UNU
Study on Sovereignty and Humanitarian Intervention
Millennium
Project Planning Committee Meeting
UNU/WIDER
Report on Economic Transition
Proposed
"Spirit of Free Inquiry" (SOFI) Award
UNU web site has a new
fornt page
AC/UNU Members Biography - in this issue:
UNU Study on Sovereignty and Humanitarian Intervention
An international consensus is needed about the point at
which a state forfeits its sovereignty and removal of its veto power in
the UN Security Council.
A UNU study, Kosovo and The Challenge of Humanitarian
Intervention, will be available from UNU Press in June 2000 for $39.95,
but a distilled version is available from <www.unu.edu>
(select UNU Kosovo Study).
Millennium Project Planning Committee met 14-15 February 2000 at the World Bank in Washington.
Chairs of the Project’s Nodes around the world, sponsor
representatives and leading futurists discussed research results and objectives
for next year.
The briefing charts for the meeting can be downloaded
from 2000
Millennium Project Planning Committee Meeting.
Research reviewed:
Initial Suggestions for the 2000-2001 objectives:
Project issues were discussed such as: a new format for the State of the Future (print 50 page general public executive summary book with enclosed CD-ROM of everything); dissemination, promotion, book reviews, translations (The Chinese Finance and Economic Publishing House is translating and publishing the 1999 State of the Future and the Latin American Node is working on the Spanish edition of the Futures Research Methodology CD-ROM); Methodological Issues; Node collaboration (Web sites, email lists, Internet conferencing); and public relations.
Hughes Space and Communications told our Executive Director
by telephone that they will support the production of the "The Mind’s Embrace
of Time" video tape.
Former UNU chairman and director of UNU/WIDER, Mihaly Simai, and Harriet Matejka edited Aspects of Transition, that is issue 13 of the World Development Studies series. The report "addresses the core problem of the form, pace and character of the relationship that is evolving between the general world trading system and the countries of Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. [...] Several authors call for special regimes to make the entry of the transition economies into the world trading system less traumatic and reduce the chances of major economic set-backs which could have politically dangerous implications. The prolongation of the Russian economic collapse (and its intensification after the failed recovery in 1996-8), the continued crises in Ukraine and many other states of the former Soviet Union, and even the recession in the Czech Republic, all point to the continuing nature of the problems and the still unanswered need for a workable policy framework." (Giovanni A. Cornia, Former Director of WIDER). The report can be ordered for $12.00 by fax: +358-9-61599 333, or email: Tuula@wider.unu.edu.
Bill Jewett suggested that the AC/UNU should give awards as did the local UNA chapter last year. Several years ago, Jerry Glenn has suggested the UNU might have an annual day just as FAO has World Food Day, WHO has World Health Day, etc.
The idea: Any country could nominate someone who supported the "spirit of free inquiry" the most during the previous year. All the nominations would go to UNU headquarter who would select the winner.
The winner would be invited to give the address SOFI (similarities to "sophia" or wisdom are intentional) address at UNU Headquarters during the annual UNU Day.
The AC/UNU could select the US nomination, host an award dinner, send out press releases, etc.
When the idea was brought up at AC/UNU’s last meeting in response to Bill Jewett’s award suggestion, Jim Leonard said it was a great idea, but the time and expense of such an activity is considerable. We might be able to raise some funds for the award.
In the meantime, Bill Jewett suggested beginning with a simplified version with just the AC/UNU giving the award and sending out a press release about the winner.
Subsequently, Bill suggested we might announce the award
via Internet e-mail lists such as the UNA-USA, American Council on Education,
and the Millennium Project.
President of the World Academy of Art and Science. Rhodes Scholar, Foreign Aid Manager under the Marshall Plan, Ambassador to NATO, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, United Nations Relief Administrator in China and Italy, Founding Dean of the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, President of the University of Hawaii, President of the American Society for Public Adminis-tration. Recipient of the U.S. Medal of Freedom.
Author of: The Obligations of Power; NATO: The Transatlantic Bargain; The Future Executive: A Guide for Tomorrows Managers; China Dairy; The Third Try at World Order: U.S. Policy for an Independent World; The Knowledge Executive: Leadership in an Information Society; The Age of Choice; and Birth of a New World.
Co-Author of: Next Step in Asia; The Overseas Americans; The Global Commons: Policy for the Planet; Humangrowth: An Essay on Growth, Values and the Quality of Life; and Human Choice, The Genetic Code for Social Development.
A Washington lawyer, David P. Close was born in New York City in 1915. He attended the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania before enrolling at Williams College in Massachusetts where he graduated in 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts. In 1942 he earned a Doctor of Juris-prudence from Columbia University and in the same year became a member of the New York State Bar. Some years later (1998) Mr. Close was honored with a Doctorate (LHD) by Mount Vernon College.
Mr. Close joined the United States Navy in 1942 and served with the Office of Naval Intelligence through 1946. He served as Assistant Naval Attaché for Air in the five Central American Countries in 1942 and 1943. Then he was sent to the Middle East as U.S. Naval Liaison Officer for the Eastern Mediterranean from 1943-46. He was head-quartered in Egypt. In 1946 Mr. Close was discharged with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Two other ONI veterans with overseas experience in Spanish speaking countries, John Dahlgren and Jack Darragh, joined with David Close in 1946 to form the law firm, Dahlgren, Darragh and Close. David Close married Margaret Howell Gordon in 1954. They had three children. Margaret lived until 1992.
David's Memberships and Affiliations: Advisory Council of the National Capital Area Boy Scouts of America; National Society for the Prevention of Blindness; International Eye Foundation (chairman 1985-89); D.C. Society for the Prevention of Blindness (president 1961-63); International Humanities, Inc. (president 1989-present); Marjorie Merriweather Post Foundation (secretary-treasurer 1974-76, secretary 1991 to present); Williams College (trustee 1963-68); Hill School (trustee 1965-85, chairman 1973-85); Mount Vernon College (trustee 1963-75, president 1971-74).; and member of A.B.A. , International-American Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association, City of New York Bar Association; Trial Lawyers of America; World Jurist Association of World Peace Through Law CTR.; Pilgrims Order of Saint John; Chevy Chase Club (Maryland); Fauquier Sprongs Country Club (Warrenton, Virginia), University Club (Washington).
In next issue, biographies of Chairman James Leonard and
Victor Rabinovich
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