after the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. During the 1960s and 1970s, the union expanded through national sections and international congresses. Its meetings were concentrated especially in German-speaking countries and often involved scientists, church groups, and anti-nuclear activists. The organization claimed branches or affiliated structures in more than 30 countries, including countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Around 1968, its West German membership was reported to number several thousand. Its scientific advisory board was described as having roughly 400 scientists from 53 countries, among them approximately 40 Nobel laureates. Linus Pauling was identified as the board’s president. The union’s public profile was strengthened by a mixture of scholarship, advocacy, awards, and direct political campaigning. Schwab’s novel Dance with the Devil, first published in German and translated into English in 1963, gave literary expression to concerns about the destruction of nature. Schwab also undertook extensive public speaking. The organization awarded the Hans-Adalbert-Schweigart Medal to figures such as André Gernez, Konrad Lorenz, Peter Weish, Werner Georg Haverbeck, Rosalie Bertell, and Franz Weber. The award connected the union with scientists, environmentalists, and campaigners whose positions were not necessarily identical. One of the best-known campaigns associated with the union took place in Australia, where it opposed the proposed construction of an atomic reactor at Jervis Bay. Reference accounts state that the campaign’s pressure, alongside the refusal of Australia’s peak trade-union body to provide workers, contributed to the government’s decision to abandon the project. In Germany, members of the union also played a role in the political environment that accompanied the creation of the German Green Party, particularly in Lower Saxony. The organization’s historical record is complicated by the political backgrounds and later activities of some German leaders. Werner Georg Haverbeck, a former Nazi Party member, served as president between 1974 and 1982. His wife, Ursula Haverbeck, was later prosecuted in connection with Holocaust denial. The German branch Collegium Humanum was banned by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior in 2008. This ban and the association of prominent figures with far-right revisionism generated serious reputational and political controversy around the German network. The international seat moved over the years, with Hannover and Bad Reichenhall among the locations associated with the organization. Following Schwab’s death in 2006, the union was restructured. Its later activities included support for the Global Population Speak Out initiative in 2008 and participation in the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Later descriptions portray a narrower membership model, open primarily to selected representatives of organizations with similar objectives and people holding scientific qualifications. The Austrian section was reported by the Austrian Ministry of the Interior to have been dissolved at the end of 2012. The current condition of the international organization, including its leadership, membership, and operating scale, remains unclear.
- 2012
Austrian section dissolved
[1]The Austrian Ministry of the Interior reported that the national section was dissolved on 31 December 2012.
- 2009
Participation in international climate activity
[1]Scientists in 13 countries were described as reactivating the international platform, and members attended the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
- 2008
Fiftieth anniversary initiatives
[1]The organization marked its fiftieth anniversary by supporting the Global Population Speak Out initiative.
- 2006
Death of founder and subsequent restructuring
[1]After Günther Schwab died, the international organization underwent a restructuring.
- 1974
Werner Georg Haverbeck becomes president
[1]Haverbeck led the organization until 1982, a period later scrutinized because of his Nazi Party past.
- 1968
Several thousand West German members reported
[1]Reference material describes the organization as having several thousand members in the Federal Republic of Germany around this period.
- 1963
English publication of Dance with the Devil
[1]The English translation of Schwab’s environmental novel helped circulate ideas associated with the organization’s nature-protection philosophy.
- 1960
Name changed to World Union for Protection of Life
[1]The organization adopted the name by which it became internationally known.
- 1958
Founding in Salzburg
[1]Günther Schwab founded the organization in Salzburg, Austria, initially using the name World Union for Saving of Life.
Products and positioning
A scientifically oriented international life-protection and environmental advocacy organization, historically associated with anti-nuclear campaigning, nature conservation, and criticism of technological and demographic risks.
Controversies
2008
Ban of the German Collegium Humanum branch
The German branch known as Collegium Humanum was banned by Germany’s Federal Minister of the Interior under section 3 of the Association Act. The branch and associated figures had been linked to far-right activity and Holocaust denial, creating a major controversy in the organization’s history.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009United Nations Climate Change Conference participation
International
International members took part in the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference as part of the organization’s later international advocacy activity.
- 2008Global Population Speak Out
International
The organization pledged support for the Global Population Speak Out initiative during its fiftieth anniversary year, reflecting its continuing interest in population and environmental issues.
- Jervis Bay reactor opposition
Australia
The union campaigned against a proposed atomic reactor at Jervis Bay, near Sydney, arguing against the risks associated with nuclear development. Reference material states that its efforts, combined with labor opposition, helped persuade the Australian government to cancel the project.
Outcome. The proposed reactor project was cancelled.
Brand decisions
2006
Post-founder restructuringStrategyBackground
Günther Schwab, the founder and long-standing public advocate, died in 2006.
Action taken
The international organization was restructured after his death.
Aftermath
Later descriptions present a more selective organization involving representatives of aligned organizations and members with scientific qualifications.
1960
Adoption of the Protection of Life nameStrategyBackground
The founding organization had been registered in Austria as the World Union for Saving of Life in 1958.
Action taken
It changed its registered and public identity to the World Union for Protection of Life.
Aftermath
The new name became the basis for its German, French, Russian, and English international identities.
Sources2 sources
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