2021 CGS Conference: Paths to a World Federation

Event Description

How does humanity get from many sovereign states to a lawful common order? That question ran through the 2021 Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS) Conference. It was held online from 11 to 13 November 2021, while the COP26 UN climate summit met in Glasgow. The conference compared four routes to that order. They were transforming the United Nations, integrating the regions, uniting the democracies and writing a world constitution. Five speakers from five countries each explained the origin, evolution and current strategy of one path.

Younger leaders from three continents talked about reaching their generation. CGS presented its theory of change, and breakout groups asked how the paths might fit together. The awards included the CGS Global Citizen Award to Martin Sheen. The featured recording above is Glen T. Martin on creating a world constitution. Every recorded session is listed below.

See the upcoming CGS events and what CGS runs for young people.

Thursday 11 November

• Welcome to the 2021 CGS Conference · Donna Park, Board Chair

  Donna Park opened the conference. It was the second large CGS gathering on Zoom and the first live-streamed on YouTube. She set the vision and mission against COP26 and the pandemic, and introduced Bob Flax as master of ceremonies.

• Annual Report · Bob Flax, Executive Director

  Flax toured the public education work that makes up the first stage of the theory of change. It included the website redesign, newsletter and journal, op-eds and speakers. It also included Model UN Plus, World Citizen Clubs and the book club, plus planned leadership training. Model UN Plus is the CGS version of the Model United Nations student simulation, with selected UN reforms added. World Citizen Clubs are student-led clubs for community service and global issues.

• Overview of Paths to a World Federation · Bob Flax

  Flax used a picture of a mountain with four paths to introduce the five speakers. He noted that the paths may not be mutually exclusive.

• Creating a World Constitution · Glen T. Martin

  Martin described how the Earth Constitution was drafted between 1968 and 1991, and its parliament and agencies. He outlined the plan for electoral districts, secure online voting and a virtual world parliament. He answered questions on awareness, referendums and voting methods.

Friday 12 November

• Uniting the Democracies · Chris Hamer, founder of the World Citizens Association in Australia

  Hamer described a proposed world security community of democratic nations. It would be built step by step like the European Union, with a parliamentary assembly and a court. He answered questions on how democracy is defined and whether the plan would provoke a new cold war.

• Integrating the Regions · Fernando Iglesias, co-president of the World Federalist Movement’s Executive Committee and a member of Argentina’s parliament

  Iglesias argued that European integration began as a way to prevent conflict. He proposed a Latin American and Caribbean criminal court against organized crime. He saw it as the same kind of first step for his region.

Saturday 13 November

• International Panel of Young Activists · Eston McKeague (United States), Andrea Bergman (Canada), Amy Oloo (Kenya)

  Three young leaders from three continents described how they came to the movement and how to reach their peers. They pointed to Model UN and its reform versions, volunteering, social media and the Young World Federalists. Young World Federalists is a global youth movement for democratic world federation. The panelists argued for plain language over movement jargon.

• UN Charter Review · Shahr-Yar Sharei

  Sharei traced the promise in Article 109 of the UN Charter to hold a conference to review the Charter. He argued that the review conference promised for 1955 was never held. He then led a workshop on whether calling one would help or hurt the other paths.

• The United Nations Parliamentary Assembly · Andreas Bummel, co-founder and director of Democracy Without Borders and the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly

  Bummel traced the idea of a UN parliamentary assembly. He argued that a General Assembly majority could create it under Article 22 of the UN Charter. That article lets the Assembly set up the bodies it needs for its work. He said the assembly could help prepare charter reform. He answered questions on U.S. support and on how members would be chosen. He also discussed the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global organization of national parliaments.

• Theory of Change · Bob Flax

  Flax explained what a theory of change is. He walked through the CGS roadmap from public education to political change to global transformation, and asked for feedback. One suggestion was to separate citizen-drafted and government-convened constitutions.

• An Integrative Path to World Federation

  Six breakout groups reported on how the paths might work together. Their ideas ranged from a famous spokesperson and a membership drive to a letter campaign for a UN parliamentary assembly. One group reported more obstacles than openings.

• Awards to Shirley Davis and Tom Hastings

  Shirley (Lee) Davis received the lifetime achievement award for more than 30 years of work. Tom Hastings received the Distinguished Service Award for board service and technical help.

• CGS Global Citizen Award · Martin Sheen

  Martin Sheen spoke with Arthur Kanegis and Tad Daley about the film The World Is My Country, a possible series and young climate activists. He recalled an Outer Limits episode in which astronauts wore a United Earth patch.

• Post-Film Discussion: The World Is My Country · Arthur Kanegis, producer of the film

  Arthur Kanegis led a discussion after the film. Topics included Garry Davis’s call for a people’s assembly and how to fund broadcasts of the film. The group also discussed ideas for bioregional and space governance.

Titles are as of the event date.