Currently, I am unaware of any overall plan to achieve a more peaceful world in any comprehensive fashion. Numerous organizations are working on individual projects, but for the most part, these existing programs are operating on a haphazard basis. A plan is needed to create a process by which peace can be initiated and maintained throughout the world. If the objective is worldwide peace, then it is obvious that a worldwide body is necessary: The United Nations would be the most logical choice. However, the existing arrangement under which any of five major powers have absolute veto power will need to be modified.

The proposed steps would be as follows:

A Committee of the United Nations develops a list of Criteria for Countries to Achieve "Civilized Nation Status". These criteria would provide certain basic rights to citizens of these countries. While not necessarily as all encompassing as those presently enjoyed throughout, Europe, Great Britain, Australia, and the United States, etc., they would at a minimum, ensure:

A. The opportunity for economic advancement.

B. Representation and participation in their government.

C. The freedom to practice any or no religion without interference from the state.

D. Rule of Law

E. Equal Justice

F. Equal rights for women.

Once the "Civilized Nation Criteria" has been established, this United Nations committee would rank the nations of the world by their status: Civilized, and several degrees of uncivilized.

The appropriate body of the United Nations would then offer assistance, both financial and advisory, to assist those nations not in compliance, that wish to comply voluntarily.

For those nations not opting to voluntarily move towards "civilized" status, a system of sanctions would be set in place to strongly encourage compliance.

For the worst offenders (countries such as Iraq), a military force composed of the armed forces of "civilized" nations, but operating under the direction of the United Nations, would use whatever means necessary to overthrow the current government and facilitate the creation of a "civilized" government, made up of members of the local population. This should be accomplished in a manner that causes the least harm to the population.

Over time, as the most flagrantly uncivilized nations are converted, the process of conversion should begin to snowball. It is human nature to acquiesce, when individuals or groups come to the realization that that which they had been so strongly avoiding, is both inevitable and righteous.

Once an "uncivilized" government has been overthrown, then the difficult phase of the conversion process must begin immediately. The United Nations must then send in personnel trained to create the national infrastructure necessary to allow a "civilized" society to take seed and flourish. In many cases the following assistance will be needed:

Participatory governmental structure.

Establishment of a constitution.

Medical infrastructure for the future.

Immediate medical assistance for the interim.

Economic reorganization and immediate steps to make most efficient use of the existing economy.

Transportation infrastructure.

Financial reorganization and stimulation.

Educational infrastructure.

The resources, financial and otherwise, needed to accomplish this will be of an unprecedented magnitude. However, the cost of not doing so will be even larger in the long run. If we could calculate the total cost of the wars fought during the past hundred years, the amount would be astounding. If we add to that the cost of the maintaining large armies, navies and air forces during the more peaceful periods during the last century, the dollars spend are even more astounding. If just a portion of these sorts of expenditures could be utilized by the United Nations as outlined above over the next century, I believe we could make major strides in making this world a much more harmonious place.

Don Healy

2003