Oct 24 2021 United Nations Day 2021
The planet is sick and so are its people. Children are starving without clothing or shelter. Neighbors are not helping neighbors either! Plants and animals are at risk. What can the US do? Where is the United Nations organization at this time?
In reality, the UN is like our primary care medical model. Specific methods and departments are designed to create and facilitate needed steps toward diagnosis, treatment and help. However, the humans, services and governments involved let problems escalate, using band
aids, when surgery is required! Frequently, we seek a quick fix because we believe it is cheaper. “No one else cares anyway. It is not my responsibility. I won’t get re-elected if I point out these problems.”
Around the world today there are many national disasters! Lebanon is in free fall, banks collapsing and there is nowhere to go. Myanmar families are hiding in the forest of a neighboring country, no shelter, food or future. On the US southern border, desperate Haitian families are willing to sacrifice everything to gain entry to a possible economic and safe future for their children.
Like an untreated sore, these problems become infected. Who is to blame? We cannot do it alone. We need cooperation, experts with specific skills and action planning.
The UN organization has nine departments, including Economics, Trade, and Human Settlement. These departments can help with prevention, planning and encouraging neighbors to work together. The Nation State Members must identify the problem and ask for the UN to intervene. Is the need for clean water, environmental issues, space, feeding and educating children? The UN treatments are available to its 193 Members.
The most familiar treatments for national problems or conflicts are: isolation, defense, regulations and war.
UN Member States have diplomats, education and medical systems, scientists, researchers, planners and nutritionists who often are not being consulted. Many times, finding solutions is based on blaming, accusing and conflict. Funding peaceful, educated and cooperative solutions takes time, buy-in and is not instant.
In the US, a Member State of the UN, we are struggling with funding education, childcare, climate control, infrastructure, the welfare of our neighbors, medical research and fundamental healthcare. However, we rarely struggle over the military budget!
This UN Day could be dedicated to the Treatments of Peace, the real-life actions of our daily choices, behaviors and elected officials.
Happy 76th Birthday United Nations!
Margaret Corbin – UNAR Board Member
