Siddhachalam NJ 1993 06 Acharya Sushil Kumarji

Author(s): Siddhachalam NJ
Publisher: USA International Mahavir Jain Mission Siddhachalam

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JAINS JOIN THE
also arranges regular weekly briefings on the topics relating to the UN work. The NGOs are welcome to attend any open meetings of the General Assembly any time.
UNITED NATIONS
by:
ELVI RUOTTINEN
NEW YORK
Shanti Jain Smith, Elvi Ruottinen and P.N. Jain (Bawa) at the NGO Orientation at the United Nations
The United Nations whose membership, with the admission of the Republics of the former Soviet Union, grew to 175 states in the past year in January, also saw the admission of the State of Ahimsa. The spiritual State of Ahimsa, headquartered at Siddhachlam, Blairstown, New Jersey has no international borders, transcending artificial national borders drawn by men. The State of Ahimsa exists in the hearts and minds in the world everywhere where people live in peace and consciously practice non-violence in their relations with the Earth's creatures and serve their fellows in need. As the State of Ahimsa has not yet declared its statehood - a necessary first step to admission as an observer state, in the manner of the Vatican - it applied for association with UN in a non-governmental (NGO) status as The International Mahavir Jain Mission (IMJM). The UN Secretariat Committee on applications of Non-Governmental Organizations for association with the department of Public Information met, considered IMJM qualifications, and informed the IMJM of its approval in January 1992. In February, IMJM-representing the spiritual State of Ahimsajoined the UN non-governmental community which consists of more than seven hundred international organizations interested and involved in furthering the UN's work. NGO status entitles each member organization to send to the UN one main representative and one alternate. Thus Shri Bawa P.N. Jain and Shanti Jain Smith were officially welcomed by the UN Non-Governmental Relations Section at a twoday orientation designed to acquaint the new NGOs with UN activities. The new NGOs were provided briefings by Assistant Secretary General Giandomenico Picco of the Office of Secretary General on political issues. There were screenings of the UN videos and a tour of facilities available to NGOs. The NGO Section, headed by Mr. Farouk Mawlawi,
In March, Bawa P.N. Jain and Shanti Jain Smith had an opportunity to attend all the sessions of the 5-week Preparatory Committee for the UN Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Earth Summit, to be held in Rio De Janeiro in June. Twenty thousand governmental delegates, NGOs and members of the media gathered in an effort to end environmental destruction of the only home planet we inherited. Guruji, of course, contributed his wisdom and good counsel, as he also participated both at the Global Parliamentarians meetings which took place as part of the Earth Summit proceedings and at the Spiritual Leaders' Forum organized there by Mrs. Hanne Strong, wife of the Earth Summit Secretary General, Maurice Strong. In addition to environmental concerns, IMJM also had an opportunity to contribute to UN's work through a number of NGO Committees on the Freedom of Belief and Religion. IMJM naturally has a close relationship with the Committee on the University for Peace, which meets monthly at the UN Headquarters.
Crusader for Peace and Non-Violence
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