United Nations??

Question

Why do some say the UN is the answer.

Answer 1

Whole libraries are there to glorify UN. But the flip side is not covered so comprehensively.There is no better way than to dwell into the origin of UN that succeeded 'League of nations'.

It is like saying that the glass is somewhat full or the glass is somewhat empty; it may be half or one third empty.

Without cataloging episodes that showed UN redundant, as that would run into thousands of pages, we will touch the broad contours. Imperialism is the prevailing phenomenon in mid-twentieth century, on which two great wars were fought. As a knee-jerk reaction these world bodies were proposed and formed. Whether stated or not prevention of war is implied in the formation. While doing so all altruistic motives were given a clean burial. UN is the illicit offspring of imperialism. Security Council is the embodiment of imperial mind-set. Conscious of their loss of empires these handful of member nations wanted to consolidate their position for all time to come, hoping that their entrenched positions will somehow endure. Their charitable visage is meant to humour the new entrants who are not well-versed with the imperial ways. Failures of General assembly (GA) and Security (SC) Council were significant while the successes were not so. But international developments have their own way of emerging, catching even the all-knowing with their pants down. When one exploitation led to another (Imperialism to exploitation through trade), certain surprises also are in store. Prosperity fanned by favourable trade winds have priced out their articles of trade. Now their own companies who have collectively acquired a life of their own, independent of the governance, are in a rat race for cheaper locations for production. UN unmoved by this rapacity is a mute spectator. The regional wars that erupted like bad rash are not showing signs of any subsidence, trapping those who started it all, to clutch at any grass to pull them out of the mire that is their own making. In all these UN was largely bypassed, being supplanted by NATO which is the most potent after-birth of twentieth century imperialism. Even the norms for election or selection for the post of Secretary-General whenever it fell vacant are coming down rung by rung. Now it has become a farce. With overwhelming majority of humanity shut out from these activities, functioning of UN has become a laughable charade, what with begging or bargaining for funds.

For every dollar spent for humanitarian work, three, four or five dollars are spent on administering this aid. So, more the global misery, plumper and redder the cheeks of UN personnel doing such work.

Anyone if only to know the facts genuinely, should list all contemporary issues and dispassionately write against each, what is UN role,  keeping clear of the trivialities. Only those who have an entrenched interest in the status quo say that UN is the answer. Because they believe in the Murphy's dictum "Smile (today)! it can be worse tomorrow"

Answer 2

better than the league of nations which was a laugh, but even the EU isnt that great either, but the UN does do alot its just its never reported why? who would want to hear about a peace keeping mission with no guns fired just aid being flown in to a war torn country, and everything turns out okay, i mean come on that just sounds to upbeat for the news doesnt it?

Answer 3

the UN is a good step.  But it would be better if there was a minimum condition for being a mamber.  For example something like all countries would have to basically adopt the US consititution before being admitted.  Considering where we came from we are in a great place... so there is nothing to worry about... But we still have a long way to go to improve things... But what is the rush?  Maybe this is just as good as it gets or things would be better.  If no power including the US or the United Nations can make things better then maybe we should not worry and accept this as the currrent condtion be happy that things are better now relative to most of the human history and patiently as for more justice and reduction of suffering of all.

Answer 4

united we stand divided we fall

i just wish America would be a little more respectful of their judgment (at the moment)

but if they were to become like a global n**i empire, i would certainly change my tune

Answer 5

Because the question is:

What international organization is completely paralyzed and spineless in the face of true evil?

Then, the answer is the UN. Just ask the right question. :)

Answer 6

The UN is impotent.

Answer 7

why do some say the UN.

Answer 8

In Europe there was constant war between small countries.

What started ww2 was when Germany invaded poland.

Germany has 137,753 sq. miles

Poland has 120,725  sq. miles  so that is smaller than most of our states.  In the USA.

California has 158,706 sq. miles and say it attacked Arizona that has 114,000 sq. miles?

Abraham Lincoln could see that happening, and decided to make a federal government, and that started a civil war.

But it was as he said a war to end all wars.  Which it did.

when was the last time you heard of say Texas invading New Mexico?  Yet in the middle east and in Eurpope it happens all the time.  Africa is a lot of very small countries that have been at war since the beginning of time.

So we have to ask, why doesn't the states war with each other?  Because the federal government settles disputes in a court of law.  Rather than sending a bunch of men to die killing each other over a complaint two political men have with each other.

So the principal of if there was a central government or court for the world it would stop war.  Which makes sense except for the fact no one gives them any power to make changes.

If two small counties in Africa had a problem with each other over rulership or power or food supplies.

Let's say Chad and Sudan, then take it to court and each side give their reasons for not liking the other country.

People who are totally don't care like say someone from detroit michigan who doesn't even know anything about Africa and a jury of like indivuals.  Hears both sides and then decides who is right and who is wrong and how to fix it.

So everybody is happy.  Then the whole world makes them abide by that decision.  Giving the UN that power.

If say Chad says No.  Then they have to go to war with the world.  

When the UN told the USA to stay out of Iraq they should have listened.  It caused the UN to not have power to settle things.  When one nation doesn't listen, it causes the whole idea to not work.

And it never will work because there are to many men who have to have power to decide decisions rather than turn those problems over to a court of law.

Answer 9

The UN is good for nothing

Answer 10

World Government is a cool sci-fi idea. And it works in Star Trek!

In practice, we get the U.N. which is pretty much like a green party candidate with all the power he could ever hope for, stuck in the middle of a jungle gym made of red-tape in the middle of the sahara, with old fat bald men throwing rocks at him.

They mean well. really.

I think The European Union is the answer.

EDIT!!!:

This guy under me has no idea what would happen if adopting the US constitution became a pre-req for UN membership. Thats Genocide. =]

Answer 11

The answer to what?

And by the UN, do you mean just the Security Council, which is the only UN body with any power? Or do you mean the General Assembly, which is just a discussion forum that cannot pass any binding resolutions? Or the individual UN agencies, such as UNHCR, UNIFEM, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, WFP, WHO, etc., which all operate largely independently?

Answer 12

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. The UN was founded in 1945 to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between nations and to provide a platform for dialogue.

There are now 192 member states, including almost every recognized independent state. From its headquarters on international territory within New York City, the UN and its specialized agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout the year. The organization is divided into administrative bodies, primarily:

    * The General Assembly (the main deliberative assembly);

    * The Security Council (decides certain resolutions for peace and security);

    * The Economic and Social Council (assists in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development);

    * The Secretariat (provides studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN);

    * The International Court of Justice (the primary judicial organ).

The United Nations was founded as a successor to the League of Nations, which was widely considered to have been ineffective in its role as an international governing body, in that it had been unable to prevent World War II.

The term "United Nations" (which appears in stanza 35 of Canto III of Byron's Childe Harold's Pilgrimage) was decided by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill during World War II, to refer to the Allies. Its first formal use was in the 1 January 1942 Declaration by the United Nations, which committed the Allies to the principles of the Atlantic Charter and pledged them not to seek a separate peace with the Axis powers. Thereafter, the Allies used the term "United Nations Fighting Forces" to refer to their alliance.

The idea for the UN was espoused in declarations signed at the wartime Allied conferences in Moscow, Cairo, and Tehran in 1943. From August to October 1944, representatives of France, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union met to elaborate the plans at the Dumbarton Oaks Estate in Washington, D.C. Those and later talks produced proposals outlining the purposes of the organization, its membership and organs, and arrangements to maintain international peace and security and international economic and social cooperation.

On 25 April 1945, the UN Conference on International Organization began in San Francisco. In addition to the governments, a number of non-governmental organizations were invited to assist in drafting the charter. The 50 nations represented at the conference signed the Charter of the United Nations two months later on 26 June. Poland had not been represented at the conference, but a place had been reserved for it among the original signatories, and it added its name later. The UN came into existence on 24 October 1945, after the Charter had been ratified by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the Republic of China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States — and by a majority of the other 46 signatories. That these countries are the permanent members of the Security Council, and have veto power on any Security Council resolution, reflects that they are the main victors of World War II or their successor states: the People's Republic of China replaced the Republic of China in 1971 and Russia replaced the Soviet Union in 1991.

Initially, the body was known as the United Nations Organization, or UNO. However, by the 1950s, English speakers were referring to it as the United Nations, or the UN.

The General Assembly is the main deliberative assembly of the United Nations. Composed of all United Nations member states, the assembly meets in regular yearly sessions under a president elected from among the member states. Over a two-week period at the start of each session, all members have the opportunity to address the assembly. Traditionally, the Secretary-General makes the first statement, followed by the president of the assembly. The first session was convened on 10 January 1946 in the Westminster Central Hall in London and included representatives of 51 nations.

When the General Assembly votes on important questions, a two-thirds majority of those present and voting is required. Examples of important questions include: recommendations on peace and security; election of members to organs; admission, suspension, and expulsion of members; and, budgetary matters. All other questions are decided by majority vote. Each member country has one vote. Apart from approval of budgetary matters, resolutions are not binding on the members. The Assembly may make recommendations on any matters within the scope of the UN, except matters of peace and security that are under Security Council consideration.

Conceivably, the one state, one vote power structure could enable states comprising just eight percent of the world population to pass a resolution by a two-thirds vote. However, as no more than recommendations, it is difficult to imagine a situation in which a recommendation by member states constituting just eight percent of the world's population, would be adhered to by the remaining ninety-two percent of the population, should they object.

The Security Council is charged with maintaining peace and security among countries. While other organs of the United Nations can only make 'recommendations' to member governments, the Security Council has the power to make binding decisions that member governments have agreed to carry out, under the terms of Charter Article 25. The decisions of the Council are known as United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The Security Council is made up of 15 member states, consisting of five permanent seats and ten temporary seats. The permanent five are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. These members hold veto power over substantive but not procedural resolutions allowing a permanent member to block adoption but not to block the debate of a resolution unacceptable to it. The ten temporary seats are held for two-year terms with member states voted in by the General Assembly on a regional basis. The presidency of the Security Council is rotated alphabetically each month.

Answer 13

We should send them all packing.

Answer 14

I don't understand why anyone would be against the UN. The UN has been quietly working hard to keep the peace since its inception. While war contractors and tribal warlords and drug cartels and human trafficking destroy countries, the UN helps rebuild them.