The UN

Thursday, August 26

The UN--what an experience.  This has turned out to be the best experience of the trip!  I think everyone in the class now wants an internship with the UN.  To get into the UN we first had to pass through security, of course, and we were then given badges to wear demonstrating this clearance.  These badges also function as passports, since we had just left Austria and entered the international territory of the UN.  We then waited in the UN cafe for our guides to arrive.  When they arrived, they took us into the large courtyard in front of the UN where the fountain and all the member states’ flags fly.  Our first destination inside the UN was a viewing room that overlooks the main conference room.  The viewing room is used for groups who are invited to the UN.  They can sit and listen to the briefings and debates on subjects they specialize in.  Here we also discussed the issue of language and translation.  The two official working languages of the UN are English and French, but the UN meetings are usually translated into its other main languages of Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish, and any other language necessary.  Translators have to know a minimum of three languages.  They are only allowed to work for 30 minutes and translate with only a slight delay.  

Next we attended a lecture given to us by a representative of the IAEA.  I was looking forward to this lecture and had my list of questions ready but was soon able to answer them for myself.  I have always thought of the UN being a strong organization that could effect real change in the world.  This lecture greatly changed my opinion.  The IAEA seemed to have no strength at all.  While it is important for it to exist because it allows for greater communication among nations, it really can’t enforce any of its regulations.  Its role is strictly advisory.  While it promotes the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, it also supports the development of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.  

After this lecture we were introduced to one of the interns and he explained his job working for the media department of the UN and overall life as an inter.  Then it was off to a delicious lunch at the UN cafeteria.  After lunch we headed back for another lecture, this time on the issue of human trafficking.  Here we learned the many forms that human trafficking can take.  While sex slavery is a predominant issue, it can take the other forms of slave labor and the trafficking of human organs on the black market.  We watched a short educational video with testimony from real victims, which was very compelling as it gave each of these issues a face.  While this human trafficking is very difficult to police world wide, the UN is taking on the role of instructor.  They main focus right now is to educate each nation about how to deal with and prevent further trafficking.  Unfortunately, after this lecture it was time to head home but I truly enjoyed my time at the UN.  

My questions:

1. How do you deal with a rogue nation that is developing nuclear power?
2. Further, how do you deal with this nation as it develops nuclear power for what it says are peaceful purposes but which could be further developed for weapons?
3. Lastly, with these two conditions, how do you deal with a country that does not recognize the sovereignty of a fellow UN member state? and that is has been openly hostel to in the recent past?
4. What is your role in working with countries such as Israel, to help reassure their security over their tense nuclear situation with Iran?
5. What are your plans to improve the methods with which inspectors enter countries, such as Iran, that do not want international inspections to take place?
6. Russia has recently aided Iran with opening its first nuclear power plant--would you take action, and if so how, against Russia if Iran developed nuclear weapons?