A Global Plan to Permanently Eliminate Poverty
The needs of the world’s poorest people have long attracted the interest of philanthropists worldwide. Yet even with vast amounts of money pouring into relief programs from governments and private foundations alike, half the population of the world continues to live in dire poverty. To the average American, it is difficult to conceive of whole families living on $1 a day or less—the plight of nearly 1.5 billion people in our world today.
Fortunately, a remarkable and compassionate plan to eliminate poverty in every nation was recently announced by His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the Global Country of World Peace, at an eight-day conference in Geneva, Switzerland, November 27–December 4, 2005.
Turning Dust into Gold
At the heart of Maharishi’s plan to eliminate poverty is one fact: the world has five billion acres of unused agricultural land in 100 developing countries. At the same time, wealthy countries have virtually poisoned their agricultural lands through the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides for the past 60 years.
Or, to put it another way, the total world food market totals $3 trillion, while the organic market comprises only $30 billion. Very soon the rest of the population is going to recognize that they need to eat organic food to avoid being poisoned by chemicals. When that happens, the developed countries will need food grown on the unspoiled agricultural lands of the developing nations.
“This fact provides a huge opportunity for all poor countries in the world that own vast tracts of unused land with agricultural potential,” says His Excellency Dr. Bevan Morris, Prime Minister of the Global Country of World Peace. “They have the chance now to turn the dust of their own earth into gold through the production of organic food for export, enough to eliminate the poverty of all their people.”
The farmers will be provided with the most-up-to-date farming equipment, thus saving them from back-breaking labor, and will be trained in the latest organic growing methods such as crop rotation, companion planting and green fertilization. The crops, it should be noted, will not only be organic, but will be raised according to the Maharishi VedicSM principles of agriculture, which enlivens the total potential of natural law.
“With Maharishi Vedic Organic AgricultureSM, the inner intelligence of the crops is enlivened through Vedic recitations performed by Vedic experts,” says Dr. Bevan Morris. “The food will become the most pure, health-giving, precious food that could ever be grown, produced by what were once the poorest people of the world.”
Prosperity from the Start
Farmers will also be provided with double or triple their previous earnings, as well as homes, schools, healthcare facilities and infrastructure.
“One beautiful aspect, is that we will give to the farmers comfortable villages with all modern facilities,” says His Excellency Dr. Benjamin Feldman, Minister of Finance and Planning of the Global Country of World Peace, “And sufficient operating money so they feel they are out of poverty right from the start.”
The homes will be built according to Vastu VidyaSM, the science of building in accord with Natural Law. “Poverty is so prevalent today due to lack of proper thinking, lack of support of Natural Law,” says Dr. Feldman. “Vastu building is a requirement for eliminating poverty, because then the building itself becomes a means of promoting good fortune, good luck.”
Culturing Self-Sufficiency
The drawback of most programs to help the poor is their tendency to create dependency and loss of basic freedoms, which results in generation after generation living in poverty, unable to break the cycle.
To create self-sufficiency rather than dependency, Dr. Feldman emphasizes that education will be an important component of the program to eliminate poverty. Colleges of Maharishi Vedic economics and agriculture will be established in each village.
In addition, farmers and their families will be instructed in the Transcendental Meditation® technique, a scientifically validated program to enhance clarity of thinking, better health, and development of full potential.
“With such beautiful homes and schools, along with the practice of Transcendental Meditation, every individual can enjoy the total support of Natural Law to create whatever one wants to achieve,”says Dr. Feldman.
Support through Investment
According to Dr. Feldman, the start-up cost for land clearing, irrigation, machinery, infrastructure for five billion acres will be $10 trillion, with an average start-up cost of $2000 per acre.
Support is expected from a variety of avenues: donations from the 690 billionaires of the world, who are responsible to help the less fortunate; the 100 largest banks; the 100 largest pension plans; the top 100 companies; the 40 largest insurance companies; the 50 largest fundraisers; and the numberless average businessmen in the world, who will be able to support the fund while taking advantage of normal business loans.
The funds will be monitored by insurance companies to provide risk-free investment opportunities. “The investors will also profit, providing a win-win situation,” said Dr. Feldman. “It’s really good business to enjoy profit while eliminating poverty.”
The plan to eliminate poverty is an opportunity for all good people of conscience, whether wealthy or not, to help the people of this world who need it most. It’s also a tangible way to contribute to world peace.
“Removal of poverty is essential for the creation of world peace,” says Dr. Morris. “Without eliminating poverty, peace will never be permanent. The basis of lasting peace is satisfaction and economic fulfillment. For those who would like to have more information on implementing Maharishi’s Program to Eliminate Poverty in their nation, please email: PovertyRemoval@Maharishi.net