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**Jason (03/27/09)**  **The origin and purpose of the United Nations**

a. Predecessor: The League of Nations b. The Covenant of the League of Nations begins c. The end of the league
 * I.** **The United Nations: An Introduction**

II. Post-League of Nations (**throughout the Second World War**) a. After utter failure of the League of Nations, why did the major players (superpowers) decide to form another “world organization” in the postwar era? b. Why did they choose to NYC as the base/epicenter of this organization?

**III.** **What’s the true purpose of the United Nation?** a. Protection? b. Who? c. Where? d. How?

An international body composed of many countries that seeks to promote peace, prosperity, and cooperation around the world. It was formed in 1945 at the end of World War.
 * United Nations: **

The name "United Nations", coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was first used in the "Declaration by United Nations" of 1 January 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their Governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.

In 1899, the International Peace Conference was held in The Hague to elaborate instruments for settling crises peacefully, preventing wars and codifying rules of warfare. It adopted the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes and established the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which began work in 1902.

The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived in similar circumstances during the First World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security" (Introduction to the United Nations – Cyberschoolbus.un.org, p. 1). The International Labor Organization was also created under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League. During its operation from 1920 and 1946 it enjoyed a few notable successes but ultimately faltered when it couldn’t prevent World War II. It suffered from two major flaws: 1) several of the world’s most powerful and influential countries were not members, including the Untied States; 2) The League required unanimous agreement to oppose aggression. If any member disagreed, the League was powerless to act. Thus, when Germany, Italy, and Japan took military action against fellow members of the League in the late 1930s, they would not agree to take action against themselves to stop their aggression. In the end, the League failed in is primary mission to prevent another world war. The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War (Ibid, p. 1-2).

In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States in August-October 1944 (Introduction to the United Nations - ….. Ibid, 3 - 5). The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States (Ibid). The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States and by a majority of other signatories (Ibid).

Similar to the League of Nations, the U.N. was created to promote international peace and prevent another world war. To avoid the structural failures of the League, the U.N. founders gathered the support of the world’s most powerful nations. U.S. participation was secured when the U.N. headquarters were located in New York City. To provide enough power to impose and enforce its will, a security council was developed with authority to take action against aggressor nations. To reassure powerful nations that their sovereignty would not be threatened, the U.N provided veto authority over its actions. The five victors of World War II – the U.S. Britain, France, the Soviet Union (which Russia gained at the break up of the U.S.S.S.) and China – received this veto power. A veto provides any one of the five permanent Security Council members the authority to reject any U.N. resolution (Ibid). 

**__ Grenada __****__ and United Nations __**
 * Prime Minister of Grenada, Hon. Tillman Thomas at the U.N on 09/20/2008**

Grenada joined the United Nations over thirty years ago shortly after attaining Independence from Britain in 1974. Since then, the Island has remained actively engaged in the activities of the body and its affiliated institutions

In the aftermath of two major hurricanes (Ivan 2004) & (Emily 2005), which has saddled the island nation with mass debt; Grenada is faced with several dire situations that affect them politically, socially, academically, etc.

The agricultural sector, particularly nutmeg and cocoa cultivation, has gradually recovered, and the tourism sector has seen substantial increases in foreign direct investment as the regional share of the tourism market increases.

**Major Export Commodities:** bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace.  NEW YORK, (OCHA) - The **United** **Nations** is seeking a total of $59 million to help some 400,000 people affected by a series of storms that have ravaged impoverished Haiti and **Grenada** in recent weeks. **United** **Nations** agencies have been rushing relief supplies such as food, water and shelter materials to people in need, and are laying out a plan for addressing needs for the next six months in these two appeals.