BULLETIN OF THE WORLD CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
(AUSTRALIA)
Issue One Volume One
Autumn 2004
INSERT CREDO HERE WHEN AGREED UPON
Highlights of this Edition:
President’s Message;
WCA formed! Officers introduced. P. 2
World pendulum;
The world is moving closer to conflict and war than unity. P. 4
Local News;
WCA formed! P.6
International news;
Citizens for global solutions becomes a reality P. 7
Topic of the day;
Should we merge? P.8
Famous internationalists of the past;
Confucius argued that one day “all within the four seas will
become brothers”. P.9
Advertisements;
Some opportunities for world citizens. P. 10
Contacts:
President: Chris Hamer, C.Hamer@unsw.edu.au
34 Caravan Head Rd, Oyster Bay NSW 2225
(02) 9528 8675
Secretary: Michael de Mol, M.demol@unsw.edu.au
Editor: Lyndon Storey, lyndonstorey@hotmail.com
1
Welcome From the Editor:
Welcome to the first edition of the WCA (Australia) bulletin. The world
has many wrongs but they can be righted if people realise they are
citizens of humanity and work together to build world solutions to world
problems.
Hopefully this little bulletin can contribute a small part to the necessary
reforms. Its goal is to keep members informed of events and currents of
thought within the WCA and similar organizations and to encourage
interest and debate in becoming a world citizen generally. The bulletin
will also contain opinion pieces on world affairs, and discussions of
famous thinkers and issues connected to world citizenship. All members
of the WCA are welcome to suggest or contribute anything they would
like to see in this bulletin, and of course to offer articles and letters for
publication.
The highlight of this bulletin is, of course, the actual formation of the
WCA. The Bulletin and the WCA are both young now but hopefully we
are all sharing in the beginning of a process which will grow into
something truly worthwhile; the building of a better world. Welcome to all
new readers and members.
President’s Message:
Well, one way or another we have started our little venture. I would like
to give my warmest thanks to all those who gave up their time to come
along to our inaugural meeting. Almost one-third of our membership
attended, which is a pretty good result!
Some time was spent at the inaugural meeting in discussing plans for
future activities. It was pointed out that a World Citizens Day would
provide an ideal focus for our activities, if such a thing exists! If not, it
will be necessary for us to invent one, perhaps during UN week. Don
Maclurcan advises me that World Human Rights Day is Dec 10, and the
UN
ran
a
‘Global
Governance
Day’
in
2000
(see
http://proliberty.com/observer/20000804.htm )
If we were to organize a public talk or discussion, it would need to be in
cooperation with another organization in order to boost audience
numbers: e.g. CPACS or the UN Society. I have talked to the President of
the UN Society on the UNSW campus, which has going on for 700
members statewide, and they would be pleased to cooperate on a joint
venture.
Elsewhere in this bulletin, there is an advertisement for a
media/publicity officer. If anyone would be willing to attempt this
2
difficult but very valuable task, please let me know. Also, there is a
discussion of the possibility of merging with a similar organization
overseas. Can I ask all members to think over this question, and send me
their vote on the question?
My thanks also to those who have agreed to give their time as officers of
the association. To introduce them to our other members, some
thumbnail profiles are given below:
President: Chris Hamer. Associate Professor in the School of Physics at
UNSW. Was formerly active in Scientists Against Nuclear Arms (SANA).
Teaches a general studies course on “Nuclear Arms and the New World
Order”. Has written a book on the principles of world federalism, “A
Global Parliament”.
Contact: C.Hamer@unsw.edu.au Phone: (02) 9385 4590 (W), (02) 9528
8675 (H)
34 Caravan Head Rd, Oyster Bay NSW 2225
Vice-President: Don Maclurcan. PhD student in the Institute for
Nanoscale Technology at the UTS in Sydney. His research assesses the
potential and considerations for medical nanotechnology and healthcare
in developing countries. Member of the NSW Human Rights Education
Committee, based at CPACS.
Contact: Donmaclurcan@hotmail.com Phone: (02) 9514 7950
www.nano.uts.edu.au/Maclurcan
Secretary: Michael de Mol. Senior Technical officer in the School of
Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) at UNSW. Member
of the Baha’i faith, which started in the 19th century in Iran, and now
has about 4 million adherents worldwide. One of their central beliefs is
the need for world government to secure ‘The Most Great Peace’.
Contact: m.demol@unsw.edu.au Phone: (02) 9385 8030 (W)
School of BEES, University of NSW, Sydney NSW 2052
Treasurer: Michelle Cavanagh. Mother of six children. Active member of
the Pennant Hills Peace Group. Is writing a biography of Margaret
Holmes, Australian Peace Campaigner.
Contact: michellecav@cia.com.au
14 Alderson Ave., North Rocks NSW 2151
Editor: Lyndon Storey. PhD graduate in international relations from the
University of Sydney. Is writing a book about international political
legitimacy.
Contact: lyndonstorey@hotmail.com
33 Creswick St., Hawthorn VIC 3122
3
Advisory Board
Dr. Keith Suter: Consultant on Social Policy, Wesley Mission, Sydney.
Vice-President, International Commission of Jurists (NSW). Former
President of the UN Association of Australia, of the Centre for Peace and
Conflict Studies, University of Sydney, and of the World Federalists
Association of Australia. Awarded the Australian Government’s Peace
Medal in 1986, the International Year of Peace. Has long been the flagbearer for world federalism and UN reform in Australia, and has written
a number of books on the subject, such as “A New International Order”
(1981), “Reshaping the Global Agenda” (1986). Has a regular slot on
Sydney talk-back radio.
Contact: Phone: (02) 9358 5484
GPO Box 4878, Sydney NSW 2001
Stella Cornelius (AO, OBE, Hon Dlitt). An elder in action for peace,
conflict resolution, social justice and human rights. In 1973 established
the Conflict Resolution Network, now nationally and internationally
acknowledged as a pioneer in developing, researching, teaching and
implementing conflict resolution skills, systems and attitudes.
Contact: crn@crnhq.org Phone: (02) 9419 8500
PO Box 1016, Chatswood NSW 2057
Dr Doug Everingham MB BS. Formerly Minister for Health in the
Whitlam government. UN delegate 1982 Long-term advocate of world
federalism and related causes.
Contact: dnevrghm@powerup.com.au Phone: (07) 3376 7763
5 Eriboll Close, Middle Park QLD 4074
All the best, from
Chris Hamer.
The World Pendulum: Swinging towards disunity and war:
The world today is closer to disunity and conflict than it has been at any
time since the end of the Cold War. Each issue of the Bulletin will
contain a brief discussion of whether recent events have seen the world
move closer to co-operation or to conflict. This discussion will be highly
opinionated in an attempt to encourage discussion. It is the editor’s view,
not the official position of WCA.
In this first assessment of the pendulum we need to look at some recent
history to provide a framework. The 20th century saw two great
institutional
attempts
to
develop
international
4
co-operation; first the League of Nations and then the United Nations.
Each of these attempts was inspired by the horrors of a world war. But
each was ineffectual; the League collapsed as part of the lead up to world
war two. The UN has been sidelined almost from its inception by Cold
War divisions which limited its ability to promote genuine international
harmony. The post World War Two period saw not just the creation of the
UN but a popular movement in many Countries to encourage
international co-operation. This popular movement spawned several
political groups, most notably the first World Citizens Association and
the first World Federalist Association. But these groups also saw interest
decline with the onset of the Cold War and gradually shrunk to be small
in
size
and
relatively
ineffectual.
The end of the Cold War provided the 20th century’s third great
opportunity to move towards a more co-operative international system.
But, strangely, almost nothing happened. There was no move to develop
something better than the UN. Political movements such as World
Citizens and World Federalists saw no increase in their popularity or
membership.
There were some slight moves to promote co-operation as the EU and
NATO expanded into the international vacuum. As well international
agreements on environmental protection, creating an international
criminal court and other matters all contributed to a growth of
international co-operation. But most leaders conceived of the situation as
one in which the key issue was to make sure their Country came first
rather than to use the opportunity to build a better international system.
The fragile degree of international co-operation that did emerge therefore
was always vulnerable. It had no ideological support or group of political
actors who associated their destiny with it.
In the 21st century this emerging international co-operation was severely
challenged. Terrorist attacks on the US caused its leaders to question
whether co-operation or unilateral action was the best path to security.
They chose unilateral action. The world’s most powerful nation has
declared it will not be bound by the international criminal court, will not
let its allies restrain it in decision making and has recently entered into
an unjust war in Iraq in defiance of opinion in many democratic
countries which had, during the early post Cold War period, worked in
co-operation with the US. In short then, the degree of international cooperation has actually declined since the end of the Cold War. This
decline will not lead to a better world. It will lead to a worse world as
each nation finds it more difficult to co-operate with others. The more
each nation puts its own interest ahead of the human interest the more
it will feel threatened by others. The more it feels threatened by others
the less secure it is likely to feel. The more force is used the more others
5
will feel they must use force too. The world has actually become a less
co-operative, more insecure place since the end of the Cold War. Some of
the international political progress made in the 1990’s has been lost.
This has not been solely due to terrorism. It has been due to the fact that
some of the world’s leaders have panicked in the face of terrorism and
reverted to putting their nation before their humanity. This has made the
world worse not better. It has made it less unified, not more. Now more
than ever there is a need for world citizens to stand up and make their
voices heard.
Local News: WCA formed in Sydney!
The big news is that we have actually formed a world citizens
association. World Citizens Association (Australia) was formed on May 5
2004 when six people met at The University of New South Wales and
agreed to set up the new organization. About twenty people in all have
signed up as founding members. As well as the “founding six”, several
other members sent apologies and messages of support and willingness
to take part. The founding six were Chris Hamer, Stella Cornelius, Don
Maclurcan, Lyndon Storey, Joe Wolfe, Michelle Cavanagh.
The meeting was conducted in a spirit of goodwill and co-operation,
although this did not preclude some spirited discussion of differing
viewpoints.
The key thing that everyone felt in common was that some of the
problems facing society today are world problems and that they can only
be addressed properly of we think of ourselves as world citizens and try
to act that way rather than simply on behalf of a smaller group. Opinions
varied as to whether this entailed a commitment to specific policies or
simply an attempt to encourage more and more people to think of
themselves as world citizens. At this stage it does not really matter. The
important point at this formative stage is to start thinking about the idea
of being a world citizen and seeing the fresh perspectives that gives us.
Members should feel free to contribute their ideas in this regard whether
through general conversation or through offering their thoughts to be
published in this bulletin.
Many different activities were discussed at the meeting; sponsoring open
debates, campaigning for a world citizens day, offering a world
citizenship prize, writing for publication in newspapers and magazines
and submissions to parliamentary inquiries. All these ideas will be
discussed more fully as we develop our organization and focus on a
particular set of activities. Now is a good time to be involved as we
develop our plans for what we will do.
6
Affiliating with similar organizations around the world was also
discussed at the meeting. It was decided that no moves to affiliate would
be made at this stage but possibilities for co-operation would be
explored. Our goal is to co-operate as much as possible with like-minded
groups. This may lead to affiliation down the track but there is no need
to insist on it at this early stage.
In more local news other groups in Australia are trying to develop an
approach to politics which respects our common humanity and
encourages world citizenship. Oxfam Community Aid Abroad will launch
in July its “Blueprint for a more secure world” which is based on
promoting global human security rather than a narrowly defined human
security. This looks like the sort of project world citizens would be
interested to be involved with and contribute to. The draft of the
blueprint
can
be
viewed
at
http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/blueprint
and
suggestions
through e-mail can be sent to blueprint@caa.org.au
International News: Citizens for Global Solutions becomes a reality:
The most dramatic development amongst like-minded organizations
around the world has been the recent merger of the World Federalist
Association and the campaign for United Nations Reform to become
Citizens for Global Solutions. These are both American organizations, but
are two of the largest internationalist political groupings in the US. The
world federalist, or internationalist, political movement has long been
divided between a number of competing groups. The merger of two such
large organizations is hopefully a sign that a coming together is starting
to occur amongst people who believe that the world is better united than
divided.
The 4th World Social Forum was held in Mumbai in January of 2004.
This is a gathering of alternative and reformist political groups and
peoples movements form around the world. Representatives of several
world federalist groups were there and several sessions of the conference
discussed the need for a global parliament and system of democracy.
On May 1st the European Union admitted ten new member states,
marking a major expansion into Eastern Europe. A deadlock on
discussion of a new constitution has been broken and further
strengthening and entrenching of its structures can be expected.
7
Topic of the Day; Should we merge?
Joe Wolfe and Doug Everingham have raised the question whether, as an
association dedicated to world unity, shouldn’t we set the example by
merging with a like-minded organization overseas? There are three main
possibilities I know of:
1] The World Federalist Movement (www.wfa.org), whose US arm has just
renamed itself Citizens for Global Responsibility. This is the largest of the
associations, with of order 20,000 members worldwide. It has
concentrated on ideas for the reform of the United Nations, particularly
the idea of a Second Assembly made up either of elected representatives
or NGO representatives, to ‘democratise’ the UN. Peter Ustinov, who has
just died a couple of weeks back, was President of the world movement.
2] The Association to Unite the Democracies (www.unionnow.org - under
construction), a much smaller outfit, was founded to push the ideas of
Clarence Streit before the Second World War, for a union of the western
democracies to defeat Hitler. After the war, he continued to propose a
union to combat the Soviet Union. Nowadays, the aim is still the same,
with the idea that the union would form a nucleus for an eventual world
federation, and gradually enlarge to embrace all the nations of the world.
3} The Association of World Citizens (www.worldcitizens.org), led by Doug
Mattern, which is the closest to us in name, but has no definite ideas, as
far as I know, as to how global governance is to be achieved.
Of these, I would personally favour joining the Association to Unite the
Democracies (AUD), because I believe their tactics are the most practical.
The European Union provides the example. They started with a smaller
organization of limited aims, the European Coal and Steel Community,
including only the original ‘Six’ - France, Germany, Italy, and the
Benelux countries, and grew from there. Similarly, I think the best route
towards a world-wide union is not a single giant leap to a universal
government, but to start with a smaller group of ‘progressive’ nations
with more limited aims. On the other hand, the WFM represents the
bigger battalion, and perhaps it would be more practical to join them.
In any case, I hope members will correspond with us and let us have
their views on this issue. They may like to record a vote for one of the
following options:
Explore the option of becoming a branch of:
1} The World Federalist Movement; or
2] The Association to Unite the Democracies; or
8
3] The Association of World Citizens; or
4} Another organization (specify); or
5] Prefer not to merge with another organization at this stage.
It is important that we settle this soon in order that we fix on a
permanent name for our organization. Please let me have your vote at
C.Hamer@unsw.edu.au Copies of any correspondence should be sent to
Lyndon Storey at lyndonstorey@hotmail.com
Chris Hamer
Famous Internationalists of the past: Confucius “all within the four
seas will become brothers”.
Confucius (551-479 BCE) is famous for many things. One of his major
ideas was the need to respect our common humanity. He was one of the
first people to argue that the tradition of dividing people into warring
political groups such as states and tribes did not represent the inherent
nature of humanity but a culturally conditioned denial of the important
things we share in common.
In a famous saying Confucius set out his view of human nature By
nature men are pretty much alike; it is learning and practice that set them
apart”(Analects 17 2). This, like many of Confucius’ sayings, comes
without elaboration. But it clearly contains the idea that all people are at
heart the same and learning and practice, i.e. our social conditioning, is
what makes for differences. Confucius is the earliest philosopher in the
East or West to offer a political foundation point that focussed on our
common humanity rather than some form of group loyalty. Indeed in
1950 the UNESCO “Statement on Race” adopted Confucius’ comment as
the original statement of our common humanity.
So sure was Confucius that there was a common “human heart” that he
sometimes claimed that if his ideas were not accepted amongst the socalled civilised societies he would just as happily go and live amongst the
“barbarians”. When his comrades warned him that life amongst the
barbarians might be difficult he argued that barbarians were humans too
and with time everyone could eventually join in a common civilisation.
He claimed that one day “all within the four seas will become brothers”
(12 5) and this statement is reproduced in Chinese at the entrance to
Sydney’s Chinatown today.
How did this philosophy of human brotherhood play out in Confucius’
life? Confucius lived during the “Spring Autumn” period of Chinese
9
history when several hundred small states all competed for power. Some
of these states had been members of an earlier empire, others were
comprised of different peoples who had formed their own states.
Confucius was a minor bureaucrat in the state of Lu until some time in
his early forties he became completely disenchanted with the system of
government and left office to campaign for reform. He harked back to the
earlier unity of peoples and argued that a political system where justice
was extended to all was preferable to the system of competing states. He
argued that the goal of life was to become a Jun Zi. This word had meant
a minor member of the ruling class who by birth was entitled to take part
in ruling the Country. Confucius argued that a person did not become
Jun Zi by birth but that in fact a true Jun Zi should be a good person so
that officials who were not good to the people were in fact not true Jun
Zi. A true Jun Zi was defined by moral qualities rather than by birth. He
started a process of transforming high positions from a basis of birth to a
basis of personal merit. The Jun Zi, according to Confucius, should be
honest, fair and loyal. If the ruler was not a just ruler the Jun Zi should
not serve him. Confucius travelled to many of the Countries of the time
trying to encourage unity rather than warfare and promote interest in his
ideas. He was not very successful, gaining few converts, living very
poorly, nearly starving to death on at least one occasion, and
occasionally being physically attacked. The defence minister of the state
of Sung tried to have him executed. He eventually retired to Lu,
accompanied by a small group of followers. He composed a history of Lu
which was designed to show that good times depended on humane
rulership. He died thinking that he had barely accomplished anything.
Yet his small band of followers eventually grew so that hundreds of years
later they were to have a major influence on Chinese history. The fact
that Chinese history shows much longer periods of unity compared to
the long periods of disunity and warfare in Europe can, in part, be
attributed to Confucius’ influence. In travelling from Country to Country
during the Spring/Autumn period and urging justice and peace rather
than power and national competition Confucius was certainly the first
“world citizen”.
Back of the Bulletin- advertisements and opportunities:
Media/ Publicity Officer
In order to reach out into the wider community with our ideas, it would
be really valuable to have a Media/Publicity officer who could organize
press releases, letters, interviews, etc. It’s a difficult and embarrassing
task, I know, but would be of extreme value to the association. Is there
any chance one of our members out there would be willing to give it a
try? If so, please get in touch with me.
Chris Hamer.
10
11