FEBRUARY 2004 NEWSLETTER
WORLD BEYOND BORDERS
NEWSLETTER
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This is the official newsletter of World
Beyond Borders (www.worldbeyondborders.org).
It reports site news and world events that affect
our quest for a united Earth. To subscribe, go to
www.worldbeyondborders.org/tinc?key=zeckXWXA&RegistrationFormID=4819
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Volume 2, Issue 2
February 2, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1. Quote of the Month
2. What's New at World Beyond Borders
3. A Democratic World is Possible
4. What You Can Do
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1. QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"We are going to have to find ways of organizing ourselves cooperatively, sanely,
scientifically, harmonically and in regenerative spontaneity with the rest of
humanity around the earth.... We are not going to be able to operate our spaceship
earth successfully nor for much longer unless we see it as a whole spaceship
and our fate as common." --Buckminster Fuller
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2. WHAT'S NEW AT WORLD BEYOND BORDERS
World Beyond Borders' name reflects not just a wish for the future but a reality
growing with every passing day. Our website reaches people around the world.
And last month, our literature was displayed at the World Social Forum in India.
Almost all of our 250 brochures were handed out and many people signed up for
this newsletter. Welcome to you, and thanks to all those who contributed financially.
We couldn't have done it without you!
The sharp-eyed among you may have noticed that we've switched newsletter services
again. Hopefully, the new one will be satisfactory. If you link to the newsletter
on your website, please make sure to update the subscription link.
This month's new articles are:
What Might It Look Like?
*"The Preliminary Draft of a World Constitution", written in 1947-1948 by a
group of prominent intellectuals, presents one design for a democratic global
government. The document's primary purpose is to provoke thought. www.worldbeyondborders.org/chicagodraft.htm
How We Might Get There?
*"The Way Ahead" by Peter Bailey advocates regional unions as stepping stones
toward a global government. www.worldbeyondborders.org/wayahead.htm
Please send article ideas or submissions to Jane Shevtsov,
jane@worldbeyondborders.org.
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3. A DEMOCRATIC WORLD IS POSSIBLE
by Jane Shevtsov
Under the slogan, "Another world is possible", 100,000 people gathered at the
World Social Forum in Mumbai, India to discuss questions ranging from sustainable
agriculture and caste oppression to war and economic globalization. This was
the fourth such annual meeting and the biggest one yet. Speakers included Nobel
laureates and leaders of small organizations; participants came from over 130
countries.
Critics say WSF participants lack positive common goals, while others maintain
that is one of the forum's greatest strengths. One of the most ambitious proposals
for the WSF comes from British political columnist George Monbiot, a member
of the former group. Monbiot sees gatherings like the World Social Forum as
stepping stones toward a planetary parliament. The forum can serve as an organizing
and publicity base for another one, with elected representatives. This quasi-parliament
would represent people, not states. It would have moral authority and democratic
legitimacy. Eventually, it could move us toward a true global government.
The details of Monbiot's proposal can be found in his book, The Age of Consent.
(It can be purchased online from UK or Canadian bookstores and will be published
in the US in April.) Can it work? It's sure worth a try.
For more information:
*George Monbiot, "Seize the Day", http://www.monbiot.com/dsp_article.cfm?article_id=587
*World Citizen Foundation, http://www.worldcitizen.org/
*World Social Forum 2004, http://www.wsfindia.org/
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4. WHAT YOU CAN DO
*If you have a website, link to World Beyond Borders or a specific article on
our site. This not only gives us visitors directly but also raises our ratings
in search engines.
*Send us an idea! We want content, we want project proposals, we want how-tos.
Eli Williamson-Jones can be reached at eli@worldbeyondborders.org,
Jane Shevtsov at jane@worldbeyondborders.org.
Or you can join the World Beyond Borders Action List by sending a blank email
to wbbaction-subscribe@topica.com.
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We want your stories! Email Jane Shevtsov at jane@worldbeyondborders.org.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/1.0/
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