The Global Country of World Peace
An organization known as The Global Country of World Peace (GCWP) is a non-profit that promotes Transcendental Meditation, education, and the creation of “buildings for peace” in the world’s major cities. The GCWP was established as “a country without borders for peace-loving people everywhere” and was officially inaugurated by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on October 7, 2000. Its leader is neurosurgeon Tony Nader, and it has produced a currency called the “Raam.”.
The GCWP was established in 2002 in the US state of Iowa, with Maharishi Vedic City serving as its corporate headquarters. It has administrative or educational facilities in the U. S. The Netherlands, and Ireland.
Mission
The creation of world peace “by unifying all nations in happiness prosperity, invincibility, and perfect health” is how the GCWP describes its goal in its tax filings, according to a Bloomberg report. In a 2005 article, the GCWP’s US-based division stated that its goals were to “promote enlightenment, good health, and peace through the practice of Transcendental Meditation” and to “build palaces of peace in 3000 of the world’s major cities.”.
Currency
The Global Country of World Peace has released Raam as a bearer bond and local currency. It was created to help third-world nations fight poverty and develop agricultural projects. In some European and U.S. Countries, it had only limited acceptance as of 2003. S. Cities. In addition to being accepted in The Netherlands, where over 100 Dutch stores, including department store chains, are currently using the notes at a fixed rate of 10 euros per raam, the currency has also been used in Iowa.
The Raam is available in denominations of 1, 5, and 10 Raam, with one Raam equaling 10 Euros in Europe and 10 dollars in the United States. S. Joh prints the Raam notes. Enschedé. Raam was worth $40,000, according to Bob Wynne, mayor of Maharishi Vedic City, in 2002. Since its emphasis is on exporting goods rather than enhancing local circulation to improve locals’ quality of life, the Raam differs from other complementary currencies in this regard.
The Global Country of World Peace’s Minister of Finance claims that the Raam “could be used” for agricultural projects in underdeveloped countries. The plan’s viability was questioned by CATO Institute currency expert James Dorn, who suggested that different economic strategies would be a better way to create a network of collective farms. The Raam is also a bearer bond, according to the issuer, earning a total of 3 percent interest after five years (or 0.6 percent simple interest annually).
According to Dutch law, the Raam was accepted alongside Euros in more than 100 stores in the Netherlands as of 2003. At the Fortis Bank in Roermond, the Netherlands, the Raam was convertible. About 100,000 Raam notes were thought to be in use as of 2003, according to the Dutch Central Bank. Maharishi Vedic City and Fairfield, both in Iowa, only had a slender acceptance of it. According to Maharishi Global Financing, agreements were reached in 2004 with a South American farmers’ association and traditional African leaders to begin utilizing the Raam for agricultural development projects.
Administrative centers
Vedic architectural principles are used in the city’s plan and building regulations. Maharishi Vedic City, according to architecture professor Keller Easterling, reflects the GCWP’s desire to establish a “benevolent form of global sovereignty”.
The American Bank Note Company Building, also known as The Financial Capital of the GCWP, was owned by the GCWP from 2004 to 2010. Its primary purpose eventually became a Transcendental Meditation center, despite its original purpose of serving as the administrative hub for a project to raise money for 3,000 peace palaces, hospitals, organic farms, and clinics in developing nations. When the building started to become a financial burden, it was sold in 2010 and the organization’s $5.5 million profit was set aside for a new Manhattan teaching center and other programs.
In Washington Township, Smith County, the “US Peace Government” has made plans to erect the US capital[citation needed]. There was a ceremony on March 28, 2006. They eventually bought more than 1,000 acres (4,010 km2). Plans called for the construction of 12 to 15 structures, including broadcast facilities and peace palaces, for a price tag of up to $15 million.
The community disagreed with the plans. While the Chamber of Commerce anticipated the creation of new jobs, nine pastors expressed their concerns about the area’s residents’ souls in letters to the local newspaper. In an effort to stop the use of agricultural land for the capital, the county planning commission imposed a moratorium on any changes in land use. However, they removed it after the movement threatened to sue in federal court. Two Peace Palaces were almost finished, according to a spokesman who made the announcement in April 2009.
The GCWP
In Three Churches, West Virginia, the United States, the GCWP inaugurated the West Virginia Retreat Center in 2009. The exclusively male facility serves as a residence for those who want to spend years leading a simpler life that includes meditation. Weekend retreats are also held there. In 2012, there were 90 male residents living in the center’s ten buildings, in addition to a variety of staff members. According to the project director, Raja Bob LoPinto, the 175 acres (0.17 km2), which were purchased for $750,000, will be developed into an “environmentally friendly retreat” with 150 to 200 rooms for expert and novice meditators.
Peace Palaces
The Global Country of World Peace began building “Peace Palaces” in important US cities in 2008. These facilities would provide ayurvedic spa services, herbal food supplements, and Transcendental Meditation courses. The buildings, which are being constructed in accordance with Vedic principles[citation needed], are two-story, white structures that are between 10,000 and 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) in size and are meant to replace the rented spaces currently being used in “more than 200 locations” throughout the United States. S. A. As a “visual brand” for the company, their appearance has been compared to an “Indian temple crossed with a Southern plantation mansion.”.
In the U. S. Bethesda, Maryland; Houston and Austin, Texas; Fairfield, Iowa; St. Paul, Minnesota; Lexington, Kentucky. Three of the current Peace Palaces were erected by private parties. 52 sites in the US have had land purchased, and more are being constructed elsewhere in the world.
The organization’s officials claim that in at least 18 other cities where land has been purchased, zoning and associated issues have slowed their progress on construction. The city of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, was sued by the “Maharishi’s organization” in 2007 after declining to grant a setback variance for a proposed Peace Palace. Some detractors refer to the project as a means for the “Maharishi’s followers” to raise money for additional land for the group’s treasury, despite the fact that it is “admired for its finances.”.
Other facilities
For $4 million in cash, the Global Country purchased an 800-plus acre farm in Goshen, New York, USA in 2005 with the intention of building a Peace Palace and a training facility for organic farming. The 818 acres (3.31 km2) were listed for sale in April 2009, claims broker Steve Perfit.
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Likewise in 2005, Global Country of World Peace acquired the Pleasant Dale, Nebraska-based 27-acre (110,000 m2) Prairie Peace Park. On the property, GCWP intended to erect a 12,000 square foot (1,100 square meter) “peace palace.”. The property was listed for $95,000 in an article published in the Journal Star in August 2010.
Inishraher, a 30-acre (120,000 m2) island in Clew Bay off the coast of Ireland, was purchased by the Global Country in 2006 with the goal of establishing an international peace center and designating it as a Maharishi Capital of the Global Country of World Peace. On July 22, 2009, the island’s two 18-room hostels received approval for construction.
FAQs: The Global Country of World Peace
How can we achieve world peace?
World peace is hence only achieved through internal means—by liberating ourselves from artificial boundaries that separate us all. As with all Dharmic Religions, (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), ahimsa (avoidance of violence) is a central concept.
What is important for world peace?
Not only there is always a better way to resolve conflict than creating war, fighting and suffering for the citizens, but also conflict creates a lot of instability and fear in the areas where it happens: consequences like lack of food and water, economic difficulties, a loss of a great amount of people among many ..
Who is the Lord of meditation?
Shiva is also known as Adiyogi (the first Yogi), regarded as the patron god of yoga, meditation and the arts.