Walter Cronkite

My endorsement for The GENI Initiative:

"For most of my life, I was privileged to observe and report on the news that affected all of us. As a journalist, I was obliged to remain objective -- telling the truth as we knew it, being fair to all.

I feel free to suggest -- nay, urge -- that we give serious attention to an ingenious project that could help relieve much of the danger to our civilization posed by the modern four horsemen of the apocalypse: poverty, pollution, population growth and proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Many years ago, I was honored to spend time with a true visionary of our time, Dr. R. Buckminster Fuller. He preferred that I call him Bucky. This renaissance man gave us the geodesic dome, the Dymaxion map (a very accurate and unique view of our planet), synergetic mathematics and the World Game -- a global simulation tool that posed the following question: How do we make the world work for 100% of humanity in the shortest possible time through spontaneous cooperation without ecological damage or disadvantage to anyone?

The answers to this provocative inquiry have given me hope. In particular, the premier solution offers the most thoughtful strategy towards peace and sustainable development that I have seen. Simply stated, the proposal is to interconnect the electrical energy networks between nations and continents, with an emphasis on tapping the abundant renewable energy resources of our planet. In today's terms, we might call this a world wide web of electricity using green energy resources. Bucky saw this possibility decades before the rest of us.

Today, the developed world lives very well, but creates tremendous pollution. In the developing world, 2 billion people have yet to even turn on a light bulb. Now, there is The GENI Initiative that is working to put this doable idea before the policy-makers and public in every nation. Bucky developed a comprehensive design approach to the world's problems, and I offer my support for this critical endeavor. It holds great potential for:

* a universal increase in living standards
* a reduction in atmospheric, land and water pollution
* a reduction in hunger and poverty
* a stabilization of population growth
* and an increase in trade, cooperation and peace between nations.

The problems of humanity threaten each of us -- yet our ignorance makes us believe that somehow we can remain immune. That just isn't so. The critical issues we face have time frames much longer than any political term of office. These problems are interconnected, which suggests that the solutions will also be interconnected. We need more comprehensive thinking and long-range global planning. I invite you to investigate The GENI Initiative as I have. It offers hope for all humanity."

Walter Cronkite, News Anchorman

  I support with enthusiasm your initiative. While directing the Foreign Affairs of Egypt, between 1977-1991, I have advocated the integration of the electricity grids of all the African countries of the Nile River using the Nile as the infrastructure of this project. I believe, as you do, that electricity must be at the service of peace and international co-operation.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Former Secretary General, United Nations

  The Global Energy Network Initiative plans to undertake various regional projects that will benefit humanity and the planet. According to GENI they plan to increase universal living standard, reduce the cost of electricity, reduce pollution from fossil fuel and nuclear generation, reduce poverty and hunger around the world, stabilize population growth and promote international trade, cooperation and peace. I fully support these initiatives by GENI.

His Holiness, The Dalai Lama

  The electric power business has grown remarkably in this century across the globe. However, the quantity of electricity traded internationally is abysmally small. Interconnecting grids internationally would permit the generation and transfer of electricity at least possible cost, which would not only ensure efficient utilization of natural resources, but also provide access to tapping efficiently generated power across international boundaries. The environmental and economic benefits from this approach could have revolutionary significance.

Ragendra K. Pachauri Ph.D., Director of Tata Energy Research Institute

  The GENI proposals encouraging the interdependence of nations through the sharing of energy resources is most exciting. One of the obscenities of Southern Africa is to see electric power lines strung across a rural landscape overshadowing communities where women spend most of their days walking kilometers to find firewood just to survive. I would support an initiative that promotes the distribution of energy to those that are condemned to a cycle of servitude. The opportunities for co-operation and increased international understanding through the establishment of an international power grid would be substantial

I wish you well with your efforts

The Most Revd. Desmond M. Tutu Archbishop Emeritus of South Africa, Chairperson of Truth & Reconciliation Commission, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

 
I have followed closely the work of Global Energy Network International for some time, and find the project to be one of the most important opportunities to further the cause of environmental protection and sustainable development. (click here for entire letter)

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the GENI initiative. ...As you know, bioenergy (the production of electricity and thermal energy from the combustion of biomass in solid gaseous form) can be a major contributor to the world-wide electrical grid. ...We also support a renewable portfolio standard and other provisions in proposed electric utility restructuring legislation that will advance renewable energy technologies....May I suggest our efforts have much in common with your determination to establish a world-wide electrical grid.

Bill Holmberg President of Global Biorefineries, Inc.

  Almost fifty years ago, the American genius Buckminster Fuller proposed that the electrical power grid of the United States be linked to its U.S.S.R. counterpart. Unfortunately, post-World War II political considerations on both sides put that possibility aside. The concept is surprisingly simple. Hook up the American electrical power network, through the Canadian power network, over the north polar region to the Russian network anywhere between Vladivostok and Murmansk.

Why? When it is daylight and the United States is power-hungry, power could flow to North America. When it is night here, power could flow into the Russian network. A win-win situation. Water now wastefully flowing over dams during the night in either country would be harnessed to be beneficial elsewhere. It would save fortunes that are spent on standby coal and oil peak-period generating plants. As with many problems, the solution involves not so much technology as it does arranging the necessary sociological and conceptual channels.

Frank Ogden, Author of "The last book you'll ever read." Canada's Leading Futurist

  As a result of Peter's quest to open the global mind to this cooperative venture, former adversaries have laid down their arms while laying electrical cables to replace them. This has resulted in linking energy sources across borders and time zones to provide inexpensive, off-peak energy production to Areas that most need it. It's easy to see the effect this can have on world peace. You don't bomb your own energy plants, nor do you terrorize places where you have branch offices.

Jim Cathcart, The Acorn Principle, Author, Speaker, Past President of the National Speaker's Association

Many more countries are now linking power systems, and interconnections are accelerating around the world. Since 1989, many former enemies have laid down their weapons and initiated electrical energy sharing in rapid succession. It took East and west Germany just two months to interconnect after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the Washington Declaration between Jordan and Israel added the linkage of power grids as a prime provision in their peace accords. GENI's mission statement includes the commitment to improve the quality of life for all without damage to the planet. Millions of people are now aware of this project through the efforts of the GENI organization.

Bobbi DePorter, A Quantum Business, President, The Learning Forum

I will not repeat it often enough. We need several great world engineering projects which will help save us incredible sums of money spent on national duplications, increase productivity of the world economy and help us save the environment. . . The world energy grid should receive top attention and be supported.

Robert Muller, Chancellor, University for Peace

  The GENI Initiative fits right into the more and more interdependent world. Globalization is about a more and more borderless world and the need to respond globally to the needs of mankind. To preserve our common base, the Earth, we need to join forces to generate electricity as enviormentally friendly as possible. This is crucial and therefore GENI deserves support.

Dr. Ruud Lubbers, former Prime Minister of The Netherlands (1982-1994)

  CTT is a think tank with multi-disciplinary experts, including infrastructure planning. Please contact us if we can contribute to the plan.

Dan Cohen, President, Clear Thinking Technology