Dear Friends,

In this newsletter, we are pleased to share a wide variety of relevant information ranging from matters of conscience to the most pressing geopolitical concerns of the moment. We hope you find this material valuable. 

With Respect,

Jonathan Granoff,

President, Global Security Institute

If Israel Wants Peace, It Must Break Away From Netanyahu’s ‘Clean Break’ Doctrine

Israel’s conduct in Gaza arises from failed policy thinking and must change fast. It has no choice but to respond to the Oct. 7 attacks and eliminate the threat of Hamas, but it can’t afford to ignore the needs and perceptions of Palestinian civilians. Excessive militarism will increase suffering, provoke antisemitism and spread violence across the region. However, advancing a route to statehood with dignity and security for Palestinians will enhance Israel’s security.

Once people come to believe that they have a better future with an insurgency than with a perceived colonial interloper, they will not align themselves with the interloper, no matter how much military force and injury is imposed on them. This is the lesson of Vietnam, Algeria and Afghanistan, and could even be drawn from the American Revolution.

EVENTS

The Sentinel Missile Project: Risks and Costs

The new US land-based nuclear missile program, Sentinel, is experiencing major cost overruns. This provides an opportunity to revisit the decision to deploy the Sentinel missiles to replace the existing Minuteman III land-based missiles. Congress should terminate funding for the Sentinel program. Land-based missiles are vulnerable to attack, triggering a “use them or lose them” dilemma; deploying a new generation of missiles is contrary to commitments the US made under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and their use would violate the international law of armed conflict; and there are better uses for the vast sums of money involved. A statement was released in May 2024 by the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy (LCNP) was co-signed by Global Security Institute President Jonathan Granoff, who is also a Board Member of LCNP.

OPINIONS OF GSI EXPERTS

Alexei Navalny: “Russia Will be Happy and Free. I Do Not Believe in Death.”

"The death of Alexei Navalny in one of Vladmir Putin’s terrible prison camps in the Arctic Circle is a tragedy for the world," writes Global Security Institute Board  of Directors  Member, Amb. Thomas Graham, with co-author David Bernell. Ambassador Graham’s analysis of the Putin administration is founded on years of negotiating numerous treaties and agreements with the Soviet Union and then Russia. His insights are unique because of his numerous successes as a diplomat. 

PEACE

Fostering Peace Through Demining

Launch of DialogueNEXT: Addressing Legal, Moral, and Practical Relationship Between Food Security and Land Mines.

In alignment with its mission to elevate innovation and inspire action to enhance  human security and the availability, quantity and quality of food for all, the World Food Prize Foundation regularly convenes food security advocates at the state, national and global level. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken followed the tradition of his predecessor Secretaries of State in explaining the endeavor at 38 minutes and 22 seconds.

GSI’s friend and colleague Heide Kuhn who leads Roots of Peace received its prestigious award last year and was honored at the DialogueNEXT event held at the Department of State’s  U.S. Institute of Peace on March 26, 2024. The entire day was dedicated to highlighting the critical role of women in global food security under the theme Seeds of Equity: Women Driving Growth and Innovation in Agriculture and featured a special collaboration with Roots of Peace. 

At the event Global Security Institute President, Jonathan Granoff, joined a panel titled "Fostering Peace Through Demining," that discussed the legal, practical, and moral implications of landmines and the importance of upholding the rule of law in international affairs, including the United States joining the landmine convention. 

The event was attended by several US Senators, Senior Administration Officials, and experts from around the world. Please note the presentations by the woman de mining leaders from Angola who directly follow Mr. Granoff’s presentation. 

Panelists:

• Karen Chandler, Director of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM), U.S. Department of State
• Sarah Goring, Country Director, Mines Advisory Group (MAG) Vietnam
• Jonathan Granoff, President, Global Security Institute
• Janete Malichi, Deputy Team Leader, Mines Advisory Group (MAG) 
• Ngoie Mulunda Grace, Team Leader, Mines Advisory Group (MAG)
• Luis Linares, Foreign Service Officer at U.S. Department of State (Translator)

EVENTS

United Nations International Day of Conscience, 2024
World Leaders Summit of Love and Peace

The United Nations plays an important role in fostering intercultural dialogue. Conscious of the need for the creation of conditions of stability and well-being and peaceful and friendly relations based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, the General Assembly has resolved that 5 April be the International Day of Conscience. For further information on the United Nations International Day of Conscience please click here.

The General Assembly has invited all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, as well as the private sector and civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to build the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience.

This year at the formal event at the United Nations celebrating the International Day of Conscience Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute, spoke shortly after Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, H.E. Mohan Pieris, who lauded the organizers for pursuing the achievement of world peace with nothing more than the most powerful human emotion that we are born with: the power of love.

Building a Culture of Peace Through Conscience

A virtual and in-person event was held on April 5, 2024 at the Baha’i Center in New York on International day of Conscience, where participants discussed the topic of “Building the Culture of Peace with Love & Conscience.” The speakers discussed the importance of conscience in creating a better world and reflected on the significance of conscience in various aspects of life, including law, medicine, religion, and financial systems. Conscience is defined as the human capacity to find the “why” and bring values into action, acting as a spiritual compass. Spiritual disciplines, such as love, charitability, and treating others with respect, were emphasized as essential in developing a compassionate conscience.

Human Security Equips Parliamentarians For Peace Building and Conflict Prevention

The Interparliamentary Union is the world’s premier organization of the world’s legislative bodies with senior participation of 180 nations. 

The 148th session of the IPU Assembly convened in Geneva, Switzerland from March 23 to 27, 2024, drawing participation from numerous parliamentarians worldwide. Central to the agenda was the exploration of “Parliamentary Diplomacy: Fostering Peace and Mutual Understanding.” GSI’s  President Jonathan Granoff, addressed the topic of “Human Security: Empowering Parliamentarians for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding.” He joined a panel of experts organized by the United Nations Human Security For All (HS4A) initiative and the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS).

We believe as Senator Alan Cranston used to say, “Nuclear weapons are unworthy of civilization.” We research, write, convene, and  work on many levels, from heads of state to public advocacy and need your strong economic support to succeed.

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