Edy Korthals Altes

Edy J. Korthals Altes, (born 5 March 1924 in Vught, Netherlands) studied economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He is a former Dutch diplomat, resigned in 1986 from his post as ambassador in Madrid in connection with his public stand on the arms race. He married Deetje Meijer in 1950.

• Served in New York; Colombo; Paris (Economic Committee of the OEEC);
• The Hague; Bonn (‘62-’67) CounsellorPress/Cultural Affairs;
• Rome (’67-’70) Counsellor Economic Affairs;
• Djakarta (’70- ’72) Minister Plenipotentiary-Deputy Head of Mission;
• Brussels (’73- ’77) Deputy Permanent Representative European Communities;
• Warsaw (’77-’80) Ambassador; The Hague (‘80-’82) Head of Foreign Service;
• Madrid (’83- ’86) Ambassador.

After 1986, Edy Korthals Altes has been an outspoken proponent of global peace and security, inter-religious cooperation, and spiritual renewal as Vice Chairman of the Dutch chapter of the Pugwash Movement (1987-’95), Chairman of the Section International Affairs of the Netherlands Council of Churches (1990-’96), Co-president EECOD(European Ecumenical Commission on Development, 1991-’93), Member EKD Advisory Commission for Development Affairs (1992-’97, Germany) and President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace WCRP (1994-’99, Honorary president (1999-2004). He is currently a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science.

• A Diplomatic Conversion: From MAD to Mutual Assured Security, in: ‘The Nuclear Mentality’, Pluto Press, 1989.
• Progress and Failure in Arms control, in: New Technologies and Arms Race, Macmillan ‘89.
• East-West economic cooperation: Problems and Perspectives (Russisch), in: International Relations Magazine (No.11, 1989) Moskou.
• Die Zivilisierung des Konflikts, Eine Skizze, Loccumer Protokolle 4, 1989.
• Integration or continued Marginalization? in: ‘Towards a Secure World in the 21st Century’, Annals of Pugwash 1990, Taylor and Francis.
• The Arms race, Development and the Environment in Peacetime; Proceedings Seminar in Perm November 1991, Peace Research Institute Oslo.
• Religions and Politics in Europe- a coalition for survival?, Interreligiöse Erziehung 2000, Die Zukunft der Religions- und Kulturbegegnung, Nürnberger Forum 1997. E.B.Verlag, Hamburg.
• Evangelium und Kultur, Zie: ‘Ökonomie und Spiritualität, Verantwortliches Wirtschaften im Spiegel der Religionen’, E.B. Verlag, Hamburg.
• The Gospel challenging the Domination of Economics in Modern Society in: ‘A soul for Europe, Ethics and Spirituality in the Process of European Integration’,1998, Ecumenical Association of Academies and Laity Centres in Europe.
• Religies van confrontatie naar coöperatie, in ‘Opties voor de toekomst’, Kok, Agora 1998.
• Op weg naar een duurzame en rechtvaardige economie, in: ‘Integrity of Earth and Life’, Oproep tot consuminderen en respect voor de schepping, Uitgave LMC 2002.
• Spiritual Values in European cultural life. in ‘Socially engaged spirituality’, Essays in Honor of Sulak Sivaraksa on his 70th birthday. Sathirakoses-Nagapra-dipa Foundation, Bangkok 2003.
• Europa’s rol in een onveilige wereld, Zie: ‘Europa- Balans en Richting’ Lannoo Campus 2003.
• The Contribution of the European Union to Peace and Security in an Unbalanced World, in The United States and Europe: partners or rivals?, Conference Report November 2004, The Hague
• The Relevance of the Spiritual Factorfor a New Approach to Peace and Security, in Conference proceedings TU-Eindhoven on Science, Technology and Peace, 2006
• The Contribution of Religions to a Just and Sustainable Economic Development, in the Pari Dialogues, Volume 1, 2007
• Today’s Response to ‘War Contrary to the Will of God’, in The Ecumenical Movement at Crossroads, 2008
• A New Spirit for Europe, in Imagine Europe, Uitg. Garant, Antwerpen, 2009
• Impressions of crucial years: Poland, 1970-1980, in Poland and the Netherlands: a case study of European relations, Republic of Letters, 2011
• Van mateloos naar menselijke maat, in Pamflet2.nl Leidende Idealen, uitg. Van Gorcum, 2012.
• Een Europese bijdrage aan een duurzame wereld, in ‘Europa en de wereld’ - uit. Europese Beweging Nederland, 2014