Templates for BAB

I. Birthing of the United Nations

The name United Nations came into existence through President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was first used in the Declaration by United Nations on January 1, 1942, during the Second World War, when delegates from 26 nations pledged their governments to fight against the Axis powers. The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization birthed in similar circumstances during World War I. It was established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles. Its goals were to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security.

In 1945 delegates of 50 countries met in San Francisco for the U.N. Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out in August-October, 1944, in Dumbarton Oaks, United States, by representatives of four nations: China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Charter was signed on June 26, 1945, by the representatives of the 50 countries. The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, when the Charter was ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is observed October 24 of each year.

Standing on the eastern shore of Manhattan Island along the banks of New York City’s east river is the United Nations headquarters. The site of the U.N. headquarters is owned by the United Nations, purchased with an $8.5 million donation given by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. As an international territory, no federal, state or local officer, or official of the United States, whether administrative, judicial, military, or police, may enter U.N. headquarters except with the consent of, and under conditions agreed to by, the Secretary-General of the organization. On-site, the U.N. has its own fire fighting, security forces and post office branch, with special provision for U.N. stamps.

II. Core Structure of the Organization

The U.N. currently operates as an organized world forum comprised of six principle organs: General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, Secretariat, and two international courts, 1) International Court of Justice, 2) International Criminal Court. The United Nations has many agencies, programs and bodies that bring it to its fullness. The official languages of the U.N. General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council are Chinese, English, French, Russian Spanish, and Arabic. To view their structural organizational chart see U.N. Structure.

The U.N. Charter defines the organs and procedures of the United Nations and establishes the rights and obligations of its member states. It is comprised of a preamble with various chapters that address the purposes and principles, membership, organs and other various aspects of its work. To read the fullness of the Charter see U.N. Charter.

General Assembly

The General Assembly, the main decision-making body of the U.N., is made up of all the member states (191 countries). It’s the only U.N. organ in which all member states are represented. It has liberty to discuss any questions or matters within the framework of the U.N. Charter, or that which relates to the powers and functions of any organ provided for in the Charter.

The General Assembly can make recommendations to its member states and/or the Security Council on any matters or questions, except situations in which the Security Council is currently exercising its authority. Jointly, they deliberate international issues ranging from human rights to nuclear disarmament. Decisions of recommendation regarding international peace and security, the U.N. budget and admission of new members require a two-thirds majority vote.

Each member state is allotted one vote, despite its population. Serving as a world forum, the General Assembly meets annually from September to December. A president, elected at the start of each regular session and rotating annually among the member states, presides over the meetings.

Comments: As part of its goodwill towards the member states, the U.N. with its many resources is able to aid developing countries. Serving as a benefactor, they provide clean drinking water, medical provisions, and education for the children of that country, etc. In wanting the developing country delegates to feel as if they are peers with other nations, the U.N. oftentimes has provided expensive clothing and luxurious accommodations for these delegates. Now, the time comes for the passage of a U.N. resolution at the General Assembly meeting (a 2/3 vote is required from the 191 delegates). Many times the developing countries that have been given clean drinking water, medical provisions, education, etc., that have been wined and dined in a fashion foreign to their daily lifestyle, are reminded of the U.N.’s goodwill toward their nation. With this thought in mind they are encouraged to vote “yes” for the current resolution. Please note, out of the 191 member states approximately 120-130 are developing countries that receive sustaining aid through the U.N.

Security Council

The Security Council is where the power lies at the U.N. Under the framework of the Security Council lies Peacekeeping Operations, International Tribunals, Military Staff Committees, Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Bodies. Article 24 of the U.N. Charter conferred the responsibility for maintenance of international peace and security to the Security Council. Five nations hold a permanent member position: China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States. Joining with the five permanent members are ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.

Security Council decisions are binding and must be carried out by all member states. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of any nine members. Decisions on other matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members, including all the concurring votes of the five permanent members of the Council. Only the five permanent members have the power of veto. Even if all the members of the Council were to approve a resolution, a single veto by a permanent member would prevent that resolution's passage. Currently, the U.N. Charter is in the process of being revised, with major emphasis being given to changing the permanent members' status for veto power.

Comments: Understanding that the decisions of the Security Council are mandatory for all member states, how does the U.N. enforce those decisions when a member state refuses to abide by it? Having no police/military enforcement they operate through sanctions. For example, using the influence and power of their agencies, like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, they can begin to withhold financial funding that has been going into that country. They can encourage trade sanctions against that nation. Thereby they are able to wield a great deal of power and authority.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

The well-known work of peacekeepers and arms inspectors goes to the Security Council. It is, however, the work of ECOSOC to find a way to immunize babies across the world against polio, finance refugee camps, fight drug smuggling, etc. Approximately 70 percent of the U.N.'s budget goes to the economic and social development programs of ECOSOC. ECOSOC's 54 members, who meet once a year for a four-week session, work in conjunction with 14 specialized U.N. agencies. ECOSOC makes or initiates studies and reports concerning international economics, social, cultural, health, educational, and related matters, but holds no enforcement powers. ECOSOC can make recommendations to the General Assembly, as well as to any specialized agencies concerned, on anything from human rights to health policies.

Trusteeship Council

The establishment of the Trusteeship Council was created for the purpose of administrating former colonies held by Axis powers during World War II. The Council, now defunct, helped to transition these colonies toward independence.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

This Court--also known as the World Court--is the main judicial organ of the U.N. The ICJ is the only organ headquartered outside of New York, housed in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. Its primary function is to judge, in accordance with international law, cases that are submitted to it by member states. The ICJ gives advisory opinions to the General Assembly and Security Council on any legal question, as well as to other organs of the U.N. There are 15 members to the Court, no two of whom may be from the same member state. The Court members serve an elected term of nine years, and may be re-elected. Every three years the terms of five Court members expires. The General Assembly and Security Council independently vote to elect the Court members, requiring an absolute majority.

Only member states--no individual litigants--may appear before the Court. The World Court's jurisdiction is based on the consent of parties to a dispute, but its judgments are final and binding. If a member state fails to comply with a judgment, the other party my call upon the Security Council to take measures of enforcement. Cases common to this Court would be maritime boundaries, territorial sovereignty, border disputes and the use of force, to name a few.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

On July 17, 1998, in Rome, 160 nations decided to establish a permanent International Criminal Court to try individuals for the most serious offences of global concern. That Court was ratified in July 2003 by 66 U.N. member states. The US showed its opposition to the new ICC by boycotting its inauguration ceremony.

The Court has a mandate to try individuals rather than member states and to hold them accountable for the most serious concerns to the international community—genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression (They are currently defining “aggression.”). Many felt the agreement was no less important than the adoption of the U.N. Charter itself, and it was hailed by U.N.’s Secretary General Kofi Annan as “a giant step forward towards universal human rights and the rule of law.” ¹

Secretariat

The Secretariat, headquartered in New York City, consists of the Secretary-General and whatever staff the U.N. requires in any given season. One significant role that the Secretariat plays is determining the agenda for the General Assembly.

Educational focuses

We want to mention two education sites that are part of the core structure of the U.N.

United Nations International School (UNIS): The school was founded in 1947 by affiliate families of the U.N. It has a multi-national staff from seventy countries and approximately 1500 students from 115 countries. UNIS is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and is accredited by the European Council of International Schools. The school, comprised of grades K-12, is in Manhattan. The following is a statement from Dr. Kenneth Wrye, director of the school: “Inspired by the ideals of the United Nations, our school serves children and youth from the UN community, the diplomatic corps, the non-governmental international sector and local New York families. It is an extraordinary microcosm of a world for which all peace loving people yearn.” (Taken from the website www.unis.org.)

John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations: This School of Diplomacy is part of the Roman Catholic University Seton Hall, in New Jersey. The school was established in alliance with the United Nations Association and is associated with the U.N. through its Department of Public Information. Students come to the school from all over the world to become educated from a global perspective. The school’s academic programs lead to a B.S. or M.A. in Diplomacy and International Relations, preparing the next generation of global leaders. As part of their education, students interact with the U.N. community, NGO’s, and global business leaders. It is from this university that the U.N. diplomats received this training.

III. Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGO)

The NGO’s involved with the U.N. are powerful organizations that highly influence the work of the U.N. In gaining a better understanding of the nature of some of these organizations, we can better see where and how the U.N. is moving.

Phyllis Curott is a member of the U.N.’s NGO Committee on the Status of Women. Curott, the President Emerita of the Covenant of the Goddess, the oldest and largest international religious organization in the Wiccan tradition of the Old Religion of Europe, participated in the planning of the U.N.’s Beijing Forum on the Status of Women. Curott is founder of the New York City-based Circle of Ara, a weekly training circle for priestesses and priests, with one of the largest Wiccan congregations in the U.S.⁴ (The Temple of Ara)

Green Cross- Mikhail Gorbachev (former Premier of the Soviet Union), President of Green Cross. Green Cross promotes legal, ethical and behavioral changes necessary to build a sustainable global community. Because their focus is global environmental conditions, Green Cross deals with conflicts arising from environmental degradation and provides assistance to people affected by the environmental consequences of war and conflict. (greencrossinternational.net)

Temple of Understanding- Founded in 1960 by Juliet Hollister, the purpose of the Temple of Understanding is the worldwide promotion of interfaith dialogue and education to achieve understanding and harmony worldwide. Since 1997 the Temple of Understanding has hosted an annual interfaith service for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly. (Temple of Understanding - History) (Interfaith Studies: network of international interfaith organizations)

World Economic Forum- The World Economic Forum brings together elite business, political, intellectual and other leaders of society to pursue economic and social activity that will “improve the state of the world.” ⁵ This forum believes that no one government, company or group, working alone, can solve major issues; they all have to work together. About 1,000 companies are members. To qualify, a company must have annual revenue of $700 million. In 1997 the Forum gifted the U.N. with a private video teleconferencing network that connects the U.N. with international business and government leaders globally. (http://www.weforum.org/)

United Religions Initiative (URI)- Founded by William Swing, an Episcopal Bishop, the purpose of the URI is to promote interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and “to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.”⁶ They “respect the sacred wisdom of each religion, spiritual expression and indigenous tradition.”⁷ The URI now consists of 170 “cooperative circles.” Each cooperation circle is made up at least seven members, and represents at least three different religious beliefs. The Global Council leads the URI.

The Commission on Global Convergence is the machinery of global governance, which is organized and coordinated from the highest chambers of governance at the U.N., to the most local bodies of governance, including County Commissions, City Councils, and even to local watershed councils. It consists of 28 individuals, carefully selected because of their prominence, influence and their ability to effect the implementation of their recommendations for global governance. The Commission is not an official body of the U.N. They are, however, endorsed by the Secretary General and funded through two trust funds of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), nine national governments, and several foundations, including the MacArthur Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation.⁸ (The Cost of Sustainable Development)

The Commission believes that world events, since the creation of the U.N., combined with advances in technology, the information revolution, and the now-global awareness of impending environmental catastrophe, create a climate in which the people of the world will recognize the need for, and the benefits of, global governance. Global governance is a procedure toward defined objectives that employs a variety of methods, none of which give the governed an opportunity to vote “yes” or “no” for the outcome. Decisions taken by administrative bodies, or by bodies of appointed delegates, or by “accredited” civil society organizations, are already implementing many of the Commission’s recommendations. Many of these recommendations consist of specific proposals to expand the authority of the U.N.

In 1996 the Commission released a report that included recommendations for the creation of two bodies: (1) an Assembly of the People, and (2) a Forum of Civil Society. What is generally proposed is the initial setting up of an assembly of parliamentarians, consisting of representatives elected by existing national legislatures from among their members, and the subsequent establishment of a world assembly through direct election by the people. The Forum of Civil Society would consist of 300-600 representatives of organizations accredited to the General Assembly. NGO participation in global governance is an essential feature.

The Commission also recommends expanding the authority of the U.N. in such ways as: (1) expand the authority of the Secretary-General; (2) end the veto power of the permanent members of the Security Council; (3) the U.N. to have its own standing army; (4) global taxation; (5) the U.N. gains authority over the global commons (the atmosphere, water, and minerals found in the earth).

· “We believe that all humanity could uphold the core values of respect for life, liberty, justice and equity, mutual respect, caring, and integrity.”⁹ In this report, respect for life is not limited to human life. They believe that “humans are one strand in nature’s web.”¹⁰

· “Next to life, liberty is what people value most… Global rules of custom restrain the freedom of sovereign states… Although states are sovereign, they are not free individually to do whatever they want…. It [national sovereignty] is a principle which will yield only slowly and reluctantly to the imperatives of global environment cooperation.”¹¹

In December 1983, Mrs. Gro Harrlem Brundtland, from Norway, was asked to chair a world commission on environment and development, focusing on a long-term environmental strategy for achieving sustainable development by 2000 and beyond. The Brundtland Commission describes Sustainable Development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”¹² The Commissions goes on to say “… Sustainable Development can only be pursued if demographic developments are in a harmony with the changing productive potential of the ecosystem.”¹³ And again, “… at a minimum Sustainable Development must not endanger the natural systems that support life on Earth—the waters, the soils, and the living beings.”¹⁴

This Commission published a 400-page document called “Our Common Future.” Following the Chairman’s forward, and “Overview by the Commission Members”, the report becomes more specific: “… Sustainable Development is not a fixed state of harmony, but rather a process of change… We do not pretend that the process is easy or straightforward. Painful choices have to be made. Thus in the final analysis, Sustainable Development must rest on political will.” “Governments that need to do so should develop long-term multi-faceted population policies and a campaign to pursue broad demographic goals to strengthen social, cultural and economic motivations for family planning, and to provide to all that want them education, contraceptives and services required.”¹⁵

A Brundtland Commission recommendation that the U.N. General Assembly prepare a “Universal Declaration on Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development” resulted in the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Maurice Strong, who had served on the Commission, was asked to be the Secretary General for the Earth Summit. According to an Associated Press report, Strong declared, “The United States is the greatest threat to the world’s ecological health. In effect, the United States is committing environmental aggression against the rest of the world.”¹⁶

At the opening session of the Earth Summit, Mr. Strong bemoaned the world’s “explosive increase in population” and stated, “We have been the most successful species ever; we are now a species out of control. Population must be stabilized and rapidly.”¹⁷

Sustainable Development in America: Soon after stepping into the office of President, Bill Clinton, by executive order no. 12852 (http://clinton2.nara.gov/PCSD/ publications/tf_Reports/amer-top.html), created “The President’s Council on Sustainable Development.” This order lines up with the Brundtland Commission.

The Council adopted a set of “We believe” statements—fundamental beliefs the members share that provide the foundations for its recommendations. Statement No. 11 reads: “The United States should have policies and programs that contribute to stabilizing global human population; this objective is critical if we hope to have the resources needed to ensure a high quality of life for future generations.”¹⁸ Some further statements brought forth by the Commission under U.S. Population and Sustainability: “A sustainable United States is one where all Americans have access to family planning and reproductive health services…”¹⁹ “Population growth will make the objective of sustainable development more difficult.”²⁰ “As recognized at the International Conference on Population and Development in Kairo, in 1994, all nations have responsibility for managing population growth. The United States must provide leadership by setting an example."²¹

The U.N.—UNESCO, United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization was born November, 1945. According to their own website statement UNESCO “works as a laboratory of ideas and a standard-setter to forge universal agreements on emerging ethical issues.”²² It also states that it “works to create the conditions for true dialogue, based upon respect for commonly shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture.”²³ (www.unesco.org)

During the 1992 Earth Conference in Rio, Maurice Strong, along with Mikhail Gorbachev and Steven Rockefeller, and those like-minded with them, had hoped that the close of the conference would bring forth an Earth Charter. Although this was not the case, they did reach international agreement and adopted it as Agenda 21 (www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21/index.htm), which has laid the preliminary groundwork for sustainable development. Believing that a Charter would eventually come forth, Mr. Strong was quoted as saying, “The Charter will stand on its own. It will be in effect, to use an Anglo-Saxon term, the Magna Carta of the people around the earth.”²⁴ Mr. Strong closed the conference saying, “We must therefore transform our attitudes and adopt a renewed respect for the superior laws of divine nature.”²⁵

Earth Charter: The Earth Charter initiative was launched in 1994 by Mikhael Gorbachev and his NGO Green Cross International, and Maurice Strong, backed by his NGO the Earth Council. In 1997 the Earth Council and Green Cross International together established the Earth Charter Commission, giving oversight in their determination to bring forth an Earth Charter. Gorbachev is quoted as saying; “Do not do unto the environment of others what you do not want done to your own environment… My hope is that this charter will be a kind of Ten Commandments, a ‘Sermon on the Mount’, that provides a guide for human behavior toward the environment in the next century.’”²⁶

The Commission in March 2000 released the final version of the Earth Charter. The Earth Charter, consisting of a preamble and 16 principles, has its roots in the values of the Transformational Movement. Jan Roberts, president of the Institute for Ethics and Meaning, says that this movement is a paradigm shift from individualism, self-interest and separatism, to unity, wholeness and community. In October 2003 the U.N. under its UNESCO agency finally ratified the Earth Charter. The Earth Charter establishes “… principles for a sustainable way of life as a common standard by which the conduct of all individuals, organizations, businesses, governments, and transnational institutions is to be guided and assessed.”²⁷ (www.earthcharter.org)

For further information regarding the Earth Charter and the Ark of Hope that carries it all over the world, see http://www.arkofhope.org/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=1.

The Constitution of the United States has always afforded us the freedoms and the liberties that we treasure as a nation. Our Constitution, however, has been compromised in that we have embraced many international treaties that steal from our constitutional rights as citizens of the U.S. Regrettably there is one clause in our Constitution, Article VI(2), that has opened the door to a “maze of sustainable development precepts.” It reads:

“This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.” (www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.htm)

Treaties are not voted on directly by “we the people”; they are simply entered into at our government’s discretion. The majority of American citizens are not aware of the multitude of UN international treaties that we as a nation have ratified and how they are currently affecting our constitutional rights.

In his research Henry Lamb, of Sovereignty International and founding ECO of the Environmental Conservation Organization, has noted that “more than 50 major U.S. environmental organizations, and six federal agencies (including the U.S. State Department), are members of the Union for the Conservation of Nature, an international non-governmental organization (NGO) that has drafted virtually all of the international environmental treaties for half-a-century.” Mr. Lamb continues, “The power of the UN treaties over domestic policy is not limited to environmental regulations. Increasingly, the UN is developing treaties to govern the Internet, the oceans, space, domestic taxation, trade, and virtually every other area of human activity.”

As a ministry we have monitored the works of the UN for years. We have seen the UN implement global policies/treaties subtly designed to encroach upon the individual rights of nations. Below are two examples of the impinging force of UN treaties upon our constitutional rights.

Ramsar Treaty: The following quotes are taken from an interview of a man who, while living in Florida, fell prey to the dictates of a UN facilitated treaty:

“’It’s hard for people to believe, that you can become a convicted felon for something like this—lose your rights.’ Those were the words of Carey Mills, son of Ocie Mills. Both were found guilty of violating the Clean Water Act, for placing 19 loads of fill dirt on their 65 foot sea-front property.

They were fined, served 21 months in a federal penitentiary, and six months on probation. After their time in prison, they had to ‘restore the property to its original wetland elevation.’

It all started in 1986 when the Corps of Engineers served a ‘cease and desist’ order to Ocie for ‘polluting the navigable waters of the United States.’ Even though Ocie had all the proper permits, was working in the area the Corps had prior agreed was not a wetland, the Corps forced Mills into court.” You can read the full account at this site: www.stewards.us/libertymatters/fall99/lmj-fall99-7.htm

How did this and multitudes of like stories happen? They are a result of the Ramsar Treaty. This treaty is facilitated by UNESCO, an agency of the United Nations. For 25 years an international agreement known as the “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat,” has recognized the distinct character of wetlands and how they add immeasurable variety and richness to our lives. More commonly referred to as the Ramsar Convention, adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, it is the only international accord dedicated to the worldwide protection of an ecosystem-type wetlands. Currently, 92 nations have joined in adopting Ramsar’s objectives to stem the loss of wetlands and to insure their conservation. The U.S. adoption of this convention was in 1987. (www.caddolakeinstitute.org/ramsar.htm)

CITES Treaty: The CITES Treaty, “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna (animal) and Flora (plant),” was ratified by the U.S. in 1974 and enforced in 1975. It is a UN administered treaty, also known as the Washington Treaty. (www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.shtml)

The following brief account of Montana resident John Shuler is another example of how a U.N. international treaty has impinged upon our constitutional rights. In an initial attempt to protect his sheep, John fired in the air as three smaller grizzly bears pursued his sheep pens. Thinking the incident was over as the bears fled, he turned his back to return to his house. The next moment he was aware of the threatening roar of an adult grizzly, risen on her hind legs with her paws spread. At that moment, in concern for his life, he opened fire and the bear fell dead. The next day he called the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and said he had killed a grizzly. John didn’t give a second thought about reporting the incident to the agency because he knew he had rightfully defended his own life. Much to his surprise, the agency did not agree with his reasoning and charged Shuler with violating the Endangered Species Act (this falls under the CITES Treaty), fining him $7000. You can read the full account at this site: http://www.mountainestateslegal.org/articles_speeches.cfm?articleid+17

We’ve all heard of similar horror stories across our nation, but have we been cognizant of the fact that these situations are the direct result of the influence of powerful UN treaties?

Under the LOST, the U.N. would have the power to tax any type of sea-going vessel, as well as any type of ocean research and exploration. Also, it would give the U.N. the authority to tax by requiring a permit to engage in any activity affecting the seabed, such as oil drilling and mining. “Even more important, the permit process can require detailed information about the technology to be used, which can then be shared with member nations without regard for intellectual-property, rights or security concerns,” says Henry Lamb.²⁸ For more information go to (http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multilaterals.html), (http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2004/mar04/04-03-17.html)

The Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted and open for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 44/25, November 20, 1989. It became an enforced Treaty September 2, 1990, in accordance with Article 49. (For full text of the Convention www.unicef.org/crc/fulltext.htm.) Although the Treaty is in effect, the United States has abstained from ratification.²⁹ However, let us not think that a future administration will not agree with the Treaty and ratify it.

In our nation one of the things that we hold most precious is the privilege and right to rear our children. The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child reflects the vision of the U.N. to take our rights as parents away, moving the government into position to rear our children. One of their focuses is to prepare our children to be global citizens. The Treaty describes children (17 years old and younger) as a member of a family AND the community, placing much of the responsibility for their well being on the state rather than the parents.

Article 2, Section 1 reads: “States Parties [actually meaning the U.N. as the governing body] shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his/her parents or legal guardians, race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.”³¹ “What this is basically saying is that the rights of a child as set forth in the Convention override the rights of the child as perceived by the parents based on their religion or opinions. If the rights the Convention feels are due your child conflict with your religious beliefs, political opinions or cultural opinion, too bad.”³²

Article 5 reads: “States Parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents or, where applicable, the members of the extended family or community as provided for by local custom, legal guardians or other persons legally responsible for the child, to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights recognized in the present Convention.”³³ “This article starts out fine, but throws in a qualifier that negates the respect of parents’ rights and duties. States shall respect the rights and duties of parents as long as direction and guidance complies with the rights of the child recognized in the present Convention. Appropriate direction and guidance of your child is no longer up to the parents; it must comply with the rights of the child recognized by the Convention.”³⁴

Article 6, Section 2 reads: “States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.”³⁵ Taking the prepositional phrase “to the maximum extent possible” out of this sentence, which does not jeopardize the contextual meaning of the sentence, this statement says that the U.N. ensures the development of our children.

Article 12, Section 1 reads: “States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.”³⁶ “Perhaps an example of this law in action would be good. Suppose you find out your school is requiring that their teachers teach a class on homosexuality where lifestyles are discussed in detail and the students are taught that this is normal, acceptable behavior (this is actually happening in the US). Little Johnny comes home and tells mom or dad that he wants to participate in the class. Mom and Dad feel this class goes against the beliefs and values they are trying to instill in their developing child and has no place in the school curriculum. Too bad. The State Parties feel Johnny is old enough to make his own decisions on matters of sexual preference and has a right to express his own views on the matter.”³⁷

Article 13, Section 1 reads: “The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child’s choice.”³⁸ Article 14, Section 1 reads: “States Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”³⁹ “After the class meditation exercise, Johnny draws a picture of a satanic symbol and a picture of the earth, and writes below it ‘we are all god and the Earth is our Mother.’ Little Johnny brings the art project home and shows Mom and Dad. Even though Mom and Dad are Christian and are trying to teach their child that Jesus Christ is his Savior and created the earth, Johnny has a right to his own belief and a right to express them however he want to. After all, teacher told him he did.”⁴⁰

U.N. Influence in U.S. Schools: In October 2003, the United States returned to the U.N. Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Our Secretary of Education Rod Paige, and the First Lady, traveled to Paris to mark our return to this U.N. agency. UNESCO is host to the global education program “Education for All.” This program was launched as a renewed worldwide initiative to meet the basic learning needs of all children.

Recently while participating in UNESCO’s Third Inter-American Education Ministerial in Mexico City, Mr. Paige was quoted as saying: ⁴¹

· “The United States is pleased to return to UNESCO and to participate in meetings like this. I am very pleased to see many friends from the Third Inter-American Education Ministerial in Mexico City.”

· “There and here, we agree that we must make education a universal reality. Our governments have entrusted us with the responsibility of preparing our children to become citizens of the world [emphasis added]. We are here to share and learn.”

· “When President Bush took office, he saw these problems and decided to tackle them head-on through a program called ‘No Child Left Behind.’ UNESCO, through the great leadership of Director General Matsuura, knows the importance of education on a global level by coordinating the ‘Education for All’ initiative.”

· “’Education for All’ is consistent with our recent education legislation, the ‘No Child Left Behind Act.’”

Tom DeWeese, in his DeWeese report (Volume 9, Issue 11), has made note that our nation is issuing grants through our Department of Education for the U.N.’s International Baccalaureate program, which provides a curriculum that teaches our children to be global citizens, as opposed to Americans. Currently there are 500 U.S. schools now using this U.N. International Baccalaureate program.

As early as the 1960’s Dr. Robert Muller, then U.N. Deputy Secretary General, prepared a world core curriculum. Its initial goal is stated as such: “Assisting the child in becoming an integrated individual who can deal with personal experience while seeing himself as a part of the greater whole. In other words, promote growth of the group idea, so that group good, group understanding, group interrelations, and group goodwill replace all limited, self-centered objectives, leading to group consciousness.”⁴²

The following is part of an article written by Henry Lamb. Mr. Lamb is the founding chairman of Sovereignty International and the founding CEO of the Environmental Conservation Organization. He has attended U.N. meetings around the world, a frequent speaker at workshops and conferences across the country, and guests on many radio programs. He has provided testimony for the U.S. Congress, State Legislatures, and has served as a consultant to Fox News on U.N. affairs.

Mr. Lamb reports upon the global influence clearly seen in the mission for the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies:

“The United States and its democracy are constantly evolving and in continuous need of citizens who can adapt to meet the changing circumstances. Meeting that need is the mission of social studies. Students should be helped to construct a pluralist perspective based on diversity and should be helped to construct a global perspective.”

“A critical review of ‘We the People; the Citizen and the Constitution,’ a civics textbook written by the Center for Civics Education, reveals that the teaching of historical facts is replaced with teaching attitudes and values about multi-culturalism and world-mindedness. A review of science, and even math texts, reveals that sustainable development, environmental protection and social justice dominate the material children are taught.”

“No longer are American children learning about the structure of federal republic compared to a parliamentary democracy. No longer are children learning the difference between capitalism and socialism. No longer are children being taught why the United States became the most powerful economic engine the world has even known.”

“Instead, they are being taught that with less than 5% of the world’s population, the U.S. uses 25% of the world’s resources and produces 25% of the world’s pollution. They are being taught that the U.S. is the #1 terrorist nation. They are being taught that the rest of the world is mired in poverty because of the greedy capitalists in the United States.”

“The effectiveness of the generations in this U.N. globalist curriculum is evidenced by many of the talking heads interviewed on the nightly news, and even by some of the presidential hopefuls.”⁴³

Because the building is closed some holidays, please call 212-963-TOUR (8687) for updated information. You may also check their web site at U.N. Tours.

Cost for tour: Adults: $10.50, Senior Citizens: $8.00, Students with valid ID: $7.00

Directions: Physical location - On First Avenue between 42nd Street and 48th Street in New York, New York. The entrance for visiting is on First Avenue at 46^th Street (map)

In view of the fact that no parking facilities are available public transportation is recommended:

· Subway: #4, 5, 6, or 7 trains to Grand Central Station and walk on 42^nd Street to First Avenue

vi. Prayer Focus

We would like to share with you some scriptures to help you in praying for the United Nations. We are expressing these scriptures in the form of prayer:

UNITED NATIONS MONITOR

II. Core Structure of the Organization

Security Council

vi. Prayer Focus