Dear CCI Friends,

Charles Heberle visited Russia as a CCI delegate in 2015, the year that CCI (comprised of only one person by then, Sharon Tennison) resumed its original mission of bringing Russian and American citizens together in peace and friendship. It was not his first experience in the country – far from it. In the early 2000’s Charles was recruited by the Russian government to “teach democracy” in a country that had, by the admission of its own experts, experienced nothing but authoritarian governmental control for 1000 years. Moving to democracy, as they were and are intent on doing, created some challenges.

With a solid knowledge of American history, Russians were curious to learn how a relatively small group of 17th century Europeans managed to get themselves out from under monarchial control, come to a virtually unexplored continent and, over the next 120 years (from the time of their arrival until the American Revolution) teach themselves how to govern themselves via a form of direct democracy that was, and still is, unique. Put in that perspective, Americans today should be as amazed, impressed and curious as the Russians.

I met Charles a few weeks ago in a coffee house in Portland, Maine, where we spent a fascinating afternoon (for me!) while he described his background (helicopter pilot, Vietnam, career in the army, ‘retirement’ career in international organizations) and his eight years in Russia implementing his program, “You the PEOPLE.” It was an enormous undertaking covering the Republic of Karelia and centered in its capital, Petrozavodsk. If you haven’t seen it yet, please watch the video interview with Charles made by Mel Van Dusen, another 2015 CCI delegate, to catch the flavor of the complexity of that program.

One thing that struck me as Charles described how he guided the Russians to learn the art of democracy was that we, modern Americans watching our shining example become tarnished by hatred and corruption, could stand to take a lesson from the Russians; perhaps it’s time we (re)learned democracy, too?

As always, we look forward to your thoughts and feedback.

Paula

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“You The PEOPLE”

October 10, 2015

Mel Van Dusen Interviews Charles Heberle 

[Continue to Video Interview]

Dear CCI Friends,

CCI Board member Krishen Mehta offers his analysis of the emerging capability of the Global South to counter the impacts of the Western Corporate Tax Structure.  This Tax Structure is, in and of itself, a form of sanction and as such, many countries in the world understand how significant it is that Russia has been able to withstand those sanctions, albeit in a different form, levied on it.  

Krishen is a former partner at PwC, and now a Senior Global Justice Fellow at Yale University. He is also a co-editor of a book, Global Tax Fairness, published by Oxford University Press. 

Please let us know your thoughts.

Respectfully,

The Directors
Center for Citizen Initiatives

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The Blunt Instrument of Western Sanctions

ACURA EXCLUSIVE  July 9, 2024

By Krishen Mehta 

As of this writing, the US has placed sanctions on over 30 countries, close to one-third of the world’s population. When the pandemic started, the US vetoed the $ 5 Billion emergency loan that Iran had requested from the IMF to buy equipment and vaccines from the foreign market. The Caesar sanctions against Syria, put in place in 2020, have caused a tremendous humanitarian crisis, with 80% of the population having fallen below the poverty line. Studies show that the sanctions on Iraq in the 1990’s caused the death of almost half a million children. The US has repeatedly sanctioned Venezuela’s food distribution program, CLAP, in an effort to bring about the overthrow of the Government of Nicolas Maduro.

Assets being frozen is another extension of Western sanctions. In 2021, about $ 9 Billion of reserves held by Afghanistan in banks across the US and Europe were frozen when the Afghan government fell to the Taliban that year. Since the Revolution in 1979, Iranian assets blocked by the West and which remain in Western financial institutions are estimated at about $ 100 Billion. Venezuela’s gold remains frozen in the Bank of England in spite of repeated appeals by the Government of Nicolas Maduro to have the gold returned. And more recently, Russia’s sovereign wealth of about $ 300 Billion has been frozen by the collective West.

[Continue to Read Full Article]

Dear CCI Friends,

The NATO Summit is over and the official word on its deliberations and conclusions has been released.  A link to the full text of the “Washington Summit Declaration issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. 10 July 2024,” is included below.

For those interested in pursuing a path to peace in this world it is not edifying but it is, we would suggest, essential reading. We have selected a few noteworthy passages to give you a feel for the atmosphere of fear NATO inhabits. Nothing in it indicates that anyone in NATO is contemplating anything other than war with Russia.

“Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shattered peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and gravely undermined global security.  Russia remains the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security.”

“We cannot discount the possibility of an attack against Allies’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.  We have strengthened our deterrence and defense posture to deny any potential adversary any possible opportunities for aggression.  We continue to enhance NATO’s deterrence and defense against all threats and challenges, in all domains, and in multiple strategic directions across the Euro-Atlantic area. We have deployed in-place combat-ready forces on NATO’s Eastern Flank …”

” (We are) Investing in our Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defense capabilities required to effectively operate in all environments.”

“To help Ukraine defend itself today, and deter Russian aggression in the future, we have:

Decided to establish the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) to coordinate the provision of military equipment and training for Ukraine by Allies and partners.  Its aim is to place security assistance to Ukraine on an enduring footing, ensuring enhanced, predictable, and coherent support.  NSATU, which will operate in Allied states, will support Ukraine’s self-defense in line with the UN Charter.  NSATU will not, under international law, make NATO a party to the conflict.  It will support the transformation of Ukraine’s defence and security forces, enabling its further integration with NATO.

Announced a Pledge of Long-Term Security Assistance for Ukraine for the provision of military equipment, assistance, and training to support Ukraine in building a force capable of defeating Russian aggression.  Through proportional contributions, Allies intend to provide a minimum baseline funding of €40 billion within the next year, and to provide sustainable levels of security assistance for Ukraine to prevail.

Taken forward the establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre (JATEC), an important pillar of practical cooperation, to identify and apply lessons from Russia’s war against Ukraine and increase Ukraine’s interoperability with NATO.

Welcomed the Secretary General’s decision to appoint a NATO Senior Representative in Ukraine.”

[Continue to NATO Document]

Sabre rattling?  Hyperbole?  Wishful thinking? Meaningful threats? All of the above?

We are also providing links to our favorite commentators on the subject of Russia, Ukraine, NATO and the US who have weighed in on the significance of this Summit.  

Gilbert Doctorow on Russia’s perception of the NATO threat:

[Continue to Watch Gilbert Doctorow Interview on Judging Freedom Streamed Live on July 11th, 2024]

Stephen Bryen on NATO’s chances of living up to the level it has committed to at the Summit:

[Continue to Read Article posted on Weapons and Strategy July 10th, 2024]

John Mearsheimer on the utter recklessness of the Biden administration/NATO position: 

[Continue to Watch John Mearsheimer Interview on Judging Freedom Streamed Live on July 11th, 2024]

This is a lot to consider and to ponder, friends, but we are in deep and dark waters.  Please let us know your thoughts.

Sincerely,

The Directors
Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

The article below describes, and reflects on, what could be an emerging trend, the return of ex-pats and tourists to Russia.  Several people describe their personal experiences and reasons.  

Are we reaching a point of a growing interest in peace, or a growing detachment from the war?  As always we welcome your thoughts on this subject.

Sincerely,

The Directors
Center for Citizen Initiatives

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MEDUZA: WHY ARE WESTERN TOURISTS AND EXPATS RETURNING TO RUSSIA?

June 6, 2024, Meduza

July 7, 2024, Natylie’s Place: Understanding Russia 

By Alex Mitchell

New Year’s Eve 2023. My friends and relatives in Russia were dejected. Nobody felt like celebrating. It was my first time back since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the war fatigue was palpable everywhere.

In 2022, few foreign tourists came from the West — except small numbers of curious “war tourists” who wanted to capture the Russian reality for social media. Official figures show that tourism fell by about 30 percent year-on-year, with the number of people entering the country on tourist visas dwindling to 200,000 (one tour operator estimated that organized tourism fell by 90 percent).

[Continue Reading]

Dear CCI Friends,

If the author featured below is correct, we are waiting in vain for state sponsored diplomatic solutions to the critically dangerous situations facing us.  

And that raises the question:  if not us, who?

Please let us know your thoughts.

Sincerely,

The Directors
Center for Citizen Initiatives

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 “The Funeral of Old School Diplomacy”

May 15, 2024
Valdai Club/Literaturnaya Gazeta

Translated by Geoffrey Roberts

Will Russia return to dialogue with the West? Or is humanity sliding from a cold war to a “hot” one? What is the essence of the Ukrainian crisis? Will we arrive at a multipolar world? Can Russia be split by inter-ethnic differences? We talk about these pressing political topics with politologist, Richard Sakwa, the leading British expert on Russia, Emeritus Professor at the University of Kent, and a member of the Valdai international discussion club.

[Continue Reading]