Posted on 12/07/2001 11:54:37 AM PST by SEA
Illinois U.N. official predicts new world order
Says there may be universal peace in the next 10 years
Wednesday, December 5, 2001
By Rex Robinson Staff writer
On a day when war raged in Afghanistan and the strained relationship between the Israelis and Palestinians worsened, a U.N. official predicted there could be world peace within 10 years.
Edward Widmer, president of the Illinois Division of the United Nations Association of the United States, told the Bolingbrook Rotary Club that despite the chaos in the world today, he anticipated there will eventually be a major shift.
"Within 10 years time, you're going to see the beginnings of an embryonic world order," Widmer said.
Speaking at the Bolingbrook Holiday Inn, Widmer focused on the intimate connection between the U.N. and the Rotary, but also touched on the problems the U.S. has had with the United Nations.
For example, before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., the U.S. was the only country out of 180 to not sign a U.N. protocol against chemical warfare and bioterrorism, Widmer said. The so-called "world legislation" laid out opposition to bio-terrorism and chemical warfare, he said.
"Yet now we are the first to be faced with the threat of anthrax," Widmer said.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush sent the legislation back to Congress, he said.
"In a sense, we are a little bit out of step with the rest of the world," Widmer said.
The U.S. needs to get in sync with the U.N., and an important step toward that is for the U.S. to pay the more than $2 billion it owes in past dues to the U.N., Widmer said.
A new "world order" will be achieved through the globalization of industries like banking and finance, he said.
"There is $1.5 trillion in foreign currency changing hands throughout the world everyday," he said.
There also is 55,000 corporations doing business all over the world, he said.
What will be most significant, Widmer said, is non-governmental organizations focusing on world problems.
"These are grassroots organizations just like your Rotary Club here in Bolingbrook," Widmer said.
In 1996, Rotary International created a new set of scholarships that have provided funding for 70 students to study world peace and conflict resolution, Widmer said.
Rotary International also has a goal to wipe out polio throughout the world by 2005, he said.
Widmer conducts seminars on policing and security issues, conflict resolution, violence protection, multi-culturalism, and diversity training. He has chaired several U.N. satellite conferences in South America on human rights and international health issues. He has also worked for the U.S. State Department, and provided security services for 20 countries, the U.N. and Fortune 500 multinational corporations.
Widmer credited the Rotary Club with launching his interest in world issues. He was awarded a Rotary exchange scholarship to study in the Netherlands, and eventually became a Rotary member in 1969. He is the past president of the Southwest Chicago Rotary Club.
"Be proud to be Rotarians, because we're right there, right in the vanguard of the U.N.," Widmer said.
Rex Robinson may be reached at rrobinson@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5964.
The vanguard of the UN?
van·guard (vngärd) n. ,
The foremost position in an army or fleet advancing into battle.
The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement. Those occupying a foremost position.
Linguistic coincidence or appropriately chosen words?
Before everyone gets their panties in a twist, look at the name of this loser's organization. Then ponder the fact that he was speaking to a few Rotarians at a small town Holiday Inn. This ain't exactly the Bilderberger/Davos crowd here...
1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
I didn't even know there was a UN Association of the US!! Aaarrrgh!!! It's worse than cockroaches!
Hitler's "brownshirts" didn't have particularly high admission requirements. That is one of the reasons they were sucessful. Street thugs and other versions of lowlife don't mind destroying a perfectly decent form of government.
If those UN cockroaches are getting plentiful enough to start little chapters like that one in Illinois, then storm clouds are gathering. This has been obvious for years to those who have been watching.
I don't know if my above comparison is a fair measurement of the general conservatism of us Americans but I think there is a semblance of parallels to draw on.
I suppose I would not mind adopting such ideas as Globalization as long as certain criteria are prescribed and followed. For instance…
1. All nations must adopt the American Constitution including all amendments as the foundation for their government.
2. All nations must adopt the English language as their primary means of communications.
3. All nations must adopt the English Units system of measurement.
4. The International flag will consist of a field of blue populated with white stars dominating the upper-left quadrant overlaying a field of 13 alternating horizontal red and white stripes.
These few demands (only four, mind you) should easily be adopted by the International community in order for Globalization to be successful. Sounds reasonable, don’t you think?
Good. Let's harvest this embryo, and use the stem cells to heal all those brain-sick countries out there that still have dictatorships, as well as the U.N., which wants one.
I hate Illinois UN officials.
"...the U.S. was the only country out of 180 to not sign a U.N. protocol against chemical warfare and bioterrorism, Widmer said. "
Hmmm...I guess someone forgot to tell Sadaam and bin Laden that there was a treaty-signing party at the UN that day.
What about North Korea, China and various other US adversaries? Did they sign it also? If so, will they abide by the treaty?
*starts stockpiling*
I believe it's an NGO (in UN terminology) that promotes UN programs throughout the US and has state chapters, presidents, etc.
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