Nathan B. Karnes

Here is some background and a listing of my activities in the Peace Movement.   This is both a memory exercise for me, and a demonstration that, over the years and over six US Presidential Terms, a passing interest can grow and develop into a consuming passion.  My passion for Peace Activism is not all consuming, I have a full time job, attend graduate school and have other interests.  But dedicating energy to bringing about a better world is an important part of my life.

High School 1980-3

Member of the Foreign Policy Association at Loomis Chaffee School, Windsor, CT My first experience with a prominent international affairs speaker was when I heard former National Security Advisor Zbignieau Brzinski at the Old State House, Hartford. Participant in two Model United Nations representing Syria and Lybia. Most memorable day: visiting the Lybian Mission to the UN, with all its portraits of Quatthafi, and collecting copies in English of his Green Book.

College 1983-8

At North Carolina State University, brief participant in a student peace organization which did not really get off the ground. Attended several Witness For Peace meetings on the war in Nicaragua. Most memorable week: Late October 1983, US invaded Grenada of all places, I turned 20 and the stock market plummeted.

Biggest lost opportunity: Contra Leader Adolpho Calero spoke to and audience of over 100 on our campus. I wanted to ask him how much cocaine the Contra effort had to sell in the US to keep a soldier in the field for a month. The Secret Service-like security detail deterred me. That question was based upon Newsweek reports of Contra activities and a ranch in Honduras or Costa Rica owned by an American, John Hull. Ten years later, before a congressional committee organized by Representative Maxine Waters, Calero would testify to his innocence on the subject.

ROLES IN ORGANIZATIONS

Witness For Peace 1988-91

Steering Committee of Connecticut Witness For Peace. Most significant activity: participated in a New England Region retreat in Massachusetts at the time of the free and monitored elections in Nicaragua.

Peace Action 1992-95

Board of Directors of Connecticut Peace Action. Post cold-war questions, military downsizing and a troubled local economy created a difficult time for the organization. Most significant activity: attended and participated in the SANE/Freeze National Convention in Nashville, TN where, among other bi-laws changes, the name was changed to Peace Action. Also attended the 1998 National Convention in Purchase, NY.

United Nations Association of Greater Hartford 1995-1997

Board of Directors and technology chair. Most important feature: I was now a member of the same organization as the untiring and ever-inspirational Ruth Steinkraus Cohen. My first-ever Peace Movement Program: Developed and organized an informational meeting on the problem of anti-personnel landmines, West Hartford Public Library, October 1996. Guest speaker was Col. Tony Hill (New Zealand) of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Demining Unit. Twenty or so attended, hundreds missed an excellent program at the very beginning of public awareness of the effort to Ban Landmines.

United Nations Association of Greater New Haven 1997-present

As Chapter President since shortly after moving to New Haven, I find that every effort and contact, while it may not pay off immediately, can serve as the groundwork for future Chapter development. A memorable day: October 22, 1998, celebrated as United Nations Day in New Haven. The members of our Chapter had donated the funds for the purchase of a four foot by eight foot United Nations Flag for the New Haven Green. In a small ceremony on the Green, we presented Mayor DeStefano with the flag and listened to his inspirational remarks on how integrally New Haven's history is woven into that of the US and International struggles for peace and justice.

UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES AND EVENTS ATTENDED

Rio +5 Follow Up Conference on the Environment, NGO

Habitat +2 Follow Up Conference on Human Settlements, NGO

UNDP Awards Ceremony, 1998

Towards a Society for All Generations, UNDP and UN Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), 1999

Future Cities, 1998 Habitat Annual Meeting

UN DPI NGO Conference, 54^th General Assembly, September 1999

SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS I HAVE ATTENDED

Witness for Peace, New England Region, Retreat and Meeting, 1992

SANE/Freeze National Convention, Nashville TN, 1994

100th Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi Conference at Smith College

United Nations Association of the USA Annual Convention, 1997, 1998, 1999

Connecticut Coalition to Abolish Landmines, Conference and Silent Walk for Peace, 1997

Connecticut Coalition on Cuba, 1998 Statewide Meeting

United Nations Association Connecticut Division, 1998 Statewide Annual Meeting

United Nations Association, Western Connecticut Chapter, Organizing Meeting, 1998

Connecticut Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Arms, 1999 Statewide Meeting

Hague Appeal For Peace, Conference on the Abolition of War, May 1999 global conference