Article on the United Nations.

Something which you have proven you have no ability to provide here.

You are speaking of anchor men/women as if they are networks.

Are you possibly saying that CBS and ABC are NOT being paid by Republicans to advertise? They are owned by Republicans, Jim.

You will be asked to prove youself and explain just what you mean.
jim has also been asked to prove himslf and explain himself, I can think of at least a dozen times I've asked him myself, NOT ONCE has Jim EVER shown any supporting statements or documentation. He ahs NEVER suported ANY of his comments here as he is completely unable to because nobody else on his planet has a like opinion to his.

jim has NEVER done ANYTHING to prove anything hwere, except that he calls people names and doesn't believe a word un less GWB says it himself. Like I have always said, a blind follower.

And for the most part I agree, some of the examples raised some questions but it is still a worthwhile post.

Unfortunately, I am sure you will agree, most people don't take it that way though and simply discount any alternative opinion as democratic BS, or leftie, or greenie, or commie, or socialist or anything 'un-Republican or Un-American'.

Tagging is something we learn as children, unfortunately some of us continue to tag people well into our adult years and lose out ourselves as a result.

I know you wont, but just in case you want to play fair and be a man;

Why is any government that accepts medical expenses or helps support it's unfortumate people via welfare atomatically considered a socialistic country in your mind?

Is Canada a socialist country? No.

I don't know if you watch King Of Queens about teh UBS driver who's dad lives in the basement, but YOU'RE the dad in the basement. Had a taste of war and feels the rest of the world is still full of VC and Nazis.

I was suspecting that it was the Birchers that came up with the tirade. We have a couple of billboards in town that promote bailing out of the United Nations and they are financed by the John Birch Society.

Oddly enough, an increasing number of people have never heard of the Birchers.

Personally I feel that the UN could use a good house cleaning, especially in light of the 'Food for Oil' scandal.

They have a number of programs that have done a lot of good world wide. Unfortunately, there are instances where internal politics have created situations where the UN creates more problems than they solve.

I read it. I reread it. I kept looking for the punch line. There isn't one, is there? Thanks for the support, Oz. Not necessary, but appreciated. I have thick skin.

Now, I'm going to go home, throw myself on the couch, cry and eat candy until I throw up. That's how we girls handle stress.

Unlike many opponents here who have simply bashed myself and anyone else who disagrees withotu any substantial suport or even a logfical thought process behind their comments.

When you run out of something to say, just shoot down the messenger. Very single visioned perspective.

If you find MY iopinion so amazing, try leacing your country for once and you will realize I share a very global perspective of the USA. That's why I no longer run business in the USA and simply deaal with al mr vendors there from up here. I don't even drop into the US for marketing and merchandizing any more, I leave that up to help in the cities where I sell CD's.

I don't know anyone who shops there anymore, whereas we all used to spend millions across the border, not even Gas, Milk and Cheese which were at one time staples that could be bought just 10 minutes from home by crossing the border.

As I was typing this, someone walked into the kitchen (where I do my personal computing)and after one second over my shoulder "Oh s**t, US politics, haven't you hjeard enough of thar crap by now? Bush is a freak and they just can't see it!" So I am not the only one.

Do us a favour, next time you elect your next idiot, God help the world if it is the incompetent and unable GWB, keep him to yourselves. We got more of your crap on our TV than we see of our own idiot, thay know we don't want to watch our PM push paper and make himself busy. The last thing we need is to see some moron in a country we couldn't give a toss about tellnig us how he wants to save the world. This wouldn't be so bad except you clowns actually believe it!?!?

.
There are NO documented examples of a librarian being forced to reveal the reading records of anyone under the provisions of the patriot act. It has never happened, yet that claim continues to be thrown around.

The link you suggested, ala.org, only revealed that this organization is planning to show Michael Moore's new film at their upcoming convention. How nice.

Gee, I wonder how many of our tax dollars are being spent on that????????

What you claim has not happened - never.

Question: What if Osama bin Laden's side-kick, whoever that might be now-a-days, is spotted going into a library. He is seen sneaking into a dark corner of the library to study some dusty old books about things most people never even think about. The feds get wind of this, and they wonder what this scoundrel might be planning next. It's your call, maecuff. You're the one who has to make the call. Does the librarian turn over the information to the department of Homeland Security about what this guy was reading, or should the librarian protect everyone's "rights"?

Go ahead, make the call. That's what provision 215 of the patriot act is all about. It's not about spying on people reading porn. It's not about infringing on people's privacy.

Section 215 allows the FBI to order any person or entity to turn over "any tangible things," so long as the FBI "specif[ies]" that the order is "for an authorized investigation . . . to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities."

It's no mystery, even you guys must have been allowed to hear that. Halliburton shipped oil from the US to Iraq and sold it to Iraqi's for 5C gallon at a cost of $1.50 to the American public (tax money, better spent than on your neighbour's pacemaker).

Didn't you see how Iraqi's wer ernnig out and buying cars by the drove (pun eeew)? Didn't you hear how GWB had started opening other borders so he could try and get it for less from neighbours?
Didn't you read statements from Iraqi's who are saying that it is the least you could do after getting all their oil? Didn't you read how when the gas prices go back up, Iraqi's are saying they will retaliate against GWB? Didn't you read/??? Of course not, the White House stops all that stuff from getting to your eyes, as proven by MANY reporters (over 100 testified) who complained of the censorship from the US when it came to their reports, but you probably weren't allowed to see that either. It is their way of protecting you. they keep you in a box and cal it freedom. Go to another country and see what freedom really is, it includes freedom from the freaking idiots in politics who run other countries.

A law that states all Canadian criminal history and TAXATION records must be released as the property of the US as needed? But a request of such from a Canadian source is an infringement on Candian rights?

Gotta love Bush, not to say much for our retard that okayed it and signed the dotted line. My brother has been fighting this one in Canadian and US courts for a few weeks now.

You just never know what side it will be next time. It's kinda cool really, if you erally follow from start to finish, it will be passive, argumentative, slanderous, then passive again and then he will end up on the other side all together. I've seen a couple of people do this recently, perhaps they just don't know how to feel now that even their deepest convictions have turned on them.

As for his crapping on people, Jim never has provided a single answer to any questions he has ever been asked here, he has not ONCE answered a question or offered a single link to back a statement. He just wants to call people commies and tell them to leave his country. Spud peeling mouthpiece fits well, just like the father on King of Queens.

Yeah its kinda of pointless. Waste of time and energy I say Bk. Nothing against Oz, or Jim, or maecuff etc etc.. but sheesh talk about left field.

Just some ideas. Didn't Afghanistan hold free elections a few months ago? So I guess we DID something right. And how long has it been since we ousted the Taliban? 2 years?? These things take time...I can't believe people can't understand this. But like I said, its plain hatred of US that these people come out with opinions like this. US is a hyperpower soo...they need someone to target. Before we used to have USSR, (which was hated) not anymore, so when a LARGE power gap of that magnitude appears, someone naturally fills it. Whether its US or a rogue state remains to be seen.

As far as Iraq is concerned, we handed over power today, Monday June 28, 2004. Doh!!! I guess people missed that one. Let me guess, Its a puppet regime?? wait wait, its FAKE, the handover didn't really happen, our media lied to us?? Iraq won't have a democracy, our troops are still there, what did we do in Iraq?? nothing, I tell ya nothing.

Sigh, its sad to see people take such negative viewpoints when it comes to US policies. I guess its understandable, its not their country, why should they worry about it. Its not their country that was attacked, its not in their interest to do anything.

I went to an Australian website and I read people's reaction to a US representative's statement that went along the lines of "...what if Australia wasn't US trading partner...??!!!" or something like that. Holy cow, those people exploded on the message board. Its like US was the second coming of the devil, sheesh. I guess its called patriotism and an understandable and normal reaction if your country was "insulted" or "attacked", but the whole point of this story is now you know how US and its citizens felt when we were attacked. If a stupid statement such as the one above prompted such reaction, I'd like to see what would happen if Sydney, Toronto, or Paris was bombed. It feels alive doesn't it?? to scream and holler in defense of the land you live in, yet yet you can't understand when US citizens do it?? You think we were lied to, deceived by, brainwashed, blinded...etc...etc. Thats where I have a problem.

But as another poster stated, WTF is the point??

Ok, everyone got that? USA is da DEVIL!!!!

I can't comment on the OFF program since I am not sure how it was supposed to work in the first place, please someone enlighten me. I am sure US is somewhere in the middle of it (unlike France, Russia, Germany...). But since we went to war with Iraq and the other nations opposed our actions (including the UN) I'd like to think their reasons were not as clean as people would think. So since we did goto war with Iraq, and if US was benefitting from OFF program I wonder why we went to war in the first place, when France, Russia, and Germany opposed it??

Well maecuff, although I seem to usually agree with you, as I mainly do here (I take MM with a grain of salt, much like I do Bush, actually that is like eating as fistful of salt) the entire premise of the derogatory comments rubs me the wrong way.

I may be harsh and unfeeling at times but I will always defend a womans right to voice her opinion without sex being a factor, as it is in no way relevant to a comment made, unles we are discussing menstrual cramps or childbirth in which case your qualifications as a woman would trump mine and i wouldn't perticipate in the discussion anway.

I adore women being a part of our planet (as if we would be around without women)I love all women, all shapes and sizes, wimen are just cool (most of the time). I think many men (as demonstrated earlier) are absolute idiots when it comes to women, they have no idea how to act around women, they show boat (make fools of themselves) around women etc.

When someone, especially an unqualified speaker with nothing to say, starts lambasting a comment because it cae from a woman, something needs to be said.

You are never rude here, sometimes your sarcasm falls upon deaf ears but for the most part you are very kind and honest in your comments. I will not stand for you or any woman being chastized for being a woman, we have already read that persons views on women and they aren't too pretty.

I apologize for stepping in where I wasn't needed but I just can't sit idly by and watch someone lambaste you for being a woman, instead of atually articulating a response to your comments.

What a loser! Makes you wonder how clowns like that ever get married, or even worse, it makes me feel sorry for the persons repressed wife.

Lets force him to go and fight for your country again, he just may not come back, unless he is on spud and carrot duty again.

We haven't had a socialist government for some time now and yet out welfare and medical system still works.

I think what the issue is, not too many Amrericans understand the real Canadian political system. They have a condensed understanding of what we get from our government.

We pay for medical insurance from the government, it isn't free unless you can prove you have no way to support yourself, now this is in itself a debated issue. WHO should be deemed able to support themselves. Well unless we say it is on a per case basis (which wouldn't work for obvious reasons) it is descrimination as one person may not be able to find work, while another may not be able to work at all, while yet another may not want to work. So where do you draw the line? You simply can't leave it up to a hospital or employment sevice to decide, they are unqualified as is the government because everyone has a different story. So as Canadians we have decided to elect a government that retains help for our countrymen/women that need help. I have no problam at all paying taxes into a system that will see my mother gets heart surgery during her pension years, she has worked for nearly 55 years and deserves to keep her money and et help if needed, even though she pays MINIMAL medical each month. In the case of welfare recipients, yes a lot do not need to be on welfare and will exploit the system. Some people exploiting a system does not make it useless, if so, Microsoft would be out of business as any school kid can hack Microsoft systems.

So when my son ws hurt and unable to work, he was hurt away from work, so no compo or EI to keep him going, I am glad that he was able to collect welfare until his extended benefits were paid. He worked and paid taxes to help our country why shouldn't he get support when in need? Just because some idiot who doesn't want to work is scamming welfare? I suppose we should also do away with auto insurance, Internet service and all the other goodies we have in life that are exploited by some arsehole.

Right now, actually 10 minutes ago, we just finished voting in a new government, it looks as if the Canadian Conservative Liberals won, in the west again (not all votes are tallied though, which will actually work in Canada).

NDP (democrats) did great back east in Hamilton, but not so well anywhere else. So once again it looke as if we have NOT elected a socialist government. Yet all of our government systems are socialist systems to you guys? Liberals are winning, not Hitler. (excpept Quebec where they have voted for the 'Bloc du Quebequois'.

What do you called a constipated French Canadian?
A 'blocked Quebeuois'.

Despite your conclusions, I am neither a left or right wing supporter, am am neither a democrat or a republican, I AM CANADIAN !!(couldn't resist, the commercial and all((actually I am still a British citizen but have resident status in Canada so I can come and go)).

Anyhow, I couldn't care less if you voted a democratic or republican government into office, as long as it doesn't effect my life and get in my face every day. I personally despise GWB, I have watched him mislead America and bring more hatred and resent on America today than you have ever seen in your short history. If I was an American I would be livid that such events could take place in my nation. When I first started posting hear a few years back, my objection was that nobody was doing anything about it and everyone supported GWB's haste to go to war so they could save their babies. I was told my country should deport me because I would question it's motives if I didn't agree with them. Democracy? Freedom of expression?

I have no objection to people who fight for their country as a duty without question, but the people of the country have to speak up when such crap is slung their way, instead everyone thought it was justified as an imperative "Save our Lives" invasion, which we know now is pure and utter bull**t.

I was stunned to see that the level of reporting in the US and that in Canada and Europe was completely different. You only saw a very thin and narrow view of what was everyone else was seeing. Then all the reporters complained about the censorship of photos and reports as everything had to be passed by the White House's strict guidelines regarding what could and could not be shown (not just caskets, that was just to diminish the real censorship).

To make an even longer story short, I have been labelled by our US peers as a conservative, democrat, socialist, commie, liberal, nazi, you name it all in an effort to TAG or label me.

The Chas was kind enough to take an overall summary of what I supported and what I didn't and actually came up with Liberal Conservative. I have said that not too many Canadians give a crap who rules here as long as they stay off our TV screen and out of our lives, which they do.

So really I don't care but I was stuned that people were so supportive of GWB (whether they thought he was wrong or right)despite all the imsleading BS he fed them. Then even MORE astounded to see that you only got a small portion of the story and images the rest of the world was seeing. Yet people STILL supported this war, except for a different reason that they were fed each week.

I just hope the next goof, yes I think all politiians in all countries are liars and idiots, is better than the last or at least different or even a better actor, Bush shows no sincerity and has a deceptive spoiled-rich-boy past behind him.

You know, I guess I could dig deeper and find an actual instance of this happening, or maybe I couldn't. But that isn't the point. If my husband came home and said, "I have this bullwhip and I could use it against you if I wanted to. And if I did, you can't complain about it, or YOU will be prosecuted." Sooner or later, it would be used. Because if you are given that kind of authority, sooner or later, it will be abused.

A disclaimer!! - No, my actual husband would never do that..and yes, I realize that is an extreme example, but it is in the right ball park.

Thanks for the comments. Believe me, I've heard many of them from all walks of life. You get used to it, which maybe isn't a good thing.

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.
States first established international organizations to cooperate on specific matters. The International Telecommunication Union was founded in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, and the Universal Postal Union was established in 1874. Both are now United Nations specialized agencies.
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." The International Labour Organization was also created under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League. The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.
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. 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.
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, the United States and by a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.
Inter-Allied Declaration
Signed in London on 12 June 1941, the Inter-Allied Declaration- "to work together, with other free peoples, both in war and in peace" -was a first step towards the establishment of the United Nations.
UK PM Churchill, US Pres. Roosevelt at Atlantic Charter. HMS Prince of Wales, 14 Aug 41 (24469 UN/DPI).
Atlantic Charter
On 14 August 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the United States and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom proposed a set of principles for international collaboration in maintaining peace and security. The document, signed during a meeting on the ship HMS Prince of Wales, "somewhere at sea", is known as the Atlantic Charter.
Declaration by United Nations
On 1 January 1942, representatives of 26 Allied nations fighting against the Axis Powers met in Washington, D.C. to pledge their support for the Atlantic Charter by signing the "Declaration by United Nations". This document contained the first official use of the term "United Nations", which was suggested by President Roosevelt.
Conf. on Security Organization for Peace in Post-War World (Dumbarton Oaks). Washington, D.C.. 21 Aug 44 (24477 UN/DPI).
Moscow and Teheran Conferences
In a declaration signed in Moscow on 30 October 1943, the Governments of the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and China called for an early establishment of an international organization to maintain peace and security. That goal was reaffirmed at the meeting of the leaders of the United States, the USSR, and the United Kingdom at Teheran on 1 December 1943.
Dumbarton Oaks Conference
The first blueprint of the UN was prepared at a conference held at a mansion known as Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C. During two phases of meetings which ran from 21 September through 7 October 1944, the United States, the United Kingdom, the USSR and China agreed on the aims, structure and functioning of a world organization.
USSR Prem. Stalin, US Pres. Roosevelt and UK PM Churchill, Yalta, USSR, 12 Feb 45 (24478 UN/DPI).
Yalta Conference
On 11 February 1945, following meetings at Yalta, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Joseph Stalin declared their resolve to establish "a general international organization to maintain peace and security".
San Francisco Conference
On 25 April 1945, delegates of 50 nations met in San Francisco for the United Nations Conference on International Organization. The delegates drew up the 111-article Charter, which was adopted unanimously on 25 June 1945 in the San Francisco Opera House. The next day, they signed it in the Herbst Theatre auditorium of the Veterans War Memorial Building.
UN Charter close-up; behind, Egypt signs. San Francisco, 26 Jun 45 (24479 UN/DPI).
24 October 1945
United Nations is created as its Charter is ratified by the five permanent members of the Security Council and the majority of other signatories, and comes into force.
10 January 1946
First General Assembly, with 51 nations represented opens in Central Hall, Westminster, London.
UK PM Atlee addresses GA1 opening, London, 10 Jan 46 (24480 UN/DPI).
17 January 1946
Security Council meets for the first time in London, adopting its rules of procedure.
24 January 1946
General Assembly adopts its first resolution. Its main focus: peaceful uses of atomic energy and the elimination of atomic and other weapons of mass destruction.
First Security Council meeting, London, 17 Jan 46 (24481 UN/DPI/M. Bolomey).
1 February 1946
Trygve Lie of Norway becomes first Secretary-General.
24 October 1947
"United Nations Day" officially designated by the General Assembly.
SG Trygvie Lie, Norway, elected 1 Feb. 1946, Lake Success, New York, Aug 49 (22731 UN/DPI).
June 1948
First UN observer mission established in Palestine -the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).
10 December 1948
General Assembly adopts Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Mrs. Roosevelt holds a Declaration of Human Rights poster, Lake Success, New York, Nov 49 (23783 UN/DPI).
7 January 1949
A UN envoy, Ralph Bunche, secures cease-fire between the new State of Israel and Arab States.
24 October 1949
Cornerstone laid for present UN Headquarters in New York City.
SG Lie and Chief Architect W. Harrison seal cornerstone, New York, 24 Dec 49 (23397 UN/DPI).
27 June 1950
Security Council, acting in the absence of the Soviet Union, calls on Member States to help southern part of Korea repel invasion from the north. The Korean Armistice Agreement is signed on 27 July 1953 by the UN Command and the Chinese-North Korean Command.
1954
UN High Commissioner for Refugees wins first of two Nobel Peace Prizes, for its work with European refugees.
Korean civilians flee fighting, Korea, Jan 51 (32834 UN/DPI/US Army).
7 November 1956
First Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly meets on the Suez Canal crisis and, on 5 November, decides to establish the first UN peace-keeping force- the UN Emergency Force (UNEF).
September 1960
17 newly independent States, 16 from Africa, join the UN -the biggest increase in membership in any one year.
Flagraising of 16 new Member States at UN Headquarters, New York, 30 Sep 60 (67728 UN/DPI/M. Bordy).
18 September 1961
Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold dies in an aircraft crash while on mission to Congo.
7 August 1963
Security Council votes voluntary arms embargo against South Africa.
Yugoslav troops with UNEF on patrol, El Arish, Egypt, Jan 57 (53061 UN/DPI).
4 March 1964
Security Council approves dispatch of peacekeeping force to Cyprus.
1965
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Young Indian boy carries bricks to earn a living, India, 1979 (148049 UN/DPI/J.P. Laffont/Sygma).
27 October 1966
General Assembly strips South Africa of its mandate to govern South-West Africa (Namibia).
16 December 1966
Mandatory sanctions are imposed against Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) by the Security Council.
SC affirms establishment of peace in Mideast, New York, 22 Nov 67 (101873 UN/DPI/Y. Nagata).
22 November 1967
Following the six-day war in 1967, the Security Council, after lengthy negotiations, adopts resolution 242 (1967), as the basis for achieving peace in the Middle East.
12 June 1968
General Assembly approves Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and calls for its ratification.
UN peacekeeper escorts Greek woman to Greek sector, Nicosia, 27 Apr 64 (84995 UN/DPI/B. Zarov).
4 January 1969
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination comes into force.
1969
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
PRC delegation formally seated in GA, New York, 15 Nov 71 (117269 UN/DPI/Y. Nagata).
25 October 1971
General Assembly votes to seat representatives of the People's Republic of China.
June 1972
The first UN Environment Conference is held in Stockholm, Sweden, leading to the establishment of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi.
Voting board as GA grants PLO observer status, New York, 22 Nov 74 (126887 UN/DPI/T. Chen).
13 November 1974
General Assembly recognizes the Palestine Liberation Organization as "the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people".
June-July 1975
International Women's Year is marked by the first UN conference on women, held in Mexico City.
Women at UNICEF-assisted family planning clinic, Settat, Morocco, Jul 87 (156359 UN/DPI/J. Isaac).
4 November 1977
Security Council adopts mandatory arms embargo against South Africa.
May-June 1978
General Assembly convenes special session, for the first time, on disarmament.
In Lesotho, a female work crew builds a road, Lesotho, 1969 (118420 UN/DPI/K. Muldoon).
18 December 1979
General Assembly adopts the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, covering political, economic, social, cultural and civic values.
8 May 1980
Three years after the last case was reported, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declares smallpox eradicated.
Congolese being vaccinated against smallpox, Leopoldville, Jan 62 (73798 UN/DPI/B. Zarov).
1981
UN High Commissioner for Refugees is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the second time, for its assistance to Asian refugees.
25 November 1981
General Assembly adopts Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
FAO and UNDP assist in exploiting fish resources. Joal, Senegal, 1976 (137725 UN/DPI/J. Mohr).
10 December 1982
New UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is signed by 117 States and two entities -the largest number of signatures ever affixed to a treaty on its first day.
December 1984
Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar sets up a UN office for Emergency Operations in Africa to help coordinate famine relief efforts.
UK Red Cross worker assists drought victims. Bati camp, Ethiopia, 5 Nov 84 (164669 UN/DPI/J. Isaac).
10 December 1984
General Assembly adopts the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
July 1985
Thousands gather in Nairobi to attend the third UN conference on women, marking the end of the UN Decade for Women.
A brilliant sun shining over Knoxville, Tennessee, US, 1978 (139312 UN/DPI/R. Kollar/TVA).
September 1987
Efforts of UNEP lead to the signing of the Treaty on the Protection of the Ozone Layer -known as the Montreal Protocol -a follow-up to the 1985 Vienna Convention on the Ozone Layer.
1988
UN Peacekeeping operations awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, at the time there were seven peacekeeping or observer missions in operation.
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to UN peacekeepers in 1988, New York, Oct 88 (173115 UN/DPI/J. Isaac).
April 1989
UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) is deployed throughout Namibia to monitor South Africa's withdrawal and provide electoral assistance. Elections were held in November 1989; Namibia becomes independent on 21 March 1990.
2 September 1990
Convention on the Rights of the Child comes into force.
Cambodian girl holds UN flag, Cambodia, Oct 92 (186080 UN/DPI/S. Sudhakaran).
29-30 September 1990
UNICEF convenes the World Summit for Children, attended by 71 Heads of State and Government. A Plan of Action is adopted.
31 May 1991
A cease-fire in the 16-year civil war in Angola is negotiated, then administered by the UN Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II).
Woman votes in Angola's UN-assisted elections, Luanda, 29 Sep 92 (159419 UN/DPI/M. Grant).
31 December 1991
Agreement signed at UN Headquarters, through the good offices of the Secretary-General, between the Government of El Salvador and FMLN (National Liberation Front).
31 January 1992
First ever Security Council Summit, with leaders from all 15 members in attendance, is held in New York leading to the Secretary-General's report, An Agenda for Peace.
Workers walk home from vulcanizing plant, Copsa Mica, Romania, 1991 (158676 UN/DPI/R. Marklin).
June 1992
The UN Conference on Environment and Development, the "Earth Summit", is held in Rio de Janeiro attended by leaders from over 100 countries, the largest intergovernmental gathering in history, resulting in Agenda 21, a plan of action for sustainable development.
17 June 1992
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali issues "An Agenda for Peace" on preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peace-keeping and peace-building.
Women celebrate UN-supervised referendum, Adi Segdo, Eritrea, Apr 93 (159900 UN/DPI/M. Grant).
1993
Eritrean independence was declared on 27 April, 1993 as a result of a referendum held with UN verification, with more than 98.5% of registered voters voting. Eritrea was subsequently admitted to membership in the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity.
1993
UN-supervised elections were held in Cambodia resulting in a new government, and the drafting of a new constitution, ending nearly 15 years of strife in the war-torn country.
Bangladeshi PKOs teach demining to Cambodian, Cambodia, 1992 (159491 UN/DPI/J. Bleibtrev).
June 1993
The World Conference on Human Rights is held in Vienna, which commemorated the International Year for the World's Indigenous People (1993).
6 May 1994
The Secretary-General produces a report on "An Agenda for Development", a blueprint for improving the human condition.
Ladakhi woman, a member of a Tibetan ethnic group, Photoksar, India, Aug 92 (159644 UN/DPI/F. Charton).
23 June 1994
Elections are held in South Africa from 26 to 29 April, observed by 2,527 staff of the United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa (UNOMSA) deployed around the country. On 25 May, the Security Council lifted the arms embargo and other restrictions against South Africa. On 23 June, after 24 years, South Africa took its place once again in the General Assembly.
5-15 September 1994
The International Conference on Population and Development, is held in Cairo, attended by representatives from 179 countries and addressed by 249 speakers. The Conference had population, sustained economic growth and sustainable development as its overall theme.
Intl. Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, Sep 94 (UN/DPI/E. Schneider).
October 1994
Mozambique's first multi-party elections are held on 27-29 October, monitored by some 2,300 international observers.
1995
A world-wide, year-long programme of activities and celebrations marks the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations. The theme of the anniversary was "We the peoples of the United Nations...United for a Better World".
UN-assisted elections - waiting to vote, Xipamanime, Mozambique, 28 Oct 94 (187016 UN/DPI/S. Sudhakaran).
March 1995
The World Summit for Social Development -one of the largest gathering of world leaders in history- meets in Copenhagen to renew the commitment to combating poverty, unemployment and social exclusion.
26 June 1995
A conference is held in San Francisco, California to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter.
Secretariat lit up for UN's 50th Anniversary, New York, 21 Dec 94 (188956 UN/DPI/E. Schneider).
September 1995
The Fourth World Conference on Women meets in Beijing to continue international efforts to advance the status of women worldwide.
22-24 October 1995
A special commemorative meeting attended by Heads of State and Government is held at Headquarters culminating the observance of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations.

Group photograph of the world leaders at the Special Commemorative Meeting. (UN/DPI Photo # 190891 by Paul Skipworth for Eastman Kodak Company. Copyright United Nations, Paul Skipworth and Eastman Kodak Company).
10 September 1996
The General Assembly adopted the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. This is a turning point in the history of efforts towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The treaty was opened for signature on 24 September.
Fiftieth Session of General Assembly votes on item relating to Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, New York, 10 Sep 96 (192255 UN/DPI/E.Schneider).
17 December 1996
The General Assembly appoints by acclamation Kofi Annan, of Ghana, as the seventh United Nations Secretary-General with a term begining on 1 January 1997 and ending 31 December 2001.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Ghana,
New York, 17 Dec 96 (193355C N/DPI/M.Grant).
29 June 2001
Acting on a recommendation by the Security Council, the General Assembly appointed Kofi Annan by acclamation to a second term of office, beginning on 1 January 2002 and ending on 31 December 2006.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Ghana,
New York, 29 June 2001.
The United Nations was established in the aftermath of a devastating war to help stabilize international relations and give peace a more secure foundation.
Amid the threat of nuclear war and seemingly endless regional conflicts, peace-keeping has become an overriding concern of the United Nations. In the process, the activities of blue-helmeted peace-keepers have emerged as the most visible role associated with the world organization.
The United Nations, however, is much more than a peace-keeper and forum for conflict resolution. Often without attracting attention, the United Nations and its family of agencies are engaged in a vast array of work that touches every aspect of people's lives around the world.
Child survival and development. Environmental protection. Human rights. Health and medical research. Alleviation of poverty and economic development. Agricultural development and fisheries. Education. Family planning. Emergency and disaster relief. Air and sea travel. Peaceful uses of atomic energy. Labour and workers' rights. The list goes on. Here, in brief, is a sampling of what the United Nations organizations have accomplished since 1945 when the world organization was founded.
1. Maintaining peace and security - By having deployed a total of 54 peace-keeping forces and observer missions as of September 2001, the United Nations has been able to restore calm to allow the negotiating process to go forward while saving millions of people from becoming casualties of conflicts. There are presently 15 active peace-keeping forces in operation.
2. Making peace - Since 1945, the United Nations has been credited with negotiating many peaceful settlements that have ended regional conflicts. Recent cases include an end to the Iran-Iraq war, the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, and an end to the civil war in El Salvador. The United Nations has used quiet diplomacy to avert imminent wars.
3. Promoting democracy - The United Nations has enabled people in many countries to participate in free and fair elections, including those held in Cambodia, Namibia, El Salvador, Eritrea, Mozambique, Nicaragua, South Africa, Kosovo and East Timor. It has provided electoral advice, assistance, and monitoring of results.
4. Promoting development - The UN system has devoted more attention and resources to the promotion of the development of human skills and potentials than any other external assistance effort. The system's annual disbursements, including loans and grants, amount to more than $10 billion. The UN Development Programme (UNDP), in close cooperation with over 170 Member States and other UN agencies, designs and implements projects for agriculture, industry, education, and the environment. It supports more than 5,000 projects with a budget of $1.3 billion. It is the largest multilateral source of grant development assistance. The World Bank, at the forefront in mobilizing support for developing countries worldwide, has alone loaned $333 billion for development projects since 1946. In addition, UNICEF spends more than $800 million a year, primarily on immunization, health care, nutrition and basic education in 138 countries.
5. Promoting human rights - Since adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the United Nations has helped enact dozens of comprehensive agreements on political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights. By investigating individual complaints of human rights abuses, the UN Human Rights Commission has focused world attention on cases of torture, disappearance, and arbitrary detention and has generated international pressure to be brought on governments to improve their human rights records.
6. Protecting the environment - The United Nations has played a vital role in fashioning a global programme designed to protect the environment. The "Earth Summit," the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, resulted in treaties on biodiversity and climate change, and all countries adopted "Agenda 21" - a blueprint to promote sustainable development or the concept of economic growth while protecting natural resources.
7. Preventing nuclear proliferation - The United Nations, through the International Atomic Energy Agency, has helped minimize the threat of a nuclear war by inspecting nuclear reactors in 90 countries to ensure that nuclear materials are not diverted for military purposes.
8. Promoting self determination and independence - The United Nations has played a role in bringing about independence in countries that are now among its Member States.
9. Strengthening international law - Over 300 international treaties, on topics as varied as human rights conventions to agreements on the use of outer space and seabed, have been enacted through the efforts of the United Nations.
10. Handing down judicial settlements of major international disputes - By giving judgments and advisory opinions, the International Court of Justice has helped settle international disputes involving territorial issues, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, diplomatic relations, hostage-taking, the right of asylum, rights of passage and economic rights.
11. Ending apartheid in South Africa - By imposing measures ranging from an arms embargo to a convention against segregated sporting events, the United Nations was a major factor in bringing about the downfall of the apartheid system, which the General Assembly called "a crime against humanity." Elections were held in April 1994 in which all South Africans were allowed to participate on an equal basis, followed by the establishment of a majority government.
12. Providing humanitarian aid to victims of conflict - More than 30 million refugees fleeing war, famine or persecution have received aid from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees since 1951 in a continuing effort coordinated by the United Nations that often involves other agencies. There are more than 19 million refugees, mostly women and children, who are receiving food, shelter, medical aid, education and repatriation assistance.
13. Aiding Palestinian refugees - Since 1950, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has sustained four generations of Palestinians with free schooling, essential health care, relief assistance and key social services virtually without interruption. There are 2.9 million refugees in the Middle East served by UNRWA.
14. Alleviating chronic hunger and rural poverty in developing countries - The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has developed a system of providing credit, often in very small amounts, for the poorest and most marginalised groups that has benefited over 230 million people in nearly 100 developing countries.
15. Focusing on African development - For the United Nations, Africa continues to be the highest priority. In 1986, the United Nations convened a special session to drum up international support for African economic recovery and development. The United Nations also has instituted a system-wide task force to ensure that commitments made by the international community are honoured and challenges met. The Africa Project Development Facility has helped entrepreneurs in 25 countries to find financing for new enterprises. The Facility has completed 130 projects which represent investments of $233 million and the creation of 13,000 new jobs. It is expected that these new enterprises will either earn or save some $131 million in foreign exchange annually.
16. Promoting women's rights - A long term objective of the United Nations has been to improve the lives of women and to empower women to have greater control over their lives. Several conferences during the UN-sponsored International Women's Decade set an agenda for the advancement of women and women's rights for the rest of the century. The UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) have supported programmes and projects to improve the quality of life for women in over 100 countries. They include credit and training, access to new food-production technologies and marketing opportunities, and other means of promoting women's work.
17. Providing safe drinking water - UN agencies have worked to make safe drinking water available to 1.3 billion people in rural areas during the last decade.
18. Eradicating smallpox - A 13-year effort by the World Health Organization resulted in the complete eradication of smallpox from the planet in 1980. The eradication has saved an estimated $1 billion a year in vaccination and monitoring, almost three times the cost of eliminating the scourge itself. WHO also helped wipe out polio from the Western hemisphere, with global eradication expected by the year 2000.
19. Pressing for universal immunization - Polio, tetanus, measles, whooping cough, diphtheria and tuberculosis still kill more than eight million children each year. In 1974, only 5 per cent of children in developing countries were immunized against these diseases. Today, as a result of the efforts of UNICEF and WHO, there is an 80 per cent immunization rate, saving the lives of more than 3 million children each year.
20. Reducing child mortality rates - Through oral rehydration therapy, water and sanitation and other health and nutrition measures undertaken by UN agencies, child mortality rates in the developing countries have been halved since 1960, increasing the life expectancy from 37 to 67 years.
21. Fighting parasitic diseases - Efforts by UN agencies in North Africa to eliminate the dreaded screw worm, a parasite that feeds on human and animal flesh, prevented the spread of the parasite, which is carried by flies, to Egypt, Tunisia, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. A WHO programme also has saved the lives of 7 million children from going blind from the river blindness and rescued many others from guinea worm and other tropical diseases.
22. Promoting investment in developing countries - The United Nations, through the efforts of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), has served as a "match-maker" for North-South, South-South and East-West investment, promoting entrepreneurship and self-reliance, industrial cooperation and technology transfer and cost-effective, ecologically-sensitive industry.
23. Orienting economic policy toward social need - Many UN agencies have emphasized the need to take account of human needs in determining economic adjustment and restructuring policies and programmes, including measures to safeguard the poor, especially in areas of health and education, and "debt swaps for children."
24. Reducing the effects of natural disasters - The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has spared millions of people from the calamitous effects of both natural and man-made disasters. Its early warning system, which utilizes thousands of surface monitors as well as satellites, has provided information for the dispersal of oil spills and has predicted long-term droughts. The system has allowed for the efficient distribution of food aid to drought regions, such as southern Africa in 1992.
25. Providing food to victims of emergencies - Nearly 815 million people are currently suffering from chronic malnutrition, including 300 million children. In 2001, the World Food Programme (WFP) distributed 4.2 million tons of food to 77 million people in 82 countries for a total operational expenditure of $ 1.74 billion. 20 million people received, through development projects, aid in food-for-work projects to promote agriculture, improve the environment, and in school feeding, health, and nutrition projects, and 57 million people were offered assistance through short- and long-term operations.These beneficiaries include internally displaced people, refugees, and victims of natural disasters such as floods and drought.
26. Clearing land mines - The United Nations is leading an international effort to clear land mines from former battlefields in Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, El Salvador, Mozambique, Rwanda and Somalia that still kill and maim thousands of innocent people every year.
27. Protecting the ozone layer - The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have been instrumental in highlighting the damage caused to the earth's ozone layer. As a result of a treaty, known as the Montreal Protocol, there has been a global effort to reduce chemical emissions of substances that have caused the depletion of the ozone layer. The effort will spare millions of people from the increased risk of contracting cancer due to additional exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
28. Curbing global warming - Through the Global Environment Facility, countries have contributed substantial resources to curb conditions that cause global warming. Increasing emissions from burning fossil fuels and changes in land use patterns have led to a build-up of gases in the atmosphere, which experts believe can lead to a warming of the Earth's temperature.
29. Preventing over-fishing - The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) monitors marine fishery production and issues alerts to prevent damage due to over-fishing.
30. Limiting deforestation and promoting sustainable forestry development - FAO, UNDP and the World Bank, through a Tropical Forests Action Programme, have formulated and carried out forestry action plans in 90 countries.
31. Cleaning up pollution - UNEP led a major effort to clean up the Mediterranean Sea. It encouraged adversaries such as Syria and Israel, Turkey and Greece to work together to clean up beaches. As a result, more than 50 per cent of the previously polluted beaches are now usable.
32. Protecting consumers' health - To ensure the safety of food sold in the market place, UN agencies have established standards for over 200 food commodities and safety limits for more than 3,000 food containers.
33. Reducing fertility rates - The UN Population Fund (UNFPA), through its family planning programmes, has enabled people to make informed choices, and consequently given families, and especially women, greater control over their lives. As a result, women in developing countries are having fewer children - from six births per woman in the 1960s to 3.5 today. In the 1960s, only 10 per cent of the world's families were using effective methods of family planning. The number now stands at 55 per cent.
34. Fighting drug abuse - The UN International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) has worked to reduce demand for illicit drugs, suppress drug trafficking, and has helped farmers to reduce their economic reliance on growing narcotic crops by shifting farm production toward other dependable sources of income.
35. Improving global trade relations - The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has worked to obtain special trade preferences for developing countries to export their products to developed countries. It has also negotiated international commodities agreements to ensure fair prices for developing countries. And through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which has now been supplanted by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Nations has supported trade liberalization, that will increase economic development opportunities in developing countries.
36. Promoting economic reform - Together with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations has helped many countries improve their economic management, offered training for government finance officials, and provided financial assistance to countries experiencing temporary balance of payment difficulties.
37. Promoting worker rights - The International Labour Organization (ILO) has worked to guarantee freedom of the right to association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples, promote employment and equal remuneration and has sought to eliminate discrimination and child labour. And by setting safety standards, ILO has helped reduce the toll of work-related accidents.
38. Introducing improved agricultural techniques and reducing costs - With assistance from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) that has resulted in improved crop yields, Asian rice farmers have saved $12 million on pesticides and governments over $150 million a year in pesticide subsidies.
39. Promoting stability and order in the world's oceans - Through three international conferences, the third lasting more than nine years, the United Nations has spearheaded an international effort to promote a comprehensive global agreement for the protection, preservation and peaceful development of the oceans. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into force in 1994, lays down rules for the determination of national maritime jurisdiction, navigation on the high seas, rights and duties of coastal and other states, obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment, cooperation in the conduct of marine scientific research and preservation of living resources.
40. Improving air and sea travel - UN agencies have been responsible for setting safety standards for sea and air travel. The efforts of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have contributed to making air travel the safest mode of transportation. To wit: In 1947, when nine million travelled, 590 were killed in aircraft accidents; in 1993 the number of deaths was 936 out of the 1.2 billion airline passengers. Over the last two decades, pollution from tankers has been reduced by as much as 60 per cent thanks to the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
41. Protecting intellectual property - The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) provides protection for new inventions and maintains a register of nearly 3 million national trademarks. Through treaties, it also protects the works of artists, composers and authors world-wide. WIPO's work makes it easier and less costly for individuals and enterprises to enforce their property rights. It also broadens the opportunity to distribute new ideas and products without relinquishing control over the property rights.
42. Promoting the free flow of information - To allow all people to obtain information that is free of censorship and culturally unbiased, UNESCO has provided aid to develop and strengthen communication systems, established news agencies and supported an independent press.
43. Improving global communications - The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has maintained and regulated international mail delivery. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has coordinated use of the radio spectrum, promoted cooperation in assigning positions for stationary satellites, and established international standards for communications, thereby ensuring the unfeterred flow of information around the globe.
44. Empowering the voiceless - UN-sponsored international years and conferences have caused governments to recognize the needs and contributions of groups usually excluded from decision-making, such as the aging, children, youth, homeless, indigenous and disabled people.
45. Establishing "children as a zone of peace" - From El Salvador to Lebanon, Sudan to former Yugoslavia, UNICEF pioneered the establishment of "Days of Tranquillity" and the opening of "Corridors of Peace" to provide vaccines and other assistance desperately needed by children caught in armed conflict.
46. Generating worldwide commitment in support of the needs of children - Through UNICEF's efforts, the Convention on the Rights of the Child entered into force as international law in 1990 and has become law in 166 countries by the end of September 1994; following the 1990 World Summit for Children convened by UNICEF, more than 150 governments have committed to reaching over 20 specific measurable goals to radically improve children's lives by the year 2000.
47. Improving education in developing countries - As a direct result of the efforts of UN agencies, over 60 per cent of adults in developing countries can now read and write, and 90 per cent of children in these countries attend school.
48. Improving literacy for women - Programmes aimed at promoting education and advancement for women helped raise steadily the female literacy rate in developing countries from 36 per cent in 1970 to 56 per cent in 1990 and to 72 per cent in 2000.
49. Safeguarding and preserving historic cultural and architectural sites - Ancient monuments in 81 countries including Greece, Egypt, Italy, Indonesia and Cambodia, have been protected through the efforts of UNESCO, and international conventions have been adopted to preserve cultural property.
50. Facilitating academic and cultural exchanges - The United Nations, through UNESCO and the United Nations University (UNU), have encouraged scholarly and scientific cooperation, networking of institutions and promotion of cultural expressions, including those of minorities and indigenous people.

...who spent the weekend going to baseball games with the boys, (sorry only sons here) taking care of the yard work and the inside-the-house work like preparing meals and cleaning and laundry and making the husband happy - well, I am offended by your post, don't think it is at all funny and agree it does more to reveal you as the idiot that most of your posts only allude that you are. I for one shan't be reading any more of yours, which is a shame because you have just proven that you can't hold a basic debate on actualities, and instead resort to slamming genders as a whole. What a fool.

First off, there are so many politically charged ramblings that people post on these days in forums like this that I don't know which to believe anymore. Naturally the posts go from one extreme to the other as well.

Secondly, without an EASY and reputable source for such things...I'm not buying it anymore. I just take it as someone (as in the "original" author) venting.

In other words, I take it with a grain of salt.

Kerry will win. Not that I care overly for him OR Bush, but the atmosphere, the Michael Moore's of the world..they are just slamming Bush so hard (some of which I agree with and some I don't) I just don't see him winning.

As for Nader...HAHAHAHAH....*I* have a better chance of being elected than he does. So no worries there!

The screed that launched this thread is clearly biased. Not to say that it's full of untruths or even exaggerations, merely that it only shows half of an incredibly complex issue. The last post above mine shows the other half. It's obviously not difficult to find a mountain of good things that have been accomplished or at least attempted by the U.N.

I daresay that a person with an axe to grind could post an equally long-winded, equally truthful description of the USA that would make us look worse than Nazi Germany.

A hint to all you budding writers: the occasional Michael Moore notwithstanding (and his secret is to appeal to our sense of humor, which the starter of this thread most certainly did not), you won't have much of a chance of being taken seriously if you don't respect the principle of BALANCE.

Canada has never voted in a socialist(NDP or predecessor CCF) government in at the national level. The one time they were close, right after WWII, the Liberals(who hang around the centre) stole the social welfare plank from the CCF and retained power.

When times were tough in the early 90s, the Liberals went to the right, cutting social programs and government spending, laying off 10s of thousands of government employees. They balanced the budget and have been paying off long term debt.

I didn't support them(never have) because of the scandals and general mismanagement, but they did manage(not without some pain) to balance the budget and lower taxes. Of course now they want to start to spend again, and because they are in a minority, they will spend to get votes from other parties.

James

I said we haven't ahd a socialist government for sometime now, without looking back into Canada's history to see if we had EVER had a socialist government. I know NDp have run the BC side of things since I came here but since moving to Canada I cannot remember a Solcialist government in power, thus the "some time" (should have said, as far as I can remember.

I know that you'lll always keep it straight for me though. Thanks James.

So somehere in the masses of comments and wild accusations you found an amusing post.

Would you be so kind as to point out what you are so amused with?

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The United Nations, France, Germany, Russia, China, Syria, and Saddam himself are (were) the big winners in the oil-for-food scandal. Saddam manipulated the program for years through bribes, kick-backs, illegal surcharges, price manipulation, etc., as well as illegal oil shipments outside the U.N. sanctions that were running amok, and the United Nations "over-seerers" did nothing about it - except line their own pockets with humanitarian dollars that were supposed to go to the people of Iraq.

Get off your "blame the USA for everything" high horse. Not this time, bucko. You were wrong when you first repeated the accusation made over a year ago, and you're wrong now.

Go blame your precious, all-knowing, and all-righteous United Nation for this one.

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Cut and pasted news story:

Watching the U.N.'s Watchdog
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
By Jonathan Hunt

UNITED NATIONS ? The United Nation's anti-corruption department has been rocked by accusations that the office itself is corrupt.

The head of the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services, Undersecretary-General Dileep Nair (search), has been accused of promoting and recruiting people in ways that are not consistent with U.N. rules and regulations. Also, a senior investigator has been suspended and there have been accusations of financial and sexual misconduct.

The scrutiny of Nair and his division comes at a delicate time, as the United Nations is under intense scrutiny for alleged abuse of the Iraqi oil-for-food program. In fact, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (search) is the U.N. agency charged with looking into any abuses within the United Nations and that includes oil-for-food.

Nair has been accused of covering up abuses of the oil-for-food program. So far, his office has carried out 55 internal audits of the process that before the U.S.-led war against Saddam Hussein's regime allowed Iraqi oil to be sold so food could be purchased for Iraqis.

Other allegations of impropriety include charges that some inside the OIOS received financial kickbacks in return for promoting people and that some people were promoted in exchange for sexual favors.

One group within the United Nations that has raised concerns about Nair and his office is the United Nations Staff Union. In April, the group called on U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (search) to establish an independent investigation of the Office of Internal Oversight Services.

To read the resolution from the U.N. Staff Union, click here.

Annan recently wrote to Nair asking him to answer the allegations. Annan's office said the letter went out "a couple of weeks ago" but declined to say what was in the letter except to confirm that recruitment allegations were addressed.

A spokesman for Annan told Fox News it would be irresponsible to ignore such serious accusations. But the secretary-general's office has yet to receive a response from Nair.

Nair, who is currently on sick leave from his position, denied all the accusations to Fox News.

Asked if he would resign if any of the charges are proven true, Nair said, "of course."

"I mean that goes without question because that would mean my integrity is impugned and the only thing I work upon in this office is integrity and the credibility that people have in this office and if that is gone, you might as well pack up and go," Nair told Fox News.

Nair, a former banker and civil servant from Singapore, was picked by Annan in 2000 to run the U.N.'s anti-corruption office. He serves a five-year, non-renewable term.

You don't have to tell me most people look inward and can't see things from the outside perspective. Most people hardly ever leave their own town and can't even see outside of those boundaries. I'm not one of them Oz. I'm also not an elitist like you seem to be. Dude, can't you agree to disagree with me? You're completely nit-picking every little thing I say. I'm frigen getting downright sick of it. Let - It - Go.

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In a message a couple above this one, you said, "....All (that) most people have to go on is what they are told, which is censored by the White House......".

And you weren't even speaking about a specific circumstance, such as war news from Iraq (which they "might" be able to control to some degree), but about the flow of information and news in general.

Oz, that's the biggest pile of crap you've ever posted. Do you really think the White House, specifically the Bush White house, censors and controls the flow of information and the news media in America? Well, let me ride my flying pig up there to Canada, and you can tell me just how they do it.

It would be funny, but instead it's all too sad to realize that you probably really believe it.

I wonder what Dan Rather would think about Oz's assertion that the White House controls what he reports? The White House censors the media and the flow in information in America???? Yea, right.

Wake up, Oz, and get real. You're delusional.

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You asked, "Why is any government that accepts medical expenses or helps support it's unfortunate people via welfare automatically considered a socialistic country in your mind?"

The answer:

Because the "government" can not "give" something to anyone without first taking if from another. Government medical services aren't "free". They're paid for by somebody. The government is just acting as the broker in the deal, but a "forced" deal. The government takes a dollar from you so they can use it to pay for someone else's "entitlement".

Socialist - taking a dollar from the person who earned it for the purpose of giving it to a person who didn't earn it. (Whether the "dollar" is transferred in the form of goods, services, cash, or whatever.)

There ya' go - And yep, us (U.S.) too.

I know that 's exactly how you define socialism but can this form of medical/welfare support ot also be related to a Liberal, NDp, or Conservative government? Our NDP's main focus to thier campaign was to make medical more accessible for those in need and to offer more support to the hospitals, as Liberal cutbacks have started pushing some of the smaller hospitals out of business.

Mt point is WHY is this only related to socialism if other governments support it?

The post was targeted specifically to the war and reports OF the war.

Our peers in Australia have been seeing different reports than you have, we get the actual film and photos shown in our news reports.

There was a news special a few months back where over 100 reporters from all over the world wer absolutely LIVID that they were being so heavily censored by the White House, their editors were not even bothering to air reports because of the stringent restrictions placed on ALL news entering the US from Iraq. I am not saying they actually READ each report but the guidleines that the reporters were forced to follow upset them to a pont where they decided to keep news OFF the US airwaves just to prevent issues by the US government. OVER 100 reporters from ALL kinds of countries including the USA were looking at lawsuits for censorship and repression of information in teh USA. Yuo didn't hear this? Hmmmm, I wonder why not? Why wouldn't YOU be aware that your government was censoring information in the US media? Gee, perhaps because you would all rise up and declare anarchy? (yeah right)

This is absolute FACT Max, there is no fabrication OR exaggeration involved, I watched it and millions of other Canadians did too, we saw the exact photos that were disallowed, the reports that were disallowed etc. all due to heavy guidelines set out by the White House.

BUT these reports wer ALL aired in Canada and the UK, I am sure that other countries didn't censor it either but I have no confirmation.

Now I know that you were all told that photos of dead soldiers and caskets were disallowed out of respect for the families of the fallen, this type of action I will agree with. What you probably weren't told is that The White House had draughted an entire set of rules reporters had to follow and adhere to in order for their information to be aired in the USA.

Now you know I have been saying this for some time now, about how your media is only showing PART of the story, why all of a sudden do you wish to once contest something that you have no way of contesting? If you haven't been told, then that is just another way of proving that such things are true. How did I hear it, my neighbours hear it, my relatives and the bands in England hear and see al this but not the FREE and uncensored Americans, perhaps this time it is actually a good idea to look inward. everyone else saw exactly what was going on in Iraq and protested it heavilt around the world. Americans were given a prettier and more acceptable veriosn, and you were the ONLY ones supporting the effort all along. Coincindence? I think not. so after all these months of people telling you that they see reports that you don't. Even when I posted and linked various news reports around the globe and much of the SHARED info globally was nowhere to be found in the USA, it still didn't cause you to think about it?

Well now I know why you support bush. And i was told I was an arsehole for calling you blinded by the media ?

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Oz, you said, "The post was targeted specifically to the war and reports OF the war."

Are you really going to try that deceptive ploy?

Sorry, Oz. That dog won't hunt.

You weren't talking about the war in Iraq. Your context is only a couple of messages above this one for all to see. You said it, and now you're trying to say that you didn't say it.

Your context was not the war in Iraq. Your context was that Americans "can't leave the country anyway". And "that only 7% of Americans actually own a passport". And "how (Americans) don't understand how the rest of the world.....".

And you specifically mentioned "any other part of the world".

Give it up, Oz. Oh, that's right. I forgot. you can't give it up because you're always right.

You said>>""....All (that) most people have to go on is what they are told, which is censored by the White House......".

And you weren't even speaking about a specific circumstance, such as war news from Iraq (which they "might" be able to control to some degree), but about the flow of information and news in general."

To this I answered that I was referring to the war in Iraq. How is that not addressing your later quoted statement about 7% of Americans having a passport?? You didn't menttion ANYTHING about that when you asked e what I was referring to. Actually,now that I reread your entire post, you have ONLY mentioned my comments about media censorship, which have been proven by the on air statements by many of the world's reporters and over a hunred other reporters who have also filed censorship complaints.

No you didnt mention ANYTHING about American passports at all, not a single word (just a few posts back right? As quoted above?)

You accusation and rude conclusion is completely unwarranted and incorrect. Show me where you contested the 7% passport statement and then I evaded an answer (as you admittedly would evade an interviewers questions without problem).

In conclusion I really can't believe you still contest White House censorship of the war in Iraq, it is a globally known fact now, read the news. One reporter in Iraq, I think at the end of last year or the beginning of this one, was given a reporting award by Iraqi news, while his material was censored in the US, you cannot deny it, it is fact, hard cold fact Max a simple search OUTSIDE your country's news would show you this. I am not going to dig up links i have already posted in defence of my statements before.

As for the 7% of Americans having a passport, well as I said, it was reported about a year or so ago on Canadian news. I am sure the number is greater than that by now, especially with the IT shift and travel needs, but it WAS a report I saw about a year ago. So I suppose I am lying and you have convinced me that I didn't see this reported, it was soome form of Jedi mind trick or something.

So again Maxwell, WHY exactly do I need to backpeddle?

All I said is that the US abused the OFF program and used it AGAINST Saddam and that the rest of the world are not the only ones who abused the OFF program. At NO time have I referred to the 'scandal'. When other countries were SUSPECTED of importing dual purpose goods, which doesn't neccessarliy mean bombs and Anthrax (great band) but even the simplest cleaning products and medical supplies were deemed as dual purpose goods, GWB decided HE needed ot have the US inspect ALL shipments of goods to Iraq, fair deal. He didn't though, many shipments were delayed indefinitely and what did trickle into Iraq was hardly substantial enough to help the country by that time.

Saddam and Iraqi's were being punished by the USA.

It certainly does not take 9 months for the US army (or whoever actually inspects these goods, even if in an iron lung) to inspect a container of supplies for known dual purpose goods that are prohibited.

I DID my homework, you turned your nose up at your own government's report when I posted it.

If I remember correctly, from that point on you had no further comments in that discussion thread, sorry I didn't keep the email where that was pointed out to me but I am pretty sure you just disappeared and had no further comments.

Either THAT or you are now saying your governmet documentation is incorrect and just Anti-American BS, which perhaps I may agree with.

You are just DYING to find something you can sling at me, you have gone from post to post specifically calling my bluff, although I am not the only one here with such opinions that your government is screwed up and made a big mistake, or shall we call it 'the big sweep under the carpet'?

You are being confrontational, accusational and are simply looking for argument, you have accused me of not answering your post when I actually answered your post to the letter, you have accused me of not seeing a report I saw, you are simply looking for confrontation, I think you are not looking to discuss anything but merely find an argument as usual.

Very grown up Max.

To refer to your other post incase you again asked me to respond to another statement;

Dan Rather is not an isue here. At no time have I said that the White House controls the flow of all information in the media.

Again I will reiterate myself(too bad they don't have a voice record so you could just hit play again!): Over 100 reporters from Iraq have said thet they are unable to air the same information in the USA that they are in other countries. The WH, has VEY strict guidelines on what can be shown and reported from Iraq. Most editors wont even submit half the stories out of fear of breaking WH guidelines. What we saw on that evening from a Canadian news report was not allowed to be aired in the USA as it was restricted by the WH.

This in no way says that ALL the media streams are censored in the USA. And you know very well that since GWB lifted ownership restrictions on the two or three MAJOR conglomerates (such as Disney) that own almost ALL the TV networks and radio stations in the USA, that he has also been using these outlets for millions in campaign funded commercials. They are in his pockets.

Sure everyone else has TV commercials, in fact it is reported that over 2.5 BILLION will be spent on TV advertising between all the running parties(half of the total campaign budget of all parties) in the six months leading up to the election.

GWB has alreadu bought his way into the biggest hearts by lifting this ownership restriction that allows them to captalize on the meida market in the USA, why would they jeopardize the massive income before the election by reporting anything that would make America look bad?

Just give it a ponder, it makes no sense for them to show any horrors that are occuring in Iraq, nor are they allowed to.

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On one hand you claim that I am "being confrontational and am simply looking for argument".

But on the other hand you've admitted to "baiting" people into some sort of trap with your messages.

It sounds as though it's you who is looking to be confrontational.

Were you lying then or are you lying now?

All I'm doing is clearing up some false things you constantly say.

Typical Oz - inconsistent, contradictory, and posting falsehoods.

I haven't posted any KNOWN falsehoods, yet as this IS a discussion you are MORE Than welcome to counter by providing ducumentation that goes against what I showed from the White House site.

Yes you were BAITED here, but that was not confrontational, I was merely looking to see what you have and haven't been told. I knew that someone, probably yourself, would go nuts if I suggested that GWB was illiterate, as recent email from an American peer has told me is very common in the USA.

I had been given some information and instead of just coming out and saying , F-you guys, LOOK AT THIS! I decided many of you may already know that GWB can't form a sentence, so I baited the objection out of you.

the former would have been confrontational, if I had simply thrown out the statement to stir the pot. I just dipped the hook and it was taken instantly.

But I know Max, I am the 'all knowing never wrong yada yada', come up with something new for a change.

"America is so vast that almost everything said about it is likely to be true, and the opposite is probably equally true" - JAMES T FARREL