SA gets security council seat

[sludge]

http://www.mweb.co.za/news/?p=top_article&i=294976

Afaik, it's a two year term, then there will be another round of elections.

 

[Debbie]

Interesting

 

[sludge]

Interesting

Yes, very...

 

[kilps]

Get rid of the veto for the pernament members and mabye I'd consider the UN (Security Council) to be acting a bit more in the interests of people world wide, or mabye voting should be in a proportion of populations ...

It really pisses me off the control some nations excert over the UN while blatently ignoring it when it suits them

 

[Debbie]

Get rid of the veto for the pernament members and mabye I'd consider the UN (Security Council) to be acting a bit more in the interests of people world wide, or mabye voting should be in a proportion of populations ...

It really pisses me off the control some nations excert over the UN while blatently ignoring it when it suits them

Well said.

 

[chiskop]

http://www.mweb.co.za/news/?p=top_article&i=294976

Afaik, it's a two year term, then there will be another round of elections.

From wikipedia: Ten other members are elected by the General Assembly for 2-year terms starting on 1 January, with five replaced each year. The members are chosen by regional groups and confirmed by the United Nations General Assembly. The African bloc chooses three members; the Latin American, Asian, and Western European and Others blocs choose two members each; and the Eastern European bloc chooses one member. Also, one of these members is an Arab country, alternately from the Asian or African bloc.

I think we are taking Tanzania's place - not sure.

 

[sludge]

Get rid of the veto for the pernament members and mabye I'd consider the UN (Security Council) to be acting a bit more in the interests of people world wide, or mabye voting should be in a proportion of populations ...

It really pisses me off the control some nations excert over the UN while blatently ignoring it when it suits them

Yep, very true what you said.

Also, I think if our representative or another country's representative asks for military intervention in Sudan, seeing how their gov wont allow UN troops, to save many lives, China would veto such a proposal because they are getting valuable minerals and oil from them, also from other dodgy countries, so, as you pointed out, the security council is in a way pretty much only being used to serve certain countries.

But I can't help but hope that our gov will use this to push for more positive action in Africa.
Even if they should fail in their attemps, it will bring it to the worlds attention.

 

[BTTB]

I think this is a positive move for South Africa as a recognised International Player and signatory to The Charter of The UN. See Below.

Although the make up of the UN is rather odd with the Big 5 holding Veto Powers over decisions that may carry far reaching consequences.
I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing?
How many times has The US for example "protected" Israel with their Veto.

One of his greatest international accomplishments was the establishment of the League of Nations, the exact design and implementation of which relied upon Smuts. He later urged the formation of a new international organisation for peace: the United Nations. Smuts wrote the preamble to the United Nations Charter, and was the only person to sign the charters of both the League of Nations and the UN.

Link

 

[icyrus]

Get rid of the veto for the pernament members and mabye I'd consider the UN (Security Council) to be acting a bit more in the interests of people world wide, or mabye voting should be in a proportion of populations ...

It really pisses me off the control some nations excert over the UN while blatently ignoring it when it suits them

Does it make sense though? Who do most of the UN's resources come from?

 

[kilps]

Does it make sense though? Who do most of the UN's resources come from?

But that would in effect render the UN useless - the idea of co-operation between all-nations

 

[Debbie]

But that would in effect render the UN useless - the idea of co-operation between all-nations

Bravo

 

[bwana]

Having spend a couple of years there I've got to say its an amazing place - a place that despite it's faults generally works.

 

[HosstheBoss]

...maybe voting should be in a proportion of populations ...

It really pisses me off the control some nations excert over the UN while blatently ignoring it when it suits them

Of course India and China would end up having all the say then

The UN is toothless, no matter who's swing this cat! Our former government proved that in the late '80's on the border. They are best suited to relief work and such, but upholding international peace is beyond them, but hey it seems to be beyond all nations, look at the "fine" job the US is doing in Iraq

 

[JStrike]

icyrus : I think it is irrelevant who donates the money. You dont get to buy control of the world.

That aside, Japan is the second largest contributer and is just barely behind the US. And they dont have a security council seat. Germany contributes the third most. And they dont have a seat either. As it stand the US owes $1.3 billion in arreas

 

[Debbie]

Having spend a couple of years there I've got to say its an amazing place - a place that despite it's faults generally works.

You know the whispered joke in the corridors about the UN, right?

(Kidding).

But seriously, did you work under the UN banner? I think that's awesome if so.

 

[HosstheBoss]

Yeah, he worked under the banner of the UN, man those long hot days at the Hot dog stand sure take it out of you hey Bwana

 

[bwana]

But seriously, did you work under the UN banner? I think that's awesome if so.

At the time I worked mainly for NGOs - nothing too grandiose - but exciting enough for a kid fresh out of college. Been back a few times since then in different capacities for some of the agencies.

Yeah, he worked under the banner of the UN, man those long hot days at the Hot dog stand sure take it out of you hey Bwana

Funny you mention it but you used to get the best hotdogs just outside the entrance. Now that guy must have coined it.

 

[HosstheBoss]

Well, that sure took the punch out of my joke!

 

[bwana]

Well, that sure took the punch out of my joke!

Sorry That guy was often the only thing worth going to work for!

 

[Debbie]

Cool bwana. The kind of thing I'd love to do right now.