Visions for a New Century: Brian Eno hosted this event on behalf of BASIC and the Ploughshares Fund on February 1st, at which people joined together to sign a declaration of support for the global disarmament agenda, which was sent to the White House and Downing Street. The text and list of signatories is below: Event to launch a new public conversation between opinion makers and policy leaders concerned with nuclear disarmament
Open Letter to President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Gordon Brown
The global challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change and global poverty, demand cooperative solutions. But effective collective action is stymied by cynicism, mutual distrust and systemic inequities. This is most clearly illustrated by the Cold War legacy of nuclear weapons possession and the threat of mutual nuclear annihilation. We are greatly encouraged by the statements of intent from world leaders to move decisively towards a world free of nuclear weapons. This is necessary to avoid the otherwise inevitable proliferation of nuclear weapons, and their acquisition by terrorist organizations. It is also necessary if we are to effectively tackle the many other very pressing global challenges, which the world has to date been unable to address effectively. We are hopeful that you and other world leaders will follow-through on the global nuclear disarmament agenda during 2010, but are conscious that this will take the support of a critical mass of informed public opinion. We urge you to follow through on your statements and your convictions, to resist the anachronistic voices of caution that mislead us into thinking the status quo is an option, and we offer what assistance we can to support this agenda.
Signed:
| Brian EnoRory Bremner
Des Browne Stephen Frears Julian Borger Julian Rhind Tutt Vanessa Branson William Sieghart Mark Fitzpatrick Phil Harvey Seb Rochford Sophie Fiennes Ashley Biles Bevis Gillet Carol Naughton Catherine Dempsey Clare Ellen Henry Parham Imran Tyabji Isabel Bass James Thorthon Jamie Campbell John Brown Claudia Brown Monika Studel Will Hammonds Lee Elly |
Michael TummingsArmando Iannucci
Nicholas Robertson Danny Alexander Tony Dow Yasmin Harvey Melissa North Chris Kenny Elisabeth Kinder Caroline Turner Davide Bocelli Gareth Davies Gautam Lewis Richard Williams Rick Holland Yasmine Gaspard David Emerson Robin Eggar Shata Shetty Steve Jones Sylvia Sumira Paul Miller Clancy Tchassey Georgina Goodwin Anna Lawrence Pietroni Su Lin |
1 February 2010
More event coverage:
- Visions for A New Century, event summary, London, 1 February 2010.
- Eno sees stars in his latest war on nukes, London Evening Standard, 5 February 2010.
- UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office background on the event.
- See full event brochure (PDF) and more photos on Flickr.