Common Security, nuclear abolition and preventing a World War III
Posted: 12th May 2025
Common Security, nuclear abolition
and preventing a World War III
Plus: 2000 candles for nuclear abolition lit in front of the UN
and
Invitation to the Citizens for Global Solutions Summit, May 16-17
On May 8, the 80th anniversary of the ending of WWII in Europe, NY Times published a seminal op ed on Lessons From World War II to Avoid World War III authored by the foreign ministers of seven countries from the WWII Central European battlefield: Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland and Ukraine.
The Op Ed outlines five lessons from World War II that must be taken into account in order to create an enduring peace in Ukraine, rather than a pause that gives rise to additional conflict, aggression and a potentially disastrous global conflict.
These include:
- ensuring that aggressors are not appeased which could lead to more aggression;
- supporting national independence against the rise of ‘spheres of influence’;
- building accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity;
- correcting historical manipulation to ensure a political environment based on truth and not falsehoods; and
- supporting freedom and democratic institutions to combat tyranny.
Common security, peace and preventing nuclear war
The May 8 anniversary took place as governments from nuclear armed, allied and non-nuclear States were meeting at the United Nations in New York (for the NPT Prep Com) to discuss nuclear risk-reduction, non-proliferation and disarmament in our current, very turbulent world. The political environment and values outlined in Lessons From World War II to Avoid World War III were very prevalent in the government deliberations and some of the civil society input.
UNFOLD ZERO member organizations participated in the two-week long meeting, advancing ideas and proposals for common security to assist in resolving international conflicts, preventing nuclear war and building accountability to international law. (See Conflict resolution, the International Court of Justice and nuclear weapons).
Can common security replace nuclear deterrence?
Sophie Rigg, Strategy Advisor for the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy, presenting to a plenary session of the Meeting of States Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. United Nations, April 30, 2025. Ms Rigg outlined a range of common security approaches and mechanisms to achieve security, resolve international conflicts and prevent aggression without reliance on nuclear deterrence.
Sophie Rigg, Strategy Advisor for the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy, presenting to a plenary session of the Meeting of States Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. United Nations, April 30, 2025. Ms Rigg outlined a range of common security approaches and mechanisms to achieve security, resolve international conflicts and prevent aggression without reliance on nuclear deterrence.
May 7: Abolition 2000 birthday and anniversary of ‘Ode to Joy’
On May 7, Abolition 2000 (the global network for the elimination of nuclear weapons) celebrated its 30th birthday by lighting 2000 candles for abolition and performing Ode to Joy, the European anthem (celebrating peace and democracy) which was also commemorating its birthday. May 7 was the 201st anniversary of the inaugural performance of Beethoven’s 9th symphony, which includes Ode to Joy as the choral part of the symphony.
The birthday party was held at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in front of the United Nations, in conjunction with the 2025 Meeting of States Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty taking place at the UN from April 28-May 9 (NPT Prep Com). The performance of Ode to Joy was led by the Granny Peace Brigade.
2000 candles for nuclear abolition that were lit in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in front of the United Nations on May 7, 2025. Abolition 2000 calls to the NPT Prep Com
Abolition 2000 members participating in the NPT advocated for a number of nuclear risk-reduction and disarmament measures including:
- adoption of no-first-use policies;
- establishment of additional nuclear-weapon-free zones (in the Middle East, North-East Asia and Europe);
- ending the production of nuclear weapons;
- replacing nuclear deterrence with common security,
- commitment to achieve the global elimination of nuclear weapons no later than 2045, the 100th anniversary of the United Nations, and
- negotiations for a nuclear-weapons-convention under which nuclear-armed States could agree to a phased, mutual, verified and timebound framework for the global elimination of nuclear weapons.
- Build common security to reduce nuclear dangers, parliamentarians urge governments at the United Nations;
- Conflict resolution, the International Court of Justice and nuclear weapons;
- Parliamentarians and civil society representatives call on NPT parties to adopt no-first use policies.
Granny Peace Brigade leading the singing of Ode to Joy at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on May 7. Citizens for Global Solutions Summit, May 15-18
Citizens for Global Solutions, an active member of Abolition 2000 and a leader in the LAW not War campaign, is holding its 2025 Summit in Washington DC from May 15-18. In-person registration is closed. However, the Summit keynote panels will be hybrid, and are open for registration for anyone, anywhere. Details online and below.
Keynote panel 1:
New Solutions to Uphold the Rule of Law and Human Rights Amid Global Threats.
Friday May 16: 2:30 – 3:45pm Eastern Time USA. Register
Speakers:
- Yasmina Gourchane: Advocacy Officer, Coalition for the International Criminal Court
- Tess Graham: Legal Advisor, Global Justice Center
- Alexandre MacIsaac: Executive Director, WFM-Canada
- Dan Perell: Representative to the UN, Baha’i International Community
- Karam Singh, Deputy Director, Integrity Initiatives International
Youth Leaders Shaping Tomorrow’s Future Today
Saturday May 17. 9:30 – 10:30am Eastern Time USA. Register
- Marjeela Basij-Rasikh (Afghanistan/USA), Youth Leaders Network Coordinator, Integrity Initiatives International
- Kekhashan Basu (Canada/UAE), Founder-President, Green Hope Foundation
- Carly Kabot (USA), Youth Leaders Network Volunteer, Integrity Initiatives International
- Johny Kitheka (Kenya), Jessup International Moot Court Competitor
- Mert Kumru (Netherlands), European Front Coordinator, World’s Youth for Climate Justice(invited)
- Eston McKeague (USA/Germany), President, Young World Federalists. CGS Board Member
- Ishaan Shah (UK), Organising Partner, Women’s Major Group; Pact for the Future Lead Implementation Analyst, C4UN
- Ivan Siluianov (Russian Federation), Representative, Youth Fusion (invited)
Yours sincerelyUNFOLD ZERO