RESPONSIBLE FOREIGN POLICY

International Cooperation to Prevent, Contain, and Recover from Pandemics

The intensification of globalization and world environmental degradation have generated threats to human health that reach every corner of the earth and can only be countered through increased international cooperation. The Coronavirus outbreak is not the last pandemic that we will confront. Moreover, with the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and medicine, the world is facing a growing threat of drug resistant infectious diseases that no current medicines can treat. We must join with the nations of the world, using the United Nations and the World Health Organization where possible, to meet the global health threats facing humanity . We must lead the way in forging international treaties to eliminate over use of antibiotics in agriculture and medicine, mobilize medical resources to wipe out infectious diseases that do respond to current medications, and sufficiently fund pharmaceutical development, production, and distribution of new medicines to cope with antibiotic-resistant germs and novel viruses for which treatments are not yet at hand. We must insure that adequate supplies of germ and virus test kits, PPE's, and medical equipment are stockpiled and made available to any region of the world where epidemics break out so as to squelch them before they become pandemics. To further all these efforts, medical treatment and drugs must be made available as widely as possible, so that the human right to medical care acheives global enforcement. The United States, as the world's richest nation, largest economy, and leading center of medical research, must play a primary role in all these international efforts. We must learn the lesson that the coronavirus pandemic should have taught us: when it comes to health, our own well being depends on that of others, no matter where on the globe they may live.

An International Green New Deal

Pandemics may recede, but the climate emergency the world is facing will torment humanity for millenia to come unless we take decisive action on a global scale. Even if the Green New Deal succeeds in making the United States transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030, that will remove at most 15% of world wide net emissions of carbon. The scientific consensus increasingly insists that this decade is a moment of truth for global environmental health and that international action must bring carbon emissions in check by 2030. The United States must take a leading role in getting the world's international organizations to mobilize resources for a global shutdown of fossil fuel exploration, production, and consumption and provide alternate means for every nation to maintain the energy and industry it needs to achieve decent living standards. This global transition will require huge investments in green energy production and in guaranteed jobs for all those whose livelihood currently depends upon fossil fuel. All international trade agreements must address this need and enable petro-states to reinvent themselves as clean energy economies. Once more, the United States has a primary role to play as the world's largest economy and largest producer of greenhouse gases in history. We must make the axis of our foreign policy the achievement of an International Green New Deal that will attain 100% global clean energy together with secured livelihood for all the people of the world. The International Green New Deal will not just combat global warming, but also the global degradation of the environment. We must mobilize sufficient international resources to secure clean air, clean water, and sufficient bio-diversity to uphold the welfare of humanity today and tomorrow.

International Cooperation to Halt Nuclear Proliferation and Reduce Nuclear Arms

International action is required to halt nuclear proliferation and reduce nuclear weapon arsenals as a prelude to the elusive, but not impossible goal of nuclear disarmament. The United States should return to the nuclear non-proliferation deal with Iran and lift sanctions in exchange for a suspension of Iran's nuclear weapons development program. If anything, we should engage Iran to extend the treaty and push for similar agreements with other regimes that have nuclear weapons development programs. The broadest possible alliance should be engaged to set up a regime of strict international control of technologies that can be used for nuclear weapons development and of sanctions to be imposed upon any nations that commence nuclear weapons programs. To begin generally reducing nuclear arsenals, we should enter into negotiations with Russia to halt the development of all new nuclear weapons and weapons delivery systems and to drastically reduce our respective arsenals, which far exceed those of any other nations. We then can credibly engage with other nuclear powers to negotiate for global reductions in nuclear weapons and for proper dismantlement of the retired weapons. In connection with efforts for nuclear disarmament, we must engage other nations in research into developing safer nuclear reactors that cannot be used for producing weapons grade nuclear material. We also must support international research and development of methods for disposing of all the radioactive wastes produced by nuclear weapons production plants and nuclear power reactors. As a prelude to further nuclear disarmament, we should uphold the prohibition of deploying nuclear weapons in outer space, with the possible exception of weapons that might be needed under international control to protect the planet from collisions with other planetary bodies.

De-militarization of Space and International Cooperation in Space Exploration

We must engage with the United Nations and individual countries to maintain the complete de-militarization of space and to prevent national colonizations of other planetary bodies. Instead, we should join with other nations in the scientific exploration of outer space and share the vast costs of manned missions to other planets.

Combatting Anti-Democratic Movements Around the World

The institutions of freedom cannot be imposed from without, for in every case, their existence depends upon a predominating voluntary participation. Unilateral nation-building is a vain enterprise. Nonetheless, nations should cooperate to weaken oppressive regimes and intolerant religious and secular movements, as well as give support to those who are fighting for their rights. In each case, we should strive to engage the broadest alliances, starting with the United Nations, and, when that is impossible, cooperate with as many allies as is practical to defend the cause of justice. Fulfilling the social agenda of the International Green New Deal will do much to provide the foundations for political emancipation, as well as reduce the social inequities that can foment anti-democratic nationalist movements, theocratic reaction, armed rebellion, and international conflict.

Finally, we must do our fair share in offering asylum to refugees and funding the international organizations that assist displaced peoples around the world. Our security and our respect for humanity go together.