The One World Trust, a 'critical friend' of the UN
The founders of One World Trust felt sure there was a better way to manage global affairs to ensure peace and prosperity for all the citizens of the planet. We strongly support the UN, but we do not believe that it is currently designed to make and effectively implement the decisions that the world needs to make for the future of humanity, for example to meet the crises around climate and environment.
To create more effective and accountable global governance, we support the appeal for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA), and are bringing the UNPA campaign to the UK.
The founders of One World Trust felt sure there was a better way to manage global affairs to ensure peace and prosperity for all the citizens of the planet. We strongly support the UN, but we do not believe that it is currently designed to make and effectively implement the decisions that the world needs to make for the future of humanity, for example to meet the crises around climate and environment.
To create more effective and accountable global governance, we support the appeal for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA), and are bringing the UNPA campaign to the UK.
Previous work on global governance
Over the years the Trust has produced a series of briefing papers, sometimes alone but often with others including the 1for7billion campaign, proposing improvements to the governance and functioning of the UN.
A selection of One World Trust briefing papers in support of improving the process of UN Secretary General selection and other critical global governance issues including on 'Responsibility to Protect' (R2P) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) are available to download below:
Over the years the Trust has produced a series of briefing papers, sometimes alone but often with others including the 1for7billion campaign, proposing improvements to the governance and functioning of the UN.
A selection of One World Trust briefing papers in support of improving the process of UN Secretary General selection and other critical global governance issues including on 'Responsibility to Protect' (R2P) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) are available to download below:
improving transparency in the selection of un secretary general (may 2016)
| the_institutional_context_of_searches_for_a__un_secretary-general_may2016.pdf |
| appointing_the_next_secretary-general__the_relevance_of_geographic_rotation_may2016.pdf |
| the_appointment_of_ban-ki_moon_as__un_secretary-general_may2016.pdf |
| civil_society_sits_down_with__secretary-general_nominees_may2016.pdf |
| the_appointment_of_trygve_lie__as_the_first__un_secretary-general_may2016.pdf |
| the_un_secretary-general_and_the__call_for_representation_may2016.pdf |
| the_challenges_of_the_un_secretary-general’s_appointment_process_for_the_relationship_with_the_un_security_council__may2016.pdf |
| transparency_and_accountability_in_the_un_secretary-general__appointment_process_measured_against_the_un’s_own_best_practices__may2016.pdf |
improving global democracy
| 2005_federalism_-_a_testimony.pdf |
| 2005_taking_democracy_global_-_assessign_the_benefits_and_challenges_of_a_global_parliamentary_assembly.pdf |
| 2007_02_bridging_the_democratic_deficit_-_double_majority_decision_making_and_the_imf.pdf |
responsibility to protect (r2p)
| 2007_05_too_quiet_on_the_western_front.pdf |
| 2007_10_dont_call_me_ill_call_you.pdf |
| 080731_keeping_the_stable_door_open_before_the_horse_bolts_-_final.pdf |
international justice and the icc
| 2007_07_between_courtroom_reality_tv_and_justice.pdf |
The Threat of Nuclear War is Back
The Armed Dove is a book written by Brendon Sewill in late 1980s. Brendon, who had been Director of the Conservative Research Department in Westinster, shared the concern felt by many that the world was on brink of nuclear war. And that such a war would cause the extermination of all, or nearly all, human life.
At a time when the United States and the Soviet Union were building ever-increasing stocks of nuclear weapons with unstoppable means of delivery, there was considerable benefit in being the nation which delivered the first strike, destroying the opponent’s means of retaliation. Moreover, it seemed all too easy for war to be triggered by accident – the flock of geese flying over a radar station – or by human error.
There were basically two policies on offer from politicians. The first policy: ‘Mutually Assured Destruction’ relied on the deterrent effect of nuclear weapons. It was assumed that no government in the United States or in the Soviet Union would be so mad as to press the button which would ensure the destruction of their own nation.
The other policy on offer was unilateral nuclear disarmament. With public horror at the thought of nuclear devastation, such a policy gained widespread support in the West. However, it was resisted by all political parties which argued that it would permit the Soviet Union to take control of the world either by force or blackmail.
Brendon, with his experience in designing political policies, felt that there must be a more sensible solution. And that such a solution might lie in the creation of an international authority with the military power to enforce disarmament on all nations.
To explore this concept, he discussed it with his friends Geoffrey Howe (Foreign Secretary) and Lord Carrington (former Foreign Secretary), although, to be fair, neither thought it practicable. He became a member, then chairman, of The One World Trust. And wrote this book.
Then two disasters occurred – for the book if not for the world. The Soviet Union collapsed making the risk of nuclear war seem remote. And the publisher went broke! He returned the page proofs which have since been stored in a garden shed. Which accounts for the rust marks and the many typographical errors. We will see what can be done to put it into better shape, but in the meantime, here it is.
The book is science fiction. It is written as if the author is a trustee of the World Peace Authority which has come into being to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
To access The Armed Dove as a PDF document, click the link below:
At a time when the United States and the Soviet Union were building ever-increasing stocks of nuclear weapons with unstoppable means of delivery, there was considerable benefit in being the nation which delivered the first strike, destroying the opponent’s means of retaliation. Moreover, it seemed all too easy for war to be triggered by accident – the flock of geese flying over a radar station – or by human error.
There were basically two policies on offer from politicians. The first policy: ‘Mutually Assured Destruction’ relied on the deterrent effect of nuclear weapons. It was assumed that no government in the United States or in the Soviet Union would be so mad as to press the button which would ensure the destruction of their own nation.
The other policy on offer was unilateral nuclear disarmament. With public horror at the thought of nuclear devastation, such a policy gained widespread support in the West. However, it was resisted by all political parties which argued that it would permit the Soviet Union to take control of the world either by force or blackmail.
Brendon, with his experience in designing political policies, felt that there must be a more sensible solution. And that such a solution might lie in the creation of an international authority with the military power to enforce disarmament on all nations.
To explore this concept, he discussed it with his friends Geoffrey Howe (Foreign Secretary) and Lord Carrington (former Foreign Secretary), although, to be fair, neither thought it practicable. He became a member, then chairman, of The One World Trust. And wrote this book.
Then two disasters occurred – for the book if not for the world. The Soviet Union collapsed making the risk of nuclear war seem remote. And the publisher went broke! He returned the page proofs which have since been stored in a garden shed. Which accounts for the rust marks and the many typographical errors. We will see what can be done to put it into better shape, but in the meantime, here it is.
The book is science fiction. It is written as if the author is a trustee of the World Peace Authority which has come into being to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
To access The Armed Dove as a PDF document, click the link below:
| the_armed_dove_pdf.pdf |