Citizens for Global Solutions

Last updated
AbbreviationCGS
EstablishedFebruary 23, 1947;77 years ago (1947-02-23)
Founded at Asheville, North Carolina
Merger of
  • Americans United for World Government (AUWG)
  • World Federalists, USA
  • Student Federalists
  • Georgia World Citizens Committee (GWCC)
  • Massachusetts Committee for World Federation (MCWF)
Type Nonprofit
Purpose World peace, world constitution, democratic federal world government
Headquarters Washington, D.C.
Location
Key people
Formerly called
  • United World Federalists, Inc. (UWF)
  • World Federalists USA
  • World Federalists Association (WFA)
  • Campaign for UN Reform (CUNR)

Citizens for Global Solutions is a grassroots-level membership organization [1] in the United States working towards the establishment of a world government [2] in order to avoid future atomic wars. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

It has promoted a world federal government, United Nations reform, legislative resolutions, and amendments to the U.S. Constitution to favor a world federal government. [6]

History

The organization's lineage can be traced back to its precursor, the World Federalists, established in 1941. This group subsequently merged with other organizations in 1943 to create the Federal World Government, Inc. which evolved into the World Federalists, USA in 1945, and in 1947, it transformed into the United World Federalists (UWF). [6]

On February 23, 1947, [7] five world federalist organizations – Americans United for World Government (AUWG), World Federalists, USA (World Federalists of America), Student Federalists, Georgia World Citizens Committee (GWCC), and the Massachusetts Committee for World Federation (MCWF) – merged to form the United World Federalists, Inc. (UWF). [8] [1] By 1948, the organization had more than 34,000 members, including 7,000 students. [3] This number grew to more than 50,000 members in the early 1950s. [9]

Cord Meyer IV was the first president of the organization, with Grenville Clark, Thomas K. Finletter, Wallace Trevor Holliday serving as vice-presidents. [1] [3]

Albert Einstein

In 1948, Cord Meyer was invited to attend a meeting of the Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists (ECAS) where he met Albert Einstein, [10] [11] Leo Szilard and many of the other leading nuclear physicists. [1] It was then Albert Einstein joined UWF as a member of the Advisory Board [12] and showed his support. Einstein and ECAS assisted UEF in fundraising on numerous occasions [1] and also provided supporting material. [13] [14]

In June, 1951, in his letter to Harrison Brown, Einstein described the United World Federalists as: "the group nearest to our aspirations". [15]

The photo [2] of Cord Meyer meeting with Albert Einstein in 1948 [1] has been widely circulated on the internet and social media, with the false claims of Einstein being with his therapist. [16] [17] [18]

Thane Read

In 1949, Cord Meyer resigned and was succeeded by Alan Cranston. [1] That same year, Thane Read joined the UWF and would later initiate a worldwide call in 1958 and garner support for the World Constitutional Convention [19] [20] ultimately leading to the development of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth. [21] [22]

Later UWF was renamed as World Federalists USA. [8]

Split and remerge

In 1975, the organization turned its focus to educational activities as the World Federalist Association (WFA), while members who wanted to continue political action efforts formed the Campaign for UN Reform (CUNR). The two groups merged as Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS) in 2003. [23] [24]

List of Past Presidents

Recent years

In 2006, CGS launched a campaign to prevent the confirmation of John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the UN. Bolton, who had been serving in the role as a recess appointment, withdrew from consideration that December. [32]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Meyer, Cord (1980). Facing reality : from world federalism to the CIA. Internet Archive. New York : Harper & Row. pp. 42–56. ISBN   978-0-06-013032-9.
  2. 1 2 "LIFE - Hosted by Google". images.google.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  3. 1 2 3 LIFE. Vol. 24 (25 ed.). Time Inc. 1948-06-21. pp. 49–56.
  4. ↑ "LIFE - Hosted by Google". images.google.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  5. ↑ "LIFE - Hosted by Google". images.google.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  6. 1 2 "archives.nypl.org -- United World Federalists records". archives.nypl.org. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  7. ↑ "United World Federalists mss., 1928-1988 (bulk 1946-1986)". webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  8. 1 2 "World Federalist Association | UIA Yearbook Profile | Union of International Associations". uia.org. Archived from the original on 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  9. ↑ "Citizens for Global Solutions". 2007-02-05. Archived from the original on 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  10. ↑ "Albert Einstein and World Federalist Cord Meyer in conversation, Princeton, NJ". International Center of Photography. 2016-02-29. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  11. ↑ "These candid photographs capture the daily life of Albert Einstein, 1930s-1950s - Rare Historical Photos". Rare Historical Photos. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  12. ↑ Einstein, Albert; Nathan, Otto; Norden, Heinz (1968). Einstein on peace. Internet Archive. New York, Schocken Books. p. 405.
  13. ↑ Meares, L.M., August 9, 1947. , retrieved 2023-08-24
  14. ↑ Kirstein, William A., July 11, 1947. , retrieved 2023-08-24
  15. ↑ Einstein, Albert; Nathan, Otto; Norden, Heinz (1968). Einstein on peace. Internet Archive. New York, Schocken Books. pp. 557–558.
  16. ↑ "This is NOT Albert Einstein With His Therapist". Gizmodo. 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  17. ↑ says, QuietBlogster (2017-04-02). "Einstein with his therapist?". HoaxEye. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  18. ↑ "7 (More) Fun Facts That Are Total Lies". Gizmodo. 2013-12-26. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  19. ↑ "Letters from Thane Read asking Helen Keller to sign the World Constitution for world peace. 1961". Helen Keller Archive. American Foundation for the Blind. Retrieved 2023-07-01– via afb.org.
  20. ↑ "Letters from Thane Read asking Helen Keller to sign the World Constitution for world peace. 1961". Helen Keller Archive. American Foundation for the Blind. Retrieved 2023-07-01– via afb.org.
  21. ↑ "Letter from World Constitution Coordinating Committee to Helen, enclosing current materials". Helen Keller Archive. American Foundation for the Blind. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  22. ↑ "Global Strategies & Solutions : Preparing earth constitution". The Encyclopedia of World Problems. Union of International Associations. Retrieved 2023-07-15– via uia.org.
  23. ↑ "Citizens for Global Solutions | Center for Nonprofit Strategies". cnpsweb.org. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Citizens for Global Solutions | UIA Yearbook Profile | Union of International Associations". uia.org. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  25. 1 2 Read-Brown, Ken. "Cousins, Norman (1915-1990)". Harvard Square Library. Unitarian Universalist biographies, history, books, and media. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Details Page - The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa - The University of Iowa Libraries". uipress.lib.uiowa.edu. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  27. 1 2 Baratta, Joseph Preston (2004). The politics of world federation (1. publ. ed.). Westport, Conn.: Praeger. p. 511. ISBN   9780275980689 . Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  28. 1 2 "Latest survival forum speaker". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 3, 1959. p. 9. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  29. ↑ Seaberry, Jane (July 20, 1975). "Arnold Zander, founder of union, dies". Washington Post .
  30. ↑ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  31. ↑ "World Federalist John B. Anderson Dies". Peace Economy Project. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  32. ↑ "Politics, as Usual". The Washington Times. March 28, 2005. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018.
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