2020 CGS National Convention

Event Description

In 2020 a pandemic, deep national division and threats from nuclear weapons and a damaged climate made the case for working across borders hard to ignore. The 2020 Annual Conference of Citizens for Global Solutions was held online, the organization’s first convention on Zoom, in three sessions of about three hours each. The featured recording above is Glen T. Martin’s session on the Constitution for the Federation of Earth; every recorded session is listed below.

The arc ran from the big picture to the details. Bob Flax set out goals and strategy, and team leaders reported on newsletters, op-eds, speakers and clubs. Partners from the World Federalist Movement and the youth movement said what they were seeing in the field, and a session with Martin looked at a world constitution. Awards honored volunteers and Bill Pace, and Shimri Zameret closed with a conversation on how movements grow by changing public opinion.

Wednesday 18 November

• Welcome Donna Park, Board Chair

  Donna Park opened the first CGS convention held on Zoom with the organization’s vision and mission, set against a year of pandemic, division and global threats, and introduced Bob Flax as master of ceremonies.

• The Big Picture: Citizens for Global Solutions Now and the Future Bob Flax, Executive Director

  Flax laid out the goals and strategy, from a peaceful, free, just and sustainable world community, through a democratic federation of nations by the UN’s 100th anniversary in 2045, to public education, political action and coalition building.

• CGS Outreach Activities: Team Leader Reports

  Team leaders described the newsletter, the journal Mondial, multimedia and peace and justice studies outreach, social media, a breaking news op-ed team that placed six pieces 40 times, and speakers’ bureaus.

• World Federalist Movement Update Anji Manivannan

  Manivannan reviewed the work of the coalitions for the International Criminal Court and the Responsibility to Protect in a year of U.S. sanctions on the court and a pandemic that shifted donor priorities, and described new projects on women, peace and security.

Thursday 19 November

• World Federation and the Environment ShahrYar Sharei, Youth Climate Ambassadors and Center for UN Constitutional Research
• The Youth Movement for World Federation Daniel Blewitt, Emilia Ismael, Semawit Hagos

  Three young leaders said a youth movement grows through a shared online home, plain messages about outcomes rather than institutions, campaigns on issues young people care about, and ties to other youth groups.

• Awards and Recognition Bob Flax and Donna Park

  Staff were thanked, and the first Distinguished Service Awards went to three volunteers, including Nancy Dunlevy for founding the World Citizen Virtual Book Club and leading the Model UN Plus and UN2020 programs.

• Norman Cousins Global Governance Award Bill Pace

  Bill Pace received the award for a career in international justice, credited federalists with the ICC and the push for a UN parliamentary assembly, and said the best hope lies in coalitions of small and middle democracies.

Friday 20 November

• A Constitution for the Federation of Earth Glen T. Martin

  Martin placed the Earth Constitution in the story of human development, argued that militarized sovereign states and global capitalism block it, described its three-house parliament and five-member agency heads, and outlined work on electoral districts and secure online voting.

• CGS Programs: Team Leader Reports

  Team leaders described the World Citizen Virtual Book Club, the UN2020 team, the World Citizen Clubs and the Model UN Plus pilot in Mexico City, and planned work on peace-group outreach, the environment and internships.

• Movement Building for World Federation Shimri Zameret in conversation with Bob Flax

  Zameret traced his path from conscientious objection to world federalism and argued that movements grow by changing public opinion through disruptive, symbolic action and by training the newcomers it attracts.

• Closing Donna Park and Bob Flax

  Flax and Park thanked the planning team, asked everyone to fill out the feedback form, and sent participants to breakout rooms.