Statement for the press at the end of the G8 Summit

Birmingham, 17 May 1998

If G8 leaders had applied Natural Law Party policies, the Asian economic crisis could have been averted, Natural Law Party leaders said today. At the conclusion of the G8 summit in Birmingham, the leaders of the Natural Law Parties of 63 countries are offering Vedic policies and programmes to fulfil the resolutions of the G8 communique on transnational crime, global poverty and Third World debt, economic instability, and nuclear proliferation.

"The same leaders of the same powerful governments are meeting every year to discuss the same problems, but these problems go on increasing. Clearly the summits are not succeeding; the recommendations devised are not adequate. This is why Natural Law Party leaders have been in Birmingham approaching summit delegates to offer them new knowledge and new programmes to eliminate problems and truly improve the quality of life everywhere in the world," said Dr Reinhard Borowitz, leader of the Natural Law Party of Germany and Secretary General of the Maharishi International Council of Natural Law Parties which represents millions of party supporters worldwide.

"We want to make the point as strongly as possible that our Vedic policies and programmes, which have been validated in hundreds of scientific studies published in leading academic journals, can easily resolve all of the major problems that were on the summit agenda," Dr Borowitz said.

Transnational crime – a global problem requiring a global solution

In their discussions the G8 leaders all expressed deep concern about the dangers of escalating transnational crime which threatens to severely undermine progress in many countries. "Our proven Vedic programme to create integrated, stress-free collective consciousness in the world could immediately and dramatically reduce crime and conflict everywhere," Dr Borowitz said.

Sociological studies have established that a group of 10,000 people practising Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation and Yogic Flying would create a powerful positive influence in world consciousness and negative trends would dramatically decline. One study, for example, found that crime fell by 60% relative to national trends [see Psychology, Crime and Law 1996: 2(3)].

"The increasing trend to globalisation in all areas of life means that violation of Natural Law in any corner of the world immediately affects everyone in the world. It needs a global

political force to handle global problems. This is the unique role of the Natural Law Party which is promoting the same policies and programmes in every country. The Natural Law Party does not represent the interests of just one group or one nation but the interests of all mankind," Dr Borowitz said.

Resolving economic instability through new principle of economics

Dr Geoffrey Clements, leader of the Natural Law Party of the United Kingdom, the first country where the party was formed, said that the Natural Law Party also has systematic programmes to strengthen the world economy. "Our programmes could easily resolve the other major problems discussed by G8 leaders: economic turmoil in Asia, global poverty, Third World debt, unemployment, and social exclusion. At the same time, our Vedic programmes will fulfil the intention of the G8 leaders to achieve sustainable economic development in the world while safeguarding the environment and promoting good government."

Dr Clements welcomed the G8 optimism about the potential for improvement in the global economy, including the economies of Africa, but reminded them that any economic strategy must take into account the basis of economic success: the unfoldment of the full creativity and intelligence of the people. "Nature’s economy works on the principle of least action, economy of action: perform action from the level of self-referral consciousness, the Unified Field of Natural Law. Then Natural Law will conduct the whole economy, and no country will be in debt to any other country because every country will be truly self-sufficient.

"This is the time to replace the old concept that economics is the basis of life with the correct understanding that life is the basis of economics," Dr Clements. "The programmes of the Natural Law Party address the problems of the field of economics, trade and industry at their root, by developing the full creative potential of every person and every company, and by bringing the support of the infinite organising power of Natural Law to the nation. Unless and until this approach is adopted by the governments of the G8 countries and other nations, economic crises will continue to arise and world leaders will lack the ability to solve the economic problems of the world."

Nuclear crisis – today’s approach to defence is just child’s play

Commenting on the G8 leaders’ statement today condemning the recent Indian nuclear tests, Dr Borowitz said that the G8 approach to defence is like children playing about. "It is a defence strategy based only on the ability to destroy, and as such it is very damaging to every country," he said. "America’s sanctions on India amount to saying: ‘Let me dominate you, but I won't allow you to dominate yourself or others.’"

Dr Borowitz emphasised: "The Vedic principle of defence promoted by the Natural Law Party is heyam dukham anagatam, which means to avert the danger before it arises and stop the very birth of an enemy. This is achieved by nourishing the enemy so that his enmity evaporates. The present show of nuclear strength comes only from stupidity, from ignorance of knowing how to defend oneself. It is a very destructive theme of defence.

"The Vedic programme of defence is based on the application of the technology of consciousness, Transcendental Meditation and Yogic Flying, which will create such integrated, positive national consciousness that the nation becomes truly invincible. Nuclear weapons and electronic weapons do not have anywhere near the power of the weapons of consciousness. Through this deepest of technologies, the programmes of the Natural Law Party will give true invincibility to every country – not through the ability to destroy but through the ability to nourish and be a friend to all."