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Letters from the Internet

Be Practical about World Law

World law is an attainable goal, not a mantra. To advocate for it is not a solution to the world's ills. Just as Yugoslav law did not stop the break-up of the state of Yugoslavia, so world law would not help the world if such law was not going to be observed and upheld. For that to be done requires not only institutions, but the intention and the desire to use them. So far both are lacking, but steady advance of the notion of world law is having the effect of making international law both more credible and more significant. You can rightly say that it is happening too slowly, but some of us have been saying that for 50 years, haven't we? Nevertheless, a historical view suggests that erosion of support for the assumptions of national isolation and superiority (largely outside the U.S.) are going to lead to sudden and drastic changes. The I.C.J. judgments are part of that erosion: don't knock them.

John Roberts

Use Esperanto

This site is very interesting and has potential. One thing it does not have is "worldliness." How can one claim "World" Citizenship when the entire site is displayed only in English? I found only a few references to other languages throughout the site noting that membership includes a "World Citizen Card, laminated and in 7 languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, and Esperanto."

Why not publish this Web site in those languages? Make it easier for non-English speaking citizens of the world to access, appreciate and take advantage of this site. Your Credo states that "World Citizen brings about better understanding...by promoting...Esperanto." Even better, why not just provide a link to a translation of this site in Esperanto. That would certainly be language-neutral to everybody.

I've long been a supporter of Esperanto (even though I only recently began serious study of it) and sincerely believe that the solution to World Government is not to do away with countries, cultures, languages, and local customs.* Just use an intermediary language like Esperanto so everyone can talk to and understand everybody else. Then, amazing changes will begin to happen.

The first six languages of the seven listed above would take most people more than a decade of painstaking study to learn fluently. Any native speaker of those six could learn Esperanto in a fraction of the time and all would be able to speak to one another intelligibly. (It has taken me more than 20 years to learn French, German, Spanish, and Russian-and a little of several others. I will conquer Esperanto in a few months!) I continue to struggle with Russian and wish I had the time to learn Dutch and Swedish.

I hope to re-visit this Web site in a month or two and find it has been translated into Esperanto** so I can practice my new skills and really, truly feel that I am a World Citizen because I read, speak, and understand a true World language-Esperanto.

Charles A. Aiken
Vuture Enterprises "Your View of the Future"
Vuturo Interaferoj "Via Vidajxo de la Estoneco"

Publisher's notes: *Please see Dianne Tangel-Cate's article "World Citizenship As Cultural Survival" in the April/May 1995, Vol IX-2, issue of World Citizen News. **If there is anyone willing to do this translation, please contact us.

How to Best Effect Change Towards Global Harmony

David Gallup, W.S.A., to Michael Curtotti:

Thanks for posting the list of 'basic values' propounded by the Commission on Global Governance.

Certainly the values mentioned there are fundamental to respect and enforcement of human rights. However, this list came from the top down rather than the grassroots up. Thus, there may be many more values or other ways of looking at the stated values than is provided by the Commission on Global Governance.

The World Government of World Citizen's World Syntegrity Project (WSP) is providing humanity with a process for everyone to participate in governing the world and in determining what 'values' should be the basis for that government.

David Gallup, World Service Authority

Hi David,

It's good to see the World Service Authority active in this forum. I have visited your home page and look forward to hearing more about WSA. The WSA deserves congratulations for being the only organization of its kind which has taken to Internet technology. Let's keep the dialogue open.

As to whether the Commission's approach is top down, it is in fact the work of individuals who happen to be involved in international diplomacy-but it is not the work of governments. Somewhere in the Report, the Commission itself notes the importance of grassroots initiative if world governance is to be improved.

What excites me about the Commission's Report is that it comes from the diplomatic community, i.e., the group of people most concerned with the management and maintenance of the current system and values. Therefore, the Report is likely be accepted by those people who are actually in a position to make decisions to implement new values. In my view, these are the people who must be persuaded if better global governance is to come about. I agree that if it is to be carried forward, the Commission's work needs grassroots support, since it is through the process of public pressure that change will come about.

Organizations such as WSA could contribute to building momentum towards implementation of the Commission's Report, which in many areas is consistent with the world citizenship paradigm and lays the groundwork for future advances toward a better world order.

Michael Curtotti

International Law Students Use WCN

Thank you for the sample edition of your journal. I find it very interesting and informative, and would like to make it available to my International Law students. Could you send me sample issues once in a while? In exchange, I will speak about your publication and will photocopy articles they can read and/or study, with your kind permission, of course.

Bernard Cotnoir, Universite de Nice, Sophia Antipolis, Maison des Langues


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