“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times!” 

                                            “A Tale of Two Cities“ by Charles Dickens

                                       The Chinese language depicts ‘Crisis,’

                                                          as ‘Danger’ and ‘Opportunity.’ 

    We are at a critical inflection point in human history. 

    Civilization, humanity and our earth itself are threatened by the convergence of two-dozen, or more, interrelated global crises. Global Warming, the World Financial Crisis, Overpopulation, Energy problems, Food and Water shortages, -- are just a few of the crises we will face. Food riots, which occurred in forty-seven countries in 2009, may grimly foreshadow the global reality, twenty years hence.

    Given our current, underlying,  global ‘Operating System,’ based on contention and conflict, it is extremely likely that these crises will lead to violent conflicts and military confrontations. We already see examples of this beginning in the world today, in Africa and the Middle East. These future conflicts, will exacerbate the situation dramatically, making collaborative problem-solving efforts nearly impossible. 

     These crises, individually, and even more so collectively, will be difficult, complex and expensive to solve. If they are further complicated by wars and violent conflicts, the costs of solving them will rise tremendously and the possibility of successfully resolving them will decrease to near zero.

    We must face the real possibility, that on our current course, we are likely headed toward a ‘Vicious Cycle’ of conflict and crisis, leading inevitably to a collapse of the global economy, political instability, the shredding of the fabric of modern life, social breakdown and even a “Mad Max/Easter Island” scenario of a post-apocalyptic future. Failed states such as Somalia and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, give a glimpse of our possible future.

   We have a brief ‘window of opportunity’ for course correction; an opportunity to initiate a strategic global plan to solve the complex of crises we face and to put humanity on a ‘critical path’ toward a future of peace, increased resource productivity, sustainable development and general prosperity. We will need all the resources and funding we have available to pursue this opportunity.  If we are to follow a safe, sound course to a positive, hopeful future, we can no longer afford the costs of war, or its negative consequences for global society.  Besides being morally and ethically unconscionable, environmentally destructive and economically wasteful, war has become practically speaking catastrophic.

    We can create a positive future, achieve a “Star Trek” scenario for future generations.  Working collaboratively, while we still have a relative abundance of resources, a reasonable level of goodwill among the major international actors, a high level of knowledge, productive capability and sophisticated technology, we have the means to establish a new, positive, collaborative ‘Global Operating System,’ which will enable us to survive and prosper through the challenging times ahead.

    The “Time Out for Peace Plan” (TOPP) provides a pragmatic, strategic plan for enhancing international security, converting military resources and a creating a platform on which to construct a new, hopeful future for humanity and our environment. Through the establishment of a 50-year, Non-Aggression/Mutual Defense, Time Out for Peace Pact, the nations of the world can drastically reduce the threat of violent conflict, while gradually, equilaterally and reciprocally converting over $50 Trillion of military spending to the resolution of global crises, the development of mechanisms for sustainable progress and the elimination of the ‘root causes of war.’

    The Time Out for Peace Plan can be efficiently established through a multi-track strategy, of personal and global peacemaking, similar to the one successfully deployed to achieve the International Treaty to Ban Land Mines.  The only question, is whether we as a people have the maturity to abandon the “War Path,” the will to follow the “Path of Peace” and to work together to solve our common problems for our mutual benefit.

    We are fortunate to live in what the ancient Chinese proverb referred to as “Interesting Times.” We are at an epochal moment in history. This is the defining moment for us, the generation of people alive today. Our actions, or failure to act, will determine the fate of our children and our children’s children. They will justly heap us with scorn or glory.

     At this historic moment, after 10,000 years of civilization and war, and hopeful of another 100 centuries of peaceful development, we desperately need a “Time-Out,”-- to gather our wits and our resources, to contemplate our situation and to establish a plan for effectively progressing in the future.

    We need a Time Out for Peace.