Cultic Studies Review
News Summaries: Unification Church

Vol. 2, No. 1, 2003

Unification Church

Brazilian State Welcomes Moon Investment

Despite the suspicion of federal authorities about Unification Church intentions, a recent investigative report by the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul calls the local business activities of the Rev. Moon’s Association for Unification and World Peace (AFUPM) “an excellent opportunity.”

 

Last May, Brazilian authorities, following former AFUPM employees’ allegations, raided the organization’s offices on suspicion of tax evasion and immigration violations. The government then said it might expropriate AFUPM-owned land along the Paraguay border.

 

But the Mato Grosso state report — while promising to monitor AFUPM activities, and reserving the right to approve them — focused on the potential economic benefits AFUPM might bring to the region and the money that the organization has already invested there. The report said that AFUPM activities may involve research into medical herbs, cosmetics, a biotechnology lab, assembly plants for computers and semi-conductors, and educational facilities. The report emphasized the need to “safeguard the right of Brazil to patent products developed here, with the provision of royalties to the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.” (UPI, Internet, 12/19/02) [UPI is owned by a Unification Church-controlled company.]

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