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Laurance majored in philosophy at Princeton, the exposure to from his founding of the American Conservation Association (for- "rational scrutiny" causing him to dispense with most of his reli- merly the Conservation Foundation) in 1958, through to his ongo- gious beliefs. After dropping out of Harvard Law School, Laurance _ing financial support for such groups as the Center for Psychology took up the Rockefeller seat on the New York Stock Exchange in and Social Change (CPSC), the California Institute for Integral 1934, where he soon displayed his business acumen, buying large Studies (CIIS), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) stakes in a number of aerospace enterprises including and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Some of McDonnell-Douglas, all of which benefited from wartime and later _ these are clearly activist environmentalist organisations; the others Cold War boosts to national defence expenditures.” Laurance was _ have more esoteric concerns. already a designated beneficiary of the Rockefeller trusts, but his Laurance's projects seem overly ambitious—more like the exper- ventures only added to his wealth. The issue, though, is to what iments of the indulgent rich than anything enduring, though it pays end he intended to deploy it. to be cautious. In 2001, for example, Laurance gave the CIS, for On 27 September 1991, when receiving the Congressional Gold which he is an Honorary Trustee, a grant of US$190,000 for the Medal for contributions to conservation and historical preservation _ Institute's "New Story of the Universe" project. According to the from then President George H. W. Bush, Laurance Rockefeller CIIS website, project co-ordinator Professor Brian Swimme "sees declared that nothing was "more important" to him than the "cre- the amazing the story of the unfolding universe as one that has the ation of a conservation ethic in America".” potential to unite people of all traditions and This might seem a somewhat uncontrover- faiths". Swimme himself was quick to thank sial, even laudable, goal in some quarters his benefactor and make the bold claim that and, in terms of the New World Order, quite his effort to create a "new story of the evolv- close to being irrelevant. In terms of the ing universe" by combining existing religious Rockefeller goal of changing how people and scientific accounts of creation would think, Laurance's proclaimed objective war- "serve as a link in creating an organizing rants a closer look, for such an aim is consis- Laurance Rockefeller mythic framework for the new millennium".* th over Rosa craey.ot | as also raised Lava: as to mse re ha ply, people's thinking must be changed for a more than a few UFO research during the 1990s, some of world state to work. i i which persists to this day. The range of UFO There are only a few tantalising clues as to eyebrows with his organisations and projects he has funded, and this direction in Laurance's efforts, but they much-publicised alleged contacts with the US Government on are worthy of mention. Writing in the A the issue, is worth reviewing:* Reader's Digest in 1976, for example, funding of UFO * In March 1993 Laurance, ted by research during the 1990s, some of which persists to this day. Laurance Rockefeller put forward his case for a "simpler life-style". What he appeared to have in mind, however, was the conformity of the American people to a new set of ideals, a new "ecological ethic": "The last dozen years have been as traumatic and divisive as any in our history. Assassinations, a trag- ic war, a political and economic upheaval have divided and dis- mayed this country. In order to face problems like these, a democ- racy needs themes and common a former naval intelligence officer, reportedly met with Bill Clinton's sci- ence adviser to discuss UFOs and pre- sent a study entitled "Matrix of UFO Belief". * It is alleged that, in August 1995, Laurance discussed the UFO issue at length with President Clinton at his ranch in Wyoming. * From 1993 to 1995, Laurance pro- vided US$500,000 to the CPSC, an organisation run by Dr John Mack, the Harvard psychologist who attracted enormous controversy with his endorse- goals which bring unity and commitment. The emerging eco - ment of the alien abduction theory. logical ethic and the change in life-style which accompany it ¢ Laurance paid for at least two meetings with the Starlight may be such a force.” Group, an organisation comprising former intelligence officers and military personnel who shared an interest in UFOs. Laurance went on to observe that a "new pattern of living" had « Laurance once funded a plan to establish contact with aliens, emerged in the 1970s that included a wide range of recreational not by radio telescope but by signalling them with banks of power- fads such as fitness as well as the growing commitment to environ- ful halogen lamps. mentalist practices such as energy efficiency and recycling. This * Laurance also once held a UFO conference at his ranch in "new pattern", he observed, was proving to be "essential to the Wyoming. well-being of individuals and of the nation". That all Americans + In 1995, Laurance provided US$30,000 to a project by the adopt this new ethic voluntarily was essential, he opined, otherwise | BSW Foundation, created by Marie "Bootsie" Galbraith, wife of "authoritarian" controls might be necessary to stave off environ- investment banker Evan Galbraith and one-time US ambassador to mental and social degradation.* France, to prepare a report on the most reliable evidence about Laurance has pursued this objective further through his own phil- UFOs. The report, titled "Unidentified Flying Objects Briefing anthropic efforts. Although a previous Chairman of the Rockefeller | Document: The Best Available Evidence" and prepared with the Brothers Fund and at times involved in a variety of other organisa- assistance of CUFOS (Center for UFO Studies), FUFOR (Fund for tions including the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Laurance UFO Research) and MUFON (Mutual UFO Network), went to des- has preferred to set his own philanthropic course. This has ranged ignated "leaders of the world" only. much-publicised funding of UFO research during the 1990s, some of which persists to this day. Laurance went on to observe that a "new pattern of living" had emerged in the 1970s that included a wide range of recreational fads such as fitness as well as the growing commitment to environ- mentalist practices such as energy efficiency and recycling. This "new pattern", he observed, was proving to be "essential to the well-being of individuals and of the nation". That all Americans adopt this new ethic voluntarily was essential, he opined, otherwise "authoritarian" controls might be necessary to stave off environ- mental and social degradation.* Laurance has pursued this objective further through his own phil- anthropic efforts. Although a previous Chairman of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and at times involved in a variety of other organisa- tions including the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Laurance has preferred to set his own philanthropic course. This has ranged 32 = NEXUS Laurance Rockefeller has also raised more than a few eyebrows with his www.nexusmagazine.com FEBRUARY — MARCH 2004