I wrote to the United Nations Friday so that I could get the Information about the Watchtower's association with them from the proverbial horse's mouth. I want to show my parents that what I'm saying about the Watchtower is not just something we evil "apostates" made up. What I received was the exact same letter that I've found on the web, but since these are addressed to me (addressed to my email addy) from officers in the UN maybe they'll actually take a look. Also for all the newbies that don't know about this, I'm posting it. Wanna see what I got?
This is about their membership:
To Whom It May Concern:
Recently the NGO Section had been receiving numerous inquiries regarding the association of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York with the Department of Public Information (DPI). This organization applied for association with DPI in 1991 and was granted association in 1992. By accepting association with DPI, the organization agreed to meet criteria for association, including support and respect of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes with its constituents and to a broader audience about UN activities.
In October 2001, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York requestedtermination of its association with DPI. Following this request, the DPI has made a decision to disassociate the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York as of .
We appreciate your interest in the work of the United Nations.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Hoeffel
Chief
NGO Section
Department of Public Information
I also wrote to the librarian at the UN since the Watchtower claims to have joined as an NGO because they needed to join in order to obtain a library pass. Here's what I got:
The procedure for a library pass is the following: the interested party
needs to fill out an application form and supply a letter of recommendation
in support of the research. If the needed material is not available in a
UN depository library (the list of depository libraries is posted at:
http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/deplib/countries/
), the application is approved
and sent to UN Security. UN Security checks the application and, if
approval is granted, instructs the Pass Office to issue a library pass for
the applicant.
The issuance of a library pass is independent of NGO status or any other
status.
There has been no change in the library pass policy in general;
however, please be advised that, as a consequence of the September 11
attacks, no library passes are being issued for the time being while the
security situation at the UN is being studied.
NGO representatives with UN grounds pass do not need to apply for a library
pass since the grounds pass will allow them to use the UN Library. Actions
on grounds passes, which provide access to UN Headquarters facilities in
general (including, but not limited to, the UN Library), are not initiated
by the library and we have no information about past and/or present
practices. The UN Library exclusively deals with library passes which
entitle the bearer only to access to the library, not to other facilities
at UN Headquarters.
For access options for NGOs, please contact the NGO Section:
NGO Section
Department of Public Information
Room S-1070 L
New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 963-6842
Fax: (212) 963-6914
For information about NGO status (in association with the Department of
Public Information), please consult:
http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/index.html
. Specific details about the
relationship between the UN and Watchtower can only be obtained from the
NGO Section directly since they are not reflected in official documents.
Best regards,
Dana Loytved
Senior Reference Librarian
UN/SA Reference Desk
United Nations Library,
E-mail:
[email protected]
So basically the Watchtower didn't need to become an NGO to get a library pass. So why'd they join, after all being an NGO requires them to "share the ideals of the UN (Wild Beast) Charter"? They also have to "have a demonstrated interest in United Nations issues". [Quotes: NGO's AND THE UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION: Q&A]
Well they joined for the benefits even though that puts them in cahoots with the wild beast. Oh well .
Edited by - StinkyPantz on 12 August 2002 21:11:39