61D30N's thoughts: What is United Nations?

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.

The work of the United Nations reaches every corner of the globe. Although best known for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance, there are many other ways the United Nations and its System (specialized agencies, funds and programmes) affect our lives and make the world a better place. The Organization works on a broad range of fundamental issues, from sustainable development, environment and refugees protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, to promoting democracy, human rights, gender equality and the advancement of women, governance, economic and social development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production, and more, in order to achieve its goals and coordinate efforts for a safer world for this and future generations.

Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 193 Member States to express their views, through the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees.

The UN has 4 main purposes

To keep peace throughout the world;
To develop friendly relations among nations;
To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms;
To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals.

History

The League of Nations failed to prevent World War II (1939–1945). Because of the widespread recognition that humankind could not afford a third world war, the United Nations was established to replace the flawed League of Nations in 1945 in order to maintain international peace and promote cooperation in solving international economic, social and humanitarian problems. The earliest concrete plan for a new world organization was begun under the aegis of the U.S. State Department in 1939. Franklin D. Roosevelt first coined the term 'United Nations' as a term to describe the Allied countries. The term was first officially used on 1 January 1942, when 26 governments signed the Atlantic Charter, pledging to continue the war effort. On 25 April 1945, the UN Conference on International Organization began in San Francisco, attended by 50 governments and a number of non-governmental organizations involved in drafting the United Nations Charter. The UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945 upon ratification of the Charter by the five permanent members of the Security Council—France, the Republic of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States—and by a majority of the other 46 signatories. The first meetings of the General Assembly, with 51 nations represented, and the Security Council, took place in Westminster Central Hall in London in January 1946.

The organization was based at the Sperry Gyroscope Corporation's facility in Lake Success, New York, from 1946–1952, before moving to the United Nations Headquarters building in Manhattan upon its completion.

Since its creation, there has been controversy and criticism of the United Nations. In the United States, an early opponent of the UN was the John Birch Society, which began a "get US out of the UN" campaign in 1959, charging that the UN's aim was to establish a "One World Government." After the Second World War, the French Committee of National Liberation was late to be recognized by the US as the government of France, and so the country was initially excluded from the conferences that aimed at creating the new organization. Charles de Gaulle criticized the UN, famously calling it le machin ("the thing"), and was not convinced that a global security alliance would help maintain world peace, preferring direct defence treaties between countries.

UN is an international organization that really strives to achieve peace and unity among nations. UN, through their agencies, helps countries in times of crises and natural disasters just like the earthquake in Haiti, earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan and even during the typhoons "Ondoy" "Pepeng" and "Pedring" in the Philippines. UN has been consulted ever since when it comes to country issues like the separation and independence of South Sudan from Sudan, separation of Palestine from Israel (wherein Palestine wants to be an independent country and it hasn't been decided yet) and also the issue of Spratly Islands (wherein it is regarded as a territory of the Philippines but is being claimed by China and various Southeast Asian neighbors). UN strives to achieve peace and democracy in all countries that's why they supported Egypt and Libya in their desire for freedom and peace.Peace and Democracy is also the theme of the UN's International Day of Peace: "Peace and Democracy: make your voice heard". It is celebrated every September 21st to promote and celebrate Peace and is to be observed by UN member countries.

Many Filipinos have been part of UN just like Carlos P. Romulo, who became President of the UN General assembly during 1949-1950 (he was also an inspiring Filipino because of his achievements and his love for his country, he made the Philippines well-known while he's in office in UN) ,KC Concepcion as Ambassador of Goodwill against Hunger of the UN's World Food Program, Lea Salonga as Ambassador of Goodwill of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the recently Kris Aquino, Ambassador of Goodwill of United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR).

Recently, UN marked October 31 as a day to mark and celebrate the arrival of the world's 7 billionth baby. Although there other babies around the world born on that day, Danica May Camacho of the Philippines is the one who received the title of World's 7 Billionth baby. The parents and the baby were met by top United Nations officials in the Philippines, who presented the child with a small cake marked with "7B Philippines. The baby also had a gift certificate for free shoes.

Dr. Eric Tayag of the Philippines' Department of Health says that 7 Billion is a number we should think deeply, he claims that it's a time to think if the needs of every child could be supplied, if not, well it's time for the people to help lessen the population. Health secretary Enrique Ona says that the arrival of the world's 7 billion baby as a time to assess population related issues.

According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) State of the World Population Report, the Philippines is the 12th most populous country in the world with 94.9 million people.

China continues to have the biggest share of the population at 1.35 billion, followed by India at 1.24 billion.

UN is of really great help to all nations and it believes that unity and peace is for everyone, here is the United Nation song which shows the message that UN wants to present: