Transform Earth thru Development of Conflict-free Society:Kalam

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) President APJ Abdul Kalam today called upon security experts to focus on transforming the planet into ''a peaceful, prosperous and happy place to live'' through development of a conflict free society -- a major turning point in human evolution.

Towards this end, he suggested a dynamic model which called for transformation of the world community into a prosperous, peaceful and happy society through three major components: creation of enlightened citizens through education with value system; religion transforming into spiritual force; and nations achieving higher National Prosperity Index.

Inaugurating a two-day international seminar on 'Emerging World Order: Implications for the Security Calculus of the Extended South Asian Region' convened by the Indian Army, President Kalam opined that conflicts could -- to a large extent -- be avoided through development of the human mind, nations and world society.

''So we should do all that is possible to educate, uplift, remove disparities among people and societies, thereby eliminating one of the major causes for conflict....

''Along with that, if we work on value system of individuals and society and elevation of religions into spirituality, that will have a sustaining long term effect....'' Urging the seminar discussants to evolve strategies aimed at achieving a conflict free society, the President exhorted them to choose to make the world, as a whole, peaceful and prosperous and to ''break out of the past cycles of disorder, violence and war to achieve human purposes on planet earth and its environment, including space''.

Turning more inward, President Kalam observed that India's security and economic perspective had to be global in nature -- like that of all other nations -- and pointed out that this, for India, would not be new.

''Thinking universally and globally and looking at all humanity, as one family, is not new, it has been India's cultural heritage for thousands of years....'' The President further outlined a seven-point security charter which simultaneously supported global and national security through collective actions. Terming the concept as ''The Seven Pillars of Security'', he expanded on each thus: -- Freedom of the people, for creative, balanced and democratic socio-economic growth processes; -- Eternal Vigilance, local and global, by real time environmental and situational awareness systems and technologies, shared information and shared intelligence; -- Self-sufficiency in food, energy and critical technologies, with surplus capacities to nurture other nations in need of the same; -- Indestructibility of human society and its critical institutions through creativity and self-sustaining growth, generation after generation; -- Coherence of collective consciousness that enables collective agility and stability, and capabilities to resist internal disorder; -- Dynamism and strength through unified missions based on strong internal bonds, alliances and transferable skills and capabilities; and -- Continuous expansion of the boundaries of security concerns and national interests in synergy with other nations, through expanding external alliances and missions in social, economic, technological domains.

Present at the Inaugural Function were Defence Minister A K Antony, Panchayati Raj and Youth Affairs&Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, and Army Chief General JJ Singh -- as 'Guests of Honour'.

The two-day seminar, organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) -- on behalf of the Indian Army, has a large number of eminent security analysts, including several foreign participants, taking part.

The delegates comprise serving and retired civil and military officers, ex-Chiefs, security analysts, Ambassadors/High Commissioners, defence attaches/advisers, and academicians besides mediapersons.

The countries being represented include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Japan, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Tajikistan from Asia; Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa from Africa; and Brazil, Chile and the United States from the Americas.

Among the European countries participating are France, Germany, Russia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

UNI