Insuring mankind against disasters

20 years ago, on 26 December 2004, one of the biggest natural disasters of this century occurred: the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake. The resulting tsunami killed around 230,000 people on the coasts of the Indian Ocean. These days, the affected countries are commemorating the victims. So many people would not have died if there had been an early warning system. There is one today. But it is no longer state of the art.

In a world federation, with a solidarity-based system like KOMPENSO, everything would be organised. In the event of natural disasters and major technical accidents that overwhelm individual states, a supranational civil protection system would be deployed. A global insurance against force majeure would be available for prevention, aid and aftercare.

In 1982, I described the vision of a global disaster control system in an article (PDF German). It was based on a proposal by the Swiss peace activist Theo Feucht: The Idea of the Golden Cross. The core of the idea is the transformation of the military into global disaster protection forces, according to the motto ‘Swords into Ploughshares’. Whether in the event of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, astroid strikes, floods, droughts, bushfires or devastating storms, such troops would be ready to provide immediate assistance worldwide.

Due to the now unstoppable changes in the global climate, natural disasters of all kinds will increase in scale and frequency to an extent previously unknown to historiography. The ‘Idea of the Golden Cross’ is therefore more relevant than ever. Nothing less than the survival of mankind is at stake. Please read my article at Substack:

Can mankind survive? - by Richard Maxheim

Solidarity must be more than humanity

Thoughts on the International Day of Human Solidarity on 20 December

There are different types of solidarity, depending on to whom it is granted. These can be individuals, social groups, minorities, peoples or entire nations. Solidarity can be shown in the form of verbal, written or financial support and can also take the form of active help. Depending on the point of view, it is either welcome or rejected, and in many cases at least controversial. This article is about a kind of solidarity that any reasonable person can normally agree with. It is about comprehensive solidarity in the sense of a positive awareness of humanity.

In December 2005, the United Nations added International Human Solidarity Day to its already impressive collection of UN days. It was to be

• a day to celebrate our unity in diversity;

• a day to remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements;

• a day to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity;

• a day to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals including poverty eradication;

• a day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication.

That's all correct, of course. But if it is about the survival of humanity in a future worth living, it is not enough. We need stronger visions. We need more courage for utopias. We need humanity united in a democratic World Federation. To find out what a federal World Union could achieve, please read my article on a conceivable system of global justice and solidarity at Substack.

KOMPENSO - by Richard Maxheim - Substack von Richard

Security and prosperity through a Middle East Union

The conflict between Palestinians and Israelis has now become a Gordian Knot. It seems impossible to untie it. As violence, counter-violence and revenge continue and the conflict merges with other conflicts in the region, the knot is becoming increasingly tangled and tighter. Do we really need a sword to untie it? And whose sword should it be? What else will be destroyed in the process? How many more people will have to suffer and die as a result?

Image: ESA

So we continue to face the mountain of problems, with the gloomy prospect that the violence in the Middle East will not stop until everyone has killed each other. It is time to develop visions of peace again, even if they are perhaps ridiculed as unrealistic. What would be wrong with a 'Jordan Union', which other states in the region could then join over time, with Jerusalem as the common capital of peace?

Actually, this part of the world could be something of a paradise if only people were sensible. In light of the current developments in Syria and the associated geopolitical consequences, it certainly seems naive to think about utopias such as a Middle East federation. But perhaps peaceful alternatives should be discussed all the more now. Everyone can only gain from this.

Please read my detailed article at Substack:

Make Jerusalem the Capital of Peace! - by Richard Maxheim

Beware of false friends!

Despite the sobering experience of the last UN Summit of the Future and its completely inadequate results, some civil society actors still seem to believe that they can achieve something to reform the UN Charter. Their goals are noble and right. They should not be slowed down. Perhaps they will succeed after all. They write in the latest UN Charter Reform Coalition newsletter:

Brazil, South Africa and India join the call for Charter Reform!

On 19 November, the IBSA Dialogue Forum - which brings together India, Brazil and South Africa, released a statement encouraging a “wide-ranging reform of the UN Charter, including the convening of a review conference, in accordance with its Article 109”.

“We cannot wait,” the statement says, “for another global tragedy, like the Second World War, to build a new global governance on its ruins.”

The Coalition is now actively reaching out to each of the three countries to explore how we can support them in advancing the agenda.

However, caution is urgently advised here. The current governments of India, Brazil and South Africa are by no means trustworthy. After all, they are in a political alliance with the biggest liars, thieves and murderers in the world at the moment, the Putin regime in Russia, which is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and constantly threatening to use nuclear weapons. The second rotten egg in the basket is the Chinese Communist Party, which wants to take away Taiwan's freedom with its military expansion policy, threatens the South Pacific and has qualified as a world champion in the disregard for human rights. And then there are others, such as Iran, the nightmare of every freedom-loving woman. These are the BRICS states. They have a slightly different world order in mind. Anyone who makes common cause with such powers cannot possibly be trustworthy.

So people, pay attention, also in the interest of your own credibility!