A Message from the President of Global Security Institute

January is a time to reflect on the past year and present a vision for progress for the coming period. This is the report of a small civil society organization's contributions to help end the unacceptable risks presented by the deployment of nuclear weapons in the pursuit of national security. Hopefully it will inspire everyone, especially those with greater power and capacity, to stronger, more effective actions.
In the affairs of nations, sometimes change is rapid, like the ending of the Cold War, and sometimes it is takes too long, like the ending of international violence in Europe. It is worthwhile to note, when possible, a starting point when the vision for change was put in place. It is that vision that helps the wise have a compass point for action at the opportune time.

Victor Hugo set forth an inspiring vision at the opening address to the Peace Congress in Paris, August 21, 1849:
A day will come when your arms will fall even from your hands! A day will come when war will seem as absurd and impossible between Paris and London, between Petersburg and Berlin, between Vienna and Turin, as it would be impossible and would seem absurd today between Rouen and Amiens, between Boston and Philadelphia. A day will come when you France, you Russia, you Italy, you England, you Germany, you all, nations of the continent, without losing your distinct qualities and your glorious individuality, will be merged closely within a superior unit and you will form the European brotherhood, just as Normandy, Brittany, Burgundy, Lorraine, Alsace, all our provinces are merged together in France. A day will come when the only fields of battle will be markets opening up to trade and minds opening up to ideas. A day will come when the bullets and the bombs will be replaced by votes, by the universal suffrage of the peoples, by the venerable arbitration of a great sovereign senate which will be to Europe what this parliament is to England, what this diet is to Germany, what this legislative assembly is to France. A day will come when we will display cannon in museums just as we display instruments of torture today, and are amazed that such things could ever have been possible.
It took nearly a century and the carnage of two world wars for substantive progress in realizing this vision. Today, we share with President Obama and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the moral and practical imperative of achieving “the security of a world free of nuclear weapons” which would be a “public good of the highest value.” We believe we do not have the gift of a century for its achievement. We urge you to help make this vision a reality before time runs out.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Granoff
Global Security Institute, President