Free Minds, Free People was exciting because most of the conferences I go to are dominated by white people, mostly white men with gray hair. Far as I could tell, I was the only gray-haired white man at this conference. In fact, I was at least 10 years older than the next oldest person and 30 years older than most of the radical, free-thinking, education-minded educators in beautiful, cool-yet-warm attendance. Never have I seen a conference of 1200 people with more diversity of shapes, sizes, colors, cultures, and genders more united in philosophy and approach to life.

Nuclear detonation

Can be stopped by an often-ignored action,

One which receives little to no attention.

Nuclear elimination,

Can begin,

Once once reaches the realization,

Of the ability of lyricization~

There are times/

when we grow tired of paying hostility's fines/

Moments when we decide not to whine/

When we decide to scribe down lines/

Lines to help us extinguish hostility and its fines~

To help us see each other in a new way/

May we hold hands and think again another day/

Looking into each others eyes as we say/

A welcoming and heartfelt, hey~

" In my humble opinion, I think that poetry is a method we can use to spread such opportunities and chances to the masses...To make what is united, global."

"I am not suggesting diplomats should suddenly start speaking in verse to one another during diplomatic sessions. Rather, I am suggesting that by understanding language and meaning in a more nuanced manner and that by having the logical form of poetry in mind, diplomats may be able to overcome ‘cultural boundaries’ caused by language differences."

Background of Project

The 2019 NPT PrepCom will be held in New York from April 29, 2019 to May 10, 2019. The 2019 NPT PrepCom, open to all States parties to the Treaty, is responsible for addressing substantive and procedural issues related to the Treaty and the 2020 NPT Review Conference. The Chair of the third session is Ambassador Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob of Malaysia. 

"Within these contrary terms of poetry and diplomacy, both matters seem to maintain their own stable ground.

Personally, I have heard from teachers, mentors, and colleagues alike that as humans we naturally come to a pause. Though it is true that we do naturally come to pause (for purposes of breathing) I do not think that we naturally pause at moments that elevate a normal conversation into a detailed discussion. In other words, I do not think we naturally differentiate between common words and eloquent verbiage.

In March, Special Envoy Said Djinnit, an Algerian diplomat, delivered his final remarks in this capacity to members of the UNSC. PEAC's intern, Lawerence Khoo covered the meeting.

WOMEN AND GIRL'S ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURES: EXPERIENCE OF SETTING UP MULTIFUNCTIONAL PLATFORMS IN NIGER

Empowering in Emergencies: A conversation with Frontline Responders to Gender Based Violence

Making an agreement

Coming together to hear each other’s pronouncement

Discussing toward merriment,

Striding away from a state of being recalcitrant,

Through sympathizing, we come to an agreement~

Poetry and diplomacy are conducted in various languages at multiple and varied moments in time. Beyond the languages it is conducted in, poetry and diplomacy have a language structure of their own as well that transcends barriers of nationality and ‘tongue’. In terms of poetry, rhyme and rhythm are of crucial importance. I will use a well known Robert Frost poem and a well known Matsuo Basho poem as my frames of reference.

“Peaceful Melody”

Communal harmony,
Friendly camaraderie,
What more could there be
To create peace we can see?

Inside each person,
Within every nation,
There is a magic notion,
That is like a curing potion.
It is unbiased comprehension,
Unsullied by strident tension.

As waves and moon are in synchronicity,
Humanity can find a pure form of unity,
Through poetry,
Through its peaceful melody.

~Andrew Sokulski Zozaya

Mali Consultations in the U.N Security Council

By Lawrence Khoo

On January 16, the United Nations Security Council held consultations about the situation in Mali. Based on the 2018 report made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the consultations highlighted key aspects of the situation in Mali such as the peace process, the implementation of 2015 Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, and the progress of the Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) before proceeding to the consultation. President of the Security Council José Singer Weisinger moderated the consultation while Security Council members issued individual press statements expressing concerns and suggestions afterward.

Open Debate on Addressing the Impacts of climate-related disasters on international peace and Security

By Lawrence Khoo

Under the leadership of the Dominican Republic, the UN Security Council convened an important debate on the nexus between security and climate change.

This youth expedition consisted of 24 individuals age 18-30. The participants were from many South Pacific Islands, U.S, and Japan. The program ran from December 4 to 7, 2018.

First Committee Review

By James Hannan

With the end of 2018 in sight, it is time to reflect on the action taken and decisions made by the First Committee of the 73^rdUN General Assembly.  In light of events that transpired throughout 2018, the topic of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation remains at the forefront of the First Committee agenda.

Setting the tone with opening remarks, the state representatives presented their respective stance on key points of contention in the existing disarmament machinery and regime. Although never thought to be overly enthusiastic for the cause of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, the nuclear weapon states rhetoric and positioning is a surprise to anyone on first exposure.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, PEAC Institute convened the Global Youth Forum on the Treaty of the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons from December 5, 2018 to December 7, 2018. An orientation was held on December 4, 2018.  The forum was held in conjunction to the high-level Pacific Conference.

Ms. Rebecca Irby, President of PEAC Institute; and Mr. Christian N. Ciobanu, the UN Representative of PEAC Institute, organized the youth forum.  

The participants included: youth from the Pacific Islands (New Zealand, Fiji, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, and the Marshall Islands), and international youth from Japan and the US (Meiji Gakuin University, Rutgers University, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University respectively).

We wish to acknowledge and thank our pacific partner, Youngsolwara Pacific, for sending its youth to the forum.

We are also proud that the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Samuel Rubin Foundation, and Ploughshares Foundation and the aforementioned universities financially sponsored the youth participants.

The Penn Peace Project is a conference geared toward educating the Penn community about current issues involving international peace, particularly the growing relevance of nuclear disarmament and the recent creation and debate over the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The event aims to facilitate discussion about possible resolutions to international conflict. Our speakers for the event are Ms. Veronique Christory, Senior Arms Control Advisor of the International Committee of the Red Cross; Ms. Susanne Hammer, Austrian First Secretary Disarmament Officer, Dr. Carlos Umana, President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Costa Rica; and Ambassador Dell Higgie of New Zealand (Ambassador for Disarmament). Mr. Christian N. Ciobanu, the UN Representative of the PEAC Institute, an NGO based out of New Jersey, chaired the symposium, and Pablo Golac, Director of IAA's Academic Affairs, and Rebecca Irby, President of PEAC, gave introductory remarks.