“Peace is not the silence of cemeteries, but the song of social justice.” Quote by Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“A ten per cent reduction in military expenditures per year would be reasonable, coupled with a programme of retraining the workforce and redirecting the resources in a manner that creates employment and advances social welfare. I also encourage all States to contribute to the UN's annual Report on Military Expenditures by submitting complete data on national defence budgets.” YearsStatesWould BeSocialMilitaryTenResourcesEmploymentDataBudgetsWelfareReasonableReportsCentsDefenceReductionProgrammesAnnualsWorkforceExpendituresSocial WelfareAll StateAnnual Reports Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“The drafting of a legally binding instrument concerning the human rights impacts of the activities of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises has been proposed. Such a treaty or convention should strengthen the United Nations “protect, respect and remedy” framework of the Guiding Principles, which were unanimously endorsed by the Human Rights Council in 2011.” HumansRightsActivityNegativeImpactHuman RightsCorporationsTransnational Corporations Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“This new declaration which emphasizes the necessity of global disarmament is based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations, in particular the prohibition of the threat and use of force, and on the obligation to negotiate disputes in conformity with the UN Charter. It is a strong and positive example for the entire world.” WorldUsePurposeStrongForceNationsUnitedPrinciplesExampleParticularThreatObligationConformityDeclarationUnited NationsDisputesProhibitionDisarmamentCharterUse Of Force Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Bearing in mind that "the market" is not an invention of capitalism but that it has existed for thousands of years in many different societies, social justice logically requires that the profits resulting from the operation of markets and infrastructures created by society be equitably shared within societies and in a larger context within the human family.” YearsMindHumansDifferentSocialJusticeCapitalismSocial JusticeProfitInventionOperationsInfrastructureHuman Family Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Education is necessary to unlearn privilege, unlearn exclusion, unlearn discrimination, unlearn prejudice, unlearn war.” WarPrejudicePrivilegeDiscriminationExclusionUnlearn Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“When negotiations are at an impasse, when States dig their heels in, it is time to 'undig' them in a spirit of compromise. We all need to unlearn the predator in us, unlearn discrimination, unlearn privilege.” NeedsStatesSpiritPrivilegeDiscriminationCompromiseHeelsNegotiationPredatorUnlearnImpasse Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Some observers compare elections in some countries with sports events, where people are but spectators. Moreover, elections must not be mere interludes for pushing a lever and then retreating to passivity, for democracy demands committed participation in the daily workings of society.” PeopleCountrySportsDemocracyEventsDemandElectionMereCommittedComparePushingParticipationObserversSpectatorsPassivityLeversDaily Work Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Specific protection must be granted to human rights defenders and whistleblowers who have in some contexts been accused of being unpatriotic, whereas they perform, in reality, a democratic service to their countries and to the enjoyment of human rights of their compatriots.” HumansCountryRealityRightsDemocraticHuman RightsProtectionGrantedEnjoymentAccusedDefendersUnpatrioticWhistleblowers Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“The war industries in many countries and the enormous trade in weapons of all kinds generate corruption and fuel conflict throughout the world. The existence of an immensely powerful military-industrial complex constitutes a danger to democracy, both internationally and domestically, because it follows its own logic and operates independently of popular participation.” WorldKindWarCountryPowerfulExistenceDemocracyMilitaryDangerIndustryConflictWeaponsLogicTradeComplexesCorruptionEnormousAll KindsFuelParticipationMilitary Industrial Complex Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“In a democracy, it is the people who are sovereign. Therefore, with regard to the promotion of democracy at the local, country and regional levels, civil society must have a stronger voice in all political processes.” PeopleCountryPoliticalProcessVoiceLevelsDemocracyStrongerRegardLocalsSovereignPromotionCivil Society Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas