Michael S. Karlen worked for the Permanent Mission of Switzerland tothe United Nations in Genevaand, since 2005, has served as Secretary-General of the nonprofit organizationComprehensive Dialogue Among Civilizations(CDAC). Its founder,Vladimir Petrovskyserved as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs under Mikhail Gorbachev, later as UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva. As head of CDAC, Karlen worked closely with Petrovsky and in 2015 wrote a book about his life*Master Diplomat*,for which Mikhail Gorbachev wrote the foreword.In 2019, he became the editor of the bookEssential Thoughtsdedicated to the former president’s ideas and visions.
The CDAC’s mission is to promote dialogue at the multicultural, interfaith, political, and diplomatic levels. It strives to contribute to mutual understanding, tolerance, respect for diversity, and solidarity among countries, regions, and population groups, and, in partnership with the United Nations, supports joint efforts to achieve the goals set forth in its Charter.
https://www.comprehensivedialogue.org
Essential Thoughts
Michael S. Karlen, Wisdom-Light Publications
This book briefly presents the ideas, ideals, and unwavering vision that guided Mikhail Gorbachev on his journey to transform the world and bring the Cold War to an end. It simply points out that each of us can help restore humanistic values and personal responsibility, thereby making them the foundation of global politics. The engaging text, rich with historical facts and photographs, inspires us to play our part—whether large or small—in creating a sustainable and peaceful future for planet Earth and all its inhabitants.
www.wisdom-light-publications.com
Mikhail Gorbachev: A Figure of Global Stature
A brief brochure marking Mikhail Gorbachev’s 90th birthdayDownload. Published in Czech in collaboration with CDAC, Geneva.
“A quarter of a century ago, thanks to the gradual development of mutual trust, we succeeded in ending the Cold War and the division of Europe into hostile parts, and in fulfilling the dream of postwar Germans to reunify their country. At that time, Germans took to the streets and declared their desire by chanting: We are one country! We are one nation!
Today I propose a new motto: We are one humanity, we are one planet! We must live in peace! This goal is real and achievable!”
– Mikhail Gorbachev, Moscow, April 2017
(Excerpts from a message to Sri Chinmoy’s international initiative, the Oneness-Home Peace Run)
“I have heard so much about you and your work. We must work together for world peace.”
– Mikhail Gorbachev during his first meeting with Sri Chinmoy, May 29, 1990, Ottawa, Canada
“You are the universal key to the heart of the world. You have freed the world from the night of bondage and brought to the surface the inner freedom that we so urgently need.”
– Sri Chinmoy, Ottawa, 1990