Past Events
Global Democracy
Guest Speaker Andreas Bummel
Voice Of The People At The UN: Implementing A UN Parliamentary Assembly
The Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly (https://www.unpacampaign.org/proposal/) has received wide, high-level support around the world, but there is still no UNPA. Andreas Bummel, co-convenor of the Campaign will review the idea of a UNPA, discuss how a UNPA might get started, and review the status of the promotional Campaign. He will discuss with Toronto area World Federalists practical things they could do to help the campaign.
Global Economy
Guest Speaker Peter Venton
Reforming International Economic Institutions for a more prosperous, just and sustainable world economic order
Following the Great Depression and the Second World War, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank were established (at Bretton Woods) to stabilize and encourage economic growth. With the addition of trade agreements and now the World Trade Organization, the three economic institutions aim for a prosperous, just and sustainable world economy that obviously depends upon a healthy global environment. However recent disjoint responses to the climate emergency and the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the need for fundamental reform of these economic institutions.
World Environment
Guest Speaker Seth Klein
Greening the World Economy For A Sustainable Future
Policy Researcher and author of “A GOOD WAR: MOBILIZING CANADA FOR THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY” Seth Klein talks with World Federalists on how his lessons can help usher in a greener world economy. This event is part of the World Federalists’ discussions on Better Global Governance.
Registrants will also be invited to a follow-up discussion, April 19th at 7pm, to discuss what Actions WFMC-Toronto should undertake in response to this presentation.
Guest Speaker Nigel Roulet
The Future of the Environment
Climate change concerns us all. As we head into the month of April and Earth Day, this presentation will outline the major environmental factors that we must consider. Nigel Roulet is a Professor of Biogeosciences and Chair of the Geography Department at McGill University
Human Rights and Global Justice
Guest Speaker Corey Levine
Afghanistan: what can and should the international community do?
What's happening in Afghanistan, especially in light of Ukraine and how this has pushed Afghanistan out of the media and people’s minds? Corey Levine will provide an overall analysis regarding the latest with the humanitarian crisis, the Taliban government, and Canada’s commitment to bring in 40,000 Afghans.
Global Peace and Security
Guest Speaker Peter Langille
Preventing Armed Conflict: Finding a better way with a UN Emergency Peace Service
By the time the world reacts to local conflicts it’s usually too late to prevent their escalation into worse violence and too late to properly protect civilians. Then, the military-industrial complex cashes in. The idea of a UNEPS is to engage before violence begins, deploying a standing first-responder, effectively a ‘UN 911’, with an array of useful services to provide prompt care and help. A UNEPS would be multifunctional, ready for diverse security, humanitarian, environmental and health crises. It’s to complement existing UN arrangements with a multidimensional composition of civilian, police and military teams in a gender-equitable formation of dedicated UN personnel. With support, it’s likely to be a game-changer that encourages military build-down and disarmament, freeing up the vast resources urgently needed to address our climate emergency and sustainable development.
Guest Speaker Andrew Carswell
War in Ukraine as a Trigger for Reforming the UN System of Peace and Security
Andrew Carswell is an international lawyer based in Ottawa and is Director of the International Rule of Law Initiative. His talk will canvas the situations when the General Assembly may recommend measures up to and including the use of force when the Security Council is paralyzed by the veto of a permanent member. He will also review the option of seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality of the veto.