Concerned by the growing threats to global security and fear of another attack of immense proportion in and around the world, the publisher of Vigilance-The Security Magazine and British Chevening Scholar, John Odey Aduma has written to world leaders including President Barack Obama of the United States of America, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, US Congress and US House of Representatives urging them to put appropriate machinery in place to adopt September the 11th of each year as World Safety and Security Day (WSSD).
Pic: President Obama Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon
It would be recalled that on September 11th, 2001, Islamist militants flew planes onto the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon, Head Quarters of the United States Department of Defence in Arlington County, Virginia causing the death of nearly 3000 citizens of the world, with the U.S. losing more of its nationals than any nations whose citizens were affected.
According to Mr Aduma in those attacks which Alqaeda had claimed responsibility, the history of the world has been permanently altered such that it is very common to hear not only historians, but other citizens of the world dating global events as pre-/post-9/11. Mr Aduma said: “Ever since that incident, the security of the world has been imperilled such that the whole of humanity goes to bed now, half awake and half asleep, with fear of possible attacks from terrorists. These increasing threats from terrorists organisations, with alqaeda being in the lead (side by side the Talibans) of these feral creatures have taken their tolls on the global security budgets.”
Urging collective efforts in the fight against terrorism, Aduma said: “As terrorism activities rage on, on global scale, global security consciousness and concerted efforts in tackling these threats have to match the large scale global threats from terrorists. Thus, the level of global security awareness being envisaged by Vigilance can only be attained globally through its coordination by the UN using its good offices and relevant Agency to set aside September the 11th of each year as the UN World Safety and Security Day.”
The CEO of Vigilance also, offers that the proposed UN Day may as an alternative be declared and known worldwide as WORLD SECURITY DAY without adding the word SAFETY to it.
He said the AIMS AND OBJECTIVES of the WSSD include:
- To conscientise the global community and raise security awareness amongst them.
- To educate the global community about the importance of safety and security so they can report threats to relevant authorities.
- To recruit/enlist security conscious campaigners in work places, schools, homes, colleges, the universities, corporate environment, sporting events, churches, mosques, amongst trade unions, commuters, etc.
- To put appropriate machinery in place to host the World Safety and Security Summit (WSSS) at a time to be determined by the Security Council making recommendation to the UN on the envisaged global event.
- To enlist young persons of the world who will actively dissuade their peers/friends alike from joining terrorist organisations, and where they are adamant, report such persons to security personnel/agencies.
- To internationalise the fight against threats to national/international security
- To raise awareness of safety and security issues amongst youngsters and enlist them in the fight against threats to national and international security.
In the proposal to world leaders, Mr Aduma also hinted of another global event on security being proposed by Vigilance: World Safety and Security Summit (WSSS), but said details would be released before long.
It is to be noted that since the September 11th, 2001, the world has witnessed terror attacks of immense magnitude in Madrid, 3/11, 2004 leaving 191 people dead and 1, 800 wounded; London, 7/7, 2005, leaving 52 dead; Mombai, 26/11, 2008 leaving 174 dead, and almost countless in hotspots nations like Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Egypt including Nigeria with Boko Haram holding sway. This is in addition to the many planned attacks that have been foiled over the years.