by Tad Daley | Jan 30, 2017 | Human Rights, World Federation
CGS was a robust participant in the historic Women’s March on Washington on January 21st, the day after the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 45th American president.
CGS, of course, is a nonpartisan organization. But as President-Elect, Mr. Trump indicated that he intended to increase the American nuclear arsenal “until the world comes to its senses,” and even tweeted the words, “Let it be an arms race.”
Few things could be more contrary to the CGS vision of enduring world peace through enforceable world law. In the short term, we know that a renewed nuclear arms race will diminish American national security and everyone else’s as well. In the long term, our goal of something like a world republic would bring an end forever to perpetual arms competition, the forever arms race, Thomas Hobbes’s permanent “war of all against all.” Our dream is that China and America will interact tomorrow, in a Federal Republic of Earth, in much the same way that California and Texas relate today within the political community that is the United States of America. Californians and Texans can be quite different! But California and Texas don’t fight wars. And they don’t spend billions of dollars on weapons of death, every single year, on and on into the dim mists of perpetuity, to “deter” the other from starting one.
So CGS joined a coalition at the Women’s March spearheaded by our friends at Women’s Action for New Directions. We helped to craft the slogan adopted by this coalition: “Women for the Human Race, Not a New Arms Race.” https://m.facebook.com/events/283920202010752/
That first clause is as important as the second. Because if there’s anything that CGS is about, it’s that our global citizenship must become for each one of us every bit as important as our national citizenship. Our American patriotism must be enhanced and guided by our planetary patriotism. Our loyalty to the country where we happen to have been born must, in this century, be fiercely accompanied by our loyalty to our planetary human community.
At CGS, we know that we must care for our Mother Earth, today and tomorrow, in order for our beloved America to thrive. We insist that American national security can only be achieved by promoting common human security and the global public good. And we believe that Americans will never live in peace and tranquility unless we pursue justice for all of humanity.
“Whether we wish it or not, we may soon have to make a clear choice between the special nation to which we pledge our allegiance and the broad humanity of which we are born a part.” So said in 1946 the great American writer E. B. White, author of CHARLOTTE’S WEB and (with William Strunk) THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE. “In the United Nations of the World there will be no foreigner, no outsider. A citizen must take pride in the whole world, and pledge allegiance not only to a national flag but to a universal banner.”
As we stand at the dawn of a new era of political movement and citizen action, CGS asks you to join us on the ramparts, as we endeavor to transform these ideals into widespread conviction, political meaning, and historical reality.
by Ronald Glossop | Jan 19, 2017 | Global Cooperation, World Federation
Discussions of Obama’s legacy are often too narrow. They focus on specific policies that were adopted or not adopted. They don’t pay enough attention to what Obama himself said at his January 10 valedictory speech in Chicago. When the audience began shouting “No, no, no, no, no” as he mentioned the coming change in the White House, Obama responded with a statement that displays his wisdom and his understanding of the important role of the United States in world history, namely that one of our nation’s great strengths “is the peaceful transfer of power from one president to the next.”
We have constructed a large and prosperous democratic nation that decides who should have ultimate political power in our country for the next few years on the basis of elections rather than fighting violent military battles. In a democracy groups with opposing views and interests realize that the results of an election can be reversed in the next election and the next and the next. Violence is not necessary.
In a stable democracy there is no one winner-take-all for the foreseeable future. The rulers for the moment can be changed in the next election. Progress toward an ideal community can be made gradually and even with steps forward and back.
We had our very destructive Civil War (1861-1865) to determine that we would preserve the democratic federal Union. For a century and a half after that our country has experienced the wonderful benefits of a united democratic federal government that determines its rulers by elections instead of wars and is governed by law and courts rather than destructive military battles. Obama realizes that, and his whole life as well as his presidency has been guided by it.
This legacy is even broader than just for this county or even for many other federal democratic countries following in our nation’s footsteps. It provides a lesson for the whole world community that the way to end war not only within countries but also within the planetary community is to establish a democratic federal government.
What a huge blessing it would be for all of humanity if the global community would transform the United Nations into a global democratic government just as our country made the transformation from the ineffective Articles of Confederation to the democratic federal union when the U.S. Constitution was created and ratified in 1787-1789 and George Washington became our first elected President.
by Father Ben Urmston | Nov 13, 2016 | Global Justice, World Federation
In the Commonweal magazine article “Protect Thy Neighbor” (June 21, 2016) authors Mark J. Allman and Tobias Winright echo the Catholic Catechism when they say: “If and when the day ever comes when war is abolished—and like all Catholics, we pray for the arrival of that day.”
Catholics are urged by the Catechism (#2307) not only to pray for the day when war is abolished, but work to end it. “Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war.”
Forty years after the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson said “Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. … [They] must advance … and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”
What should humanity do now to exchange our old clothes of the past for something more appropriate for today’s world? I propose that we commit ourselves to advancing love over hate and hope over despair. We should strive to implement structures that will make our planet sustainable and our human family more ethical and moral. We should practice active non-violence and wage peace rather than war. We should seek to establish security and justice for all. We should develop a global community where basic human rights are protected and greater economic equity is implemented. We should create a democratic world federation that would be a legal governing body for the Family of Nations. That is an ideal for humanity that has been advocated by many, including in several official pronouncements of the Catholic Church.
“It is our clear duty, then, to strain every muscle as we work for the time when all war can be completely outlawed by international consent. This goal undoubtedly requires the establishment of some universal public authority acknowledged as such by all, and endowed with effective power to safeguard, on the behalf of all, security, regard for justice, and respect for rights. But before this hoped-for authority can be set up, the highest existing international centers must devote themselves vigorously to the pursuit of better means for obtaining common security.” (The Church Today, Part II, Second Vatican Council, Chapter 5, # 82)
Written by Father Benjamin J Urmston, SJ
One can further examine a Vision of Hope at www.xavier.edu/frben
Note: Father Ben Urmston is a Jesuit Priest and Professor Emeritus at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. He recently was identified as one of Xavier University “Sustainability Heroes” and was recognized as a Peace and Justice Champion.
by Shirley Davis | Oct 27, 2016 | Global Cooperation, World Federation
The Global Week of Action for a UN Parliamentary Assembly runs until Oct 30, 2016, but there is nothing magic about that date. CGS encourages actions in support of this important idea before, during and after the official Global Week of Action.
On the afternoon of September 17, 2016, the Maine Chapter of Citizens for Global Solutions had a table and map display in support of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). We did this in conjunction with many other organizations participating in the End Violence Together program in downtown Bangor, Maine. Our banner in support of UNPA was suspended from a table. We displayed a world map on an easel that demonstrated areas in the world where action has already taken place in support of this goal.
The Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly is a global network of parliamentarians, non-governmental organizations, scholars, and dedicated citizens that advocates democratic representation of the world’s citizens at the United Nations. A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, UNPA, for the first time would give elected citizen representatives, not only states, a direct and influential role in global policy.
Institutions that have expressed support include numerous civil society organizations, parliaments, international parliamentary assemblies and party networks. For instance, the Pan-African Parliament, the European Parliament, and the Latin-American Parliament have adopted resolutions ñ as have the Socialist International, the Liberal International, or the Green World Congress. 1466 members of parliaments from 120 countries endorse the campaign.
by Donna Park | Aug 9, 2016 | Peace & Disarmament, World Federation
On Tuesday, August 9, the Cincinnati Peace Committee held a memorial at the World Peace Bell in Newport KY to remember and honor civilian casualties of war. August 9 is the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city of Nagasaki, Japan which happened 3 days after the annihilation of Hiroshima. 120,000 people were killed on these 2 days and tens of thousands would later die of radiation exposure. Most of these people were civilians.
In spite of the attempt to protect civilians with international treaties, the killing of civilians during war is an even larger problem today. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that civilian fatalities account for more than 90% of all deaths in the wars that started since the 1990s.
Recently there was a report that US led airstrikes in Syria accidently killed more than 80 civilians, mostly woman and children. This tragedy was practically ignored by the US media compared to the coverage of the terrorist attack in Nice that was of the same magnitude. The US media mostly ignores civilian casualties of war caused by the US. This lack of media coverage leaves our citizens woefully uninformed as to the loss of life and terror we inflict on the people of other nations, and results in our lack of understanding as to why there is such strong and growing anti-American sentiment.
We believe that US citizens need to be aware that our military is killing more civilians than soldiers in our ongoing wars. We need to demand that our nation find other ways to make the world safe for us and for democracy, a way that is better than our current reliance on violence which kills innocent people and gives birth to terrorists resulting in even more violence.
US history shows us a better way. Before the signing of our constitution, the states formed a confederation and each had a militia that was called out to resolve disputes between the states on the battlefield. With the signing of our constitution we became a federation of states and we agreed to solve our disputes in the court of law instead of on the battlefield.
We can do that now at the global level by transforming the United Nations into a democratic, representative federation of nations and agreeing to solve international disputes in the court of law instead of with military force. Imagine the money we would save and how that money could be better spent to deal with social issues and care for our planet. Imagine the lives we would save: lives of our military men and women as well as civilians. Please check out http://globalsolutions.org/issues/global-democracy-governance to learn more about the issue of global democracy and governance.
by Donna Park | Jul 23, 2016 | Global Justice, World Federation
Dear Jake,
I love the attached picture of you and the twins all dressed for this year’s 4th of July celebration! Our 4th of July holiday honors the signing of the “Declaration of Independence” which put forth our belief that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Of course with three sisters you realize that in today’s world “men” doesn’t only apply to men but to all people !! Annette, Clair and baby Grace won’t let you forget that.
There is another part of American history that I like to acknowledge and celebrate—the idea of moving from a confederation of states, which the US was after our war of independence, to a federation of states which we are now. When the United States agreed to federate, the states agreed to stop solving their disagreements on the battlefield and instead take them to court. The “rule of law” is an important part of how all Americans are allowed to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I would like to take these same principles of federation and the “rule of law” and apply them now across the nations of the world. It is very possible for the nations of the world to come together to solve their disagreement in court instead of in war. The US has proved that this approach works and is a better way to protect the rights of all people on earth.
We are so very lucky that we do not have any ongoing wars fought here in the United States. It is hard for us to understand the horror of war and the death and destruction it brings to both adults and children. Almost 90% of people killed in war at this time are civilians, not soldiers, and include women and children. The US tries to help maintain peace, but unfortunately we often do that by the use of force, by sending our weapons and/or our soldiers. Violence creates more violence, and we are stuck in never-ending war. Rather than spreading our weapons of war, we should be spreading our solution of federation and the rule of law.
I am working hard in retirement to try to spread this idea among other US citizens. I want other parents and grandparents to join me in demanding that the US stop fueling the wars around the world with our weapons and our soldiers. I want to keep the soldiers safe and sound. We need to transform the United Nations from a loose confederation to a strong federation that relies on the “rule of law” to solve disagreements. This page on the GlobalSolutions.org website explains this idea in more detail under the heading “Embracing a United Federation of Nations”: http://globalsolutions.org/about/world-federalist-institute
Give my love to the twins and baby Grace. I look forward to my next visit.
Love, Gram
