Playing our role in global policekeeping

11 SEPT 2002

Many of us will remember where we were a year ago when they heard about the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York. I was in a taxi coming back from the BBC in Newcastle where I had been discussing my speech to the annual meeting of the Coalfields Communities Campaign, which was taking place in our own Town Hall.

When the taxi driver told me that a plane had flown into a building in New York, the full enormity of what had happened did not become evident to me. Only when I saw the news pictures in the evening - and the infamous and unforgettable picture of the second plane moments before its impact - did I realize that we were all witnessing an event that would be set the world on a new and more dangerous course.

One year on, it is not clear that 'everything has changed'. Thankfully the Taliban regime in Afghanistan has been routed. Russia has come closer to the West, and forged a new relationship with the United States. There are new levels of police and judicial cooperation between countries to disrupt terrorist networks.

But old sores remain. The great religious divides - and the danger of fundamentalism - are strong. The disparities between rich and poor are plain for all to see. Tension between India and Pakistan, and an effective state of war between Israel and Palestinians, is heightened. And of course Saddam Hussein retains an iron grip on Iraq, his activities shielded from inspection by his refusal to admit UN weapons inspectors, in accordance with UN resolutions.

I believe the international situation is more dangerous than at any time since at least the 1960s, when the USA and Soviet Union threatened each other with nuclear annihilation over the issue of Cuba. In these circumstances it is important that we in Britain affirm the basic principles on which it is possible to build a secure world in the 21st century.

First, because problems cross national borders, nations need to cooperate together. This needs to happen at regional level, as in Europe, and at global level, through the UN.

Second, the need to cooperate must be balanced by the requirement that nations play by the rules of the global community. Instability in one country, and threats to neighbours, are incompatible with membership of the international community of nations.

Third, military force is sometimes necessary, but rarely sufficient. We all have an interest in building stronger and legitimate states, based on democracy and the rule of law. The barrel of a gun is not enough.

Fourth, our investment in global aid, global trade, global education, global linkages, is vital to our own security. Integration in the world community - globalisation on equal terms - is the best inoculation against hatred.

Finally, we need to break down the walls of ignorance and prejudice. In this we can start every day in our own lives. In our own Borough, we were challenged a year ago to affirm the dignity of difference - in culture, religion, and background. I believe that the vast majority of local people have risen to that challenge - reinforcing our tradition of tolerant, multicultural life. Thankfully, South Tyneside College has retained the loyalty of students and companies in the Asia; there are big benefits from sticking together.

The US politician Robert Kennedy talked in the 1960s about how small actions can have ripple effects to create a wave of change. In a world where actions can instantly be linked by television and the internet, never mind travel, that potential is greater than ever. It is now up to us to make our contribution.