(18 March 2003) Dr John Hagelin, world-renowned quantum physicist and presidential nominee of the Natural Law Party in 2000, announced his plans to establish a "US Peace Government". The new government will be headed by America's foremost scientists, doctors, and educators, whose primary focus will be to create prevention-oriented, problem-free administration in the nation.

"The US Peace Government will be a second, complementary government, and will not usurp the responsibilities of the current administration, which is largely concerned with crisis management," Dr Hagelin said. "Instead, the US Peace Government will promote the deep scientific principles of prevention-oriented, problem-free administration, and it will implement practical programmes that have been scientifically proven to prevent problems in all areas of society, including in education, health care, and defence."

Dr Hagelin's announcement came during the weekly global news conference of His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi last Wednesday. Maharishi said Dr Hagelin's initiative will bring "the higher intelligence of Natural Law to the administration of the nation to make America a blessing for the world."

Dr Hagelin will answer questions about the US Peace Government during Maharishi's next global news conferences on 19 and 20 March which will be broadcast live on all continents via satellite, Internet webcast, and teleconference call (see below for details).

The US Peace Government will be the American affiliate of the Global Country of World Peace, which was established two years ago by Maharishi as "a nation without borders for peace-loving people everywhere". The Global Country of World Peace offers governments the profound scientific knowledge and programmes of total Natural Law available in Maharishi's Vedic Science to promote prevention-oriented, problem-free administration in every country. Dr Hagelin serves as the Minister of Science and Technology of the Global Country of World Peace.

Dr Hagelin said that he is seeking two to four top scientists, educators, health care professionals, and other experts in each of the 50 states "who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the public good, and who possess the deep knowledge of total Natural Law - the Unified Field - and the practical competence to lead society in a peaceful and evolutionary direction." These scientists will be the Cabinet-level representatives of the US Peace Government.

Dr Hagelin explained the twofold purpose of the US Peace Government. "The establishment of this knowledge-based Peace Government is, in part, to replace our corrupt, money-driven system with the principle of a 'meritocracy' - leadership by the competent. But its primary purpose is to engage the higher intelligence of Natural Law - the Constitution of the Universe - to raise man-made government to be on a par with Nature's Government, which administers the ever-expanding universe with perfect order."

Dr Hagelin called on America's top scientists, health care professionals, and educators to take action. "America needs your knowledge and enlightened leadership at this very critical time. We cannot stand idle and witness the precipitous decline of America's standing in the family of nations, the dangerous erosion of national and global security, the failure of education, the collapse of health care. We who are blessed with world-transforming knowledge of the deepest principles of Nature's Government, who know how to prevent problems, and who are experts in the field of peace must rise up and fulfil our leadership responsibility."

Dr Hagelin concluded his appeal by saying that Cabinet members will hold exalted, dignified roles of leadership through knowledge. "We will transform the destiny of our nation through the theoretical understanding, and practical utilisation, of total Natural Law - the Unified Field - the ultimate level of science and technology. And although the new Peace Government will become popularly known as America's second government, history will reveal that it is, in fact, America's first government. For it is our Peace Government, with its crucial contributions to the fields of education, health, defence, and every other area, that will silently prevent problems and uphold the nation in Natural Law."

Maharishi praised Dr Hagelin as a great scientist who can save the nation. "Dr Hagelin is making a practical appeal to establish a second government and create prevention-oriented, problem-free administration in America. Just as there are those who are crying out to destroy, Dr Hagelin is crying out to save his country and the world. He will be successful because he is knowledgeable about the deep principles of Natural Law and their practical applications to prevent problems - and because his call is real and sincere. As soon as the second government is in place to bring the higher intelligence of Natural Law to the administration of America, the nation will be a blessing for the whole world family."