WORKING TO ACHIEVE A PEACEFUL SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FREE FROM THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Dear Friends,

The integrity of promises is essential to the stability of human relationships at all levels. When promises become empty trust is lost. 

Before the commencement of the trial of Donald Trump, President of the United States, in the Senate, oaths of impartiality were taken. It is important that this commitment be fulfilled. Cicero and Aristotle were correct in asserting the destruction of good faith in language destroys the intercourse of humanity.

I suggest a method of dealing with this challenge in a recent article in The Hill, an influential Washington-focused non-partisan news publication. If you find it worthwhile please share it.

The law review article published in the Southwestern Journal of International Law entitled Pacta Sunt Servanda: Nuclear Weapons and Global Secure Sustainable Development ,  focuses primarily on commitments made pursuant to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, but begins by stating this same principle of integrity: "Pacta Sunt Servanda is Latin for 'Agreements Must Be Kept.' This maxim is one of the most ancient foundations of law itself... It is inextricably connected to good faith...Nations cannot work together nor commerce flourish without confidence in the integrity of promises. International stability and development at every level of society, including addressing poverty, depend on this principle." 

In 1939, Alan Cranston, later U.S Senator and founder of the Global Security Institute, issued early warnings of the dangers of Hitler. We are approaching a special anniversary of a special annotated version of Mein Kamp which exposed Hitler's underlying plans. His insights, as always, provide invaluable perspective on the events taking place around us today.



Warmly,
Jonathan Granoff
President, Global Security Institute
Senior Advisor and Special Representative to the UN for the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates

As President Donald Trump's impeachment trial opened, Chief Justice  John Roberts  swore in all the members of the U.S. Senate who made an oath to "do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me God.”  The oath is not an empty ritual; it's a Constitutional requirement whose integrity must be enforced.

If a senator raises his or her right hand and mouths the words, but really means, “This is a political process and I don’t take my promise to be impartial seriously,” that's false swearing. We can't pretend it doesn't matter. Such cynicism degrades the process and the rule of law, which rest upon the integrity of words — oaths, contracts, treaties, and the Constitution.

Before taking the oath, several senators made prejudicial statements indicating they won't abide by it, don't want to hear any more evidence, and are anything but impartial.

“Everything I do during this [process], I'm coordinating with White House counsel,”  said  Sen.  Mitch McConnell  (R-Ky.). “There is no chance the president is going to be removed from office," he added, openly admitting “I’m not impartial about this at all.”

“I have made up my mind,”  said  Sen.  Lindsey Graham  (R-S.C.), “I’m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here,” he added, promising to make impeachment “die quickly.” Other senators in both parties have  declared  which side they’re on, and how they'll vote.

Admitting to partisan bias is one thing: It's honest. 

Seeking a predetermined verdict and precluding admission of material witnesses and evidence is something else: It violates the oath...
T he Pope and the Bomb: Beyond Deterrence
Conference: Georgetown University, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs
January 31, 2020
At the conference, experts will address challenges and solutions to the current crisis in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, with reference to Pope Francis’s condemnation of current policies. 

Pope Francis , in an address in Hiroshima November 24, 2019, declared that “the use of atomic energy for purposes of war is today, more than ever, a crime not only against the dignity of human beings but against any possible future for our common home.”

This workshop will address the current state of nuclear geopolitics, alternative approaches to nuclear disarmament, and moral and pastoral implications of the Catholic Church’s evolving position on deterrence and nuclear disarmament.

GSI President Jonathan Granoff will be speaking at the event, as will three distinguished members of GSI's Nonpartisan Security Group , Ambassadors  James Goodby  and  Bonnie Jenkins  and  Professor David Koplow.  RSVP is required.
 

Alan Cranston and Mein Kampf --
a Special Anniversary of his Warning
Senator Alan Cranston, founder of Global Security Institute, left, with Canadian Foreign Secretary Lloyd Axworthy, Michael Douglas, Jonathan Granoff, and Senator Douglas Roche, in 2000

The generation that saw the rise of Fascism in Europe first-hand, is sadly, thinning out. In 1939, before he ever ran for his first office, was a young journalist in Germany.

When he returned to the U.S. from abroad, Cranston was astonished to see a "sanitized" version of Mein Kampf in distribution in the United States. He published his own annotated version, u sing Hitler’s own words from the original Nazi manifesto, correctly translated, to expose the full measure of Hitler's evil ideology, chilling anti-Semitism, and plans for world domination. The American publisher of Mein Kampf sued for copyright infringement, and won. Publication of Cranston's book was halted. But clearly Mr. Cranston was just getting started.

January 23 is the anniversary of that court decision. In recognition of Alan Cranston's insight and integrity even as a 24 year old journalist, Lorraine Tong, Senator Cranston's Foreign Policy Legislative Aide and Advisor, has made her book on this chapter in the Senator's life available for free as an e-book through Amazon. Click the buttons below for more information.

On January 28, 2020 GSI President will be presenting testimony before the New York City Council on behalf of Move the Nuclear Money campaign, of which GSI is a founding member, in support of the creation of an Advisory Committee to examine nuclear disarmament issues, particularly in reference to the City of New York. If you are interested in attending please contact Christian Ciobanu, at christian@gsinstitute.org or by phone at 646 281 5170. 

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