I am forwarding the following. Any opinions about UPA endorsing?

Cheers,
Jon



Dear Friends, As Secretary of the Global Coalition World Democracy 2010, I can
only be very happy to discover the Charter for Global Democracy which my good
friend Robbie Wheeler just sent to all of us, because it reinforces, or rather,
it provides one very specific proposal to achieve world democracy. But some may
be confused about the Coalition and the Charter. First, they originated totally
separately, which somehow proves taht the diea is in the air. Secondly, the
Global Coalition World Democracy 2010 promotes only a legal and institutional
framework for global democracy, which is why it is acceptable to so many
different people and organisations. It stands in no contradiction to the Charter
for Global Democracy which is more specific. The Coalition is a group of people
and organisations who agree to the goal of world democracy and to 7 design
principles for the institutions of World Democracy. Theses principles include
(using other words) the first institutional condition of the Charter for Global
Democracy (openness and accountability). One other difference is that while the
Charter is a call to the representatives of the UN Millennium Assembly, the
Coalition does not appeal to anyone, as it seeks tp promote a worldwide public
debate on HOW to create World Democracy, without any preconditions other than
the 7 principles. The Global Coalition World Democracy 2010 was launched in The
Hague on 14 May 1999, and an unprecedented variety of groups have accepted to be
on its Steering Committee, including (in addition to MPAN and World Federalists)
representatives of local authorities (2000 cities worldwide), entrepreneurs,
women, environmentalists, indigenous and non-represented people, lesbians and
gays, engineers and scientists, and Transparency International: a global NGO
famous for its worldwide Corruption Index. This is probably one of the widest
endorsements for an effort of this sort, which is because the statement, in
spite of its generality, has teeth. Many personalities in France have signed, as
many others did in The Hague: for example Michael McCoy, co-President of the
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War or Anita Roddick,
founder of the Body Shop. We encourage all individuals and organisations who
agree with these goals to endorse the statement of the Global Coalition World
Democracy 2010 which is included here. Invitation to Join the Global Coalition
World Democracy 2010 last updated: 19 July 1999 The Global Coalition World
Democracy 2010 is open to all organisations and individuals wishing to
demonstrate their attachment to a world of peace in the 21st century through the
democratic rule of law. All organisations, whether governmental,
inter-governmental or of civil society, agreeing to a minimal common statement
of goals and design principles for global democratic institutions are welcome to
join this new and forward-looking cross-sectoral partnership. The coalition will
not be a new formal organisation, but rather a coalition inspired from examples
such as Abolition 2000, the Coalition for an International Criminal Court, the
International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the Hague Appeal for Peace, and the
Millennium NGO Forum (NGO = non-governmental organisation). You and your
organisation are warmly invited to join the Global Coalition World Democracy
2010 which was publicly launched on 14 May 1999 during the Hague Appeal for
Peace conference in The Hague. One of the first members is the 2000 cities
strong United Towns Organisation*. (Since the decision cycle of organisations
takes time, it is usual for organisations to give their positive decision in
principle, pending final formal approval by their governing body if needed. In a
spirit of transparency - which is a basic principle of the Coalition 2010 - this
will be indicated.) Others include Transparency International, the Women's
Environment and Development Network, the Business Association for the World
Social Summit, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation, the
International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility and
the International Lesbian and Gay Association. *pending final formal approval by
their governing body I/We wish to be a member of the Global Coalition World
Democracy 2010 and hereby endorse the Common Statement below : ________
(membership is free) First Name: Last Name: Title and organisation: Please check
one: I/we endorse on behalf of organisation: __ the organisational
identification is for information only: __ Address: Postal Code, City, State,
Country: Tel/Fax/email/web site: Date: City, State, Country: Signature: Common
statement on global and democratic sovereign institutions Basic text of the
global coalition "World Democracy 2010" launched on Friday 14 May 1999 at the
Hague Appeal for Peace Conference. Goal: the creation of global and democratic
sovereign institutions Whereas global problems demand global solutions, whereas
to be implemented successfully, these global solutions will need to be supported
by the people of the world, and whereas such implementation requires the
democratic expression of the will of the people (art. 21(3) of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights) Therefore we need global and democratic sovereign
institutions to legislate, implement and adjudicate such solutions. The people
of the world shall decide the extent of the powers of these institutions and
their inter-relationship with other levels of powers. Basic principles While we
are aware there are various ways to build such institutions, we nevertheless
agree on the following set of basic design principles: 1. Innate sovereignty of
individuals 2. Sovereignty of the people expressed through direct or
representative democracy 3. Rule of law 4. Solving problems at the most local
level practicable (Subsidiarity Principle) 5. Institutional and procedural
transparency to create and maintain trust 6. Use of peaceful means to build such
institutions 7. Non-discrimination (article 2 of Universal Declaration of Human
Rights) We appeal to all people of good will to make this goal and these basic
principles known and to act within their possibilities to support them. Note:
these principles are indivisible and should be considered as one unit, not
separately. Some signatories of the Common Statement on Global and Democratic
Sovereign Institutions date: 1 July 1999 Prof. Théodore Monod, Biologist, French
Academy of Science Fédération Mondiale des Cités Unies/United Town Organisation
France-Libertés Fondation Danielle Mitterrand Unrepresented Nations and Peoples
Organisation Abbé Pierre, Founder, Emmaüs International Anita Roddick, founder,
The Body Shop Business Association for the World Social Summit International
Lesbian and Gay Association International Network of Engineers & Scientists for
Global Responsibility Millennium People's Assembly Network Transparency
International Women's Environment and Development Organisation Jerry Bourgeois,
President, International Liaison Center for a World Environmental Authority
(CILAME) Billie Mbaye, President, ICARE International (France/Sénégal) Pierre
Calame, Executive Director, Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le Progrès de
l'Homme (Switzerland) Anil Agarwal, President, Centre for Science and
Environment (India) Partha Sarathy, President, WWF India V. Muthukumar,
Chairman, Asian Youth Centre, Deputy Director, Centre for Alternative Energy &
Rural Technology (India) N. R. Bheda, Secretary, Human Settlement, Environment &
Youth Centre (India) Reena Uprety, President, Free Student Union (Nepal) Prof.
Dambar Bir Thapa, Secretary General, UN Association of Nepal and Secretary
General, Nepal Nonaligned Movement Association Deone McCormick, co-Chair, World
Federalist Association Youth Caucus Robert Wheeler, Chair, Millennium People's
Assembly Network Garry Davis, founder, World Service Authority Dr. Parris Chang,
member of parliament (Taiwan) Prof. Lung-Chu Chen,Vice-President, International
League of Human Rights World Federalist Association (USA) WFM-Germany (World
Federalists of Germany) Weltbürgervereinigung (World Citizens of Germany)
WeltbürgerInnen (World Citizens of Switzerland) Taiwan Institute for Political
Ecology and Strategic Studies Association to Unite the Democracies Sisters of
the Good Sheperd Support Center for Associations and Foundations (SCAF-Belarus)
Institute for Planetary Studies Rotary Club of Taipei, Taiwan Contact: Acting
Secretary, Coalition 2010, c/o World Citizen Foundation, 777 UN Plaza, 6th
floor, New York, New York, 10017, USA, tel +1-212-973-9835, fax +1-212-973-9836
email : worlddemocracy@... Members of the Provisional Steering
Committee of the Global Coalition World Democracy 2010 as of 17 June 1999
Business Association for the World Social Summit BUSCO formed in 1994 to develop
a statement and programme of action of entrepreneurs to be presented to the UN
World Summit for Social Development. It collected the personal views of business
leaders in 30 countries on 4 continents, by a consultation directed at various
sectors of economic activity and at corporations ranging from small to global
entities. With the support of corporations most receptive to social progress, a
statement of principles was drawn up and an action programme established in the
form of 16 proposals that corporations are called upon to implement. Seated in
Paris, BUSCO is presently focusing on the contribution of entrepeneurs to the UN
World Social Summit in the year 2000. Primary contact: Mr. Olivier Giscard
d'Estaing, President. Alternate contact: Claude Renard, General Secretary Centre
for Science and Environment The Centre for Science and Environment is a public
interest research and advocacy organisation, which promotes environmentally
sound and equitable development strategies. The Centre, created in 1983,
interacts with numerous organisations, both in India and abroad. It works with
like-minded organisations to lobby for the inclusion of Southern perspectives in
international fora. Nationally, CSE works with several groups to support the
concept of ‘environmental rights'. The Centre's work over the past 16 years has
led it to believe and argue, both nationally and internationally, that
participation, equity and community-based natural resource management systems
alone will lead the nations of the world towards a durable peace and
development. Primary contact: Anil Agarwal, President INES The International
Network of Engineers & Scientists for Global Responsibility is concerned about
the impact of science and technology on society. INES was founded in 1991 at an
international meeting in Berlin, Germany, attended by 1700 people. INES' efforts
focus on disarmament and international peace, ethics, justice and sustainable
development. It has become a network of over 80 member organizations and
individual members in 50 countries and is headquartered in Germany. INES has
launched several specific sub-groups and major programmes range from initiatives
to reduce the risk of nuclear war to the promotion of ethics in government and
science, particularly in defense of whistle-blowers. Primary contact: Dr. Armin
Tenner, President; Alternate contact: Reiner Braun, Executive Director The
International Lesbian and Gay Association The International Lesbian and Gay
Association is a world-wide federation of national and local groups dedicated to
achieving equal rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people
everywhere. Founded in 1978, it now has more than 350 member organisations.
Every continent and around 80 countries are represented. ILGA member groups
range from small collectives to national groups and entire cities. Its
headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium. Primary contacts: Jennifer Wilson & Jordi
Petit, co-Secretaries-General; Alternate contact: Tom Hoemig, Coordinator
Millennium People's Assembly Network The Millennium Peoples Assembly Network
formed out of the September 1997 United Nations DPI/NGO Conference and initiated
by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's public support for a "companion Peoples'
Millennium Assembly" ("Millennium People's Forum") concurrent with the UN
General Assembly in the year 2000. The Millennium People's Assembly Network
(MPAN) was formed in response to this and is now working to encourage the
development of local to global people's assemblies, and to help draft the
People's Peace Agenda that will be presented to the UN Millennium General
Assembly. Primary contact: Sue Zipp, co-Chair; Alternate contact: Robert
Wheeler, co-Chair Transparency International Transparency International, through
its National Chapters bring together people of integrity in civil society,
business and government to work as coalitions for systemic reforms. TI focuses
on building systems that combat corruption. Corruption often transcends the
national level, therefore TI combats it by involving all stakeholders, including
the state, civil society and the private sector. Working closely with a growing
number of international organisations starting to address the issue, TI plays a
catalytic role in defining and implementing the international agenda against
corruption and publishes a widely-publicized global Corruption Index. National
Chapters in more than 60 countries world-wide--with more in formation--are at
the heart of the global anti-corruption movement. Primary contact: Jeremy Pope,
Executive Director; Alternate contact: Hansjörg Elshorst, Managing Director
United Towns Organization UTO is a worldwide association of some 2,000 cities
and local authorities dedicated to fostering and facilitating direct
inter-authority cooperation and exchanges of experience. Formed in 1950, it
manages a number of programmes funded by international agencies in the field of
local government capacity-building and social development, notably in Central
and Latin America and in Sub-Saharan Africa, and supports various technical
cooperation and city twinning programmes. Its Secretariat is located in Paris,
France. Primary contact: Michel Bescond, Secretary General; Alternate contact:
Marcel Peyre Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation UNPO is an
international organisation created by nations and peoples around the world who
are not represented as such in the world´s principal international
organisations, such as the United Nations. Founded in 1991, UNPO today consists
of over 50 members who represent over 100 million persons. UNPO offers an
international forum for occupied nations, indigenous peoples, minorities, and
even oppressed majorities who currently struggle to regain their lost countries,
preserve their cultural identities, protect their basic human and economic
rights and safeguard the natural environment. Its headquarters are located in
The Hague. Primary contacts: Dr. Parris Chang, Chairman and Helen Corbett,
General Secretary; Alternate contact: Mr. Seif Sharif Hamad, Chairman of the
General Assembly Women's Environment & Development Organisation WEDO is a global
organization working to increase women's visibility, roles and leadership in
public policy-making through peace, gender, human rights, environmental and
economic justice campaigns; through advocacy locally, nationally, regionally, at
the UN and in international financial institutions. WEDO was created in 1990 by
an international group of women activists, recognized in their own fields of
expertise and well-known in their countries in at least one or more social
change movement such as women's, peace, environment, development, or economic
justice movement. WEDO has forged partnerships with ca. 140 NGOs in 50
countries. It has been widely recognized for innovative coalition-building among
women NGOs at the UN, with an exponential growth in their influence on policy.
(New York Headquarters). Primary contact: Diane Dillon-Ridgeley, Acting
Executive Director World Federalist Association WFA (USA) serves the citizens of
the United States as a resource for proper global governance issues and local
citizen activism. WFA's work since it was formed in 1947 has led to successful
steps towards the abolition of war, the preservation of a sustainable global
environment, and a just world community through the development of enforceable
world law. The organisation has approximately 10,000 members from about 25
regional chapters with headquarters in Washington, DC. Primary contact: Lucy
Webster, Vice-President Alternate contact: John Anderson, Acting Executive
Director Troy Davis World Citizen Foundation troydavis@...