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OUR VISION
<br />�Z�.7�E GLOBE DAIL}''�E`YV�
<br />AN INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC NEWSPAPER MONDAY JANUARY 1, 2001 $5.00
<br />WELCOME TO THE NEW MILLENNIUM!!!
<br />COUNTDOWN 2001's VISION HELPS LAUNCH
<br />BRIGHT BEGINNING!
<br />Jan. 1, 2001 New York, Beijing, Sao Paolo, Rome,
<br />Nairobi
<br />Celebrations to welcome the new millenniutr. took place
<br />last night in these and virtually every other major comm u-
<br />nity in the world, concluding on a spectacular note 14 years
<br />of agenda -building activities of the COUNTDOWN 2001
<br />network. Thousands of COUNTDOWN Celebrations
<br />around the world kicked off a new century for humanity
<br />and celebrated the steps that have been taken toward
<br />creating the best possible 21st century.
<br />Al midnight, G.M.T., m0hons of people around the
<br />world linked uppersonaiiyandeiectmnicaify rurCOUNT-
<br />DOWN 2001 Celebrations to usher in the new millennium
<br />they hclpedcm= through COUNTDUWW 2001 prejeca.
<br />For many, thisconcluded whathas been an annual tradition
<br />since the mid-'SOs. At (he beginning of each year, people
<br />have gathered for COUNTDOWN 2001 Celebrations, at
<br />which they assess the human condition, participate in
<br />agenda -building activities, and celebrate the progressLhat
<br />kas been made on the human agenda.
<br />-The Vklon-
<br />Dr. Sherry L. Schiffer, founder of COUNTDUWN
<br />2001, explained last night that she began COUNTDOWN
<br />2001 in I985bocausetherew,saneedfora voice toremind
<br />people everywhere that the futuro belongs to everyone, a
<br />better future is possible, and the future is shared by our
<br />actions.
<br />After surviving a near -death experience, Schiller, a
<br />futures educator by trainctg, decided to dedicate her life to
<br />helping others understand thst their actions --and inac-
<br />tions —would help shape the 21st century. "f thought that
<br />in the mid.'80s the world was standing at a crossroads.
<br />There were diverse paths facing mankind; some leading
<br />toward destruction. some leading toward chaos, and a few
<br />positive paths that could lead humanity to reach is highest
<br />potential," stated Schiller. "Isaw my personal challenge as
<br />helping people recognize the sum of the millennium as the
<br />greatest 'teachable moment' in history, and that if we
<br />worked iogethcrto make prugresson the positive paths, we
<br />could make quantum enormous strides toward beginning
<br />the next ceotury in the best possible condition. Today,
<br />January 1st, 2001, every adult on this planet should be
<br />prepared to answer the question,'Have f been part of the
<br />solution or pan of the problem?'"
<br />-Growth of the Vision -
<br />In its early years, C01rNTDOWN 2C41 was a dream
<br />held andnurwred byasmalf, diversc,and committed group
<br />of people who shared with Schilter the belief that ordinary
<br />people, working together, can do extraordinary things.
<br />Many volunteered immeasurable hours and'ertergy into
<br />launching COUNTDOWN 2001 into the public eye —and
<br />conscience.
<br />Scou Foote, with COIINTDO`NN2001 from its begin.
<br />ning, recalls. "the idea that, 'in the challenge of creating
<br />tomorrow, everyone counts', became widely accepted in
<br />th- tote'80s. Our fast well-kno an national program, the
<br />Agenda for the 21stCentury instructional package, spread
<br />like wildfire in '88 and '89. It was based on the book
<br />Aeenda for the ?I st Century, written by Dr. Rushworth
<br />NI. Kidder of the ("vistfan Science Monitor. His boob
<br />helped focus public attention on the need to build agendas
<br />for the next century. Our insauctional materials, which
<br />included print, video, and electronic components, helped
<br />young people and educators to examine, establish, and act
<br />or, global and personal agendas for the years
<br />ahead.... Today, it is exciting to see so many of those young
<br />people emerging as caring, competent leaders, skillfully
<br />applying what they learned in the Agenda project ten years
<br />ago."
<br />"fn the challenge of creating tomorrow,
<br />eve yone counts !"
<br />"By '89, an idea we had been working on for yews took
<br />shape --a national council on the turn -of -the -century. As
<br />everyone knows now, this council consists of esteemed
<br />individuals whore both visionary thinkers and pragmatic,
<br />asLve leaders from different fields. Back in'88, it was a
<br />novel idea that such a commission could be formed inde-
<br />pendently and for an extended time frame. mthcr than for
<br />Please see COUNTDOWN page 2
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