October 24^th – Founding of the UN

On this day, in 1945, world peace was achieved with the founding of the United Nations.

The United Nations, known as the UN to its friends, is an international organisation with the purpose of facilitating co-operation in international law and security, human rights, economic development, and making blue helmets fashionable. Many countries say the UN has failed to achieve these goals but blue was always going to be an uphill battle.

Currently, there are 192 member states including all independent states, except for Vatican City. Vatican City’s head-of-state, God, is adopting a wait-and-see strategy.

The UN headquarters is located on international territory in New York City. The territory was created as a compromise between the original founding members. The Russians wanted a base on the Moon complete with lasers, and the Americans wanted an underground lair in the icy Arctic tundra. International territory was deemed less inflammatory than a lair or moon-lasers.

Since its construction everyone has been happy with the New York headquarters, although it could do with more parking and a laser.

The UN is organised into five sections. Originally, it was six but the Trusteeship council was closed in 1994 because it couldn’t be trusted.

The remaining sections include the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Secretariat, and the Moon-Base with Lasers Planning Commission.

The General Assembly generally assembles. They meet at regular times throughout the year to vote on admitting member states, budgetary matters, and more parking. Each vote requires a two thirds majority and because the UN uses a one member one vote system it would be possible for some piss-ant group of countries to win against the good countries. Their little scheme falls over because only the best countries get blue helmets.

The Security Council is charged with maintaining peace and security between countries. This includes military action as well as preventing Barnies in the General Assembly. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, is known for his mean right-hook.

The Secretariat is not a super-hero secretary.

UN operations are immune to the laws of the countries in which they operate. This rule is being reconsidered because a UN force in Greenland cut off the head of a statue of Greenland’s President and replaced it with a laser.

The UN is not a perfect organisation.