$30 Billion for What?

The Aims of the United Nations:

To keep peace throughout the world.

To develop friendly relations between nations.

To work together to help people live better lives, to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy in the world, to stop environmental destruction and to encourage respect for each other's rights and freedoms.

To be a centre for helping nations achieve these aims.

In a recent report on the inquiry into warcrimes following the Israeli "Operation Cast Lead" U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he could not determine whether the Israelis or Palestinians had conducted credible investigations into allegations of war crimes during last year's Gaza conflict, as required under a U.N. resolution. In the report released Thursday night to the 192-nation General Assembly, Ban said "no determination can be made on the implementation of the resolution by the parties concerned." A U.N. panel, overseen by a respected South African jurist, Richard Goldstone, found evidence in September that both Israel and Palestinian militants may have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the fighting, in which 13 Israelis and almost 1,400 Palestinians were killed, including many civilians.

In November, the General Assembly endorsed the Goldstone report, which accused Israel of using disproportionate force and deliberately targeting civilians. It also accused the militant Islamic Hamas group of firing rockets indiscriminately toward communities in southern Israel.

The assembly urged Israel and the Palestinians to investigate alleged war crimes in Gaza or face the possibility of Security Council action if they didn't, under an Arab-drafted resolution. However, the thought of "Security Council action" won't give anyone any sleepless nights. Any action by the Security Council is unlikely because the U.S. — an ally of Israel — holds veto power as one of the five permanent members of the 15-nation body. And why would the UN's largest contributor want to do something not in its own interest.

The United Nations and all its agencies and funds spend about $30 billion each year, or about $4 for each of the world's inhabitants.

What has the world gained from this $30 billion? $8 Billion goes on peacekeeping- which is fine, but if the UN was proactive rather than reactive they could stop conflicts before they start rather than mop up the mess when it is too late, such as the former Yugolsavia. And as for the rest of the money? Lots of speeches and resolutions that are meaningless unless everyone agrees, a humanitarian aid system that doesn't work - as can be seen recently in Haiti where UN dithering was saved by American action.

It's clear that the UN is failing in its above principles; it cannot make important decisions as in many cases it is against member states interests (there are no tougher sanctions on Iran and Sudan as they are a major importer of Chinese goods), and can't even solve, or prevent conflicts.

There are still dictators, poverty, inequality, disease and wars - the UN could have changed that, but until its members look at the bigger picture, it's $30 Billion wasted.