Opinions
Next week in Moscow, Presidents Medvedev and Obama could make history
Whether in the Korean peninsula, in unstable Pakistan, or in the volatile Middle East, the risk of military or terrorist nuclear attacks is escalating daily. Yet one of the most real chances to rid the world of nuclear weapons is happening and will be won or lost far from the headlines.
Next week in Moscow, Presidents Medvedev and Obama could make history by agreeing to reduce their nuclear arsenals and set the world´s course towards a nuclear-free world. A group of highly influential figures called Global Zero has presented a four-step plan to achieve that goal and, though it seems incredible, they are successfully persuading the nuclear powers that the world is more secure without nukes.
President Zelaya of Honduras on Nonviolence
Inaugurating the recent OAS Assembly in San Pedro Sula, President Zelaya spoke about nonviolence
“The topic of nonviolence is essential during this century. Violence has grown exponentially and has many faces. Nonviolence must be the guiding principle of society, of the state vis-à-vis citizens, and of the state vis-à-vis states.
Nonviolence must take the form of ongoing dialogue for the creation of a just, equitable, and inclusive world order, based on solidarity and respect for human beings, the dignity of individuals, and restructuring of the international community and its institutions.
Nonviolence is the principle of action that rejects force, which is the major cause of violence. While the causes of violence are numerous, as you all know, so too should be the responses and the actions of nonviolence.
This is the approach we must have in the short, medium, and long terms if we are to build a society based on other principles, principles that must steer our ways of acting and thinking in our society.”
The new international paradigm of the 21st century
Here we are in this festive day of celebration and re-encounter of friends in this beautiful park that is being inaugurated today. All of this opens the future.
To continue in this direction, to continue building this future that we yearn for, we are joining forces around the planet in a joint action, in a World March for Peace and Nonviolence.
For the first time a World March. This will be the first planetary action that synchronises people in more than 100 countries and hopefully millions of people, with the theme of Peace and with the methodology of nonviolence.
Inspired by the ideals of Universal Humanism, the association “World without Wars” emerged to try to approach this human nation to which the Humanist Movement aspires. Our interpretation is that to eliminate wars is the starting point for the “Universal Human Nation”. The World March, that today counts on the support of more than 2000 organisations and close to one million endorsements, has arisen on the way towards this objective. We have evidence that knowledge of the WM is starting to be present in the highest levels of international forums. A few days ago in a meeting with the President of the United Nations Assembly he qualified the WM as “the new international paradigm of the 21st century”.