Centre for Global Nonkilling

04/27/2025

Priveleged to mentor and moderate alongwith Prof Dr N Radhakrishnan the 71st Lecture delivered by Vice Chancellor Amity the distinguished Professor Dr P B Sharma on "Hind Swaraj in the context of Artificial Intelligence" as part of the ongoing Series on 'Lessons from Gandhi'. The deliberation was attended by very eminent intellectuals and academics from across the world that included amongst others Dr Y P Anand, foremost Gandhian and former Chairman of Railway Board and National Museum. The session was initiated with a solemn prayer and homage to the 26 innocents deaths by the horrific carnage unleashed by terrorists at Pahalgam. It was highlighted by Prof P B Sharma that ethics, values and morals remain even more relevant in AI driven times today where human civilizational ascendency is being tested as never before. During the interaction pertinent question raised by Dr Katyayani Singh on Gandhian approach to dealing with such terror episodes was aptly answered, discussed and deliberated.

02/17/2025

16 Jun 1919 - Signed, among others, by Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell, Rabindranath Tagore and Hermann Hesse. ...

07/01/2024

It is with a heavy heart that I share the sad passing away, of my friend, our visionary nonkilling peace leader and CGNK Vice Chair, Dr Chaiwath Satha Anand. It was just a few days back, which seems it was only yesterday, that I had a long deliberation with Chaiwath, on his life and times, his vision, mission and the future of the nonkilling movement.
Dr. Chaiwat Satha-Anand was Vice Chair, Centre for Global Nonkilling, a Professor of political science at Thammasat University, Bangkok, Founder and Director of the Thai Peace Information Centre and Chairperson of the Strategic Nonviolence Commission in Thailand. His publications include “The Promise of Reconciliation? Examining Violent and Nonviolent Effects on Asian Conflicts,” (Transaction Publishers, 2016), “Nonkilling Security and the State” (Center for Global Nonkilling, 2013), “Protecting the Sacred, Creating Peace in Asia-Pacific,” (Transaction Publishers, 2013). See his full bio: https://toda.org/experts/chaiwat-satha-anand.html
I fondly recall his constructive critique on the launch of the ''Global Nonkilling Index'' as also his glowing reactions on my keynote at Kolkota University on "Human Evolution to Human Revolution : the Emerging Nonkilling Paradigm' whence I tried to cover a few scientific aspects of human consciousness that makes Nonkilling imperative for the future of human civilization. I had complimented Chaiwath for having taken up the challenge of ''Nonkilling Asia'' and for his efforts at the APPRA, particularly the Conference at USM in Penang and at our GC Meetings in Hawaii.

06/28/2024

Today, I had the honour of chairing and commemorating the 'International Nonkilling Day' on the 95th birth anniversary of Late Prof Glenn D Paige. Distinguished speakers from around the globe joined us as we paid tributes to the departed eminent Nonkilling and Peace Activists during last year that included Johan Galtung, David Kriger, AT Ariyaratne, and Chaiwat Sata Anand.

During the event, the 'Nonkilling Calendar of Events' was released by Prof N Radhakrishnan, followed by insightful presentations from distinguished authors and nonkilling protagonists such as Dr Bill Bhaneja, Dr Vidya Jain, and Dr Joam Evans Pim. Dr Roland Joseph who shared about their published works on the theme 'Nourishing the Nonkilling Paradigm'.

The event featured other eminent speakers like Dr Christophe Barbey, Prof Maojiang, Dr Manish Sharma, Dr Gurudatt Chikunda, Dr Allesandra Fay, Dr Katyayani Singh, and Ms Swapna Menon. It was a truly enriching experience to be part of this gathering dedicated to promoting nonkilling, peace and nonviolence.

06/12/2024

A pleasre meeting, interacting and addressing the 'Global Sustainable Development Congress' at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Bangkok from 10-13 June 2024 organised by Government of Thailand and Times Higher Education where 3000 thought leaders from across the world were present. I spoke on evidence based innovations and inventions that can be meaningfully embedded into education practice for better equity, access, excellence and quality through new and emerging technological advancements.

02/11/2024

“I allow myself to hope that the world will emerge from its present troubles, that it will one day learn to give the direction of its affairs, not to cruel swindlers and scoundrels, but to men possessed of wisdom and courage. I see before me a shining vision: a world where none are hungry, where few are ill, where work is pleasant and not excessive, where kindly feeling is common, and where minds released from fear create delight for eye, ear and heart. Do not say this is impossible. It is not impossible. I do not say it can be done tomorrow, but I do say that it could be done within a thousand years, if only men would bend their minds to the achievement of the kind of happiness that should be distinctive of man.“

— Bertrand Russell, Human Society in Ethics and Politics (1954), Part II: The Conflict of Passions, Ch. X: Prologue or Epilogue?, p. 238

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Image: Bertrand Russell in the flower garden of his home at Penrhyndeudreath, Gwynedd, United Kingdom, 22 June 1965.

01/30/2024

Akira Yoshino is the developer of the first commercially viable lithium-ion battery.

As a young boy, Yoshino discovered chemistry after reading the book 'The Chemical History of a Candle' by Michael Faraday. Although he first dreamed about becoming an archaeologist, luckily for us he went into chemistry and developed lithium-ion batteries, which today are found everywhere from your mobile phone to electric cars.

Yoshino shared the 2019 chemistry prize with Stanley Whittingham and John Goodenough for their research on lithium-ion batteries: https://bit.ly/2nxoiaz

12/31/2023

Wishing everyone a bright prosperous and peaceful New Year 2024!

12/31/2023

Wishing everyone a bright prosperous and peaceful New Year 2024!

Gold coast, Queensland, Australia 🧡🧡

10/18/2023

10/18/2023

I on my and on behalf of the President and the Association of the Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) express profound shock and grief at the demise of Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an, Founding President of AUAP, Emeritus Chair of the AUAP Advisory Council, Former Rector of SUT and Chairman of SUT Council.

Late Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an, who was also Thailand’s former Minister of Education, was a prominent and respectable figure in the education administration, development, reform, and innovation in Thailand and across the world. Permanent Secretary of the Minister of University Affairs, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, and Chairman of the House Committee on Education in the National Parliament. Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an was bestowed the title ‘Father of Thai Cooperative Education’ by the Ministry of Education for his introduction of Cooperative Education as an education innovation in Thailand.

Recently, he established Engagement Thailand with the Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand (KNIT), he established 3 universities in Thailand including Thailand’s first distance education university, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), Walailak University (WU) apart from SUT and has also been the Founding President of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU). He had received many international recognitions and accolades for this pioneering role and had been invited to give keynote speeches and talks on university-community engagement both at national and international events.

The Association of the Universities of Asia and the Pacific conveys its deepest condolences to the family of Late Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an. As a tribute to his life and legacy, we will initiate a fellowship in his fond memory and would rededicate to fulfill the vision and mission of AUAP set forth by the Founding President.

Anoop Swarup
Secretary-General, AUAP