Bringing Russian and American citizens together in Peace since 1983.
Dear CCI Friends,
The following article appeared recently in the Quincy Institute publication, Responsible Statecraft. It is from an article originally published in Foreign Affairs. If you have not seen it yet, I hope you will give it your consideration.
Paula Day, Director
Center for Citizen Initiatives
Dear CCI Friends,
Yesterday a great man, a truly great ‘thought leader’ left our planet. Mikhail Gorbachev made his mark on our world by being the only Soviet leader to come to the United States where he stole the heart of our American people. He got out of cars in the middle of Manhattan to shake hands with hundreds of ordinary Americans. This happened in city after city. His ever-ready smile and affable personality won the hearts of millions of us.
Fate didn’t allow Gorbachev to lead his nation after the USSR broke up; nonetheless, he still represents an era, a time … when both Americans and Russians thought that a new world order could be created by our two former adversarial countries.
As Secretary General, Gorbachev allowed us (the Center for US-USSR Initiatives, now CCI) to start Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in the USSR, the first meeting being in Kiev in 1985, the next in Moscow where AA was advertised on a large video screen in central Moscow. This was unheard of at the time! He next allowed us to have ‘closed meetings’ (not allowed then) across 11 time Zones. Our AA citizen leaders took the program all the way to Magadan in the Far East. Today AA is all over Russia and eight of the former USSR states.
In recent years numbers of our CCI delegates have been able to meet with and question Mr. Gorbachev at his Foundation in central Moscow. The last CCI delegation was just before COVID. We are deeply grateful for those wonderful meetings with him in the past.
Dear CCI Friends,
Jeffrey Sachs is a name familiar to all who watched the breakup of the USSR and the devastating period that ensued in the 1990s. The ruble became worthless, hunger and death were omnipresent as the entire country and surrounding regions were plunged into a crisis for their survival. I remember this period very distinctly. It was tragic. Sachs learned that Harvard’s approach failed the Russian people. Check “The Power of Impossible Ideas” pages 81 – 85. Fortunately Sachs was a quick learner and is one of the most astute voices in the field regarding what needs to be done today with Russia and China. He is one of the few voices willing to discuss the entire history leading to the current crisis, a crisis that could have been avoided. I offer his essay for your consideration.
Sharon Tennison
Center for Citizen Initiatives
Dear CCI Readers,
For Citizen Diplomats, one man stands out in my mind as the ultimate citizen who started young at age 19 by leaving his native Canada and traveling through the United States and throughout Mexico and Central America. He says that it opened his eyes to the impact of multinational corporations and the roles played by the U.S. and Canada. Rick Sterling has continued to travel throughout the world to support people striving for peace and security. Today, at age 73 years young, he is trying to wake up America about its dangerous attempt to take Russia down to get their oil, gas and numerous other subsoil treasures. This of course is what the Ukraine war is all about. Read his commonsensical review of crisis management of former U.S. leaders from JFK to Biden.
Sharon Tennison
Center for Citizen Initiatives
Dear CCI Followers,
I explained earlier that I would be in touch with you about changes occurring at CCI. I am in my 85th year and it is imperative that my workload be reduced.
We are setting up a new Board of Directors for CCI.
Fortunately, I’ve had the advantage of close relations with VIP Americans and numerous other top-end professionals who have traveled on CCI’s Russia trips since 2010. Several of them have communicated weekly and some daily at specific times. They have been a God-send to me. It’s past time for a few of them to become CCI’s new Board Members. The first two who have been loyal supporters are as follows: Paula Day and Krishen Mehta.
Their responsibilities will be established in the near future.