Since 1984, Uwe Schwabe has engaged in the Leipzig Working Group on Environmental Protection and in 1987 was a co-founder of the ‘Initiative Group Life’. He took part in numerous activities in support of human rights and environmental protection in the GDR, and opposed the militarization of the country. He was under observation by the Ministry for State Security, and the target of several operations. As regional speaker for the ’New Forum’, in 1989 he became one of the representatives of the Monday Demonstrations in Leipzig. His networking activities played a significant role in the creation of the Civic Movement Archive in Leipzig in 1990. He was one of the founding members of the archival association, has edited a large number of its publications and remains a member of its advisory council. Since 1994, despite a professional background as a maintenance technician, Schwabe works in the Zeitgeschichtlichen Forum Leipzig [Leipzig Contemporary History Forum]. He was recipient of the Federal Service Cross in 1995 and the German National Prize in 2014 for his societal engagement.