United Nations and Frio County, Texas: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox U.S. County|

[[Image:UN_flag.png|thumb|250px|The [[Flag of the United Nations]]]]

county = Frio County|

The '''United Nations''', or '''UN''', is an [[international organization]] made up of [[states]]. Almost all [[List of countries|countries]] are members. It was established in [[San Francisco]] on [[October 24]], [[1945]], following the [[Dumbarton Oaks Conference]] in [[Washington, DC]], but the first General Assembly, with 51 nations represented, was not held until [[January 10]], [[1946]] (held in [[Church House]], [[London]]). From [[1919]] to [[1946]], there existed a somewhat similar organization under the name of [[League of Nations]], which can be considered as the UN's precursor. UN membership is open to all "peace-loving states" that accept the obligations of the [[UN Charter]] and, in the judgment of the organization, are able and willing to fulfill these obligations. The General Assembly determines admission upon recommendation of the Security Council. [[As of 2004|As of April 2004]] there have been 191 members; see [[United Nations member states]].

state = Texas |

seal = |

map = Map of Texas highlighting Frio County.svg |

map size = 250|

founded = 1871|

seat = [[Pearsall, Texas|Pearsall]] |

area = 2,938 [[square kilometre|km²]] (1,134 [[square mile|mi²]]) |

area land = 2,935 km² (1,133 mi²) |

area water = 3 km² (1 mi²) |

area percentage = 0.11% |

census yr = 2000|

pop = 16,252|

density = 6|

web = |

|}}

'''Frio County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of [[2000]], the population is 16,252. Its [[county seat]] is [[Pearsall, Texas|Pearsall]][[Geographic references|⁶]]. Frio County is named for the [[Frio River]].

==Background and history==

The idea for the United Nations was elaborated in declarations signed at the wartime Allied conferences in [[Moscow]] and [[Tehran]] in [[1943]]. [[United States]] president [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] suggested the name "United Nations" and the first official use of the term occurred on [[January 1]], [[1942]] with the [[Declaration by the United Nations]]. During [[World War II]], the [[Allies]] used the term "United Nations" to refer to their alliance. From August to October [[1944]], representatives of [[France]], the [[Republic of China]] (now on [[Taiwan]]), the [[United Kingdom]], the [[United States]], and the [[Soviet Union|USSR]] 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, as well as arrangements to maintain international peace and security and international economic and social cooperation. These proposals were discussed and debated by governments and private citizens worldwide.

==Geography==

[[Image:Nyc-un-building.jpg|thumb|UN headquarters in [[City of New York|New York City]]]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of 2,938 [[km²]] (1,134 [[square mile|mi²]]). 2,935 km² (1,133 mi²) of it is land and 3 km² (1 mi²) of it (0.11%) is water.

===Major Highways===

On [[April 25]], [[1945]], the United Nations Conference on International Organizations began in [[San Francisco]]. In addition to the Governments, a number of [[non-governmental organizations|non-government organisations]], including [[Lions Clubs International]] were invited to assist in the drafting of the charter. The 50 nations represented at the conference signed the Charter of the United Nations two months later on [[June 26]]. [[Poland]], which was not represented at the conference, but for which a place among the original signatories had been reserved, added its name later, bringing the total of original signatories to 51. The UN came into existence on [[October 24]], [[1945]], after the Charter had been ratified by the five permanent members of the [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]] — [[Republic of China]], [[France]], [[Soviet Union|USSR]], [[United Kingdom]], and the [[United States]] — and by a majority of the other 46 signatories.

*[[Image:I-35.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 35]]

*[[Image:US 57.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 57]]

*[[Image:Texas 85.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 85 (Texas)]]

*[[State Highway 173 (Texas)]]

===Adjacent counties===

The United States Senate, by a vote of 89 to 2, gave its consent to the ratification of the [[UN Charter]] on [[July 28]], [[1945]]. In [[December]] [[1945]], the Senate and the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]], by unanimous votes, requested that the UN make its headquarters in the United States. The offer was accepted and the [[United Nations headquarters]] building was constructed in [[New York City]] in [[1949]] and [[1950]] beside the East River on land purchased by an 8.5 million dollar donation from [[John D. Rockefeller, Jr.]] UN headquarters officially opened on [[January 9]], [[1951]]. Under special agreement with the United States, certain [[Diplomatic immunity|diplomatic privileges]] and immunities have been granted, but generally the laws of New York City, New York State, and the United States apply.

*[[Medina County, Texas|Medina County]] (north)

*[[Atascosa County, Texas|Atascosa County]] (east)

*[[La Salle County, Texas|La Salle County]] (south)

*[[Dimmit County, Texas|Dimmit County]] (southwest)

*[[Zavala County, Texas|Zavala County]] (west)

==Demographics==

While the principal headquarters of the UN are in [[New York]], there are major agencies located in [[Geneva]], [[The Hague]], [[Vienna]], and elsewhere.

As of the [[census]][[Geographic references#2|²]] of 2000, there were 16,252 people, 4,743 households, and 3,642 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was 6/km² (14/mi²). There were 5,660 housing units at an average density of 2/km² (5/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.86% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 4.87% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.58% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.41% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 19.76% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.50% from two or more races. 73.76% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 4,743 households out of which 40.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.44.

[[Image:Vienna-Un-Building.jpg|left|thumb|UN building in [[Vienna]]]]

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 18.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 121.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.20 males.

On [[October 25]], [[1971]], [[UN General Assembly Resolution 2758]] was passed by the General Assembly, replacing the government of the [[Republic of China]] with the government of the [[People's Republic of China]] as the only "lawful" and "legitimate representatives of [[China]] to the United Nations" and as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Multiple attempts by the Republic of China on Taiwan to re-join the UN have never passed committee. (For more on the issue of Taiwan, see [[China and the United Nations]].)

The median income for a household in the county was $24,504, and the median income for a family was $26,578. Males had a median income of $23,810 versus $16,498 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,069. About 24.50% of families and 29.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 36.20% of those under age 18 and 30.40% of those age 65 or over.

The founders of the UN had high hopes that it would act to prevent conflicts between nations and make future wars impossible. Those hopes have obviously not been fully realised. From about [[1947]] until [[1991]] the division of the world into hostile camps during the [[Cold War]] made agreement on peacekeeping matters extremely difficult. Following the end of the Cold War, there were renewed calls for the UN to become the agency for achieving world peace and co-operation, as several dozen active military conflicts continue to rage around the globe. The breakup of the Soviet Union has also left the [[United States]] in a unique position of global dominance, creating a variety of new problems for the UN (See the [[United States and the United Nations]]).

==Arms controlCities and disarmamenttowns==

*[[Bigfoot, Texas|Bigfoot]]

The [[1945]] UN Charter envisaged a system of regulation that would ensure "the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources." The advent of [[nuclear weapon]]s came only weeks after the signing of the Charter and provided immediate impetus to concepts of arms limitation and [[disarmament]]. In fact, the first [[resolution]] of the first meeting of the [[UN General Assembly]] ([[January 24]], [[1946]]) was entitled "The Establishment of a Commission to Deal with the Problems Raised by the Discovery of Atomic Energy" and called upon the commission to make specific proposals for "the elimination from national armaments of atomic weapons and of all other major weapons adaptable to mass destruction."

*[[Dilley, Texas|Dilley]]

*[[Hilltop, Texas|Hilltop]]

*[[Moore, Texas|Moore]]

*[[North Pearsall, Texas|North Pearsall]]

*[[Pearsall, Texas|Pearsall]]

*[[West Pearsall, Texas|West Pearsall]]

==See also==

The UN has established several forums to address multilateral disarmament issues. The principal ones are the First Committee of the General Assembly and the [[UN Disarmament Commission]]. Items on the agenda include consideration of the possible merits of a nuclear test ban, outer-space arms control, efforts to ban chemical weapons, nuclear and conventional disarmament, nuclear-weapon-free zones, reduction of military budgets, and measures to strengthen international security.

*[[Winter Garden Region]]

The [[Conference on Disarmament]] is the sole forum established by the [[international community]] for the negotiation of multilateral arms control and disarmament agreements. It has 66 members representing all areas of the world, including the five major nuclear-weapon states (the [[People's Republic of China]], [[France]], the [[Soviet Union|Russian Federation]], the [[United Kingdom]], and the [[United States]]). While the conference is not formally a UN organization, it is linked to the UN through a personal representative of the [[UN Secretary-General|Secretary-General]]; this representative serves as the secretary general of the conference. [[Resolution]]s adopted by the [[UN General Assembly|General Assembly]] often request the conference to consider specific disarmament matters. In turn, the conference annually reports on its activities to the General Assembly.

==Peace-keeping==

UN peace operations are funded by assessments, using a formula derived from the regular scale, but including a surcharge for the five permanent members of the Security Council (who must approve all peacekeeping operations); this surcharge serves to offset discounted peacekeeping assessment rates for less developed countries.

In December 2000, the UN revised the assessment rate scale for the regular budget and for peacekeeping. The peacekeeping scale is designed to be revised every six months and is projected to be near 27% in 2003. The United States intends to pay peacekeeping assessments at these lower rates and has sought legislation from the [[United States Congress]] to allow payment at these rates and to make payments towards arrears.

Total UN peacekeeping expenses peaked between 1994 and 1995; at the end of 1995 the total cost was just over $3.5 billion. Total UN peacekeeping costs for 2000, including operations funded from the UN regular budget as well as the peacekeeping budget, were on the order of $2.2 billion.

The UN [[United Nations Peace-Keeping Forces|Peace-Keeping Forces]] received the [[1988]] [[Nobel Prize]] for [[Nobel Peace Prize|Peace]].

For participation in various peacekeeping operations, the United Nations maintains a series of [[United Nations Medal]]s which are awarded to military service members of various countries who enforce U.N. accords. The first such decoration issued was the [[United Nations Service Medal]], awarded to U.N. forces who participated in the [[Korean War]]. The [[NATO Medal]] is designed on a similar concept and both the U.N. Service Medal, and the NATO Medal, are considered "international decorations" instead of [[military decoration]]s.

==Human rights==

The pursuit of [[human rights]] was one of the central reasons for creating the United Nations. [[World War II]] atrocities and [[genocide]] led to a ready consensus that the new organization must work to prevent any similar tragedies in the future. An early objective was creating a legal framework for considering and acting on complaints about human rights violations.

The UN Charter obliges all member nations to promote "universal respect for, and observance of, [[human rights]]" and to take "joint and separate action" to that end. The [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]], though not legally binding, was adopted by the General Assembly in 1948 as a common standard of achievement for all. The General Assembly regularly takes up human rights issues. The UN Commission on Human Rights ([[UNCHR]]), under [[ECOSOC]], is the primary UN body charged with promoting human rights, primarily through investigations and offers of technical assistance. As discussed, the [[High Commissioner for Human Rights]] is the official principally responsible for all UN human rights activities (see, under "The UN Family," the section on "Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights").

The United Nations and its various agencies are central in upholding and implementing the principles enshrined in the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]]. A case in point is support by the United Nations for countries in transition to [[democracy]]. Technical assistance in providing free and fair elections, improving judicial structures, drafting constitutions, training human rights officials, and transforming armed movements into [[political party|political parties]] have contributed significantly to democratization worldwide.

The United Nations is also a forum in which to support the right of women to participate fully in the political, economic, and social life of their countries.

See also: [[United Nations 1956 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery|United Nations Convention on the Abolition of Slavery]] and [[Convention_on_the_Rights_of_the_Child|United National Convention on the Rights of the Child]]

==United Nations System==

''Main article: [[United Nations System]]''

The United Nations System has six principal organs:

*[[UN General Assembly]]

*[[UN Security Council]]

*[[UN Economic and Social Council]]

*[[UN Trusteeship Council]]

*[[UN Secretariat]]

*[[International Court of Justice]]

For more information on the organizational structure see the [[United Nations System|main article]].

==International conferences==

[[Image:UN.KofiAnnan.01.jpg||thumb|right|250px|Secretary-General since [[1995]]: [[Kofi Annan]], from [[Ghana]].]]

The member countries of the UN and its specialized agencies — the "stakeholders" of the system — give guidance and make decisions on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout each year. Governing bodies made up of member states include not only the [[UN General Assembly|General Assembly]], [[UN Economic and Social Council|Economic and Social Council]], and the [[UN Security Council|Security Council]], but also counterpart bodies dealing with the governance of all other UN system agencies. For example, the [[World Health Assembly]] and the Executive Board oversee the work of [[World Health Organization|WHO]]. Each year, the United States Department of State accredits United States delegations to more than 600 meetings of governing bodies.

When an issue is considered particularly important, the General Assembly may convene an international conference to focus global attention and build a consensus for consolidated action. High-level United States delegations use these opportunities to promote United States policy viewpoints and develop international agreements on future activities. Recent examples include:

*The UN Conference on Environment and Development (the [[Earth Summit]]) in [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, in [[June]] [[1992]], led to the creation of the [[UN Commission on Sustainable Development]] to advance the conclusions reached in [[Agenda 21]], the final text of agreements negotiated by governments at UNCED;

*The [[Cairo International Conference on Population and Development|International Conference on Population and Development]], held in [[Cairo]], [[Egypt]], in September [[1994]], approved a program of action to address the critical challenges and interrelationships between population and sustainable development over the next 20 years;

*The [[World Summit on Trade Efficiency]], held in October [[1994]] in [[Columbus, Ohio]], cosponsored by UN Conference on Trade and Development ([[UNCTAD]]), the city of Columbus, and private-sector business, focused on the use of modern information technology to expand international trade;

*The [[World Summit for Social Development]], held in March [[1995]] in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]], underscored national responsibility for sustainable development and secured high-level commitment to plans that invest in basic education, health care, and economic opportunity for all, including women and girls;

*The [[Fourth World Conference on Women]], held in [[Beijing]], [[China]], in September [[1995]], sought to accelerate implementation of the historic agreements reached at the [[Third World Conference|Third World Conference on Women]] held in [[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]], in [[1985]]; and

*The Second UN Conference on Human Settlements ([[Habitat II]]), convened in June [[1996]] in [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]], considered the challenges of human settlement development and management in the [[21st century]].

==Financing==

The UN system is financed in two ways: assessed and voluntary contributions from member states. The regular two-year budgets of the UN and its specialized agencies are funded by assessments. In the case of the UN, the General Assembly approves the regular budget and determines the assessment for each member. This is broadly based on the relative capacity of each country to pay, as measured by national income statistics, along with other factors.

The Assembly has established the principle that the UN should not be overly dependent on any one member to finance its operations. Thus, there is a 'ceiling' rate, setting the maximum amount any member is assessed for the regular budget. In [[December]] [[2000]], the Assembly agreed to revise the scale of assessments to make them better reflect current global circumstances.

As part of that agreement, the regular budget ceiling was reduced from 25 to 22 percent; this is the rate at which the United States is assessed. The United States is the only member that is assessed this rate, though it is in arrears hundreds of millions of dollars;(see also [[United States and the United Nations]]) all other members' assessment rates are lower. Under the scale of assessments adopted in 2000, other major contributors to the regular UN budget for 2001 are [[Japan]] (19.63%), [[Germany]] (9.82%), [[France]] (6.50%), the [[United Kingdom|U.K.]] (5.57%), [[Italy]] (5.09%), [[Canada]] (2.57%) and [[Spain]] (2.53%).

Special UN programs not included in the regular budget (such as [[UNICEF]], [[UNDP]], [[UNHCR]], and [[WFP]]) are financed by voluntary contributions from member governments. In [[2001]], it is estimated that such contributions from the United States will total approximately $1.5 billion. Much of this is in the form of agricultural commodities donated for afflicted populations, but the majority is financial contributions.

==Communications==

The six official [[language]]s of the United Nations include those of the founding nations: [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[Russian language|Russian]]. In addition, two widely spoken tongues -- [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] -- were added in [[1973]]. All formal meetings are interpreted at least in these official languages. And all official documents, in [[print]] or [[online]], are translated in all six languages.

==Successes of the UN==

* Raising consciousness of the concept of [[human rights]] through its covenants and of its attention to specific abuses through its resolutions or rulings

* Health successes such as the [[World Health Organization]]'s elimination of [[small pox]].

==Criticism of the UN==

Over the past decade, an increasing number of voices have questioned the overall direction that the UN has taken. Many now see it as ineffective, overly bureaucratic, prone to corruption, and acting outside the intended limits of its original charter (or, on the converse, not acting sufficiently within its charter or that the charter is too weak for present-day needs).

Some respond that much of the blame can only lie with the member states that support it (or fail to support it), including their perceived failure to make needed systemic changes to the institution (whether in its own administrative bureaucracy or in its structure governing member countries). See the reform section below on proposals for addressing the perceived systemic failures of the latter type.

General criticisms of its structure governing member countries:

* Charges that the UN is increasingly attempting to usurp national sovereignty.

* Charges that the UN is ''not doing enough'' to override national sovereignty.

**In general, the UN has shown a reluctance to act upon its resolutions, making it weak and evoking comparisons to the League of Nations.

**Some charge that the UN is powerless should member nations ignore UN resolutions, or also, proceed with actions without UN support. This was especially highlighted with the United States' invasion of Iraq.

**The UN gives precedence to government authority over individual liberty, regularly seeming reluctant to challenge member states' behaviour regarding their own people.

Some specific complaints are as follows:

* Internal institutional failures:

** The exploitation of UN facilities and workers in the aid of [[terrorism]]. Concrete allegations were against [[UNRWA]] and [[UNIFIL]] (the involvement in the [[Israeli_Engineering_Corps#The_October_2000_Lebanon_abduction|October 2000 Lebanon abduction]] of three [[Israeli Engineering Corps]] soldiers, by [[Hizbullah]], [http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=11009]).

** Allegations of mismanagement and corruption regarding the [[Oil for Food program]] for Iraq under [[Saddam Hussein]].

* Structure governing member countries

**The inclusion on the [[United Nations Commission on Human Rights]] of nations, such as [[Sudan]], [[Cuba]] and [[Libya]], which are claimed to have very poor records on human rights. Libya's chairmanship of this Commission.

* Failure to act (or succeed) in security issues:

**A failure to act during the [[ethnic cleansing]] campaign in [[Rwanda]], when current [[Secretary General]] [[Kofi Annan]] oversaw peacekeeping forces there.

**A failure to intervene during [[Srebrenica massacre|killings in Srebrenica]], despite the fact that the UN designated it a "Safe Haven" for refugees and assigned 600 [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[peacekeepers]] to protect it.

**A failure to successfully deliver food to starving citizens of [[Somalia]]; the food was usually siezed by local warlords instead of reaching those who needed it. A United States/United Nation attempt to apprehend the warlords siezing the shipments resulted in the [[Battle of Mogadishu]].

** The failure of [[UNIFIL]] to restrain [[Hizbullah]] and achieve security and order in south [[Lebanon]].

*Criticism that the UN is ruled by "tyranny of the majority" where for example, Arab states have an unfairly large influence as seen by the total disproportionate number of resolutions condemning [[Israel]].

==Reforming the UN==

===The Definition of “UN Reform”===

In recent years there have been many calls for "reform" of the UN. But there is little clarity, let alone consensus, about what reform might mean in practice. Both those who want the UN to play a greater role in world affairs and those who want its role confined to humanitarian work or otherwise reduced use the term "UN reform" to refer to their ideas. The range of opinion extends from as far as those who want to eliminate the UN entirely, to those that want to make it into a full-fledged world government.

===Security Council reform===

A very frequently discussed change to the UN structure is to change the permanent membership of the [[Security Council]], which reflects the power structure of the world as it was in [[1945]]. One proposed change is to admit more members: the candidates usually mentioned are [[India]], [[Japan]] and [[Germany]]. Another is to abolish the [[United Kingdom]] and [[France]]'s seats and give a seat to the [[European Union]]: but since the EU is not a state this would require a change to the UN Charter (or it would require that the EU become a state).

Another change frequently suggested is to remove the veto power enjoyed by the permanent members of the Security Council. It is hard to see any of the current members surrendering the veto power. The United States in particular would strongly oppose this on the grounds that it would make the actions of the United States subject to international approval, and would also increase the likelihood of resolutions critical of [[Israel]] being passed. (See also [[Israel and the United Nations]].) One of the main drives behind this are situations in which all but one of the fifteen nations on the Security Council vote to support a measure that is relatively unimportant, such as administrative decisions. (This was the case with the battle over re-election of [[UN Secretary-General]] [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]].)

===Bureaucracy===

At another level, calls for reforming the UN demand to make the UN administration (usually called "the bureaucracy") more transparent, more accountable, and more efficient. In the [[United States]], and particularly in the United States Congress, this is linked to demands that the UN adopt policies which encourage the development of [[capitalism|free market economies]] and cease what are seen as [[socialism|socialist]] and anti-American policies and actions.

===Enhancing its democratic nature===

Another frequent demand is that the UN become "more democratic." This raises fundamental questions about the nature and role of the UN. The UN is not a [[world government]], rather a forum for the world's sovereign states to debate issues and determine collective courses of action. Since the large majority of the world's states are now democracies, the UN is in a sense an "indirect democracy" already — the majority of countries cast votes at the UN in accordance (at least in theory) with the wishes of the electorates that elected them. A [[direct democracy]] would request the election of the UN Secretary-General by direct vote of the citizens of the democratic countries ([[World presidentialism]]) as well as the General Assembly (just as cities, states and nations have their own representatives in many systems, who attend specifically to issues relevant to the given level of authority) and the World Court. Others have proposed a combination of direct and indirect democracy, whereby national governments might ratify the expressed will of the people for such important posts as an empowered World Court.

For the UN to become more democratic in a direct sense, four things would presumably have to happen:

#Representation would need to be based more on population vote and UN democratic and free elections to the Secretary and Assembly, rather than the present strict one-state-one-vote principle. Another proposal is to establish a consultative United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) as an intermediary step towards a world parliament within the UN structure. An assembly where [[Liechtenstein]] has the same voting power as the [[People's Republic of China]] is far from equally representational (generally considered a key aspect of democracy).

#The veto power of the Security Council would have to be removed. Again, this would remove a form of counter-representationalism, where the permanent Security Council members have their opinions weighted above others.

#The UN would have to be given some power of governance over its members, just as a national government has power of governance over its citizens. In other words, it would have to become, to some degree, a [[world government]]. This would imply having the power to impose [[diplomatic sanctions|sanctions]] on members who would not follow the UN's determined courses of action and resolutions (including the human rights' resolutions).

# As implied in the previous item, the UN might also exclude from its membership those nations which it determined to be grossly violating the human rights of its people, including the right to periodic democratic, universal, secret-ballot elections (upheld in Article 25 of the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]]).

It is likely that the small countries, which make up the majority of the current members of the General Assembly, would oppose the first of these changes (some of these might oppose the fourth), while the current permanent members of the Security Council would oppose the second, and probably the third as well. However, reformers have proposed that with incremental and simultaneous attention to these points, it is possible that the interests of the large and small nations might be reconciled through compromise in order to avert the anarchy and relative powerlessness of the present system which hamper the interests of both large and small nations. For example, if the veto power were progressively limited while also basing the weighting of the General Assembly more on population, large and small nations might be more trusting of the system to assign more supranational authority to the votes of the General Assembly (and judgments of an empowered World Court).

====Diversity and democracy====

Implementation of population-based UN voting also raises the problems of diversity of interests and governments of the various nations. The nations in the UN contain representative democracies, absolute dictatorships and every shading in between. Allowing large powers to vote their population's interests ''en bloc'' raises the question whether they really represent the interests and desires of their individual citizens and the world community. Anything like direct election would be impossible as well in the many nations where an accurate direct vote would be impossible or where the local government has power to influence the local voters as well as security of the ballot box. Giving the UN any kind of actual governance power raises the question of how these powers could be carried out. What would happen when a vote of the UN general assembly demands changes in the borders or political status of a nation, or requires citizens in some nations to tax themselves in favour of other nations, or demands the arrest of the leader of a nation, and is met by refusal?

===Financing reform===

On the subject of financing, an interesting proposal has been made by [[Paul Hawken]] in his book, ''[[The Ecology of Commerce]]''. Hawken's recommendation is to impose an international tariff on arms manufacturers worldwide. By his calculations, 'a tax on missiles, planes, tanks, and guns would provide the U.N. (''sic'') with its entire budget, as well as pay for all peacekeeping efforts around the world, including the resettlement of refugees and reparations to the victims of war.'

The main problem with implementing such a radical tax is finding acceptance. While most nations of the European Union and Japan would likely be willing to support such a tariff, it would be unpopular among consumers of arms. Nations such as these range from the United States, which spends a huge amount of its [[GNP]] on defence, to petty dictatorships who depend on arms to keep themselves in power. Arms producers would also oppose it, because it would increase their costs and reduce their consumer base. Like any large corporation, arms manufacturers have a great deal of political clout in most countries.

Another problem with the United Nations is that finances are not controlled by the overwhelming monetary contributers. In theory, democratizing the budget by allowing all members to vote on it would be the ideal. However, as in voting matters concerning non-fiscal issues, blocs are formed that effectively quell reform. In general, First World nations (which tend to have strong democratic systems within their governments) contribute the vast majority of finances for the UN. However, [[Third World]] nations (which tend to have dictatorships for governments) have more control over where those funds go. This is due to the fact that the number of Third World nations is larger than the number of First World nations.

===Committee reform===

The [[United Nations Commission on Human Rights]] has come under some fire. The [[United States]], in particular, was angry when it was ejected from the Commission in 2002. While it has been reelected to the Commission, several nations that have been guilty of gross violations of human rights have been in the organization recently. Examples of these countries include [[Libya]], [[Cuba]], [[Sudan]], [[Algeria]], and [[Vietnam]].

==International Years==

''Main article: [[United Nations International Years]]''

The UN declares and coordinates "International Year of the..." in order to focus world attention on important issues. Using the symbolism of the UN, a specially designed logo for the year, and the infrastructure of the UN system to coordinate events worldwide, the various years have become catalysts to advancing key issues on a global scale.

==Model United Nations (MUNs)==

There are a number of "[[Model United Nations]]" events held each year, in which participants collectively simulate the workings of the United Nations in its various committees and the General Assembly for a short period, typically a weekend or a 5-day week. Prominent amongst these are [[The Hague International Model United Nations]] (THIMUN) (for secondary school students from many countries, taking place in [[The Hague]] each January), the [[National High School Model United Nations]] (NHSMUN), for secondary/high school students from across the world, held each March at the [[UN]] in [[New York City]] the [[United States|American]] [[Harvard National Model United Nations]] ([[Boston]] each February) and the [[North American Model United Nations]] (various United States cities each April). Individual schools and colleges also organize similar events for their own students.

==Countries and the United Nations==

*[[China and the United Nations]]

*[[Israel and the United Nations]]

*[[Soviet Union and the United Nations]]

*[[United States and the United Nations]]

**[[United States Ambassadors to the United Nations]]

==Related topics==

*[[UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador]]

*[[Japanese Peace Bell]]

*[[Attacks on humanitarian workers]]

*[[Oil for Food program]]

*[[Millennium Development Goals]]

*[[Forum of Cultures]].

==External links==

* {{Handbook of Texas|id=FF/hcf10|name=Frio County}}

*[http://www.un.org/ United Nations] - Official site

* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Frio+County%22&t=dc.coverage Historic Frio County materials], hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History.]

*[http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/index.html United Nations Charter] - Charter text

**[http://sources.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preamble_To_Charter_Of_The_United_Nations Preamble to Charter of the United Nations]

*[http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html Universal Declaration of Human Rights]

*[http://www.globalpolicy.org Global Policy Forum] - Independent think-tank on UN

*[http://www.uno-komitee.de Committee for a Democratic UN] - Democratization of the UN (NGO)

{{United NationsTexas}}

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[[cy:Cenhedloedd Unedig]]

[[da:Forenede Nationer]]

[[de:Vereinte Nationen]]

[[et:ÜRO]]

[[el:Οργανισμός Ηνωμένων Εθνών (Ο.Η.Ε.)]]

[[es:Naciones Unidas]]

[[eo:Unuiĝintaj Nacioj]]

[[fr:Organisation des Nations unies]]

[[ko:국제 연합]]

[[hi:संयुक्त राष्ट्र]]

[[io:Unioninta Nacioni]]

[[it:Nazioni Unite]]

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[[hu:Egyesült Nemzetek Szervezete]]

[[ms:Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu]]

[[nl:Verenigde Naties]]

[[ja:国際連合]]

[[no:FN]]

[[pl:ONZ]]

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[[sv:FN]]

[[vi:Liên Hiệp Quốc]]

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[[zh:联合国]]

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[[Category:International organizations]]

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[[Category:Nobel Peace Prize winners]]

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[[zh:弗里奧縣 (德克薩斯州)]]