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Letters

More Than Semantics

Auckland, New Zealand

Dear Garry,

The controversy over "governance" vs. "government" is more than one of semantics. These words have come to represent two deeply felt viewpoints, both of which must be respected as valid symbols of the respective schools of belief and philosophy-as they pertain to the individual. Personally, I now believe them to be complementary to each other and indivisible, rather than mutually exclusive.

While "government" represents the harder (but necessary) image of law and order, "governance" suggests the softer, more acceptable, democratic and people-friendly approach. Those of us reared on Emery Reves' classic The Anatomy of Peace understand what he meant by "world government" and how well he based his case for it. But to the uninitiated (who usually regard their own government with suspicion and distaste), the idea of world government, with its connotations of global dictatorship, is indeed off-putting.

Hence, such labels as "governance," "internationalism," "functionalism," and Professor Richard Falk's "transformed world-order view" are in vogue mainly because they seek to emphasize people asserting, for the first time ever, their authority to claim the sovereignty that has always been theirs-had they but known it. And this on a global scale, thanks to technology and the Internet.

"Our Global Neighborhood" (the report of the NGO Commission on Global Governance) states, "Global governance is not global government." Instead, it avers that a viable democracy requires an active civil society or community-in other words, federalism (unity in diversity) based on the principle of subsidiarity. This holds that tasks and responsibilities should not be taken on by the higher levels of government, when they could be more efficiently taken on by levels closer to the citizen.

Since the federal system is the ultimate form of democracy, it should only be necessary to add the word "federal" to "world government" in order to exorcise the bogy of world tyranny. In a world federation, enforcement of the law would be directed against individual law violators rather than trying to control nation-states.

Thus, the common factor linking "government" and "governance" would seem to be the vital one of the decentralization of power.

Sincerely,
Bill Harper

A World Police Novel

Virginia Water, England

Dear Garry Davis,

I am a Scot, a political animal, a Liberal Democrat in U.K. domestic politics, a convinced Euro and World Federalist, a former Royal Navy officer now retired but active.

During the war I arrived in 1942 in New York navy yard in the heavily damaged Royal Navy cruiser "Penelope." In New York, I met various advocates of a world federal government, world citizenship, followers of Clarence Streit, Ely Culbertson and others.

After the war, I was a member of an all-party "circus" which toured the U.K., preaching world citizenship and the immediate need for world order under an elected World Assembly, instead of another organization of bargaining armed individuals and sovereign states.

But as I need hardly tell you, of all people, it was not to be, and we have the U.N., another league system with the same old faults and no permanent force behind international law.

From a world point of view, I was deflected for a long time on animal welfare which, in Europe, was (and still is) necessary and urgent. I was chairman of a large welfare body and I wrote on the subject as well. My main concern was for food animals exported, live, for slaughter hundreds of miles from the farms where they were bred. It hardly requires a genius to suggest humane slaughter near the point of rearing and export on the hook instead of on the hoof.

Simultaneously, however, I kept up (modest) advocacy of World Government, World Citizenship and World Supreme Court, along with a permanent World Police force behind international law.

I have done some writing and my last novel (1992) tells the story, set in the year 2084, of a number of young people who have volunteered to join a European unit of the World Police Force (which by then will stand behind International law under an elected World Assembly and World Executive).

Sadly, the novel was released just in time to be killed by the disintegration of former Yugoslavia! Had there existed a World Government, with an executive and a permanent force at its command, the World Government would have told the Serbs on the very first Friday: "No more rape, murder, destruction; this problem-difficult though it is-must be solved by discussion and agreement by civilized human beings. We (the world executive) speak on behalf of all mankind. Stop your armed aggression by midnight, or else. . ."

And so we have witnessed the efforts of national units to save injured and starving children. Very worthy, but it has not occurred to the U.N. to say, "Stop the fighting!' And even if the U.N. were to say that, it has no means of ensuring that the order will be obeyed.

The object of this letter is to send you a personal copy of the novel "Twenty Eighty Four" which I much hope you will enjoy. As it was upstaged by Bosnia, there are a number of unsold copies and if you think that readers of World Citizen News would enjoy it, I would be happy to organize a more or less nominal price to cover packaging and air mail postage.

With every good wish to you personally and continuing success in all your endeavors.

Innes Hamilton

Hard as Stone

Dimma Refugee Camp, Ethiopia

Dear Sir,

I am writing you in the hope that you can assist me with the issue of passports for my wife, daughter and me, Erasto.

I am a citizen of Sudan. However, I am now in a life as hard as stone in Ethiopia's Dimma Refugee Camp.

Thanks to Garry's movement for the transformation into "one world," we wish to motivate friends to apply for WSA documents. We are also interesting in organizing Infosets in Dimma Refugee Camp with a view to helping Garry's movement.

Wishing to work together for a peaceful world with common objectives we remain,

Yours sincerely,
Erasto

Disturbed Youth

Karachi, Pakistan

Respected Sir,

I am one of the millions of disturbed youth of the Third World countries, though I am used to facing social, financial and other problems and taking them as a challenge to my capabilities and development of personality. I get really disturbed when I see no better future in my surroundings.

My father is jobless, and I am the only person to earn the money for our family.

Due to lack of social justice, unemployment and uncertain conditions of law and order in Karachi, I feel that in order to make a career, I must go abroad and try my luck.

I will be very thankful to you if you could inform me as to what I should do to go to a developed and civilized country so that I could have chances to live peacefully, freely, and in dignified way.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
Syed Masoon Kashif Raza

A Desire to Serve

Glenwood, New Jersey

Madame President,

I have recently completed reading Mr. Davis' book Passport to Freedom. I found it to be very informative, entertaining and enlightening.

For a long time I have been interested in government service, and have sincerely believed there must be a better way than what the world has now. I truly feel that the World Government of World Citizens is the way of the future.

I am requesting the honor of becoming a World Citizen. Also, I specifically request information on any ways, other than discussed in the book, to become an active contributing member of the World Government.

Thank you, sincerely, for my new-found freedom and your assistance in my desire to serve the people of the world as a member of their World Government.

Sincerely,
Garry E. McGrath

Less Than Animals

Ethiopia

Dear Sir:

I am so lucky to have come across your magazine on a new world order. It relieved me and encouraged me after totally believing I am finished, with nothing in my life to hope for.

I am a refugee from south Sudan. I believe in God and am waiting for the salvation day. Though I am still young, I have seen more than enough how human beings are valued in Africa, especially in Sudan. Surely animals can be valued more than human beings in certain parts of Africa.

Sometimes we are forced to ask questions beyond our understanding. Why are we created in this world of hatred? Then the only thing helping is our Bible and prayers.

Sir, I am in a camp in western Ethiopia, and my life is almost the same as in south Sudan under the mercy of Sudan Islamic fundamentalists who are paying the Ethiopian government millions of U.S. dollars.

So, please, I beg you to help me get your world passport. I have no money to pay for the passport nor for transport out of this Ethiopian jungle. My only hope remains in those who can understand true humanity and give a helping hand.

Remaining in anticipation,
Name Withheld

Needs Help to Get Home

Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Dear Sir,

I need help from the World Service Authority. I am here in Pakistan from South Africa.

I was born in South Africa and left there in 1989 because of problems in the country. I don't have father, mother or other members of family because of the war for killing apartheid.

I want to go back to my country. I came here through a ship (stowaway) and I stay in this country without peace.

Please, sir, I need your help because I don't even know how I am going to stay in this country because I face many problems. I don't have any document which shows where I came from. So please, sir, do me a favor to solve this matter.

God Bless you.
Name Withheld

Nowhere Else to Turn

Santa Cruz, California

Dear Garry,

I'm taking this opportunity to thank you for the previous issues of World Citizen News. At the same time, I commend you for your unfailing bravery that has assisted many throughout the world who had no one else to turn to. I envision you as a man given to much dedication and without selfishness.

In light of all the recent border crossings between nations, there is nowhere else for the world to turn, except to world brother- and sister-hood.

Please find enclosed a money order for $12. I would also like to get a birth certificate form. Thank you again for everything and for a job well done.

Sincerely,
John Marz

WCN Reader Seeks Passport

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dear Garry Davis,

Thank you very much for sending us regularly the copies of World Citizen News, which we read with great interest. We most appreciate your progressive views and evolutionary ideas. We particularly mention in this regard your "Reinventing Government," "The U.N. Can Do Nothing," etc. You have rightly cited the need to reinvent government to make it more effective and responsive to the needs of the people.

Your esteemed and valuable World Citizen News has established a strong determination in our mind about the success of your mission.

Meantime, I am very much pleased to write to you in order to apply for a World Service Authority passport.

I am 30 years old, unmarried, and hold a master's degree from Dhaka University. I have been running a nongovernmental organization for the last five years which is involved in creating awareness of various humanitarian works.

Would you be so kind to issue me a World Service Authority passport if I send the application form duly filled in with requisite fees?

Thanking you.
A. K. M. Haroon-Or Rashid


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