Tony Kevin, former Australian diplomat, and Emeritus Prof. Ramesh Thakur, Australian National University, in a deep discussion on the causes and future of the Ukraine war and its impact on the world. Presented by Pax Christi Australia.
Speakers: Tony Kevin, former diplomat in Moscow & ambassador to Poland & Cambodia for Australia; and Emeritus Professor Ramesh Thakur, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Canberra. Moderator: Emeritus Professor Joseph A. Camilleri, Department of International Relations, Latrobe University, Melbourne.
Founded in 1945, Pax Christi International is an international Catholic peace movement. Its website says its mission is “to transform a world shaken by violence, terrorism, deepening inequalities, and global insecurity.”
Statement from Pax Christi Australia: “Pax Christi is appalled by the human suffering that has been inflicted on the people of Ukraine. We need to oppose the violence and urgently call for a ceasefire. But there is so much more to the conflict which has been simmering for years. The aim is to go beyond political spin and platitudes.” (1 hr. 15 min.)
I very much appreciate Tony Kevin, but must mention his comment about Russia insisting on nuclear weapons as their insurance.
Not if USA was to abandon its world domination world order agenda, which of course includes Russian being again ruled by an alcohol soaked Yeltsin, for example.
I think Russia has made it very clear it totally disagreed in recent past USA abandoning nuclear weapon disarmament treaties.
Certainly if US continues its world domination agenda Russia will not disarm but if the US sees the light then Russia will be very willing, the big question then:
When and who in US will initiate a nuclear disarmament process. The 99% of US citizens I am sure will have a say in that.
The US needs also to accept a multipolar world along with disarming, no more regime change etc.
We (have) to allow that possibility; that was my objection to Russia always needing nukes.
Of course that possibility may never occur, and the US addiction to power and money, MIT etc and what appears to be a faction in the Defence or State Dept, will crash on.
Do we have to sit and observe school playground PR being flung with such special emphasis towards Russia? Both factions stacked to the hilt with nuclear weapons?
Did the moderator, near the end, say something briefly to the effect that concepts of just or legal war are now obsolete? Whose conclusion is that? Pax Christi’s? And if it’s true, and I’m not saying it’s not, doesn’t such a thing demand more discussion? Or ought we just admit we are now in an age of Humpty-Dumptyism, as far as prospects for putting together any kind of workable legal or moral order among the “big-brained” of the Earth? Should the great whales be heard on such matters? (That’s not a joke, more like a rebuke.)
It seems to me that those of us who would oppose and resist the force of “might makes right” have zero agency. No institutional support of any sort to speak of. Governments, Media, Industry, Defense (sic), even Religions. Zip. Zilch. Nada. And that question of agency also near the end also was given short shrift, in my view.
Still, respect for their efforts to put such discussion out into the wild blue yonder for a relatively lucky few of us to ponder. And fair play to all.
A great fact-based and objective presentation. Thanks to all of you.
Many thanks for this excellent program. If only MSM allowed for even a partial excerpt of such insights. Gratefulness from a longtime admirer of Pax Christi (who lives in northern California)
I’ll copy and share this video with friends, though very few are open to hearing two sides of this conflict.
May a miracle of peace happen.
What a great presentation! The participants are very informed on the subject and this is very welcomed at this time when propaganda noises seem to have taken over. Peace should always be given a chance and for this, quiet diplomacy and behind the scene activities. Amplifying the voice of masses has rarely -if ever, been paramount in bringing together offended parties in times of crises. In wars, all are losers in the sense that lives lost -on both sides, can never be replaced, and the pains felt are not readily forgotten even when closure is brought on.
Tony Kevin I’ve long admired. When I hear him, I think he needs to sort out the world and everyone take his advice. Why is it that people as intelligent as he aren’t top leaders in all countries. Oh, well, I know the answer myself. Power, money and control rule, not intelligence, kindness and peace.
Please tell us where we can get a transcript of this discussion. Thanks.
Tony Kevin and Chas Freeman understand real diplomacy and both sadly ignored.
Since this was sponsored by Pax Christi, let me just say I found myself exclaiming, “Amen!” over and over again. Both gentlemen brought a lot to the table. If the US/NATO were actually concerned about civilian suffering, I’ll speculate that Ambassador Kevin could negotiate an agreement in a day’s time–assuming Zolensky left his Uka-Nazis at home. So alas, with the US/NATO hypocrisy and the Uka-Nazis suicide mission, both are correct that the pain is going to have to get really bad on both sides before any real talks take place. I hope Ambassador Kevin is correct in his hope that it might be fairly soon rather than some long protracted war.
I agree completely, that France and Germany (lapdogs that they are), who yapped in some protest before we lit the final match on all the gas we’d poured on Ukraine, are now completely useless. If Israel, Turkey and India can pick up the phone and have a long chat with the leaders of both countries, that’s all to the good. I suspect if Zolensky take’s Israel’s call, he’ll be dead in minutes.
I wonder how willing the French and German Lap Dogs really are? Biden will use the whip if they don’t do as told. Some little voice is asking if NATO will exist when this is over. Biden never considers the consequences of American actions.
The Biden administration is showing the world what to expect if the hegemon is without any leash.
Je suis toujours méfiant vis-à-vis les organisations affichant ouvertement leur allégeance aux organisations fascistes catholiques, fascistes protestantes de toute confession et des églises fascistes orthodoxes quelles qu’elles soient.
Although I am not a big believer in organized religion, I am a big believer in the “original” Golden Rule.
If the US is the model for the world in geopolitics, God help us all!