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Articles Tagged United-Nations

1. Issue Spotlight: The United Nations

   by rachna on June 4, 2013

   Issue Spotlight: The United Nations

   The name "United Nations", coined by President Franklin Roosevelt, was first used in 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their Governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers. The United Nations (UN) officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and others. The purposes of the UN are "maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights." (Learn more about the history.)

   Opposition to the United Nations has existed since it was formed. The John Birch Society opposed US involvement since the organization was created in 1958. More recently, legislation in Congress proposing US withdrawal from the UN has been introduced since the 1990's. Here are the proposals pending before this Congress.

   Legislation Related to the United Nations

   Weigh in on these bills, and POPVOX will deliver your message to Congress.

   Membership and Contributions

   • HR 75 The American Sovereignty Restoration Act: to end membership of the US in the United Nations.
   • S 988 A Senate bill to provide for an accounting of total US contributions to the United Nations.
   • HR 2099 A House bill to provide for an accounting of total US contributions to the United Nations.
   • S 95 A bill to withhold US contributions to the United Nations until the United Nations formally retracts the final report of the “United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict”.

   Arms Treaty and Second Amendment

   • HCRes 23 A resolution to express the sense of Congress regarding the conditions for the US becoming a signatory to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, or to any similar agreement on the arms trade.
   • HR 575 Second Amendment Protection Act: To express the sense of the Congress that the US should not adopt any treaty that poses a threat to national sovereignty or abridges any rights guaranteed by the US Constitution, such as the right to keep and bear arms, and to withhold funding from the United Nations unless the President certifies that the United Nations has not taken action to restrict, attempt to restrict, or otherwise adversely infringe upon the rights of individuals in the US to keep and bear arms, or abridge any of the other constitutionally protected rights of citizens of the US.
   • SCRes 7 A Resolution to express the sense of Congress regarding conditions for the US becoming a signatory to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, or to any similar agreement on the arms trade.

   Climate Change

   • HR 662 A House bill to prohibit US contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

   IEDs

   • HRes 190 A resolution condemning the April 15, 2013, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks in Boston, Massachusetts and calling upon the US Government, the governments of all nations, the United Nations, and other international organizations to renounce the use of IEDs and take actions to stop their proliferation.

   Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

2. What about “Agenda 21”?

   by rachna on May 7, 2012

   "Agenda 21" has consistently been a popular bill search term on POPVOX. Although no bill or resolution has been introduced regarding Agenda 21 in this Congress, we decided to create a special opportunity for POPVOX users to weigh in on the policy based on users’ interest. Weigh in on Agenda 21 and send a message to your Members of Congress using POPVOX.  

   About Agenda 21

   The 1992 UN Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (also known as Agenda 21) is a nonbinding resolution the United Nations passed at the 1992 “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro. “It is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment,” according to the UN. (Read the principles of Agenda 21.)

   While several states and localities have recently considered or passed resolutions regarding Agenda 21, the U.S. Senate never considered the policy because it wasn’t considered a treaty, which would require Senate approval. Instead, President George H.W. Bush signed on to the nonbinding resolution in 1992, as did 179 other nations.

   Next month, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) will convene to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Rio Conference on Environment and Development. The upcoming conference will take place in also in Brazil, from June 20 - 22, 2012.

   Weigh in on Agenda 21 and share with your friends and networks.

   Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill or an issue doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed.