This article appears in the January 26, 2024 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.
[Print version of this article]
Schiller Institute International Youth Dialogue—
‘2024 and 2074:
A New Paradigm for the Next Fifty Years’
Jan. 20—An extraordinary international event took place today, hosted by the Schiller Institute, titled, “2024 and 2074—A New Paradigm for the Next Fifty Years; International Youth Dialogue with Helga Zepp-LaRouche.” The three-hour discussion was a hybrid forum based on a live audience in New York City, with online participants, including in groups, from around the world, for a combined audience of real-time attendees numbering well over 250. At least 20 countries, representing all continents, were represented, from China to Afghanistan to Chile.
Moderated by Schiller Institute U.S.A. President Megan Dobrodt, the first hour featured an address to youth by Schiller Institute founder Zepp-LaRouche. Then came both prepared messages and spontaneous exchanges from many individuals and nations.
The occasion is historic, for the depth of thought and mission, as seen in the assent to Zepp-LaRouche’s appeal, “World citizens of all countries unite! Put the world in order!” The consensus in closing, was to form an international contact network for follow-up, to confer on joint and individual action. In particular, Zepp-LaRouche urged everyone to actively support the case put before the UN World Court (the International Court of Justice at The Hague, Netherlands) Jan. 11, by South Africa, that Israel’s continuing violation of the 1948 Convention on Genocide in Gaza be acknowledged and stopped. “South Africa has preserved the conscience of humanity,” she said.
As of the time that the Schiller Institute event convened, bombings had occurred over the previous 24 hours in four countries in Southwest Asia. This portends a short road to world war, unless the escalation and underlying process are ended. This morning, the United States bombed Yemen for the seventh time, striking near the port of Hodeidah. Israel bombed Syria near Damascus, and also bombed southern Lebanon, as well as Gaza.
Underscoring the venality of these actions, President Joe Biden’s National Security Council spokesman John Kirby yesterday stated at a White House press conference:
We don’t believe a ceasefire is going to be to the benefit of anybody but Hamas. We do support humanitarian pauses, as I said, to try to get hostages out and more aid in. But we don’t support a ceasefire at this time.
Zepp-LaRouche began her remarks by referring to this crisis, as the great threat to the very existence of the world. But at the same time, she went on, we have reason “to be joyful, because the old ‘rules-based order’ is failing, and a new, better paradigm is emerging for all humanity.” Therefore, you can say that we are living “in one of the most incredible moments” ever in history.
Following this, she gave a thorough briefing, including the history of how today’s multiple crises came about, especially since the 1990s; the importance of philosophical method, including the significance of Nicholas of Cusa and his “coincidence of opposites” approach to overcoming perceived conflict; and the primacy of human creativity and culture. She urged everyone to study Cusa and other great minds, especially that of Lyndon LaRouche. She asserted, there is an “inherent right to development” of human beings and nations. This is the answer to the question of “what is the source of wealth.”
Many speakers then followed, with reports, questions, expressions of greetings, appreciation, and hope. A video was received from Yemen, prepared by several young women, including officers of the BRICS Youth Parliament there. A young woman, Lyu Nanzhu, spoke from the All-China Youth Federation. She called for an end to violence in Gaza and all points of war. Bernhard Perschl, a farmer in Germany, provided his video of tractors taking off in the heavy snow, heading for a mass protest demonstration. He reported there will be another mass protest rally Jan. 28. The farmers are demanding the right to produce food. The population stands with them for a productive economy. Many others spoke, from Africa to Mexico and South America.
In closing, Zepp-LaRouche made the point that good relations among nations and people emerges from a dialogue of the best of their cultures. This principle was observed in the musical offering opening the forum. Attendees in New York City sang Jesu, meine Freude, the great German chorale from the 17th-Century of the Thirty Years’ War and the Peace of Westphalia, beautifully harmonized decades later by the master, J.S. Bach.