“Take Me to Your Leader” A Proposed Earth Council by
Kim MacDermotRoe

In light of the long history of documented UFO encounters and the recent revelations of the United States government regarding UFO’s including videos and testimony by current and former military, it is not unreasonable to believe that there is some likelihood, not only, that Extra-Terrestrials have visited Earth, but also, that at some point in the not too distant future ETs will formally establish communication with the people of Earth.

The prospect of encountering ETs is extremely exciting and holds promise for a wonderful future. However, history is replete with examples of peoples who were destabilized and sometimes destroyed in the course of First Contact with peoples possessing superior technology. And we must assume that ETs arriving at Earth have superior technology as they possess travel capabilities far beyond those presently available to Earth’s people.

While there is good reason to suspect that ETs that have visited Earth do not wish to harm us, the people of Earth ought to be prepared for a worst case scenario – that is that ETs may wish to extract benefits from the occupation of Earth regardless of the consequences to its inhabitants. Earth should “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

As is clearly understood in the military and in other critical activities, thorough preparation, including planning and training, are essential to achieving the best possible outcome in confronting a challenge. Since organizing Earth nations and preparing for First Contact may take several years, this work should start now when people can think clearly and work calmly rather than waiting for a crisis to develop and being forced to respond unprepared.

In preparing for First Contact, first, one needs to address that age old meme, “Take me to your leader”. Indeed, who will represent the peoples of Earth in relations with ETs? And, specifically, is the United Nations the right institution for the task or is a new organization necessary and, if so, how would it operate?

Let’s first take a look at the United Nations as a possible representative for the people of Earth.

The United Nations was created over 70 years ago in the aftermath of World War II. It consists of a General Assembly with ambassadors from 193 nations, a so-called Security Council and a Secretariat. While on the surface the UN, through the General Assembly, appears to be representative of the nations of the Earth and their people, it is not. In fact, all significant power in the UN is still retained by the World War II victors, the United States, Russia, China, England and France through their permanent membership on the UN’s all powerful Security Council. See UN Charter Chapter V, Articles 25-32.

No resolution of the General Assembly can take effect without approval by the Security Council. UN Charter, Chapter IV, Articles 9-22. Furthermore, each of five Security Council’s permanent members possesses veto power. So a resolution approved overwhelmingly by the General Assembly can and has in the past been nullified by a single permanent Security Council member even if supported by the other Security Council members.

Additionally, executive power of the UN, also, resides in the Security Council’s five permanent members. While the Secretariat might sound like an executive branch of government, it has no independent power under the UN Charter. UN Charter, Chapter XV, Articles 97-101.

The UN Charter designates the International Court of Justice as the UN’s principal judicial organ. UN Charter, Chapter XIV, Article 92. However, the Court has no authority to check the power of the Security Council’s permanent members since its jurisdiction is limited to controversies between nations that both parties agree to submit to the Court. Statute of the International Court of Justice, Chapter II, Article 36

Thus, the UN lacks the checks and balances of government present in democratic societies through the separation of powers – typically through three branches – the executive, the legislative and the judicial. In the United States these three branches are quite distinct while in parliamentary countries the executive leaders, also, sit in the legislature. However, in parliamentary countries the leaders are, not only, subject to judicial review, but also, may be publicly challenged in open debate in the legislature by other members of Parliament.

The 188 UN member nations who are not permanent Security Council members are quite aware that the General Assembly is little more than a debating society. Although many of these countries frequently protest their lack of power, they are somewhat mollified by the thousands of patronage opportunities in the UN’s vast, complex and largely ineffective bureaucracy.

Since any one of the five permanent Security Council members can block any proposed amendment to the UN Charter which would reduce their power, it is very unlikely that the UN can be reformed to make it a more representative organization. Thus, it appears that a new global organization is needed to represent the Earth in ET relations.

The following draft Constitution for an Earth Council is an attempt to create a structure for such a global organization. The draft Constitution is followed by FAQs to help explain its provisions. It is hoped that this proposed Constitution will stimulate a public discussion leading to a consensus of Earth people on a global approach to ET relations.

Proposed Earth Council Constitution

Article I
Purposes

We the people of Earth through our national governments create this Earth Council for the following purposes:

1. to represent us in our relations with Extra-Terrestrials beings (ETs) so that we can speak with one voice,

2. to ensure that all relations with ETs are transparent so that the public may be fully informed,

3. to protect Earth and all its inhabitants from intentional or unintentional threats presented by ETs,

4. to ensure that technology derived directly or indirectly from ET sources is available to all nations and people of Earth on a non-profit basis, and

5. to ensure that Earth plays a constructive role as a member of the cosmic community. Our guiding principle is respect for all life forms.

Article II
Membership

All Earth nations are welcome as members. Membership must be approved by the applicant’s legislature or in a plebiscite.

Nation members are represented by their highest elected official so as to ensure that the representatives reflect the will of their people.

Article III
Powers

The Council has the following powers:

1. to negotiate and enter into treaties with ETs on behalf of Earth subject to the treaty ratification procedures each nation requires,

2. to conduct on-going diplomatic relations with ETs on behalf of Earth,

3. to organize and coordinate the military defense of Earth from ET threats,

4. to study health threats to life on Earth that may arise from ET contact and to coordinate needed responses, and

5. to coordinate the monitoring of celestial objects that might endanger Earth and to organize needed responses to the approach of those objects.

The Council has no authority to intervene in the internal affairs of any nation, nor to infringe on the human rights of any person.

Article IV
Meetings

1. Council meetings shall be held at such time as may be agreed upon by its members.

2. Council meetings shall generally be virtual – through interactive electronic media to reduce costs, to promote flexibility in scheduling and to guard against centralization of power in any nation. However, the Council by majority vote may call an in-person meeting when deemed necessary.

3. National leaders shall be personally present at Council meetings and not have an ambassador take their place.

4. Absentee or proxy voting is not permitted.

5. The public has the right to view meetings of the Council or its committees.

Article V
Officers

1. President

The Council shall elect a President who shall serve for a two year term with a maximum of two consecutive terms. The President presides at Council meetings. The President acts as the official spokesperson for the Council in relations with ETs and must follow the Council’s instructions in representing Earth.

2. Secretary

The members shall elect a Secretary who shall serve for a two year term with a maximum of two consecutive terms. The Secretary notifies members of meetings, makes technical arrangement for meetings, maintains records of meetings, as well as, records of correspondence and transactions of the Council. The Secretary is, also, responsible for insuring technical support for Council meetings held electronically.

3. If the President is unable to complete their term, the Secretary will succeed as President to complete the President’s term. The Council will immediately elect a new Secretary to fill a vacancy caused by the departure of the President or by the inability of a Secretary to complete their term.

4. Treasurer

1. The Treasurer shall collect members’ assessments, maintain the Council’s financial accounts and records, and pay authorized Council disbursements.

Article VI
Administration

Support work for Council members, committees or the Defense Coordination Group, such as research on proposed treaties or defense planning, shall normally be performed by staff within member governments. However, expenses of the Secretary in connection with their function shall be borne by the nations in proportion to their voting weight.

To avoid bureaucratization and centralization of power, there shall be no permanent staff for the Council, nor shall there be a permanent headquarters.

Article VII
Records

All meeting records and other records of the Council or its committees are open to the public.

The finances of the Council shall be examined by independent auditors annually and their report shall be available to the public.

Article VIII
Voting

• 

The quorum requirement for Council meetings is the presence of members constituting 1/3 of the weighted vote and 1⁄2 of the nations.

Article IX
Committees

The Council may establish such committees as may be deemed helpful. As with the Council, members must be represented at committee meetings by their national leader and all staff work must be performed by personnel of the member nations.

Committees may present reports to the Council, as well as, proposals for action requiring a Council vote.

Article X
Presenting Proposals

Any Council member may present a proposal to the Council for consideration as long as it receives three seconds. The President will have the discretion to set the debate time for any proposal so that all matters may receive consideration. A decision by the President to cut-off debate on an issue can be overridden by a majority vote of the Council

Article XI
Jurisdiction over Extra-Terrestrials

An ET committing a wrongful act against an individual or other legal entity under Earth national or international civil or criminal law shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the apply. If the wrongdoer committed his act on behalf or while in the service of an ET government, that ET government will be jointly liable along with the wrongdoer for any damages, as well as, subject to appropriate penalties and sanctions.

Article XII
Earth Defense Coordination Group

An Earth Defense Coordination Group shall be established for the following purposes:

1. to study the nature of possible ET military threats, to examine possible defense options and share the results of these studies with all Earth nations,

2. to conduct command exercises involving interested member nations to test command response to different threat scenarios,

3. to share national intelligence relevant to ET threats,

4. to exchange information regarding weaponry, logistics and infrastructure construction and protection that may be useful in developing a coordinated defense to an ET threat,

5. to encourage members to engage in mutual support with respect to training, equipment and infrastructure development that would be helpful in meeting an ET military threat, and

6. to coordinate a global military response to an ET threat in the event of armed conflict.

Power limitation

The Earth Defense Coordination Group is under the control of the Council and it may only act on matters of global defense from ET’s. It may not intervene in any internal disputes between member nations and it may not take any military action without Council approval.

Membership

Membership on the Earth Defense Coordination Group shall consist of two representatives, a Regional Representative and Deputy Regional Representative from each of the following Earth regions:

1. Africa

2. Asia East

3. Asia Central

4. Asia West

5. Europe

6. North America

7. South and Central America

The Regional Representatives and Deputy Regional Representatives shall be chosen from Chairs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the region by the representatives of the nations in the region. In choosing the Representatives and Deputy Representatives substantial consideration should be given to the number of military personnel at risk in each nation in the event of armed conflict.

Command and Control in Conflict

In the event of an armed conflict with ET’s, the Earth Defense Coordination Group shall select from its members a senior commander to carry out its directives in the conflict. He will act through the Regional Representatives. The Regional Representatives will act through the Joint Chiefs in each member nation of the region who will remain subject to the civilian leaders of their respective nations.

Article XIII
Amendment of Constitution

This Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 weighted vote of the members. Any substantive amendment must be approved by the national legislatures of the members in the manner required for the approval of treaties.

Effective Date of the Council Establishment

The Earth Council shall be deemed to in effect when nations representing a majority of the potential weighted vote of all nations join.

FAQs

1. Is the Earth Council a world government?

No. Its purpose is limited to representing the people of Earth in ET relations, to help plan and coordinate Earth defense and to ensure that any benefits derived from ETs are available to all people without profit. The Earth Council is specifically barred from interfering with the internal affairs of its member nations. Proposed Earth Council Constitution, Article I.

The Council’s guiding principle is respect for all life forms and its goal is for Earth to play a constructive role in the cosmic community. In carrying out its mission, it has an obligation to protect Earth from harm either intentional or unintentional arising from ET sources. Ibid.

2. How is it more representative?

All nations are represented in the Council by their elected leader. There is no executive committee such as the UN’s Security Council.

Each nation’s membership must be approved by its people – either through the legislature or plebiscite as they prefer. This is to ensure that the Council’s existence is based on the will of the people. Ibid, Article II.

A fundamental historical truth is that there is strength in unity. Earth will be much more effective in dealing with ETs if it speaks with a single voice that truly represents its people.

3. How is power in the Council apportioned?

Every nation gets to vote. However, in fairness, a nation with hundreds of millions of people should not have the same voting power as a country with less than one million.

The suggested vote weighting formula gives more weight to large nations than small but is not strictly proportional by population. If the vote weight were strictly proportional, the most populous nations, e.g. China and India would outweigh small countries by more than 100 to 1. The suggested weighting formula is an attempt to compromise – something like in the U.S. Constitution where small colonies were induced to joined the new federal system through equal representation in the Senate. Ibid, Article VIII.

4. Is there an overall leader?

Yes, but the Council President’s power is limited to presiding at Council meetings and acting as the Council’s spokesman in ET relations. His representation must follow the Council’s direction and treaties must be approved by the Council. Ibid, Article V, (1). Treaties must, also, be approved the people of the member states in accord with their respective national laws. Ibid, Article III, (1).

5. Will the Council engender an expensive, inefficient bureaucracy? No. The Constitution has provisions to forestall this.

For example, the Council is to have no permanent staff. Staff work is to be performed by staff in individual nations.

Additionally, the Council has no permanent headquarters. Meetings will generally take place electronically. In person meetings, if necessary, will take place in countries that offer to host them.

Council expenses are limited to relatively small items, such those relating to tech support for meetings and the required audit of the Council’s accounts. With such modest expenses, all nations should be able to afford the small assessment proportional to its ability to pay. Ibid, Articles IV and VI.

6. How are the people of Earth legally protected if harmed by ETs?

Any nation or person is expressly empowered to bring a civil or criminal legal action against ETs to remedy injury or punish criminal behavior. As the Council respects national sovereignty, these actions would proceed in national courts under national and, if relevant, international law. The nation with jurisdiction over a case would be the nation where the wrongdoing occurred or, where the injured person resides. Council Constitution, Article XI.

This provision would cover injuries caused by non-consensual medical treatment such as been frequently reported by UFO abductees. ETs could not thwart Earth jurisdiction by asserting the injurious act occurred off Earth since jurisdiction can be based, not only, on the where the act occurred, but also, on the residence of the victim.

Abduction and non-consensual medical treatment of people is, not only, an injustice to the individual involved, but also, an affront to the sovereignty of Earth. It is not necessary to pass new laws to prosecute such acts as they are illegal under, both, national and international law. With respect to the latter, see, for example, Point 1 of the Nuremberg Code on medical experimentation enunciated after the post-World War II war crimes trials in Nuremberg, Germany.

7. What about defense?

Based upon past UFO activity, it does not appear that ETs have a hostile intent towards Earth. However, prudence requires that Earth be prepared for any eventuality.

Consequently, the draft Earth Council Constitution includes a Defense Coordination Group to be composed of 14 Joint Chiefs of Staff drawn from around the world. Their task is to help nations prepare for possible war with ETs and to coordinate operationally in the event war occurs. Proposed Earth Council Constitution, Article XII.

To ensure that the DCG is not monopolized by one superpower, the Group is composed of two representatives from each of seven regions of the Earth. These representatives are military Joint Chiefs of Staff selected by the other Chiefs within their region with due regard for those nations who will provide the largest military force in the event of war.

In accord with the Council’s respect for national sovereignty, the DCG will not exercise operational control over national militaries. However, the Group can play a crucial role in preparing for a possible ET military conflict in various ways and in coordinating national forces should such a conflict occur, including:

1. Threat assessment

Based upon UFO observations and assumptions about the military capabilities of advanced space faring races, what weaponry are ET’s likely to possess? What advanced weapons possessed by Earth might be effective against ET weaponry? How might Earth weaponry be most effectively utilized?

2. Hardening IT assets

How can Earth’s communication and other IT systems, whether civilian or military, be protected against the damaging effects of weapons such as electromagnetic pulse bombs?

3. Protecting Power Generation

What type of power source and distribution system is best designed to survive an ET attack? Should power generation and distribution be decentralized to reduce the vulnerability of communities to outages?

4. Scenarios

The DCG should prepare studies of various scenarios of ET conflicts. Among them would be a high tech conflict where the most advanced national weapons systems, especially air to ground guided missiles, would provide a coordinated response to an ET attack. Another scenario would be a lopsided conflict with a technologically superior adversary in which the Earth would have to resort to asymmetrical warfare to defend itself.

The asymmetrical warfare scenario calls for a very high degree of planning and preparation. Nations would have to anticipate decentralized warfare on a local basis in hopes that the hostile ET forces could be worn down by attrition. This approach would call for significant changes in current defense policy, such as, revising training to emphasize basic combat skills, a shifting of spending from expensive weapons systems to small arms and training, and relocating, dispersing and downsizing military bases.

5. Encourage mutual support

Earth’s greatest asset in dealing with ET’s is global unity. Division and internecine Earth conflict is the Earth’s greatest weakness.

The Council, through the DCG and otherwise, should encourage nations to help their neighbors prepare for conflict with ETs by sharing planning and training resources and maintaining a continuing dialogue on ET defense issues. Additionally, the Council’s DCG could be the point of contact in wartime for the global distribution of important strategic and tactical information. In preparing for and engaging in a conflict, everyone’s attitude toward their neighbor should be “I’ve got your six”.

Kim MacDermotRoe, a graduate of Princeton and Columbia Law School served as an Assistant Attorney General of New York State and as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps. Kim can be reached at kmacdermotroe@gmail.com.

Copyright Kim MacDermotRoe 2020