As we enter the third Millennium we carry into it the most phenomenal advances in science and technology the world has yet seen. Just imagine that at the start of this century, in the years 1900-1901 radio, television, telephone, air transport and the computer were either unknown or in their embryonic scientific form. Now, as we approach 2000 A.D. we have super technologies which this generation takes for granted which, were our great, great grandparents resurrected to see them, they would not believe their eyes.
Nuclear power, space exploration, supersonic aircraft, facsimile transmissions, computer and information technology, the Internet, satellite and global communication, open- heart surgery, transplant surgery -and the list could go on and on- all are examples of the tremendous advances in science and technology which have characterized the 20th century.
But at the same time, we are also carrying into the 21st century unprecedented levels of violent crime, lawlessness and the criminal potential to counterfeit and abuse almost all financial systems and many other things besides.
We are carrying into the third Millennium unrivalled levels of abuse and new disease patterns. The chronic degenerative diseases, such as heart attack, cancer, diabetes and hypertension continue to kill millions yearly. New viral illnesses such as HIV, Ebola and others, and the resurgence of old infectious diseases, such as TB, pose massive threats to global health and economy.”
(Dr. Elliot Douglin, The New World Economic Order, 1997, p.2)