NATURAL LAW PARTY
of Northern Ireland

103 UNIVERSITY STREET BELFAST BT7 1HP Telephone/Fax 01232 311466

Press Statement by Party Leader Tom Mullins

2 April 1996

The Natural Law Party has confirmed with the Secretary of Stale its intention to field candidates in all 18 constituencies in the forthcoming elections soon to be legislated for by the Government.

The Natural Law Party will be the only party to offer anything new to the electorate - a proven solution to our problems, with a scientific record established in areas of conflict throughout the world and backed by leading scientists.

People by now know that narrow-minded, conflict-based politics cannot bring peace and progress. The Mitchell Commission recognised this when they said in Paragraph 15 of their Report that "..what is really needed is the decommissioning of mind-sets in Northern Ireland."

How lo achieve this 'decommissioning of mind-sets' is the subject of our 74-page submission entitled "Decommissioning the Potential for Conflict,'' which we presented to the Body on 18th December 1995. Our proposal is that the potential for conflict be 'decommissioned' by handling root cause of conflict in society - the build-up of stress in collective consciousness.

The source of conflict and problem's in Northern Ireland lies deeper than race, religion, politics or paramilitary groups. The long-term build-up of stress in individual and collective consciousness has resulted in spiralling tension and fear, rigid mind-sets and violence.

40 Research Studies Demonstrate Ability To Decommission Mind-sets

Over forty research studies have demonstrated that a technology of consciousness exists, i.e. a method of decommissioning mind-sets, which is capable of neutralising stress and creating a coherent, orderly, relaxed and positive collective consciousness i.e. much more flexible and positive mind-sets. The scientific research indicates thai this could be achieved by establishing a permanent, professional group of 800 people practising Transcendental Meditation and Yogic Flying in one location on a permanent daily basis.

World-wide Demonstrations

The success of this unique approach to social tension and conflict has been amply demonstrated worldwide e.g.

IN WAR

1. In the Middle East, where an International Peace Project resulted in very significant conflict resolution, details of which were published in the prestigious Journal of Conflict Resolution in December 1988.

2. In Mozambique, where in the (wo years since its evaluation and implementation

by the joint chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, the country has turned from a state ol prolonged armed conflict to being one of the most peaceful and progressive nations in Africa.

IN PEACE

1. In the USA, where a National Demonstration Project in Washington DC reduced violent crime by 20% and significantly improved governmental effectiveness as reported by an Independent Project Review Board.

2. in the UK, where a project in the Merseyside Meiroptilitan Area reduced crime by 60% compared ro national trends over a five year period. (The research paper is published in Psychology, Crime and Law Vol 2 Number 3 1996).

The technology of how to transform collective consciousness and thereby decommission mind-sets is theoretically sound, practically proven, and backed hy many senior academics. It does not conflict with any dogma or political beliefs, it can be implemented at very little expense, and it can be validated within a few months.

Academic Backing

According to Professor Hugh Dixon PhD, Dept. of Economics, York University, "There is now a strong and coherent body of evidence showing that the Transcendental Meditation and TM Sidhi Programme provide a simple, cost-effective solution to many of the social problems we face loday. This research and its conclusions are so strong that it demands action from those responsible for Government Policy."

The Natural Law Party's unique policies in health, education, criminal rehabilitation etc. also have complete scientific support as has been recognised to be so important in recent government policy viz the BSE health scare. The Northern Ireland problem is much more serious and highly significant research should not be ignored.

We are at one of the great political junction points in history where it is being recognised that political 'talking shops' alone are not enough. As Mr. Harri Holkeri stated in the Europa Hotel in December 1995, "the solution to the problems of Northern Ireland will be found in the minds of the people of Northern Ireland." New knowledge is necessary - only a new seed will yield a new crop. If Natural Law Party policies are adopted then distressed and negative mind-sets, governed by distrust and fear, would rapidly be replaced by growing trust, goodwill, and successful new political structures would naturally emerge.

Natural Law Party Support Growing World-wide

In 1992 the Natural Law Party fielded 310 candidates in the General Election including 9 in Northern Ireland. We made British electoral history during the Euro-elections in 1994 by becoming the first party ever to field a full slate of candidates across the UK including 3 in Northern Ireland. In the various elections we have polled about 0.5% of the vote with over 1% in some areas.

In the June 1994 Euro-elections the Natural I.aw Party polled almost 5000 votes in the South and almost 500,000 votes throughout Europe. The Party is gaining increasing support worldwide. In the USA, according to a major article in the political page of the Washington Post (30 Jan 96), the Natural Law Party seems likely to become the only party to gain ballot access in all US States apart from the Republicans and Democrats.