What were NGOs like Allen Gregory and Paul Gillies of WT to do in support?

by Dogpatch 13 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Dogpatch

  What were NGOs like Allen Gregory and Paul Gillies of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society encouraged to do at the OSCE conference on Anti-Semitism? Was it a simple conference to hear views on freedom of religion? No, it was not! To the contrary, it was a conference to encourage NGOs and other representatives to take action on what they learned! Quote: Section 5 (page 1) paragraph 1: Minister chairman. Ladies and gentlemen. "As a member of our conference already has reminded us. This conference is not an academic seminar. We have discrimination we talk about around us in most countries and we must act! Page 3 quote: "I urge to you representatives of governments to give your support to ODIHR to organize such open conferences in many states in Central Asia, in the Caucasus region and in the Balkans, where still is religious problems specified in Kosovo and where local NGOs, churches and religious organizations and groups can meet in there own countries and report to you and other represents of the OSCE in their own languages. http://www.osce.org/documents/cio/2005/06/15067_en.pdf So we can see that the representatives from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, are taking an active role in "supporting" these political affairs to succeed and further spread. The Watchtower Society is allowing themselves to "take action" in these conferences,and has therefore totally taken a stand for a political event and thereby voided out all claims of so-called neutrality, just as they did when they "registered" to become a member of the United Nations. Overview of conference center:

  The inner courtyard of the Palacio de Congreso in Cordoba, where the OSCE held a conference on anti-Semitism and on other forms of intolerance on 8 and 9 June 2005. (OSCE/Alexander Nitzsche)

  http://www.osce.org/item/9735.html

  Strict security measures will be in operation throughout the conference period and pooling, organized from the Media Center, will be necessary in most cases for photo-journalists.(last paragraph here:) http://www.osce.org/item/14124.html

  So this conference was not just a simple affair was it? Strict security measures were implemented for the protection of those attending such a conference! Registration, passport, and proper ID badge were required. Even luggage was not permitted at the Congress Palace. So in-other-words, the Watchtower NGOs Allen Gregory and Paul Gillies were putting their very life on the line to attend and participate in this political event.

  Is the OSCE involved with the military? Yes it is, and here are some notes about the OSCE Code of Conduct.

  A regime for the democratic control of armed forces exists in the OSCE area (which stretches from Vancouver to Vladivostok) through a "Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security" (1994). This instrument, which links civil-military relations to human rights and international humanitarian law, has no counterpart in other security organizations. Intruding into an area of state power hitherto considered a sanctum sanctorum, it commits the OSCE member states to a regular exchange of information on the status of the democratic control of their armed forces, as well as on such issues as the fight against terrorism and the stationing of troops on foreign soil.
  The book represents an urgently needed reference work on both the contents and the impact of the Code; drawing on as-yet unpublished materials, it offers a paragraph-by-paragraph commentary on the Code, as well as an in-depth assessment of implementation trends in the OSCE region. ( http://hei.unige.ch/publ/books/2005/OSCE.html )

  This implicates the Watchtower Society with collaborating through its NGOs Allen Gregory, Marcel Gillet, and Paul Gillies with military influence, because they receive and send reports directly to the OSCE organization as to religious security needs. You may recall that Belgium and the United states are member states with the OSCE. Paul Gillies and Marcel Gillet are listed as NGOs under the Belgium State. Likewise, Allen Gregory is listed under the United States as an NGO attending the OSCE conference.

  Look at pages 3 and 7 here:

  http://osce.usmission.gov/Cordoba/Cordoba_NGOs.pdf

  Please consider these OSCE documents for member states:

  http://www.osce.org/documents/sg/1994/12/702_en.pdf

  Yet hypocritically, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society published in their "Make Sure of All Things" book 1965 page 353, that "Christians Are No Part of the World, and Do Not Take Sides in its Political Affairs." Also, that "Early Christians Avoided ALL Political Involvement! Do these pictures indicate a "non-political" or "strictly neutral" stand as to government affairs as claimed by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society? Do you think these people are attending this conference to discuss God's Kingdom? (example Anti-Semitism conference Vienna).

  Read Vienna Timeline

  This page provides background, reports and links regarding the international conference on anti-Semitism sponsored in Vienna June 19-20 by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Participants included governmental and non-governmental representatives from the 55 participating states (Europe, FSU, and North America). Read how this conference is structured and how this new mechanism will provide ongoing coordination in the fight against anti-Semitism.

  Latest: OSCE Ministerial Council, Maastricht, December 2003 Latest: Human Dimension Meeting, Warsaw, October 2003 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Meets in Rotterdam Washington Jewish Week Editorial Although an illness prevented Elie Wiesel from personally delivering the opening keynote address in Vienna, his written statement is available online. Fact SheetU.S. Congress Passes Anti-Semitism Resolutions Helsinki Commission Statement Timeline Official OSCE Conference Web page OSCE Press Release (June 10) Intervention by Mark B. Levin, June 19 (Session 2) Intervention by Robert J. Meth, June 20 (Session 4) News Coverage Ha'aretz (June 19) International Herald-Tribune (June 19) JTA (June 20) RFE/RL (June 20) New York Times (June 21)

  
  JTA (June 23)
  Jerusalem Post (June 22)
  Jerusalem Post - Foxman Op-Ed (June 23)
  NY Jewish Week (June 26)
  Washington Jewish Week (July 10)
  NY Jewish Week (July 11)
  Jerusalem Post (June 22)
  Jerusalem Post - Foxman Op-Ed (June 23)
  NY Jewish Week (June 26)
  Washington Jewish Week (July 10)
  NY Jewish Week (July 11)
  Jerusalem Post (July 11)
  Washington Jewish Week (July 17)

  Rudolph Giuliani Leads U.S. Delegation
  
  
  Rudy to Stay on Anti-Semitism Beat? (July 11) Giuliani briefs Secretary Powell (July 3)
  Giuliani Intervention
  NCSJ Statement
  U.S. Department of State Announcement
  Biography of Rudolph Giuliani
  Joint Appearance with Secretary of State Powell (hear audio clip)
  Press Release by Rep. Chris Smith

  Public Members Named to U.S. Delegation
  
  ADL Page
  AJCommittee press release
  Intervention by Mark Levin, NCSJ Executive Director
  Intervention by Robert J. Meth, NCSJ Chairman
  Conference Agenda - updated and annotated June 16
  Additional Material on OSCE and U.S. Helsinki Commission

  June 20 Breakfast Panel:
  Media Strategies to Combat Anti-SemitismLink to Institute on Religion and Public Policy http://www.ncsj.org/Vienna2003.shtml How are NGOs like Allen Gregory and Paul Gillies of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society assisting OSCE and its objectives? Well, one way these NGOs are assisting OSCE is by making reports and sending them back to the Watchtower and then the Watchtower writes articles about the OSCE which are published worldwide! Here are other ways:

  The potential contributions to OSCE work of the NGOs that
  maintain contacts with the OSCE and on the basis of data stored
  at the ODIHR, can be described as follows:

  1. They can promote OSCE goals, objectives and provisions, they
  can raise awareness of the OSCE's work and win public support for
  it.

  2. They can add to the OSCE's fund of ideas and support its
  normative work.

  3. They can monitor the implementation of OSCE commitments, in
  particular those relating to the Human Dimension.

  4. They can undertake co-operative activities in the Human
  Dimension (election monitoring, legislation advice, etc.) and
  other fields.

  5. They can engage in conflict prevention and crisis management
  tasks, in particular through "non-official" mediation and
  communal dialogue. They can assist in the training of OSCE staff
  and in the provision of information and background material.

  6. They can provide scientific expertise in all areas of OSCE
  work: military aspects of security, political and economic
  affairs, Human Dimension.

  7. Co-operation with NGOs in these areas could contribute
  additional financial, organizational and personnel capacities to
  the implementation of OSCE tasks.

  (above 1-7 are found scrolling down about 1 inch of your scroll bar here). http://www.gdrc.org/ngo/ngo-enhance.html

  Can you tell me how many times the name "Jesus Christ" was discussed in the above information with pictures? Not even once! So how can the Watchtower Society representatives claim that their political associations with OSCE and other government officials has anything to do with God's purposes?

  What is the criteria for attending an OSCE conference? Do you have to register with government entities? Are you required to wear an OSCE identification badge? Why don't we consider some of these requirements!

  1. The conference is being held at "The Cordoba Congress Palace!

  2. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) will participate in the meeting.

  5. Participants are encouraged to submit "written contributions" to the Document Distributions Unit.

  8. All participants will be requested to present their passport or photo ID as listed in the registration form whenever they wish to enter the Congress Palace. For the same reason, we kindly ask participants to contact the Conference registration's desk at the Congress Palace prior to the opening ceremony.

  Advance registration is highly recommended in order to avoid delays in issuing the conference badges and materials before the Opening Ceremony.

  Please note that for security reasons, luggage cannot be stored at the Congress Palace including during the closing day of the Congress. We, therefore, would recommend that luggage be stored at hotels.

  http://www.osce.si/docs/2005-06-08-09-cordoba-boj-proti-nestrpnosti-tehnicne-info.pdf

  Congress Palace? Ngos will participate? Passport or photo ID? Registration form? Congress Palace badges? No luggage allowed for security reasons?

  Do any of those politically related terms even remotely describe "No Part of The World?" or "Avoiding All Political Involvement?" So how is the Watchtower Society taking an active role in support of the OSCE?

  Well, how about "advertising" the name OSCE to the entire world and its agendas, as was done in their "Awake" 1997 August 22nd page 31? See below:

  ---

  The Watchtower Society asked its members in the past just how they viewed hypocrisy.

  Perhaps by taking another look at the Watchtower Society and their own "faithful and discrete slave class," Jehovah's Witnesses can see the true meaning of the word "Hypocrisy!"

  thanks to Towerwatcher for this information!

  Randy
• 

  stillajwexelder

  Dynamite
• 

  Dogpatch

  Also up at: http://www.randytv.com/secret/NGOduties.htm

  Randy

  What do you guys think of all this? Amazing!!
• 

  one

  From the point of view of the JW as a religion the UN issue/scandal is the most "shocking" news I have ever heard.

  Randy you could probably post a 'excutive summary' ,

  to make it easier for lurkers and the rest of us to grasp the importance of the scandal,

  For many it does not seem like an scandal, judging by the number of replies.to this kind of topic.
• 

  Dogpatch

  Thanks One, but it seems pretty self-explanatory to me. It's just that there is a lot of backup proofs in the file. If you just read the questions and responses and ignore all the pictures it will be easier for most.

  yours,

  Randy
• 

  juni

  Thanks Randy for the post.

  WHY WERE THEY THERE???? DO YOU HAVE ANY INFO ON THAT?

  Juni
• 

  Atlantis

  Juni:

  This might help to answer your question.

  **********************************************

  http://www.ncsj.org/AuxPages/052305JTA_OSCE.shtml

  OSCE meets to talk anti-Semitism, and Jews hope it's not just all talk
  
  By Chanan Tigay
  
  NEW YORK (JTA) -- To say that actions speak louder than words is cliché. But to Jewish groups preparing for an international conference on anti-Semitism, the axiom is entirely current.
  
  That's because the upcoming meeting of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe is the third such gathering in three years -- and many of the commitments made in last year's declaration from Berlin have yet to be fulfilled, Jewish officials say.
  
  "We're interested in not having more nice words," said Betty Ehrenberg, who will be attending the conference as director of international and communal affairs at the Orthodox Union. "We're interested in having countries actually taking the steps, the concrete steps."
  
  "Implementation" is the buzzword among Jewish nongovernmental organizations prepping for the meeting, the Conference on Anti-Semitism and on Other Forms of Intolerance, slated for June 8-9 in Cordoba, Spain.
  
  At last year's Berlin conference, participants committed to hone their legal systems to better combat hate crimes and to promote academic exchange and educational programs, including Holocaust studies. They also pledged to collect data on anti-Semitic and other hate crimes in their countries.
  
  They further agreed to report such crimes to the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which is charged with monitoring anti-Semitism with the cooperation of the 55 OSCE member states.
  
  Finally, the OSCE's human-rights branch agreed to collect "best practices" on addressing anti-Semitism from regional nongovernmental groups.
  
  But while the Berlin conference's condemnation of anti-Semitism was significant, many of these commitments have yet to be put into practice, those familiar with the situation say.
  
  "We have serious concerns," said Israel Singer, chairman of the World Jewish Congress' governing board, who noted that the WJC is working with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos and other European leaders "to remind them of their obligations to combat anti-Semitism."
  
  The WJC will hold its governing board meeting in Cordoba just before the conference and will take part in a June 7 forum of NGOs in Seville, preparing for the Cordoba meeting.
  
  "I hope the conference will build momentum behind the efforts of the OSCE and its tolerance unit and mobilize support for implementation of commitments that states have made to combat anti-Semitism," said Stacy Burdett, associate director of governmental affairs for the Anti-Defamation League.
  
  "In the months since Berlin, the OSCE has done an assessment of what tools are in place in different states and what the gaps are," said Burdett, who also will be attending the Cordoba conference.
  
  The OSCE says it's seeking to ensure that member states live up to their commitments.
  
  "The purpose of the conference is to analyze the status of implementation of OSCE commitments in the field of tolerance and nondiscrimination, and operational follow-up at the national level throughout the OSCE region," Simona Drenik, an official with the Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the OSCE, told JTA by phone from Vienna.
  
  Slovenia now holds the rotating chairmanship of the OSCE.
  
  Drenik said the conference also will touch on the concrete implementation of projects in the fields of data collection; monitoring; legislation; law enforcement; Holocaust and anti-Semitism education; the media; and sharing of best practices for dealing with racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic propaganda on the Internet and strengthening interreligious and intercultural dialogue.
  
  Other Jewish groups planning to attend the conference include Hadassah, B'nai B'rith, the American Jewish Committee and NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia.
  
  Meanwhile, the Organization of American States will hold its General Assembly from June 5-7 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Among resolutions expected to be passed at the assembly is one on intolerance that for the first time will mention anti-Semitism by name, while also referring to this year's 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.
  
  Until this year, the OSCE addressed anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance in separate conferences -- in 2003 both took place in Vienna; last year, a conference on intolerance took place in Brussels while the anti-Semitism meeting was in Berlin. This year, one conference will tackle both subjects.
  
  Some Jewish observers expressed concern that merging the conferences may reflect Western Europeans' "holistic" approach to addressing intolerance. Western European nations, they say, are willing to view anti-Semitism as a phenomenon distinct from other forms of intolerance, but prefer to deal with it in conjunction with other types of hatred.
  
  That could be a stumbling block to implementation of any decisions, observers say.
  
  "If the holistic approach means avoiding the acknowledgment of the uniqueness of anti-Semitism, it's troubling," said Rabbi Andrew Baker, director of international Jewish affairs at the AJCommittee. But "if the holistic approach means 'We're going to deal with it in parallel with other forms of racism, xenophobia and intolerance,' " then it's less troubling.
  
  Baker will represent the AJCommittee in Cordoba and was invited to moderate a session on anti-Semitism in the media.
  
  The ADL's Burdett said she hopes the conference would focus on anti-Semitism.
  
  "It's a problem with a unique history and manifestations, and I think we've seen in the past how a failure to spotlight it has led to it not being addressed on the ground adequately," she said.
  
  Observers say the OSCE's non-European Union members generally lack monitoring systems for hate crimes, and the Eastern Europeans largely don't distinguish between hate crimes and other crimes.
  
  In addition, some European governments appear to rely on the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia, a Vienna-based E.U. agency-- which has contracted people on the ground in E.U. nations to collect hate-crimes information -- for their hate crimes data, rather than gathering it themselves.
  
  But Baker said some progress has been made. Last December, special representatives for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and Christianophobia were appointed to represent the OSCE chairman -- now Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel -- and to advocate for implementation and lobby OSCE governments to follow through on the Berlin declaration.
  
  Further, Baker said, OSCE's human rights office has created a tolerance unit focusing on anti-Semitism and is now funding a pilot program in which law enforcement agents train other police in responding to hate crimes. Spain and Hungary have taken part so far, and a report on the program's results will be given in Cordoba.
  
  Baker called these positive developments. But, he added, "If it ended here, I think we'd all be disappointed."
  
  In the lead-up to the conference, Israel had expressed consternation with what it said was the limited role it was being offered.
  
  But Nimrod Barkan, director of World Jewish and Interreligious Affairs at Israel's Foreign Ministry, said that "all issues have been resolved since."
  
  Because of scheduling problems, it remained unclear whether Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom would attend the conference.
• 

  creveal2

  Thank you for posting this. I can see that if a Jehovah's Witness read this in its entirety, he or she would definitely sit up and take notice of the actions of people in the Governing Body of the Organization. However, we need to look at the social and emotional situation of most Jehovah's Witnesses. The majority of Witnesses are so consumed with the activities of the door to door work, attending meetings five times a week, changing book study groups when they are supposed to, studying the material they are supposed to in order to avoid being put on a guilt trip by other Jehovah's Witnesses-----Do they really have the mental/emotional energy to absorb any of this?

  Elders and ministerial servants also keep tabs on this stuff, so I think they know and can divert anyone from seeing it even if a jw had a mind to. All they have to do is give one of those rip roaring threatening talks about avoiding the internet from their illustrious podium, and people would be so scared to do it for fear of being caught.

  I, having been a Witness for twenty five years, and having been out for ten years with no turning back, have had much experience along these lines.

  But this article and its accompanying scans, etc., is to be applauded sincerely.

  creveal2
• 

  juni

  Thanks Atlantis for that highlight. Seems like a flimsy reason to join up w/something that you're opposed to and others are DF for. Bunch of hypocrites. They must feel they need more fuel for their lawyers in case JW are turned on w/hate crimes.

  And, WELCOME CREVEAL 2 to the board. You've got the right idea. They keep their people so busy and are told not to go on the Internet - most all will never know these things exist.

  Juni
• 

  creveal2

  You know, I for one was really angry when I first heard of the WT being a member of the United Nations, because for 25 years all I had heard was that the United Nations was a tool of Satan, and would mean the destruction of anyone having anything to do with them, and all kinds of stuff that made me want to not really think about Government things, like I would get really damaged if I did anything like that. But in 2002, when I found out that the Watchtower had been a member of their Wild Beast, their Harlot, this Adulterous Thing which was the Ruler of all the Churches of Christendom, and all of that stuff that I now know is trash, I was really pissed, for when I was going through my worst time with elder issues, when my then husband was sexually harassing me and the elders helped him to trick me into a motel with him, how were they deceiving me other wise? By keeping me so busy with all of these problems that I could not see what they were really doing.

  I was spitting bullets, and I was wishing they were real ones.

  Anger management would not have helped me. I now want to take the WT and shut them down for good.