5th December 2024 Bhubaneswar, Odisha –
In a significant virtual gathering, the 107th session of the Thinkers’ Club, held over the Zoom platform, delved into the complex and tumultuous global landscape of “War and Peace” on 1st December 2024.
Key Speakers and Participants
The session was presided over by Dr. Nanda Nandan Das, a retired former Works Secretary of the Government of Odisha. Sri Vivek Pattanayak, a retired IAS officer, served as the Chief Guest. Retired Major General Atanu Pattanaik was the chief speaker, providing insightful perspectives on global conflicts. Sri Barada Das, President of the Thinkers’ Club, moderated the discussion with precision and depth.
Historical Context and Current Challenges
The discussion highlighted that since World War II ended in 1945 with twice nuclear bombings on 6th & 9th August 1945 in Hiroshima & Nagasaki of Japan. To maintain peace and security internationally on Earth United Nation (UN) was created on 24th October 1945. Several major conflicts have continued to disrupt global peace. These include:
Korean War: A conflict that began in 1950 and remains unresolved.
Vietnam War: A prolonged conflict from 1955 to 1975.
Gulf War: Initiated in 1990 following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
Ukraine War: Ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
Israel-Palestine Conflicts: Decades-long disputes over territory and sovereignty.
The establishment of the League of Nations after World War I failed to prevent subsequent wars; similarly, today’s United Nations Organization (UNO) faces significant challenges in maintaining global peace due to veto powers held by five major countries.
Economic Interests and Lobbying
According to Major General Atanu Pattanaik, economic interests are at the core of most wars. He emphasized that lobbies such as those representing:
Pharmaceuticals: Influencing health policies for profit.
Petroleum: Resisting transitions to renewable energy sources.
Weapons Manufacturing: Benefiting from ongoing conflicts.
Additional factors include ego-driven supremacy battles and ethnic tensions. Pattanaik noted that leaders prioritize their own interests over global peace and that industries like weapons manufacturing benefit from ongoing wars.
Critique of Global Leadership
The meeting underscored a lack of genuine leadership on the global stage. Leaders are seen as more concerned with their own agendas than with fostering world peace. The war industry’s billion-dollar market and lobbying efforts by pharmaceutical and petroleum industries were cited as examples where profit overrides public health and environmental concerns.
Dr. Nanda Nandan Das has outlined a vision for achieving global peace. His suggestions, conveyed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bharat on 6th November 2024 under registration number PMOPG/E/2024/0163312, and later to the United Nations Security Council on 23rd November 2024, emphasize a unified approach toward harmony among nations.
Here are the key points from Dr. Das’s proposal on way to achieve Global peace:
Narrator (continued):
The discussion begins with an exploration of the origins of humanity. Earth, separated from the Sun approximately 4.5 billion years ago, cooled over millennia, forming water and enabling life. Early humans, believed to have originated in Africa over 100,000 years ago, spread across the globe, forming civilizations, languages, religions, races, and nations. Unfortunately, these divisions, combined with egotism, religious differences, expansion mind-set and the pursuit of power, have fueled conflicts throughout history. All are one family of Mother Earth and one’s existence finite like other living beings. Nothing belongs one even own body, soul or breath. .
To counter this cycle, Dr. Das proposes a path to global peace:
- Global Unity: Recognize all human beings as part of one global family sharing Planet Earth.
- Finite Life, Infinite Harmony: Work collectively to promote peace and harmony, benefiting all humanity.
- Freedom of Faith: Religion is a personal and social bond. Everyone should practice their beliefs without imposing on others.
- Leadership Accountability: National leaders must prioritize the welfare and development of their citizens while acting as representatives within the United Nations framework.
- Global Defense Regulation: The United Nations should oversee global defense systems to prevent conflicts and wars.
- Nuclear Energy for Good: Nuclear energy must be harnessed solely for space exploration, disaster management, and humanitarian welfare.
- Democratic Decision-Making: International resolutions should reflect the majority opinion during discussions.
- Value-Based Education: Education systems worldwide should incorporate a curriculum promoting the idea of one human race, transcending cultural, religious, and geographical differences. Dr. Das’s book, Moral Science, which outlines these values, has been shared with leaders from 170 nations.
- Eradicating Terrorism: All forms of terrorism must be condemned and dealt with severely.
- Universal Concepts (Copyrighted by Dr. N.N. Das):
- Gods: The Sun, Earth, and one’s parents, as they sustain life.
- Religion: Humanity is the true religion; all people belong to one race.
- Caste: There are only two natural distinctions—male and female—with equal rights for all.
Participants expressed a dire need for revitalizing institutions like UNO and G20 to address these issues effectively. It was decided that letters would be sent by the Thinkers’ Club to the UN Security Council and other stakeholders expressing their concerns.
International Participation
Dr. Bhagya Sree Singh from London delivered the welcome speech, setting the tone for a comprehensive discussion. Other participants included Jayakrushna Choudhury, Binod Das, Pratap Rout, and Dipayan Pattanaik. The meeting drew participation from numerous intellectuals both directly on Zoom and through YouTube.
Conclusion
These principles aim to unify humanity and lay the foundation for a peaceful, inclusive world. We encourage a comprehensive review of these suggestions to make strides toward global harmony. This gathering underscores a pressing need for renewed commitment to global peace initiatives a midst ongoing geopolitical tensions and economic lobbying influences. World leaders, UN should interfere to stop war & establish peace. As Global Citizens, It is imperative to demand more from our leaders and international institutions to ensure a more peaceful and equitable world.
