Chapter 1: Introduction to the United Nations

• High-profile Events:

  • Dag Hammarskjöld, a UN Secretary-General, died in a plane crash in Zambia while visiting peacekeeping forces in 1961.
  • Posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
  • Noted his notably Swedish name.

• Original Membership:

  • The UN initially had 51 member nations, including major powers such as:
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Soviet Union
  • China
  • France
  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • New Zealand
  • South Africa
  • Ethiopia
  • Contextual note:
  • The significance of membership during apartheid in South Africa and Jim Crow laws in the USA.

• Decolonization:

  • Countries like Japan and East & West Germany joined in the 1950s as former colonies gradually became independent throughout the 60s and 70s, such as:
  • Angola
  • Algeria
  • Kenya
  • Guinea
  • Ghana

• Notable Non-members:

  • Republic of China (Taiwan): Not recognized as a state in the UN today, details on this will follow.
  • The Vatican: Involved in recent news regarding the selection of a new pope from a conclave of cardinals (the 21-day countdown).
  • Palestinian Territories: Gaza and the West Bank have limited recognition.
  • Partially Recognized States: Kosovo;
  • Unrecognized States: Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco for two decades, with growing international recognition of Morocco's control.

• Taiwan's UN Representation:

  • Until 1972, Taiwan occupied the UN Security Council seat for China.
  • Details on the recognition status and implications to be discussed later.

• Latest Membership:

  • The latest nation to join the UN is the Republic of South Sudan as of February 2011.
  • Switzerland joined the UN in February 2002 despite its history of neutrality.

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

  • Drafted as one of the initial actions of the UN.
  • These rights are universal, regardless of citizenship in any specific country, affirming individual liberties:
  • Freedom from slavery, torture, degrading punishments.
  • Equality before the law.
  • Right to a nationality and property ownership.
  • Freedom of thought and expression, equal pay, and right to adequate standards of living.

Chapter 2: Paid Holiday Time

• Everyone has a right to paid holiday time, but there is variance between countries regarding duration.
• Cultural Notes:
  • Comparison of paid vacation concepts in Europe vs. the USA.
  • Example: Europeans may get five weeks of vacation called "holiday" culturally accepted, but uncommon in American work culture.

Chapter 3: Know the Court

• Annual Renewal of Paid Vacation: Most workers in Europe receive five weeks of renewed paid vacation yearly.
• Religious Practices:
  • Issues of religious freedom vary greatly by country
  • Example: North Korea restricts religious practices.
  • Discussion on the historical context of prayer in public schools in the U.S. referencing applicable court cases.
  • Comparison to France's bans on religious attire in public schools, causing a paradox to the UN human rights declaration.

Chapter 4: Human Rights Analysis

• Human Rights Violations:
  • Example of Abu Ghraib prison, which highlights discrepancies between U.S. actions and the rights' principles.

Chapter 5: United Nations Structure

• Multinational Organization:
  • Comprised of six main bodies (now five primary).
  • Major operations are based in New York City.

Key Bodies

1. General Assembly
   • Where all member nations represent themselves and participate in discussions and voting.
2. Security Council
   • Composed of 5 permanent members:
     • China
     • United States
     • United Kingdom
     • Russia
     • France
   • Rotating members provide representation but do not hold veto power like the permanent members.

• Power Dynamics:
  • The Security Council plays a crucial role in determining UN actions and policies, with permanent members maintaining a veto power that can override decisions made by rotating members.