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7. To: Consulate General of the United States of America in St. Petersburg Att:Ms. Sheila S. Gwaltney, Consul General Subject: The support to the Global Harmony Association (GHA) International Civic Congress in St. Petersburg: “Initiative of Nuclear Disarmament of the USA and Russia: Rotary Change to World Peace and Global Harmony”, October 18-20, 2009.
Holding this Congress in St-Petersburg, President Medvedev's own city, can become a nice and useful point of discussion at his meeting with President Obama on July 6, 2009 in Moscow.
June 20, 2009, Israel On January 20, 2009, I together with other professors sent an appeal for a "World Without Nuclear Weapons" [1] to President Barack Obama of the US, and President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia. In the appeal we stated that their opportune elections afford an extraordinary opportunity to eliminate the gravest threat to human survival – the World Nuclear Weapons Arsenal. "The time has come to negotiate a Nuclear Weapons Convention." The recent Joint Statement by President Dmitry Medvedev and President Barack Obama of April 1, 2009 [2], as well as President Obama’s speech in Prague on April 5, 2009 [3], open a new era of mutual trust and collective hope. The prospect of achieving the elimination of the world nuclear weapons with the New US Nuclear Weapons Policy is complex, and depends upon many factors. Mostly they require the undaunted will and firm resolve of the two leaders mentioned above, whose countries possess more than 95% of the world’s nuclear weapons. They must meet their commitments for a Nuclear Weapons Convention that will abolish all nuclear weapons under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) [4]. The responsibility is also in the hands of the anti-nuke movement, which must analyze and discuss such New US Nuclear Weapons Policy in a very serious and thorough manner. For more than two decades, the anti-nuke movement, including International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), supported the global nuclear abolition 2000 program [5], which outlines vertical and horizontal nuclear disarmament. The main achievement of the anti-nuke movement was to increase public and media awareness about the threat consequences of nuclear war, that provided the desired impetus for the nuclear weapons countries and their confidence to enter into START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). START I (a 1991 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union) and START II (a 1993 agreement between the United States and Russia) [6] placed specific caps on each side's number of nuclear weapons and the nuclear testing ban. For its role, IPPNW was selected by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for the prize “in recognition of its constructive work in the cause of peace, disarmament, right to live, science education”. Today the GHA Anti-Nuke and Pro-Harmony Project: “Peace Culture through Harmony: Global Harmony as Necessary Guarantor for World Security and Nuclear Disarmament”, May 2009 [7] takes a further step to this direction. It suggests serious and thorough analysis of the American antinuclear concept presented in President Obama’s speech. This project offers a noteworthy and the most effective basis for nuclear disarmament based on value, culture and the scientific theory of global harmony. We consider this scientific approach worthy of support. The special importance of this project lies in the following important ideas: 1."Global Harmony International Treaty" as the necessity guarantor and general platform for nuclear zero 2.Qualitative difference of disarmament from armament 3.Unlike other approaches, the GHA disarmament approach is a new level of thinking based on uniting values 4.The scientific theory of global harmony 5.Sociological studies of the sphere classes of the population of the USA, Russia, China, India, Japan and other countries as social base of global harmony 6.The idea of building of 10-thousand schools and 10 National Academies of harmonious education in conflict regions 7.Creation of the World Harmony Academy in the USA 8.Series of 100 Congresses on discussion of the American nuclear initiative for generating broad support for it in world public opinion 9.Sociological studies of the USA harmonization trends: A Culture of “Smelting Furnace,” 13 Towns of "Harmony", 14 “Harmony Schools” in Texas, tens of Peace Institutes, movement for “Department of Peace,” and the annual “Harmony Festival” in CA since 1978, etc. 10.Convening the first Civic Anti-Nuke Congress in St.-Petersburg in October 2009 to be opened by Mr. John Beyrle, the USA Ambassador in Russia The practical embodiment of these ideas, undoubtedly, will promote success of nuclear disarmament. I am convinced that the GHA Anti-Nuke and Pro-Harmony Project, especially the first International Civil Antinuclear Congress in St.-Petersburg, deserves all-round support and financing from the USA Government, the NGOs and the UN Peacebuilding Commission. All it will advance the American nuclear initiative as a beginning of world nuclear disarmament. Prof. Dr. Ernesto Kahan MD MPH Tel Aviv University, Israel. Vice President, World Academy of Arts and Culture Former Vice President of IPPNW (Nobel Peace Prize) Vice President, Intl Forum for Literature and Culture of Peace (IFLAC) Associated President UHE-UNION HISPANOAMERICAN WRITERS. Vice Director of GHA General Directorate, Hanita 7/2, Kfar Sava 44405, Israel ekahan@post.tau.ac.il ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [1] http://www.ippnw.org/News/MedicalAppeal.htm [2] President of Russia. Official Web Portal; Joint Statement by President Dmitry Medvedev of the Russian Federation and President Barack Obama of the United States of America; April 1,2009 London. [3] The White House. Office of the Press Secretary; Remarks by President Barack Obama, Prague, Czech Republic, April 5, 2009 http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-By-President-Barack-Obama-In-Prague-As-Delivered/ [4] http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/npt/ [5] ABOLITION 2000 STATEMENT OF THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO) ABOLITION 2000 NETWORK: http://www.prop1.org/2000/abolstat.htm [6] http://pheeds.com/Strategic_Arms_Limitation_Talks.html [7] http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=369 -------------------------------------------------------- Endorsements: 1. Mariam Khan, President, Human Rights Wing (Federal), Pakistan Ruling Peoples Party; Ambassador for peace, Pakistan 2. Evelin G. Lindner, M.D., Ph.D. (Dr. med.), Ph.D. (Dr. psychol.), Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies (HumanDHS) Founding President, Global, 3. Charles Mercieca, Ph.D., President, International Association of Educators for World Peace Dedicated to United Nations Goals of Peace Education, Environmental Protection, Human Rights and Disarmament, Professor Emeritus, Alabama A&M University, USA, 4. Reimon Bachika, Professor Emeritus, Bukkyo University, Department of Sociology, Kyoto, Japan 5. Noor Gillani, Dr., Principal Research Scientist, National Space Science and Technology Center, USA 6. Francois Houtart, Dr., Special Representative of the UN General Assembly President, Belgium, 7. Terrence E. Paupp, J.D., Prof., Vice-President of North America for the International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP); Senior Research Fellow at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), Washington, D.C., USA, 8. James T. Ranney, J.Dr., Global Constitution Forums Chair, USA, 9. Laj Utreja, Dr., Institute of Spiritual Healing President, USA
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Global Harmony Association (GHA)
June 29, 2009, St. Petersburg -------------------------------------------- 12. To: Consulate General of the United States of America in St. Petersburg. Att:Ms. Sheila S. Gwaltney, Consul General 15 Ulitsa Furshtatskaya St. Petersburg 191028, Russia Subject: A grant for International Congress in St. Petersburg dedicated to: “Initiative of Nuclear Disarmament of the USA and Russia: Rotary Change to World Peace and Global Harmony”, October 18-20, 2009.
Holding this Congress in St-Petersburg, President Medvedev's own city, can become a nice and useful point of discussion at his meeting with President Obama on July 6, 2009 in Moscow.
On May 26, 2009, after the wide international discussion, 139 co-authors from 34 countries approved the GHA Project, “Peace Culture through Harmony: Global Harmony as Necessary Guarantor for World Security and Nuclear Disarmament.” This project is published on the GHA website in Russian and in English: http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=ru_c&key=394, http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=369. The project is devoted to support, develop, and actively advance the nuclear disarmament initiative of the USA and Russia, in particular to its concept presented by President Obama on April 5, in Prague. This concept is a core of the nuclear disarmament initiative. The GHA recognizes the global impact and historical significance of this initiative as a rotary change of American policy and humanity to global harmony and peace. Correspondingly, GHA considers this a duty and moral obligation to support and advance this initiative for its world-wide support that is the GHA project key objective. President Obama underlined a problem of joint participation of all nations in nuclear disarmament and in its world support. The GHA project offers system of actions in this direction, first of all, holding the corresponding international and national Congresses. As part of this project the GHA intends to hold the First International Congress with 500 participants from around the world on October 18-20, 2009 in St. Petersburg. The theme of the Congress would be, “Initiative of Nuclear Disarmament of the USA and Russia – Rotary Change to World Peace and Global Harmony.” The Congress program questions are: 1.Key Ideas of the American Nuclear Concept Presented in President Obama’s Speech on April 5, 2009 in Prague. 2.The Basic Conclusions of the FAS and NRDC Report, Devoted to Minimization and Eliminating Nuclear Weapons. 3.Modern Epoch of Harmony Globalization and its Basic Directions. 4.Disarmament as a Process Qualitatively Distinct from Armament Demanding New Consolidating Value and New Level of Thinking. 5.Global Harmony: Necessary Guarantor for World Security and Nuclear Disarmament. 6.Harmony Science: Sociological Researches of the Sphere Classes of Population as Actors of Social Harmony. 7.General Harmonious Education as the Most Effective Way for Advancement and Support of Nuclear Disarmament in Public Consciousness. 8.Harmonization Trends in the USA: A Culture of “Smelting Furnace,” 13 Towns “Harmony,” 14 “Harmony Schools” in Texas, Tens of Peace Institutes, Movement for ‘Department of Peace,’ and Annual Harmony Festivals in California, etc. 9.Harmonization trends in Russia: mentality development of ‘sobornost,’ association of orthodox churches, tolerance programs, development of services of harmonization, etc. 10.National Features of Nuclear Disarmament 11.Political Psychology of Nuclear Disarmament. 12."Global Harmony International Treaty” as a General Platform for Nuclear Disarmament. Congresses similar to the one proposed in Russia and abroad would have tremendous impact to win public trust on the American concept of nuclear disarmament and unfolding of its world value. The strength of the world public opinion from these Congresses will make positive influence in preparation for the Global Summit on nuclear disarmament, which President Obama promised to hold in the USA in 2010. The USA Government may consider allocating $20-30 million for holding 100 similar Congresses in different countries including Russia, China, India, Pakistan, France, and Israel, etc. Almost each co-author of our project from 34 countries could organize the similar Congress in his/her city/country. Unfortunately, very few people in Russia trust the sincerity of the American nuclear concept today. It is confirmed by public discussions in our mass-media. In this atmosphere of mistrust, anybody in St. Petersburg does not wish to finance the offered Congress. Therefore, the Congress can only be held from the USA-backed financing. It is with that perspective that the GHA requests your Consulate to finance the above-mentioned Congress in St. Petersburg in the amount of $180, 000 from governmental or other sources. Through the USA Consulate in Israel, the USA has made similar grants funds for the Interfaith Encounter Association of Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem under the guidance of Dr. Yehuda Stolov, the GHA member. Your financing of the subject Congress would mark the beginning of the new constructive cooperation, which is necessary for strengthening friendship and trust between our countries on the threshold of joint nuclear disarmament. The Congress in St. Petersburg will be an example for holding similar Congresses in other countries. The GHA has the distinct honor to invite you and Mr. John Beyrle, the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Russian Federation, to open this Congress and to address the USA new nuclear policy concept. Sincerely Yours, Dr. Leo Semashko GHA President Enclosure: Estimate of Congress holding in St. Petersburg, October 18-20, 2009 Approximate cost of the Congress holding and its preparation from July 20 to October 20 (3 months) makes USD: 180 000, - including: 1.Premise rent (3 days, 500 participants):15 000, - USD 2.Rent of one office for the Congress coordinators (3 months): 5 000, - USD 3.The publication of materials before and after the Congress:6 000, - USD 4.Salary of 6 constant organizers (USD: 2000, - per month,3 months): 36 000, - USD 5.Transport, communication, computers, etc.:8 000, - USD 6.Payment of juridical services for the GHA registration in Russia:10 000, - USD 7.Payment of 60 % of expenses of 35 invited foreign scientists and peacemakers (first, among the project active co-authors: 2 000 USD /person:70 000, - USD 8.Full payment of 10 distinguished speakers of the Congress, including authors of the FAS report, 3 000, -30 000, - USD Total : 180 000, - USD (This amount can be adjusted) US Consulate General St Petersburg, Russia August 13, 2009 Dear Dr. Semashko Thank you for your June 29 letter regarding your proposed congress in St. Petersburg dedicated to the “Initiative on Nuclear Disarmament of the USA and Russia.”I am responding on behalf of Consul General Sheila Gwaltney. As you know, President Obama has stated that “There is no greater security challenge in the world today than turning the tide on nuclear-proliferation, and pursuing the goal of a nuclear-free world.”To that end, we appreciate your efforts to build public support for the U.S. approach to nuclear disarmament. The U.S. Consulate does not provide funding for events such as the one described in your letter.Nevertheless, we wish you every success in your efforts to advocate on behalf of nuclear non-proliferation and the goal of a nuclear-free world. Sincerely, Stephen A. Hubler Deputy Principal Officer US Consulate General St Petersburg, Russia
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