The United Nations
The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the UN Charter had been ratified by a majority of the original 51 Member States. The day is now celebrated each year around the world as United Nations Day.
The purpose of the United Nations is to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development, based on the principles of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people. It affords the opportunity for countries to balance global interdependence and national interests when addressing international problems. There are currently 192 Members of the United Nations. They meet in the General Assembly, which is the closest thing to a world parliament. Each country, large or small, rich or poor, has a single vote, however, none of the decisions taken by the Assembly are binding. Nevertheless, the Assembly's decisions become resolutions that carry the weight of world governmental opinion.
The United Nations Headquarters is in New York City but the land and buildings are international territory. The United Nations has its own flag, its own post office and its own postage stamps. Six official languages are used at the United Nations - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The UN European Headquarters is in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. It has offices in Vienna, Austria and Economic Commissions in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Amman in Jordan, Bangkok in Thailand and Santiago in Chile. The senior officer of the United Nations Secretariat is the Secretary-General.
The purpose of the United Nations is to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development, based on the principles of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people. It affords the opportunity for countries to balance global interdependence and national interests when addressing international problems. There are currently 192 Members of the United Nations. They meet in the General Assembly, which is the closest thing to a world parliament. Each country, large or small, rich or poor, has a single vote, however, none of the decisions taken by the Assembly are binding. Nevertheless, the Assembly's decisions become resolutions that carry the weight of world governmental opinion.
The United Nations Headquarters is in New York City but the land and buildings are international territory. The United Nations has its own flag, its own post office and its own postage stamps. Six official languages are used at the United Nations - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The UN European Headquarters is in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. It has offices in Vienna, Austria and Economic Commissions in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Amman in Jordan, Bangkok in Thailand and Santiago in Chile. The senior officer of the United Nations Secretariat is the Secretary-General.
united_nations_readings.pdf | |
File Size: | 262 kb |
File Type: |
Non Governmental Organizations
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is organized on a local, national or international level. Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to Governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political particpation through provision of information. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, environment or health. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements. Their relationship with offices and agencies of the United Nations system differs depending on their goals, their venue and the mandate of a particular institution.
Global Inequality
Global inequality refers to the extent to which income and wealth is distributed in an uneven manner among the world’s population. Tracking levels of world inequality poses a variety of statistical challenges for researchers. Different nations, for starters, tally income and wealth in different ways, and some nations barely tally reliable stats at all. Fortunately, there are an increasing number of good sources of summary data on global inequality.
Notes:
Article:
|
Video:Some facts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
|
|
|
Factors of Global Inequality
IntroSocial disparities may have many causes. At different times in history, a variety of factors have combined to determine an individual’s lot. At present, income inequality largely determines social disparities, while other factors such as social class and aristocratic titles no longer matter. In other words, economic disparities determine social disparities, no matter whether these disparities are reflected in terms of inequality between city and countryside, between men and women, or between coastal and inland regions.
|
Notes: |
Activity: |
|
|
POLITICAL GLOBALIZATION
The term globalization encompasses a range of social, political, and economic changes. Some disciplines including anthropology or sociology focus on cultural changes of growing interconnectedness, such as the expansion of brands like Nike and McDonalds, and the increasing ease of travel. Other disciplines such as economics track the exchange of finances, goods and services through expanding global markets. Still other disciplines such as political science examine the role of international political institutions like the United Nations and the increasing power of transnational corporations. While one can try to dissect each of these topics to measure the changes of globalization, they are woven together in a complex manner, making it difficult to summarize positive or negative effects. Globalization creates new markets and wealth, even as it causes widespread suffering, disorder, and unrest. It is both a source of repression and a catalyst for global movements of social justice and emancipation. Traditionally politics has been undertaken within national political systems. National governments have been ultimately responsible for maintaining the security and economic welfare of their citizens, as well as the protection of human rights and the environment within their borders. With global ecological changes, an ever more integrated global economy, and other global trends, political activity increasingly takes place at the global level. Notes:
Activity:
|
Videos:
Article: Dynamics of Globalization
Globalization Debate
|
Global Security Issues
World War II was one of history’s most devastating conflicts. More than 55 million people died as a result of bombings, the Holocaust, combat, starvation, and disease. Near the end of the war, one of humankind’s most destructive weapons, the atomic bomb, killed more than 100,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in a matter of minutes. Perhaps because of these horrors, world leaders look for ways to make the earth a safer, more secure place to live.
In the years after the end of World War II, the Cold War created new divisions and tensions among the world’s nations. This uneasy situation potentially threatened the economic, environmental, and personal security of people across the
world. So, nations began to work together to pursue collective security.
Socio-Economic Causes of Water
factorcausingwar.doc | |
File Size: | 55 kb |
File Type: | doc |
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION
Founded in 1949 in the aftermath of World War Two "to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down", the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a military alliance, backed by the nuclear weapons of the United States, France and the United Kingdom.
There are currently 28 member states plus three in the process of joining: Bosnia and Herzegovina; Montenegro and Macedonia. For much of its history Nato was involved in the Cold War, a prolonged period of tension with the eight communist states of the Warsaw Pact including the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and East Germany.
Although Nato has carried out military operations in the Balkans, North Africa and the Middle East, its organising principle of collective defence - that an attack on one member is deemed to be an attack on all - has been invoked only once, in the days after the September 11 terrorist strikes on the US in 2001, leading to the invasion of Afghanistan by Nato members.
There are currently 28 member states plus three in the process of joining: Bosnia and Herzegovina; Montenegro and Macedonia. For much of its history Nato was involved in the Cold War, a prolonged period of tension with the eight communist states of the Warsaw Pact including the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and East Germany.
Although Nato has carried out military operations in the Balkans, North Africa and the Middle East, its organising principle of collective defence - that an attack on one member is deemed to be an attack on all - has been invoked only once, in the days after the September 11 terrorist strikes on the US in 2001, leading to the invasion of Afghanistan by Nato members.
NATO ALLIANCES
|
NATO MEMBER COUNTRIES:
|
NATO Alliances:
NATO is involved with three alliances that expand its influence beyond its 28 member countries.
Notes:
NATO vs Warsaw Pact
|
NATO's 28 members include:
Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States. Each member is represented by an ambassador, who is supported by officials that serve on the different NATO committees. From time to time, the President/Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister or head of Defense will meet to discuss NATO business. |
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
The 20th century is often referred to as the bloodiest in history. At the conclusion of World War II, the international community began to reconsider the relationship between the state and the individual and argue that gross violations of human rights could no longer be tolerated. However, global conflict and aspects globalization continue to raise concerns about the protection of human rights. In this activity, half of the class will assess the significance of human rights documents and evaluate the way in which various international political actors have adhered to them. Findings will be presented to the rest of the class.
Note:
Activity:
Video: |