6 pubs reveal one of the possible reasons for WTS association with UN

by Pole 30 Replies latest watchtower scandals

• 

  Pole

  Most of us are familiar with the requirement which says that in order to asscociate with the UN, NGOs must: -

  "Have a demonstrated interest in United Nations issues and proven ability to reach large or specialized audiences, such as educators, media representatives, policy makers and the business community;"

  "Have the commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes about UN activities by publishing newsletters, bulletins, and pamphlets; organizing conferences, seminars and round tables; and enlisting the cooperation of the media"

  Interestingly, according to this document:

  http://www.beardfreak.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk//un.htm (Advertised on this board by El Blanko - thanks)

  the abovementioned requirements were made even more specific:

  "Before being accepted for NGO status the Society, in common with other applicants, had to demonstrate their commitment and ability to work with the UN and they had to submit at least six examples of how they were promoting the UN?s activities (highlighted on next page). Various articles in the Watchtower and Awake, which highlighted the work of the United Nations, fulfilled this requirement."

  So my first point/question is: What would be those "six examples" in the case of the WTS?

  At the bottom of this post, I am pasting in some of my guesses (some of them overlap with the examples given by the author of the said document).

  My second point is this:

  It's rather striking that out of the first seven such WT/Awake issues I've managed to find using the WT CD-ROM library, as many as six contain evidence of an attempt on the part of the WTS to "sneak in" articles which could improve their public image, or draw the attention of the UN officers to JWs' plight in some countries.

  Stuff like: JW persecution, JWs as pioneers in bloodless medicine, or JWs as organizers of humanitarian help appears in 6 out of the 7 issues of Awake and WT which seem like good candidates for fullfilling the NGO association criteria. Could it be just a coincidence?

  If not, then what?

  Well if it's true, then it shows again how pathetic their lame excuse about "obtaining a library card" was. WTS was stupid enough to think they could use the UN. They must have thought along these lines:

  "ok, we'll send this laudatory stuff to the DPI, but we'll smuggle some of our propaganda in the same issue of Awake - maybe somebody at the UN will be alerted by such articles as: "Singapore Tramples on Freedom of Worship", or "Russian Judicial Chamber Vindicates Jehovah?s Witnesses", or "Will Greater Freedom of Conscience Be Allowed in Mexico"?

  So am I paranoid, or do you see a connection too? I'm not saying that this attempt could have actually worked. All I'm saying is that the WTS thought it would help them somehow.

  Just look at the correlation which seems to be emerging from the co-occurrence of articles on specific topics in these issues:

  1 November 22, 1998, AwakeA)
  contains a few articles praising the UN?s Declaration of Human Rights on its 50th anniversary

  B)
  Russian Judicial Chamber Vindicates Jehovah?s Witnesses

  2 Watchtower October 1st, 1995
  A)
  It contains an article highlighting the UN's 50th anniversary and an interesting disclaimer: "THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF THE UNITED NATIONS" - showing that Christians should in fact respect the UN

  B)

  Singapore Tramples on Freedom of Worship

  3 Jan 8, 2000A)
  Help for Victims of Torture, Mothers With AIDS Face a Dilemma (praise some UN activities)

  B)

  Blood Transfusions?A Long History of Controversy, Pioneers in Medicine, The Growing Demand for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery (JWs depicted as pioneers of Bloodless medicine)

  4 March 8, 2000

  A) WHAT IS MODERN SLAVERY? (many UN activities highlited)

  b) Will Greater Freedom of Conscience Be Allowed in Mexico? (JWs plight)

  5 January 8, 1999

  A)
  Religious Intolerance Today - (with Article 18 from Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, 1948 as its motto)

  B) Religious Freedom?Blessing or Curse? (focusing largely on persecution of JWs)

  6 April 22, 1996

  A) Who Can Bring Lasting Peace? (again drawing attention to UN activities)

  B) Do You Appreciate Religious Freedom?, Christian Love Amid Disasters in Mexico (JWs launching humanitarian actions)

  Pole
• 

  Scully

  4 March 8, 2000

  A) WHAT IS MODERN SLAVERY? (many UN activities highlited)

  Oddly enough, no mention is made of the fact that there are 6.5 million "volunteer" salespeople of Watchtower publications in slavery in the year 2004! (if you can call threats of preach door-to-door or die! hanging over a person "volunteering")

  Love, Scully
• 

  Nathan Natas

  As we know, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society began its affiliation with the UN in 1991.

  They therefore had to meet the requirements of membership BEFORE 1991.

  What we need are WTS publications dated before 1991 that can show a marked reversal of the previous condemnation the WTS heaped upon everything connected with the UN.

  Any articles published after 1991 cannot have ben used to meet the criteria for membership as an NGO.
• 

  JH

  As we know, the Watchtower Bibble & Tract Society began its affiliation with the UN in 1991.

  I think in the bible, they represented that as a harlot sitting on a wild beast.
• 

  Scully

  JH writes:

  I think in the bible, they represented that as a harlot sitting on a wild beast.

  Now, now, JH!! You know perfectly well that scripture only applies when OTHER churches do it.

  Love, Scully
• 

  Pole

  I think in the bible, they represented that as a harlot sitting on a wild beast.

  There are nicer ways of putting it:

  ***

  w95 10/1 A World Without War?When? ***

  THE

  CHRISTIAN VIEW OF THE UNITED NATIONS

  In Bible prophecy, human governments are often symbolized by wild beasts. (Daniel 7:6, 12, 23; 8:20-22) Hence, for many decades the Watchtower magazine has identified the wild beasts of Revelation chapters 13 and 17 with today?s worldly governments. This includes the United Nations, which is depicted in Revelation chapter 17 as a scarlet-colored beast with seven heads and ten horns.

  However, this Scriptural position does not condone any form of disrespect toward governments or their officials. The Bible clearly states: ?Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. Therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves.??Romans 13:1, 2.

  Accordingly, Jehovah?s Witnesses, who are maintaining strict political neutrality, do not interfere with human governments. They never foment revolution or participate in acts of civil disobedience. Rather, they recognize that some form of government is necessary to maintain law and order in human society.?Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1.

  Jehovah?s Witnesses view the United Nations organization as they do other governmental bodies of the world. They acknowledge that the United Nations continues to exist by God?s permission. In harmony with the Bible, Jehovah?s Witnesses render due respect to all governments and obey them as long as such obedience does not require that they sin against God.?Acts 5:29.
• 

  Pole

  As we know, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society began its affiliation with the UN in 1991. They therefore had to meet the requirements of membership BEFORE 1991. What we need are WTS publications dated before 1991 that can show a marked reversal of the previous condemnation the WTS heaped upon everything connected with the UN. Any articles published after 1991 cannot have ben used to meet the criteria for membership as an NGO.

  Good point - I didn't think about it. I didn't actually look up any publications from before 1991 :), although I think there would be a few.

  Still, it seems reasonable in the light of those criteria of association, that they may have had to demonstrate how they complied with those requirements on a regular basis. It doesn't seem likely that it was enough to show those 6 publications once and then you could remain affiliated for ever without using the "proven ability to reach large or specialised audiences".

  Plus. If things were the way you suggest - if those requirements were really strict and rigid and if such ladatory materials couldn't be provided at a later stage, then the WTS would never have qualified as a UN-affiliated NGO. But it did. So the DPI must have made an exception to this rule - most probably under certain conditions. For example, they were allowed to demonstrate those materials in the nearest future.

  I can't see any other reason why they paid all this lip service to the UN after 1991. For example, the November 22, 1998, Awake was devoted to promoting the UN. They couldn't have possibly done it just because they genuilnly supported the UN.

  Plus, if this is true: ( http://www.beardfreak.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk//un.htm )

  "The UN were so taken with that article it listed that particular Awake on its website." -

  How could the UN have discovered that the WTS published this crap, it it hadn't been sent to them?
• 

  reboot

  hi

  I raised this point when i met with an elder and two others to show them this information.There were many WT's and Awakes after the society became an NGO that supported the work of the UN .

  .If they had'nt fullfilled the criteria the next time they applied they may have been refused NGO status. I remember the articles appeared in a 'run' citing the positive influence of the UN .

  It struck me that using the magazines to promote the UN ideals and to fullfil the society's obligation to the UN, should have been considered spiritual prostitution..I phoned the UN who confirmed that the society would have had to use its publications to promote the aims of the UN and was told all NGO'S had to promote the ideals of the UN to keep their status.

  It's interesting to complare the WT of October 1 , 1995 article..The Christian View of the Unite Nations'

  the last paragraph states...

  ''Jehovahs witnesses view the UN organisation, as they would any other govermental bodies of the world.They acknowledge that the UN continues to exist by gods permission.In harmony with the bible, jw's render respect to all governments and obey them as long as such obedience does not require they sin against God'' Surely using the magazines to prompte a blasphemous organisation would be a sinagainst God?

  While in the revelation book(1988) they stated..

  ' The UN is actually a blasphemous counterfiet of God's Messianic Kingdom....the worlds religions always anxious for a fine rapport with the UN..set about publicising the year in various ways...' ....which was precicely what they would do a few years later....Watchtower hypocracy at its finest ....

  Additionally,NGO's are stated within the charter as having to...

  PROVIDE a CHANNEL l through which information conserning the Un reaches the public..

  play a crucial role in mobilising public opinions and building understanding of the UN, its related agancies and programmes..

  Monitor and PROMOTE policies in their own countries in suppoer of UN goals and resoulotions.

  Another smart turnaround that it's hoped the R&F don't notice.

  .
• 

  Pole

  Excellent point, reboot!

  And this is confirms the argument I've just posted:

  I phoned the UN who confirmed that the society would have had to use its publications to promote the aims of the UN and was told all NGO'S had to promote the ideals of the UN to keep their status.

  Thanks,

  Pole
• 

  Jim_TX

  Ummm... Pole,

  Since you are digging... if you do your homework, you will find that there were committees that the UN had going in some of these countries - that members of the WTBTS sat on... I am not clear as to which ones... but I seem to remember reading about it on one of the internet sites.

  So - in fact - they were actually on committees that were formed by the UN to try to help in these countries where religious suppression were taking place, etc.

  I probably shouldn't post... as I don't have anywhere to point you to... to back up my statements.

  I found it very interesting how they 'toned down' their depiction of the UN... boy! what a change from that big thick red 'Revelation' book they released in the '60s.

  Regards,

  Jim TX