May 11-May 12 Some Thoughts

The first days of our Leadership in the Law of War, Peace and Human Rights class have gone really well, despite a few travel glitches. The weather in Spain has been perfect. Here it is warm and sunny, with Spring wildflowers blooming and storks sitting on nests on church steeples. Speaking of storks, we have repeatedly been impressed with the children friendly Spanish families. As I write this on the train into Bilbao, there is a family in our compartment with a little boy who seems to have adopted us.

While not a class in environmental policy, mentioning the train, reminds us of one of the impressive features of Spain – the commitment to full environmental sustainability. To reduce gas consumption, Spain has an excellent system of super fast, modern, and frequent trains. On our first trio from Madrid to Valencia, the train repeatedly topped 300 km/hr (about 190 MPH! Even our slower local to Valladolid yesterday went 100 MPH. Also, the country has tons of wind farms and numerous solar power installations. In Castellon de la Plana, where we spent the first two nights, the province is committed to becoming a net producer of excess energy. Of course when we eat we also find abundant and cheap local food. While a few in or group long for a little U.S. Style fast food, all have noticed we have seen only one McDonalds and one Burger King.

But, looking at Leadership in international law, yesterday afternoon, we visited the Colegio de San Gregorio in Valladolid. This beautifully restored building, was the site of what has been called the “First Great Debate on Human Rights,” in 1550. Bishop Bartolome de las Casas, came to Valladolid from southern Mexico (Chiapas) in 1550 to debate one of the leading Spanish philosophy professors regarding the humanity of the Indians. This wasn't an academic debate, it was held before the king's (Charles V) council, which was meeting in Valladolid. For five days Las Casas, by then in his 70's, argued for recognizing the basic rights of people, regardless of culture or nationality. To the great credit of the Spanish government of the time, it repeatedly responded with new laws ordering those involved in colonization to treat Indians humanely.

The importance of las Casas is that5 he exemplifies both the power of an individual leader and of the Church in motivating some to defend the rights of people who were different. This serves as a model for modern advocates of rights, who should face less severe barriers to success than las Casas. We live in a political society that respects basic rights to advocate policy change. Las Casas faced a monarchy which could take repressive action against dissent. As for the Church, las Casas model a version of religious leadership that found in faith a justification for protecting the rights of all. So often in modern times, religious leaders use religion to differentiate the privileged members of their faith from the lost members of other faiths or those without any faith.

The visit to the Colegio de San Gregorio, therefore, should show us what is possible and what institutional change we need to achieve in order to promote greater peace and protection of human rights.

In any case, now it is off to Guernika. We'll report after that.