Global Connections Television Podcast: Recent Episodes
Bill Miller
Global Connections Television (GCTV), the only talk show of its type in the world, has featured a myriad of guests ranging from leaders at the UN to the private sector to academics to non-governmental organizations.
Irene S. Wu, Ph.D. is author of “Measuring Soft Power in International Relations.”She is a lecturer in the Communications, Culture, and Technology Program of Georgetown University and a former fellow at the Wilson Center for international Scholars. Her other books include Forging trust communities: how technology changes politics, and from iron fist to invisible hand: the uneven path of telecommunications reform in China. Soft power, as opposed to hard power, is essential to persuade another country without the use of violence. Examples would include USAID, economic aid, international trade, US Peace Corps, UN projects and People to People Programs. Elimination of the successful USAID program and withdrawal from WHO have been detrimental to the perception of the US and accomplishments of many of its foreign policies. China, who is assuming more of a leadership role, has developed one of the largest infrastructure programs called the Belt and Road project.
Steve Schlesinger authored "Act of Creation: Founding of the United Nations. “ The UN mandate expanded since it was formed on June 26, 1945 to achieve three basic goals: eliminate scourge of war, promote economic and social development and enhance human rights. The US was the most important player at the UN; however, it is considerably weakened since the Trump administration withdrew from the UNHRC and WHO, and applied counterproductive policies that make China stronger. The UN covers the world in working with Rotary to defeat polio, helping companies move ships, aircraft, mail and weather information worldwide, providing assistance to refugees and combatting climate crisis and dozens more. Polls show most Americans support the UN. Now, the US is the laughingstock of the world for its counterproductive policies at the UN and surrendering its leadership. Generally speaking, most of the us Media have been incompetent in coverage of the UN.
Mike Tidwell is a journalist, author, and climate activist living in Takoma Park, MD. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1985 to 1987, where he taught fish farming in the village of Kalambayi. His most recent book is a detailed examination of the dramatic impacts of global warming in his own front yard, called “The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue: A story of Climate and Hope on One American Street. “ He founded the Chesapeake Climate Action Network in 2002. The climate crisis is moving at an even more rapid pace in every area of the world. Tacoma Park, MD, is the first city in America that experienced the elimination of a gasoline station and the substitution of an EV charging station only. The Trump administration is being counterproductive by promoting fossil fuels rather than enhancing clean energy policies.
Dr. Benjamin Houghton is a postdoctoral fellow at Lancaster University, UK, where he researches transnational repression. He holds a PhD from Durham University, UK, in Government and International Affairs. He is the author of “China's Strategy in the Gulf: Navigating Conflicts and Rivalries,” and has published two other books and several articles on global affairs. China intends to have friendly relations through its policy of “strategic hedging .” China launched the Belt and Road Project, one of the largest infrastructure programs in the world, with the goal of pursuing “soft power.” The recent dismantling of USAID, and withdrawal from WHO, has allowed China to fill a leadership void. The key to reducing the possibility of war between China and another country is to reenter the nuclear deal that Trump negated during his first term, and reinforce areas of cooperation, such as the reduction of piracy through the Red Sea Dialogue.
Charles Glass is an American British author, journalist, broadcaster and publisher specializing in the Middle East and the Second World War. He was ABC News chief Middle East correspondent from 1983 to 1993, and he has worked as a correspondent for Newsweek and The Observer. Glass is the author of Tribes with Flags: A Dangerous Passage Through the Chaos of the Middle East and a collection of essays, Money for Old Rope: Disorderly Compositions. His most recent book is “Syria: Civil War to Holy War.” He decided to author this book covering the Arab Spring in 2011 and a series of the other major events that occurred during the interim. The Arab Spring and climate change, caused by severe drought, were two major causes of the Syrian conflict. Humanitarian groups, especially the United Nations, supported the Syrian people during the civil war with clean water, refugee assistance, food and medicines.
Ward Wilson is the founder and executive director of RealistRevolt. He is widely acknowledged as s leading source of innovative pragmatic arguments against nuclear weapons in the world today. His latest book, “It Is Possible: A Future Without Nuclear Weapons” has been endorsed by world leaders and scores of experts. About 90% of the 12,500 nukes are controlled by the USA and Russia; whereas, 10% are with China, France, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea. The UN is in the forefront in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and also preventing their spread, especially through its Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Experts estimated it cost $82 billion a year to maintain our nuclear stockpile. There have been 12 incidents that could have mistakenly led to accidental nuclear discharges. 138 countries support the elimination of nukes. Ronald Reagan said that nuclear war cannot be won and should never be fought.
Dr. Susan Sturm is the George M. Jaffin Professor of Law and Social Responsibility and the Founding Director of the Center for Institutional and Social Change at Columbia Law School. Her scholarship and teaching focus on advancing racial equity and full participation in educational, legal, and cultural institutions, increasing access to justice, and the role of law and leadership in advancing institutional and social change. Her new book is “What Might Be: Confronting Racism to Transform Our Institutions.” We have systems that are dehumanizing many Blacks, Latinos and other people of color. The questions should be how do we all participate in our society? Who is and is not able to participate? How can we strive to make sure they can participate? DEI is a misunderstood term that is often incorrectly used to cover a myriad of generalities, stereotypes and myths. Full citizen participation is critical to a successful democracy.
John R. Wilmoth is the Director of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division at the UN. The Population Division has a myriad of excellent reports, studies and conferences, many of which can be viewed at: www.un.org/development/desa/pd/ Health is a human right and a centerpiece of sustainable development, recognized in various United Nations commitments, including the outcome of the International Conference on Population and Development held in 1994 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted in 2015, commonly called the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite earlier gains, progress on many health indicators has stalled in recent years. These issues were discussed at the recent 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development that took place from 7 to 11 April 2025 at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. One of several themes was to focus on health care for all, which is a universal right.
Dr. Robert Farley has taught security and diplomacy courses at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and Commerce at UK since 2005. His most recent book is,” Waging War with Gold: National Security and the Finance Domain Across the Ages. Establishing the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions were creative initiatives to provide stability and mechanisms to peacefully resolve conflicts. It would be extremely dangerous to move from the dollar to a cryptocurrency as the major currency. In the future, there are four potential scenarios, one in which the US remains a financial hegemon, a second in which we see a relatively orderly transition to another hegemon, a third that looks at the development of a bipolar finance domain and a fourth that witnesses the development of a multipolar financial commons. Regarding tariffs, the customer pays the tariff increases, not the country of origin or distributor, which raises overall costs.
Dr. Desmond Dinan is a professor of public policy in the Schar School of Policy and Government and holds the Jean Monnet Chair in European Public Policy at George Mason University. His most recent book is,” A Concise History of the European Union.” The EU concept grew out of WW2, but the EU was relaunched in the 1990s to deal with monetary issues, the end of the Cold War, globalization, and the unification of Germany. Putin’s illegal attack on Ukraine and the Trump administration’s belligerency toward the EU and NATO have helped refocus European interest in cooperation and multilateralism. Few Europeans realized how negative Trump2.0 would be for the continent, especially through undermining the Trans-Atlantic System, partnerships and shared values. In response to a variety of threats, the EU is starting to improve its defense procurement industry and organizing a military response, while ramping up its potential international peacekeeping activities.
Jerry Glenn, a futurist, serves as the executive director of the Millennium Project, and authors an annual publication, “State of the Future.” He was the executive director of the American Council for the United Nations University and was deputy director of Partnership for Productivity International. The State of the Future 20.0 Report is the most comprehensive and largest document covering 15 global challenges that affect the world. It is a tool for The UN Council of Presidents of the General Assembly which is an organization to help the 193-UN Member States determine its logical role in dealing with one of the thorniest: AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). Managing the transition to AGI is the most difficult management problem humanity has ever faced, A few other challenges to confront include Zero-Sum power geo-politics; the climate crisis; and global collective intelligence systems for water, energy, food, economics, education, gender, crime, ethics, and demographics.
Mark D. Walker, a Returned U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer from Guatemala, is an award-winning writer and President of Million Mile Walker. His new book is “The Guatemala Reader: Extraordinary Lives & Amazing Stories”. Today we are focusing on the important soft power vs. hard power concepts that are under intense discussion. Soft power, as opposed to hard power, is an example of how international overseas groups interact to make a difference in the lives of people abroad as well as benefiting their country’s image, business opportunities, diplomatic initiatives and partnerships. Some of the most prominent soft power organizations are the US Peace Corps, USAID, CARE, Rotary International, faith-based groups and other humanitarian service clubs. America’s credibility is devastated through the slash and burn of the USAID programs by Elon Musk and DOGE. Russia and China are delighted that the US has weakened itself and is unilaterally surrendering its international leadership.
Judge Thomas G. Moukawsher is a Connecticut complex litigation judge and former lawyer, legislator and lobbyist. He is the author of “The Common Flaw: Needless Complexity in the Courts and 50 Ways to Reduce it.” President Trump has consistently tried to delegitimize the courts, which is weakening our democracy and deteriorating the Rule of Law. For decades, the international community has looked to the US to promote democracy and establish functional legal systems, especially with the ICC, ICJ, and human rights treaties. The Trump Administration may possibly use Gunboat Diplomacy and manifest destiny regarding the Panama Canal, Greenland and Canada. War on Terror legislation allowed the President to take aggressive, and possibly illegal action. The NATO Treaty requires Greenland and Canada be defended if attacked; therefore, Democrats, Republicans and the Judiciary need a united front to protect the Rule of Law and rescue US international prestige which is plummeting worldwide.
Dr Phil Williamsis Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh, where he taught from January 1990 to April 2022. In the first part of his career, at Aberdeen University, Southampton University, and Chatham House, he wrote books on Crisis Management, The Senate and US Troops in Europe, During the last 30 years his research has focused primarily on transnational organized crime, His most recent book is “The Mediterranean Connection: Criminal Networks and Illicit Economies in North Africa.” Aspects of criminal networks usually include the smugglers’ toolkit: concealment, deception, circumvention and facilitation North Africa itself can be understood as a space of flows – primarily south to north, but also north-south (hazardous waste) and horizonal flows, cannabis from Morocco moves Eastwards while counterfeit cigarettes move from Dubai to the Atlantic and through Algeria into Europe. Some international assistance is provided by Interpol and the United Nations agencies to counteract this.
Michael Albertus is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. Albertus is the author of five books. His newest book, Land Power: Who Has It, Who Doesn't, and How That Determines the Fate of Societies, tells the story of how land came to be power within human societies, how it shapes power, and how its allocation determines the major social ills that societies grapple with. The Great Reshuffle determines society's winners and losers in a variety of ways in the USA, such as establishing and reinforcing racial hierarchies, dealing with the housing crisis and potential solutions, including using federal land and pushing for eased zoning restrictions. Other examples include major disruptions to home insurance markets due to climate risk affecting availability and influencing relocation decisions. One notable situation is the Trump administration’s increased territorial competition and land grab for Greenland, Gaza, the Panama Canai and Canada.
Morten Bøås (PhD) is a Research Professor at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. He works on violent conflict, insurgencies, and fragile states in Africa and the Middle East. From 2020 to 2023 Bøås was the Principal Investigator of the EU Horizon 2020 funded Project PREVEX – Preventing violent extremism in the Balkans and the MENA: Strengthening resilience in enabling environments. His latest book is “Resisting Radicalization: Exploring the Non-Occurrence of Violent Extremism.” Out of 9-11 attacks, one major conclusion is it was a Black Swan Operation which means it could happen, but intelligence services missed the signals. Grievances or underlying causes may push someone into a violent life due to lack of education, food insecurity, or poverty. Soft Power programs, such as Peace Corps, UN assistance and USAID may provide a better life for people who are susceptible. USAID is rated as an extremely efficient and effective self-help program.
Tony Payan, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. His most recent book is, “U.S.-Mexico Relations: Structuring Alternative Futures.” The US-Mexico relationship is very complicated in the areas of climate, migration, security and trade. Mexico is the US’s largest trading partner with trade at almost $850 billion a year. Candidate Donald Trump threatened to put a 200% tariff on John Deere tractors produced in Mexico. Generally, any tariff will be paid by the customer and raise the purchase price, increase the inflation rate and could lead to a Smoot-Hawley international recession or depression, whereas selective tariffs can be helpful in some cases. Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum does not have a strong team; whereas Donald Trump may have the same problem, or a brain drain of expertise, if he fires more than 50,0000 knowledgeable professional public administrators.
Felix Dodds has been a leading thinker in the area of global governance and sustainable development for thirty years. He is now an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina. Felix chaired the UN conference in 2011 that put forward the first set of indicative Sustainable Development Goals. He set up the Water and Climate Coalition at the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). He attended the COP29 held in Baku Azerbaijan in November of 2024. The COP-29 presidency announced the “Baku Financial Goal,” a new commitment to allocate $1.3 trillion annually from climate financing for developing countries. Additional achievements include: Establish a Global Carbon Market Mechanism; Full Operation Guarantee for the Loss and Damage Fund; Launch of the Water for Climate Action Program; and, Emphasis on Public-Private Partnerships: A major criticism is that the fossil-fuel interests have played too large of a role in the COPs.
Dr. William Marcy, a lecturer at Buffalo State University, has authored two books: “The Politics of Cocaine,” and his most recent “Narcostates.” He highlights the scope of the Narcostates and the significance of the Central American crisis in expanding the cocaine trade in North America. Mexico’s permanent campaign against narcotics trafficking on Mexican cartels was directly affected after the Mexican economic crisis, the Zapatista Rebellion, and the Salinas administration’s corruption, all which worsened the situation in Mexico. Also discussed are details of various programs such as the War on Drugs, the Merida Initiative, Kingpin Strategy and CARSI. Cryptocurrency is a popular way to launder money through false invoicing, money transfers and others. America has apparently lost interest in Latin America and is mostly known for decades of benign neglect and gunboat diplomacy. Recommendations to Trump and Scheinbaum Administrations is cooperate, root out corruption, develop infrastructure and education, and curtail recidivism.
Dr. Michael Cairo is a Professor of Political Science and the Program Director of International Affairs at Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky His most recent book is “American Presidents and Israeli Settlements since 1967.”
American Presidents and Israeli Settlements since 1967Tracing presidential administrations since Lyndon B. Johnson, this book argues that the Trump administration's p...
Since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel, 90% of Gaza has been destroyed, 46,000 Palestinians were killed and 100,000 wounded. Given the continued development of many illegal settlements, it will be even more difficult for the US to be a neutral broker. UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) has 13,000 employees, but only 5 have been accused of collaborating with Hamas. UNRWA is critical to providing educational, nutritional and medical assistance to the Palestinians. Without a two-state solution, it will be difficult not to have an official Apartheid System. Emphasis should focus on humanitarianism to get more aid and revitalize UN operations on the ground such as UNRWA and the World Food Progra
Steve Schlesinger, Fellow at the Century Foundation in New York City, authored "Act of Creation: Founding of the United Nations," and is an expert on the UN and international issues. Over the past 8 decades the UN has expanded its mandate and development programs to reduce conflicts, combat diseases and climate change, develop maritime and aviation safety, move ships, mail and weather information worldwide. We have not experienced a major world war since 1945. The modern, interconnected world could not exist without the UN. Although the US is one of the major beneficiaries of UN programs, the Republican House of Representative voted to cut off funding to the UN, which would be devastating for many US foreign policies. The polls show that the public supports American involvement in the UN. Project 2025 is a blueprint for an isolationist, Fortress America that is dangerous for both the US and the world.
Dr. Frank N. von Hippel, Senior Research Physicist and Professor of Public and International Affairs emeritus of the Program on Science and Global Security at Princeton University’s forthcoming book is, “Ending the Nuclear Arms Race – A physicist’s quest.” The world has 9 nuclear states and over 10,000 nuclear weapons. The Doomsday Clock sponsored by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists is now 90-seconds before striking midnight. DoD spends over $125 million per day to maintain our nuclear stockpile. Rather than spend trillions to modernize nuclear weapons, we should reduce them. A key player has been the United Nations, through its treaties and conferences, in reducing nuclear threats. The UN Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) concluded in 1970 is the major treaty. Today’s weapons are far more powerful and devastating than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Recommendations: No First Use of nukes; 2) Get away from launch on warning posture.
Michelle Gladieux, a communication expert, debate coach, executive coach, and author of “Communicate with Courage: Taking Risks to Overcome the Four Hidden Challenges" trains leaders in almost every industry to experience more impactful interactions and presentations. Four personality types consist of: 1) Driver, a highly assertive person; 2) Analyst, great at details; 3) Amiable means flexibility; 4) Expressive style, one who talks and builds relationships. The Hidden Challenges include: 1) Hiding from Risk when the risk should be confronted; 2) Defining to be Right to please the ego; 3) Rationalizing the Negative out of fear; and 4) Settling for “Good Enough.” Pro Moves are discussed, small actions we can take to achieve more positive influence as communicators with a little more effort. Learn how to determine your unique mission as a communicator, when and how to give praise, and how to get credit for positive changes you pursue to avoid being stereotyped.
Skyler Badenoch, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, is Executive Director for the Hope for Haiti organization. Hope for Haiti is a developmental organization focusing on poverty alleviation with an emphasis on women and children. It has 150-full time staff working on education, health care, clean water, and economic development programs in the southern region. Haiti, the size of Maryland, shares the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Although the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and the first free Black Republic, Haiti is culturally rich but has a tragic history of natural, economic and political disasters. Various Rotary International Clubs have assisted with clean water projects, whereas the United Nations UNICEF agency has collaborated in implementing nutrition and water sanitation programs. Haiti has several challenges, and o
Dr. Justin Quinn Olmstead is a historian for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His most recent book “From Nuclear Weapons to Global Security: 75 Years of Research and Development at SandiaNational Laboratories.” Dr. Robert Oppenheimer helped launch the Sandia Labs, which is an engineering laboratory for the nation’s nuclear deterrence. President Harry Truman was directly involved in setting up the Lab, whereas President Eisenhower initiated the Plowshare Program to explore the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the Atoms for Peace program in 1957. Sandia supports global security by working with US agencies, the UN’s IAEA, and several of the United Nations treaties, such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty that focuses on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to avoid nuclear proliferation. Sandia has been “ hands-on” in helping mitigate the BP Oil Spill, Fukushima Disaster, Challenger explosion, the rapidly devastating climate crisis and the 9-11 destruction.
Craig Storti, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, is an author and a trainer/consultant in the field of intercultural communications and cross-cultural adaptation. Eight of his books are on intercultural topics, while the two most recent—Why Travel Matters and especially The Hunt for Mount Everest—are for general audiences. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, which offered a unique experience that was crucial in promoting the concept that there are several world views and expanding his love of travel and the intercultural field. When President Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, he had three goals to provide technical assistance, discuss America with your host country nationals and bring the experience home and share it. Main themes in intercultural training include your values, beliefs and assumptions, which may be different from someone else’s, being more aware of your own culture when you travel and always being open minded.
SRSG Pramila Patten, originally from Mauritius, was appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict with the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. Her office was established by Security Council Resolution 1888 and introduced by Hillary Clinton. USG Patten succeeded Margot Wallström and Zainab Bangura, both of whom have been guests on Global Connections Television. The United Nations Sexual Violence in Conflict Office confronts some of the most horrendous and complex acts during wartime: violence against women, which is a very underreported crime. The Secretary General’s Annual Report on Conflict Related Sexual Violence has very specific, feasible and logical suggestions how to reduce this problem. A few examples include: need for member states to comply with Arms Treaties; provide access to the reports and documentation of crimes; adopt time-bound commitments; predictable funding levels; enhance accountability. Every war has shown an increase in sexual violence.
Dr. John Barkdull, Texas Tech University Emeritus, taught Political Science at Texas Tech University, established the Global Studies program, taught two years as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the US Air Force Academy and was a Fulbright scholar in Bangladesh and Southeast Asia. His most recent book is “Confronting Climate Change.” The United Nations has been in the forefront of combating the climate crisis in a multitude of ways, such as the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, the IPCC, the UN Paris Agreement, the SDGs and the UNFCC, just as examples. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is warning the globe is suffering from global boiling.” Scientists and governments proffered they might control the rapidly rising temperatures through adaptation, mitigation and transformation. If the world is unable to adapt more quickly, it may have to confront Deep Adaptation which is the collapse of the global civilization.
Dr. John Barkdull, Texas Tech University Emeritus, taught Political Science at Texas Tech University, established the Global Studies program, taught two years as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the US Air Force Academy and was a Fulbright scholar in Bangladesh and Southeast Asia. His most recent book is “Confronting Climate Change.” The United Nations has been in the forefront of combating the climate crisis in a multitude of ways, such as the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, the IPCC, the UN Paris Agreement, the SDGs and the UNFCC, just as examples. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is warning the globe is suffering from global boiling.” Scientists and governments proffered they might control the rapidly rising temperatures through adaptation, mitigation and transformation. If the world is unable to adapt more quickly, it may have to confront Deep Adaptation which is the collapse of the global civilization.
hom Hartmann is an American radio personality, author, former psychotherapist, businessman, and progressive political commentator, whose talk show has been rated in the top 10 shows for over a decade by Talkers Magazine. His most recent book is “The Hidden History of the American Dream?” America, primarily thanks to FDR and unionization, was a catapult for the middle class until the early 1980s. The Reagan influence of Neoliberal economics contributed to the decentralization of regulations, race to the bottom, union busting and globalization for cheaper wages. The National Relations Labor Act legalizing unions was some of the most substantive legislation supported by FDR. Five suggestions to reactivate the American Dream: 1) encourage unionization and National Labor Relations Act; 2: raise top income bracket for the rich; 3) raise top corporate income tax to reduce bogus tax deductions; 4) reestablish inheritance tax; and, 5) guarantee social safety movement with health insurance.
Professor Barry Zellen is a research scholar in the Department of Geography at the University of Connecticut and is a Senior Fellow (Arctic Security) of the Institute of the North. His recent book is: “Arctic Exceptionalism: Cooperation in a Contested World.” The Antarctic Treaty System convened the states that have an interest in the area but no legal claims. The United Nations, through its treaties, has been instrumental in setting up international laws that have provided stability for both areas at polar opposites. Treaties on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Law of the Sea and the IMO Polar Code are the linchpins. Arctic Exceptionalism is a reflection of inherently cooperating and warfare was the exception. The eight states in the Arctic Council include the US, Russia, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Greenland. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia upended this delicate balance and challenged the stability of Arctic Exceptionalism.
Glenn Blumhorst is a leader in the Peace Corps community and is currently heading the Peace Corps Foundation in its flagship initiative to establish the Peace Corps Park on the National Park Service site near Capitol Hill and the National Mall in D.C. Blumhorst, formerly president and CEO of the National Peace Corps Association from 2013-2022, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala. He highlighted how President John F. Kennedy was a visionary by launching the US Peace Corps in 1961 to lend a hand to developing countries to enhance their infrastructure. Peace Corps’ mission is to promote world peace and achieve the three goals which are to: train professionals to provide technical assistance in developing countries, help people overseas understand America better and to bring the unique Peace Corps experience back to the US, incorporate it into their lives and share it with policymakers, media and the public.
Kevin Cassidy is currently a Managing Partner at iC One Global which is an international development consultancy providing support in addressing integrated social, economic and environmental challenges. Mr. Cassidy has 40 years of international experience across the UN system, most recently with the United Nations International Labor Organization. He discusses how the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is already having a tremendous impact on the global economy and is deeply integrated into the daily activities of societies everywhere. It also has the potential to transform the workforce of the future in ways policymakers, including the UN, governments and businesses, are still trying to understand better as AI rapidly flows through our lives in complex ways. Mr. Cassidy emphasizes how AI impacts our working lives, what can be done to ensure that countries are prepared for its impact on jobs and how youth can “future-proof” their opportunities in a transformed world of work.
Mark D. Walker, a Returned U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer from Guatemala, is an award-winning writer and President of Million Mile Walker. His recent book is “The Guatemala Reader: Extraordinary Lives & Amazing Stories”. Prior to that he wrote, “My Saddest Pleasures: 50 Years on the Road.” His Peace Corps experience totally changed his life. His publications include features of Guatemalan cultural and political leaders, as well as focus on the crisis of democracy which was spearheaded by the quest for cheap labor and to enrich the wealthy, which has been destructive for the majority of Indigenous Guatemalans. It is critical to learn more about countries in South and Central America, especially given their geo-political proximity to the US. In both Guatemala and the US, there has been a frontal assault on the freedom of expression, especially with books being banned by elected officials in states such as Florida and Texas.
Dr. Joe Young, Director of the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, discusses some of the causes of violence in the US and worldwide. Violence should never be tolerated; however, a democracy depends upon the peaceful transfer of power, which was not recognized during the illegal insurgency to overthrow the free election and US Government on January 6, 2021. Tragically, two of the major areas of extreme violence are in Gaza and Ukraine. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine could lead to a larger international conflict if it is not neutralized. Through the support of scores of countries, NATO, and the United Nations agencies, the Ukrainians were much more resilient in confronting Russian aggression. Although the United Nations Security Council has been partially paralyzed, due to the Russian Veto, other UN agencies such as the WHO, UNICEF, and WFP are on the front lines to assist Ukrainians.
Rebecca Shoot, Executive Director of Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS), is an international lawyer and democracy and governance practitioner with extensive experience supporting human rights, democratic processes, and the rule of law on five continents. She explains how global governance is NOT global control over a country, but is defined loosely as a framework of institutions, rules, norms, and procedures that facilitate collective action and co-operation among countries and other actors. Global institutions, such as the United Nations, need to be strengthened to be more effective, promote democracy and the rule of law. Global cooperation is essential to resolve problems such as climate change. The upcoming Summit of the Future, sponsored by the UN, is critical to strengthen action oriented global decision making to achieve the 17-Sustainable Development Goals to abolish hunger and poverty, combat the climate crisis, empower women and more. The UN is more relevant today than ever.
Felix Dodds is an Adjunct Professor at the Water Institute University of North Carolina and Associate Fellow, Tellus Institute, Boston, and is an International Ambassador for the City of Bonn. His latest books are “Heroes in Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage” and” Tomorrow’s People and New Technology: Changing How We Live Our Lives**."
Felix recently attended the United Nations COP28 conference in Dubai and the previous two COPs to that in Egypt and the UK. The United Nations has been one of the most significant players in the battle to confront the environmental crisis. To lay the groundwork for the myriad of UN Conferences, various UN agencies had key roles in focusing the spotlight on climate change and sustainability: in 1979, the First World Climate Conference was sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO); in 1988 the WMO and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).**
Dr Gardner Thompson, a UK scholar, has written two interesting books on countries located in culturally and geographically diverse areas of the world: Israel and Zimbabwe. His first book is: Legacy of Empire. Britain, Zionism and the Creation of Israel in which he defines Zionism, why the United Nations established Israel and Palestine in 1948, the role of Britain and the Balfour Declaration in the area and suggestions on how to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The second book is “A Critical History of Southern Rhodesia” which focuses on the situation that existed before it became Zimbabwe. It was a moral debate as to whether the country would be an Apartheid System such as South Africa’s. Robert Mugabe emerged in 1980 as a leader of the independent state. Two lessons from the books: statesmen should realize that decisions will have major repercussions for decades and both sides should not be automatically condemned.
Steve Schlesinger is a Fellow at the Century Foundation in New York City. Mr. Schlesinger authored "Act of Creation: Founding of the United Nations," and is an expert on the UN and international issues. The UN was created out of the ashes of WW2. Initially, the UN dealt with security and war challenges, but now helps move aircraft, ships, mail, and weather information globally, as well as combats the climate crisis and diseases, assists refugees, migration issues and confronts every major international problem. In September, the UN will conduct a Summit of the Future to address 5 areas: financial structure for the world; international peace and security to prevent wars; digital arena with AI, Bitcoin, and cyberspace; assisting children around the world; and, reorganizing the UN structure to be more agile and effective. The UN is still the epicenter of the world that assists all 8 billion people on Earth.
Judge Thomas G. Moukawsher is a retired Connecticut complex litigation judge and former lawyer, legislator and lobbyist. He is the author of “The Common Flaw: Needless Complexity in the Courts and 50 Ways to Reduce It. It is critical that the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) have a strong Code of Ethics with enforcement penalties. Recent SCOTUS decisions, especially the absolute immunity, have made it more confusing and difficult to prosecute a corrupt US President. For decades the US has been a beacon for justice and democracy; however, with an attack on our Rule of Law and democratic institutions many nations are alarmed. The US should strongly support the UN’s International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to maintain our moral authority internationally. The US Constitution and other legal mechanisms played a critical role in developing the United Nations Charter in 1945 and the Universal Declaration for Human Rights in 1948
Dr. Shao-cheng (Michael) Sun is an Associate Professor at the Citadel. He is a veteran of the Taiwanese army, retiring as a full colonel. Dr. Sun is the author of “Hedging China Threat: US-Taiwan Relations Since 1949.“ His research interests are East Asian security and politics, U.S.-China relations, and U.S. security policy in Asia. He teaches East Asian Affairs and International Politics. He explained the importance of the Taiwan Relations Act between the US and Taiwan, and the One-China Policy, which the US has supported since the Carter Administration. Is it feasible to turn Taiwan into a relationship similar to Hong Kong’s in the 1997 Agreement, which is different from the Taiwanese situation? If there were an armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait, it could radically upend the economic systems around the world, create physical devastation, plus a simulated war exercise showed the US Navy would suffer severe losses.
David Swanson, author, activist, journalist, and radio host, is executive director of WorldBeyondWar.org and campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. His latest book is: “NATO: What You Need to Know.” NATO, which is approaching its 75th Anniversary, is not the UN or a stand-alone nation. Swanson suggest that NATO not pursue destructive arms races, an irrational fear of Russia and a democratic military force to abide by international treaties, work with the UN, reduce the arms race, and promote international understanding. In the Israeli-Hamasa War, it is critical to stop providing unlimited numbers of weapons by the US and other participants. The recent Biden proposal, which has been rejected by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, will be futile until the flow of weapons is halted. The military-industrial-academic-Congressional-media complex is completely out of control and has taken over US society. Over $2 trillion is spent on the arms race internationally.
Somaya Faruqi is the former Captain of the Afghan Girls’ Robotic Team – nicknamed the ‘Afghan Dreamers’. She and her team made international headlines when they built a ventilator from used car parts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan. Faruqi was born in Herat, Afghanistan in 2002. She cultivated her love of engineering in her father’s mechanic shop. Her high school career was cut short by the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. She and the rest of her teammates had to flee the country in August 2021.Currently an engineering student, Faruqi has received several awards over her career, including being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in 2021, BBC’s 100 Women in 2020, and the 2017 Silver Medal for Courageous Achievement at the FIRST Global Challenge – in recognition of science and technology in the US. She is a Global Champion in the UN’s Education Cannot Wait Program.
Rachel Pittman serves as Executive Director of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), a grassroots movement of more than 20,000 Americans in over 200 chapters across the U.S. who are dedicated to supporting the work of the United Nations in communities, on campuses, and on Capitol Hill. Prior to joining UNA-USA, Rachel served on multiple leadership teams for several professional associations that represented lawyers, surgeons, regulators and engineers. UNA-USA helps Americans develop a broader understanding of the United Nations. Not only does the UN Security Council strive to reduce dangerous conflicts, but there is a larger humanitarian operation that is absolutely critical such as working with over 80-million refugees, teaming with Rotary International to eliminate the scourge of polio and a myriad of other programs confronting climate change, hunger, poverty and empowering women. Other programs include assisting with the movement of aircraft, ships, mail and weather information in international space.
Professor Thomas Just serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor within the Future Security Initiative at Arizona State University. Professor Just served as Assistant to the Director of African and Middle Eastern Affairs within Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is the author of “Combating Antisemitism in Germany and Poland: Strategies Since 1990.” Antisemitism is often defined as hostile acts against Jews based on religious, political, economic, and racial grounds. Two major programs to reduce antisemitism in Poland and Germany are through legal measures and public diplomacy. It is illegal in both countries to deny that the Holocaust existed. Conspiracy theories related to the Covid-19 pandemic have contributed to antisemitism in the USA. Unfortunately, social media outlets were critical to disseminating misinformation about Jews. Jewish people cannot be blamed for Netanyahu’s disastrous policies in Gaza, and a person is able to be pro- Palestinian, pro-Israeli and anti-Netanyahu’s’ prosecution of the war.
Charles Moxley is the principal of Moxley ADR, a law firm specializing in arbitration and mediation. He is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham Law School. His recent treatise on “Nuclear Weapons and International Law” highlights the major challenges with nuclear weapons. The UN’s Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty has kept the numbers down somewhat; however, some countries are looking at upgrading their aging nuclear stockpiles that will cost trillions of dollars. Years ago the US spent $150 million per day on maintaining the aging nuclear stockpile. 90% of the 13,000 nukes today are held by Russia and the USA. Media, educational system, and Members of Congress must be educated regarding the potential threat. Several Congresspeople and politicians put out misinformation that we could do a limited nuclear exchange. As an example, former president Donald Trump cavalierly said he would destroy North Korea with nuclear weapons, which displays his ignorance of the issue.
Dr. Winston Langley is Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science and International Relations and
Senior Fellow at McCormack Graduate School for Policy & Global Studies. He has written widely on the United Nations, disarmament, human rights and women’s rights in the US. His recent book is “Abolishing War.” A major problem is that we have a “Culture of War” that glorifies war and makes heroes of its participants; the Military, Industrial, Media, Academic Complex justify militarization and the media is complicit because they want to please advertisers, many of whom have a direct financial or political interest in launching a war. The UN could play a major role in abolishing war, but there must be some changes: UN Secretary-General would have a seven-year term, the World Court would accept charges by individuals; UN would establish a Court of Humans Rights; and, Security Council is expanded to include other key countries.
Paula Caballero is the Regional Managing Director for Latin America at The Nature Conservancy. Previously, Paula Caballero was Senior Director of the World Bank Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice, and she was the creator of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Her recent book is “Redefining Development: The Extraordinary Genesis of the Sustainable Development Goals.” Colombia created the concept of the SDGs which were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. The SDG concept was geared to a universal agenda because all countries have development issues and there are common global problems, such as climate and migration, that needed to be confronted. The SDGs were laudable in that the emphasis was to eradicate poverty, eliminate hunger, empower women and girls, combat climate change, and 13 additional goals. The corporate sector was very supportive because the SDGs were concrete proposals to confront problems from a macro-standpoint with systemic solutions.
Dr. Margaret P. (Peggy) Karns is a Senior Fellow in the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security and Global Governance at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Professor Emerita of Political Science at the University of Dayton. She is coauthor of “International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance (4th ed., 2024)” and “The United Nations in the 21st Century (6th ed., 2022).” She lived and taught in both China and Vietnam in the 1990s. Global Governance is not a one-world government, but it is a way to bring together the norms and institutions to recognize, understand and deal with the major challenges confronting them. The UN is the epicenter, while the states, other intergovernmental organizations, non-state actors/NGOS, are critically involved. The UN is a complex system that works to confront problems, such as climate crisis, wars, humanitarian relief, diseases, as well as helping move ships, aircraft, mail and weather information safely worldwide.
Kathleen Mogelgaard is President and CEO of the Population Institute, where she directs the organization’s advocacy and public education activities. Population Institute advocates for gender equality and universal access to sexual and reproductive health services to improve lives, promote human rights, save the planet, and build a better tomorrow. In 2022, the world’s population surpassed 8 billion people, and according to demographers at the United Nations, global population may add another 2.4 billion before leveling off toward the end of this century. The Population Bomb, a 1968 book co-authored by Paul R. Ehrlich, predicted worldwide famines due to overpopulation, as well as other major societal upheavals, and advocated immediate action to limit population growth. A counterpart organization with the Population Institute is the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the global sexual and reproductive health agency that strives for a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
Norman Solomon, American journalist, media critic, author and activist, discusses his latest book, “War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine.” Mr. Solomon was actively involved in launching RootsAction and the Institute for Public Accuracy. His main contention is that the governments and media inundate the public with unrealistic and false propaganda regarding the horrific nature and devastation of wars. Examples include President Bush’s illegal invasion of Iraq, as well as the terrible situations in Ukraine and the Israeli-Hamas war. Often, news media encourage the public to choose up sides, blindly accept the misinformation and ignore the diplomatic option to promote peace. To end these conflicts, the US should re-prioritize its support of Ukraine and Israel and abide by the Leahy Amendment. If the public learns about the horrors of war, we will exert more influence upon the media and policymakers, as well as have a better-informed public.
Laura Hagg, Director for Capacity Building and Governance with the International City County Management Association (ICMA), has a career of more than 30 years of experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and internationally in the fields of local governance, economic development, public outreach, communications, and strategic policy efforts. Technical assistance programs are mutually beneficial to the US and the host country. Previously she worked in 16 cities in Ukraine to develop investment videos and encourage foreign investments. Given the massive amount of misinformation and disinformation, one of the greatest challenges is the anti-democratic phenomenon and the attacks on the Rule of Law, free speech and democratic elections, as opposed to an autocratic state that represses these freedoms. The media and educational systems have a responsibility to inform the public as to the opportunities of technical assistance programs, as well as beneficial organizations such as the United Nations.
Dr. Dale C. Copeland is a professor of international relations with a focus on trade, war and economic interdependence. His recent book is “A World Safe for Commerce: American Foreign Policy from the Revolution to the Rise of China.” He discusses how trade dynamics have influenced America's approach to peace and conflict throughout history. By focusing on the current geopolitical landscape, particularly with regards to China, he reflects the historical tensions and opportunities of centuries of international trade and commerce. A major challenge is the delicate balance between expanding influence for resource access and avoiding trade disruptions that could lead to armed conflict. One suggestion is to improve the overall trade expectations as a means to foster long-term peace and stability between nations, as well as comprehending interactions of globalization. Throughout history, many countries have shifted from peaceful policies to coercion and force in the pursuit of trade interests.
Dr Peter Layton is a Visiting Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane Australia; a Royal United Services Institute Associate Fellow; London and a Fellow of the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group Canberra. He has extensive aviation and defense experience. His research interests include grand strategy, national security policies particularly relating to middle powers, defence force structure concepts and the impacts of emerging technology. He is the author of the book “Grand Strategy” and co-author of “Warfare in the Robotic Age.” Advances in robotics are profoundly reshaping the world but so are any other things and not all of them are technological. The character of warfare will be different in the robotic age but the nature of warfare remains Clausewitzian, that is war is waged for political objectives. Robots may be considered as machines able to perform four basic tasks: sense, think, act and communicate.
Jonathan Granoff, president of the Global Security Institute, highlights the need to focus on the Rule of Law rather than Rule of War. The United Nations, although it is not perfect, is the only international organization that brings together countries of the world to deal with nuclear proliferation, climate change, human trafficking, poverty, hunger, empowering women, and scores of other challenges. Currently, there are about 13,000 nukes controlled by 9-nuclar power states. Many countries are moving to expend trillions of dollars to modernize their nuclear stockpiles, which will add to the proliferation. Given that the US and Russia have withdrawn from several major international treaties, this creates an even more dangerous world. The danger is even more severe when the Russian president denies the sovereignty of Ukraine and the former U.S. president basically ignores or violates international laws and treaties. There is a lack of trust among the nations.
John Feffer, author of Splinterlands and current director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, summarizes how Donald Trump pursued illiberal internationalism versus liberal internationalism of Joe Biden. Trump was semi-isolationist, cavorted with authoritarian leaders, and wanted to militarize the border between the US and Mexico. Biden’s emphasis was to engage the US in the world through involvement in the UN, WTO and other multilateral institutions. The Israeli-Hamas War has resulted in over 30,000 deaths and reduced most of Gaza to rubble. Biden has pushed for a two-state solution, working with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. It was alleged that 13 of the 13,000 employees of UNRWA collaborated with Hamas, which has prompted an automatic reaction of the US and some other funders to withdraw their financial support. On another front, Republican Speaker of the House Johnson has refused to bring up a bill funding assistance to Ukraine.
Dr. Augusto Lopez-Claros, Executive Director of the Global Governance Forum, highlights his recent book,, “Global Governance and the Emergence of Global Institutions for the 21st Century.” Global institutions, such as the United Nations, confront the world’s major problems, such as climate change, Israeli-Hamas War, Russian invasion of Ukraine, attacks on democracies, and nuclear proliferation. The United Nations has been the epicenter of confronting on these problems. Unfortunately, many national goals are not in conformance with international goals. Also, there is an unraveling of the nuclear arms treaties over the last 30-years. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for the “Summit of the Future Conference” in September to deal with many of these problems. To be more successful, the UN must begin to reform the institution, especially the Security Council, as well as to discuss overhauling the UN Charter. The main challenges are to protect democracy in the UN and worldwide and have a more carbon-free lifestyle.
Dr. Robert Farley has taught security and diplomacy courses at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky since 2005. Dr. Farley is the author of Grounded: The Case for Abolishing the United States Air Force and Patents for Power: Intellectual Property Law and the Diffusion of Military Technology.
The Ukraine and Gaza conflicts are two of most intractable problems confronting leaders of the world today. The Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza, ignited primarily due to the massacre by Hamas of mostly Israelis on October 7 has posed a major quandary for President Biden, given he is juggling U.S. support of Israel but still trying to moderate the Israeli military response, which has been criticized internationally as disproportionate. A small but vocal group of Republicans in the US Congress has temporarily derailed funding for Ukraine, which directly benefits Putin, and indirectly assists China and North Korea.
David Betz is Professor of War in the Modern World in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, and is a Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Centre. His most recent book is “The Guarded Age: Fortification in the 21st Century.” A fortification can be defined as a piece of militarized architecture that focuses an enemy into doing something they normally would not do. Major examples of this might include the Great Wall of China and the border wall between Mexico and the USA. A wall can slow down a foe, but it will not stop individuals unless the wall is secured through another form, such as by human surveillance, drones, or cameras. If not guarded, the barrier will not be very effective. The Iron Curtain was a barrier designed to keep people from moving from the East to the West. Sophisticated surveillance can make physical walls more unnecessary.
Kris Kimel is the Founder of Humanity in Deep Space, an initiative exploring the challenges and hard problems facing humans as we transition to deep spacefaring species. He is the Co-founder of the commercial space company Space Tango. His major focus is how humans can do deep space exploration physically, safely, and ethically. Legal, ethical and physiological concerns are some of the most challenging. Today, the United Nations’ 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which was the foundation of the discussions, was a far-reaching concept by UN member states to provide the framework as how we can explore and develop outer space, but to do so peacefully, safely and sustainably. Key questions: Who can own parts of outer space? How can outer space be utilized without militarizing it with nuclear weapons? How can we keep our humanity? The United Nations and UNESCO have some of the best research information on outer space.
Ward Wilson, founder and executive director of RealistRevolt, is widely acknowledged as one of the leading sources of innovative pragmatic arguments against nuclear weapons. The title of his recent book is “It Is Possible: A Future Without Nuclear Weapons.” Nuclear weapons, of which there are about 13,000, are some of the most devastating threats on Earth. The nine nuclear countries are: the USA, Russia, China, UK, France, North Korea, Israel, India and Pakistan. The main thrust of his book is that while damage and destruction of nukes is real, their utility and importance have been exaggerated. The United Nations has been in the forefront in promoting treaties, such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to limit or eliminate nuclear weapons. Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary General of UN Disarmament Affairs, leads the effort to forestall a new nuclear arms race. In 2017, the UN began a process on a treaty for the prohibition of nukes.
Rolf Schwarz has served as a political adviser for the Middle East and Africa at NATO Headquarters and as a professor at the NATO Defense College. He is a senior adviser at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Mr. Schwarz holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, University of Geneva He is the author of several articles and books, notably a book on state-building and post-conflict peacebuilding, as well as articles on sustainable development and United Nations Sustainable Development (SDG) financing. In his most recent book - NATO and the Middle East: In Search of a Strategy – he traces the history of NATO over seven decades and looks at whether NATO has managed to promote regional stability and peace in the Middle East. NATO, has worked closely with the UN and other partners that would project and increase stability in the region.
Yasmine Sherif is Director of the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Program, which is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. Yasmine Sherif is a lawyer specialized in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, plus she has over 30 years of experience with the United Nations and international NGOs. ECW’s mission is to generate greater shared political, operational, and financial commitment to meet the educational needs of millions of children and young people affected by crises, with a focus on a more agile, connected, and faster response that spans the humanitarian – development continuum to lay the ground for sustainable education systems. A few years ago, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) released a shocking new Global Estimates Study, which revealed that there are now 222 million crisis-affected children and adolescents in need of urgent, educational support; a significant increase from the estimated 75 million children in 2016.
Ken Heydon is a former Australian government trade official and senior member of the OECD Secretariat and a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics. His latest book is “The Trade Weapon: How Weaponizing Trade Threatens Growth, Public Health and the Climate Transition”. His earlier works include “The Rise of Bilateralism” and “The Ashgate Research Companion to International Trade Policy.” Trade weaponization usually involves governments in exports and exports and are measures that are applied in a unilateral approach. Generally speaking, sanctions do not work. However, to be more successful, keep the sanctions (stick), but have a carrot accompany the stick. Singapore and Malaysia are cooperating in an exciting project that will see a hydropower project in Borneo, run by Sarawak Energy that exports power to Singapore by submarine cable. The US has had various sanctions against North Korea, Iran and Cuba, for example, that have not achieved their goals.
Harlan Russell Green, a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Turkey, is the 2023 Winner of the Peace Corps Writers’ Publisher’s Award for his latest book on “Building Community: Answering Kennedy’s Call.” Mr. Green is a Rotarian, retired Mortgage Banker, and Editor/Publisher of Popular Economics Weekly, a financial wire service he began in 2000. The US Peace Corps put him on an international trajectory that provided unique opportunities to work with the US Environmental Protection Agency, Caesar Chavez’s United Farm Workers of America, and several community development projects to create sustainable, livable areas. One of his award-winning films was the “The Great Clean Air Debate.” With the UFWA, he produced “Fighting for Our Lives” and “Why We Boycott.” He also worked on projects with Rotary International and Partnering for Peace, an organization of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who are now Rotarians that strive to connect Rotary Clubs with Peace Corps Projects.
Felix Dodds is Director, Multilateral Affairs at Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service at Arizona State University. He is Adjunct Professor at the Water Institute University of North Carolina and Associate Fellow, Tellus Institute. His Latest book is “Heroes in Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage.” Mr. Dodds recently attended the United Nations COP28 conference in Dubai. The following UN agencies had key roles in focusing the spotlight on climate change and sustainability: in 1979, the First World Climate Conference was sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO); in 1988 the WMO and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); and then the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. Two successes of COP 28: formalized the Loss and Damage Fund with over $700 million committed and committed to move away from fossil fuels.
Xiao Yin Zhao is Executive Director of the World Affairs Council (WAC) of Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The Council is a 501 c 3 organization that is part of a network of 90 WACs, all of which are located in the US. In addition to international exchange programs, Xiao Yin has overseen dozens of programs and events that brought top diplomats, experts and authors to the Kentucky-Indiana region, providing the community an opportunity for in-depth discussions on current global issues. Its goal is to provide a wide range of programs that inspire curiosity and impart information. Some of the programs include the International Visitors Program, Sister Cities International (Louisville has 9 Sister Cities) and periodic guest speakers on international issues, such as territorial-regional conflicts, international trade, reverse economic investment, diseases, and climate change. Kentucky is a major player in the international marketplace with the export of vehicles, aerospace equipment, and agricultural products.
Michael Cairo, Professor of Political Science and Program Director of International Affairs at Transylvania University’s, most recent book is “American Presidents and Israeli Settlements since 1967.” Events such as Bush illegally invading Iraq in 2003, Trump giving Israel carte blanche and withdrawing from the Iran Nuclear Deal, and Biden ignoring the problem until October 7 contributed to the volatile situation. The UN created Israel and Palestine in 1947-48 and has been involved in working to promote peace though the UN Security Council, UN Relief and Works Agency, World Food Program and other agencies. Several myths were destroyed: Israel was invulnerable and could contain Hamas, and the Abraham Accords would cause Arabs to abandon Palestinians. The world needs to make sure the war is limited, develop trust on both sides, cease horrific carnage and dismantle some settlements with the goal of a two-state solution. As UN Secretary General Guterres said, “Nothing happens in a vacuum.”
Dr. John Casey is a professor in the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY). Dr. Casey has been an active practitioner, educator and researcher in the public nonprofit sector in Australia, Spain and the USA for over 20 years. His new book, “The Nonprofit World: Civil Society and the Rise of the Nonprofit Sector,” describes the difference between a nonprofit and an NGO, how most people on Earth are involved in a nonprofit combatting climate change, human trafficking, human rights, international culture and sports and others, and the tremendous growth of nonprofits over the past several decades. Two of his previous books were titled: “Police Leadership and Management” and “Policing the World.” Another important security/public safety entity is the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation which has a need for different military/police skills with each phase of a peacekeeping mission.
Dr. Ivana Nikolić Hughes, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, is a senior lecturer in Chemistry at Columbia University, as well as being a member of the Scientific Advisory Group to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Nine nuclear weapon states possess nearly 13,000 nukes in the world. If there were a nuclear exchange, over 5 billion people would die from starvation or direct contamination within 2-years. The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a substantive agreement to help move toward total or partial nuclear reduction. The US spends over $150 million or more each day to maintain the nuclear stockpile. The US is pursuing upgrading the nuclear weapon stockpile at a staggering cost of over $2 trillion. The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) adopted in 1968, is the foundation for nuclear arms control. The NAP Foundation has consultative status at the UN and is a Peace Messenger.
Mark D. Walker, a Returned U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer from Guatemala, is an award-winning writer and President of Million Mile Walker. His new book is “The Guatemala Reader: Extraordinary Lives & Amazing Stories”. In the book are graphs comparing Guatemala from 1970 to now, a map and a section on “How Can I Make a Difference,” and how local NGOs made a difference in Guatemala. Prior to that he wrote, “My Saddest Pleasures: 50 Years on the Road,” which reflects on his fifty years of travel miscalculations and disasters and how and why his travels changed over the years.Currently,Guatemala is involved in political chaos with the government persecuting its political enemies which seems to be emulated in many areas such as the US, Hungary and other formerly thriving democracies He is also involved with Pen America working to combat arbitrary book banning and burning in Arizona and other states.
John Cavanagh, former director of the Institute for Policy Studies, is the co-author of 12 books and numerous articles on a wide range of social and economic issues. His newest book is “The Water Defenders: How Ordinary People Saved a Country from Corporate Greed. He just returned from a factfinding trip to El Salvador whereupon he identifies how El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele reduced the gang violence and crime rates by employing strongarm tactics that ostensibly violate human rights and national laws. El Salvador is holding firm in banning mining to save its rivers from poisonous chemical contaminants. Turning to the Middle East, he suggested that Hamas release the hostages and Israel respond accordingly. Palestinian desperation and Saudi Arabia’s potential deal with the Israelis may have helped ignite the October 7 terrorist attack. On a positive note, the frosty relationship between China and the USA seems to be improving, what with the meetings between Presidents Biden and Xi.
Dr. Gilles Guiheux, author, historian and sociologist at the Université Paris Cité, highlights his book “Contemporary China: 1949 to the Present .” He posits that China’s combining integration into the capitalist world economy with authoritarian political practice may be sustainable. Some political observers doubted this delicate juggling act could succeed. In 1949, the stake for Mao was to haul the country out of backwardness and project it into modernity; for Xi, the current challenge is to rally social forces with conflicting interests behind the Party, e.g., Uyghurs, Taiwan, individual rights, etc. The opposition between the world of cities and that of the countryside is still the main inequality that characterizes Chinese society. The Chinese experience is not entirely unique: industrialization, urbanization, bureaucratization, and globalization are phenomena that have accompanied the entry of all human societies into modernity. China owes its success to the convergence of its institutions with those of capitalist market economies.
Dr. Antonello Provenzale, Director of the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources at the National Research Council of Italy, discusses his recent book “History of Climate Change: From the Earth's Origins to the Anthropocene.” Climate change is the number one challenge for the world. The rise in temperature of the last fifty years has been extremely fast, making it difficult for the environment to adapt to the new conditions. The expanding human population needs water, food, energy, and shelter to survive and flourish. Humans need to reduce emissions drastically, re-naturalize the environment, stop the degradation of the soil and the extermination of and in the oceans. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned we should not exceed 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit in order to not tip into a dangerous melting phase. If we do not deal with this challenge now, future natural disasters and costs will increase dramatically.
Joe Lurie has spent most of his adult life interacting and engaging with other cultures and promoting cross-cultural understanding. As a young man, he served in the US Peace Corps in Kenya, the beginning of his life of “intercultural encounters.” For 20 years, Lurie was the executive director of the University of California’s International House whose mission is to “foster intercultural respect and understanding for the promotion of a more peaceful world.” Since his retirement, Lurie has been a teacher, intercultural trainer, and consultant. His most recent book draws together all he had learned about understanding – and misunderstanding – one another in the book: “Perception and Deception: A Mind-Opening Journey Across Cultures.” The First Goal of the Peace Corps is to provide technical assistance overseaas; however, the Thed Third Goal of the Peace Corps is to bring a volunteer’s unique international experience home to the US and share that information, plus build upon the experience to provide more intercultural understanding.
Dr. Bernie Strenecky presently serves as the Scholar in Residence at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green KY, USA. He is a member of the diplomatic corps of the country of Barbados, an active member of the Prospect Goshen Rotary Club, a member of the board of the United Nations Association-Kentucky Division, and he was integral in developing the Play Ball Puerto Rico (PBPR) project.
Bernie is the grandfather of Lawson Strenecky, the founder of the organization. Lawson developed the concept in response to the horrific damage wreaked by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Although PBPR helps refurbish baseball fields, it is not designed to develop great baseball players but in developing competent citizens with humanitarian skills through good sportsmanship. Various groups such as Rotary Clubs, United Nations Associations, and the private sector have partnered on this project in Puerto Rico but also in
Steve Schlesinger is a Fellow at the Century Foundation in New York City. Mr. Schlesinger authored "Act of Creation: Founding of the United Nations," And he is an expert on the UN and international issues. He offers an update on the 78th Session of the UN. The UN has changed dramatically since its creation in 1945, especially in aid to refugees, economic development, climate change, cultural and educational development, and avleassisting ships, mail, aircraft and weather information in the international arena. The UN, albeit not perfect, is indispensable. The UN is critical to the success of many US foreign policies, e.g. Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, democratic elections and refugee assistance. In a political move that damages the US and the UN, the Republican-controlled US Congress has adopted—for the very first time-- a State Department bill to not fund the UN. The UN is not a one-world government, has no taxing power and no military.
Dr. Jean Krasno is on the faculty of the Department of Political Science at the City College of New York and is a lecturer at Columbia University. She teaches courses on the United Nations, peacekeeping, international law, and international organizations at City College and at Columbia University. Her most recent book is titled “United Nations: Policy and Practice.” The UN is a rapidly changing organization that responds to the major challenges confronting the world, such as peacebuilding, development, disarmament, electoral assistance, climate change, Ukraine war, nuclear proliferation and refugee assistance. Some of the prevalent myths that are not accurate is that the UN is dysfunctional, is anti-US and is wealthy. Uniting for Peace is a method the General Assembly can bypass a paralyzed Security Council such as on the Ukrainian crisis. Dr. Krasno has published the official papers of former SGs Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon at www.rienner.com .
Hussein Solomon, Senior Professor in the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa and co-author of “African Security in the Anthropocene,” depicts how humans have created more dangerous situations through the use of fossil fuels that are accelerating climate change, squabbling over natural resources, hunger and terrorism. Africa, which is the second largest continent with a 1.4 billion population, is primarily rural and does not have the technology and financial wherewithal to combat these problems. Recently, the African Climate Summit, recommended removal of subsidies for fossil fuels, which would make clean energy sources much more competitive. Although 80% of agriculture is by subsistence farmers, funding, global capital and partnerships are required to make the transition. There is hope for “cautious optimism” since some regions are using drought resistant crops and “conflict smart” agriculture. As always, women play a critical role in confronting these problems.
Judge Thomas G. Moukawsher is a Connecticut complex litigation judge and a former lawyer, legislator, and lobbyist. He is the author of “The Common Flaw: Needless Complexity in the Courts and 50 Ways to Reduce it.” Some recommendations to improve the judicial system are to streamline trials, deliver prompt decisions, accept fewer motions and appeals, control evidence gathering process (discovery) and offer decisions that are presented in plain English, all the while promoting a humanistic and public trust approach. To restore credibility in the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS), ethical/legal indiscretions should be investigated, adopt a tough Code of Ethics, and write decisions that are understandable. The UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly with Eleanor Roosevelt’s assistance,, the International Criminal Court in the Hague and the UN International Court of Justice are all based on the Rule of Law, as is that of the US, which states no one is above the law. To help the public better understand the legal system in the US and internationally, the US media should stop mocking international institutions, such as the United Nations, and show the accomplishments, while simultaneously holding them accountable for any indiscretions or illegalities. Had the Supreme Court moved more quickly on the evidence presented immediately after the 2020 presidential election and declared the election results fair and accurate, it is possible that the January 6 insurrection to overthrow a fair and free election and the US Government may have been avoided.
Aaron S. Williams has experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including posts as USAID mission director for South Africa, vice president of the International Youth Foundation, executive vice president of RTI International, and director of the US Peace Corps (2009–2012). His most recent book is “The Young Black Leader’s Guide to a Successful Career in International Affairs: What the Giants Want You to Know.”
In this book, Aaron shared his personal vision that led to a meaningful career in the foreign service, why is it important for students to develop and articulate their visions, and how International Development is often long-term. In his previous book, “ A Life Unimagined”: The Rewards of Mission-Driven Service in the Peace Corps and Beyond”, he expounded on the importance of the Peace Corps and then as Mission Director for USAID/South Africa how President Mandela addressed the hatreds, social divisions, and political polarization seen around the world today.
Dr. Robert Zuber, Director of Global Action to Prevent War and Armed Conflict, serves as a consultant, adviser or board member to several non-profit and educational organizations including Green Map System and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Cameroon. As a participant in the United Nations System, he highlights the major issues discussed at the 78th Session of the General Assembly. The UN, established in 1945, had the major goals to eliminate the scourge of war, promote economic and social development and enhance human rights. The UN has changed dramatically over the past 78 years. One principal challenge has been the UN’s Agenda for Peace. The UN has expanded, at the world’s request, to deal with a wide range of issues such as the recent assault on Israel, Palestinian suffering, climate crisis, refugees, international pandemics, UN peacebuilding successes and a myriad of others. Tragically, most Americans still do not understand how UN agencies directly impact their lives.
Thom Hartmann is an American radio personality, author, former psychotherapist, businessman, and progressive political commentator, whose talk show has been rated in the top 10 shows for over a decade by Talkers Magazine. He discusses his recent book, “The Hidden History of American Democracy: Rediscovering Humanity’s Ancient Way of Living,” by focusing on facts, such as many of the founders were Deists, not Christians, who firmly believed in a strong separation of church and state. Several contemporary challenges today are that Donald Trump ostensibly tried to illegally overthrow a fair election and install an autocratic, anti-democratic government; support for the US Supreme Court has declined primarily due to some of their biased judicial decisions and allegedly corrupt justices, such as Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito; and the misinformation and disinformation that is streaming out of many faux news outlets, such as Fox, OAN and Newsmax, which arguably pass themselves off as legitimate news operations.
Elizabeth Graham had a Top-Secret CIA security clearance at the age of 16. She worked for an international corporation for 12 years, began to travel to the Soviet Union, and then became one of the very few Americans to move to Russia. She lived under Communism in the Soviet Union, then Russia, and Central Asia. Her most recent book, “From Democracy to Democrazy: A Warning to all Americans” reads like a cross between a John Grisham novel and the movie The Manchurian Candidate. She contends that Vladimir Putin hates America and is striving to weaken it as much as possible, utilizing tools, such as racism, violence, insurrection, cyberattacks, inflation, isolationism and possibly receiving help from Donald Trump. If Trump secures the presidency, he has threatened to dismantle NATO, the US’s administrative state, abolish the Constitution, install political hacks throughout the government, ignore legal governmental decisions, quash media outlets, imprison his political opponents and install a presidential dictatorship.
John Seager, President and CEO of Population Connection, describes how his organization provides education, advocacy and small loans to assist people in voluntarily achieving their family planning goals. Rather than think about a total population, we need to think about how we want to live, how we want others to live, and the resources required for our lifestyles. A population of 2- billion, rather than 8 billion, would be more sustainable. Best practices in family planning have three key elements that vary in composition and impact: education for women and girls; access to a full range of reproductive services and changing social dynamics so that women are key to any family planning activities Studies show that the GDP may decline as population drops, but the per capita GDP will rise. The Social Security crunch could be alleviated by raising the earnings cap. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN population conferences are critical to help educate and inform people about family planning services.
Kevin Cassidy, Director and Representative to the Bretton Woods and Multilateral Organizations of the United Nations International Labour Organization Office in Washington, DC, highlights the main goals of the ILO in advancing social justice and promoting decent work that was adopted as the social justice definition from the Declaration of Philadelphia Convention which declared that “all human beings, irrespective of race, creed or sex, have the right to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, of economic security and equal opportunity.” ILO has four priority action programs: a transition from the informal to formal economy; a just transition towards an environmental and sustainable society; decent work outcomes in global supply chains; and decent work in crisis and post-crisis situations. Historically the ILO has largely focused its technical work on developing countries and emerging economies, however, it does engage in activities in developed economies.
Dr. Gregory O. Hall, Associate Professor, Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at theUniversity of Kentucky, Lexington, KY., USA discusses his recent book: “Examining US-China-Russia Foreign Relations: Great Power Politics in a Post-Obama Era.”He proffers that, although the Russian military has been grossly overrated, the post-Soviet Russia is still a "great power." primarily because of its nuclear missiles and the fact it is one of the 5-Permanent Members, along with the US, UK, France and China, of the UN Security Council with the potential to veto any binding resolutions. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are calling for a détente between the West and China, to avoid a misunderstanding and possible military conflict. From a positive standpoint, the US has re-joined WHO, the Paris Climate Accord and UNESCO, is repaying arrears at the UN and is working to renew the Iranian Nuclear Deal.
Dr. Frank Costigliola is a Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Connecticut. His most recent book is, “Kennan: A Life Between Worlds.” Although the 1940s were a period of optimism due to the end of WW2, creation of the United Nations and a commitment to re-building Europe and key Asian countries, storm clouds were looming with the advent of the Cold War. Kennan offered a third way to “contain” the former USSR. His "Long Telegram" to the State Department in 1946 and his article under the pseudonym "X," which was published in "Foreign Affairs" in 1947 laid out his “containment” approach. Kennan was opposed to the wars in Vietnam and Iraq and NATO expansion because they were counterproductive to American interests. Another ally over the years has been the United Nations by defusing tensions such as during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Claire Marie Regan, the 106th president of the Society of Professional Journalists (2022-2023), has more than 30 years of newsroom experience. She is the recently retired managing editor of her hometown paper the Staten Island Advance, New York, USA. The Society of Professional Journalists helps its members in a variety of areas, such as combatting attacks on democracy, promoting freedom of the press, defending against intimidation of journalists, encouraging DEI (Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion), sharpening skill development for journalists, recruiting students from HBCUs and promoting the SPJ Code of Ethics. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been a paladin in defending freedom of the press worldwide. In general, journalism can be strengthened by inculcating the SPJ Code of Ethics and combatting misinformation, disinformation, and lies, which are often disseminated by a variety of faux news outlets. SPJ has an online International Community that focuses on international issues.
Jeff Hardy, a Global Change Agent and International Healthcare Facility Futurist, is the founder and president of “Care for Peace-International.” His new book, "The Care for Peace Manifesto: A Global Mandate to Secure the Second Human Evolution in Perpetuity,””
Jef identifies some healthcare projects in Myanmar, formerly Burma. Prior to the military junta seizing control, he had coordinated with Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in developing a grassroots set of health facilities from the bottom up to provide health care to large numbers of remote villages. To participate in lending a hand, people worldwide should join with thousands of faith-based groups, NGOs, businesses, educational institutions, etc. to help achieve the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals to eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, empower women and girls, and combat climate change. Also, Rotary International and the UN World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the CDC have made Herculean strides in eliminating the scourge of polio through the largest international health project: Polioplus.
Dr. Bob Flax, a psychologist, organization development consultant, educator and activist, is the former Executive Director of Citizens for Global Solutions, and an Advisor to The World Federalist Movement (WFM) - Institute for Global Policy. The WFM was founded in 1947 with the goal of creating a world federation to achieve world peace, human rights and preserve the environment. Three areas of interest were UN Reform, build global institutions and that world unity was necessary to deal with issues such as climate change, human trafficking or violations of human rights. This global institution would be more structured, have more authority and utilize binding international law as opposed to the loose amalgamation of current treaties and other international agreements. Today, the UN has a voluntary membership of 193 member states or countries that maintain their sovereignty. The WFM is an organization that advocates for a democratic world government of a world federalist system by expanding international organizations and moving towards a unified system of governance.
Craig Mokhiber, Director of the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights in New York, details how when the UN was established in 1945, the main goals were to eliminate the scourge of war, promote economic and social development and enhance human rights worldwide. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) defines the myriad of human rights and was adopted on December 10, 1948. It included all political, cultural, economic, social and civil rights. Eleanor Roosevelt, the US Constitution, the French Rights of Man and FDR’s Four Freedoms played a key role in developing the UDHR. To guarantee that there is balance and impartiality in evaluating a country’s human rights progress, periodically all 193 countries in the UN participate the Universal Periodic Review which is an evaluation of their human rights record. Human rights are under pressure in many areas around the world, including in the US with attacks on democratic institutions. No country has a perfect human rights record.
Steve Killelea, an Australian national, is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Charitable Foundation and the Institute for Economics and Peace. He had a successful career as an IT innovator and global philanthropist. In the pursuit of peace, he launched the Institute for Economics and Peace and the Global Terrorism Index. He has worked closely with Rotary International and the United Nations, two of the premier organizations striving for a more prosperous, equitable and peaceful world. He maintains that peace is a hard-to-describe transformational concept that can be defined simply as an absence of violence and fear of violence. The economic cost of violence to GDPs around the world is estimated to be in the tens of trillions of dollars.
Examples of the most peaceful countries would include Iceland, some of the Nordic countries and New Zealand. The USA and China are ranked in the mid-range, whereas some of the most violent are Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Brenden Varma has served as a United Nations spokesperson and political affairs officer for over 20 years in New York, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Mogadishu and Pristina. He currently serves as the Deputy Director of the UN Information Center in Washington, DC. The UN Information Center works to inform, educate and update a wide range of groups, such as environmentalists, governmental agencies, businesses, DC based international institutions and the public. Public Opinion Polls over the decades show that Americans normally support the UN, depending on the issue, from 38%-84%. UN agencies assist in moving aircraft, mail, ships and weather information in international space, as well as working with Rotary International to eliminate the scourge of polio, assisting Ukrainians, empowering women, combatting climate change and human trafficking and promoting human rights. The UN’s budget is smaller than that of the New York Police Department’s. All 8 billion people on the planet are positively affected daily by a myriad of UN agencies.
Chuck Collins is the Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he co-edits Inequality.org.
His 2021 book is titled, The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Spend Millions to Hide Trillions. His newest book is a novel, Altar to an Erupting Sun, which is a near-future story of one community facing climate disruption in the critical decade ahead. The protagonist, Rae, lays the primary responsibility on the doorstep of a small number of powerful people in the fossil fuel industries that have actively blocked meaningful responses. Another related study to climate change and income inequality shows that private jet travel of the ultra-wealthy adds to the harmful emissions that contribute to global warming and the taxpayers are subsidizing that industry for many wealthy people who do not need financial assistance. A corollary of the jet subsidy study and the novel is that the income inequality gap is growing dramatically. For example, Over the past 50 years, the highest-earning 20% of U.S. households have steadily brought in a larger share of the country’s total income. One percent owns 44% of the world’s wealth. Income inequality in the U.S. is the highest of all the G7 and OECD nations, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Many of the following actions help create greater income inequality: deregulation, decline of labor unions, AI and automation, PACs and dark money donated to politicians, subsidies to industries such as fossil fuels and offshore tax havens.
Steve Schlesinger, author of "Act of Creation: Founding of the United Nations," highlights how the UN has expanded to deal with problems such as diseases, regional conflicts, as well as moving aircraft, ships, mail and weather information worldwide. Since creating the UN, there has not been a WW3; although there were volatile conflicts such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, potential Cold War miscalculations and a weakening of the multilateral security system. Although it is an imperfect organization, the UN is critically necessary. If the UN did not exist today, it would have to be created tomorrow. The UN Security Council has been partially paralyzed; however, many UN agencies have been working on the ground to assist the Ukrainians, such as through the World Food Program, UNICEF, IAEA, UN Refugee Agency and the World Health Organization. The UN is not a one-world government, has no troops and is unable to tax to fund itself, yet its moral standing has an immense impact on promoting world peace and development.
Kerri Murray serves as President of the global disaster relief nonprofit, ShelterBox USA. Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter and life-saving items to more than 2.5M displaced people following more than 300 disasters in nearly 100 countries. ShelterBox has responded to earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis, or conflict situations. It collaborates with local partners and individuals such as Rotary Clubs and United Nations agencies, to customize each response, which can include disaster relief tents, tarps, blankets, cook sets, water filtration systems, emergency lighting, stoves, and other tools for survival. ShelterBox is the official project partner of Rotary International in disaster relief. ShelterBox was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 and 2019 for its humanitarian work in the world’s worst conflict situations. ShelterBox also currently has programs in Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. ShelterBox was founded in 2000 by a Rotary Club in Cornwall, England.
Mark Oettinger, Attorney and World Court of Human Rights Design Team Leader, discusses the concept of the World Court of Human Rights (WCHR). The concept was launched in 1947 when the UN was temporarily in Paris and was debating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which passed on December 10, 1948. The UDHR is often viewed as the “Constitution for the World,” having drawn upon concepts from the American “US Constitution” and the French “Rights of Man,” WCHR is viewed as the third leg of the Supranational Courts: ICC, ICJ and WCHR. The International Criminal Court, or ICC, was established by the UN, is not part of the UN System today and pursues criminal prosecution procedures against world leaders who have been charged with committing genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity It is intended to punish. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), one of the six organs of the UN, is a civil court which resolves disputes between and among nations when boundaries or treaties are contested, e.g., fishing rights between the US and Canada. WCHR’s major purpose is to intercede when major violations of human rights occur, e.g., Russians in Ukraine, Rohingyas in Myanmar, or Uyghurs in China. Funding for the WCHR is based on the percentage of wealth of an individual state, much as the funding arrangement at the UN today. Discussions are incubating at the UN as to how the WCHR would interact with the UN Human Rights Council, UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council.
Steve Killelea, an Australian national, is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Charitable Foundation and the Institute for Economics and Peace. He had a successful career as an IT innovator and global philanthropist. In the pursuit of peace, he launched the Institute for Economics and Peace and the Global Terrorism Index. He has worked closely with Rotary International and the United Nations, two of the premier organizations striving for a more prosperous, equitable and peaceful world. He maintains that peace is a hard-to-describe transformational concept that can be defined simply as an absence of violence and fear of violence. The economic cost of violence to GDPs around the world is estimated to be in the tens of trillions of dollars.
Examples of the most peaceful countries would include Iceland, some of the Nordic countries and New Zealand. The USA and China are ranked in the mid-range, whereas some of the most violent are Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Jared Yates Sexton is an author whose recent book is: "THE MIDNIGHT KINGDOM: A History of Power, Paranoia, and the Coming Crisis.” Mr. Sexton is also the host of The Muckrake podcast.The “Midnight Kingdom” starts very early in Western history and delineates how anti-democratic forces blossom and perpetuate lies, myths and rhetoric that protect entrenched power in the West. One major concern is the growing extremism of America’s right-wing and anti-liberal democracy movements, as recently exemplified by the violent January 6, 2021 insurrection that allegedly was invited, incited and partially coordinated by Donald Trump. The cycle of “protecting Western civilization” has continued throughout history and is maintained through oppression by white supremacy and patriarchal control. Additional fuel to exacerbate the problem is provided by extremist so-called news outlets, such as Fox, Newsmax and OAN that are pushing misinformation about the bogus threats of Critical Race Theory and WOKE issues, which are actually benign and non-threatening.
Dr. Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization, is a leader in highlighting this sanitation issue. Generally, humans use the toilet 6 to 8 times a day, however, over 2 billion people of the Earth’s 8 billion population do not have access to safe or sufficient toilet facilities and openly defecate. Two million people die each year from diarrhea. Dr. Sim has collaborated with a wide range of professionals to shine the spotlight on this, at times, sensitive topic by working with Bill Gates, Rotary International and several United Nations agencies. The UN has declared November 19 as World Toilet Day. Goal number 6, of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, has six outcome targets that include: Safe and affordable drinking water; end open defecation and provide access to sanitation, and hygiene, improve water quality, wastewater treatment and
Charles F. “Chic” Dambach, Global Peacebuilder and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, has a wide ranging career that includes being the former President of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, former President of the National Peace Corps Association, and past Chief of Staff for Congressman John Garamendi of California. His memoir, Exhaust the Limits, the Life and Times of a Global Peacebuilder, features a lifetime of service and successful initiatives for peace. Mr. Dambach highlights how peacebuilding is the responsibility of everyone, especially for members of the U.S. Peace Corps, Rotary International and the United Nations. Previously, Mr. Dambach was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, and he led a grassroots peacebuilding effort between Ethiopia and Eritrea in the 1990s. One hopeful trend today, as opposed to decades ago, is there are diverse educational programs on peacebuilding that are available to the general public so that people can learn helpful techniques to promote peace, and realize that there are no winners in a war.
John Feffer, author of Splinterlands, and director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, focuses on policies of the Trump and Biden Administrations. Support for Ukraine is critical to America’s interest. Donald Trump implemented several international policies that adversely affected the USA and endangered the world, such as withdrawing from the Iranian Nuclear Deal, the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accord. While the Biden Administration has had more positive policies, it needs to accelerate its efforts to bring Iran into a new nuclear deal, move more quickly to combat climate warming and re-prioritize its policies in dealing with the “international community.” For example, over $100 billion has been spent to support Ukraine, while only $2.5 billion has been dedicated to all of Latin America. Many of the apocalyptic predictions in the dystopian novel Splinterlands are unfolding today where some superpowers have fractured, global temperatures are soaring, the global economy is teetering and violent nationalism is rampant.
Suzanne Nossel is Chief Executive Officer of PEN America, and a leading voice on free expression issues in the United States and globally. She is the author of Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All. Over her ten-year tenure, she has established a Washington, D.C. office, and overseen groundbreaking work on free expression in Hong Kong and China, Myanmar, Eurasia, and the United States. She was Chief Operating Officer of Human Rights Watch, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, and a diplomat in the Obama and Clinton administrations, where her work focused on the United Nations. PEN America has been at the forefront of the defense of free expression in the current climate of spreading book bans, classroom gag orders and other attacks on free expression and free speech in education, both K-12 and colleges and universities. PEN America also focuses on suppression of freedoms in Iran and Russia’s attempt to eradicate the Ukrainian culture.
John R. Wilmoth, Director of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Population Division at the United Nations, discusses the role of DESA’s Population Division and the recent “World Social Report 2023: Leaving No One Behind in an Ageing World.”
Some of the findings indicate that people are living longer, for example the approximately 760 million people today above-65 will double by 2050, and the above-80 population will triple by 2050. This “demographic transition” shows a shift to longer lives, fewer births and smaller families. Spectacular improvements in health, survival and reductions in fertility have driven this momentous shift. The Covid-19 pandemic was detrimental in several ways, especially since life expectancy for the world dropped a precipitous 1.8 years. A major challenge is the lack of social protections systems that do not exist or are very limited in many countries. Population aging has been a remarkable success because life expectancies have increased, yet population growth is slowing.
Lynn Levine Greenky, Associate Teaching Professor at Syracuse University in the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies,authored “When Freedom Speaks: The Boundaries and the Boundlessness of our First Amendment Right. “Professor Greenky highlights the relationship of the First Amendment to our government, politics, and culture, especially in the areas of book banning, teacher and student speech, campus codes and cancel culture such as undertaken by Florida Governor DeSantis and Critical Race Theory demagogues. She delineates the difference between incitement and advocacy. For example, many of the January 6 insurgents who attacked the Capitol believed the election was stolen and were lied to by Donald Trump who, reportedly, admitted several times he had lost in a fair and free election to Joe Biden. First Amendment protections, freedom of assembly and a free press are critical to democracies that are under siege by anti-democratic forces such as those operating in the US, Brazil, the Philippines, Turkey and Hungary.
Dr. Chuck Powell is the CEO for Encompassing Leadership Associates, and is a member of the board of the Daisy Alliance which challenges the establishment view that nuclear weapons make the world more secure. Daisy Alliance’s goal is to change the conversation by reframing how nuclear weapons are viewed by both policymakers and the public. Previously, Dr. Powell was in the US Air Force and oversaw up to 150 nuclear warheads. Some of the major questions are do nukes make the world safer, should the US have a “No First Strike” policy and is it effective to invest a minimum of $634 billion over the next ten years to modernize an aging nuclear weapons system as, opposed to reducing nuclear stockpiles? Three of the most important mechanisms to reduce nuclear threats and create a safer world are the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs; the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT); and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
Olga Tokariuk, an independent journalist, is a fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in Oxford, England and a non-resident fellow at CEPA (Center for European Policy Analysis). Her professional interests include international relations and disinformation research. She details how resilient the Ukrainian people and military have been in confronting a more powerful Russian military. The former Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin tried to destroy the identity of Ukraine; much the same way Putin is. Putin felt emboldened to invade Ukraine because he received no repercussions for his aggressive behavior in Chechnya, Georgia and the Crimean Peninsula. Major efforts should focus on continuing sanctions and aid, and combatting the propaganda campaign by Putin to use a myriad of disinformation techniques, such as humor, to undermine Ukrainian resistance and Western resolve. The incoming Republican House of Representatives’ leaders have indicated that the US aid will be reduced and there will not be a “blank check” to confront Russian aggression, although no “blank check” currently exists.
Mark D. Walker, a Returned U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer from Guatemala, is President of Million Mile Walker. His most recent book is “My Saddest Pleasures.” A previous book was titled “Different Latitudes.” Mr. Walker discusses the philosophy of his Million Mile Walker through the celebration of international travel and literature, cross-cultural relationships, overseas development, philanthropy, and social justice. He shares his keen insight into 50-years on the road and some of the most valuable lessons learned. One unique experience was with a group of Rotarians during a coup d-etat in Bolivia. His Rotary coverage illustrates the importance of Rotary International, the United Nations and the US Centers for Disease Control to eradicate the scourge of polio worldwide. Additionally, he features PEN America and the importance of promoting the freedom of the press and our efforts to deal with the growth of the book-banning movement around the country and the world.
Dr. David Marchick, Dean of American University’s Kogod School of Business, hosted the popular Transition Lab podcast addressing presidential changes of power with the Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition. His most recent book is: The Peaceful Transfer of Power: An Oral History of America’s Presidential TransitionsThe acceptance of the results of a fair, free and democratic election, plus a seamless transition from one administration to the next, is crucial to a functioning and viable democracy. Attacks on democracy have become more prevalent, e.g., Orban in Hungary, Duterte in the Philippines, Erdogan in Turkey, Trump in the US. and Bolsonaro in Brazil, Ken Burns, the famous documentarian, suggested that it has been a miracle for the past 246 years that wthere were peaceful transitions, until the January 6, 2021 insurgency which was invited and incited by Donald Trump. The Presidential Transition Act requires outgoing administrations to pursue a professional transition.
Robert Bilott, an American environmental attorney and author, is known for lawsuits against DuPont on behalf of plaintiffs from West Virginia and has spent more than twenty years litigating hazardous dumping of dangerous chemicals, especially PFAS. His most recent book is Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer's Twenty-Year Battle Against DuPont? U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines a host of health effects associated with microscopic PFAS exposure, including cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease. This microscopic plastic pollution problem is foundbin thousands of products distributed worldwide. As with the fossil fuel and tobacco companies, many chemical companies had scientific studies showing the ill-effects of certain plastic pollution, however, that information was often not shared with the public. Mark Ruffalo, renowned actor and activist, portrayed Mr. Bilott in the movie Dark Waters. Last year, the United Nations held a major conference on plastic pollution—as well as several environmental conferences over the decades.
Liz Karan, Project Director of Protecting Ocean life on the High Seas with the Pew Charitable Trusts, highlights the challenges to protect the marine life and water quality in the oceans. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Treaty and the International Seabed Authority are the foundations for a comprehensive global approach to preserve biodiversity, prevent pollution and contamination of the oceans. The International Seabed Authority is working to develop the regulations for safe mining the seas to extract valuable ores, such as manganese nodules. Several countries, such as Chile and Costa Rica, are pushing to develop environmental regulations and guideline to prevent environmental disasters. Some countries want to ban deep-sea mining because, if not properly regulated, it can create environmental devastation. Recent United Nations Conferences on oceans and deep-sea mining have contributed to developing these critical guidelines.
Mark Stoll, a professor of history at Texas Tech University, teaches environmental history and the history of religion. His recent book is an environmental history of capitalism titled: “Profit: An Environmental History.” He explores the Capitalistic System and how it intersects with environmentalism. Over millions of years, Capitalism has evolved through a variety of stages, the last two being industrial and consumer Capitalism. Capitalism has been instrumental in raising the GDP, developing products to enhance longevity and improving the quality of life in most countries over the centuries. The main challenge is that an unbridled form of Capitalism may be at odds with the efforts to combat climate change and preserve the planet for future generations. How can the system be utilized to productively promote sustainability and not destroy the Earth through a series of miscalculations and initiatives that are counterproductive? Some form of Capitalism is pervasive in most economic systems today, so how can it be tweaked to be of greater assistance?
Ms. Izumi Nakamatsu is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. The Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) was established to work with and support United Nations member states to negotiate the peaceful uses of weapons of mass destruction to small arms. Currently, nine countries have nuclear weapons. The risk of accidental or purposeful use of nuclear weapons is the highest it has been since the Korean War. The UN is striving to provide incentives to reduce the nuclear stockpiles, especially since nuclear weapons could destroy life on the planet. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is a cornerstone to encourage non-nuclear states to use technology for peaceful purposes and the nuclear powers to reduce their stockpiles. The policy of No First Use has been under discussion for years. In order to reduce the potential nuclear risks, it is critical to involve women and youth in the decision-making process to help solve these thorny problems.
Philip Lymbery is Chief Executive of a leading international farm animal welfare organization called Compassion in World Farming. He was appointed an ambassadorial “Champion” for the United Nations Food Systems Summit in 2021. His most recent book is: “Sixty Harvests Left: How to Reach a Nature-Friendly Future.” Compassion in World Farming strives to reduce the inhumane treatment of animals who are removed from the land and put in factory farms that utilize overcrowded crates or feedlots. These animals no longer contribute to rejuvenating the soils. If the current depletion continues, it is quite probable that the world will have only 60 more harvests until the soil can no longer provide basic food supplies. Humans can choose to eat more plants, less meat and dairy, and use non-factory farm sources, pasture fed animals, regenerative and organic agriculture. The recent UN Environmental Conference focused on methane impacts from farming, and the heat, drought and flooding impacts of extreme weather on agriculture.
Professor Andrew Koppelman, a John Paul Stevens Professor of Law at Northwestern University, is the author of “Burning Down the House: How Libertarian Philosophy Was Corrupted by Delusion and Greed.” Libertarianism has deteriorated into a more doctrinaire form as espoused by Ayn Rand or Charles Koch. President Franklin Roosevelt dealt with a stock market collapse, bank failures and high unemployment which are some of the reasons for establishing a social safety net, such as Social Security. Libertarianism argues that people should be unencumbered, and shrinking the size of government and giving tax cuts will be beneficial. The climate crisis and Covid pandemic have proven these concepts inaccurate. Joe Biden has a coherent belief in both a free market and a governmental apparatus to help when the market fails. Donald Trump does not have a fixed philosophy but wants to assist his business colleagues, even if it endangers employees and the public. A balance should be reached between individual freedom and government overreach.
Patrick Sciarratta, President of the Global NGO Executive Committee, discusses how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) interface with the United Nations Department of Global Communication regarding issues to eliminate the devastation of war, promote economic and social development and enhance human rights. Many NGOs have Consultative Status at the United Nations with organs such as the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). One NGO that has been a major UN partner is Rotary International (RI). In 1987, Rotary invited some UN agencies, namely the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), along with the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), to form a unique public-private partnership to combat the scourge of polio. Other NGOs such as Kiwanis International and Lions International have collaborated with UN agencies on a wide-range of health and legal problems. Nearly 2,000 NGOs representing faith-based, businesses, environmentalists, labor, human rights, etc. groups are networking with the UN.
Kevin Cassidy, Director and Representative to the Bretton Woods and Multilateral Organizations of the UN’s International Labour Office for the US in Washington, DC., discusses the role of the ILO, which was created in 1919, in developing international standards, rights at work, employment and income opportunities, social protection, social dialogue and tripartite consultations with workers, employers and governments. He emphasized the importance of the Dignity of Work concept. Major trends in the work arena are climate change, Green Economy and clean energy. A “just transition” is imperative for all of the participants. Pay equity, violence and harassment and child care are the main impediments to women in the workforce. By incorporating the new approaches, it is possible to create an additional 100 million jobs and generate $26 trillion by 2030. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets are critical to preserve planet Earth and make it more habitable by eliminating poverty, overcoming hunger, empowering women and girls and combating climate change, just to mention a few.
Thom Hartmann, an American radio personality, author, former psychotherapist, businessman, and progressive political commentator, discusses his new book: “The Hidden History of Neoliberalism: How Reaganism Gutted America and How to Restore Its Greatness?” Neoliberalism ostensibly contributed to the transfer of $50 trillion from the middle class to the wealthiest 1%, as well as shifting 15 million jobs from the U.S. to Mexico and China. One suggestion to reduce this disparity and the vast income gap would be to adopt Alexander Hamilton’s 11-Point Plan for American Manufacturers. He argues that free trade is really managed trade by the large corporations. Another major player in perpetuating this myth and increasing income inequality is the US Congress. Several Supreme Court decisions exacerbated the situation with the Citizens United ruling, corporations being declared persons and money equated with free speech. The media, in general, has been radically altered with the loss of local ownership of media outlets, the demise of the Fairness Doctrine by Reagan in 1987 and the constant quest for viewers’ ratings and profits.
Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute, focuses on the threat of nuclear weapons in the world today. The use of nuclear weapons is incompatible with the development and survivability of living organisms and the planet as a whole. Elimination of nuclear weapons should be at the heart of the debate. Currently, over 13,000 nukes are maintained by 9 nuclear countries. Several suggestions were proffered as to how to reduce the likelihood of an accidental or purposeful exchange of nuclear weapons: the US should not move forward in spending over $1.3 trillion to modernize the aging nukes—stockpiles should be reduced; all countries at the UN should adopt a No Strike First policy; and international agreements, such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to reduce the nuclear threat should be strengthened and countries should adhere to their commitments. The US and Russia have over 75% of the nuclear weapons; whereas, the UK, France, China, Pakistan, India, North Korea and Israel have the remainder.
Katrina vanden Heuvel, the publisher, part-owner, and former editor of the magazine The Nation is a political commentator on various TV programs, a guest columnist for the Washington Post and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She emphasizes how President Franklin Delano Roosevelt helped found the UN out of the ashes of World War 2 and proffered the Four Freedoms (Freedoms of Speech and Worship and Freedoms from Want and Fear), which are arguably under siege by the former president, Donald Trump. Similar autocratic, anti-democratic insurgents are operating in Hungary, the Philippines, Brazil, Russia and several other countries. She highlights the major differences between the Trump (Unilateralist) and Biden (Multilateralist) foreign policies: it is in America’s interest to actively participate in UN agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Human Rights Council, as well as NATO and the EU. Although it was a strategic blunder by Donald Trump to withdraw from the Iranian Nuclear Deal, which actually was successful in blocking Iranian ambitions to develop a nuclear weapon, the Biden Administration has a responsibility to move more aggressively in reactivating the agreement. Other areas of importance are to maintain a strong military defense, reduce the bloated Defense Department budget and the disproportionate influence of the Military-Industrial Complex, provide assistance to veterans and develop more effective lines of communication and dialogue with adversaries such as China and Russia.
Dr. Chantal Line Carpentier, New York Office Chief for the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), discusses how UNCTAD serves as the United Nations focal point for trade and development, and for interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development. She stresses the importance of the Global Crisis Response Group, recently established by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, to develop strategies to confront trade and development challenges in Ukraine and other international hotspots, and the critical role that is played by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to empower women, combat climate change and eliminate poverty to mention only a few.
Dr. Alice Mah, Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick, has research interests in environmental justice, corporate power, and the politics of green industrial transformations. She is the author of “Plastic Unlimited: How Corporations Are Fuelling the Ecological Crisis and What We Can Do About It.” Dr. Mah focuses on how plastics are devastating to the environment, alternatives to plastics, shortcomings of recycling, electronic waste disposal, finite resources for an expanding population and demand, and the role of the United Nations Environment Programme’s recent plastics agreement adopted in Nairobi to curtail their uses, as well as the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the battle against the climate crisis.
“Swimming the Volga” is a distinctly personal account written by Brigadier General Peter B. Zwack {Ret.} that begins in 1989 (in the waning years of the Cold War) when as a young army Captain, he received both a Soviet visa and US approval to study Russian at a regional university in Kalinin. This occurred in Russia over the turbulent 1990s just before the rise of Vladimir Putin. General Zwack also highlights how the Russian “state of mind” has changed from 1989 to today, whether the US and Russia are moving to a new Cold War, unexpected consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, revitalization of NATO, red lines to avoid World War 3, and how—even with the UN Security Council being semi-paralyzed-- several United Nations agencies are playing a vital role in Ukraine, such as the UN World Food Program (WFP) , UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UN Children’s’ Fund (UNICEF), as well as his suggestions for ending the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.
Yasmine Sherif, Director of the United Nations Education Cannot Wait Program, highlights how Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. ECW supports and protects holistic learning outcomes – so no one is left behind. A recent Global Estimates Study revealed that there are now 222 million crisis-affected children and adolescents in need of urgent, educational support; a significant increase from the estimated 75 million children in 2016. The Ukraine crisis, the Yemen crisis, the Afghanistan crisis and so many other humanitarian emergencies around the world disrupt the education of millions of children every day. Education Cannot Wait has just launched an inspiring #222MillionDreams global campaign in the lead-up to ECW’s High-Level Financing Conference taking place on 16-17 February 2023.
Dr. Kevin Gallagher, director of the Global Policy Center at Boston University and co-author of “The Case for a New Bretton Woods: Reforming Global Economic Governance for Prosperity and the Planet,” focuses on how The Bretton Woods Institutions which are the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF ), both Specialized UN agencies, were set up at a meeting of 43 countries in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA in July 1944. Their principal aims were to help rebuild the devastated postwar economy, promote international economic cooperation and reduce poverty. The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The IMF encourages international financial cooperation by introducing a system of convertible currencies at fixed exchange rates and extends loans to countries that are experiencing economic distress to avoid or reduce financial crises.
Andrew Hudson, head of the UN Development Program's Water & Ocean Governance Program, elaborates on a major oceanic conference at the UN in June to confront challenges such as overfishing, plastic islands of debris, reef deterioration and water pollution. 4 April 2017
Dr. Daniel J. Pesut, an Emeritus Professor of Nursing, Past Director of Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership, and Katherine R. and C. Walton Lillehei Chair in Nursing Leadership at the University of Minnesota, highlights the challenges confronting the nursing profession and how foresight will be instrumental in strengthening the profession, especially by heeding the “Future of Nursing Report” that encourages creating a culture of health, reducing health disparities, improving nursing education, allowing nurses to develop a full scope of practice and improving the health and well-being of the U.S. population and others worldwide. Dr. Pesut addresses the critical role that is being played by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to promote better health and well-being, eliminate poverty, combat climate change and eradicate hunger, as a few examples.
Paula Caballero, Regional Managing Director for Latin America with the Nature Conservancy, discusses her recent book, “Redefining Development: The Extraordinary Genesis of the Sustainable Development Goals.” She provides an overview of the importance of the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) and the Sustainable Development Goals (2016-2030) in focusing on the economic, social and developmental aspects of eliminating poverty, empowering women and girls, combating climate change, developing sustainable cities and consumption, to mention only a few. A major impetus to launch the Sustainable Development Concept was the 1992 Rio de Janeiro United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) which unveiled Agenda 21, a blueprint for sustainable development activities by the private and public sectors.
Louis Charbonneau, United Nations Director at Human Rights Watch, highlights the critical role played by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other such entities to focus the spotlight on human rights violations in dangerous areas, such as the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, Sudan and Ukraine. Although the UN Security Council is paralyzed and needs to be reformed, some other major agencies of the UN are on the ground in Ukraine and are helping to keep millions of people alive. The UN Refugee Agency, which is assisting over 80-million refugees worldwide, is working with millions of Ukrainians who have been forced from their homes. A few other UN agencies in the war zones include the World Food Program, UNICEF and the International Atomic Energy Agency. The UN General Assembly voted to suspend Russia’s participation on the UN Human Rights Council, which humiliated Russia. Ironically, a large number of US media personalities reporting on the Ukrainian conflict do not understand the depth and breadth of the UN, and falsely equate the Security Council as the entire UN System.
Aaron S. Williams, an international development expert, former diplomat and 18th Director of the U.S. Peace Corps, recently authored his unique journey from the South Side of Chicago to working with the Peace Corps, USAID, Nelson Mandela and various UN agencies to lend a developmental hand to improve the lives of millions of people, and share his Peace Corps and USAID experiences in ” A Life Unimagined”: The Rewards of Mission-Driven Service in the Peace Corps and Beyond.”
Steve Schlesinger, a Fellow at the Century Foundation in New York City and the author of "Act of Creation: Founding of the United Nations,” highlighted how the UN was created after WW2 to primarily help provide peace and security. Today, with the almost geometric challenges confronting the UN and its 193-member states, the agenda has broadened to enhancing human rights, promoting economic and social programs, working with Rotary International to eliminate the scourge of polio, as well as working with countries to help move aircraft, ships, mail and weather information in international space. He contrasted the Donald Trump, First America-unilateral approach to Joe Biden’s inclusive-multilateral arrangement to combat diseases, climate change and regional conflicts, to mention a few. Mr. Schlesinger congratulated President Biden for re-joining the Paris Climate Accord, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Human Rights Council, all of which are programs that assist the USA and other countries. He contends that the UN is more relevant today than at any time in its history, what with the intractable, expansive problems confronting the world.
International Commerce at the University of Kentucky, discusses Vladimir Putin’s myriad of motivations for illegally invading Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of the United Nations and its main organs, especially the Security Council, General Assembly and International Court of Justice, to coordinate with the European Union, NATO and other institutions and countries in promoting peace and security in Ukraine and other volatile areas of the world. It appears that there is a counter-productive campaign of misinformation and disinformation by a variety of media outlets, such as some Fox personalities, as well as former president Trump to provide credibility and legitimacy to Putin’s illegal invasion. In the late spring, Dr. Hall’s most recent book with be published titled, “Examining US-China-Russia Foreign Relations: Great Power Politics in a Post-Obama Era. “
Eric Protzer, a research fellow at Harvard’s Growth Lab, recently co-authored an interesting and timely book titled “Reclaiming Populism: How Economic Fairness Can Win Back Disenchanted Voters.” He highlighted how economic unfairness and social mobility were far more influential than income inequality in creating the appearance of a “rigged system,” while explaining that many factors entered into this complicated discussion such as globalization, authoritarianism vs. democracy, anti-elitism, anti-populism, international trade agreements and media misinformation and disinformation.
https://www.globalconnectionstelevision.com/
Dr. Elizabeth Economy, author of “The World According to China,” showcases how China is striving to rejuvenate its vision of a great Chinese nation through a variety of programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative, which is an infrastructure plan that is developing airports, roads and other physical projects from China to Africa. Other issues broached included the possibility of China potentially filling a vacuum when Donald Trump, arguably mistakenly, withdrew from several UN agencies and agreements, such as the World Health Organization, the Paris Climate Accords and the Iranian Nuclear Deal; effectiveness of tariffs against Chinese products; and the need to have diplomatic dialogue between the US and China to avoid potential military conflict that many saber-rattling Hawks and some elements of the Military-Industrial-Complex are encouraging.
Dr. Jonathan Gosling, Emeritus Professor of Leadership Studies at the University of Exeter and an international expert on leadership formation, sustainable development, and many other critical issues, describes in his recent book: “Deep Adaptation: Navigating the Realities of Climate Chaos” how it is critical to prepare for the negative aspects of climate change and promote sustainable development, while utilizing the resources from previous United Nations Climate Conferences, the Paris Accords, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
https://www.globalconnectionstelevision.com
Dr. John Arquilla, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Defense Analysis at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, highlights his recent book titled “Bitskrieg: The Challenge of Cyberwarfare,” and explains the importance of confronting cybersecurity threats and a potentially emerging international “Cool Cyber War” that could spiral out of control.
Jennifer Jones, who will be the first woman president of Rotary International in 2022, discusses key programs pertaining to diversity, peace, and the environment, and highlights the importance of partnerships, such as with the United Nations, US Peace Corps, the CDC and Partnering for Peace, especially on major programs such as Polioplus.
Dr. Dot Maver, educator, peacebuilder and founding president of the National Peace Academy USA focuses on a wide range of peace initiatives such as a 2021 Peace Education Conference, the UN International Day of Peace and the importance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Michael Butter, Professor of American Literary and Cultural History at the University of Tübingen and author of “The Nature of Conspiracy Theories,” explains how these concepts are dangerous in spreading disinformation and undermining democratic institutions worldwide, such as the Trump Insurgency on January 6, 2021, QAnon, Fox, Newsmax, OAN and other right-wing outlets.
William Shields, Executive Director of the American Society for Public Administration, identifies how well-trained public administrators are critical to every society, as well as to how Donald Trump bungled the anti-Covid-19 campaign and incited insurrectionists to attack American democracy, the constitutional process and attempt a coup to overthrow a free and fair election.
Dr. Tom Tuttle, former Director of the University of Maryland Center for Quality and Productivity in College Park, suggests rethinking the traditional approach to economic development and highlights the importance of a vibrant democracy to the success of America, especially in light of the Trump-inspired January 6 insurgency to overthrow a fair and free election and the dysfunctional role of some media outlets such as Fox, OANN and Newsmax, in weakening democratic institutions in the US and worldwide.
TAGS: economic development, quality management, Donald Trump, alternative facts, Republican Party, anti-democracy, January 6 insurgency, Fox News, right-wing media, treason
Director of the Center for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity and Professor of Sustainable Development at University of Surrey in the UK; Author of the book "Post Growth: life after capitalism."
Nathan Bomey, “USA Today” Reporter and Author of "Bridge Builders: Bringing People Together in a Polarized Age," posits that the task of bridge builders who promote successful communication between polarized groups is made more difficult due to the potentially large amount of misinformation and disinformation often propagated by media outlets such as Fox and OAN.
John Cavanagh, Former Director of the Institute for Policy Studies and author of “The Water Defenders: How Ordinary People Saved a Country from Corporate Greed," explains how people in El Salvador banned mining to save the rivers and protect environmental areas from economic plunder by large mining corporations.
Dr. Andrei Tsygankov, Author of "Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry" and a Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at San Francisco State University, describes how Russia and the US could reduce tensions regarding Ukraine, NATO and their nuclear arsenals, as well as analyzing the cozy relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
John Feffer, Author of Splinterlands and Director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, contrasts the Trump and Biden Administrations, especially with Biden’s positive policies on climate crisis, human rights, utilizing UN programs and nuclear nonproliferation--while Trump's policies weakened America and incited an illegal insurgency on January 6.
Ian Williams, President of the Foreign Press Association and author of “UNtold: The Real Story of the United Nations in Peace and War," discusses how the UN has changed over the past 76-years in peacekeeping, war and peace, human rights and economic and social development.
Chuck Collins, author of “The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions,” discusses economic inequality and how the ”Wealth Defense Industry” uses a wide range of trusts, foundations, offshore shell companies and fake losses to hide over $30 trillion from being taxed.
Xiao Yin Zhao, Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana, highlights the importance of learning more about people around the world, especially through programs such as Global Citizenship Education, Guest Speakers, International Visitors and the Sister Cities Programs.
Tom Blatner, President of both JANUS Solutions and the Family Success Institute, focuses on role of master capacity builders and the UN in confronting major problems such as the climate crisis, children's challenges, income inequality, and the inability to unite and overcome conflict, division and hatred that was exacerbated by Donald Trump.
Dr. Gerald Friedman, Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts and Author of "The Case Of Medicare For All," delineates how the US health care arrangement, in comparison to others such as in Japan, the UK or France, is one of the most expensive systems that is not as comprehensive, efficient nor effective as many of the others.
Katrin Kohl, Professor of German at the University of Oxford and Author of "Modern Languages: Why It Matters,"
describes the importance of all 7,100 languages in the world and the value of learning other languages, even though English is the predominant lingua franca of communication worldwide at this point in time.
Dr. Magdalena de la Teja, Former Vice President for Student Development Services at Tarrant County College, Northeast Campus in Texas, explains how students will develop new skills to effectively operate in an interdependent, interrelated and complex world and confront problems as income inequality, racism and climate change.
Ruben Nelson, Executive Director of Foresight Canada, focuses on the climate change crisis, the Sixth Extinction, clean energy and the potential disintegration of society.
Stewart Levine, Resolutionary and Author of “Agreements for Results,” offers suggestions as to how the United Nations, governments, the private sector and the general public can resolve thorny differences when confronting the climate crisis, income inequality, gender equity and systemic racism.
Professor Felix Dodds, Author of “Stakeholder Democracy-Represented Democracy in a time of Fear,” delineates the challenges to achieving a sustainable, participatory democracy, especially in light of the recent assault by insurrectionists inspired by Donald Trump to overthrow a free and fair election.
Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Former Peace Corps Director and President of both Project Concern International and Global Communities, details how these organizations utilize many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and develop programs to empower women and girls and combat poverty and hunger.
David Swanson, Author and Executive Director of WorldBeyondWar.org, focuses on why war is immoral, endangers the planet, threatens our environment, impoverishes people, and consumes over $2 trillion each year.
Alana DeJoseph, Producer and Director of “A Towering Task: A Peace Corps Documentary,” focuses on the importance of the United States Peace Corps, many of its humanitarian and educational programs, unique situations confronting thousands of American Peace Corps Volunteers working in over sixty-economically developing countries and challenges in producing a documentary to showcase the US Peace Corps.
Rachel Pittman, Executive Director of the United Nations Association of the USA, updates how UNA-USA provides objective information to Americans as to how the US benefits from US leadership at the UN in a wide-range of agencies that deal with health, peacekeeping, education and human rights, just to mention a few.
John Hewko, General Secretary and CEO of Rotary International, discusses the unique partnership with the United Nations, programs such as Polioplus and how the 1.2 million Rotarians are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic while carrying out the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”
Dr. Jane Goodall, a UN Messenger of Peace, discusses climate change and its negative implications. Dr. Jane Goodall, a native of England, spent many years studying the chimps of Gombe in Tanzania.
https://www.globalconnectionstelevision.com/video-gallery/2014/10/5/dr-jane-goodall
Dr. Michael Cairo, Professor of Political Science at Transylvania University, focuses on the vast disparities between the Israelis and Palestinians, plus how the Trump Administration created more chaos and suffering by defunding the UN Relief Works Agency, moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem and tacitly recognizing illegal Israeli settlements, which combine to make a two-state solution more difficult to achieve.