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Should the US keep paying dues to the UN?
Results so far:
| Yes | 55% | 124 votes | Total: 225 votes | |
| No | 45% | 101 votes |
Yes
by Thokozile Gurganious
Created on: March 04, 2008
The UN has served several functions in the international arena. One of the most vital functions of the UN has been keeping the peace among waring factions world wide. The UN has also brokered peace among these warring factions. The end of the Cold war saw Eastern Europe disintegrate into a wilderness of civil war and other armed conflict.It is the United Nations that kept the peace.
The UN has also been the medium for the promotion of higher standards of living world wide by embarking on development programs in various countries. The UN does this through various specialized agencies , like The UN Children's Fund, the World Food Program and the UN Environmental Program.
The UN has also performed the function of developing and codifying international law. This the UN does with the assistance of its International Law Commission, which does research on international law , and compiles international law. The UN has played an admirable role in the international community by bringing to justice those who are guilty of massive violations of Human Rights. The UN set up the Rwanda Tribunal in 1994 to try perpetrators of the genocide in Rwanda. There is also the Tribunal of the Former Yugoslavia for human rights violations in Kosovo. The UN also runs the International Court of Justice, a court that hears and makes decisions on disputes between countries. This court has heard many important cases that have contributed to the development of international law, and ended disputes between countries.
The UN has played a major role in the independence of several countries, thus adding to peace in the world through enabling various peoples to attain their self determination.
The UN is responsible for setting standards for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the world. The UN also acts as a policeman to be constantly monitoring and preventing potential and actual violations of human rights. The UN also assists countries to promote human rights in their territories.
One of the main functions of the UN has been the coordination of humanitarian efforts around the world when there is a major war or natural disaster. The UN was there for the victims of the Tsunami in Asia, and is currently participating in the crisis in Dafur.
America is the major contributor of funds that maintain the UN. The American people must and should be proud of being responsible for an organization like the UN , that is doing so much good worldwide. the US government would disgrace the American people if it stopped paying dues to the UN, an organization that can be credited with so many noble deeds.
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No
by Barbara Stanley
Created on: April 23, 2008
As an international peacekeeping agency, the UN has an overwhelming record of failure. Presently, the UN has an opportunity to put a stop to the genocide in Darfur. With the billions of dollars in dues paid to the UN, the United States could offer that money to the country of Chad, and others surrounding the area of Darfur, as incentive to build homes and create jobs for refugees that number over one million. Although Chad is trying to cope with this huge number of displaced citizens of Darfur, it is obvious they would need aide in the form of workers, planners, architects, and materials. By using the dues we would otherwise pay to the UN for doing nothing to bring about an end to the massacre, we could pay American citizens out of work due to the mortgage fiasco to build a better life for millions on the African continent.
I believe that no country should pay further dues to an agency that has the dismal record that the UN has in carrying out its objectives. It appears that the huge budget allotted the UN is misspent and unaccounted for. As a part of the group of international citizens who support the UN, we should be given a financial report of money spent annually as well as a list of accomplishments for the year. Anytime an agency or organization has too much freedom without accountability, there will be gross amounts of money misspent or embezzled.
What are the UN's plans for ending the war that Sudan is now waging against her own citizens? How long must millions of people endure the constant threat of rape, hunger, and even murder? If there is no help forthcoming from the very organization designed for times such as these, where will help come from? I vote that our UN dues be better spent to build permanent homes for the refugees wherever they feel safe and welcome. It is obvious that the Sudanese government has no intentions of intervening for the sake of Darfur citizens. After all, it is they who threw the "flammable Janjeweeds" upon the fire to ensure that few, if any, would survive this conflict over water.
With the millions of dollars in aide from China, and the billions earned through exports to China, Sudan has had the means to supply clean water to all the farmers and ranchers in Darfur. There should never have been a large scale war within Sudan's borders. Had the UN intervened from the beginning, there would be 300,000 citizens of Darfur still living peaceful lives.
Learn more about this author, Barbara Stanley.
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