By Frank O'Collins (June 2006)
 
  The Americas (North, Central and South America) are vast lands of extremes- of great mountains, of deserts, of unheralded natural and human created wealth and of extreme poverty. Now, as the Twenty-First Century progresses towards the end of its first decade, the future of the nations of North, Central and South America have never been so intertwined.
  
  The notion of closer union between the nations of the Americas
  
  The idea of closer military, political and economic union between the nations of the Americas is not new. Before any person in Europe had ever espoused such ideals of cooperation, eight nations of Central and South America has already met by 1826 at the Congress of Panama under the vision of Simón Bolívar.
 
  While the plan ultimately failed to materialized, it emphasized the historic threads of enlightenment and revolution that has been the hallmark of the region for two hundred years.
  
  The present day Organisation of American States (OAS) was eventually formed at the Ninth International Conference of American States in Bogotá in 1948. The meeting also adopted the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, the world's first general human rights instrument.
  
  Since its aspirational beginnings, the OAS has steadily moved forwards (and sometimes backwards) in closer cooperation between the various nations of the Americas. The OAS has even voted on its future existence as a common economic community, similar to the European Union, including the vision of common financial instruments. However, such ideas have failed to materialize to the timetable originally hoped.
  
  Why the Americas Union? Why not the continued role of the OAS?
  
  There is no question that the OAS has become far more representative and relevant in the affairs of American states since even fifteen years ago when it was considered merely "Washington's colonial office". The organisation has been instrumental in reducing land mines in South America and has directly assisted many states in their transition to democracies.
  
  But the “Washington” tag in reference to the United States still remains. For every bright hope of a closer union, the OAS moves at an incredibly slow and painful pace. While time was short even five years, now there is no more time to waste.
  
  A common market for the Americas would unlock tremendous wealth and work opportunity for tens of millions. It would revitalize the industry of the United States and Canada while at the same time see significant growth opportunities for the still developing economies of Central and South America.
  
  Beyond mere economics, there also remains the central challenge to continue reforms in human rights, in social services and education. These improvements cannot happen without a strong and clear organisation structure representing the interests of all states.
  
  Beyond social services, one of the most critical issues facing the United States is its own protection. But simply building bigger fences will not stem the tide of immigrants, nor lead to a longer term solution for all of the Americas. It is only when security is improved for all of North, Central and South America can the United States hope to see long term safety.
  
  Again, the Organisation of American States is unable to provide the physical common organs for such military and police cooperation effectively.
  
  The Americas-Union
  
  Science teaches us that when an organism is well structured, its chances of survival and growth exceed one that is poorly adapted for the conditions. The Organisation of American States was an organisation for its time. That time has now passed.
  
  For the sake of the future generations of citizens in all nations of the Americas, from the presently rich to the poor, a new organisation urgently needs to be formed, capable of the structural strength to withstand the barrage of special interests and compromise that inevitably follow nation to nation negotiations.
  
  This is exactly the purpose and destiny of the Americas Union. Formed from the knowledge and wisdom of structures and systems from the very best and recognizing the very worst faults of over engineered documents, the constitution for the Americas Union holds out the promise of real and lasting prosperity for the Americas.
  
  When and how will the Americas-Union be implemented?
  
  In this present generation of leadership in the White House and many American nations, there appears little recognition of history, of implementing key and lasting structures or of any political legacy other than knee-jerk special interest response. Whereas something such as the Americas Union could stand as a lasting legacy to the vision and leadership of a President of the United States and other leaders, the chances of such ideas getting through is highly unlikely.
  
  Instead, the challenge to save the United States and the Americas is almost certain to fall upon the shoulders of their successors- the men and women who will have the courage to join together for the benefit of their citizens and for the sake of their region.
  
  When will this happen? Hopefully sooner than later. In ten years, five years or maybe sooner. The world, the climate is rapidly changing. With such great change, what might seem improbable, even impossible can quickly become real out of necessity.
  

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