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This fortnight's thi>eUnited Nations Issue 134
 
 

A united nation where people power should be the ruling power

Today we live in a world where peace is not always guaranteed. Personal security, economic stability and health, amongst other things, are modern day commodities that many struggle to achieve. There is a need for peace, respect and dialogue among people from different races, religious affiliations and ways of life. We are often confronted with newspaper headlines reporting stories about conflict in some part of our world. The recent events in the Solomon Islands are one example. As citizens of the world we all have a role to play in peace-building.

I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it. (D.D. Eisenhower, 1890 – 1969).

Eisenhower was the thirty fourth President of the United States of America . He served as a general in the army and led the Allies in World War II. He was a great advocate of peace and people power. He was a supporter of the American people and he also helped countries who needed assistance. On 8 December 1953 President Eisenhower addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations in his now famous "atoms for peace" speech. In this speech he reflected on the many abuses of atomic power. He also set a challenge - for countries to commit to peaceful uses of atomic energy. From his powerful position as President of one of the world's super powers Eisenhower saw the importance of peace in the world.

Child at school

World War I and the League of Nations

The League of Nations was established following the end of World War I. Its aim was "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security." 42 countries initially joined, seeking to prevent a repetition of the 1914-18 war.

The League had two basic aims:

  • To preserve the peace through action where each member of the League would work together to maintain peace; and
  • To promote international cooperation in economic and social affairs.

World War II and the fall of the League

When tensions in the world escalated into the Second World War, it was clear that the League of Nations was failing. There were powerful countries in the world who were either not in the League, or pulled out of it. Drastic action was needed to build and maintain world peace, and this was achieved on one level when, in 1944, representatives of China , the UK , the US and the former USSR met to prepare a draft for an international organisation to build peace in the world.

On April 24 1945, towards the end of World War II, representatives of 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to discuss the need for an international organisation to oversee world peace and harmony. The Charter of the United Nations was written and signed on 26 June by 50 countries.

The formation of the United Nations

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 came into existence on October 24 1945 when the UN Charter was ratified by the majority of the original Member States.

Clinton

The United Nations today

There are currently 191 Members of the United Nations. As the United Nations website states:
"The United Nations is not a world government and it does not make laws. It does, however, provide the means to help resolve international conflicts and formulate policies on matters affecting all of us. At the UN, all the Member States - large and small, rich and poor, have a voice and a vote in the process." http://www.un.org/Overview/brief1.html

Because the United Nations is a global organisation, there are six official languages that are used. These are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

The Aims of the United Nations are to:

  • To maintain international peace and security
  • To develop friendly relations between nations
  • To co-operate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights
  • To be a centre for helping nations achieve these aims

The work of the United Nations is very important. In addition to the United Nations, we each also have a responsibility to work for justice and peace.

Soldier


    

NOTICE FOR SCHOOLS IN PERTH:

Reconciliation - It's not a walk in the park
Caritas Australia together with the Aboriginal Support Team of the Catholic Education Office, Perth will be hosting a Just Leadership day in Perth for senior secondary students on May 10. The theme for the day is reconciliation. This will be followed by an event planned in Perth for May 29 by the Aboriginal Education Team, Clontarf College & Caritas Australia which involves a Walk around Lake Monger followed by Activity Stations. For further information please contact Janeen Murphy on 0439 395 657 or janeenm@caritas.org.au

~~~

NATSICC: Message Stick Relay
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council, (NATSICC) is planning to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II's visit to Alice Springs by holding their National Assembly in the Red Centre in October 2006. In the lead up to this event, "Message Sticks" will travel around each state and territory within Australia on their way to Alice Springs . For more information about how you can get involved see the Parish and Community groups section below or visit: http://www.natsicc.org.au/message_stick_relay.htm

Teaching and Learning Activities

Religious Education

1) Go to http://www.un.org/webcast/unia.html and watch some of the video footage. Generate class discussions about the issues raised:

To select a video to watch, click on 'archived video'. This will lead you to the video directly or you can download a copy of the entire transcript.

  1. Who was involved?
  2. How can the UN and wider community help?
  3. What is the MDG that needs to be addressed?
  4. How can the people of the world help in this situation?

2) Go to http://www.worldpeace.org/peaceprayer.html and join in the peace prayer. You could select prayers from various countries from around the world and display them along with their country flag to show unity and solidarity with people around the world.

HSIE/SOSE 

Civics/Literacy

1) Go to http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/maplib/flag.html:

  1. When was the current UN emblem approved?
  2. What does the design represent?
  3. What does each part of the emblem symbolise?
  4. Why is this an appropriate emblem for an organisation such as the UN?
  5. Draw the flag of the UN.
  6. Why do you think the UN uses blue as its identifying colour?

2) Go to http://www.un.org/Overview/unmember.html:

  1. How many Member States are there?
  2. What is a 'Member State'?
  3. List three countries in the UN whose country name starts with the letter 'A'.
  4. What happened on 19 September 1991?
  5. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was dissolved and five new members were established, what were these countries?
  6. When did the Federal Republic of Germany join? Why were they always seen as two separate States until this time?
  7. When did Switzerland join the UN? Why do you think it joined so recently?
  8. When did Timor-Leste (East Timor) join the UN? Why?

Geography

1) Go to http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/habitat/
index.asp and read about the 'Cities of Today, Cities of Tomorrow' Unit.

  1. Unit 1: What Is A City? http://www.un.org/
    cyberschoolbus/habitat/units/un01pg01.asp

    Complete the activities at http://www.un.org/
    cyberschoolbus/habitat/units/un01act.asp

  2. Unit 2: Brief History Of Urban Expansion
    http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/habitat/
    units/un02pg01.asp

    Complete the activities at http://www.un.org/
    cyberschoolbus/habitat/units/un02act.asp

  3. Unit 3: What Is A City Made Of?
    http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/
    habitat/units/un03pg01.asp

    Complete the activities at http://www.un.org/
    cyberschoolbus/habitat/units/un03act.asp

  4. Unit 4: What Makes Cities Grow?
    http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/
    habitat/units/un04pg01.asp

    Complete the activities at http://www.un.org/
    cyberschoolbus/habitat/units/un04act.asp

  5. Unit 5: Consequences Of Urbanisation
    http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/
    habitat/units/un05pg01.asp

    Complete the activities at http://www.un.org/
    cyberschoolbus/habitat/units/un05act.asp

  6. Unit 6: A Healthy Urban Future
    http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/
    habitat/units/un06pg01.asp

    Complete the activities at http://www.un.org/
    cyberschoolbus/habitat/units/un06act.asp

History

1) Go to http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B8954/
(httpAssets)/3DA94AAFEB9E8E76C1256F340047BB52/
$file/sdn_chronology.pdf and read about the chronology of the League of Nations .

  1. Who was Woodrow Wilson? Why do you think he was a great advocate and supporter of the establishment of the League of Nations?
  2. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 after World War I. What did this Treaty entail?
  3. The first Assembly of the League of Nations was held in November 1920 with representatives from 41 states. Who were they?
  4. List four international Conferences held by the League of Nations.
  5. The 1930s saw several countries leave the League of Nations. List these countries and identify reasons for their leaving.
  6. What happened to the League of Nations in 1946? Why is this an important date?

2) Go to http://www.un.org/webcast/unia.html# and watch the video from May 9 2005 UNIA Programme #956: Environmental tourism hope for Timor-Leste's future.

  1. Research the history of Timor Leste (East Timor)
  2. Why is the United Nations' help so vital in this newest country in the world?

PD/H/PE

1) Go to http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/special/
health/index.html and read about Fighting Diseases. Select one of the facts mentioned and make a poster to display around your school in a bid to educate your school community.

2) Go to http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/special/
health/quiz/index.html and complete the health quiz by clicking on "causes", "cures" and "Did you know?"

ENGLISH

1) The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) Global Action Week is 24 - 30 April 2006. Go to http://www.campaignforeducation.org/action/
action.html and read about the importance of teachers in society.

  1. How many children in the world are not educated by teachers?
  2. How many teachers does the UN say are needed to achieve the goal of achieving universal primary school education?
  3. What are some of the conditions that are facing teachers around the world today?
  4. What does the GCE demand of rich countries?
  5. What does the GCE demand of poor countries?
  6. Go to http://www.campaignforeducation.org/action/
    action_materials.html     to download posters and stickers to display around the school.
  7. Write a one page report on the importance of teachers in society.

2) Go to http://www.un.org/webcast/unia.html# and watch videos on:

  1. UNIA Programme #967: UN peacekeepers take tough action to halt violence in Haiti.
  2. UNIA Programme #963: UNICEF helps former child soldier in Columbia.
  3. UNIA Programme #960: UN plan for liasing peace in Mindanao.
  4. UNIA Programme #953: UN helps Morrocan handicapped children.

CAPA

Go to http://www.millenniumcampaign.org/site/
pp.asp?c=grKVL2NLE&b=496093 and watch some of the video clips.

  1. If you were a manager of one of these famous people, write a press statement about the importance of educating the world on poverty.
  2. 'Only with your voice' is the theme of each film clip. Design a poster with this as the title. The poster should encourage students at your school to speak up against injustice, not only in regard to world poverty and other global issues, but also in relation to bullying in the school, discrimination and other relevant issues in your school.

2) Go to http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/%7einfinite/ and select four of the flags from UN Member States. Using butcher's paper make a collage which includes several UN flags, a peace prayer, and reflection on the world as you see it today.

SCIENCE

1) Go to http://www.un.org/Pubs/
CyberSchoolBus/waterquiz/waterquiz4
/index.asp and complete the water quiz. There are nine questions in the quiz.

2) Go to http://www.un.org/Pubs/
CyberSchoolBus/pufp/peru/about.asp and join the 'pumped up for peace' initiative which looks at fighting the global issue that 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water.

CAREERS

1) Go to http://www.un.org/Pubs/
CyberSchoolBus/3PLUSU/intro.html and work through the game on child labour, forced labour and discrimination. It is an interactive game that is relevant to all people who will one day hold a job in the work force.

Parish/Community/Social Justice Groups

Go to http://www.un.org/News/facts/ to read about the first permanent International Criminal Court. Why was it necessary to establish such a court in today's society?

Go to http://www.campaignforeducation.org/
documents/action_week_downloads/2006/
ResourcePack_EN.doc which contains excellent resources for activities suitable for schools or social groups on the importance of teachers and educators.

Email the Millennium Campaign at info@millenniumcampaign.org to receive information about how you can help reduce world poverty.

NATSICC, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council, "promotes and celebrates the cultural identity of our peoples across the nation". Go to http://www.natsicc.org.au/about_us.htm to read more about NATSICC.

NATSICC is planning to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II's visit to Alice Springs by holding their National Assembly in the Red Centre in October 2006. In the lead up to this event, "Message Sticks" will travel around each state and territory within Australia on their way to Alice Springs.

Each State and Territory will hold a "Relay" of its own NATSICC Message Stick. As it travels around, each local group will paint the Stick in a way that is unique to their tradition and area. To find out more, click on the link for the state you live in:

NATSICC News is available at http://www.natsicc.org.au/natsicc_news.htm

 

  
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