United Nations Terms

Activist

One who actively campaigns for or against a policy or social reforms

Basic Needs and Wants

Things that are required for survival, such as food, shelter, and water, as well as more complex desires, such as recognition or a sense of belonging

Common Good

That which benefits all or most people in a community or society

Consumer-Based Economy

A capitalist economy in which goods and services are produced based on consumer demand with little or no intervention by the government

Equity

Justice and fairness

Foreign Aid

Aid given by one country to another in the form of money, supplies, or services

Foreign Investment

Inputs into a country's economy by other countries, including the establishment of stores, factories, and service centres, and the purchasing of domestic businesses

Free Trade

The removal or tariffs and other barriers to trade to promote commerce and the exchange of technology

Geneva Conventions

Internationally recognized rules of conduct during war that protect military personnel, prisoners of war, and civilians

Genocide

The systematic and deliberate attempt to kill all members of an ethnic or other cultural or social group

Global Citizenship

A state of being aware of oneself and a citizen of the world, and of the global community, with all the related rights and responsibilities

Global Warming

The fact that the average global temperature is rising as a result of human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels. Because there is evidence that global temperatures change for various natural reasons, the term global warming is best understood as shorthand for human induced global warming

Globalization

A trend toward greater interconnectedness of the world's economic, technological, political, and social systems

Gross Domestic Product - GDP

The value of all goods and services produced in a country in a given year

Grassroots Movement

Political action taken by ordinary people and organizations at the local level

Human Rights

Absolute rights for all people everywhere, the rights you have simply because you are human

International Criminal Court

The world's first permanent international criminal court, established by the UN in 202 to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity

Less Developed Country

A country that is not technologically advanced and that has limited infrastructure for economic development; contrast more developed country

Life Expectancy

Average age to which a person can expect to live in a given population

Literacy Rates

The percentage of people in a country who can read and write

Petitions

Formal requests signed by members of the public and presented to legislative or other authorities in support of persons or ideas

More Developed Country

A country that is technologically advanced and healthy; contrast less developed country

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's)

Nonprofit organizations that work to improve social conditions around the world; although they may receive some government funding, NGOs are independent of government control

Responsibilities

Things for which one is accountable

Socialism

A political and economic system in which the means of production and distribution of goods are owned collectively and political power is exercised by the whole community

Standard of Living

How well a society produces and distributes goods, services, and wealth to all people

Stewardship

The concept that we must respect environments and ecosystems and responsibly manage human use of resources to ensure healthy environments for future generations

Sustainability

Having the ability to use or harvest a resource without completely depleting or destroying it

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Terrorism

The unlawful use or threatened use of extreme violence by individuals and groups to create widespread fear to achieve political goals

Trade Unions

Workers' organizations that work to improve wages and working conditions through collective bargaining with employers

Transnational Corporations

A business that is active in multiple countries and that may have the ability to influence national economic policies

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

The international document adopted by the UN in 1948 that proclaims basic human rights for all people. Even though it cannot be enforced, the UDHR firmly establishes the principle of basic human rights and has inspired other human rights agreements

War Crimes

Crimes committed during war that violate international agreements protecting civilian populations and prisoners of war from inhumane treatment; sometimes called crimes against humanity

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons designed to kill large numbers of people and cause widespread destruction