[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2489-E2490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, last week the 4th Nobel Peace Laureates 
Summit was held in Rome. At the conclusion of the Summit, the Laureates 
issued a statement on behalf of this extraordinary gathering that is 
printed at the end of these remarks. There are too few places in our 
public dialogue where a universal perspective is encouraged and lauded. 
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of them. Such civil society institutions 
are to be encouraged because they are needed to work on global 
challenges.
  The Laureates reinforced in the most eloquent terms the message sent 
at a recent panel convened by the Bipartisan Task Force on Non-
proliferation of which I am Co-chair with my colleague Christopher 
Shays (R-Conn.). This panel on ``The Limits of Unilateralism'' included 
the world-renowned

[[Page E2490]]

anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall, former Ambassador Thomas Graham, and 
Mr. Michael Douglas, actor and U.N. Messenger of Peace. In his remarks, 
Mr. Douglas stressed that not only Americans, but all people on the 
planet, are faced with enormous challenges to our security and survival 
which can only be effectively met through international cooperation. He 
reminded us that we are tasked with ``ensuring bio-diversity and ending 
the destruction of thousands of species; reversing the depletion of 
fishing stocks; controlling ocean dumping; preventing ozone depletion; 
halting global warming; controlling and eliminating terrorism and 
weapons of mass destruction; fighting pandemic diseases; ending the 
tragedy of crushing poverty and lack of clean drinking water; and 
addressing crises arising from failed states. No nation or even a small 
group of nations can succeed in addressing these issues alone.''
  Jonathan Granoff, who helped organize our Task Force event here in 
Washington as President of the Global Security Institute (GSI), also 
attended the Summit of the Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome as a 
representative of the International Peace Bureau, a Nobel Peace 
Laureate organization.
  The Summit took place from the 27 to 30 November 2003. It was 
convened upon invitation by Mikhail Gorbachev and Walter Veltroni, 
Mayor of the City of Rome. The following Nobel Peace Laureates--
individuals and organizations--participated in the Summit: The XIV 
Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, Mikhail Gorbachev, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, 
Shimon Peres, Joseph Rotblat (represented by Professor Robert Hinde), 
Oscar Arias Sanchez, Lech Walesa, Betty Williams, Jody Williams, 
American Friends Service Committee, Amnesty International, Doctors 
Without Borders, International Campaign to Ban Landmines, International 
Labour Organization, International Peace Bureau, International 
Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, International Law 
Institute, Pugwash Conferences, Quakers Peace and Social Witness, 
United Nations, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees, and United Nations Peace Keeping Forces.
  The theme of the gathering was ``Ethics and Policy.'' It is a subject 
we discuss often in this chamber as we apply policies to our domestic 
affairs. It is also needed, perhaps even more so, in international 
affairs. For this reason, I would like to submit the Final Statement of 
the Summit into our record for your review and consideration:

  Ethics and Policy--4th Global Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates Rome, 
                     Campidoglio, November 30, 2003


                            FINAL STATEMENT

       We are the first generation making decisions that will 
     determine whether we will be the last generation. We have an 
     ethical responsibility to future generations to ensure that 
     we are not passing on a future of wars and ecological 
     catastrophe. For policies to be in the interest of humanity, 
     they must be based on ethical values.
       We express our profound anxiety that current policies are 
     not creating a sufficiently secure and stable world for all. 
     For this reason, we need to reset our course based on strong 
     ethical foundations.
       Compassion and conscience are essential to our humanity and 
     compel us to care for one another. Cooperation amongst 
     nations, multilateralism, is the logical outgrowth of this 
     principle. A more equitable international order based on the 
     rule of law is its needed expression.
       We reiterate our conviction that international politics 
     need to be reformed to address effectively three critical 
     challenges: ending wars and violence, eliminating poverty, 
     and saving the environment.
       We call upon everyone to join us in working to replace the 
     culture of war with a culture of peace. Let us ensure that no 
     child is ever again exposed to the horrors of war.
       Recent events, such as the escalation of the conflict in 
     the Middle East, bloodshed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Chechnya, 
     as well as in parts of Africa and Latin America, confirm that 
     problems with deep economic, social, cultural or religious 
     roots cannot be resolved unilaterally or by armed force.
       International terrorism is a threat to peace. Multilateral 
     cooperation and the promotion of human rights under the rule 
     of law are essential to address terrorism and its underlying 
     sources.
       The threat of weapons of mass destruction remains with us. 
     We call for an immediate end to the newly resurgent arms 
     race, which is being fueled by a failure to universally 
     ratify a treaty banning nuclear testing, and by doctrines 
     that lower the threshold of use and promote the creation of 
     new nuclear weapons. This is particularly dangerous when 
     coupled with the doctrine of pre-emption.
       For some to say that nuclear weapons are good for them but 
     not for others is simply not sustainable. The failure of the 
     nuclear weapons states to abide by their legal pledge to 
     negotiate the elimination of nuclear weapons, contained in 
     the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, is the greatest stimulus 
     to their proliferation.
       Nuclear weapons are immoral and we call for their universal 
     legal prohibition. They must be eliminated before they 
     eliminate humanity.
       We support the treaty to ban landmines and call for 
     effective agreements to limit conventional weapons and arms 
     trade.
       Trillions of dollars have been spent since the end of the 
     Cold War in developing military approaches to security. Yet, 
     the daily lives of billions remain bereft of adequate health 
     care, clean water, food and the benefits of education. These 
     needs must be met.
       Humanity has developed sophisticated technologies for 
     destruction. Appropriate social and human technologies based 
     on cooperation are needed for survival.
       The international community has a proven tool, the 
     universality of the United Nations. Its work can and must be 
     improved and this can be done without undermining its core 
     principles.
       We assert that unconditional adherence to international law 
     is essential. Of course, law is a living institution that can 
     change and grow to meet new circumstances. But, the 
     principles that govern international relations must not be 
     ignored or violated.
       Ethics in the relations between nations and in government 
     policies is of paramount importance. Nations must treat other 
     nations as they wish to be treated. The most powerful nations 
     must remember that as they do, so shall others do.
       Economic hardship is often the result of corruption and 
     lack of business ethics, both internationally and locally. 
     Through utilizing more effective ethical codes of conduct the 
     business community can contribute to protecting the 
     environment and eliminating poverty. This is both a practical 
     and moral necessity.
       The scientific community could serve human interests more 
     fully by affirmatively adopting the ethical principle of 
     doing no harm.
       The international community has recently recognized the 
     importance of establishing an ethical framework. Leaders of 
     States issued the Millennium Declaration at the United 
     Nations and set forth common values of freedom, equality, 
     solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared 
     responsibility. From these values, a plan to address 
     sustainable development and poverty, the Millennium 
     Development Goals, emerged. We urge all to join in 
     implementation of these goals and prevent any retreat from 
     specific commitments. Moreover, we share the principles of 
     the Earth Charter and urge governments at all levels to 
     support this important document.
       For globalization to enhance sustainable development, the 
     international community needs to establish more democratic, 
     transparent, and accountable forms of governance. We advocate 
     extending the benefits of democracy and self governance but 
     this goal cannot be achieved through coercion or force.
       After a special session, the Nobel Peace Prize Winners have 
     agreed that the death penalty is a particularly cruel and 
     unusual punishment that should be abolished. It is especially 
     unconscionable when imposed on children.
       We affirm the unity of the human family. Our diversity is 
     an enrichment, not a danger. Through dialogue we gain 
     appreciation of the value of our differences. Our capacity to 
     work together as a community of peoples and nations is the 
     strongest antidote to violence and our reason for hope.
       Our commitment to serve the cause of peace compels us to 
     continue working individually and together on this path. We 
     urge you to join us.

                          ____________________