Commentary on Peace and Security in Europe and Eurasia

Minsk, Belarus - In preparation for the International Day of Families, UPF-Belarus initiated a number of projects on May 5 to strengthen “Relationships among the generations.” Volunteers helped veterans with housework and listened to informative stories about their life experience during World War II.

Vitebsk, Belarus - Peace activists and government officials held a conference in Vitebsk on the International Day of Peace, September 21. The event was held in the conference room of the Regional Institute for the Development of Education.

Minsk, Belarus - A meeting of Belarusian Ambassadors for Peace took place near Minsk on June 18. Among the participants were representatives of the Belarusian Peace Foundation, the Association of Koreans in Belarus, and other grassroots organizations.

Minsk, Belarus - The Universal Peace Federation held a seminar on June 25 in the capital city of Minsk attended by ten Ambassadors for Peace and honored guests. Most participants were invited at the initiative of Dr. Marat Egorov, UPF Peace Council representative in Belarus.

In the Mogilev region of Belarus a border meeting of people from two districts of the Smolensk region and two districts of the Mogilev region took place, commemorating the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and Belarus, as well as the 65th anniversary of the victory.

Minsk, Belarus - The Belarus Peace Fund held a Peace Rally on June 1 at the Stalin's Line historical complex near Minsk. The program, co-organized by the Universal Peace Federation, commemorated the 65th anniversary of the victory in World War II in Belarus.

Elementary logic would demonstrate that a bridge across the Bering Strait is not a commercial project, not some scheme, however great may be the risks involved, no business venture thought up by some entrepreneur, however far-fetched. Yet in fact, it promises definite commercial prospects. It is my conviction that this project is an all-important initiative on the part of modern mankind. Humanity today has immeasurable experience in elaborating and carrying out complex projects of a global scale – political, economic, cultural, and spiritual.

Shushevich sees the unequal distribution of wealth in today’s world as a root cause of anti—globalization sentiment and the rise of non-traditional forms of warfare such as terrorism. He calls for efforts to “distill the best of globalization,” to “avoid dividing society… into ‘we’ and ‘them’,” and to “subdue the roots of aggression within the human soul.”