MESSAGE FOR WEEK BEGINNING 17th February 2003

Iraq? The French feel, quite rightly, that the world is too Anglo Saxon dominated with the strong alliance of the USA and the UK over Iraq. So there arises the French - German (and Russian) initiative. There is always room for more alternatives and that is why the World Centre for New Thinking is so needed. At the same time there is 'union phenomenon'. The General Secretary of a major union made me aware of this. The more effective a union becomes the less do workers want to join. The thinking is that the union will obtain all the needed benefits and all the workers will then enjoy these benefits. So why bother to join the union and pay the union dues? So if the USA is going to sort out Iraq and that will be done, then the result will benefit all. So why not have the advantage of a different point of view? That might be better for long term trade. This is an unfair view and could be applied to any difference of opinion. That is why alternatives are best put forward in the first place by a neutral body which is not going to benefit in any way.

Edward de Bono nmt
16th February 2003
London