In the November/December issue of this Journal I mentioned my hopes for seeing ‘A New Age of Enlightenment’ come about in this challenging era in which we find ourselves, but this New Age could just as well be called ‘A New Age of Basic Human Dignity’ or even simply ‘A New Age of Common Decency’, wherein we of the developed world move forward to make some serious and effective effort in bringing agricultural improvements, education, and technology to the world’s impoverished nations. From a humanitarian standpoint,

“ . . . this is something that should be done simply out of human decency. But even after discounting decency as a reason for action, pure economic reality dictates that over the long-term, our effective aid to the impoverished nations will actually create new wealth for those of us of the developed world . . . ”

this is something that should be done simply out of human decency. But even after discounting decency as a reason for action, pure economic reality dictates that over the long-term, our effective aid to the impoverished nations will actually create new wealth for those of us of the developed world as these currently dependent nations prosper and become markets for our exports. Further, I will contend that fanaticism and fundamentalism thrive in areas of the world and within societies which have no hope for the future, and that by creating hope where today there exists only hopelessness, we are actually making great strides in guaranteeing our own safety and security (and perhaps even our own survival).

I keep mentioning the word ‘effective’ because in so many ways past and present, aid has been given out essentially as window-dressing, as appeasement in an already-critical situation (I will cite Afghanistan, and Pakistan as convenient examples) or so ineffectively that the so-called ‘aid’ benefits those in power and rarely reaches those in actual need. To use another convenient example, that of U.S. aid during the Vietnam War, our aid actually did more harm than good to the U.S. cause, as the relief was seldom received by the people it was meant for — or those for whom it was intended wound up having to purchase the aid material from the local generals or district chiefs instead of receiving it free as U.S. policy intended — this ineffectively administered aid further alienated the Vietnamese peasant and undoubtedly created more volunteers to the Viet Cong forces. The concept of effective aid borrows heavily from the ideas of a number of mid-level U.S. officers who served as advisors in Vietnam, and

“ . . . holds as a requirement for its success that such aid must be administered on a local basis (rather than transferred directly to the central governments) by agents who speak the local language and have an educated knowledge and understanding of the local culture and a genuine concern for the lives and well-being of the local people . . . ”

holds as a requirement for its success that such aid must be administered on a local basis (rather than transferred directly to the central governments) by agents who speak the local language and have an educated knowledge and understanding of the local culture and a genuine concern for the lives and well-being of the local people.

So this concept (which I am herein calling ‘The Economy of Effective Aid’ for lack of a better description), theorizes that if, to use a current and obvious example, we (the developed nations) had invested in agricultural development, education and technological infrastructure in a nation such as Afghanistan ten years ago, this investment could actually have been less than what we are now spending on bombs, troops and munitions. I would also like to restate the concept that by helping to develop a nation such as Afghanistan we do not do so as a long-term expense to ourselves (in other words, Afghanistan’s increased success would not cause a corresponding decrease in our own success — conversely, Afghanistan’s increased success would create a new market for our own exports). Beyond this, from a very basic and fundamental psychological standpoint, a man who has a credible belief that his children have the opportunity for education and a real chance to better themselves is far less likely to support or join radical factions than the man who views not only his own future but that of his children as being absolutely with-out hope. I see technology as a main focal point of intellectual transfer and economic development of the impoverished nations —

“ . . . even if a nation has virtually no natural resources, in today’s age proper education coupled with technological infrastructure can create a profitable industry from the intellectual wealth of that nation’s people . . . ”

even if a nation has virtually no natural resources, in today’s age proper education coupled with technological infrastructure can create a profitable industry from the intellectual wealth of that nation’s people (I will refer to India as a case in point of a nation that has excelled in soft-ware development and has thereby created an export product entirely free of a dependence upon a ‘luck of the draw’ in having exportable natural resources). I believe the need for and market for technological innovation created solely through intellectual wealth will grow beyond our imaginations in the coming decades and I believe that nations which are today impoverished due to their lack of natural resources can eventually prosper through the proper development of their intellectual resources.

“ . . . You are cordially invited to participate as a Delegate to the 2002 Annual Congress of the BWW Society . . . ”

These are just a few of the concepts which will be discussed at the upcoming 2002 Annual Congress of the BWW Society. The Congress will be co-sponsored by our sister organization, the Institute for the Advancement of Positive Global Solutions, and will be held from August 4th through 8th in Saint Germain-en-Laye, France (just outside Paris). At this time I would like to cordially invite your participation as a Delegate to our First Congress.

Without doubt, we are today living in a world in drastic need of new ideas and new methods of action. I promise you that you most definitely can make a difference in the course of today’s world, and I heartily encourage you to come forward with your ideas, your concepts, and your suggestions for any additional topics you may wish to focus upon during this landmark First Congress.

I’m greatly looking forward to seeing you in August, and I can guarantee you that you will be in the company of some of the world’s finest and most creative and inspirational minds. Accommodations for additional Delegates are becoming limited, so please contact me today via email or fax (949-786-8918) for complete Congress details and confirmation of your participation.

With positive hopes for the future,

John Pellam Editor/Director
The BWW Society
Contact: director@bwwsociety.org