(Editors Note: The following is an excerpt from chapter six of Gary Kah's new book, The New World Religion: The Spiritual Roots of Global Government. For the sake of editorial flow, slight formatting changes have been made so that this article would fit within the framework of this newsletter. Order information for The New World Religion is found at the back of this article.)

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen.
- Romans 1:25 (NIV)

During the 1990's, the efforts of New Age activists have continued to intensify, with occultists increasingly pushing their agenda for global unity under the banner of environmental reform. In fact, many of the "successful" one-world meetings of the last ten years have convened for the alleged purpose of solving the environmental crisis. This chapter will take a look at a few of these notable gatherings, including the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. A review of these events and the people behind them will help the reader understand the real purpose and nature of the New Age environmental movement.

Among those at the forefront of this movement, there is one individual who stands out more than any other. Believed by many to have fallen from the political scene with the collapse of the Soviet Union, he currently wields more power and influence in shaping the future of the world than perhaps any diplomat of our generation. Yet strangely, most of us are not even aware of his influence, let alone that he has risen to the top of the one-world movement. His keen sense of timing and political prowess have enabled him to forge alliances where others before him have failed. His friends include many of the world's most adept politicians, financial power brokers, and religious leaders. The person of whom I am speaking is Mikhail Gorbachev.

 

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev

Born on March 2, 1931, in the southern Russian village of Privolnoje, Mikhail Gorbachev grew up in a home of peasant farmers. Although his family was Russian Orthodox, Mikhail rejected Christianity at the age of twenty-one, when he joined the Communist Party (CPSU). 1 Three years later, after graduating in law from Moscow State University, he began his political career in the city of Stavropol. There he served as First secretary of the Komsomol (Communist Youth League) City Committee from 1955 to 1958. He rose through the ranks and in 1970 was elevated to the most powerful Communist position in the Stavropol region. Partly as a result of his reputation and experience in Stavropol politics, he was elected to the Communist Party Central Committee in 1971. During the next twenty years, Mikhail held virtually every major position in the Party, steadily climbing the ladder of power and influence.

Mikhail was personally chosen and groomed for leadership by his close friend Yuri Andropov, long-time KGB head and Soviet President from 1983 to 1984. 2 It is no secret that untold millions were persecuted and put to death at the hands of Russian leaders during the Andropov years, both inside and outside the Soviet Union, especially in Afghanistan. His regime was ruthless.

In 1985, following Andropov's death and Konstantin Chernenko's brief term in office, Gorbachev advanced to the position of general secretary of the powerful Politburo. After several years of holding this top political post in the Central Committee (CPSU), he became president of the Soviet Union, a position he held from 1990-1991. During his six years at the helm of Soviet politics, he wrote his most famous books including, A Time for Peace (1985) and Perestroika: New Thinking For Our Country and the World (1987). It was this latter book which introduced Gorbachev's concepts of glasnost (a new policy of openness in the media) and perestroika (economic and political restructuring or reform). These Gorbachev initiatives were to bring permanent democratic reforms to Soviet government and society.

Did Gorbachev really abandon Communism in pursuit of world peace, or were his writings and the accompanying publicity a mere front? Some of his statements from that period provide a clue. In his book Perestroika Gorbachev wrote:

The essence of perestroika lies in the fact that it unites socialism with democracy and revives the Leninist concept of socialist construction both in theory and in practice. Such is the essence of perestroika, which accounts for its genuine revolutionary spirit and its all-embracing scope... In politics and ideology we are seeking to revive the living spirit of Leninism. (Italics in original.) 3

In 1987, the same year he launched perestroika, Gorbachev unabashedly proclaimed, "In October 1917, we parted with the Old World, rejecting it once for all. We are moving toward a new world, the world of Communism. We shall never turn off that road." 4

In 1989, the year that the Berlin Wall came down, he announced, "I am a convinced Communist. For some that may be a fantasy. But for me it is my main goal." And in 1990, when he was being hailed in the Western media as the man who ended Communism, he emphatically stated, "I am now, just as I've always been, a convinced Communist." 5

His most stunning remark, however, came during a speech before the Politburo in 1987:

Gentlemen, comrades, do not be concerned about all you hear about glasnost and perestroika and democracy in the coming years. These are primarily for outward consumption. There will be no significant internal change within the Soviet Union, other than for cosmetic purposes. Our purpose is to disarm the Americans and let them fall asleep. 6

In spite of admissions such as these, Mikhail Gorbachev won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his work in breaking up Communism. With a feather in his hat and his international popularity secure, Mikhail focused his aim more directly on America and the West. In 1992, he came to the United States to establish the International Foundation for Socio-Economic and Political Studies, better known as The Gorbachev Foundation.

 

The Gorbachev Foundation

Ironically, this important policy-making think tank is located at a former U.S. military base - the Presidio in San Francisco. From his headquarters at the Presidio, Gorbachev is systematically unveiling his blueprint for a world government in the twenty-first century. This blueprint, as we shall see, involves manipulating the earth's inhabitants into accepting a new world order in the name of saving the planet from environmental catastrophe.

In order to accomplish his goal, Gorbachev is calling for a global perestroika, a complete restructuring of our world and lives - including our economy, political system, and religious views. He has already begun using his organization to lobby for global taxation and major "international military" reforms that will be necessary to fund and enforce this massive undertaking. His proposals to scale back America's armed forces while increasing the presence of foreign troops on American soil have been followed almost to the tee. The recent round of U.S. military base closings were due in part to Gorbachev's initiatives.

In 1994 we received our first peek at his plans when he presented his new Global Security Programme in a speech before the Council on Foreign Relations. After being introduced by David Rockefeller, Gorbachev proceeded to share the highlights of his agenda, which include a tax to be levied on conventional arms production. If approved by Congress, this tax would empower the United Nations by funding the creation of several new U.N.-based agencies and authorities, all of which would be part of the emerging world system. Eventually, this tax and others yet to be introduced would be shouldered by taxpayers throughout the world.

Since unveiling his plans, Gorbachev has steadily gained endorsements from world political and spiritual leaders. Among those who support his agenda are former U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz, chairman of the board of advisors for the Gorbachev Foundation; Senator Alan Cranston of California, chairman of the board of directors; and James Garrison of the new age Esalen Institute, president of the Gorbachev Foundation. Also listed on Gorbachev's board of advisors are John Naisbitt, author of Megatrends; and Father Theodore Hesburgh, former President of Notre Dame University and considered by many to be the leading Catholic educator in America.

Former U.S. President, Richard Nixon, sized up Gorbachev's popularity after observing him at a political function:

Gorbachev's neatly tailored suits, refined manners, beautiful wife, and smooth touch with reporters have made him a star with the press and the diplomatic corps. An American official who met him was impressed by the startling fact that he had "good eye contact, a firm handshake and a deep, melodious voice." A British politician even remarked that Gorbachev was the man he most admired in the world. A disarmament activist took this a step further, saying, "Gorbachev is like Jesus. He just keeps giving out good things like arms control proposals and getting nothing but rejections." 7

Nixon took special note of the affection which American politicians lavished on Gorbachev:

When he applied his public-relations talents at the superpower summit in December 1987, the city of Washington lost its collective senses. He had conservative senators eating out of his hand. He dazzled and charmed the Washington social set. The usually aggressive star reporters of American adversary journalism became pussycats in his presence. Business leaders and media moguls, when they met him in a private audience, did not question some of his obviously outlandish statements... No democratic leader - not Churchill, not de Gaulle, not Adenauer - ever enjoyed the kind of fawning, sycophantic treatment Gorbachev did. 8

 

State of the World Forum

To officially launch his program Gorbachev convened a special meeting called the State of the World Forum in 1995. Held in San Francisco from September 27 to October 1, the event was nothing less than a world government planning session with Gorbachev at the helm. Due to the summit's overwhelming success, Gorbachev decided to make it an annual event.

Held in the fall of each year, the State of the World Forum brings together a who's who of the one-world movement. Samantha Smith, journalist and author of Goddess Earth, attended the first Forum in 1995. She shared with me her disbelief over the blatant nature of the conference and the fact that it received virtually no coverage from the media. This lack of coverage was due in part to the fact that many of the roundtables were closed to the press, including deliberations on human overpopulation, environmental reform, and the redistribution of the world's wealth.

Samantha shared her experience in our Fall 1995 newsletter:

More than 500 elder statesmen, business leaders, religious figures and scientists (paying $5,000 each) enjoyed their gourmet meals prepared by the city's most celebrated chefs, while Gorbachev drove home the issues of world hunger, poverty, social upheaval, spiritual crisis, overpopulation, environmental degradation and the need for a world government. Although Gorbachev speaks fluent English, he spoke to the crowd in Russian, with a translator. He said, "We must reinvent the world together. We need unity in diversity."

His "diversity" referred to broad variations - like rich and poor, cultural differences and selected religious beliefs - with total compliance by all to new international law.

Throughout the conference, we heard the words "New World Order," "World Government," "Global Governance," and "Global Government." Zbigniew Brzezinski (Jimmy Carter's National Security Advisor) said in a speech, "Finally, I have no illusions about World Government emerging in our lifetime... we cannot leap into world government through one quick step... a consensual global system is not just a matter of good wishes or good will, but it requires a process... the precondition for eventual and genuine globalization is progressive regionalization... " 9

Samantha continued:

Gorbachev harped on the importance of having "consensus" for Global Governance - where nations under world government will lose sovereignty, giving way to international laws that will dictate common beliefs, values, standards, and behavior, and conform to the consensus of a chosen group of leaders. The former head of Russia's Communist Party has selected 100 elite "innovative thinkers," called the "Global Brain Trust," or the "Council of the Wise," who will meet annually at the Presidio in San Francisco, to guide global issues during the transition into the next century. 10

Samantha Smith described the conference as "a coming-out party for New Age elitists." Among those present were Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Weaver, John Denver, John Naisbitt, Carl Sagan, Ted Turner and Jane Fonda, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Maurice Strong, Robert Muller, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Matthew Fox, Alan Jones, Michael Murphy and James Garrison. Some spoke in workshops, while others simply attended. 11

Smith noticed the spiritual theme that was woven throughout the conference. One of the sessions was called "The Global Crisis of Spirit and the Search for Meaning." She reported: "Attendees were told they have a god-shaped vacuum in their hearts that needs to be filled. Religious panelists eagerly offered a number of different "gods" and Eastern Philosophies from which to choose." 12

Gorbachev's fascination with eastern mysticism and the occult was evident in his choice of "spiritual" leaders invited to the Forum. The list included Isabel Allende, Author, House of Spirits; Richard Baker, Abbott, Crestone Mountain Zen Center; Akio Matsumura, Founder, Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders; and Sonia Gandhi, Founder of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, to name just a few. Gorbachev's endorsement of eastern mysticism was further reflected in the fact that the Gandhi Foundation (a Hindu organization) co-sponsored his activity.

In addition, Gorbachev selected Thich Nhat Hanh, a renowned Vietnamese monk, to lead a special half-day Buddhist meditation at the Forum. This popular Zen Buddhist is the author of the occult book - LIVING BUDDHA, LIVING CHRIST. 13 Hanh has devoted his life to merging Buddhism with Christianity, believing such a synthetic religion would be ideal for the emerging world order. In an interview printed in the San Francisco Chronicle on October 1st, 1995, Hanh revealed that "he has Christ on his altar alongside the Buddha."

Gorbachev is also calling for the unity of Buddhism and Christianity. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times he stated, "In this new synthesis, we need democratic, Christian and Buddhist values as well, which affirm such moral principles as social responsibility and the sense of oneness with nature and each other. The future should be built with these moral building blocks that are centuries old." 14

Reflecting this quest for a new spirituality, Gorbachev's internet web site opens with the following words. "We need a new system of values, a system of the organic unity between mankind and nature and the ethic of global responsibility." 15 This statement has become Gorbachev's campaign slogan and appears on many of his reports, invitations, promotionals, etc.

As strange as it may seem, the words and actions of Mikhail Gorbachev classify him as a New Age Leninist. He is literally seeking to replace Christianity with a new religious order in which humanism (the central teaching of Communism) and pantheism (the basis for eastern mysticism) are combined. To make this "new" religion more acceptable, he is lacing it with Christian terminology. In using this tactic he is simply following the lead of Chardin, Jung, Hanh and other mystics who have done the same. In reality, Gorbachev's religion is anti-Christian to the core.

Throughout the conference, Gorbachev shared glimpses of his vision for uniting the planet. He clearly stated his intentions of using humanity's concern over the environment to strategically further his world government agenda. Revealing his motivation, he declared, "The environmental crisis is the cornerstone for the New World Order." 16

One reason why the environment has taken center stage in Gorbachev's campaign for world government is that by its very nature it is an "international" issue which evokes strong feelings. This makes it especially easy to manipulate. To globalists like Gorbachev it is the perfect issue behind which they can rally a naive and easily misled public.

Another reason why the environment is such an important issue to Gorbachev is that it will enable him to introduce and ratify comprehensive international treaties granting unprecedented power to seize government and private property, all in the name of protecting the environment. In fact, Gorbachev's mandate for the future includes the imposition of stringent global environmental laws which would regulate every area of life. Toward this end he has been supporting the creation of an all-encompassing planetary document called The Earth Charter. Samantha Smith confirms these developments: At this conference, we were told that an Earth Charter, a Bill of Rights for the Planet, would be presented to the General Assembly of the United Nations for ratification, then hopefully adopted by the year 2000. 17

According to Smith, Maurice Strong, the U.N.'s top environmental activist, referred to The Charter as "a Magna Carta for Earth." 18 Gorbachev goes even further, describing The Charter as a new set of rules to guide humanity. 19 He states, "My hope is that this charter will be a kind of Ten Commandments, a "Sermon on the Mount," that provides a guide for human behavior toward the environment in the next century and beyond." 20

Together with other major environmental legislation already drafted, this document, if accepted, will govern life in the 21st Century.

 

Campaigning in the Heartland

On October 8, 1996 I had the personal opportunity of hearing Gorbachev speak on this subject in Indianapolis, Indiana. I listened as he carefully built his case for environmental reform, calling for a global restructuring to deal with this immense "crisis." A few of his statements follow:

We need a new paradigm of development in which the environment will be a priority... World civilization as we know it will soon end... We have very little time and we must act... If we can address the environment problem, we have hope... but it will have to be done within a new system, a new paradigm... We have to change our mindset-the way humankind views the world.

Gorbachev wasted no time in presenting The Earth Charter as the only solution to the global environmental crisis, asserting that The Charter would "be the basis for changing current values." In order to make this transition into a new global society, people everywhere would have to be educated. He stated that he was already working with UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to introduce new education curriculums in all countries. He also indicated that he was working through his special environmental organization, Green Cross International, to bring about these changes, revealing that chapters of Green Cross were already active in 17 countries with a dozen more countries to be added soon. (His affiliate in the United States is Global Green.) He purported that government organizations throughout the world were already "seeking the involvement of Green Cross International to help solve these problems."

Considered by some to be the most elite of the environmental action groups, Green Cross is at the forefront of working for the ratification and implementation of The Earth Charter. For this reason, The Charter has been dubbed "Gorbachev's baby," even though Maurice Strong initially introduced the document and continues to play a critical role. Although Gorbachev commended his colleagues from The Club of Rome, Green Peace and The World Wildlife Fund for their efforts in trying to get The Charter ratified, his highest praises were reserved for Maurice Strong and Vice President Al Gore - his closest allies in North America. (Researchers on this subject frequently refer to Gorbachev, Strong, and Gore as the "Three Musketeers" of the Environmental Movement; with the understanding that former UN Assistant Secretary General Robert Muller, Prince Philip and Prince Charles also play critical roles in advancing this agenda. ) 21

Strong, who founded the influential Earth Council has worked closely with Gorbachev in overseeing the development and progress of The Earth Charter. Gorbachev confirmed this relationship during his talk, stating, "Since environmental problems are of a global nature we have joined forces with the Earth Council, headed by Maurice Strong." He went on to discuss their joint cooperation with the United Nations, indicating they intended to launch their all out push for The Charter's ratification in 1998, presenting the final draft of The Earth Charter for implementation no later than the year 2002. In giving these dates Gorbachev also revealed his timetable for the start of global government (sometime between 1998 and 2002), since The Charter is slated to be part of that government.

After reprimanding the United States for some of its "isolationist" policies and for not taking a strong enough stand on the environment, he closed by stressing that "The main work is still ahead of us," but that together with him "... the U.S. can play an important role in helping to establish the New International Order."

Gorbachev had mesmerized the crowd. Upon delivering his final words, the audience, consisting of more than 3,000 local dignitaries, erupted in a loud standing ovation as if they agreed with everything he just said. His agenda appeared to be an "easy sell."

To order your copy of The New World Religion, please write to Hope For The World, P.O. Box 899, Noblesville, IN 46061-0899. Or you may call our order line, 317-290-4673, if you wish to use a Visa/MasterCard.

Endnotes

1. Mikhail Gorbachev, Gorbachev: Mandate For Peace (Toronto: PaperJacks, 1987), p. 9
2. Philip C. Bom, The Coming Century of Commonism (Virginia Beach, VA: Policy Books, 1992), p. 113
3. Gorbachev, Perestroika: New Thinking For Our Country and the World (New York: Harper & Row, 1987), pp.35, 66.
4. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev - Who Is He? (Indianapolis, IN: Indianapolis Baptist Temple, October1996, fact sheet) An identical quote, minus the first sentence, may be found in the following source. David B. Funderburk, former U.S. Ambassador to Romania, Betrayal of America (Dunn, NC: Larry McDonald Foundation, 1991), p. 61.
5. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev - Who Is He?
6. For a similar statement by Gorbachev, see Funderburk, Betrayal of America, p. 57. For additional quotes by Gorbachev and other contemporary socialist leaders, see the Soviet Analyst: An Intelligence Commentary, World Reports Limited, Suite 1209, 280 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-0802 (telephone: 212-599-4560).
7. Richard Nixion, 1999: Victory Without War (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988), pp. 29, 30.
8. Ibid., p. 32.
9. Samantha Smith, "Gorbachev Forum Highlights World Government," Hope for the World Update, (Noblesville, IN: Hope for the World, Fall 1995), 2.
10. Ibid., p.2
11. Ibid., p.2
12. Ibid., p.2
13. Ibid., p.2
14. Mikhail Gorbachev, "Environment: Act Globally, Not Nationally," Interview with The Los Angeles Times, (Thursday, May 8, 1997). Green Cross International (web page http://www.gci.ch/GreenCrossFamily/gorby/newspeeches/interviews/laTimes.html [Accessed March 20, 1998]).
15. Green Cross Family, (web page ttp://www.gci.ch/GreenCrossFamily/gorby/gorby.html).
16. Samantha Smith, Journalist, Testimony of her observations from the State of the World Forum (San Francisco, CA: September 27 - October 1, 1995).
17. Smith, "Gorbachev Forum Highlights World Government,", Hope for The World Update, p.2.
18. Ibid., p.2
19. Mikhail Gorbachev, The Earth Charter, Speech, Rio+5 Forum, March 18th, 1997, Earth Council, P.O. Box 2323-1002, San Jose, Costa Rica. (web page http://www.ecouncil.ac.cr/rio5/mar18/gorbachev.html [Accessed February 10, 1998]).
20. Gorbachev, "Environment: Act Globally, Not Nationally," Interview with the Los Angels Times.
21. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has been an outspoken environmentalist for most of his life. In 1961 he became the first president of The World Wildlife Fund (U.K.), serving in that capacity until 1982. From 1981 to 1996 he served as the organization's International President and still acts as President Emeritus. Prince Charles has continued in his father's footsteps. Viewed by many as Europe's most powerful environmental advocate, he is the patron or president of some 200 organizations, covering a wide range of interests, including the environment. In 1990, Charles produced a television special on environmental issues for the British Broadcasting Corporation called The Earth in Balance. (Source: web page http://www.royal.gov.uk/family.htm)