Questions on the future of human

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At the Citizens for Global Solutions staff meeting on July 23rd, World
Federalist Institute Director Scott Hoffman posed four questions to
the staff members. Broken into small groups, the staff discussed the
questions and then reconvened to present their answers.

• What are the most serious global problems that need to be solved in
your lifetime? What are some possible solutions?
• What are the obstacles that make these solutions difficult/ How can
they be overcome?
• Will there need to be a paradigm shift in people’s thinking to make
these solutions feasible? What might this be like and how can it be
brought about?
• What global structure might need to be created or redesigned to make
these solutions of global problems possible?

In the discussion of the first question, numerous problems were
identified including world hunger, disease, poverty, genocide, nuclear
proliferation, water shortages, climate change/energy resources,
terrorism, tribalism, racism, religious fanaticism, human rights
violations, and unsatisfactory labor standards.

In regards to the second part of the first question, the list of
possible solutions included exploring alternative energy sources or
instituting a carbon tax, achieving universal disarmament, creating
economic incentives, and increasing state and corporate
responsibility.

After identifying the global problems, the staff then discussed the
obstacles that make achieving these solutions difficult. Acknowledged
obstacles included limited resources, the current nation-state system
and ideas of sovereignty, global mindsets of greed and self-
preservation, the U.S. superiority complex, lack of cultural
understanding and education, and flaws in current global institutions
(e.g. the veto power in the Security Council).

Staff agreed that a paradigm shift is needed in the global mindset
before these obstacles can be overcome and the goals achieved. To
bring about this shift, the groups recommended economic incentives,
education programs, advocating tolerance and diversity, encouraging
open dialogue between different countries, public pressure on their
respective governments, and more grassroots organizations. One group
suggested that perhaps a major cataclysmic event is needed to spur
real action, such as World War II led to the creation of the United
Nations.

The last few minutes focused on a brief discussion on current global
structures that need to be redesigned or restructured and the possible
need for creation new structures. Talk mostly focused on the
feasibility of a global parliament or perhaps the addition of a
parliamentary body to the United Nations.