United Nations

The Charter of the United Nations was adopted at the San Francisco Conference of 1945 :

The peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

To establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

To promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, and for these ends

To practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and

To unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and

To insure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and

To employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims.

Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.


Principal Organs of the United Nations


Secretariat

This is the directorate on UN operations, apart from political decisions. The staff works under the secretary-general, whom it assists and advises.

Secretaries-General

Ban Ki-moon, South Korea, Jan. 1, 2007
Kofi Annan, Ghana, 1997–2006
Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Egypt, 1992–1996
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Peru, 1982–1991
Kurt Waldheim, Austria, 1972–1981
U Thant, Burma (Myanmar), 1961–1971
Dag Hammarskjöld, Sweden, 1953–1961
Trygve Lie, Norway, 1946–1953


General Assembly

The General Assembly is the world's forum for discussing matters affecting world peace and security, and for making recommendations concerning them. It has no power to enforce decisions. It is composed of the 51 original member nations and those admitted since, totaling 192. On important questions, including international peace and security, a two-thirds majority of those present and voting is required. Decisions on other questions are made by a simple majority. Emphasis is given to questions relating to international peace and security brought before it by members, the Security Council, or nonmembers. It also maintains a broad program of international cooperation in economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, and for assisting in human rights and freedoms.


International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice is the UN's principal judicial organ. Based in The Hague, Netherlands, the Court pursues two primary objectives: (1) settling legal disputes submitted by states in accordance with international law, and (2) advising on legal questions brought by authorized international organs and agencies. The Court consists of 15 judges elected to 9-year terms by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council during independent sittings.

No more than one judge of any nationality may serve simultaneously, and judges are in all respects required to act as independent magistrates. The Court's jurisdiction and competency in settling disputes is dependent upon a state's acceptance of its jurisdiction thereof.

The Court rules in accordance with international treaties, conventions, international custom, general principles of law, and, when relevant, judicial decision or teachings of the “most highly qualified publicists.”


Security Council

The Security Council is the primary instrument for establishing and maintaining international peace. Its main purpose is to prevent war by settling disputes between nations. Under the charter, the council is permitted to dispatch a UN force to stop aggression. All member nations undertake to make available armed forces, assistance, and facilities to maintain international peace and security.

The Security Council has 15 members. There are five permanent members: the United States, the Russian Federation, Britain, France, and China; and ten temporary members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms, from five different regions of the world. Voting on procedural matters requires a nine-vote majority to carry. However, on questions of substance, the vote of each of the five permanent members is required. As of Jan. 2007, the ten elected nonpermanent members were Belgium, Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Slovakia, and South Africa. In Jan. 2008 the terms of Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Peru, Qatar, and Slovakia will expire.

Economic and Social Council

This council is composed of 54 members elected by the General Assembly to three-year terms. It works under the authority of the General Assembly and seeks to promote progress in terms of higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social viability; it also seeks solutions to international socioeconomic, health, and other problems through international and cultural cooperation. Finally, it advocates for the universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.

Trusteeship Council

The UN charter originally established the Trusteeship Council as a main organ of the UN and entrusted it with the administration of territories placed under the trusteeship system.

The Trusteeship Council suspended operations on Nov. 1, 1994, after the October independence of Palau, the last UN territory. In a May 1994 resolution, the Trusteeship Council amended its rules of procedure, agreeing to meet only as occasion required (by its decision or by request of a majority of its own General Assembly/Security Council members) rather than annually.

The Trusteeship Council is comprised of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Now that the aims of the trusteeship system have been fulfilled, however, its functions and powers have been lying dormant.



UN Peacekeeping Missions

Since 1948 there have been 60 UN peacekeeping operations, of which 47 have been created by the United Nations Security Council since 1988. Close to 130 nations have contributed personnel at various times, and 108 are currently providing peacekeepers. As of March 2006, there were 15 peacekeeping operations under way with a total of almost 90,000 personnel. The top contributors of military and civilian personnel to current missions were Bangladesh (10,255), Pakistan (9,638), India (9,061), and Jordan (3,723).

Current UN Peacekeeping Operations

AFRICA

Western Sahara April 1991
Democratic Republic of the Congo Nov. 1999
Ethiopia and Eritrea July 2000
Côte d'Ivoire April 2004
Liberia Oct. 2003
Burundi May 2004
Sudan March 2005

AMERICA

Haiti April 2004

ASIA

India/Pakistan Jan. 1949

EUROPE

Cyprus March 1964
Georgia Aug. 1993
Kosovo June 1999
MIDDLE EAST
Middle East May 1948
Golan Heights June 1974
Lebanon March 1978

Completed UN Peacekeeping Operations

AFRICA

Congo July 1960–June 1964
Angola Dec. 1988–May 1991
Namibia April 1989–March 1990
Angola May 1991–Feb. 1995
Somalia April 1992–March 1993
Mozambique Dec. 1992–Dec. 1994
Somalia March 1993–March 1995
Rwanda/Uganda June 1993–Sept. 1994
Liberia Sept. 1993–Sept. 1997
Rwanda Oct. 1993–March 1996
Chad/Libya May–June 1994
Angola Feb. 1995–June 1997
Angola June 1997–Feb. 1999
Sierra Leone July 1998–Oct. 1999
Sierra Leone Oct. 1999–Dec. 2005
Central African Republic April 1998–Feb. 2000

AMERICA

Dominican Republic May 1965–Oct. 1966
Central America Observer Group Nov. 1989–Jan. 1992
El Salvador July 1991–April 1995
Haiti Sept. 1993–June 1996
Haiti July 1996–July 1997
Guatemala Jan.–May 1997
Haiti Aug.–Nov. 1997
Haiti Dec. 1997–March 2000

MIDEAST

Middle East—1st UN Emergency Force Nov. 1956–June 1967
Lebanon June–Dec. 1958
Yemen July 1963–Sept. 1964
Middle East—2nd UN Emergency Force Oct. 1973–July 1979
Iran/Iraq Aug. 1988–Feb. 1991
Iraq/Kuwait April 1991–Oct. 2003

ASIA

West New Guinea Oct. 1962–April 1963
India/Pakistan Sept. 1965–March 1966
Afghanistan/Pakistan May 1988–March 1990
Cambodia Oct. 1991–March 1992
Cambodia March 1992–Sept. 1993
Tajikistan Dec. 1994–May 2000
East Timor Oct. 1999–May 2002
East Timor May 2002–May 2005

EUROPE

Former Yugoslavia Feb. 1992–March 1995
Croatia March 1995–Jan. 1996
Former Yugoslavia Rep. of Macedonia March 1995–Feb. 1999
Bosnia & Herzegovina Dec. 1995–Dec. 2002
Croatia Jan. 1996–Jan. 1998
Prevlaka Peninsula Feb. 1996–Dec. 2002
Croatia Jan. 1998–Oct. 1998


Source: United Nations Dept. of Public Information.

Countries with Nuclear Weapons Capability

Acknowledged: Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, Russia, United States

Unacknowledged: Israel

Seeking: North Korea, Iran

Abandoned: South Africa—Constructed but then voluntarily dismantled six uranium bombs. Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine—When Soviet Union broke up, these former states possessed nuclear warheads that they have since given up

Countries Hosting Refugees

Although developed countries contribute most of the funding to assist refugees, developing countries host the vast majority of the world's refugees. Combined, nations with per capita incomes of less than $2,000 host more than two-thirds of all refugees. Nations with per capita income over $10,000 hosted four percent of the world's refugees. In many developing countries, refugees are a large portion of the total population.

Host country ----Ratio of refugees to total population----Number of refugees

West Bank and Gaza-------------- 1:2----------------------1,685,800
Jordan----------------------------1:10-------------------- 609,500
Lebanon--------------------------1:13 --------------------296,800
Syria----------------------------- 1:21--------------------866,300
Chad------------------------------1:35--------------------275,500
Tanzania--------------------------1:66--------------------549,100
Iran-------------------------------1:70--------------------994,000
Sierra Leone---------------------- 1:92---------------------60,100
Saudi Arabia ----------------------1:102 -------------------240,800
Kenya ----------------------------1:117------------------- 269,300
Thailand --------------------------1:136 -------------------477,500
Venezuela------------------------ 1:148 -------------------180,100
Pakistan-------------------------- 1:149 ------------------1,088,100
Sudan---------------------------- 1:173 -------------------225,900
Nepal-----------------------------1:189 -------------------130,000
South Africa---------------------- 1:276 ------------------169,800
Canada ---------------------------1:815 ------------------39,500
Bangladesh -----------------------1:962 -----------------150,100
Germany --------------------------1:1,332 -----------------64,200
Australia-------------------------- 1:1,378----------------- 14,800
United States---------------------- 1:1,678 ----------------176,700
European Union-------------------- 1:2,006 ----------------749,500
India ------------------------------1:2,142 ----------------393,300
France -----------------------------1:2,380 ----------------25,500
China ------------------------------1:3,696 ----------------352,700
Mexico ----------------------------1:23,600 ----------------4,500
Spain -----------------------------1:27,188 ----------------1,600
Japan -----------------------------1:49,115 -----------------1,600



Recently Suspended Armed Conflicts

Israel vs. Lebanon ( 2006 )
Indonesia vs. Aceh separatists ( 1976–2005 )
Sudan vs. Sudanese People's Liberation Army1 ( 1983–2004 )
Haiti vs. rebel groups ( 2004 )
Solomon Islands vs. Malaitan Eagle Force and Isatabu Freedom Movement 1998–2003
Liberia vs. LURD rebels ( 2000–2003 )
Angola vs. UNITA ( 1975–2002 )
Sierra Leone vs. RUF ( 1991–2002 )
Chad vs. Muslim separatists (MDJT) ( 1998–2002 )
Burundi: Tuti vs. Hutu1 ( 1988–2001 )
Taliban vs. Northern Alliance ( 1995–2001 )
Indonesia vs. East Timor ( 1975–2000 )
Tajikistan vs. United Tajik Opposition (UTO) ( 1992–2000 )
Ethiopia vs. Eritrea ( 1998–2000 )
Fiji vs. insurgents ( 2000 )


Significant Ongoing Armed Conflicts

Middle East

U.S. and UK vs. Iraq 2003
Israel vs. Palestinians 1948

Asia

Afghanistan: U.S., UK, and Coalition Forces vs. al-Qaeda and Taliban 2001
India vs. Kashmiri separatist groups/Pakistan 1948
India vs. Assam insurgents (various) 1979
Indonesia vs. Christians and Muslims in Molucca Islands 1977
Indonesia vs. Papua (Irian Jaya) separatists 1969
Nepal vs. Maoist rebels 1995
Philippines vs. Mindanaoan separatists (MILF/ASG) 1971
Sri Lanka vs. Tamil Eelan2 1978

Africa

Algeria vs. Armed Islamic Group (GIA) 1991
Côte d'Ivoire vs. rebels 2002
Democratic Republic of Congo and allies vs. Rwanda, Uganda, and indigenous rebels 1997
Somalia vs. rival clans and Islamist groups 1991
Sudan vs. Darfur rebel groups 2003
Uganda vs. Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) 1986

Europe

Russia vs. Chechen separatists 1994

Latin America

Colombia vs. National Liberation Army (ELN) 1978
Colombia vs. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 1978
Colombia vs. Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) 1990


Source: U.S. State Department and TIME magazine

__________________
ஜ иστнιπg ιš ιмթΘรรιвlε тσ α ωιℓℓιиg нєαят ஜ

How Many Countries?

There are 194 countries in the world today.

A

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan

B

Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Botswana Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burma (Myanmar)
Burundi

C

Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Congo, Democratic Republic of the Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic

D

Denmark Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic

E

Ecuador
East Timor
Egypt
El Salvador
England
Equatorial Guinea Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia

F

Fiji
Finland
France

G

Gabon
Gambia,
The Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Great Britain
Greece
Grenada Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana

H

Haiti
Honduras
Hungary

I

Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy

J

Jamaica
Japan
Jordan

K

Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan

L

Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg

M

Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar

N

Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Northern Ireland

O

Oman

P

Pakistan
Palau
Palestinian State*
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
The Philippines
Poland
Portugal

Q

Qatar

R

Romania
Russia
Rwanda

S

St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé & Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Scotland
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria

T

Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu

U

Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates United Kingdom
United States Uruguay
Uzbekistan

V

Vanuatu
Vatican City (Holy See)
Venezuela
Vietnam

W

Western Sahara*
Wales

Y

Yemen

Z

Zaire
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Click here for the list of capital and area of these countries.


Unless you don't count Taiwan…

Taiwan is not considered an official country by many, which would bring the count down to 193 countries. Although Taiwan operates as an independent country, many countries (including the U.S.) do not officially recognize it as one. Because the People's Republic of China considers Taiwan a breakaway province of China, countries who wish to maintain diplomatic relations with China have had to sever their formal relations with Taiwan (more than 100 countries, however, have unofficial relations with Taiwan).

How many countries belong to the United Nations?

192 countries are UN members. The exceptions are Taiwan (in 1971, the UN ousted Taiwan and replaced it with the People's Republic of China) and Vatican City. The newest UN members are Switzerland (2002) and Montenegro (2006).

What are the world's newest countries?

The world's newest country is Montenegro, which became a country in June 2006, after splitting off from Serbia. Before that, the newest country was East Timor, which became a nation in 2002 after gaining independence from Indonesia. Since 1990, 27 new nations have come into being. Many of these emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union (14 countries) and the breakup of the former Yugoslavia (6 countries). See our Guide to New Nations.

Are there still any countries that have colonies?

There are 61 colonies or territories in the world. Eight countries maintain them: Australia (6), Denmark (2), Netherlands (2), France (16), New Zealand (3), Norway (3), the United Kingdom (15), and the United States (14). See Territories, Colonies, and Dependencies for a list of the world's colonies and what countries administrate them, p. 663.

Are there still territories in the world that are claimed by more than one country?

There are six major disputed territories in the world: the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, Western Sahara, and Antarctica (about a dozen nations have laid claims to portions of it). In addition, there are innumerable other territorial disputes throughout the world, many of which had resulted in ongoing armed conflicts.

__________________
ஜ иστнιπg ιš ιмթΘรรιвlε тσ α ωιℓℓιиg нєαят ஜ

This is a fascinating peice of information . This is the most simplest essay i have ever confronted based upon the basic but foundation based information about UN .This organization is both working a nd compromisin but when u have to chose two evil..chose the least one. Though this organization is being manuiplated by so called super power for gaining personal benifits which is perhaps their legitimate right as they donate the huge amount of money by which it runs . I do not know when democracy would be implemented in true spirit in this orgainzation but as 21 first century is the century of information and conflicts so we need such organization whcih have done each thing in its power in brining stability and peace in the world .

__________________
I criticize because i am not an authority and i love because i do not mean it .

Terrorist Acts Suspected of or Inspired by al-Qaeda

1993 (Feb.): Bombing of World Trade Center (WTC); 6 killed.
1993 (Oct.): Killing of U.S. soldiers in Somalia.
1996 (June): Truck bombing at Khobar Towers barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killed 19 Americans.
1998 (Aug.): Bombing of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania; 224 killed, including 12 Americans.
1999 (Dec.): Plot to bomb millennium celebrations in Seattle foiled when customs agents arrest an Algerian smuggling explosives into the U.S.
2000 (Oct.): Bombing of the USS Cole in port in Yemen; 17 U.S. sailors killed.
2001 (Sept.): Destruction of WTC; attack on Pentagon. Total dead 2,992.
2001 (Dec.): Man tried to denote shoe bomb on flight from Paris to Miami.
2002 (April): Explosion at historic synagogue in Tunisia left 21 dead, including 11 German tourists.
2002 (May): Car exploded outside hotel in Karachi, Pakistan, killing 14, including 11 French citizens.
2002 (June): Bomb exploded outside American consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, killing 12.
2002 (Oct.): Boat crashed into oil tanker off Yemen coast, killing 1.
2002 (Oct.): Nightclub bombings in Bali, Indonesia, killed 202, mostly Australian citizens.
2002 (Nov.): Suicide attack on a hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, killed 16.
2003 (May): Suicide bombers killed 34, including 8 Americans, at housing compounds for Westerners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
2003 (May): 4 bombs killed 33 people targeting Jewish, Spanish, and Belgian sites in Casablanca, Morocco.
2003 (Aug.): Suicide car-bomb killed 12, injured 150 at Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2003 (Nov.): Explosions rocked a Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, housing compound, killing 17.
2003 (Nov.): Suicide car-bombers simultaneously attacked 2 synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 25 and injuring hundreds.
2003 (Nov.): Truck bombs detonated at London bank and British consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 26.
2004 (March): 10 bombs on 4 trains exploded almost simultaneously during the morning rush hour in Madrid, Spain, killing 191 and injuring more than 1,500.
2004 (May): Terrorists attacked Saudi oil company offices in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, killing 22.
2004 (June): Terrorists kidnapped and executed American Paul Johnson, Jr., in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
2004 (Sept.): Car bomb outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, killed 9.
2004 (Dec.): Terrorists entered the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, killing 9 (including 4 attackers).
2005 (July): Bombs exploded on 3 trains and a bus in London, England, killing 52.
2005 (Oct.): 22 killed by 3 suicide bombs in Bali, Indonesia.
2005 (Nov.): 57 killed at 3 American hotels in Amman, Jordan.
2006 (Aug.): More than 25 arrested in plot to blow up jetliners between London and U.S.



Oil Spills and Disasters


1967

March 18, Cornwall, Eng.: Torrey Canyon ran aground, spilling 38 million gallons of crude oil off the Scilly Islands.

1976

Dec. 15, Buzzards Bay, Mass.: Argo Merchant ran aground and broke apart southeast of Nantucket Island, spilling its entire cargo of 7.7 million gallons of fuel oil.

1977

April, North Sea: blowout of well in Ekofisk oil field leaked 81 million gallons.

1978

March 16, off Portsall, France: wrecked supertanker Amoco Cadiz spilled 68 million gallons, causing widespread environmental damage over 100 mi of Brittany coast.

1979

June 3, Gulf of Mexico: exploratory oil well Ixtoc 1 blew out, spilling an estimated 140 million gallons of crude oil into the open sea. Although it is one of the largest known oil spills, it had a low environmental impact.
July 19, Tobago: the Atlantic Empress and the Aegean Captain collided, spilling 46 million gallons of crude. While being towed, the Atlantic Empress spilled an additional 41 million gallons off Barbados on Aug. 2.

1980

March 30, Stavanger, Norway: floating hotel in North Sea collapsed, killing 123oil workers.

1983

Feb. 4, Persian Gulf, Iran: Nowruz Field platform spilled 80 million gallons of oil.
Aug. 6, Cape Town, South Africa: the Spanish tanker Castillo de Bellver caught fire, spilling 78 million gallons of oil off the coast.

1988

July 6, North Sea off Scotland: 166 workers killed in explosion and fire on Occidental Petroleum's Piper Alpha rig in North Sea; 64 survivors. It is the world's worst offshore oil disaster.
Nov. 10, Saint John's, Newfoundland: Odyssey spilled 43 million gallons of oil.

1989

March 24, Prince William Sound, Alaska: tanker Exxon Valdez hit an undersea reef and spilled 10 million–plus gallons of oil into the water, causing the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
Dec. 19, off Las Palmas, the Canary Islands: explosion in Iranian supertanker, the Kharg-5, caused 19 million gallons of crude oil to spill into Atlantic Ocean about 400 mi north of Las Palmas, forming a 100-square-mile oil slick.

1990

June 8, off Galveston, Tex.: Mega Borg released 5.1 million gallons of oil some 60 nautical miles south-southeast of Galveston as a result of an explosion and subsequent fire in the pump room.

1991

Jan. 23–27, southern Kuwait: during the Persian Gulf War, Iraq deliberately released 240–460 million gallons of crude oil into the Persian Gulf from tankers 10 mi off Kuwait. Spill had little military significance. On Jan. 27, U.S. warplanes bombed pipe systems to stop the flow of oil.
April 11, Genoa, Italy: Haven spilled 42 million gallons of oil in Genoa port.
May 28, Angola: ABT Summer exploded and leaked 15–78 million gallons of oil off the coast of Angola. It's not clear how much sank or burned.

1992

March 2, Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan: 88 million gallons of oil spilled from an oil well.

1993

Aug. 10, Tampa Bay, Fla.: three ships collided, the barge Bouchard B155, the freighter Balsa 37, and the barge Ocean 255. The Bouchard spilled an estimated 336,000 gallons of No. 6 fuel oil into Tampa Bay.

1994

Sept. 8, Russia: dam built to contain oil burst and spilled oil into Kolva River tributary. U.S. Energy Department estimated spill at 2 million barrels. Russian state-owned oil company claimed spill was only 102,000 barrels.

1996

Feb. 15, off Welsh coast: supertanker Sea Empress ran aground at port of Milford Haven, Wales, spewed out 70,000 tons of crude oil, and created a 25-mile slick.

1999

Dec. 12, French Atlantic coast: Maltese-registered tanker Erika broke apart and sank off Britanny, spilling 3 million gallons of heavy oil into the sea.

2000

Jan. 18, off Rio de Janeiro: ruptured pipeline owned by government oil company, Petrobras, spewed 343,200 gallons of heavy oil into Guanabara Bay.
Nov. 28, Mississippi River south of New Orleans: oil tanker Westchester lost power and ran aground near Port Sulphur, La., dumping 567,000 gallons of crude oil into lower Mississippi. Spill was largest in U.S. waters since Exxon Valdez disaster in March 1989.

2002

Nov. 13, Spain: Prestige suffered a damaged hull and was towed to sea and sank. Much of the 20 million gallons of oil remains underwater

__________________
ஜ иστнιπg ιš ιмթΘรรιвlε тσ α ωιℓℓιиg нєαят ஜ

The idea of world peace is, in itself, a relatively recent idea. Not so long ago, all over the world, and in Europe in particular, every generation had had "its" war. A certain fatalism towards war was rooted in our mentalities.
War was almost considered as inevitable and peace was only a vague utopian dream.
WWI and WWII. Faced with the largest catastrophes in human history, men and women around the planet began to dream of a better, peaceful world.

Thus, shortly after World War II, on October 24, 1945, 51 States ratified the United Nations Charter with the hope of freeing our world from the possibility of war. The UN was thus created and equipped with instruments that its predecessor lacked.
The UN established several programs intended to reduce, as much as possible, all the factors leading to outbreaks in conflicts.
These programs did not only focus on peace keepers, who intervene after a conflict has erupted, but also on economic and social development, human rights, and the struggle to end world poverty and hunger.
Indeed, all of these United Nations programs contribute directly or indirectly to the prevention of conflicts and thus to peace on earth.
It is certainly true that, in the last 50 years, not everyone in the world has known peace, but it is gradually gaining ground. The dream of peace in the world is becoming less and less utopian and more and more attainable.

The three preceding fact sheets presented the culture of peace in the context of our daily lives; this one discusses peace at the international level. It describes the role of United Nations agencies, programs and departments in the prevention and peaceful resolution of international conflicts. In addition to these institutions, other international organizations are contributing to peace on earth, such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regional organizations.

The Preamble to the United Nations Charter clearly stipulates the mission of this organization.[1] The Preamble states that the United Nations was founded to prevent and resolve international conflicts and help build a culture of peace in the world. These intentions are reflected in the different agencies, departments and programs of the United Nations.

The United Nations and Conflict Prevention

There are many types of conflicts, with diverse origins and numerous consequences. Conflicts can occur among States or, conversely, within the same State. The former often result from claims for such things as land or natural resources, including water, oil or diamonds (e.g. Sierra Leone).
On the other hand, conflicts within a country generally stem from other types of dissension. The sources can be ethnic, religious or environmental in nature or be due to illiteracy or the unequal sharing of resources.
Indeed, poverty, the depletion of the natural and economic resources of States, the weakness of political institutions, and human rights violations are some of the causes of internal conflicts.

Under the supervision of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), specialized programs and agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP - www.undp.org), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO -www.unesco.org), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP - www.unep.org), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR - wwwunhchr.ch), the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR - www.unog.ch/UNIDIR), and many others are trying to prevent deadly conflicts from proliferating by attacking the roots of these conflicts and not only the acts of violence that are the symptoms.

The UN is taking aim at everything that could be at the source of conflicts. The prevention of conflicts and the promotion of peace therefore take quite varied forms. This UN work has become all the more necessary given that, since World War II, weapons have become ever more deadly. And though there is greater wealth in the world, its distribution is unequal.
This gap between rich and poor is visible everywhere and in all countries, and is increasing, in particular, between "Northern" and "Southern" countries.

The UNDP was created to help solve this problem. Indeed, conflicts grow well in the fertile ground of poverty. The UNDP is mandated to contribute to the elimination of poverty, the social mobilization of women, respect for the environment and the reinforcement of democratic institutions.
The supervision of elections illustrates this quite well. The UNDP is not alone in attempting to accomplish its mission, as thousands of non-government organizations (NGOs) are likewise contributing in one way or another.

Illiteracy also contributes to the birth of new conflicts. Societies whose members have a minimal level of education are less able to understand for whom it is voting or the decisions made by its leaders. Indeed, illiteracy often creates a rift between those in a society who are educated and those over whom, consequently, the educated have power. It can likewise create a gulf between the State and its citizens if the latter can be more easily controlled because they ignore the goings-on of the society. UNESCO is there to promote and give access to education, science, culture and communication. UNESCO is also there to ensure that justice, the law, human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected, irrespective of race, sex, language or religion.

The breakout of modern-day conflicts can also be related to the control of natural resources. Better management of these resources could help avoid the breakout of future conflicts.
Pollution rarely takes into account the borders mapped out by men.
The acid rain in the United States and Canada, the pollution of a chemical factory that flowed down the Danube River through several European countries, and the oil spills that so often occur in the ocean after a ship wreck, these are but a few of many sad examples. The last oil spill in Canada occurred in 1988 off the shores of Newfoundland and involved a tanker named Odyssey. These ecological catastrophes are often due to the inability of countries to adopt common rules for safety and the environment. This inability encourages certain countries to adopt lenient regulations in order to encourage companies to run part or all of their business from these countries.
Nonetheless, the most regular and largest oil spills occur in straits between several countries. This is the context in which the UNEP is working around the world to change mentalities about ecology.
It initiates and organizes multilateral conventions on the environment and thus tries to further the international legal framework for environmental protection. Greater international cooperation will hopefully mean fewer catastrophes and, consequently, fewer potential, environmentally related conflicts.

Respect for human rights is a condition sine qua non for the establishment of peace on earth.
On December 10, 1948, the members of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration establishes basic rights for all human beings.
The role of the UNHCHR is thus to promote respect for human rights.
This organization must demonstrate, through concrete actions, the international community's will and determination to ensure that human rights are respected. Moreover, it tries to have international conventions for human rights signed and ratified. For example, the "Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms" was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998. UNHCHR does not only inform us about the necessity to respect human rights.
It also works in the field to provide technical cooperation or help in the training of police or the military. The UN is not the only organization to work for the promotion of human rights. Just to name two of many NGOs, there are IFHR, the International Federation of Human Rights (www.ifhr.org), and AI, better known as Amnesty International (www.amnesty.ca).

It goes without saying that the counterpart of all conflicts is the availability of arms, especially firearms. Since the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 8, 1945, nuclear bombs have sadly made gigantic progress, as has the technology of arms in general. In his millennium report, Kofi Annan called on States to work towards the elimination of all nuclear risk. The majority of States spend too much on arms, and for some States, arms represent the main part of their budget, to the detriment of other sectors such as education and agriculture. The UN has a role to play in promoting disarmament, which is essential for peace. The UN's department for disarmament affairs reports on the state of the armament race in the world and establishes disarmament standards and goals in cooperation with other UN organisms. UNIDIR is conducting research into the potential for a safer future and the possibility of organizing seminars and conferences whose goal is to reach disarmament agreements.

The Other UN Organizations That Contribute to Peace

There are other UN organizations that help promote a culture of peace. UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund (www.unicef.org), helps to protect the rights of children. It carries out both preventive initiatives to help promote the education of children in developing countries and protective actions to help children in times of war, when they are often the most vulnerable victims. Indeed, if the future is to be ensured, it is important that children be educated and not be mistreated. Children ensure a country's future. Ensuring that children are not mistreated helps both to develop a country's capacities and to prevent, as much as is possible, the outbreak of future conflicts.

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund (www.unfpa.org), also helps to promote a culture of peace by developing information programs for women, especially with regard to sex education. It provides women in particular with all the necessary information and resources. This allows them in turn to make fully informed decisions and thereby contribute to a better management of the planet's population. WHO, the World Health Organization (www.who.int), promotes scientific cooperation in health matters, helps reinforce health systems and assists governments which ask for emergency aid. The provision of care to populations in distress alleviates many ills, whether they be physical or psychological. The WFP, the World Food Programme (www.wfp.org), promotes better nutrition by using food aid to support economic and social development. It is helped in this by the FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (www.fao.org), which sets up programs to help foster greater agricultural productivity, thereby fighting hunger and poverty around the world. Hunger and poverty are two important factors in the outbreak of conflicts.

All of these UN programs are attempting, with the means that are available to them, to prevent conflicts and have a world that is free of violence. However, it will be some time before we reach this enviable state on our planet. This being true, the UN will have to continue to separate belligerents by intervening through peacekeeping missions.


The United Nations and Peacekeeping

The UN Security Council is the main organization of the United Nations dedicated to the resolution of conflicts and peacekeeping. It is composed of fifteen members, five of whom are permanent, namely China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, and ten of which are elected by the General Assembly every two years.

When the Security Council is confronted with a problem that can represent a threat for international peace and safety, it must first try to resolve the problem peacefully.
In the past, the Security Council has acted as mediator or, in cases of armed conflict, proposed a cease-fire.
The Council can also reinforce its decisions by enacting sanctions. According to the report " 'We the Peoples'...", sanctions are a way for the Council to apply its decisions, constituting a step between a simple condemnation and armed intervention. Sanctions can include an arms embargo, trade and finance restrictions, the ceasing of air and sea contact, or diplomatic isolation.
Furthermore, the council can also opt for measures that call for more people and material.

Peacekeeping missions allow the Security Council to watch over the cease-fire and participate in the creation of conditions for peace.
On a few rare occasions, the Security Council has authorized member States to use all the necessary means to keep the peace, including collective military action.

General Indar Jit Rktye, the former president of the International Peace Academy who has participated in several peacekeeping missions, defines peace keeping as being "the prevention, limitation, moderation and cessation of hostilities between or within States due to the intervention of a third party, which is organized and directed at the international level and which calls upon military, police and civilian personnel to restore peace."[1]

Up until the end of the Cold War, the UN only intervened in the majority of cases if the conflict involved two or more States. This is known as the principle of non-interference. The principle of State sovereignty was "officially" adhered to more than it is today. The first UN mission began in 1948 in Palestine and is still in place. It was baptised UNTSO, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine. The missions have changed considerably since then. Indeed, UNTSO was only made up of observers mandated to observe whether the truce was obeyed. However, with the insistence of Lester B. Pearson, UNEF I, the fist United Nations Emergency Force, was set up during the Suez Canal crisis in 1956. It was the start of veritable peacekeeping missions supported by military, police and civilian contingents.

The reason comes from the establishment by former colonial powers of State models in countries that had no tradition of this kind. Totally arbitrary borders were laid down, bringing together different ethnic groups, some of which were able to impose their will on others due to their number and education.
We can no longer allow the powers that be of a State to dictate to other minorities. We must establish or impose peace so as to stop belligerents from committing greater massacres. However, this demands a stronger, more interventionist approach in defiance of State sovereignty and the principle of non-interference. To accomplish this, peacekeeping missions must have greater capabilities.
They must be able to rebuild, disarm, supervise elections and ensure that human rights are respected. Intervening is no longer enough. After such missions, democratic institutions that have never existed or that were destroyed must be rebuilt and be capable of ensuring equal rights for all citizens. This is the type of mission that took place in Kosovo and East Timor.

Still, it may be very difficult to establish a durable peace if justice has not first been obtained. There is often no judicial apparatus left in a country coming out of a conflict.
The UN is therefore working to equip itself with the effective institutions needed to fill the institutional void in countries that are rebuilding after a conflict

__________________
" Woods are lovely dark and deep But i have promises to keep And miles to go before i sleep "

Arab League (AL)

Members: (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Members: (10) Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar
(Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Associate Member: (1) Papua New Guinea

Group of 8 (G-8)

Members: (9) Canada, EU (as one member), France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, U.S.

Commonwealth of Nations

Members: (54) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe (suspended)

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Members: (12) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

European Union (EU)

Members: (25) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK. New Members in 2004: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Members: (26) Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, U.S. New members in 2004: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia

African Union (AU)1

Members: (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Members: (11) Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela

1. The Organization of African Unity (OAU), the African Union's predecessor, was formally disbanded on July 8, 2002. The AU was inaugurated July 9, 2002. The 53 member nations remain the same.

__________________
ஜ иστнιπg ιš ιмթΘรรιвlε тσ α ωιℓℓιиg нєαят ஜ

UN list of least developed countries

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, East Timor, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia.

Trends among the world's poorest countries

In the second half of the 1990s the average per capita income in the world's poorest countries, when measured in terms of current prices and official exchange rates, was $0.72 a day and the average per capita consumption was $0.57 a day. This implies that on average there was only $0.15 a day per person to spend on private capital formation, public investment in infrastructure, and the running of vital public services, including health, education, administration, and law and order.

In 2001, 34% of the population aged between 15 and 24 was illiterate in the poorest countries.

About 60% of the poorest countries experienced civil conflict of varying intensity and duration in the period 1990–2001 that, in most cases, erupted after a period of economic stagnation and regression. In Rwanda, for example, average private consumption per capita fell by more than 12% between 1980 and 1993, the year before the genocide occurred.

1. The UN classifies countries as “least developed” based on three criteria: (1) annual gross domestic product (GDP) below $900 per capita; (2) quality of life, based on life expectancy at birth, per capita calorie intake, primary and secondary school enrollment rates, and adult literacy; and (3) economic vulnerability, based on instability of agricultural productions and exports, inadequate diversification, and economic smallness. Half or more of the population in the 50 least developed countries listed above are estimated to live at or below the absolute poverty line of U.S. $1 per day.

__________________
ஜ иστнιπg ιš ιмթΘรรιвlε тσ α ωιℓℓιиg нєαят ஜ

1. China -----------------1,313,973,713
2. India ------------------1,095,351,995
3. United States ----------298,444,215
4. Indonesia --------------245,452,739
5. Brazil ------------------188,078,227
6. Pakistan ---------------165,803,560
7. Bangladesh ------------ 147,365,352
8. Russia -----------------142,893,540
9. Nigeria ----------------- 131,859,731
10. Japan ----------------- 127,463,611
11. Mexico ----------------107,449,525
12. Philippines -------------- 89,468,677
13. Vietnam ---------------- 84,402,966
14. Germany --------------- 82,422,299
15. Egypt ------------------78,887,007
16. Ethiopia ---------------- 74,777,981
17. Turkey ------------------70,413,958
18. Iran -------------------- 68,688,433
19. Thailand ----------------- 64,631,595
20. Congo, Dem. Rep.-------- 62,660,551
21. France ------------------ 60,876,136
22. United Kingdom ---------- 60,609,153
23. Italy ---------------------58,133,509
24. Korea, South ------------- 48,846,823
25. Myanmar (Burma) -------- 47,382,633
26. Ukraine ------------------ 46,710,816
27. South Africa -------------- 44,187,637
28. Colombia -----------------43,593,035
29. Sudan --------------------41,236,378
30. Spain -------------------- 40,397,842
31. Argentina ---------------- 39,921,833
32. Poland ------------------- 38,536,869
33. Tanzania -----------------37,445,392
34. Kenya --------------------34,707,817
35. Morocco ------------------33,241,259
36. Canada ------------------- 33,098,932
37. Algeria -------------------- 32,930,091
38. Afghanistan --------------- 31,056,997
39. Peru --------------------- 28,302,603
40. Nepal -------------------- 28,287,147
41. Uganda ------------------- 28,195,754
42. Uzbekistan ---------------- 27,307,134
43. Saudi Arabia --------------- 27,019,731
44. Iraq ----------------------- 26,783,383
45. Venezuela ----------------- 25,730,435
46. Malaysia ------------------ 24,385,858
47. Korea, North-------------- 23,113,019
48. Taiwan ------------------- 23,036,087
49. Ghana --------------------22,409,572
50. Romania ------------------- 22,303,552

__________________
ஜ иστнιπg ιš ιмթΘรรιвlε тσ α ωιℓℓιиg нєαят ஜ

There may be lost pirate treasure buried in the coves of the Caribbean Islands. There are certainly lost treasures of gold and jewels aboard early Spanish sailing ships sunk at sea. But not all treasure is lost. The earth is full of found treasures. Here are just a few of them.

Bauxite: This mineral is used to make aluminum. Guinea in Africa is rich with it.

Cashews: These delicious nuts grow on trees in Mozambique, a country in southeast Africa.

Chewing Gum: The sapodilla tree of Central America is the source of chicle, which is what puts the chew in chewing gum.

Chocolate: The seed of the cacao tree, which is found on many Caribbean islands, is used to make chocolate.

Chromium: This metal is used to make stainless steel. There is plenty of chromium in Zimbabwe, Africa.

Copper: One of the richest “copper belts” in the world is in Zambia, Africa.

Cork: Bulletin boards and stoppers in wine bottles are both made of cork, which is the bark of the cork oak tree in Spain.

Diamonds: Namibia, Africa, supplies the most valuable diamonds of the 18 countries in southern Africa rich with diamonds.

Emeralds: Colombia produces the most emeralds of any country in South America.

Gold: The world's largest gold mine is in Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

Mahogany: The trees that supply this beautiful wood grow in Central America.

Nitrates: This mineral used to preserve foods is found in the desert of Chile.

Perfume: In the south of France, flowers are grown for their oils, which are used in making perfumes.

Seaweed: Off the coast of Japan, seaweed is harvested to eat or to flavor foods.

Sugar: Sugarcane is grown in many countries in Central America and the Caribbean Islands.

Vanilla: There wouldn't be vanilla ice cream without the vanilla bean. More than half the world's vanilla is grown in Madagascar.

Wool: Most of the world's wool is supplied by the sheep of Australia.

__________________
ஜ иστнιπg ιš ιмթΘรรιвlε тσ α ωιℓℓιиg нєαят ஜ