|
Those of us who vigorously advocate for a nuclear weapon-free world are often thought to ignore positive efforts of nuclear weapon states. Let us put that to rest. Here is a short list of several noteworthy accomplishments of the United States.
- A 146% increase in dismantled nuclear weapons over the previous year’s rate;[1]
- The elimination of over 3,000 tactical nuclear warheads, as outlined by the 1991 Presidential Nuclear Initiative which was finished in 2003; [2]
- The removal of 374 metric tons of highly enriched uranium (HEU) and 59 metric tons of plutonium from defense stockpiles, with the intention of down-blending to low-enriched reactor fuel; [3]
- Funding over 50,000 Soviet weapons scientists to allow them to engage in peaceful work; [4]
- Reaching the National Nuclear Security Administration’s goal to increase rate of dismantlement of retired weapons by 50% four months early; [5]
- The removal of four ballistic missile submarines from service as well as thousands of missiles and 450 silos; [6]
- Declared 174 metric tons of HEU and 52 metric tons plutonium to be surplus, announced it would remove an additional 200 metric tons of HEU; [7]
The US Special Representative for Nuclear Nonproliferation, Dr. Christopher Ford, in a sophisticated presentation to the 19th Annual UN Conference on Disarmament Issues in Sapporo, Japan, in August of 2007, analyzed the security and moral context of nuclear disarmament advocacy. His tone reflects a recently much improved attitude of government officials to the pleas for increased progress on nuclear weapons elimination advanced by informed people the world over. He concluded:
“A sustained and serious effort to think practically and realistically about the challenges of disarmament is itself, I submit, a moral imperative. As the feminist theorist Jean Bethke Elsthain has suggested, it is indefensible to proclaim “‘solutions’ that lie outside the reach of possibility.” Such proposals do not represent progress at all, for they “covertly sustain business as usual” by merely pretending to present alternatives. Today, it falls to officials, experts, activists, and academics such as ourselves to study carefully how we might make nuclear disarmament a realistic, practical, and desirable alternative to a nuclear-armed world. This is a formidable challenge, and it is perhaps not a foregone conclusion that disarmament can be achieved. Such serious study, however, is a challenge from which we dare not shrink.”
The programs of GSI are designed to meet that challenge. Our advocacy is focused on lowering the political currency of nuclear weapons-- thus enhancing security-- fulfilling existing legal obligations, and providing confidence through verification. Each policy we support must stand on its own merits and decrease risks of use, diminish the access of terrorists to catastrophic weapons and materials to build them, and strengthen nonproliferation. These standards help set forth a realistic path to nuclear abolition. The practical steps are known but the core problem is simple. The nuclear weapon states have not fully come to grips with their fundamental dilemma: they want to keep their nuclear weapons indefinitely and at the same time condemn others who would attempt to acquire them.
Because of this contradiction, even the cuts lauded above are not irreversible nor adequately verifiable. We believe that there is no substitute for negotiated, internationally legally-binding and irreversible verifiable reductions. Such steps alone can substantiate claims of good faith compliance with disarmament obligations under existing treaties.
I hope you find this report on GSI’s activities encouraging. As a relatively modest civil society institution, our programs are designed to strategically contribute to effectively move the status quo from an irrational reliance on unacceptable risks to a realistic path filled with hope.
Jonathan Granoff
President, Global Security Institute
[1] http://www.nnsa.doe.gov/docs/newsreleases/2007/PR_2007-10-01_NA-07-44.htm
[2]http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/pniglance.asp#Note4
[3] http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2006_09/downblending.asp
[4] http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=531&issue_id=77
[5] http://www.nnsa.doe.gov/docs/newsreleases/2007/PR_2007-06-07_NA-07-23.htm
[6] http://www.milnet.com/pentagon/usnship.htm; http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/07/05/silo.implosion.02/index.html; http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/shadowreport/USA.pdf
[7] http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/usa/2005/usa-051108-usia01.htm
Back to top
Contents: (click to jump)
Five Women Leaders elected Co-Presidents of PNND
| |
 |
| |
PNND Co-Presidents Alexa McDonough and Marian Hobbs speaking at the United Nations |
On October 12, five leading women parliamentarians from the global north and south were elected to be the inaugural Co-Presidents of the Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament (now called Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament- see story below). Alexa McDonough (Canada), Marian Hobbs (Aotearoa-New Zealand) LEE Mikyung (South Korea), Uta Zapf (Germany) and Senator Abacca Anjain Madisson (Marshall Islands) will lead this emerging force of 500 legislators from over 70 countries in global parliamentary initiatives to prevent nuclear proliferation and advance nuclear disarmament.
» Read more about the outstanding accomplishments and achievements of each of the five Co-Presidents
The Co-Presidents replace Senator Emeritus Douglas Roche, who founded PNND and served as its interim Chair until now. PNND thanks Senator Roche for his leadership and in bringing PNND to this new stage of its growth and development.
Back to top
UN Panel Event: Amplifying the Moral and Practical Missions of the United Nations: Parliamentarians, Diplomats and Engaged Citizens Working to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
“What’s a model have to do with nuclear weapons?” asked Christie Brinkley, speaking at a panel event on the subject at the United Nations on October 11.
Ms. Brinkley, however, is not just a model, or even a supermodel. She was one of the engaged, informed, and empowered women speaking at a special panel event hosted by GSI and PNND entitled “Amplifying the Moral and Practical Missions of the United Nations: Parliamentarians, diplomats and engaged citizens working to abolish nuclear weapons.”
Joining the American cultural icon on the panel was the Hon. Marian Hobbs, parliamentarian and former Minister for Disarmament of New Zealand, Ms. Cora Weiss, a longtime peace activist and leader for gender equality at the UN, and the Hon. Alexa McDonough, a senior member of the Canadian parliament. Moderated by GSI Senior Officer, Rhianna Tyson, the event brought together women who are working on all levels to prevent conflict involving nuclear weapons.
» Read the full event report
» Watch a video of the event
» Watch the clip that aired on NBC
» View the photo gallery
» Check out the full listing of media coverage, from Fox News to the International Herald Tribune
» Read the full text of Christie Brinkley's statement
» Read the full text of Cora Weiss's statement
» Read Rhianna Tyson's introduction
Back to top
Preventing Nuclear Genocide – PNND address by Senator Roméo Dallaire, former Commander of the UN Forces in Rwanda
| |
|
 |
| |
|
PNND Special Representative Senator Romeo Dallaire |
On October 12, PNND hosted a special luncheon in New York in honor of Senator Roméo Dallaire’s appointment as PNND Special Representative, with the mandate to publicize the human rights and humanitarian imperative for nuclear abolition and promote cross-party action for its achievement.
Senator Dallaire’s address, Preventing Nuclear Genocide, delivered by Kim Kroeber, highlighted the “serious and immediate threat which faces each and every one of us today. Of course I am speaking about the 26,000 nuclear weapons, thousands of which are ready to launch in under 30 minutes.”
Dallaire lamented that, “Most people think the subject matter is beyond their comprehension and control. This is, after all, the domain of nuclear physics and rocket science. The truth is that the basic underlying moral issue is quite straight forward and understandable by all. We must strip down the technical language and make the foundational issue clear to all.”
“Nuclear weapons are inherently evil. They are designed to attain a single goal: to cause the most massive annihilation of innocent civilians possible. They are the ultimate tool of genocide. They have no place in a truly civilized world which values life and human rights. They must be abolished.”
» Read the Senator's full speech, Preventing Nuclear Genocide
Back to top
PNND Presentation at the 19th United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues, Sapporo, Japan
PNND Global Coordinator Alyn Ware again participated in the UN Conference on Disarmament Issues, held in Sapporo City, Japan, August 27- 29, held under the auspices of the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs and the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific in cooperation with the Hokkaido Prefectural Government, Sapporo City, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The conference, entitled “New Vision and Required Leadership towards a World free from Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction,” discussed issues including the nuclear non-proliferation regime, nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran, nuclear black market, multinational efforts for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
In his presentation, entitled “Nuclear disarmament: Views and efforts of NGOs,” Mr. Ware likened the efforts to abolish nuclear weapons to that of Mr. William Wilberforce whose 18th century efforts to abolish the slave trade were easily defeated and mocked as dangerous to Britain’s economic and political security. This perception was as ill-fitting to the immoral slave trade as it is to our present day immorality of retaining, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons.
» Click here for the full text of Mr. Ware’s remarks
Back to top
“Books not Bombs,” International Peace Bureau seminar in Alexandria, Egypt
 |
|
L-R: GSI/MPI Adviser Jayantha Dhanapala, PNND Global Coordinator Alyn Ware and Ms. Frida Berrigan of the New America Foundation at the International Peace Bureau seminar, "Books or Bombs," Alexandria, Egypt, November 11-12, 2007 |
|
| |
|
Every year the Nobel Laureate organization the International Peace Bureau (IPB) organizes a seminar, together with business meetings and the Sean MacBride Peace Prize ceremony. This year’s seminar, held at the prestigious Bibliotheca Alexandria and in cooperation with the Peace Studies Institute in Alexandria, Egypt, was entitled “Books or Bombs? Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development.” PNND Global Coordinator and IPB Vice-President Alyn Ware chaired a panel featuring Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, MPI Expert Consultant and GSI Advisory Board member and Ms. Frida Berrigan, New America Foundation’s Arms and Security Initiative.
» Click here for more information on the International Peace Bureau
» Click here for the opening remarks by IPB President Tomas Magnusson
Back to top
PNND Name Change
At the October 12 meeting, the PNND Global Council decided to endorse the proposal to change the name of the network from Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament to Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament. The proposal, which was circulated to all PNND Members in July and received no opposition, was made in order to eliminate a misconception from some key countries that ‘disarmament’ refers only to unilateral disarmament measures and does not include the wider range of nonproliferation and multilateral disarmament measures (see attached memo).
It will take some time for the PNND secretariat to operationalize the name change, i.e. to update stationery, documents, promotional materials and the website. We plan to complete the transition by January 1, 2008. In the meantime, PNND members are welcome to use either name for the network.
Back to top
PNND Update 19 now available in English, Spanish and Arabic
PNND Update No. 19 (October-November, 2007) is now available online, in English, Spanish and Arabic.
Replete with photos, links to reports and other multimedia, Update 19 includes information for and about parliamentarians working for disarmament and non-proliferation, such as:
 |
US Congresswoman
Ellen Tauscher |
- New Zealand’s Minister for disarmament Phil Goff, who launched a new international initiative calling for a stand-down of all nuclear forces;
- the Scottish Parliament's adoption of a resolution rejecting the Triden replacement;
- the letter to the foreign ministers of the Nuclear Suppliers Group sent by US Congress members Ellen Tauscher (Chair of the House Subcommittee on Strategic Weapons), Ed Markey (Chair of the Bipartisan Task force on Nonproliferation) and Sam Farr (Member of the House Appropriations Committee), asking that their acceptance of the US-India deal should be contingent on entry-into-force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and a Fissile Materials Cut-Off Treaty;
and much more.
» Click here to read PNND Update No. 19 (or in Spanish, or in Arabic)
» Click here to subscribe to receive PNND Updates
Back to top
 |
|
MPI Panel Towards 2010: Ambassador Johannes Landman, MPI Chairman Hon. Douglas Roche and Ambassador Don MacKay. Not pictured: Ambassador Marius Grinius
|
|
MPI Panel event at the United Nations
On October 10, 2007, the Middle Powers Initiative (MPI) hosted a panel discussion at the United Nations entitled "Towards 2010: Priorities for NPT Consensus," named after the MPI position paper distributed at the first session of the NPT Preparatory Committee meeting in Vienna in April 2007. The panel examined three of the seven priority issues identified in the paper: the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the Fissile Materials Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT), and de-alerting. The speakers were Ambassadors Marius Grinius of Canada, Johannes C. Landman of the Netherlands, and Don MacKay of New Zealand. The panel was chaired by the Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C., Chairman of MPI.
| |
 |
| |
|
Grinius said the idea of an FMCT continues to be relevant. Since nuclear weapons cannot be produced without fissile material, international initiatives to restrict or eliminate the availability of such materials for weapons purposes is key to ending vertical and horizontal nuclear proliferation. He said the Conference on Disarmament made progress in 2007 on the best way to make progress in resuming productive work within the CD. Landman called the current moratoria on testing, adapted by many countries, to be a positive development, but insisted that a legally binding treaty was necessary to ensure the prevention of future testing. A universal legally-binding CTBT must be in operation, according to Landman, if the 2010 NPT Review Conference is to be a success. De-altering nuclear warheads is key to securing international peace, said MacKay. Highlighting a new initiative in the First Committee by New Zealand, Sweden, Chile, Nigeria, and Switzerland, he said a striking number of countries have shown concern regarding de-alerting issues in their statements at the CD and NPT PrepCom. MacKay insisted that “the time has come” for raising de-alerting as a priority.
» Read Towards 2010: Priorities for NPT Consensus
Back to top
MPI seminar: "An International Sustainable Energy Agency"
On September 26th, MPI hosted a panel at its New York offices of scientists and activists to discuss strategies for sustainable energy development. Two speakers - Dr. Jürgen Scheffran, Senior Research Scientist in the Program in Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Mary Olson, the Director of the Southeast Office of Nuclear Information and Resource Service in Washington, DC - discussed sustainable energy technologies and tactics, including the establishment of an International Sustainable Energy Agency, as means to address climate change and counter the drive for more nuclear power plants.
Scheffran said even though the United States has made cuts in research and development in both the public and private sector, market forces have driven down the cost of wind power and other sustainable energy sources. Market forces have also driven down prices on solar panels which means, among other things, the technology can be funded through micro credit loans in Third World countries. Olsen pointed out that the recent rush to build nuclear reactors is a direct result of the massive subsidies signed by the Bush administration. She cited a study that said 1500 new nuclear plants would be needed to take a significant bite out of global warming, at $2-6 billion per plant, and speculated about what the money from one or two of those plants could do for the solar energy industry. The third speaker was Dr. Adele Buckley, a former chair of the Canadian Pugwash Group. She focused on a different strategy: how to adapt to the reality that countries will use nuclear power, rather than attempting to completely eliminate nuclear power. She argued for a new treaty, separate from the NPT, to implement comprehensive safety, security and proliferation safeguards.
Back to top
| |
 |
| |
Gustavo R. Zlauvinen, Representative of the Director-General of the IAEA to the United Nations and Jim Wurst, MPI Program Director, on the MPI panel on "Challenges to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle" |
| |
|
MPI seminar: "Fuel Cycle Challenges to the Disarmament/Nonproliferation Regime "
There is increasing awareness that as more nations seek domestic control of all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, this quest could be the “Achilles’ Heel” of nuclear arms control because of the proliferation challenges inherent in the fuel cycle. There are numerous proposals on establishing fuel banks to address proliferation concerns and demands for nuclear power. On November 1st the Middle Powers Initiative presented a panel on the nuclear fuel cycle. Gustavo Zlauvinen, Representative of the Director General of the IAEA and Dr. John Burroughs, Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy shed light on the complex connection between issues of the civil nuclear fuel cycle and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Zlauvinen noted that if a nuclear renaissance evolves as anticipated, there will be a major new demand for nuclear reactors and fuel supply, which could lead to states deciding to develop their own national indigenous enrichment capabilities to secure the supply of nuclear fuel. To avert the proliferation dangers involved, he said the IAEA has been dealing for the past years with issues of nuclear fuel assurance. “The vision of the IAEA’s Director General is that enrichment and reprocessing over time should be exclusively under multilateral control,” he said. Burroughs said the idea of a fuel bank “appears to have some momentum,” however “as a means of preventing or discouraging the spread of fuel production capabilities,” it faces two problems: “for a country concerned about energy security and perhaps the potential, however remote, to produce nuclear weapons, the most reliable approach is having facilities on its own territory under its physical control;” and that the nuclear industry “opposes any fuel bank approach that would undermine the existing market.” This would mean a fuel bank would be an “afterthought to the real world of nuclear production and supply.”
Back to top
MPI seminar: Confidence-building Measures Towards a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone in the Middle East
Every year since 1993, the UN General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the establishment of a nuclear weapon free zone in the Middle East, however little has ever been done to follow up on this initiative. MPI sponsored a seminar on October 8th on "Confidence-building Measures Towards a Nuclear-Weapons-Free-Zone in the Middle East" with the goal of identifying confidence-building measures and other incremental steps that could lead to progress towards this common goal. The seminar heard from: Ambassador Yehia Al-Mahmasani, the Head of the UN Mission of the League of Arab States; Prof. Alon Ben-Meir, the Middle East Director of the World Policy Institute at The New School in New York; and Dr. Ben Sanders, the former Executive Chairman of the Program for Promoting Nuclear Non-Proliferation and former senior official of the UN disarmament secretariat. The session was chaired by the Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C., the Chairman of MPI.
Sanders, who was one of the authors of the UN 1989 study on a NWFZ in the Middle East, said recent events might have made a zone “both somewhat more possible but also more urgently needed.” Those factors include Israel’s interest in getting an India-style deal from the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group and some Arab countries which “seem to attach less credibility to the NPT” and may seek other means for security. Ben-Meir said among the key problems that set the Middle East off from other regions is that Israel has always seen an “existential threat” from its neighbors that can not be countered by traditional deterrence and that, on the other side, Arab state resent the double standard in place over the Israeli and Iranian nuclear programs. Al-Mahmasani said the Arab states “have taken many steps to prepare for” a NWFZ but that such a zone “should not be designed by one party.” All three speakers said that the United States must take a leadership role in settling these issues.
» Read the summary of the Middle East panel at the most recent meeting of the Article VI Forum in Vienna, 2007
Back to top
MPI Statement on Iran
On September 20, the Middle Powers Initiative issued a statement on the US/Iran confrontation, urging intensified diplomacy and adherence to international law.
Ambassadors Thomas Graham and Robert Grey, Chairman and Director of the Bipartisan Security Group, commended the "clear, powerful statement" as "a welcomed measure at this critical juncture."
» Read the full text of the MPI statement
» Read the full text of the BSG message of support
Back to top
MPI/GSI Reception for UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Sergio Duarte
 |
|
October 11 reception in the NY office, honoring the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs |
|
On October 11, the Middle Powers Initiative and the Global Security Institute hosted a reception in their New York office honoring the new UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ambassador Sergio Duarte.
Nearly 100 people in the peace and security community at the UN attended the evening reception, which was made possible with the help of our officemates at Global Action to Prevent War, the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy, the Jane Goodall Institute and, of course, our generous landlords, Helena Durst and the Durst Organization. Special thanks also goes to GSI Board member Christina Sidoti, who helped enormously with the food and beverage donations.
Back to top
MPI Chairman Launches New Book, Global Conscience
| |
 |
| |
The launch at the UN Bookshop (left to right): USG Akasaka, Ms. Pat McGoey, Sen. Roche, High Representative Duarte, H.E. Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer mission of the Holy See to the UN and Mr. Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute. |
The Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C., Chairman of the Middle Powers Initiative, launched his 19th book, Global Conscience at successive events in Toronto, at the United Nations in New York and in Ottawa. In Toronto, the launch was held at Novalis headquarters, Senator Roche’s publisher, on October 3.
The UN event, held at the UN Bookshop on October 9, was attended by UN High Representative for Disarmament Sergio Duarte and Under-Secretary-General for Public Information Kiyotaka Akasaka, as well as numerous other activists, diplomats and UN staff attending the General Assembly First Committee on Disarmament and International Security.
 |
|
Senators Dallaire and Roche at the Ottawa launch of Global Conscience |
|
The Ottawa October 23 event was held at the Speaker's Salon in Parliament, with Mr. Speaker Peter Milliken presiding, hosted by Senator Roméo Dallaire and with major political figures in attendance.
» Click here to read more about Global Conscience
» Receive a free copy of Global Conscience with your contribution of $100 or more to the Global Security Institute
» Read more about the Senator and his other 18 books on the subject of peace and disarmament
Back to top
Capitol Hill briefing: International Policies to Reduce Biothreats
On November 15, the Bipartisan Security Group (BSG) hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill entitled “International Policies to Reduce Biothreats.” Former Chief US Weapons Inspector in Iraq David Kay moderated a panel comprised of BSG expert Dr. Barry Kellman and Partnership for Global Security Executive Director Dr. Kenneth Luongo, as they discussed various policies, challenges and recommendations for strengthening the prohibition regime on biological weapons.
 |
|
David Kay and Barry Kellman |
|
Over 45 representatives from 12 Congressional offices packed the Rayburn House Office room to hear these foremost experts on biological weapons offer specific policy recommendations, such as internationalizing efforts and rejecting unilateral approaches to biosecurity. There was consensus that while the US is doing great work in preparation for response to a possible attack, not enough is being done at home or abroad to halt potential attacks before they happen.
» Click here to read the full text of Dr. Kellman’s remarks
» Receive a free copy of Dr. Kellman’s new book, Bioviolence, with a donation of $100 or more to GSI
Back to top
Reach to Space Conference
George Washington University, in co-sponsorship with a long list of commercial, governmental and academic partners, organized a massive conference on space commercialization November 12-13, 2007, entitled “Reach to Space.”
 |
|
Ambassador Robert Grey, Jr. argues for a legal regime in space, on a panel with Michael Cook of Hughes Network Systems and Steven Apfel of Boeing |
|
BSG Director Ambassador (Ret.) Robert Grey, Jr. spoke to the hundreds of senior executives, business managers, journalists, aerospace engineers, IT consultants and project managers attending the prestigious conference, arguing that “our long-term national security interests would best be served by negotiating a treaty which effectively, legally, and verifiably bans the weaponization of outer space.”
While the other panelists extolled the emerging technological breakthroughs in space technology and the seemingly never-ending revenues to be reaped from their use, Ambassador Grey was the lone voice calling attention to the security implications of our proliferating uses of outer space and the increasing number of private actors entering the dark skies. The only way to ensure continued receipt of these revenues, Ambassador Grey maintained, is through a negotiated, legally-binding treaty protecting all of humanity's access to space and prohibiting space weaponization.
» Click here for the full text of Ambassador Grey’s remarks
» Click here for more information about Reach to Space
Back to top
Festival of Faiths
At the Festival of Faiths in Louisville, Kentucky, organized by the Center for Interfaith Relations (CIR) from November 8-11, GSI President Jonathan Granoff and GSI Board Member the Rev. Tyler Wigg Stevenson addressed a session focused on stimulating religious leaders to incorporate the moral imperative to eliminate nuclear weapons into their policies.
Other participants at the Festival included Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, Dr. Bill Vendley of World Conference on Religions for Peace, and Rev Sakai of Rissho Kosei-kai.
CIR regards their annual Festival as "a means to an end: the promotion of interfaith interaction and dialogue leads to interfaith understanding within communities and ultimately manifests itself in common action to address shared concerns."
A video of this outstanding session will soon be available online.
» Read more about the Festival of Faiths
» Read “Addressing the nuclear threat,” op-ed by GSI President Jonathan Granoff, The Louisville Courier-Journal
Back to top
Universal Forum of Cultures
|
|
Audrey Kitigawa and Jonathan Granoff at the UNESCO World Forum of Cultures
Monterrey, Mexico, November 2007 |
|
The World Wisdom Council recently met in consultation and presented at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural (UNESCO)- sponsored Monterrey Forum in Mexico. The Council’s members include GSI Board Advisors President Mikhail Gorbachev and Dr. Jane Goodall and other distinguished persons such as Wangari Maathai, Dr. Ashok Gangadean, and its founder Dr. Irwin Lazlo. With extensive media coverage, several round table dialogues and a closing session with about 1,000 persons, the Council’s concerns were effectively communicated.
The event was widely covered in the national media, including a widely cited article in El Seminario and an interview with Jonathan Granoff.
» Read the release from the press conference
» More information can be found at: http://www.monterreyforum2007.org/?lang=en
» More Information on the World Wisdom Council can be found at: http://www.clubofbudapest.org/wwc.php
Back to top
30th Anniversary of the Jane Goodall Institute
 |
|
Alan Cranston Peace Award Recipients Ted Turner and Speaker Pelosi, with Jane Goodall and Jonathan Granoff
at the 30th Anniversary of the Jane Goodall Institute in Washington, October 10, 2007 |
|
On October 10, 2007, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) celebrated its 30th anniversary. Dr. Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist and United Nations Messenger of Peace, is an active member of the GSI Board of Advisors, as Jonathan Granoff is an active member of the Jane Goodall Institute's Board of Advisors.
At the anniversary, Mr. Ted Turner, 2003 recipient of the Alan Cranston Peace Award, was honored with the Global Leadership Award for Responsible Activism in Media and Entertainment Award.
The Global Security Institute, which shares our New York office with the Jane Goodall Institute, offers its warmest congratulations and our best wishes for many more decades of activism and education.
» Read more about the Jane Goodall Institute
Back to top
Children Uniting Nations
| |
 |
| |
House Speaker Pelosi at the press conference |
Children Uniting Nations (CUN), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the well being of at-risk youth, held a conference on October 17th in Washington, DC. Numerous members of Congress-- such as Senator Evan Bayh, Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Mary Landrow, Representative Loretta Sanchez, Rep. Richard Armey, fmr. Rep. Lee Hamilton, Rep. Ed Markey and Rep. Tom Lantos-- participated along with Dr. Jane Goodall, deans of social work and education from America’s prominent research universities, including the University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, Harvard University and New York University, and CEOs of major Fortune 500 companies, all focusing on the educational needs of America’s underprivileged communities.
The event called on America and the world for immediate action to eliminate the pandemic of poverty, the lack of education and health care, and the threat of global radicalism.
 |
|
Mr. Jonathan Granoff introduces Senator Roméo Dallaire |
|
Mr. Granoff had the privilege of introducing Senator Roméo Dallaire, PNND Special Representative. His speech highlighted the need to effectively address the low- and high-technology immoralities of child soldiers and nuclear weapons, emphasizing how our tolerance of these two affronts to human dignity diminishes us all. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 2003 Recipient of the Alan Cranston Peace Award, opened the press conference.
Back to top
American Bar Association International Law section Showcase Presentation with Jonathan Granoff and Bob Geldof
| |
|
| |
ABA International Law Section Chairman Jeffrey Golden, GSI President Jonathan Granoff and Bob Geldof
October 5, 2007 |
| |
|
On October 5, 2007, Mr. Granoff, as Co-Chair of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Senior Advisor to the National Security Committee of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association, moderated a dialogue with Sir Bob Geldof during the October 3-7, 2007 American Bar Association Section of International Law’s Fall Meeting in London for a Special Showcase Presentation titled “Celebrity and Social Responsibility”.
Geldof is a musician, promoter, and activist who is internationally renowned for his work with both the Live Aid and Live 8 concert events, which promoted debt relief for Africa. He also works closely with DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), an organization founded by U2's Bono to advocate for Africa.In 2005 he received the prestigious Beacon Fellowship Prize for his leadership role in alleviating poverty, famine and genocide, especially in the Third World, and his advocacy for the rights of fathers. He was named a Knight of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in 1986.
Geldof discussed with Granoff the formative influences that have impacted his career and personal life, and the connections between social activism and the high public profile that celebrity creates, from his early childhood in Ireland to his work with Bono on debt relief in Africa, and what he saw as the critical issues for the future.
» Click here for a report and more photos from the ABA meeting in London
Back to top
Albert Schweitzer’s Legacy: The Dangers of Nuclear Weapons
To commemorate Nobel Laureate Albert Schweitzer’s reverence for life and the 50th anniversary of his call to end nuclear testing, Quinnipiac University hosted a special conference September 26-27. Former President Jimmy Carter delivered the opening address.
The event culminated with a keynote presentation from Jonathan Granoff, followed by a dialogue with two hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, Kohta Kiya, Secretary-General of Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivors Network and Hirotami Yamada, Secretary-General of Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Network.
» Read "Nuclear Weapons and the Reverence for Life,"an excerpted chapter by Jonathan Granoff in the forthcoming volume, Reverence for Life: Albert Schweitzer's Relevance Today, published by Cambridge Scholars Printing
» For more information on the Albert Schweitzer Institute, see: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x153.xml
» For more information on the conference, see: http://calendar.quinnipiac.edu/NewEvents.aspx?id=56928
Back to top
Civil Society Peace Forum
On September 8, 2007, GSI Senior Officer Rhianna Tyson spoke at a panel event at the historic Cooper Union in New York City, at a civil society peace forum organized by Sokka Gakkai International titled "Abolishing Nuclear Weapons: What Can Each of Us Do?"
|
|
Tony Jenkins and GSI Senior Officer Rhianna Tyson at a Civil Society Peace Forum organized by Sokka Gakkai International, New York City, September 8, 2007 |
|
The lively discussion featured presentations by other young experts, including Ms. Ray Acheson of Reaching Critical Will, Mr. Michael Spies of the Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy, and Mr. Tony Jenkins of the Peace Education Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, consultant to the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, moderated the event.
Guests at the event included former UN Under-Secretary-General Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Ambassador Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Philippines permanent representative to the United Nations, Paulette A. Bethel, Bahamian permanent representative to the United Nations, and Michael Cassandra, chief of Monitoring, Database and Information Branch of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs. SGI Vice President Hiromasa Ikeda also attended and spoke on behalf of all the organizers of the public event.
» Click here for more information about the Forum
» Click here for more information about SGI
Back to top
Non-proliferation law panel at the Interparliamentary Union Hearing at the United Nations
 |
|
Interparliamentary Union hearing at the United Nations |
|
On November 20, GSI President Jonathan Granoff chaired a panel at the 2007 Interparliamentary Hearing at the United Nations entitled “Observing the rule of law in the implementation of key international commitments in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation.” The esteemed panel, which was part of the two-day, Interparliamentary Union conference, “Reinforcing the Rule of Law in International Relations: The Key Role of Parliaments,” featured presentations by Senator Rosario Green Macias, member of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) and former Mexican Foreign Minister, Ms. Hannelore Hoppe, Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs at the United Nations, Ambassador Tibór Tóth, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission of the nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and Ambassador Peter Burian, Chairman of the Security Council 1540 Committee.
In addition to chairing the panel, Mr. Granoff was also asked to deliver his own presentation on the issue of the rule of law and nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. In an address entitled “The Axis of Our Responsibility: Addressing the critical global issues of the 21st century,” Mr. Granoff identified three issues which require global cooperation, the rule of law and universal norms: the effective eradication of poverty, the coordinated protection of the global commons and the elimination of nuclear weapons. On these pressing issues of global security, said Mr. Granoff, “No state, nor even a powerful group of states, can succeed alone. Universal coordinated approaches using our highest values and the arts of law and diplomacy are needed.” His recommendation for the IPU to create a Standing Committee on Disarmament and Nonproliferation was met with strong support.
» Click here for a full listing of conference participants, program and background documents to the IPU Hearing
» Click here for the full text of Mr. Granoff’s presentation
Back to top
Advancing a Cooperative Regime in Space: Panels, workshops, a film and a precedent
 |
|
October 15 UN panelists (front to back): Mr. Valery Semin (Russia), Dr. Patricia Lewis (UNIDIR), Chairman Jonathan Granoff (GSI), Mr. Li Yang (China), Amb. Thomas Graham (BSG) |
|
At this year’s First Committee, governments weren’t the only actors promoting new ideas and building support for a strengthened cooperative regime in outer space. The Global Security Institute (GSI), working directly with governments, intergovernmental agencies and other non-governmental organizations, effectively enhanced the debate by convening several events on this issue throughout the month of October.
With the co-sponsorship of the Secure World Foundation (SWF), the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Governments of Russia and China, GSI hosted a major panel event in Conference Room 4, the same venue where the GA First Committee debates scores of resolutions on disarmament and international security. Several dozen delegations were represented in this informal session, many at the high-level ambassadorial level, despite concurrent events in other rooms of the UN, including a US-sponsored event on Article VI compliance and a Non-Aligned Movement informal strategy session.
» Read the remarks by Oct 15 panelists Mr. Valery Semin, Mr. Li Yang, Dr. Patricia Lewis and Ambassador Thomas Graham, Jr.
| |
 |
| |
October 23 informal workshop,
GSI New York office |
The following week, the sponsors of the panel event hosted an informal workshop in the GSI office, so as to facilitate more in-depth discussion on the possible ways forward. With introductory remarks from Dr. Craig Eisendrath, co-author of the recent book, War in Heaven: The arms race in outer space, delegates from over a dozen countries discussed the pros and cons of the various proposals on the table. The debate was vociferous and robust, with high-level participants from the Netherlands, the US, China, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, and others.
» Read the full event report
» View the photo gallery
On October 22, two young filmmakers, Trace Gaynor and Stephen Sotor, screened their film, “Final Frontier: Explorers or Warriors?” at the United Nations at an event co-sponsored by GSI, SWF and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs. This inspiring project looked insightfully and humorously into the issues of space security, highlighting the danger of space junk and the folly of the weaponization of space. Following the film, delegates to the First Committee and representatives from the NGO community held an interactive exchange with the two extraordinarily articulate young filmmakers, who continue to screen their film at film festivals and other venues across the country.
» Watch a clip of the film
» Read more about StephenTrace Films (website temporarily down; for more information, contact ssotor@aol.com)
And lastly, on October 26, GSI Senior Officer Rhianna Tyson delivered the first-ever presentation by a civil society organization (CSO) on outer space security to the General Assembly First Committee.
 |
GSI Senior Officer Rhianna Tyson at the General Assembly First Committee |
Speaking on behalf of a wide range of CSOs, Ms. Tyson supported the suggestion of the Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, which recommended that Secretary-General Ban "make consolidated efforts... to address the growing risks/ threats to the peaceful uses of outer space." They went on further to suggest that, towards this end, "one option would be to establish a high-level panel to discuss the issue of outer space in all its aspects." (A/62/309)
» Read the full text of Ms. Tyson's presentation
» Read the presentation to the Secretary-General's Advisory Board by GSI President Jonathan Granoff, July 18, 2007
» Read more about the SG's Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters
Back to top
UN Panel Event: Operational Status of Nuclear Weapons
On October 17, GSI Senior Officer, Rhianna Tyson, chaired a panel at the United Nations focusing on alert status of nuclear weapons. Dozens of representatives to the First Committee attended the panel, which featured New Zealand’s Ambassador Don McKay, Sweden’s CD representative Mr. Magnus Hellgren, Mr. Steven Starr and Mr. John Hallam.
 |
|
Oct. 17 panelist
Mr. Steven Starr |
|
The standing room only attendance was in large part due to the new resolution in the First Committee on the issue, co-sponsored by New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Chile and Nigeria.
Interest in the issue was further heightened after the US, in a statement to the Committee, insisted that its nuclear forces were not, and had never been ‘on hair-trigger – alert’, a phrase that the resolution had intentionally avoided. Mr. Bruce Blair, President of the World Security Institute and former bombardier, issued a rebuttal of this statement, demonstrating that US and Russian nuclear forces today remain in a position to launch at a few minutes notice, at “launch on warning (LoW)” status.
| |
 |
|
Dr. Bruce Blair |
In his report of the event, event organizer John Hallam wrote, “Widespread support for the operating status resolution, together with support for the nuclear weapons convention, will lead to increased momentum toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. Progress toward elimination of nuclear weapons is long overdue… This resolution is both critically important in and of itself because lowering nuclear weapons operating status really will make it significantly less likely that we incinerate ourselves by sheer accident, and because of the signal it sends on the need for progress on the wider nuclear weapons issue.”
On November 1, the First Committee adopted the resolution with 124 votes in favor, 34 abstentions and 3 votes against, cast by France, the UK and the US.
» For more information on the resolution, see the summary report in The First Committee Monitor, published by Reaching Critical Will
Back to top
Recently, GSI’s leaders, consultants and staff have been featured in a variety of media outlets.
Some of our recent op-eds include:
- “Addressing the nuclear threat,” by GSI President Jonathan Granoff, The Courier-Journal;
- “Quiet diplomacy or lost opportunity?” by Adrian Bradbury, PNND President Alexa McDonough and Paul Dewar, The Chronicle Herald;
- “The best US weapon against Iran is diplomacy,” by LCNP Executive Director and author of MPI briefing papers Dr. John Burroughs, Newsday;
- “A time for action,” by GSI Senior Officer Rhianna Tyson, Disarmament Times, Vol. 30, No. 3, Autumn 2007;
- “Preserving UNMOVIC,” by MPI Program Director Jim Wurst, Disarmament Times, Vol. 30, No. 3, Autumn 2007;
- “Nuke war watch: Arms race shadow,” by GSI Development Director Craig Eisendrath, United Press International;
- "WMD Inspection Unit: Weapons, records, experts scrapped," by MPI Program Director Jim Wurst, The Interdependent, Vol. 5, No. 3, Fall 2007.
In addition to op-eds, GSI leaders and staff are interviewed and quoted regularly in the global media. On November 28, for instance, BSG Director Robert Grey Jr., was a guest on the “Voice of Dakota” radio show, 1310 AM in Grand Forks, ND. Ambassador Grey was called on to discuss the apparent inconsistency of US nonproliferation policy vis-à-vis Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq.
From the Middle East Times, Japan Times to the Moscow Times, the Columbia Tribune, BBC News, the Western Catholic Reporter and the Globe and Mail, it’s a project just keeping track of all the places our names and ideas pop up. We have compiled here a listing of recent interviews, quotes and soundbytes. Click here for multimedia resources, including video and audio interviews, and transcripts of interviews and speeches can be found here.
And lastly, from GSI’s New York office, MPI Program Director Jim Wurst, GSI Senior Officer Rhianna Tyson and intern Nathan Band contributed regularly to the First Committee Monitor, the only publication covering the deliberations of the UN General Assembly First Committee on Disarmament and International Security.
» Read Jim Wurst’s final article on Nuclear Disarmament
» Read Rhianna Tyson’s final article on Outer Space Security
» Read Nathan Band’s final article on Negative Security Assurances
» Read all archived editions of the First Committee Monitor at the Reaching Critical Will website
Back to top
Staff changes
It is with a bittersweet heart that GSI bid farewell to Mr. Matthew Werner, a three-year veteran with the Global Security Institute, serving first as Assistant to the President before moving up to Program Officer and ostensibly running the day-to-day operations of the organization. We are very excited for Matt to pursue his Master’s degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and we wish him the best of luck, even if we’re still trying to figure out how to survive without him.
 |
In an unrelated new addition, GSI welcomed its new Program Associate for the Bipartisan Security Group program in our Washington, DC office, Mr. Kevin Davis. Kevin holds an MS in International Affairs from the Sam Nunn School at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he focused on conflict resolution and nuclear nonproliferation, and a BA in Political Science from the University of Georgia. Before coming to BSG, Kevin was a Program Officer for the Daisy Alliance in Atlanta, GA and the Research Assistant for the book, No Time To Kill.
In addition to running the day-to-day operations of BSG, Kevin is also functioning as our Program Associate on our Project to Advance a Cooperative Regime in Outer Space, a collaborative initiative with our partner, the Secure World Foundation.
Back to top
In memoriam: Dr. Randall Forsberg
On October 19, the world lost an indomitable strategist and campaigner against nuclear weapons, Dr. Randall Forsberg. While such a steadfast, impassioned and brilliant activist deserves a state funeral, the most we can do is offer our condolences, our memorial tributes and our own commitment to continue to uphold Dr. Forsberg’s work, and continue striving toward our shared goal: a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons.
Below are tributes by GSI President Jonathan Granoff and MPI Chairman Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C.
The Middle Powers Initiative expresses its heartfelt
condolences on
the death of Randy Forsberg, an indomitable strategist and
campaigner
against nuclear weapons. Randy's leadership during the
SANE/Freeze
movements of the 1980s inspired a generation of abolition
activists.
Her writings, speeches and unstoppable passion to free the world
of
the ultimate evil made her a preeminent figure in the civil
society
movements that developed over the past quarter-century.
Randy's work
in instituting Global Action to Prevent War, integrating the
work of
conflict prevention, peacekeeping and disarmament, showed her vision
and hope that will guide generations yet to come. All who
strive for
peace owe a great debt of gratitude for the life of Randy Forsberg.
- Hon.
Douglas Roche, O.C.
Chairman,
Middle Powers Initiative
Dear Friends Who Love Peace,
Randall Forsberg devoted her considerable intellectual gifts and a heart filled with passion to the service of others. Her years of scholarly endeavors, inspiring leadership, and simply hard work were never dedicated to herself. When one thinks of a person who lives like this one cannot but think of the highest human value - pure selfless love.
Did Randall pursue titles and honors? Did Randall pursue recognition and wealth? Randall Forsberg pursued peace and security for the entire world. She never approached her service just for her family, her gender, her race, religion or community. This level of endeavor is justice in action.
Randall Forsberg looked ahead and worked knowing she was a step ahead. For this many did not appreciate her appropriately. Imagine if she had been in a position of state power, an appropriate position for her skills, knowledge and commitment. She chose to be in a position of inspiring leadership in the realm of ideas and activism that the world critically needs. Such an approach is based on doing that needs to be done, not because it will be recognized or visible immediately. This is real faith in action.
One hears so much nowadays about spirituality and values as the new and needed currency in public affairs. One can see how much the world needs to eliminate nuclear weapons and render the institution of war an unacceptable impractical vanity of the fearful, foolish and greedy. One can see that ending the institution of war is a majestic way of honoring peace.
Randall Forsberg demonstrated love, justice, faith, sacrifice, and honored peace in the highest. How precious is such a person? Let the source of such beautiful qualities enliven us to honor her legacy with our actions. Let our prayers reach that source with appreciation that we knew a truly good person who lived with truly good values, accomplished much and planted seeds which will surely bear more fruit in the future. May the mystery that gives all life bless her with unending love and peace. Amen.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Granoff
President, Global Security Institute
Back to top
|
