Bits of Information About the United Nations

The United Nations Organization emerged through the desire of man  for collective security that will guarantee lasting world peace. During the Second World War, the Allied Nations headed by the ("Big Four" : USA, UK, Russia and China) decided to establish an international organization to ensure security and world peace and outlaw war in order to protect the world from another destruction.

The name "U. N.". was given by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Allied Nations which were fighting against the Axis Powers headed by Germany, Italy and Japan. The term "United Nations" is defined as an organization of sovereign states which have agreed to the maintenance of peace and security of the world.. The first time that the "U N" was used was in a document called "Declaration of the United Nations" which was first signed by 26 nations in Washington D.C. on Jan. 1,1942. The document embodied the aims of the Allied Nations, namely, 1.), to fight the Axis Powers ,2.) to make no separate treaty with any of the enemy nations, 3.),to safeguard the liberty and religious freedoms, and 4.),to preserve human rights and justice.

On April 225 to June 26,1945, a conference was held  at San Francisco, U.S.A., attended by 50 nations. After 62 days, of deliberations, the representatives drafted the Charter which became the Constitution of the United Nations. The Charter was signed on June 26,1945 by the delegates of the attending Allied Nations. Carlos P. Romulo signed the Charter for the Philippines. 

The Charter was ratified on July 28,1945. The U.S. was the first nation to ratify. There were 51 nations which originally ratified the Charter. It was finally ratified on October 24,1945. October 24 is known as the United Nations Day. At present, it has about 175 members.. The official languages are English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Russian.

The U.N. official flag was adopted and used by the General Assembly on October 20,1947 at Flushing Meadow, Lake Success, N.Y. City. The flag has a field of light blue with a white polar map embraced in twin olive branches . The U.N. Headquarters is in Washington D.C., New York. John D. Rockefeller, an American philanthropist and first billionaire in the world donated the land where it stands. The U N Organs are:

1.General  Assembly_ It is the policy-making body participated by ambassadors and delegates from member nations. It supervises general U N activities, discusses questions on international peace and security and gives recommendations to the Council.

2. Security Council_ It is responsible for the maintenance of peace and order. Each member has one representative. It investigates international disputes, takes action against the aggressor.

3. Secretariat_ It is headed by Secretary General, chosen for 5 years by the Assembly. It takes the minutes of the meetings of the Gen. Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and the Trusteeship Council.

4. The Economic and Social Council_ It makes studies of solutions to international economic , social, cultural, educational and health related problems It advocates universal respect for human rights, initiates development of world trade, industrialization, natural resources, status of women, social welfare, science and technology, and prevention of crimes, illegal drugs and drug trafficking.

5. The Trusteeship Council_ It fosters development towards self-government or independence.

6. International Court of Justice. _It formulates international law. It decides legal disputes between nations. Boundaries of disputants are examined If a disputant ignores the U N and declares war. member nations might agree to punish the disputant by: !.)economic sanctions (trade embargoes)_not buying their products or not sending much needed goods to them. 2)collective military action_ condemns the aggressor and sends  U N army to fight until she agrees to abide by the U N decision.

Agencies of the U N :_

1. ILO_ International Labor Organization_ Helps workingmen, improves labor conditions, and living standards, and promotes social and economic stability.

2.FAO _ Food and Agriculture Organization_ Sends help to calamity -stricken countries,  and sends allocations of flour and other food to countries suffering from starvation.

3.UNESCO_ United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organization_ It appropriates funds to help educationally backward countries, schools are established, experts are sent, countries exchange books and students.

4.ICAO_International Civil  Aviation Organization_ Solves problems of international civil aviation and promotes development of international air transportation

5. World Bank_ Lends money to countries that lack capital for development of its natural resources ,port facilities. electric power, factories, agriculture and infrastructure. The country pays back the loan in installments. All member nations contribute money to the World Bank. The total contributions are lent to countries needing cash.

6. WHO_ sends medical experts to help and recommend medicines and ways to combat diseases.

7. IMCO_ Intergovernmental Maritime Consultation Organization_ Provides cooperation between governments on regulations dealing with international shipping.

8.IMF_.International Monetary Fund_ Determines the value and exchange rate of the currency of every country based on their gold deposit It also provides low interest loans to developing member countries.

9. IRO_ International Refugee Organization_ helps refugees in finding homes and jobs 

10. International Trade Organization_ helps increase production, consumption and exchange of goods to promote industrial and economic development.

!!. UPU_ Universal Postal Union_ unites all member nations into a single postal territory to improve postal services of the world 

12. UNICEF_ United Nations International  Children's Emergency Fund_ sends food and medicine to countries where the children are undernourished and suffering from various diseases. 

13. WMO_ World Meteorological Organization_ coordinates, standardize and improve methods of weather observation and reporting

14. IAFC_ International Armed Forces Contingents _formed to subdue, control and fight aggressors  ,terrorists defiant violators of  The Charter of the U N.

15. Military Staff Committee 

16 Commission for Conventional Armament .

17. Atomic Energy Armaments_ (" When the American pilot looked down from the window of his war plane and saw the havoc that resulted when he dropped the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he exclaimed, "MY God! , What have I done?" His deep remorse torment and anguish caused his nervous breakdown. The Americans realized that in war, nobody wins. That is why the U N was born. They vowed never to use the atomic energy for destruction but for preservation of mankind.  The U N is the precursor of  the Four Freedoms _ freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom of worship and freedom of speech and press, practiced by the democratic countries. Only people suffering from megalomania, genocidal tendency, killer instinct and psychopathic disorder are war freaks."_ MLT)

References:_ The Filipino Teacher, Oct. 1987 ; Pambata, Oct. 2000  ; One world Old and New , by Teodoro Agoncillo,  Philippine Junior Red Cross Magazine,  Intermediate Geography  and Colliers Encyclopedia