Global Security Institute
www.gsinstitute.org
23 February 2010
The Global Security Institute and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament extend their most heartfelt congratulations to PNND Friend Laura Chinchilla for her successful election to the Presidency of Costa Rica.
GSI and PNND have worked closely with Costa Rican leadership in San José and in international fora on a number of initiatives in which Costa Rica has taken a lead role, includingdisarmament for development and the implementation of the UN Secretary-General’s five point plan for nuclear disarmament. We are honored to have outgoing President Oscar ArÃas on the Advisory Board of GSI, and leading parliamentarian Edine von Herold on the PNND Global Council to advise and assist us in this collaboration.
PNND Global Coordinator Alyn Ware was in San José recently for meetings with President ArÃas, Ms. Chinchilla and other parliamentarians on furthering such initiatives. We are elated that PNND Member Laura Chinchilla will become Costa Rica’s first female head of state. We are confident that she will continue to strengthen Costa Rica’s important leadership in advancing our shared goals of a more peaceful, sustainable security for us all.
With over 700 members in more than 70 countries, the network of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament continues to grow in size and impact. Over a dozen of our members hold cabinet positions. These include:
Australia:
Peter Garret, Minister for the Environment
Warren Snowden, Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health, Associate Minister for Defense
Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Education
Robert McLelland, Attorney-General
Finland:
Anni Sinnemaki, Minister of Labour
Ireland:
John Gormley, Minister for the Environment
Netherlands:
Bert Koenders, Minister for Development Cooperation
Norway:
Kristin Halvorsen, Minister of Education (former Minister of Finance)
Auden Lysbakken, Minister of Children and Equality
Japan:
Katsuya Okada, Foreign Minister
Mizuho Fukushima, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Social Affairs and Gender Equality
New Zealand:
Georgina te Heuheu, Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control
Nick Smith, Minister for the Environment
Scotland:
Keith Brown, Minister for Lifelong Learning
Uruguay:
Felipe Michelini, Minister of Education
Zimbabwe:
David Coltart, Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture (PNND Global Council member)
We have also had a number of other cabinet ministers participate in our events, including our annual assembly, and who continue to engage in our organization but who have not officially joined as members. These include the Defence Ministers of Norway and Canada.
In addition, there are a number of PNND members who serve as chairs or deputy-chairs of the foreign affairs and/or defence committees in their parliaments, including in Italy, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Portugal.