A New World Agenda:

Canada's Role In Sustainable Development

By Carl Teichrib - 1999

www.forcingchange.org

"United Nations reformer, Maurice Strong, once wrote, "The forces that are shaping our future are global in scale and systemic in nature." 1 Recently a task force chaired by Mr. Strong revealed that the post-cold war period has "become nothing less than a global experiment in international development." 2

Striving to make this "global experiment" a reality, Maurice Strong has recognized the unique position of his native country in the international arena. Only a few short months after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit (UNCED), he announced to a group of prominent Canadian political advisors that,

Canada at this time is in a position to make a unique contribution to fulfilling the promises of Rio by committing itself to be a model of sustainable development...It offers the prospect of uniting Canadians behind a new vision of their own future and a new generation of leadership internationally. 3

Unknown to the majority of Americans, Canada has positioned itself at the cutting edge of international environmental/political change. Although its population is one tenth of the US, its leadership role in the "global experiment" cannot be overstated. As Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien once said,

We are one world. We in Canada feel this deeply. Responsible international citizenship is one of our proudest shared values. And the place we exercise that responsible citizenship is in multilateral organizationsthe town hall meetings of the world community. 4

Consider these Canadian examples of "responsible international citizenship."

- Canada co-sponsored the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (the first Earth Conference) held in Stockholm, Sweden.
- The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), producer of the influential report Our Common Future, convened a special meeting in Ottawa, Ontario in 1986. At this WCED meeting, the idea of a "world conservation bank" was forwarded. Keep in mind that the WCED was the key organization promoting the term "sustainable development" in the late 1980's. Canadians Maurice Strong and Jim MacNeill served as commissioners to the WCED, with MacNeill acting as the Commission's Secretary-General.
- Adopted in Montreal, Quebec, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer formatted international rules to combat "global warming." The Montreal Protocol has since made an enormous impact on national and international climate policies, hitting both consumers and industries with new levels of bureaucratic red tape.
- Canada co-sponsored the 1990 United Nations World Summit for Children, which spawned the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a set of parental behavioral laws that threaten families the world over.
- Canada played an influential role at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. This was evident at the highest level with Maurice Strong acting as the summit's Secretary-Gerneral.
- Emerging from Rio was one of Canada's most far reaching initiatives, the creation of The Earth Council, which is headquartered in Costa Rica. Led by Mr. Strong, The Earth Council is now in the process of drafting and implementing the global Earth Charter -- a new world-wide green constitution binding mankind to earth servitude. 5

In the words of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, "Canada is in the forefront of efforts to ensure that the United Nations is prepared for the challenges of the future." 6 Indeed, his country's involvement in the international globalization process has been extremely systematic. 7 Besides being the planetary meeting ground and sponsor for major sustainable development events, Canada has furthered the path to globalism by contributing to the environmental "intelligentsia" -- the thought process undergirding the movement. Consider the following quotes from a 1992 meeting of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation.

We need a unified one world order to replace the collectivity of nation states at the international level. The Euro-American model which now dominates the world systematically disables people, destroys the earth and creates dependency on wage labour. 8

In this model, politics loses its left-versus-right conflict and moves instead towards a fundamental concern for the health of the ecosystem...Democracy is replaced with "biocracy," where not people but life-sustaining systems are the central concern. Democracy remains a need within this model, at both local and global levels, but as one part of the whole system. "Participation" becomes more than people's physical presence and deepens to contain a cultural and spiritual dimension...To implement these concepts, we start with bringing the community together and look at the land resources available. We decide how we want the community to evolve and decide who has control of the resources. 9

Likewise, the following statement from the Canadian federal government to the United Nations contains a similar thread -- a sustainable world order based on complete world management.

Canada believes the establishment of an international financial and economic system that is conducive to sustainable development must be a cornerstone of efforts to implement Agenda 21. Canada strongly supports efforts to reform international organizations to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the promotion of global sustainable development. 10

Paying For World Government

Recently, the Canadian federal government passed the acceptance of a new international tax on world monetary transactions. Known as the Tobin tax, the ensuing billions collected would be "a feasible part of a new world order and new world vision," as stated by Lorne Nystrom, member of the Canadian House of Commons. 11 Nystrom explained the purpose of the tax to the House, using the example of 1995 currency transactions and the amount that would have been raised based on that particular year,

If there were a 0.1% Tobin tax on foreign currency transactions, that would raise, in 1995 dollars, $176 billion U.S. That is a lot of money. A Tobin tax of 0.003% would be enough money to fund United Nations peacekeeping around the worldOne of the consequences would be the establishment of a global village which would have a common good amongst the nations of the world. There would be a strengthening of international organizations. The United Nations would become a meaningful world governmentThere could be permanent international peacekeeping forces. There are many things that could be doneHow would this be implemented? There are a number of ways of doing it. The International Monetary Fund could be reformed to do it or the World Bank could be reformed to do it. My preference would be a new international financial agency to administer the Tobin taxWho would collect the tax? National governments would collect the tax around the world. 12

This last April I had the opportunity to attend the World Federalist Association National Youth Conference, which was held in Washington DC. At this conference I had the occasion to speak with WFA Issues Director, Chuck Woolery, regarding the Canadian passed Tobin Tax. Visibly excited, Mr. Woolery explained how a short time after the Canadian Parliament passed the tax, the WFA brought a Canadian delegate to DC for the expressed purpose of giving guidance on how to pressure US policy makers to do the same. If the US government follows this lead, and it is already being pressured to do so, American tax dollars will go directly into UN coffers.

Planning For A New World

Of all the Canadian provinces, Maurice Strong's home of Manitoba has become one of the most persuasive in furthering sustainable development principles and agendas. One of the most overt of these initiatives took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba between October 17-20, 1990. Hosted by the provincial government, the World Environment Energy and Economic Conference (WEEEC), also known as World '90, was attended by over 3000 delegates from around the globe. As a joint venture between UNESCO and the International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE), the WEEEC had for it's official theme "Sustainable Development Strategies and the New World Order." 13

The introduction to the WEEEC's final report connected itself with the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED). Speaking on the work of the WCED, the introduction revealed that, "Emerging from the work of the commission was the revolutionary concept of Sustainable Development Strategies as the New World Agenda." 14 In extending this WCED link, the forward to the report explained, "The World Environment Energy and Economic Conference focused on recently introduced sustainable development principles that will affect policies, plans and the direction of programs in the coming years on a global scale." 15 Appropriately, the WEEEC final document was titled Sustainable Development For A New World Agenda.

To ensure that global sustainable development initiatives achieve fruition, the WEEEC recognized the importance of using public education as an agent for world change. Dennis Chisman and Jack Holbrook, members of the ICASE executive board, presented a chapter in the World '90 report entitled "The Future Direction of Sustainable Development in the Curriculum." In it they explained, "The role of the teacher will inevitably have to change. They will become more involved in facilitating changes of attitudes and guiding students to gain values rather than merely teaching factual knowledge." 16 Chisman and Holbrook further revealed, "The overall strategy is to design courses so as to prepare for a 'sustainable development' literate society." 17

What would learning encompass in the academic world of Chisman and Holbrook? Expanding on the concept of sustainable education, the ICASE board members shared on the importance of global "values" for education, including "population control and support," "intercultural tolerance," "the transfer of appropriate technology," and "environmental literacy." 18 All of these items would eventually make their way into the Rio Earth Summit two years later.

Creating A New World Police State

Disturbing as the WEEEC educational platform was, the most insidious aspect of World '90 was the presentation on creating a "Global Green Constitution." Presented by a Greengrass Institute delegate, the theme of creating a world constitution based on sustainable development principles was given an entire chapter in the WEEEC final report. Spouted as being "a global perestroika," it was explained that this "revolutionary" global green political machine would encompass a form of "human rights." 19

Popular or not, green governments will oppose any culture if it proves to be prejudicial by means of gender, age, colour, race, religion, belief, sexual orientation, mental or physical condition, marital status, family composition, source of income, political belief, nationality, language preference or place of origin. 20

The concept of framing a global "green" constitution was directly linked to national education contributions aimed at furthering this new world agenda. As explained in the report, uncooperative nations would not be tolerated,

Each nation's degree of dedication to educating the people would be the first indication of green government. The education process would centre on the need for a Global Green Constitution...Eventually, a public referendum would be held in each nation state with the objective of obtaining a simple majority in favour of enshrining a Global Green Constitution. Those nation's governments where a majority have declared for a Global Green Constitution in a referendum vote would indicate that they are prepared to attend a Global Green Constitution Congress...Every nation's government would ultimately be a signator to the Global Green Constitution. Obligation to do so would come from grass roots pressure within democratic societies. Less democratic nations or dictatorships would be brought on side through sanctions. 21

Specifying more drastic measures yet, World '90 literally called for a global police state to ensure the complete success of the "New World Agenda,"

The issues are not about if a global politics is necessary. The question is how do we achieve binding agreements in Law complete with effective programs for applying sanctions against non-compliance that would oblige each nation, regardless of size, to abide by a set of principles that are required to guarantee the survival of life on this earth. Perhaps we will find that there is no other alternative to a system of rigid controls that some would equate to a police state. Unfortunately, in order to save the planet from biocide, there have to be very powerful constraints from doing the 'wrong' things. The constraints must transcend national boundaries, be world-around and enforceable. There would be a need for an agency for preventing eco-vandals from acting unilaterally.
Enforcement agencies would need the power to act without being invited by the offending nation. Therefore, there needs to be an agency that is acceptable to all nation states on the planet. We can probably accept the fact that there will always be one or more nations that will not go along but there must be effective sanctions in place. If sanctions do not work, then physical occupation and the installation of a World Trusteeship would be imposed upon the offending nations. 22

Who Rules Who?

Recently I received an e-mail concerning Canada's role in the push for world government. At its core, the message spoke of America's need to look towards Canada in order to understand the forces pressuring US global integration. As a Canadian, I recognize the truth of that statement, and find it deeply troubling to watch as my country carries the banner of the "New World Agenda" into the next century.

America needs to look beyond its own borders to understand what is happening within its borders. The largest trading partner the US has is Canada. With that in mind, it should have concerned everyone in both countries when Prime Minister Jean Chrétien explained that the United Nations is "the centre piece of Canadian foreign policy." 23 This foreign policy, this promotion of "global order," is taking North America down the fast track to international socialism. Hidden under the guise of sustainable development, our two nations are trading our freedoms for a draconian world agenda.

What will it take to wake us up?

____________________________________

Carl Teichrib is a Canadian researcher on issues pertaining to globalization. He is a regular contributor to author Gary Kah's international newsletter. A substantial amount of Teichrib's research is presented in Gary Kah's book The New World Religion, which deals extensively with globalization as it relates to environmentalism, education, and the spiritual roots and current religious developments of the emerging world government. The New World Religion (1999) contains 330 pages of up-to-date information, including over 50 exhibits and 350 footnotes. To obtain a copy of this must read book, call 1-317-290-4673.

Endnotes

1. Maurice F. Strong, "Preface," International Development Research and Policy Task Force, Connecting With The World: Priorities for Canadian Internationalism in the 21st Century (Winnipeg, MB: International Institute for Sustainable Development, in conjunction with the International Development Research Centre and the North-South Institute, November 1996), p.vi.

2. International Development Research and Policy Task Force, Connecting With The World, p.15.

3. Maurice Strong, Beyond Rio: A New Role For Canada (External Affairs and International Trade Canada, November 10, 1992), p. 20.

4. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Opening Statement by Jean Chrétien to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, (Speech at Auckland, New Zealand, November 10, 1995)

5. International Development Research and Policy Task Force, Connecting With The World, p.39.

6. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Inauguration Diner for the Lester B. Pearson Chair of International Relations, (Speech at Oxford University, February 22, 1996).

7. These points were taken from Carl Teichrib's detailed report, Charting The Sustainable Society: Agendas for Creating a New Global Future, a soon to be released comprehensive timeline on global sustainable development agendas. To find out more about this report, contact Carl Teichrib at P.O. Box 899, Noblesville, IN 46061-0899 or Box 414, Gladstone, MB Canada R0J-0T0.

8. James Robertson, "Toward a New Economic Paradigm," Canadian Council for International Co-operation, Sustainability: From Vision to Reality (Ottawa, ON: Canadian Council for International Co-operation, February 1992), pp. 5-6. This CCIC program was funded through two Canadian federal bodies, the Canadian International Development Agency and the International Development Research Centre.

9. Maximo Kalaw, "A Community-based Model of Sustainable Development," Canadian Council for International Co-operation, Sustainability: FromVision to Reality, p. 8.

10. Government of Canada, Report of Canada to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (Ottawa, ON: Government of Canada, 1996), p. 25.

11. Hon. Lorne Nystrom, "Tax on Financial Transactions," (Private Members' Business) Edited Hansard - Number 144, Wednesday, October 28, 1998, Canadian Federal Government House of Commons, p. 1735.

12. Ibid., p. 1745.

13. Colin N. Power (UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education), "Preface," John E. Penick and John R. Stiles (editors), Sustainable Development For A New World Agenda (A STAM/CASE/ICASE Publication, Proceedings of the World Environment Energy and Economic Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba, October 17-20, 1990) ISBN 962-7532-01-3.

14. Robert Lepischak, "Introduction: Sustainable Development Strategies...The New World Agenda," Sustainable Development For A New World Agenda, p. viii.

15. Evhan Uzwyshyn, "Forward: Principles of Sustainable Development," Sustainable Development For A New World Agenda, p. v.

16. Dennis Chisman and Jack Holbrook, "The Future Direction of Sustainable Development in the Curriculum," Sustainable Development For A New World Agenda, p. 237.

17. Ibid., p. 234.

18. Ibid., p. 235.

19. Jim Bohlen, "Towards A Global Green Constitution," Sustainable Development For A New World Agenda, p. 10.

20. Ibid., p. 11.

21. Ibid., p. 16.

22. Ibid., p. 15.

23. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, National Forum on Canada's International Relations (Speech in Toronto, ON, September 11, 1995)

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