Friday, September 08, 2006

UN votes against peace, democracy, safety

I wonder how the US can claim to be promoting democracy and human rights when steps to accomplish just this have come up for vote after vote in the UN and the US is in the minority against the world in vetoing these steps toward peace. Interestingly enough the US voted AGAINST making the Middle East nuclear free in 1981.

Below is a partial list of votes that the US has exercised since 1978. Make your own decisions but some of the things had they passed and were implemented would have made the world less dangerous. Please notice how many countries have voted for the pro-democracy, pro-development, pro-human rights resolutions, pro-environment, pro safety and how few countries including the US have voted against them.

Maybe when people claim the UN doesn't work, we should look at how the US is sabotaging activity after activity that might better the world.

1978

Urges the permanent members (USA, USSR, UK, France, China) to insure United Nations decisions on the maintenance of international peace and security. 119-2

Criticises the living conditions of the Palestinians. 110-2

Condemns the Israeli human rights record in occupied territories. 97-3

Calls for developed countries to increase the quantity and quality of development assistance to underdeveloped countries. 119-1

1979

Calls for an end to all military and nuclear collaboration with the apartheid South Africa. 114-3

Strengthens the arms embargo against South Africa. 132-3

Offers assistance to all the oppressed people of South Africa and their liberation movement.

134-3

Concerns negotiations on disarmament and cessation of the nuclear arms race. 120-3

Calls for the return of all inhabitants expelled by Israel. 121-3

Demands that Israel desist from human rights violations. 111-2

Requests a report on the living conditions of Palestinians in occupied Arab countries. 120-2

Offers assistance to the Palestinian people. 112-3

Discusses sovereignty over national resources in occupied Arab territories. 118-2

Calls for protection of developing counties' exports. 111-2

Calls for alternative approaches within the United Nations system for improving the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 136-1

Opposes support for intervention in the internal or external affairs of states. 104-2

For a United Nations Conference on Women. 121-2

To include Palestinian women in the United Nations Conference on Women. 122-2

Safeguards rights of developing countries in multinational trade negotiations. 112-1

1980

Requests Israel to return displaced persons. 96-3

Condemns Israeli policy regarding the living conditions of the Palestinian people. 118-2

Condemns Israeli human rights practices in occupied territories. three votes

118-2
119-2
117-2

Afirms the right of self determination for the Palestinians. 120-3

Offers assistance to the oppressed people of South Africa and their national liberation movement. 137-3

Attempts to establish a New International Economic Order to promote the growth of underdeveloped countries and international economic co-operation. 134-1

Endorses the Program of Action for Second Half of United Nations Decade for Women.
132-3

Declaration of non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states. 110-2

Emphasises that the development of nations and individuals is a human right. 120-1

1981

Promotes co-operative movements in developing countries. 123-1

Affirms the right of every state to choose its economic and social system in accord with the will of its people, without outside interference in whatever form it takes. 126-1

Condemns activities of foreign economic interests in colonial territories. 133-3

Calls for the ending of all test explosions of nuclear weapons. 118-2

Calls for action in support of measures to prevent nuclear war, curb the arms race and promote disarmament. 78-3

Urges negotiations on prohibition of chemical and biological weapons. 109-1

Declares that education, work, health care, proper nourishment, national development, etc are human rights. 135-1

Concerns changes to the United Nations accounting methods. 127-1

Condemns South Africa for attacks on neighbouring states, condemns apartheid and attempts to strengthen sanctions. Seven votes

145-1
124-1
136-1
129-2
126-2
139-1
138-1

Demands that Israel cease excavations in areas of East Jerusalem considered by the United Nations to be part of the occupied territories. 114-2

Condemns Israel for bombing Iraqi nuclear installations. 108-2

Condemns Israeli policy regarding living conditions of the Palestinian people. Two votes
109-2
111-2

To establish a nuclear weapon free zone in the Middle East. 107-2

To establish rights for the Palestinian people. two votes
121-2
119-3

To clarify the status of Jerusalem. 139-2

Discusses Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip. 141-2

Concering the rights of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes. 121-3

Concerning revenues from Palestinian refugees' properties. 117-2

Establishment of the University of Jerusalem for Palestinian refugees. 119-2

Concerning Israeli human rights violations in occupied territories. 111-2

Condemns Israel closing of universities in occupied territories. 114-2

Discusses sovereignty over national resources in occupied Palestine and other Arab territories. 115-2

Affirms the non-applicability of Israeli law over the Golan Heights. 121-2

1982-1983

For the ratification of the convention on the suppression and punishment of apartheid. 124-1

To promote international action against apartheid. 141-1

Condemns apartheid in sports. 138-1

Calls for the cessation of further foreign investments and loans for South Africa. 134-1

Calls for the setting up of a World Charter for the protection of the ecology. 111-1

Sets up a United Nations conference on succession of states in respect to state property, archives and debts. 136-1

Nuclear test bans and negotiations and nuclear free outer space. three votes
111-1
114-1
138-1

Supports a new world information and communications order. 131-1

Prohibition of chemical and bacteriological weapons. 95-1

Development of international law. 113-1

To prevent the exclusion of certain United Nations employees. 129-1

Protects against products harmful to health and the environment. 146-1

Declares that education, work, health care, proper nourishment, national development are human rights. 131-1

Implementation of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States. 141-1

Concerning the adequacy of facilities of the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. 132-1

Development of the energy resources of developing countries. 146-1

Restructuring international economic relations towards establishing a new international economic order. 124-1

Afirms the right of every state to choose its economic and social system in accord with the will of its people, without outside interference in whatever form it takes. 131-1

Resolutions against apartheid South Africa. four votes

110-1
149-1
140-1
145-1

Prevention of an arms race in outer space. 147-1

Declares that education, work, health care, proper nourishment, national development are human rights. 132-1

Concerning international law. 110-1

Concerning the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa. 137-1

Prohibition of manufacture of new weapons of mass destruction. 116-1

Reversing the arms race. 133-1

Prohibition of chemical and bacteriological weapons. 98-1

Requests a study on the naval arms race. 113-1

Concerning disarmament and security. 132-1

Strengthening the United Nations to respond to natural and other disasters. 126-1

1984

Condemns support of South Africa in its Namibian and other policies. 121-2

International action to eliminate apartheid. 146-2

Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States. 134-2

Condemns Israeli attack against Iraqi nuclear installation. 106-2

On the elimination of racial discrimination. 145-1

Affirms the rights of the Palestinian people. 127-2

For the convening of a Middle East peace conference. 121-3

Prohibition of new types of weapons of mass destruction. 125-1

Prohibition of chemical and bacteriological weapons. 84-1

Concerning the law of the sea. 138-2

Concerning Israeli human rights violations in occupied territories. 120-2

Condemns assassination attempts against Palestinian mayors. 143-2

Condemns Israel for failing to place its nuclear facilities under international safeguards. 94-2

Concerning a nuclear test ban. 123-1

To study military research and development. 141-1

Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 143-1

Proposing economic assistance to the Palestinian people. 46-1

Support for the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. 118-2

Concerning the Industrial Development Decade for Africa. 120-1

Questions regarding the Economic Commission for Western Asia. 123-2

1985

Condemns Israel for occupying and attacking southern Lebanon. 134-1

Condemns Israel for using excessive force in the occupied territories. 130-1 Resolutions about cooperation, human rights, trade and development. 133-1

Measures to be taken against Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist activities. 121-2

1986

To set up a zone of peace and cooperation in the South Atlantic. 124-1

To eliminate existing imbalances in the information and communications fields. 148-1

To Strengthen international security. 126-1

Dialogue to improve the international situation. 117-1

For the establishment of a comprehensive system of international peace and security. 102-2

Declaration on the right to development. 146-1

Measures to improve the situation and ensure the human rights and dignity of all migrant workers. 148-1

Protection against products harmful to health and the environment. 146-1

1987

Calls on Israel to abide by the Geneva Conventions in its treatment of the Palestinians. Calls on Israel to stop deporting Palestinians. 145-2

Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States. 153-2

Calls for compliance in the International Court of Justice concerning military and paramilitary activities against Nicaragua and a call to end the trade embargo against Nicaragua94-2
Measures to prevent international terrorism, study the underlying political and economic causes of terrorism, convene a conference to define terrorism and to differentiate it from the struggle of people from national liberation. 153-2

Resolutions concerning journalism, international debt and trade. 3votes

140-1
154-1
131-1

Opposition to the build up of weapons in space. 154-1

Opposition to the development of new weapons of mass destruction. 135-1

Opposition to nuclear testing. two votes 143-2 137-3

Proposal to set up South Atlantic "Zone of Peace". 124-1

I don’t have the vote counts for the following vetoes but they are similar in contrast of the opinion of the rest of the world against that of the US

1987 Calls on Israel to abide by the Geneva Conventions in its treatment of the Palestinians.

1987 Calls on Israel to stop deporting Palestinians.

1987 Condemns Israel for its actions in Lebanon. 2 resolutions.

1987 Calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon.

1987 Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States.

1987 Calls for compliance in the International Court of Justice concerning military and paramilitary activities against Nicaragua and a call to end the trade embargo against Nicaragua. 2 resolutions.

1987 Measures to prevent international terrorism, study the underlying political and economic causes of terrorism, convene a conference to define terrorism and to differentiate it from the struggle of people from national liberation.

1987 Resolutions concerning journalism, international debt and trade. 3 resolutions.

1987 Opposition to the build up of weapons in space.

1987 Opposition to the development of new weapons of mass destruction.

1987 Opposition to nuclear testing. 2 resolutions.

1987 Proposal to set up South Atlantic "Zone of Peace".

1988 Condemns Israeli practices against Palestinians in the occupied territories. 5 resolutions (1988 and 1989).

1989 Condemns USA invasion of Panama.

1989 Condemns USA troops for ransacking the residence of the Nicaraguan ambassador in Panama.

1989 Condemns USA support for the Contra army in Nicaragua.

1989 Condemns illegal USA embargo of Nicaragua.

1989 Opposing the acquisition of territory by force.

1989 Calling for a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict based on earlier UN resoltions.

1990 To send three UN Security Council observers to the occupied territories.

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