Highlights of the Proposed Amended Charter

Highlights of Proposed Amended Charter

Primary Goal: End international anarchy by creating a global structure of governance that is democratized, empowered and with checks and balances.

Primary Model: U.S. Federalist Constitution with numerous modifications and borrowings from other systems and systems of governance.

The Constitutional Principles: The new Charter will contain just over 150 Charter Principles; the purposes of these Principles are to: explain why the new Charter is so desperately needed; how the new U.N. will come about; outline the basic goals of the new U.N.; describe how the new U.N. will function and work; and assert the constitutional precepts upon which the new U.N. is based.

Democratization: The sovereign power to adopt laws will essentially be in the Congress of the Earth, composed of 1,000 equally apportioned Congressional Districts of approximately 6 million people each, with one man and one woman directly elected as Congress persons from each such District by majority vote. This body will finally make "we the people" of the present U.N. Charter a reality instead of an empty statement of hope.

Empowerment: The Congress of the Earth will be able to pass binding laws on global matters, subject to a limited veto by six other Legislative Bodies, the Presidium and the Transition Council. The Congress of the Earth will also confirm all major appointments by the Presidium, subject to increased percentages of confirmation, if an appointment is rejected by any of the six legislative bodies or the Transition Council.

Checks and Balances and Preventing the Tyranny of the Majority: Will have substantial checks and balances through eight other Legislative bodies and entities that will have limited veto power, which will require stair-step percentages to override if such vetoes are exercised. These are:
1. Youth Diet: One young man and young woman under the age of 35 years directly elected from each Congressional District. 52% of vote of the Congress of the Earth required to override its veto.
2. Peoples Assembly: Composed of persons chosen by NGOs and the grass-roots organizations. Its veto will require a 54% vote of the Congress of the Earth to override.
3. e-Parliament: Composed of parliamentarians and congresspersons from Nation-State legislative bodies from all over the World. Will function by email. A veto by the e-Parliament will require a 56% vote of the Congress of the Earth to override.
4. The Chamber of Deputies: Selected by the various city councils, village authorities, county governments, state legislatures and other governments around the World that are subordinate to the Nation-State governments. Its veto will require a 58% vote of the Congress of the Earth to override.
5. Senate of Nations: Comprised of 1 to 5 Senators from each Nation-State designated by such Nation-States, the number allocated being determined by size, population, environmental aspects (such as rainforests), GNP and geo-political position. A veto by it will require a 60% vote of the Congress of the Earth to override.
6. The Duma: Grass-roots democracy at its best; also known as the "Precinct Pyramid"; each precinct consists of about 25,000 persons; will have precinct conventions at the precinct level, then Congressional District level, then the Continental Region level and finally at the global level; at the Global Convention, Delegates will be selected for the Duma. A veto by the Duma will require a 62% vote of the Congress of the Earth to override.
7. The Presidium: The Presidium, described below, will have a veto, requiring a 64% vote of the Congress of the Earth to override.
8. The Transition Council: This very important Council will be composed of the same Nation-State members with the same number of votes as those on the new Security Council. However, voting within the Transition Council by its members shall be tabulated in accordance with Richard Hudson's "binding triad" concept - a majority of the Nations on the Council, a majority of the people within the Nations reflected on the Council and a majority of the economic power reflected within the Nations on the Council. A veto by the Transition Council will require a 65% vote of the Congress of the Earth to override. The Transition Council will exist for only ten years unless extended by a 2/3rds vote of the Congress of the Earth.
The Prime Minister And Other Chief Administrators Of The Legislative Bodies: These will all be directly elected by the World as a whole, the Prime Minister will act as "speaker" or chief administrator of the Congress of the Earth. The other chief administrators are: the Grand Delegate of the Duma; the First Senator of the Senate of Nations; the Foremost Deputy of the Chamber of Deputies; the Chief Parlimentarian of the e-Parliament; the Most Eminent Assemblyperson of the Peoples Assembly; and the Speaker of the Youth Diet Legislative Bodies respectively. In addition the chief administrators will, cast all tie-breaking votes in their respective Bodies.

The Presidium and the Executive Branch: The U.S. Constitution places too much power in one person; new U.N. will opt for a collective executive; the Presidium will be the Chief Executive of the new United Nations; comprised of the President of the Presidium elected by the world-at-large and one man and one woman from each of the twelve Continental Regions. In addition to the power to veto bills adopted by the Congress of the Earth, the Presidium will carry out and effectuate the laws of the U.N., preserve the peace, have a command role with regard to the U.N. Security and Police Forces and make appointments to the Secretary General offices, the judiciary, the Directors of the Agencies, some of the Commission members and other officers specifically designated in the Charter.

U.N. Elections: Whatever one's feelings are about the Iraqi War (as we point out in the proposed Charter, such a preemptive war - one without a clear and present danger - would violate U.N. Law), the recent elections in Iraq and in the Ukraine have proven the impressible desire of peoples the world over to cast their personal vote about the affairs of government. When we have the first world-wide U.N. Elections, the world will see the most glorious day in the history of humankind. The global thirst for democracy is unquenchable. As discussed below, the U.N., through the U.N. Elections Commission, will ensure that the elections are open, fair, honest, accurate and free of violence, intimidation and fear. This must be the case if such U.N. Elections are going to speak the true voice of the people.

Appointments To Key Offices: One of the most important functions of the Presidium will be its appointments of the Secretary General, heads of the fifty-one Agencies, the judges of the U.N. Courts and other high, non-elected officials of the U.N. However, this important power must be subject to checks and balances. Each appointment must be confirmed by the Congress of the Earth by a majority vote, unless the appointment is rejected by any of the other legislative bodies or the Transition Council and, depending upon which ones object, if any, the percentage of votes of the Congress of the Earth necessary for confirmation will increase in the same manner as the percentages for override increase upon the veto of legislation.

The Secretary General and His Office: The Secretary General will have the very important responsibility for the administrative operation and affairs of the United Nations. The Secretary General will have an Assistant Secretary General for each Continental Region as well as for other subject matters, and a Deputy Secretary General for each Agency of the new U.N.; these will all be appointed by the Presidium, subject to the confirmation process stated above.

The Agencies - The Action Arm of the New U.N.: The new U.N. will have fifty-two Agencies (see list of Agencies in the outline of the Charter). Each Agency will actively work to solve the global problems relevant to such Agency and will draft and work for passage of legislation necessary to carry out its responsibilities. The Legislative Hearing Committees of each Agency will assist in preparing, processing and conducting public hearings on all legislation relevant to the Agency and will report out to the Congress of the Earth all such legislation. If such legislation is finally adopted, such Agency will then effectuate, monitor, implement and enforce such law of the land.

A Real Judiciary and Court System; A Government of Law: The new U.N. must be a "government of law, not of men," and this can be the case only with an open, transparent, effective, honest, accessible and competent judicial system with the power to enter enforceable judgments. There will be at least one U.N. Trial Court in each of the thousand Congressional Districts; an intermediate U.N. Court of Appeals in each Continental Region; and then, of course, the U.N. "World Court," or court of last resort. The International Criminal Court will have compulsory jurisdiction over all Nations and all World Citizens with regard to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.

Trial by Jury Guaranteed: The right of trial by jury - the greatest protection the powerless have against the powerful and a sometimes elitist judiciary - will be guaranteed in civil, as well as criminal, cases. Most World Citizens do not realize that jury trials in civil cases are essentially allowed only in the U.S., some provinces in Canada and some states in Australia and no where else in the world. So, the lawyers in those Nations will have to work hard over the next decade to help other Nations learn how to adapt to a U.N. jury trial system in civil, as well as criminal, cases.

The U.N. Commissions: Each Agency will have a corresponding Commission, which will be a quasi-judicial body with the power to resolve conflicts that arise in the enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to the corresponding Agency. This will remove a lot of an otherwise heavy burden upon the U.N. Courts and provide a way for each Agency to interpret and enforce the laws for which such Agency is responsible.

The Fourth Branch of the U.N. - The Councils: There will be twenty-one Councils of the U.N. and each Council, other than the Security Council, will be situated in other cities around the World. These Councils will monitor the related Agencies; debate issues and recommend legislation concerning such related Agencies; discuss and make proposed long-term plans for 5, 10 and 25 years; help with enforcement of relevant laws; and help coordinate U.N. activities with the Nation-States and their subordinate governments. For a list of the Councils and their proposed location, see the Outline of the Charter.

The Security Council: There is no doubt that the Security Council must be reformed. The single-nation veto - the one thing that was most responsible for making the present U.N. ineffective - will, of course, be abolished. The permanent members will be increased. See Principle 37 for the line up of the new Security Council. The Security Council will have a very important function, namely a decisive peacekeeping role, and a role in the use of the U.N. Security And Police Forces.

The Fifth Branch of Government, The Auditor General: The present U.S. system contains several serious conflicts of interest; for example, the Attorney General appointed by the President appoints the Special Prosecutor who would investigate and prosecute the President if such action becomes necessary. Also, the G.A.O., the Agency that deals with waste and corruption in the U.S. Government, is also appointed by the people whom it monitors. Another example is when, just recently, the Republican Attorney General approved a redistricting plan in Texas that was adopted by a highly partisan Republican Texas Legislature. These conflicts will not exist in the new U.N. The Auditor General will be elected directly by the World-at-Large and will be accountable only to the People. The Auditor General will:
1. Like the American G.A.O., monitor all offices and personnel of the U.N. for waste and corruption and will have authority to take action to eliminate and control such threats to good government, including, if necessary, the appointment of a special prosecutor.
2. Appoint and supervise the U.N. Electoral Commission and its drawing of precincts and Congressional District lines; its oversight of the nominations, campaigning and the election process; its responsibility for conduct of safe and free elections; its duty to provide an accurate count and determination of winners; and its handling of election contests, violations of campaign and election laws and other problems arising out of the election process.
3. And act as an ombudsman with regard to complaints by World Citizens about the U.N. personnel, offices or actions and make certain that they are all addressed and resolved.
World Peace And The Present World War Against Terrorism: The founding purpose of the present U.N. was to achieve permanent world peace. This will continue to be one of the most important goals in the new United Nations. Many believe that the world is in a global war with terrorism. The new U.N. will carry on that war, under the U.N. banner, until these organized forces of evil have been vanquished. An important ingredient of this effort, if we really are going to have world peace, is to bring about a greater understanding, respect, and tolerance between Muslims and non-Muslims around the World.

Universal Disarmament and the U.N. Security and Police Force: A most urgent goal of the new U.N. will be universal disarmament and the creation of the U.N. Security and Police Forces. This is absolutely necessary if humankind is going to achieve global peace. Use of the U.N. Security Forces, a force that will be used only as a last resort, must go through a rigid vetting process involving the Agency and Commission on Peace and Security, the Agency and Commission on the U.N. Security & Police Forces, the Security Council, the Presidium and, eventually, the Congress of the Earth. All Nations will contribute to the U.N. Security Forces and to its Command Staff. Obviously, the great challenge is to provide checks and balances that will allow appropriate use of the U.N. Security Forces without any danger of abuse or tyranny.

Proliferation Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction - One Of The World's Greatest Challenges: One of the greatest challenges facing the World today is the threat of proliferation of W.M.D.'s. Whether it is Iran, North Korea (who just defiantly announced it would continue making nuclear bombs), Pakistan or individuals such as A.Q. Khan, the new U.N. must give priority to getting control of existing stockpiles of WMD's and keep them out of the hands of terrorists, rogue nations and other dangerous entities or persons.

The Doctrine of Separatism; Enhancing Peace and Freedom: All World Citizens, in addition to having basic individual rights, will have "group" freedom and rights. If, as a racial, religious, geographical, environmental, social, political or economic group, such group feels oppressed or, for other appropriate reasons, desires to separate from the Nation of which they are a part and to become a separate and self-governing entity, they should be allowed to do so if they comply with certain requirements set forth in the Charter. With a strong U.N. there is no need for a Nation to fear separatism; this is because there is no longer any need for large Nation-State military forces or hegemonies centering on security. To recognize the peacekeeping potential of separatism, one has only to look at the wars or threat of wars in Afghanistan, the Middle East, several Nations in Africa, in Indonesia, India, China, Sri Lanka, Central and South America, Korea and now, possibly, Iraq. The Doctrine of Separatism will be a great tool for helping to prevent almost all civil wars.

Nation-Building; Again Enhancing Peace and Also Enhancing Democracy and Economic Well-Being: One look at Afghanistan and Iraq tells us how essential Nation-Building is if we are going to maintain the peace, advance democracy and generate economic well being. The recent elections in Iraq demonstrate the compelling desire of people for freedom and self-governance. The U.N. will have highly trained and skilled professionals, called Nation-Building Teams, who will work with the U.N. Security and Police Forces to help build Nations that are in great need, whether from war, natural disasters or historical neglect. We know that nation-building will not be easy, as pointed out by John F. Burns in the New York Times "Week in Review" of December 14, 2003. The difficulties in Iraq demonstrate this. But the primary problems in Iraq are two-fold: whether Iraq will have a theocracy as many of the Shiites want ora somewhat secular democracy as the more moderate Shiites seek; and, second, instead of having an empowered U.N. performing the nation-building function, a small coalition of nations headed by the U.S., who is seen by many as being imperialistic and only there because of the presence of oil. There is no doubt that, once the U.N. becomes reformed and empowered, with proper commitment, training and personnel, nation-building in Iraq and elsewhere where needed around the world, can be a valuable tool for peace, democracy and prosperity.

Area-Building: Marshall Plans For Certain Areas of the World; Again Enhancing Peace, Democracy and Economic Well-Being: When the nation-building extends to more than one Nation - e.g. to areas such as Africa south of the Sahara, the Middle East, Central America, Northern South America, Southern Asia (Afghanistan, old USSR states, Pakistan, Bangladesh and parts of India) and Southeast Asia - stabilization, democratization and economic well-being will be achieved through area "Marshall Plans," carried out and administered by the new United Nations. The Marshall Plan worked wonders in Europe after World War II. In a modified version, and with administration by an empowered United Nations, it can work wonders in places like Africa. Because of war, corruption, poverty, AIDs, other diseases and, in some instances despotic governance we may be on the brink of losing Africa south of the Sahara. With the enormity of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, many nations bordering on the Indian Ocean are in desperate need of a Marshall Plan, as is so many other areas of the World.

The Environment; Cleaning Up the Planet; and Sustainable Development: One of the greatest challenges facing the new U.N. will be to stop environmental degradation; clean up the despoiled air, water, soil, rivers, lakes and wetlands; and establish sustainable development. The environmental crises we face are formidable and ominous and can be dealt with only through a structure of global governance.

Dealing With One of the World's Greatest Crises - Global Warming: As Dr. Martin Hoffart of N.Y.U. has pointed out, global warming, if not arrested, could devastate the Planet with an inevitable three to ten degree rise in global temperatures. The cover letter discusses this in some detail. As stated there, the only way to keep this from happening is to "embark" on "six or seven energy research programs" simultaneously dealing with renewable sources of energy and transportation on the scale of the Manhattan or Apollo Projects. Only a democratized and empowered U.N. can globally undertake such programs. If there is any doubt in one's mind about the urgency with which we must deal with global warming, they should read Ross Gelbspan's book entitled "The Boiling Point." And one of the great tragedies is that the United States, who emits one-fifth of the world's greenhouse gases, has refused to ratify the Kyoto Treaty which took effect on February 16, 2005. The intransigence of the United States, Australia and the handful of other countries who refuse to approve the Treaty makes it perfectly clear why the world needs a structure of clobal governance.

Saving the Oceans: The dying off of the big fish; the plummeting of other fish stocks due to over-fishing and pollution; the irrepressible continuation of serious ocean pollution on a daily basis; the dying of the coral reefs; and the effect of global warming, point to an ominous destiny for our oceans, a destiny of eventual death and lifelessness. The world has to get serious about saving the oceans and the U.N. will make this one of its highest priorities.

Saving the Rainforests and Temperate Forests: Another critical priority of the new U.N. will be to save the rapidly disappearing rainforests and temperate forests. They are the lungs of the Earth and we cannot survive without them. The U.N. will establish limits on cutting, clearing, using, abusing, polluting and in other ways degrading or destroying these valuable forest lands and the beautiful native cultures that inhabit them.

Stabilizing Global Population Before It's Too Late: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the world worried about devastating overpopulation (see the "Population Explosion" by Paul R. and Anne H. Ehrlich, 1990). In 1994, the U.N. held the Population Conference in Cairo and, from this conference forward, human population began stabilizing. Now, we have a different kind of global threat - depopulation - as discussed recently in the September 27, 2004 issue of Newsweek in an article entitled "Birth Dearth." The causes and consequences of drastically falling fertility rates are discussed in detail and now it is clear that depopulation is a global crisis that the new U.N. must address. What is perplexing, the population is growing at an unacceptable rate in some places and is falling at an unacceptable rate in other places. The U.N. policy should be aimed at global stabilization - to make certain that, in Nations where there is a dangerous depopulation rate, the U.N. helps those Nations achieve at least a replacement rate (2.1 babies per woman) but, in Nations where there is dangerous over-population, the U.N. helps reduce the fertility rate to one at or near the replacement rate.

Abortions Will Not Be A Part Of U.N. Policy On Population Stabilization: Consistent with the "cult of life", the ___ must flatly state its opposition to abortions but will not constitutionally proscribe the right of a woman to chose. U.N. policy on stabilizing population growth will focus on education of women, abstinence education, use of contraceptives, family counseling, maintenance of a U.N. Adoption Agency to promote adoptions rather than abortions and other ways of obtaining stabilization of population growth without promoting abortions. The eternal dilemma between the right to life on the part of the baby and the right to choose on the part of the woman has plagued policies in the U.S. for the last forty years, and, to some extent, has been a big issue in other places around the world. The question of whether abortions will be permitted by law will, under the U.N. federalism clause, be left up to each Nation-State.

Bill of Social Rights: One of humanity's most noble goals is the elimination of hunger, hopelessness and other aspects of extreme poverty. The World has the capability of doing it. The fact that almost three billion people live on less than two dollars per day. The U.N. Bill of Social Rights guarantees to each and every World Citizen adequate food on the table; clothing on their backs; housing or shelter over their heads; adequate medical care, including preventative care; educational opportunity through the college level; a job commensurate with each person's education, training and ability; and social security for the retired, disabled, young and housewives. The U.N. will provide for, and perpetually maintain, a global safety net, so that no World Citizen will go to bed hungry or live in poverty.

The Global March Of Freedom: President Bush has proclaimed a "global march for freedom" and that is certainly commendable and a noble goal for the entire world. However, that crusade should be undertaken by an empowered U.N. and not by the U.S. alone, or in conjunction with a handful of friendly nations.

The reasons given by the U.S. for invading Iraq have not been viewed as acceptable by most of the world and the U.S. is now looked upon with suspicion when it comes to unilateral ventures in the global arena. And, in any event, the only way a crusade for universal freedom can be carried out justly and without fear of imperialism is for it to be done by an empowered United Nations.

Bill of Human, Individual and Civil Rights: Every World Citizen will be guaranteed their basic fundamental rights. These rights include the human rights outlined in the Declaration of Human Rights; the individual rights stated in the U.S. Bill of Rights (1st to 14th Amendments), the Magna Carta; the Declaration of Man; and the civil rights included in the Civil Rights Laws of the United States. In the new United Nations, the basic freedoms of speech, assembly, religion and right to vote will be available to all World Citizens.

The Power to Tax and Spend: No legitimate government can exist without the power to tax and spend. The new U.N. will have that power. The kind of taxes provided for in the new U.N. will be simple taxes such as the Tobin Tax, a small flat rate income tax, use taxes (for the use of the "global commons") and other simple taxes that are easy to determine, collect and enforce and will raise sufficient revenue for the U.N. budget.

U.N. Budget Will Be Balanced: The U.N. Budget will be balanced unless a deficit is approved by a 65% vote of the Congress of the Earth. A balanced budget produces a sound economy and prevents one generation from mortgaging the economic viability of future generations, as is now happening in the United States.

The Principle of Federalism: All powers of government not expressly given in the amended Charter will be reserved to the Nation-States, Cities, States, Counties, and other subordinate governments. This principle is extremely important to the goal of limiting the power of the U.N. to that which is specifically needed for resolving global problems.

Decentralization of U.N. Governance: In order to make U.N. governance more global and more accessible to the people, there will be 12 sub-capitals in each of the 12 Continental Regions; 20 out of the 21 Councils will have their primary offices around the World; and there will be a U.N. office in each of the 1,000 Districts of the Congress of the Earth (see Principle 67 for a list of the sub-capitals and Council offices).

The City States of the Future: Like Singapore of today and the City-States of Greece and Rome of the past, the city-states will rise again under the new U.N. Democracy in city government is obviously closer to the people than democracy in a Nation-State and, with the U.N. maintaining a global umbrella of peace, protected environment, social rights and individual rights, there will be no need for Cities to remain under the aegis of Nation-States.

Regenerating Small Businesses, Shops, the Family Farm and Small Towns and Villages: Even with stabilization of population growth, the inevitable march to the cities by millions of people in the next fifty years, will place a limit upon what the large cities can tolerate and support; thus, the U.N. will help regenerate the small towns and villages and the family farms and small businesses that were their economic base. This effort will not only bring quality of life to millions of people who otherwise would not have it but it will preserve a small town, village culture that has been so good for humankind and the world.

Ending International Anarchy For The Multinational Corporations: The multi-national corporations have been allowed, on a global basis, to do pretty much as they please. International anarchy as to them will end. There will be created a U.N. Securities Commission (to monitor stock exchanges and securities traded internationally) and a U.N. Corporation Commission (to make certain that the multi-nationals are not corrupt, obey environmental, labor, global minimum wage and consumer protection laws and do not "dump" in one country products banned in another). Despite these reasonable regulations, overall the new U.N. will provide the best business climate the multi-nationals have ever had, one where there is peace, security, freedom from the unpredictability of the Nation-States (expropriations, devaluations, bribes, war, terrorism and other conduct inimical to business development and prosperity), and a system of U.N. law that protects their contract and property rights. If the world is going to resolve the global problems facing us, we must have the cooperation and assistance of the multi-nationals.

International Trade and the World Trade Commission: World free trade will be encouraged and, where carried out legitimately, will be protected and encouraged by the U.N. However, that trade must be conducted in conformity with labor laws, including child labor and minimum wage laws; consumer protection laws; and environmental protection laws. The World Trade Commission will continue to administer free trade laws and agreements but under the auspice of the new U.N.

The AIDS Epidemic and Other Pandemics: AIDS is ravaging Africa, India and China and threatens human health in almost every Nation of the World. It has already cost millions of lives around the World. With the recent announcement in New York of an ominous new strain of AIDs, one resistant to drugs presently used for treatment, the battle against AIDs takes on new urgency. Other pandemics are making a comeback or are threatening millions of people (e.g. the bird-flu virus, tuberculosis and malaria). The new U.N. will engage in an all out war against these diseases and develop vaccines and cures for them as rapidly as possible.

Natural and Non-War Human Disasters: With global warming, the natural disasters (hurricanes, typhoons, floods, mudslides, earthquakes, droughts, plagues, tornadoes, raging wildfires, volcanoes, and tsunamis such as the recent devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, etc.) are becoming more intense and frequent and, with the burgeoning population, the man-made, non-war disasters (such as train wrecks, explosions, airplane crashes, chemical releases, ship sinkings, etc.) are becoming more destructive, as well as more frequent. The U.N. will have Disaster Relief Teams that have the expertise and capability of dealing quickly and effectively with such tragedies and long-range reconstruction programs to rehabilitate places such as the coastal regions bordering the Indian Ocean, the Bam area of Iran and other areas of the world where particularly destructive disasters have occurred.

U.N. Center For Global Monitoring: In order to monitor, on a daily basis, what is going on in the World, the U.N. will maintain the U.N. Center For Global Monitoring (the "CGM"). The Center will report daily - for response and handling, all events and matters involving war, terrorism, global crime and other threats to global peace and security - to the Agency on Peace and Security and the Agency On the U.N. Security and Police Forces, who will activate Rapid Development Forces. With regard to all events and matters relating to natural and non-war, man-made disasters, the C.G.M. will report to them to the Agency on Natural and Man-Made Disasters who will activate their Disaster Relief Teams.

Indigenous Peoples: The Amended Charter will provide the Indigenous Peoples of the World - who, for the most part, were battered and oppressed in the last three centuries - with an extensive role in U.N. affairs. One of the "Continental Regions" will be dedicated to the Indigenous People so that one Indigenous male and one female will constitute two of the twenty-four Consuls to the Presidium; there will be a Council on Indigenous People and an Agency and Commission on Indigenous People; their tribal lands and intellectual properties will be protected by the U.N.; the Doctrine of Separatism will give them a way to secure some degree of sovereignty wherever they live; and, of course, they will be a part of Congressional Districts in which they live and many wull no doubt be chosen to represent some of those Districts. The same is true of the Delegates to the Duma.

Women's Participation In the New U.N.: The Amended Charter will ensure extensive participation in the new U.N. by women - one woman will be elected to the Congress of the Earth and to the Youth Diet from each Congressional District; one woman will be elected Consul from each Continental Region; women will be involved on an equal basis in the Agencies, Commissions, the Duma, Legislative Hearing Committees and most of the other entities within the new U.N.; and there will be a separate and distinct Agency on Women's Affairs and a parallel Commission on Women's Affairs.

The Children of the World - That's What U.N. Reform Is All About: Even if we succeed in creating a structure of global governance within the next five years, which is our present goal, by the time the new U.N. will start achieving measurable and effective results in dealing with our global crises, it will be primarily our present children, and their children, who reap the benefits. So all of our efforts are really "for the children." And it is fitting that it be this way. In the latter part of the 20th Century, millions of children are suffering from hunger, malnutrition and preventable diseases or live in desperate poverty. And look at Africa, as described by Somini Sengupta in her article in the December 12, 2004 edition of the N.Y. Times (Week In Review) entitled "Farewell Africa, Beggar, Serf, Soldier, Child." In that article, the writer describes how thousands of children are forced into serfdom, to work as cheap labor, or to the streets to beg, or to fight as children soldiers. She also describes how thousands of children are orphaned by AIDs, how many are starving to death and how many are sold into prostitution or other forms of human trafficking.

The new U.N. will make one of its primary goals, the "salvation of our children" all over the World.

U.S. Space Agency, Big Science and Global Communications: The U.N. Space Agency will coordinate all efforts to explore space, terraform Mars and protect Earth from asteroids and comets; the Agency on Big Science will conduct urgent research on vaccines and cures for cancer, AIDS, etc.; the Agency on Energy and Transportation will work vigorously to develop renewable sources for energy and transportation; and the U.N. Agency on Global Communications will work for constant improvements in the Internet and global communications. We know that a strike by an ELLE (Extinction of Life Level Event) asteroid is not a question of "if", but a question of "when", and humankind simply must be willing to spend the money and effort to develop ways and means of deflecting or destroying such a threat when it presents itself. And the destiny of intelligent life on this Planet is to explore the Galaxy and perhaps beyond, first, because of the eventual need to migrate and, second, because we are driven by the same compulsions as Columbus and the other great explorers of the last six hundred years.

Death Penalty Not Permitted: The U.N. will have an Agency on Law and Justice that will prosecute all U.N. crimes. However, official murder by imposing the death penalty will be expressly prohibited under the U.N. Charter. This is a part of the U.N.'s "cult of life."

Ownership of the Global Commons: All of the global commons - the forest lands, oceans, rainforests, rivers, lakes, air (atmosphere and above), space, mountain ranges, wildlife preserves, wetlands, U.N. Parks, and oil and other minerals - will be owned by all World Citizens through the United Nations. The present ownership, leasehold and other type interests will be recognized and preserved in the form of a U.N. lease or operational permit but the ultimate ownership over these commons will be in the United Nations.

The Role of Religions and Reconciling the Gap Between Islamic Theocracy and Democratic Secularism: The Amended U.N. Charter will provide for separation of Church and State (at the U.N. level) and for freedom of religion to every World Citizen but the World's great religions will be asked to play a significant role in the new U.N. (there will be a Council of Religions and an Agency and Commission on Religions and Religious Affairs); and every effort will be made to obtain the complete assistance of organized Religions with regard to U.N. programs and the fulfillment of U.N. Principles. One of the most important Principles will be the reconciliation of Islamic theocracy and fundamentalism with religious tolerance and democratic secularism. Indeed, this effort will be part of the U.N. war against terrorism - not only to completely end terrorism but, at the same time, to work toward the reconciliation of the Muslim culture with the Western, Oriental and other cultures around the world.

Quality of Life For All Will be the Prime Goal of the New U.N.: In addition to maintaining the peace, protecting individual and human rights, securing environmental stability and guaranteeing social rights for all, the new U.N. will focus on quality of life for all - intellectual development, recreation and vacations, sports participation and spectator enjoyment, music and other fine arts, late-life sabbaticals, and other ways of bringing about quality of life for every World Citizen. This is the highest and ultimate calling of any government and so it will be with the new United Nations.

Humankind's Ultimate Destiny - Democratic Global Governance. Through the Article 109 Process, humankind will finally reach its ultimate destiny of governance. Reaching that goal had become urgent due to our own conduct in the 20th Century. Killing through war, terrorism, genocide and domestic violence and pollution of the air, water, soil and environment all got completely out of hand. But, now we have no choice but to sit down at the table of global governance and organize and adopt the highest form of governance known to man - one that is democratized, empowered and with appropriate checks and balances.