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

GSI ADVISORY BOARD

New Book Explores the Intersection of God and Nuclear Weapons

Bishop William E. Swing, founder of the United Religions Initiative has released a thought-provoking new book titled "God and Nuclear Weapons: Meditations at the End of the Atomic Age."

This timely and relevant book delves into the complex relationship between belief in a life-creating God and the reality of a life-denying nuclear arsenal. While life teeters on the edge of extinction, this book offers the full biblical scope of hope in the face of extinction.

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We are also honored to welcome Bishop Swing as the newest member of the Advisory Board of the Global Security Institute. With his deep commitment to peace, interfaith dialogue, and ethical leadership, Bishop Swing brings a wealth of wisdom and insight to our work. His extensive experience as the founder and president of the United Religions Initiative and his longstanding advocacy for global cooperation and understanding will greatly enrich our efforts in advancing comprehensive approaches to global security. 

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We are confident that his visionary perspective will help guide us in addressing the complex challenges of our time and strengthen our mission to build a more peaceful and secure world.

RECENT SERMON

Asteroids and Nuclear Weapons: Dinosaurs and Humans

"I’d like to preach about dinosaurs today," says Bishop William E. Swing. "The last of them died – perhaps – 66 million years ago. How did they die? Perhaps, by an asteroid, about the size of Mt. Everest. Today, nine nations of the world are creating enough asteroids – nuclear weapons – to guarantee that humans become extinct." Read Bishop Swing's full sermon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, CA, delivered on 15 September.

Nuclear Danger is Growing. Physicists of the World, Unite!

Physicists have been central to imagining, developing, constructing and advancing nuclear weapons ever since the idea of a nuclear chain reaction came to Leo Szilard in 1933. Over the subsequent 90 years, physicists have also been an important force in global efforts aimed at confronting the nuclear threat they created, through the promotion of nuclear arms control and disarmament.

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Frank N. von Hippel, an Advisory Board Member of The Global Security Institute and professor of Public and International Affairs emeritus at Princeton University, joined fellow nuclear disarmement advocates in an article for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to explore the role of physicists in the 1950s, and their increasingly important role in the arms race today. 

HUMAN SECURITY

UN Exhibition: “MULTIPLICITY: Threats, Partnerships, and Stories of Success”

On June 19, 2024, Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute addressed a gathering of diplomats and UN officials at a reception accompanying an exhibition at the United Nations on the theme of Human Security.

The exhibition was organized by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) and co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Costa Rica, Italy, Japan, Romania, Senegal, and Slovenia, and in partnership with the Group of Friends of Human Security.

The exhibit transformed the visitor’s lobby to raise awareness on the complex challenges we face and the pivotal importance of human security and its application in promoting solidarity and collaboration across and within countries to better serve people, planet, peace, prosperity, and partnerships.

Through technology-driven immersive experiences, “MULTIPLICITY” highlights real-world examples of ongoing efforts from the local to the national, regional, and global level to advance Sustainable Development Goals, promote peace and stability, and address current and emerging challenges through the human security lens.

Mr. Granoff, as a Trustee and Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, was very engaged in its partnership program with the United Nations this past year on the the theme of Human Security for All (HS4A) and directs your attention to its thorough report on this campaign.

Further reading on Human Security:

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'National Security' is Too Crude to Protect Us From Pandemics. It's Time to Shift to Human Security Instead — Newsweek

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Human Security: Virtuous, Practical, Urgent, and Necessary — Horizons Magazine

OBITUARY

Ambassador Sérgio Duarte: A Lifetime Champion for Nuclear Disarmament

Ambassador Sérgio Duarte, Advisory Board member to The Global Security Institute and Former UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs 

passed away in July 2024 at the age of 90. 

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A distinguished Brazilian diplomat and a steadfast advocate for nuclear disarmament, his diplomatic career spanned over five decades. He served as Brazil's Ambassador to multiple nations and played a vital role in international non-proliferation efforts. He was notably the United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs from 2007 to 2012, where he championed the cause of global nuclear disarmament with unparalleled commitment and eloquence.

Renowned for his diplomatic acumen and deep understanding of international security, Duarte was a guiding force in shaping dialogues that sought a world free of nuclear weapons. His legacy includes pivotal contributions to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conferences. A tireless advocate for peace and multilateralism, Duarte’s work continues to inspire those striving for a safer, more just world. The Global Security Institute will miss his enthusiastic and tireles efforts in building a safer world. 

INSIGHT

Nuclear weapons are big business, and the beneficiaries of that business want to keep it that way. The official justification for spending vast sums on developing and deploying nuclear weapons is their role in deterring other nations from attacking the United States.  

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But that’s not the only thing driving the Pentagon’s plan to spend up to $2 trillion over the next three decades building a new generation of nuclear–armed bombers, missiles, and submarines. There is a powerful network of corporations, government bureaucracies, members of Congress, and key communities that derive economic benefits from the perpetuation of the nuclear–industrial complex.

Early this year, the Air Force notified Congress that the proposed Sentinel program—which would replace every single US nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and update related infrastructure—would be at least 37% more expensive than the previous estimate in September 2020. After another round of review, the program’s estimated costs have further ballooned to $140.9 billion, an 81% increase from the 2020 estimate.

EVENTS

The UN Summit of the Future, taking place in New York from September 22-23, provides an important opportunity to enhance the peaceful resolution of international conflicts, strengthen the rule of law and advance nuclear disarmament to help protect the lives and wellbeing of current and future generations. The Global Security Institute is a Founding Member of UNFOLD ZERO and lists below all their events at the summit for your reference:

1. Sep 19: 9.00 - 14.30. Launch of "A Second Charter - Modernizing the UN for a New Generation". 
   866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120. Hybrid event. Contact Ana Novoa Jerez.
2. Sep 19. 10:30-12:00. A Seat at the Table: Why Future Generations Need Institutional Representation. 
   Church Center United Nations, 777 UN Plaza. Hybrid. Contact Marie Biermann.
3. Sep 20: 10:00-11:30. Building a More Just Future: Buttressing Our International Judicial Architecture. 
   Conference room 6A, Open Society Foundation, 224 W 53rd Street. Hybrid event. Contact Rebecca Shoot.
4. Sep 21. 9:45-11:00. What’s next for Global Governance? ImPACT Coalitions’ Recommendations for the Summit of the Future. 
   In-person with possibility of live-stream. UN Conference Room 6. Contact Heba Aly.
5. Sep 21. 12:00 - 14:15. Room for Optimism: A Precondition for Success in Challenging Times. 
   UN Conference Room CR6. In-person only. Contact Dan Perell.
6. Sep 23. 12:00-12:40. WFM and MEGA Live from the Summit of the Future. 
   Reporting on the Summit from 43rd Street in front of the UN. Online. Contact Alyn Ware.
7. Sep 23: 10:30-12:00. Beyond Sustainability: Shaping Institutions to Safeguard the Rights of Future Generations. 
   Open Society Foundation, 224 W 53rd Street. In-person only. Contact: Marie Biermann
8. October 1. From the Summit of the Future to a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. 
   Online in two sessions. Session 1 (timed for Asia/Pacific). Session 2 (timed for the Americas, Africa and Europe)

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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