American Policy Center Protests US Move To Rejoin UNESCO
By Alan Caruba (07/09/03)
Washington, DC - Calling the Bush administration initiative to rejoin United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization "a shameless attempt to curry the favor of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during a period of strained relations," Tom DeWeese, president of the American Policy Center, is leading a protest against this reversal of foreign policy.
"Now those horrible chickens are coming home to roost," says DeWeese. H.R. 1950, the "Foreign Relations Authorization Act," includes a provision that both expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. should resume membership in UNESCO and authorizes dues payments to UNESCO. Congress plans to vote on H.R. 1950 sometime in the next few weeks. "I have made a commitment to the Center's supporters that we will oppose any further support of the UN," said DeWeese, "and I believe most Americans have determined how feckless, useless, and dangerous this world body has become."
"President Reagan withdrew U.S. participation in UNESCO in 1984 due to the organization's corruption and history of undermining the sovereignty of the United States. Now President Bush and Congress are prepared to force the U.S. back into this disgusting organization that loathes the principles upon which our nation was founded."
The Center is urging Americans to support Congressman Ron Paul's (R-TX) resolution to prevent the US from rejoining UNESCO (H. Con. Res. 4). The resolution cites several reasons for opposing U.S. involvement in UNESCO:
The U.S. only has a single vote in UNESCO despite the fact that it pays 25% of the UN's total budget.
UNESCO membership may force unconstitutional restraints on freedom of press in the US.
UNESCO, through an agreement with the U.S. Department of State, has designated 47 UN biosphere reserves in the U.S. containing more than 70 million acres-all without congressional consultation or approval.
UNESCO bypasses congressional authority to manage Federal lands by establishing management policies without the approval or consent of Congress.
UNESCO membership would undermine U.S. sovereignty by forcing the U.S. to adhere to the UN global policy on bioethics.
UNESCO seeks to collect an unconstitutional global tax on Internet use on U.S. citizens.
UNESCO has long meddled in the education policies of its member-countries and even sought to dictate school curriculum for United States children, thus undermining U.S. sovereignty.
"UNESCO is a dangerous organization that detests American sovereignty and seeks to infiltrate the minds of US children-steering them away from the idea of American virtues and nationalism and towards a global-citizenship mindset."
Contact: Tom DeWeese @ (540) 341-8911. Also available, Peyton Knight APC Dir. of Legislative Affairs
Disseminated by A. Caruba APC Dir. of Communications (973) 763-6392
(Printer friendly version) Email: Alan Caruba
