I came across this while doing yet another search regarding renounciation of US citizenship. At first, it seemed beyond ridiculous but it does give food for thought. I very much like the idea of subtracting the amount of tax one owes that is used for war and directing it toward something more constructive, useful. And I like the emphasis on on “whole” (i.e., world) vs nationalities. There are some fees for joining, for the documents (which seem to be optional) and so on but they are not exhorbitant. Maybe this isn’t realistic at this point in time, but if it could work, it would definitely be better than what is going on in the world right now.
Garry Davis (born 27 July 1921, Bar Harbor, Maine) is a peace activist who created the first World Passport. Davis interrupted a session of the United Nations General Assembly on 22 November 1948 calling for “one government for one world”. He founded the International Registry of World Citizens in Paris in January 1949 which registered over 750,000 individuals. On 4 September 1953 Davis declared the World Government of World Citizens from the city hall of Ellsworth, Maine, based on fundamental human rights. He then formed the World Service Authority in 1954 as the government’s executive and administrative agency, which now issues the passports – along with birth and other certificates – to applicants. Davis first used his “world passport” on a trip to India in 1956, and has been variously admitted into certain countries around the world using his world passport. Over 180 countries have accepted the world passport at one time or another. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garry_Davis
World Citizen Passport: http://www.worldservice.org/docpass.html?s=1
The mandate for the WORLD PASSPORT is Article 13(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
“Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”
The United States has the most accepted entries (20); see here for actual stamps in visa pages by US Customs/Immigration (and at least one, since Dept of Homeland Security): http://www.worldservice.org/visas.html
And yes, it appears it shows one’s place of birth but there is also a World Birth Certificate so maybe it could be adjusted somehow. 🙂
The pledge of allegiance to the World Government of World Citizens (WGWC)
A World Citizen is a human being who lives intellectually, morally and physically in the present. A World Citizen accepts the dynamic fact that the planetary human community is interdependent and whole, that humankind is essentially one. A World Citizen is a peaceful and peacemaking individual, both in daily life and contacts with others. As a global person, a World Citizen relates directly to humankind and to all fellow humans spontaneously, generously and openly. Mutual trust is basic to his/her lifestyle. Politically, a World Citizen accepts a sanctioning institution of representative government, expressing the general and individual sovereign will in order to establish and maintain a system of just and equitable world law with appropriate legislative, judiciary and enforcement bodies. A World Citizen makes this world a better place to live in harmoniously by studying and respecting the viewpoints of fellow citizens from anywhere in the world.
Excerpts from the FAQ’s:
Why can’t the nations make world peace?
Nations, by definition, are mutually exclusive. All nations therefore support the condition of anarchy between them in order to justify their individual sovereignty. Anarchy, or no common legal agreement or government, breeds fear, threats, and war as the final option.
Isn’t pacifism enough for world peace?
No. Pacifism is essentially an individual moral attitude towards other individuals and society. Peace in the social sense requires just codes or laws agreed upon by individuals. That is why social peace and justice are allied.
Is world citizenship compatible with national citizenship?
National citizenship is exclusive. World citizenship is inclusive. In that sense, they are mutually exclusive. Citizenship, however, is like concentric circles. It is mutually complementary from local to global when based on the two components of society, the general and the individual good.
But isn’t the right of freedom of travel determined by the nations?
No, not the right but the practice. Being exclusive political units, all nations collude in the frontier system, i.e., the division of the planet into separate political units. At the same time, they all agree through the United Nations Charter to “observe and respect fundamental human rights.” Through the national passport and visa system imposed on the world citizenry they deny and thus violate their pledged confirmation of human rights.
Where is the right to choose my own political allegiance defined?
Both in international and national law. In the former, the principal doctrine is that of “self-determination.” (See UN Charter and the International Covenants on Human Rights, inter alia). Then, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 15(2) and 21(3), sanctions the legal expression of individual will as the basis of government. In national law, many constitutions refer specifically to fundamental human rights, i.e. the U.S. Bill of Rights, as inalienable and therefore irrevocable by any relative government. Certain US case law histories, FILARTIGA V. PENA-IRALA, 630 F.2d (2d Cir. 1980), for instance, have used the UDHR as “common binding international law.”
How does world citizenship affect my national status?
This depends on what the citizenship requirements are of your particular nation. As world citizenship becomes your primary allegiance, certain national obligations, such as conscription and the payment of taxes for war become redundant. In other words, the legal justification for both have been rendered obsolete by your sovereign act.
Does this mean I don’t have to pay my national tax?
No, you must pay that proportion of your national tax officially allocated to peaceful pursuits.
What about the rest?
This portion may be paid to the World Government of World Citizens through the World Government Treasury Dept. account.
And what happens to that money?
It is used for the evolution of your global government.
But can I choose how I want that money spent?
Yes, Partially. When you register with the WGWC, you may request to receive a WG Annual Return Form. It provides various categories which you may choose for the utilization of your world tax donation. A blank space is provided for your choice. 50% of the funds are used for the operating expenses of the World Government, 25% for the evolution of an eventual World Government Bank, and 25% for other uses identified by individual registered World Citizens.
What about the IRS (or other national tax authorities)?
There are legal arguments both for and against paying war taxes to a particular nation. The main legal argument for not paying war taxes is found in the Nuremberg Decisions which define international illegal acts involving war preparation, war making, crimes against peace and crimes against humanity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, arts. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 17(2), 18, 28 and 30, in recognition of the individual’s legitimate sovereignty, provides additional legal defense for the non-payment of war taxes. US law, in particular, in recognizing conscientious objection to war, as well as such legal instruments as the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the Constitution afford valid arguments to the registered world citizen. (See also, Supreme Court Petition for Rehearing)
What is the procedure when dealing with the IRS (or other national tax authorities)?
When you return the World Annual Return Form with that percentage of the national tax allocated for war purposes to the World Government Treasury Dept. account, you will receive a World Treasury Dept. Tax Receipt for the sum submitted. This receipt is to be photocopied and sent to the IRS along with the remainder of your national tax.
How will the IRS (or other tax authorities) know what I am doing?
The World Service Authority will supply you with a letter, upon your written request, explaining your sovereign action. (See Part B below). You also have the option of including a photocopy of the form letter.
(PART A)
TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN
BY THESE PRESENTS, this is to advise that_________________________________________, in accordance with his/her inalienable right to choose his/her political allegiance(s), duly sanctioned by article 15(2), Universal Declaration of Human Rights (inter alia), has this day assumed the highest planetary civic commitment, that of world citizenship, as both a right and duty, in conformity with the official Pledge of Allegiance of the World Government of World Citizens, declared September 4, 1953 at Ellsworth, Maine, USA.
He/she is duly registered with the World Government of World Citizens under #_________________________.
It is hereby requested of all governmental officials of whatever level to respect and observe the rights and duties now incumbent on the above-named world citizen in the name of the General Good and the Good of All.
By authority of Registrar WORLD SERVICE AUTHORITY
Date_____________________
(PART B)
TO NATIONAL TAX OFFICIALS
THIS IS TO ADVISE that the undersigned, _____________________________, being a duly declared and registered citizen of the World Government of World Citizens declared September 4, 1953 from Ellsworth, Maine, USA, sanctioned by Article 28, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (inter alia), having thereby exercised his/her inalienable right to choose his/her political allegiance(s) in accordance with Article 15(2) of the aforementioned Declaration (inter alia), and with respect to his/her world civic rights and duties as defined in part by the aforementioned Declaration, and in conformity with international law as defined by the Nuremberg Principles (inter alia), has deducted from his/her national tax that portion which is officially declared as a contribution to “national security,” and deposited said sum in the World Government Treasury Dept. account, Riggs National Bank, Washington, DC.
Enclosed is copy of the official World Tax Receipt in witness whereof.
Also enclosed is his/her check – along with the duly completed national tax form – in payment of the alleged national tax obligation representing the difference between the “war tax” and that for social benefits directly affecting the general and individual national citizenry.
__________________________ Signature
________________ Date
Garry Davis’ blog: http://www.worldservice.org/gdblog.html
Organization website: http://www.worldservice.org/gdblog.html
Organization forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/WorldCitizen
Hehe, I love it. And unsurprisingly, the US hates it. From Wikipedia’s World Passport article:
Too bad, otherwise I’d register as a World Citizen, tell the State Department I’d committed a relinquishing act, and save the $450 fee.
You know, this might look silly nowadays, but I think that this is very progressive. I would say that in 100 years time there will be maybe 5-6 “countries” in the form of huge regional groupings. Think a huge EU including Russia and lots of ex Soviet countries, ASEAN with China, South American Union, African Union (alreadly a reality), and so on.
200 years ago people would have never thought that something like the EU would have been possible and such ideas were viewed as whimsical idealism then. Nationalism itself is only about 200 years old, so who is to say that it won’t die out in 200 years’ time to be replaced by a single world government? After all, 200 years ago most people swore allegiance to a sovereign or a person and not to a country.
@Don, we’ll see. You know there are many people in America who are strongly against this “one world government”, I believe because they fear just a few people controlling things. That said, things in America are really “quirky” in my opinion. I’ve heard stuff about “putting a TAX ID on a drivers license is warned against in the Bible…” No kidding. My tax ID is on my drivers license here, and if anything it is extremely convenient so I need to show one document instead of two.
Americans are typically very terrible at Geography, monolingual, and a bit xenaphobic as well. I think this is why most of them are quick to believe what those politicians say about expats.
See what I’m saying about not “feeling” American anymore, or wanting to be one? At this stage for me, Americans feel like “those people” to me…
“Nothing is unchangeable but the inherent and unalienable rights of man.”
– Thomas Jefferson
@Don I agree, it is progressive. I do like the idea of a world government (though not necessarily in this particular form). I would tend to think that we are doomed, as a world, if we don’t all get our act together as one large compassionate whole.
I recall reading somewhere, the same idea as yours- at least with regard to economic groupings. With Canada-US-Mexico being one of them; it may have included Central America as well. Wonder what problems that would bring for expats? 😉
Great point about swearing allegiance to a sovereign or person 200 years ago though can’t say it was better than having allegiance to a nation. Most were rather brutal, weren’t they?
@Eruc
You are too funny! As Petros says, “Relinquish, don’t renounce!”
@ geeeze Please tell me you are kidding about this one:
“putting a TAX ID on a drivers license is warned against in the Bible…”
One of the biggest gripes I heard when I first came to Canada was how little Americans knew about anything up here. RCMP, igloos and so on. I don’t think it is quite that bad however, I do think Americans tend to think the world revolved around them. So anything different does tend to bring out the worst in them.
@ CATO – that is a great quote.
@ all pls forgive typos. Not enough sleep lately.