The Contemporary World

Lesson 3 Unit 4
Activity 3

List at least three events/ issues which concerns globally. Based on your answer,

discuss the role of the United Nation and the means to avoid this issue.

 Pandemic

 Poverty

 Global Warming

The United Nation

In this contemporary world, issues are visible and encountered by every

individual day by day. It does not only pertain to a country, but the world as a whole.
However, if there is a problem, there is a possible solution. And the United Nation is one

of them, a great solution even. What is this United Nation on its broader definition?

According to an article entitled, the “Relevance & Importance of the United

Nations in the Contemporary World Order” written by Sachi Ashok Bhiwgade, B.A.LLB,

United Nations is “an international organization, concerned with global issues and

having a primary objective of maintaining peace and security, cooperation and

maintaining friendly relations among the nations.” This simply means that the issues

and problems which concerns globally can be fix through the actions of this organization

to ensure the world’s safety and peace among countries and its people and the future

generations as well.

Currently, there are 193 countries that are member of the United Nation. All

these countries unite and form an agreement to discuss about contemporary global

issues and find effective and possible solutions in order to protect every country and all

of their beloved citizens.

The Pandemic

None of us would agree that the pandemic that is happening right now caused by

the coronavirus disease is mild and easy to control when in fact, almost all industry
were affected badly. Since a pandemic is a widespread occurrence of an infectious

disease over the world at a particular time, it does have effect globally. And how does

the role of United Nation connect to this?

Over the centuries, there has been number of pandemics that was experienced

globally. For instance, the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 infected an estimated 33% of

the world’s population and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. It was caused by

an H1N1 virus that started in some type of bird, it was a virus that spread easily and

infected people throughout the world. If we would compare the Spanish flu and Covid-

19, they aren’t the same. They are similar at some point like how they are both

respiratory viruses that can be spread through breathing in infected respiratory droplets.

In addition, they both did and can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

They are also similar in the ways that governments tried to fight them such as isolation,

covering nose and mouth and proper hygiene practices for protection.

The role of United Nations has always been about the safety and welfare of all its

member country and the world as a whole. But what was its specific role during these

times of pandemic like what is happening right now? To answer this question,

according to Article 39 of the UN Charter, “The Security Council shall determine the

existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression and shall

make recommendations, or decide what measures shall be taken in accordance with

Articles 41 and 42, to maintain or restore international peace and security.” In addition

to this, the United Nations resolution emphasizes the body's vital role in the global

health and economic crisis.

and healthcare personnel tried to lighten this weight in every country affected by the

virus. There have also been tensions and a legitimacy issue, as well as the violence and

conflict, the danger of terrorism, and human rights violations. As a result, the UN should

mobilize all of its resources to confront the pandemic as soon as possible.

Poverty

The United Nations (UN) was given the primary responsibility for protecting and

ensuring international peace and security, as well as to ensure that issues arising in

every country will be resolved as soon as possible to avoid threat to human and the

environment. And one of the global issues that has been happening in many countries

is poverty.

According to Investopedia, poverty is defined as “a state or condition in which a

person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum
standard of living. Poverty means that the income level from employment is so low that

basic human needs can't be met. Poverty-stricken people and families might go without

proper housing, clean water, healthy food, and medical attention. Each nation may have

its own criteria for determining how many of its people are living in poverty.” This means

that if a country has communities that are under poverty, there should be an immediate

action to solve this. If not, the negative effects will continue to arise such as high poverty

rate, increased number of hungry citizens, malnutrition, unavailability of clean water,

child labor, lack of proper education and worst, deaths.

To prevent this kind of problem, it is suggested that the UN should also pay

attention to developing countries and provide equal support for the communities under

poverty. Since its role regarding this matter is to improve every country’s economic and

global status. Due to income disparities, a nation might be divided. This occurs because

the wealth of a country is poorly distributed among its citizens wherein a tiny minority

has a majority of the money. Wealthy or developed countries maintain stability because

of the presence of a middle class. This unfortunately happens not only within countries

but in terms of international organizations. Maybe because the leaders always strive to

get the best for their country to the point that they forget to leave some for others.

Global Warming
 And lastly, as we are talking about global issues, this is what everyone in the

world are experiencing now, and for a long time already –global warming. Cliché as it

may seem because this has been our topic during elementary classes, but it is because

it is significant to discuss this matter seriously. All the effect of greenhouse gases

emitted by humans is slowly destroying the planet where we live in, and every species’

home for millions of years. The warming of our planet was also caused by combustion

of fossil fuels in cars, buildings, factories, and power plants, and gases used for

refrigeration and industrial processes; and the loss of forests that would otherwise store

oxygen.

Based on National Geographic, “…the United Nations in 1988 formed a group

called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. The IPCC meets

every few years to review the latest scientific findings and write a report summarizing all

that is known about global warming. Each report represents a consensus, or

agreement, among hundreds of leading scientists.” And it became one of the roles of

UN in dealing with global warming.

stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that prevents dangerous

anthropogenic (human-caused) climate system interference. It asserts that such a level

should be achieved in a timeframe that allows ecosystems to adjust naturally to climate

change, ensures that food supply is not jeopardized, and allows for long-term economic

development. The idea is that because developed countries are the source of the

majority of past and current greenhouse gas emissions, they should do the most to

reduce emissions at home. They include 12 Central and Eastern European nations with

"economies in transition." Many of them have already taken significant steps in this

direction, and some have already succeeded.

Under the Convention, developed countries pledge to support climate change

activities in poor countries by giving financial support for climate change action, in

addition to any other financial help they provide to these countries. The Convention

established a system of grants and loans, which is overseen by the Global Environment

Facility. Developed countries also agree to share technology with developing countries.