28 January 1997

Dear GENI Friend,

The PROBLEM: The 1997 Worldwatch Institute recently reported the health of our planet, the world's population is spiraling and more than 1 billion people cannot feed themselves. Vast areas of forest have been stripped of trees and annual emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels, the leading greenhouse gas, have climbed to all-time highs, altering the very composition of the atmosphere.

Eileen Clausen, The US Assistant Secretary of State overseeing environmental affairs, said Worldwatch's assessment of the world is generally correct.  Maurice Strong, Secretary General of the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit also stated that more than 100 nations are worse off today than 15 years ago.

How much more can people endure and the world absorb? Imagine flying in a 747 and seeing one rivet pop out (a species goes extinct ) — you wouldn't worry much. Then another rivet pops (the ozone hole grows) and then another (megacities brings excess pollution). There is certainly a time when the next rivet popping out will cause the plane to crash -- affecting the entire human family. How long do we continue our course before these emergencies force a change in our direction?

The SOLUTION: The GENI Initiative is a very compelling global strategy for peace and sustainable development. I'm pleased that my old hometown paper, The North County Times featured an excellent summary of this global option. We need your help to do more of the same — everywhere!

Please continue to share this work with your friends, co-workers, political leaders and media. Your support makes this effort possible — and the planet needs it more than ever.

In partnership for the planet,

Peter Meisen
President

Attachments: [Customers willingly pay more for wind-generated power, Associated Press, North County Times, January 2, 1997]

[Making Life Better for People Worldwide by Jim Cathcart, The Acorn Letter™, Vol. 3, Issue 1, 1996]

Keywords : How long do we continue our course before these emergencies force a change in our direction?sustainable development, global energy network institute, international electricity transmission, grid, power, environmental educational programs, peace, zero population growth, stabilization, life expectancy.