The Global Country of World Peace (GCWP) is a non-profit organization that claims to promote Transcendental Meditation, education, and the construction of "buildings for peace" in the world's major cities. Inaugurated by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation, on October 7, 2000, the GCWP was originally conceived as "a country without borders for peace-loving people everywhere." It has issued a currency called the "Raam" and its leader is neurologist Tony Nader.
In 2002, the GCWP was incorporated in the state of Iowa, USA with its headquarters in Maharishi Vedic City. It has administrative or educational centres in the U.S., the Netherlands and Ireland.
Mission
According to a report from Bloomberg, the GCWP's tax filings describe its mission as the creation of world peace 'by unifying all nations in happiness prosperity, invincibility, and perfect health'. The mission of the US-based division of the GCWP, according to a 2005 article, is to promote "enlightenment, good health, and peace through the practice of Transcendental Meditation" and to build palaces of peace in 3000 of the world's major cities.
Currency
Raam is a bearer bond and local currency issued by the Global Country of World Peace. It was designed for the development of agricultural projects and to combat poverty in third world countries. As of 2003, it had limited acceptance in some European and U.S. cities. The currency has been used in Iowa and has been also given approval in The Netherlands where more than 100 Dutch shops, department store chains, in 30 villages and cities, are using the notes at a fixed rate of 10 euros per raam.
The Raam is issued in denominations of 1, 5 and 10 Raam, with one Raam equal to 10 Euros in Europe, and one Raam equal to 10 dollars in the U.S. Raam notes are printed by Joh. Enschedé. In 2002, Maharishi Vedic City Mayor Bob Wynne estimated that there was $40,000 worth of Raam in circulation. The Raam differs from other complementary currencies because its focus is on the export of products rather than improving local circulation to benefit the lives of local people. According to the Minister of Finance for the Global Country of World Peace, the Raam "could be used" for agricultural projects in developing nations. CATO Institute currency expert James Dorn expressed doubt about the viability of the plan, suggesting that other economic approaches would be a better way to establish a network of collective farms. According to the issuer, the Raam is also a bearer bond that earns a total of 3% interest after five years (0.6% simple interest annually).
The Raam was used, as of 2003, alongside Euros in accordance with Dutch law in more than 100 shops in the Netherlands. The Raam was convertible in the Netherlands at the Fortis Bank in Roermond. As of 2003, the Dutch Central Bank estimated that there were approximately 100,000 Raam notes in circulation. It also had limited acceptance in the Iowan cities called Maharishi Vedic City and Fairfield. According to Maharishi Global Financing, agreements were made in 2004 with a farmers' association in South America and with traditional leaders in Africa to start using the Raam for agricultural development projects.
Administrative centers
Maharishi Vedic City is the "Capital of the Global Country for World Peace."
The city's plan and building code follow principles of Vedic architecture. Architecture professor Keller Easterling says that Maharishi Vedic City reflects the GCWP's interest in achieving a "benign form of global sovereignty".
From 2004 to 2010 the GCWP owned the American Bank Note Company Building in New York City, USA which it called The Financial Capital of the GCWP. It was intended to be an administrative center for a project to raise funds for 3,000 peace palaces, and hospitals, organic farms, and clinics in developing countries, but over time, its primary use was as a Transcendental Meditation center. When the building became a financial burden it was sold in 2010 and the organization's $5.5 million profit were earmarked for a new Manhattan teaching center and other programs.