UNIT 9: OUR INTERNATIONAL RELATION AND

COOPERATION
Lesson 1: The UNO and its Main Organs
In 1941, before the United States entered World War II, United States President Franklin
D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter, which
outlined their vision for global peace and security. The following year, representatives of 26
countries calling themselves the United Nations signed a pledge in Washington, D.C., to defeat
the Axis Powersthe alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japanand to uphold the principles of the
Atlantic Charter. In 1944 representatives of China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and
the United States drew up plans for a world organization when they met at Dumbarton Oaks, a
private mansion in Washington, D.C.
In February 1945, in the Soviet city of Yalta, representatives of the United Kingdom, the
Soviet Union, and the United States met to resolve some of their earlier disagreements, including
the terms of membership in the organization. Delegates of 50 nations later met in San Francisco,
Calif. (Poland was unable to send a delegate but is considered one of the 51 founding members
of the UN.) On June 26 the United Nations Charter was adopted and signed, and on Oct. 24,
1945, the UN officially came into existence. October 24 has been celebrated as United Nations
Day since 1947, and some countries have set aside the week encompassing October 24 as United
Nations Week.
The General Assembly opened its first session in London on Jan. 10, 1946. In February
Trygve Lie, foreign minister of Norway, was elected the first secretary-general.
Headquartered in New York City, the UN also has offices in Geneva, Vienna, and other
cities. Its official languages are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
According to its Charter, the UN aims:

to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,to reaffirm faith in

fundamental human rights,to establish conditions under which justice and respect for
the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be
maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.

In addition to maintaining peace and security, other important objectives of the UN

include developing friendly relations among countries based on respect for the principles of
equal rights and self-determination of peoples; achieving worldwide cooperation to solve
international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems; respecting and promoting
human rights; and serving as a centre where countries can coordinate their actions and activities
toward these various ends.
The United Nations has six principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council,
the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice,
and the Secretariat.

The General Assembly

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 The General Assembly is the main organ of the United Nations and includes all its
Members. It may discuss any matter arising under the UN Charter and make recommendations to
UN Members (except on disputes or situations which are being considered by the Security
Council). In the Assembly, each nation has one vote and important decisions are taken by a two-
thirds majority vote.
The Assembly meets every year from September to December. Special sessions may be
summoned by the Assembly, at the request of the Security Council, or at the request of a
majority of UN Members.
The work of the General Assembly is also carried out by its six main committees, the
Human Rights Council, other subsidiary bodies and the UN Secretariat.

The Security Council

The Security Council has primary responsibility under the Charter for maintaining peace
and security. It can be convened at any time, whenever peace is threatened. Member States are
obligated to carry out its decisions. When a threat to peace is brought before the Council, it
usually first asks the parties to reach agreement by peaceful means. If fighting breaks out, the
Council tries to secure a ceasefire. It may then send peacekeeping missions to troubled areas or
call for economic sanctions and embargoes to restore peace.
The Council has 15 members, including five permanent members: China, France, the
Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The other 10 are
elected by the General Assembly on the basis of geographical representation for two-year terms.
Decisions require nine votes; except on procedural questions, a decision cannot be taken if there
is a negative vote by a permanent member (known as the veto). The Council also makes
recommendations to the General Assembly on the appointment of a new Secretary-General and
on the admission of new members to the UN. Many countries want to expand the membership of
the Council to include new permanent and non-permanent members.

The Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the central body for coordinating the
economic and social work of the United Nations and the UN family of organizations. It has 54
member nations elected from all regions. As much as 70 per cent of the work of the UN system
is devoted to promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic
and social progress and development. The Council recommends and directs activities aimed at
promoting economic growth of developing countries, supporting human rights and fostering
world cooperation to fight poverty and under-development.
To meet specific needs, the General Assembly has set up a number of specialized
agencies, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World
Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) and programmes such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN
Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR). The work of these agencies and programmes is coordinated by ECOSOC.

The Trusteeship Council

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 The Trusteeship Council was assigned under the UN Charter to supervise the
administration of Trust Territories former colonies or dependent territories which were
placed under the International Trusteeship System. The system was created at the end of the
Second World War to promote the advancement of the inhabitants of those dependent Territories
and their progressive development towards self-government or independence.
Since the creation of the Trusteeship Council, more than 70 colonial Territories,
including all of the original 11 Trust Territories, have attained independence with the help of the
United Nations. As a result, in 1994, the Council decided formally to suspend its operation and
to meet as and when occasion might require.

The International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the main judicial organ of the United Nations
Organization. The ICJ is presided over by 15 judges, each from a different nation, elected by the
General Assembly and Security Council. The Court settles legal disputes between nations only
and not between individuals, in accordance with international law. If a country does not wish to
take part in a proceeding it does not have to do so, unless required by special treaty provisions.
Once a country accepts the Court's jurisdiction, it must comply with its decision.
The seat of the International Court of Justice is at The Hague in the Netherlands. The
offices of the Court occupy the Peace Palace, which was constructed by the Carnegie
Foundation, a private non-profit organization, to serve as the headquarters of the Permanent
Court of International Justice, the predecessor of the present Court. The UN makes an annual
contribution to the Foundation for the use of the building.

The Secretariat
The Secretariat is made up of an international staff working at UN Headquarters in New
York, as well as UN offices in Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi and other locations. It consists of
departments and offices with a total staff of around 16,000, drawn from some 175 countries.
Including civil staff in peacekeeping missions the total number comprises approximately 30,000
staff. Staff members carry out the substantive and administrative work of the United Nations as
directed by the General Assembly, the Security Council and the other organs.
The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General. He is appointed by the General
Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year term. As the chief
administrative officer of the Organization, the Secretary-General directs its work. He is also
responsible for implementing decisions taken by the various organs of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter
which, in his opinion, may threaten international peace and security. He may use his good
offices to prevent conflicts or promote peaceful settlement of disputes between countries. The
Secretary-General may also act on his own initiative to deal with humanitarian or other problems
of special importance.

Activity
Suppose your class is the UN General Assembly. Now conduct the Assembly by playing roles.

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Answer these questions.
1. Draft a model news report on the functions of the UN General Assembly.
2. Briefly sketch the history of the origin of the UNO.
3. Critically evaluate the activities of the UNO.
4. Discuss, briefly, the role played by the UNO to maintain peace in the world.
5. What role can the UNO play to guarantee the rights of the small and less developed countries
of the world?
6. Why was the UNO established? Did it succeed in achieving its objectives?
7. Do you agree with the opinion that the importance of the UNO has increased in the present
context? Present your view.

Lesson 2: Specialized UN Agencies

FAO / UNESCO / WHO / WORLD BANK (IBRD +IDA) /
IMF / ICAO / ITU / WMO / WIPO / UNIDO / IAEA /
UNDP / UNICEF / WTO

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The FAO is the oldest permanent specialized agency of the United Nations, established in
October 1945 with the objective of eliminating hunger and improving nutrition and standards of
living by increasing agricultural productivity.
The FAO coordinates the efforts of governments and technical agencies in programs for
developing agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources. It also carries out
research; provides technical assistance on projects in individual countries; operates educational
programs through seminars and training centres; maintains information and support services,
including keeping statistics on world production, trade, and consumption of agricultural
commodities; and publishes a number of periodicals, yearbooks, and research bulletins.
Headquartered in Rome, Italy, the FAO maintains offices throughout the world. The
organization is governed by the biennial FAO conference, in which each member country, as
well as the European Union, is represented. The conference elects a 49-member Council, which
serves as its executive organ. Currently, the FAO has 194 Member Nations, two associate
members and one member organization, the European Union.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) created in 1946 to promote
international collaboration in education, science, and culture. Its permanent headquarters are in
Paris, France.
UNESCO's initial emphasis was on rebuilding schools, libraries, and museums that had
been destroyed in Europe during World War II. Since then its activities have been mainly
facilitative, aimed at assisting, supporting, and complementing the national efforts of member
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states to eliminate illiteracy and to extend free education. UNESCO also seeks to encourage the
free exchange of ideas and knowledge by organizing conferences and providing clearinghouse
and exchange services.
As many less-developed countries joined the UN beginning in the 1950s, UNESCO
began to devote more resources to their problems, which included poverty, high rates of
illiteracy, and underdevelopment. Besides its support of educational and science programs,
UNESCO is also involved in efforts to protect the natural environment and humanity's common
cultural heritage. In 1972, it sponsored an international agreement to establish a World Heritage
List of cultural sites and natural areas that would enjoy government protection.
UNESCO is responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science,
culture and communication. It strengthens the ties between nations and societies, and mobilizes
the wider public so that each child and citizen:
has access to quality education; a basic human right and an indispensable prerequisite for
sustainable development;
may grow and live in a cultural environment rich in diversity and dialogue, where
heritage serves as a bridge between generations and peoples;
can fully benefit from scientific advances;
and can enjoy full freedom of expression; the basis of democracy, development and
human dignity.

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1948 with
administrative headquarters in Geneva to further international cooperation for improved health
conditions. WHO defines health positively as a state of complete physical, mental, and social
well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
The work of WHO may be divided into three categories:
1. It provides a central clearinghouse and research services. It established a codified
set of international sanitary regulations, for example, designed to standardize
quarantine measures without interfering unnecessarily with trade and air travel
across national boundaries. The central WHO Secretariat also keeps member
countries informed of the latest developments in the use of vaccines, cancer
research, nutritional discoveries, control of drug addiction, and health hazards of
nuclear radiation.
2. It sponsors measures for the control of epidemic and endemic disease by
promoting mass campaigns involving nationwide vaccination programs,
instruction in the use of antibiotics and insecticides, the improvement of
laboratory and clinical facilities for early diagnosis and prevention, assistance in
providing pure-water supplies and sanitation systems, and health education for
people living in rural communities. These campaigns have had some success
against tuberculosis, malaria, and venereal disease. There has also been
considerable progress against cholera, trachoma, yellow fever, and yaws. In May
1980 smallpox was globally eradicated, a feat due largely to the efforts of WHO.

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 3. It encourages efforts to strengthen and expand the public health administrations of
member nations. The organization, on request, provides technical advice to
governments in the preparation of long-term national health plans, sends out
international teams of experts to conduct field surveys and demonstration
projects, helps set up local health centres, and offers aid in the development of
national training institutions for medical and nursing personnel. It also makes
teachers available for on-the-spot training, and it grants traveling-fellowship
awards to doctors, public-health administrators, nurses, sanitary inspectors, and
laboratory technicians.

The goal of WHO is to build a better, healthier future for people all over the world.
Working through offices in more than 150 countries, WHO works side by side with governments
and other partners to ensure the highest attainable level of health for all people. Working with its
partners, WHO strives to combat diseases infectious diseases like influenza and HIV and non-
communicable ones like cancer and heart disease. It helps mothers and children survive and
thrive so they can look forward to a healthy old age. It ensures the safety of the air people
breathe, the food they eat, the water they drink and the medicines and vaccines they need.
WHO celebrates 7 April every year as World Health Day.

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) was created in 1944
to help Europe rebuild after World War II. Today, IBRD provides loans and other assistance
primarily to middle income countries.
IBRD is the original World Bank institution. It works closely with the rest of the World
Bank Group to help developing countries reduce poverty, promote economic growth, and build
prosperity. The institution provides a combination of financial resources, knowledge and
technical services, and strategic advice to developing countries, including middle income and
credit-worthy lower income countries. Specifically, IBRD:
supports long-term human and social development that private creditors do not
finance
preserves borrowers' financial strength by providing support in times of crisis,
when poor people are most adversely affected
promotes key policy and institutional reforms (such as safety net or anti-
corruption reforms)
creates a favorable investment climate to catalyze the provision of private capital
facilitates access to financial markets often at more favorable terms than members
can achieve on their own.

International Development Association (IDA)

The International Development Association (IDA) is an international financial institution
which offers concessional loans and grants to the world's poorest developing countries. The IDA
is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States.
It was established in 1960 to complement the existing International Bank for Reconstruction and

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Development by lending to developing countries which suffer from the lowest gross national
income, from troubled creditworthiness, or from the lowest per capita income. Together, the
International Development Association and International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development are collectively generally known as the World Bank, as they follow the same
executive leadership and operate with the same staff.
The association shares the World Bank's mission of reducing poverty and aims to provide
affordable development financing to countries whose credit risk is so prohibitive that they cannot
afford to borrow commercially or from the Bank's other programs. The IDA's stated aim is to
assist the poorest nations in growing more quickly, equitably, and sustainably to reduce poverty.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Created in 1945, International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 189 countries,
working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international
trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around
the world. Its original aims were:
to promote international monetary cooperation;
to facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade;
to promote exchange stability;
to assist in the establishment of a multilateral system of payments; and
to make resources available to members experiencing balance of payments
difficulties.

The IMFs fundamental mission is to ensure the stability of the international monetary
system. It does so in three ways: keeping track of the global economy and the economies of
member countries; lending to countries with balance of payments difficulties; and giving
practical help to members. The IMF oversees the international monetary system and monitors the
economic and financial policies of its 189 member countries. As part of this process, the IMF
highlights possible risks to stability and advises on needed policy adjustments. A core
responsibility of the IMF is to provide loans to member countries experiencing actual or potential
balance of payments problems. This financial assistance enables countries to rebuild their
international reserves, stabilize their currencies, continue paying for imports, and restore
conditions for strong economic growth, while undertaking policies to correct underlying
problems. Unlike development banks, the IMF does not lend for specific projects.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

Established in 1947 by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944), the ICAO
is a UN specialized agency dedicated to developing safe and efficient international air transport
for peaceful purposes and ensuring a reasonable opportunity for every country to operate
international airlines. The organization's permanent headquarters are in Montreal.
The ICAO's activities have included establishing and reviewing international technical
standards for aircraft operation and design, crash investigation, the licensing of personnel,
telecommunications, meteorology, air navigation equipment, ground facilities for air transport,
and search-and-rescue missions. The organization also promotes regional and international

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agreements aimed at liberalizing aviation markets, helps to establish legal standards to ensure
that the growth of aviation does not compromise safety, and encourages the development of
other aspects of international aviation law.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication
technologies ICTs. Today, ICTs underpin everything we do. They help manage and control
emergency services, water supplies, power networks and food distribution chains. They support
health care, education, government services, financial markets, transportation systems, e-
commerce platforms and environmental management. And they allow people to communicate
with colleagues, friends and family anytime, and almost anywhere.
ITU is committed to connecting all the world's people wherever they live and whatever
their means. Through its work, ITU protects and supports everyone's fundamental right to
communicate. It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical
standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strives to improve
access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.
ITU membership reads like a Who's Who of the ICT sector. It is unique among UN
agencies in having both public and private sector membership. So in addition to its 193 Member
States, ITU membership includes ICT regulators, many leading academic institutions and some
700 tech companies. With the help of its global membership, ITU brings the benefits of modern
communication technologies to people everywhere in an efficient, safe, easy and affordable
manner. In an increasingly interconnected world, ITU is the single global organization
embracing all players in this dynamic and fast-growing sector.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United
Nations created to promote the establishment of a worldwide meteorological observation system,
the application of meteorology to other fields, and the development of national meteorological
services in less-developed countries. . It is the UN system's authoritative voice on the state and
behavior of the Earth's atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces and
the resulting distribution of water resources. It is an intergovernmental organization with a
membership of 191 Member States and Territories. Established in 1950, WMO became the
specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational
hydrology and related geophysical sciences. It has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and
is a member of the United Nations Development Group.
Among WMO's major programs are World Weather Watch, a system of satellites and
telecommunication networks connecting land and sea sites for monitoring weather conditions;
the World Climate Programme, which monitors climate change, including global warming; and
the Atmospheric Research and Environment Programme, which was designed to promote
research on issues such as ozone depletion.

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

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 The WIPO is an international organization designed to promote the worldwide protection
of both industrial property (inventions, trademarks, and designs) and copyrighted materials
(literary, musical, photographic, and other artistic works). The organization, established by a
convention signed in Stockholm in 1967, began operations in 1970 and became a specialized
agency of the United Nations in December 1974. It is headquartered in Geneva. WIPO is one of
the 17 specialized agencies of the United Nations.
The WIPO mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international
intellectual property (IP) system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

The UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nations established to promote
industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental
sustainability. Its mission is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial
development (ISID) in developing countries and economies in transition.
The UNIDOs programmatic focus is structured in three thematic priorities, each of
which represents different aspects of ISID:
Creating shared prosperity,
Advancing economic competitiveness, and
Safeguarding the environment.
According to its Lima Declaration, the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) aims to eradicate poverty through inclusive and sustainable industrial
development (ISID). It advocates that ISID is the key driver for the successful integration of the
economic, social and environmental dimensions, required to fully realize sustainable
development for the benefit of our future generations.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957 with its
Headquarters in Vienna. It is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use
of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.
Though established independently of the United Nations through its own international treaty, the
IAEA Statute, the IAEA reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and Security
Council.
The IAEA serves as an intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation
in the peaceful use of nuclear technology and nuclear power worldwide. The programs of the
IAEA encourage the development of the peaceful applications of nuclear technology, provide
international safeguards against misuse of nuclear technology and nuclear materials, and promote
nuclear safety (including radiation protection) and nuclear security standards and their
implementation.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Headquartered in New York City, the UNDP is a specialized UN agency formed in 1965
to help countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable human development, which is an
approach to economic growth that emphasizes improving the quality of life of all citizens while

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conserving the environment and natural resources for future generations. The UNDP is the
largest UN development assistance programme.
The UNDP administers aid through five-year Country Programmes, which fund projects
aimed at attracting investment capital, training skilled employees, and implementing modern
technologies. The UNDP also makes experts available to help developing countries increase their
capacity for good governanceby building political and legal institutions that are equitable,
responsive, and open to public participationand to expand the private sector of their economies
in order to provide more jobs. Recent UNDP programs have focused on reducing poverty,
developing strategies to treat and combat the spread of HIV/AIDS, promoting environmentally
sound energy and economic policies, and expanding communications and technology
infrastructure.

United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)

The UNICEF is a special program of the United Nations (UN) devoted to aiding national
efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children.
UNICEF was created in 1946 to provide relief to children in countries devastated by
World War II. After 1950 the fund directed its efforts toward general programs for the
improvement of children's welfare, particularly in less-developed countries and in various
emergency situations. It is headquartered in New York City.
The UNICEF has concentrated much of its effort in areas in which relatively small
expenditures can have a significant impact on the lives of the most disadvantaged children, such
as the prevention and treatment of disease. In keeping with this strategy, it supports
immunization programs for childhood diseases and programs to prevent the spread of
HIV/AIDS. It also provides funding for health services, educational facilities, and other welfare
services.
Since its establishment, the UNICEF has worked to improve the lives of children and
their families. Despite remarkable challenges around the world, the UNICEF staffers fight for the
rights of every child seeking safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disaster and conflicts, and
equality. The UNICEF works with the United Nations and other United Nations agencies to
make sure that children are on the global agenda.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

Established in 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global
international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. Its primary purpose is
to open trade for the benefit of all. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
The WTO provides a forum for negotiating agreements aimed at reducing obstacles to
international trade and ensuring a level playing field for all, thus contributing to economic
growth and development. The WTO also provides a legal and institutional framework for the
implementation and monitoring of these agreements, as well as for settling disputes arising from
their interpretation and application.

Activity

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Make a list of the UN specialized agencies and write down the date of establishment and major
function of each of the agencies in a table.

Answer these questions.

1. Draft a news report on the contribution of the UNICEF to the welfare of children.
2. Do you think the UN specialized agencies have been successful in achieving their objectives?
Give any four suggestions to make their activities more effective.
3. Which is the most important UN specialized agency? Why do you think so? Give any two
reasons.
4. Do you see any overlapping of activities of the UN specialized agencies? Give examples.

Community Activity
Are there any activities run with the aid of any of the UN specialized agencies in your
community or school? Ask the concerned people and collect information. Write a short report
about the activities on the basis of the interview and field visit.

LESSON 3: UN ACTIVITIES IN NEPAL

UNICEF / FAO / ILO / UNAIDS / UNFPA / UNCDF / UNHSP / UN Volunteers / UN Women /
WFP / WHO
The United Nations has contributed a lot to the development of various sectors of Nepal.
It has helped Nepal in her efforts to economic, social, and physical development and good
governance. The UN has rendered its assistance through its specialized agencies which are
briefly described below.

UNICEF in Nepal
UNICEF provides its services to Nepal through its country office located in Kathmandu
and three zonal offices located in Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj. UNICEF has a history of
more than four decades of work in Nepal and has contributed towards many of the development
strides the country has taken. The focus of UNICEFs programme in Nepal has continuously
changed over the years to meet the changing needs of Nepali children, adolescents and women.
UNICEF mainly focuses in the 15 lowest performing districts of Nepal but its impact is
nationwide especially with its advocacy work with the Government of Nepal in developing
legislations, plans, budgets, coordination and monitoring mechanisms that enable the survival,
development, protection and participation of children, adolescents and women.
UNICEF's country programme in Nepal seeks to address the inequities so that all
children, adolescents and women have access to education, health care, nutrition, sanitation,
hygiene, safe water, protection, information and other services necessary to fulfill their rights to
survival, development, protection and participation. Since forty-two percent of the population in
Nepal is under 18 years of age, investments in children and adolescents are especially important
in shaping national development.

FAO Nepal

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 Nepal became a member of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO) on 21 November 1951. Since that time Nepal and FAO have been cooperating to improve
the agricultural and rural development in the country.
FAO was the first among the different UN agencies to start its office and field level work
in Nepal focusing initially on agriculture and water resource management. During last 64 years
of service, FAO Nepal office has made great strides in vital areas of agriculture and rural
development by providing advice on policy matters and technical support in relevant sub sectors.
During more than 64 years, almost 300 projects have been implemented by the organization,
embracing a broad range of programmes related to crop, vegetables, forestry, livestock, fishery,
food safety, nutrition, planning, policy, rural development and environment conservation.
FAO is a technical agency and has been supporting the Government of Nepal in an
integrated approach to address its immediate priorities through capacity building, institutional
improvement, food security-related issues, agriculture and rural development.

UNAIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) is the main advocate
for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The
mission of UNAIDS is to lead, strengthen and support an expanded response to HIV and AIDS
that includes preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support to those already living
with the virus, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV and alleviating
the impact of the epidemic.
In Nepal, UNAIDS works as a member of the UN Country Team and supports the HIV
response to save the maximum number of lives, to keep people healthy, and to avert as many
HIV infections as possible. It has assisted Nepal in the development and implementation of the
Nepal HIV Investment Plan. The NHIP now plays a pivotal role in ensuring that current and
future domestic and external resources have appropriate programme relevance, are tailored to
Nepals HIV programme objectives and goals, and contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency
of the entire national HIV response.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

The UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is
wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA expands the
possibilities for women and young people to lead healthy and productive lives.
UNFPA's support to Nepal began in 1971. It helps Nepal by launching country
programmes. It has successfully completed the sixth country programme, 2008-2012, which
helped to enhance the national response to gender-based violence by working with United
Nations organizations and other donors, and (c) implement the population and housing census.

UNFPA has expanded its programmes to 18 districts, supporting the subnational capacity
for planning and managing population, gender and reproductive health programmes and
strategies in districts that have made slow progress in achieving the goals of the International
Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). At the national level, UNFPA focused on
national ownership, sustainability, accountability and national system-strengthening.

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 The current Seventh Country Programme commenced in 2013 and will end in 2017 to
coincide with Governments interim development plan for 2011-13 and sectoral strategies.
Through this programme and in partnership with the Government of Nepal, UNFPA will provide
$30.5 million. The country programme contributes to three outcome areas of the United Nations
Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), 2013-2017.

United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

Established in 1966 by the United Nations General Assembly as a special purpose
organization primarily for small-scale investment in the poorest countries, UNCDF has come in
recent years through intense and far-reaching changes. As a result, today, UNCDF works to help
reduce poverty by piloting small-scale investments in two areas of concentration: local
governance and microfinance.
In Nepal, UNCDF assists the Local Governance and Community Development
Programme (LGCDP) of the Government of Nepal. The LGCDP was declared effective by the
Government of Nepal in 2008 and is a national programme managed and implemented by the
Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MFALD). UNCDF is contributing to
LGCDP in the area of promotion of decentralized governance and improved local service
delivery.

United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT

UN-HABITAT is the United Nations agency for human settlements development
established in 1978. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and
environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.
UN-Habitat has been supporting the Government of Nepal and its people since the 1980s
in various areas of human settlements and urban development. It established its office in
Kathmandu in 2006, and provides support in the areas of water and sanitation, shelter and land,
slum upgrading, green development, climate change and urban mobility.
UN-HABITAT Country Programme Document (HCPD) has been developed in the
context of a historically significant political transition. The HCPD attempts to address key urban
development challenges and priorities on the thematic areas of land and housing, shelter and
basic services, capacity development and urban governance. Under the programme framework,
UN-HABITAT has supported landless Koshi flood victims of 2008 with integrated shelter.
Likewise, UN-Habitat is also working for promoting sustainable housing in Nepal with the
project of Green Homes. Green Homes is three year (2013-1015) project funded by the
European Union for promoting sustainable housing technologies and services to contribute
towards mitigating climate change and reducing poverty through creation of green jobs and
moving towards a green economy.

Meanwhile, UN-Habitat is also working on the issues of land with the project Catalytic
Support to Land Issues. This two year (2013-2015) project funded by the UN Peace building
Fund for Nepal (UNPFN) aims to create an environment conducive for the development and
implementation of a land policy, with provisions of land reform and land use, and the peaceful
resolution of land and property conflicts.

13
United Nations Volunteers Programme
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme is the UN organization that
contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. The UNV Headquarters
is based in Bonn (Germany) and in each country there are UNV Field Units (FU) as focal point
of each country representing UNV. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in
tackling development challenges.
The role of the UNV Nepal is multi-faceted. One of the key functions is to develop a
network with government, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations - anywhere where
volunteers are requested or placed. In addition, the UNV Nepal develops new volunteer-based
projects and very importantly promotes volunteerism liaising with volunteer sending agencies
and relevant civil society institutions.

UN Women
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United
Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. UN Women is mandated
to be a lead driver and lead voice advocating for gender equality and womens empowerment
globally. It is a dynamic and strong champion for women and girls, providing them with a
powerful voice at the global, regional and local levels.
Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the UN Charter, UN Women works for
the:
elimination of discrimination against women and girls;
empowerment of women; and
achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of
development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
UN Women Nepal Country Office was established in April 2012, and received full
Delegation of Authority in July 2013. UN Women in Nepal focuses on the following key
thematic areas:
Violence against women
Peace and security
Leadership and Participation
Economic Empowerment
National planning and budget.
The Country Office has made a framework of support for 2014-2017 which adopts a holistic and
integrated approach across UN Womens five thematic priorities. It is also guided by Nepals
stated priorities.

World Food Programme (WFP)

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been working in Nepal since 1963, supporting
the Government to develop greater food security among vulnerable communities and build
resilience to disasters. WFPs work in Nepal primarily targets the most food insecure and those
in the hard-to-reach districts of the Mid- and Far-Western Hills and Mountains.

14
 Most recently, WFP delivered emergency food assistance and organized logistics in
response to the devastating earthquakes that struck the country in April and May 2015. The
earthquakes claimed nearly 9,000 lives and injured 22,500 people. They also caused an estimated
US$ 7 billion of damage, pushing around 700,000 people into poverty.
WFPs ultimate goal in Nepal is to break the cycle of poverty and hunger. During Nepals
post-conflict transition, WFPs focus is to:
prevent acute hunger and meet emergency food and nutrition needs,
empower hundreds of thousands of families through food- and cash-for-work to
build assets that will improve long-term food security,
support the government and partners to develop and implement effective food
security and nutrition strategies.
WFP maintains a deep field presence with activities in 32 districts in Nepal. It maintains
three field offices: Damak which covers the Bhutanese refugee camps in Jhapa and Morang
districts, Nepalgunj which covers projects in Mid-Western Nepal as well as provides critical
support to its air operations based in Surkhet, and Dadeldhura which covers its projects in Far-
Western Nepal.

World Health Organization Office (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations
System, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO has six regional offices,
covering different regions of the world. The South East Asia Regional Office, located in New
Delhi, India, covers eleven countries including Nepal.
WHO Country Office in Nepal provides technical support to address the countrys
priority health issues within the purview of WHO core functions. It provides support mostly in
policy planning and program development; human resources development; prevention and
control of major communicable diseases, polio eradication, leprosy elimination; health
promotion; healthy environment; and health technology and pharmaceuticals.
WHO Country Office provides technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and
Population which operates nationwide. In addition, it has a central immunization and vaccine
preventable disease office in Kathmandu and 9 field offices with 15 Surveillance Medical
Officers (SMOs) that support a surveillance network of 73 active surveillance sites and 416 -
weekly zero reporting sites consisting of hospitals, government and private clinics and health
centers throughout the country. They are responsible for measles, neonatal tetanus and acute
encephalitis syndrome cases as well as for outbreak investigation and control.

Classroom Activity
Which of the development activities currently taking place in your community or neighbourhood
are funded by the UN agencies directly or indirectly? List them.

Answer these questions.

1. Make a list of the activities done by the UNDP in Nepal.
2. What do you think is the relevance of UN Human Settlement Programme in Nepal? Write
briefly.

15
3. What can be done to make the programmes launched by the FAO more effective in Nepal?
Write any four suggestions.
4. Make a list of the international non-governmental organizations working in Nepal.

Community Activity
Visit a project run by any of the UN Agencies in your community or neighbourhood and observe
how it has been functioning. Collect the information and write a brief report about the
functioning of the project.

LESSON 5: Role of Nepal in the United Nations Organization

Nepal joined the United Nations on December 14, 1955 in the wake of the cold war
between the two superpowers, the USA and the USSR. Since then Nepal has been playing an
active role in the United Nations and has always remained committed to the objectives and
principles of the United Nations as enshrined in the UN Charter. Nepal has looked upon the UN
principles as one of the guiding factors of its foreign policy from the very beginning of its entry
into the United Nations. Nepal has played an active role in enhancing the profile of small and
medium-sized countries and has joined efforts to champion the cause of the land-locked
developing countries and the least developed countries.
Nepal attaches special importance to the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations.
This is an area through which the international community has recognized Nepals role and
contributions to the United Nations. Nepal, from the very beginning of its entry into the United
Nations, has been providing Nepalese troops, observers and police personnel to the UN
Peacekeeping Operations. Nepal first contributed military peacekeepers in 1958 by sending five
observers in the UN Military Observation Group in Lebanon. Currently, Nepals three main
security agencies Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police all contribute to UN
peacekeeping. Nepal has so far provided Nepalese troops, police personnel and observers to such
UN Missions as UNIFIL (Lebanon), UNPQM (Indo-Pak), UNEF (Egypt), UNPROFO (Croatia),
UNMIH (Haiti), UNISOM (Somalia), UNTAC (Cambodia), UNTAET (East Timor), UNAMSIL
(Sierra Leone) and various other missions. Nepal is one of the top five troop contributors. As of
31 January 2017, a total of 5185 Nepalese peacekeepers are working in various UN
Peacekeeping Missions. UN Peacekeepers serve in some of the most difficult and dangerous
situations around the globe to create the conditions for lasting peace.
Nepals contribution to various UN activities, including the UN Peacekeeping
Operations, has been widely appreciated by the international community. Indeed, her position as
a firmly committed troop contributor in various peacekeeping operations around the world has
profoundly enhanced Nepals respect and esteem at the United Nations. The decade of 1990s
remained the years of major UN conferences on human rights, social development, rights of the
child, rights of women, sustainable development and various other issues. In all these forums,
Nepal has played an active and positive role in finding solutions to serious challenges such as
poverty, social injustice, terrorism, unemployment and many others.
Nepal has remained active in the United Nations and has been able to serve in various
UN organs including in elected capacities. In 1968, Nepal was elected as the Non-permanent
Member of the UN Security Council and served in the Council for 1969/1970. Again in 1987, it

16
was elected to that position and served for 1988/89. Nepal, which was elected for the first time to
the Economic and Social Council, another main body of the United Nations in October 1979 for
three years beginning from January 1980, was elected to the same body for the second time in
October 2000 for three years beginning from January 2001. Nepal served as a Vice-President for
2003. Nepals election to the Human Rights Commission in 1992 (for the term 1993-1995), in
1995 (for the term 1996-1998) and in 2003 (for the term 2004-2006) is another testimony of its
active role in the United Nations. Before Nepals election as Chair of the UN Human Rights
Commission (2000-2001), it served as Vice-Chair of the Commission. Likewise, Nepal was
elected to the UNICEF Executive Board and Commission on Sustainable Development in May
2001 for a period of three years beginning from January 2002. Nepal was also elected to the
UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board in May 2002 for a three-year term beginning from January
2003.
Ever since it received the UN membership, Nepal has worked with the United Nations to
address such issues as development, peace and security, environment, human rights, and social
and cultural issues. Nepal has signed various UN Declarations, expressed commitment and
gradually implemented them. One example is the formation of National Human Rights
Commission as a powerful constitutional body to look after the human rights affair in the
country.

Answer these questions.

1. Briefly describe the effort made by Nepal to get the membership of the UNO.
2. To what extent are you satisfied with the present role of Nepal in the UNO? Present your
view.
3. Do you think it is good to send Nepalese army and police in UN peacekeeping missions?
Give reasons to support your view.
4. Do you think the UNO has been able to safeguard the rights of the landlocked countries of
the world? Give reasons to support your view.
5. Make a list of various roles played by Nepal in the UNO.

Follow-up Activity
Search the web and find out the role of the UNO in restoring peace in Nepal. Make a list of the
contributions of the UNO to restore peace in Nepal.

Lesson 6: Global Issues and their Impact

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 When someone talks about current global issues, you may ask them: why care about
global issues? Why learn about current events taking place in the world? Why do we need to
know what is really going on in the world today? You will get many answers to your questions if
you ponder for a while how interconnected people are in the world today. Since we live in a
globalized world, every global issue affects our daily lives. This is true regardless of whether we
live in a village, a small town, or a metropolis.
Global issues are issues of great importance whose impact is felt GLOBAL
everywhere. So, they are our issues too. Because these issues are global, the ISSUES
consequences of action, inaction, or inadequate action on these issues will be AFFECT
felt globally not just somewhere on the other side of the world, but here, EVERYONE.
where we live. Understanding current events and global issues helps us
develop a better understanding of the way the world works. Since high school students are the
future generations of change, they need to know about the global issues to make the world better
tomorrow. Keeping up with current events can enrich our life and teach us so much about the
world. Our awareness of and exposure to current world events enables us to expand our
knowledge base, solve problems and make right decisions.
We all have a responsibility as global citizens to learn about and act on global challenges.
We have to learn about a wide range of global issues and how they impact the world we live in.
There are several social, political, health, environmental, and economic issues that affect us all.
The world faces significant changes, challenges and opportunities, which reach into all our lives.
Unequal distribution of wealth and poverty, racial and religious intolerance, hunger and
environmental degradation, food, water and energy insecurity, migration, and the effects of
climate change affect our daily lives. These problems require global solutions. In this lesson, we
learn briefly about such global issues as sustainable development, disarmament, terrorism,
landmines, population growth, nuclear energy, communicable diseases, and climate change.

Sustainable Development
We find an early definition of sustainable development in the Brundtland Report released
in 1987 by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development. According
to this Report, Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We may define
sustainable development as a process of meeting human development goals while sustaining the
ability of natural systems to continue to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services
upon which the economy and society depends. We may say it is the organizing principle for
sustaining finite resources necessary to provide for the needs of future generations of life on the
planet. In other words, one may define sustainable development as a process that envisions a
desirable future state for human societies in which living conditions and resource-use continue to
meet human needs without undermining the "integrity, stability and beauty" of natural biotic
systems. So, sustainable development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural
systems with the social, political, and economic challenges faced by humanity.
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. It generally refers to
a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total

18
elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms. General and Complete
Disarmament was defined by the United Nations General Assembly as the elimination of all
WMD (weapons of mass destruction), coupled with the balanced reduction of armed forces and
conventional armaments, based on the principle of undiminished security of the parties with a
view to promoting or enhancing stability at a lower military level, taking into account the need of
all States to protect their security. Arms limitation and disarmament have been discussed and
negotiated at the United Nations over the years. This has resulted in arms treaties, conventions
and resolutions that have helped lead to international action on nuclear and conventional arms
disarmament.
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons
and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated.
Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth. One can destroy a whole city,
potentially killing millions, and jeopardizing the natural environment and lives of future
generations through its long-term catastrophic effects. The dangers from such weapons arise
from their very existence. Disarmament is the best protection against such dangers, but
achieving this goal has been a tremendously difficult challenge.

Terrorism
It is very hard to define terrorism. Terrorism has been described variously as both a tactic
and strategy; a crime and a holy duty; a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusable
abomination. Obviously, a lot depends on whose point of view is being represented. Terrorism
has often been an effective tactic for the weaker side in a conflict. As an asymmetric form of
conflict, it confers coercive power with many of the advantages of military force at a fraction of
the cost. Due to the secretive nature and small size of terrorist organizations, they often offer
opponents no clear organization to defend against or to deter.
The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as "the calculated use of
unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to
intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious,
or ideological." Within this definition, there are three key elements - violence, fear, and
intimidation - and each element produces terror in its victims. The FBI uses this definition:
"Terrorism is the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or
coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political
or social objectives." The United Nations produced the following definition of terrorism in 1992:
"An anxiety-inspiring method of repeated violent action, employed by (semi-) clandestine
individual, group or state actors, for idiosyncratic, criminal or political reasons, whereby - in
contrast to assassination - the direct targets of violence are not the main targets." The United
Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy was adopted by General Assembly in 2006, and
states that terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and
security.
Terrorism is a criminal act that influences an audience beyond the immediate victim. The
strategy of terrorists is to commit acts of violence that draws the attention of the local populace,
the government, and the world to their cause. The terrorists plan their attack to obtain the greatest
publicity, choosing targets that symbolize what they oppose. The effectiveness of the terrorist act

19
lies not in the act itself, but in the public's or government's reaction to the act. In its broadest
sense, terrorism is the use of intentionally indiscriminate violence as a means to create terror or
fear, in order to achieve a political, religious, or ideological aim. In modern times, terrorism is
considered a major threat to society and therefore illegal under anti-terrorism laws in most
jurisdictions. It is also considered a war crime under the laws of war when used to target non-
combatants, such as civilians, neutral military personnel, or enemy prisoners of war.
A broad array of political organizations have practiced terrorism to further their
objectives. It has been practiced by both right-wing and left-wing political organizations,
nationalist groups, religious groups, revolutionaries, and ruling governments. International
terrorist organizations can cause conflict anywhere, thus terrorism is a global issue.

Landmines
Antipersonnel landmines are explosive devices designed to be detonated by the presence,
proximity or contact of a person. Placed under or on the ground, they can lie dormant for years
and even decades until a person or animal triggers their detonating mechanism. Made of plastic,
metal or other materials, landmines contain explosives and sometimes pieces of metal or other
objects meant to cause additional injury. They can be activated by direct pressure from above, by
pressure put on a wire or filament attached to a pull switch, or even simply by the proximity of a
person within a predetermined distance. Landmines indiscriminately kill or injure civilians, aid
workers, peacekeepers and soldiers alike. They pose a threat to the safety of civilians during
conflicts and long afterwards.
Antipersonnel landmines claim victims across the globe each day. When triggered, a
landmine unleashes unspeakable destruction, often destroying one or more limbs and projecting
metal and debris into the wound, as well as causing burns, blindness or other life-long injuries.
Sometimes the victim dies from the blast, due to loss of blood or because they don't get to
medical care in time. Those who survive and receive medical treatment often require
amputations, long hospital stays, multiple operations, and extensive rehabilitation.
The Mine Ban Treaty adopted by the United Nations in 1997comprehensively bans the
use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of antipersonnel mines, and requires the Member
countries to destroy their stockpiles and clear all mined areas as well as assist landmine
survivors. The positive impact of this Treaty includes a marked reduction of casualties, an
increased number of mine-free countries, destroyed stockpiles and improved assistance to
victims.

Population Growth
You may wonder why we should be concerned about population while the world is
confronting a host of major crises relating to climate, energy, severe poverty, food, the global
economy and political instability! If we ponder for a while, we get this simple answer: virtually
all of the major problems that confront the world today relate in some critical way to population
growth.
According to the UN Population Report, global population hit 7.3 billion midway through
2015, an increase of 2 billion since 1990. According to forecasters, it will continue to grow
steadily, reaching 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100. As of March

20
2017, it was estimated at 7.49 billion. It took hundreds of thousands of years for the world
population to grow to 1 billion. Then in just another 200 years or so, it grew sevenfold. This
dramatic growth will have far-reaching implications for generations to come. Water, food and
arable land will be scarcer; cities will be more crowded; and hunger will be more widespread.
The question is: how many people can our planet support? With population expected to
reach 9.5 billion by 2050, many wonder if our natural resources can keep up with our growing
demands. Now over 7 billion, can human population continue to grow indefinitely? There are
limits to the life-sustaining resources earth can provide us. In other words, there is a carrying
capacity for human life on our planet. If the population exceeds the carrying capacity, we call it
overpopulation. Put differently, there is overpopulation when the number of people cannot be
permanently maintained without depleting resources and without degrading the environment and
the people's standard of living. Because we are rapidly using up resources around the world,
virtually all nations are overpopulated. This applies even more so to the rich nations. As we use
up the resources, the earth's carrying capacity continues to decrease.
Rapid population growth poses significant challenges. It is a major contributor to
environmental degradation, resource depletion, conflict, involuntary migration and societal
problems such as housing scarcity and transport congestion. Now the challenge is how to
stabilize population at a sustainable level. It can be done by encouraging a culture shift towards
smaller family sizes worldwide and by improving resources for women's empowerment and
family planning in lower income countries. By educating and empowering women, and giving
them access to family planning services, we can save lives, strengthen families, fight poverty,
preserve the environment, and help achieve a world population that can live in harmony with the
planet.

Nuclear Energy
Energy released by the fission or the fusion of nuclei in the form of heat, light, or other
radiation is called nuclear energy. Fission occurs when a heavy nucleus splits into two or more
lighter segments and fusion is the combining of two light nuclei to form a single, heavier
nucleus. Like energy from any other source, nuclear energy can be used to do work. It can be put
to a wide variety of uses. It is used to create electricity in many places around the world through
nuclear power plants. In addition, the energy produced from uranium is used to power
submarines and other naval vessels. The field of medicine has benefited greatly from nuclear
energy. Doctors make use of radioactive elements to locate lumps or swellings in the human
body. This enables them to diagnose and treat patients suffering from abnormalities of the
thyroid gland, cancer and other diseases.
There is a social debate about nuclear energy. Proponents of nuclear energy contend that
nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions and increases energy
security by decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. They claim that nuclear power produces
virtually no conventional air pollution, such as greenhouse gases and smog. They claim that the
risks of storing waste are small and can be further reduced by using the latest technology in
newer reactors. Opponents, such as Greenpeace International, contend that nuclear power poses
many threats to people and the environment. These threats include the problems of processing,

21
transport and storage of radioactive nuclear waste, the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation and
terrorism, as well as health risks and environmental damage from uranium mining.
We cannot deny the drawbacks of nuclear power. Although nuclear power plants are
designed and operated with an emphasis on safety, accidents at these plants are possible. A major
accident occurred in 1986 at a nuclear power plant at Chernobyl in Ukraine. Harmful gases
leaked out into the air and spread over much of Europe. These radioactive gases ruined crops and
livestock and caused harm to many people. After this episode, steps were taken to prevent
similar disasters in the future. Another difficult problem of nuclear energy is how to dispose of
nuclear waste so that it does not spread into the environment. Until these drawbacks are solved,
we will have to decide whether the benefits of using nuclear energy outweigh the risks.

Communicable Diseases
Communicable diseases, also known as infectious diseases or transmissible diseases, are
illnesses that result from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic (capable of causing
disease) biologic agents in an individual human or other animal host. Infectious diseases are
caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi. The diseases
can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another. Zoonotic diseases are infectious
diseases of animals that can cause disease when transmitted to humans, for example, Avian flu.
Infectious diseases continue to be the worlds leading killer of young adults and children.
According to the recent report of World Health Organization, over 13 million people die each
year from infectious and parasitic diseases: one in two deaths in some developing countries. Poor
people, women, children, and the elderly are the most vulnerable. Despite the continual
development of antibiotics and vaccines, infectious diseases are the second leading cause of
death worldwide. What makes infectious diseases so difficult to combat is the extraordinary
ability of viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause these diseases to change over time. Some
examples of infectious diseases are Avian flu, West Nile Virus, Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome (MERS), Ebola Virus, H1N1 Influenza, mosquito-borne Zika Virus, Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis.
Todays highly mobile, interdependent and interconnected world provides uncountable
opportunities for the rapid spread of infectious diseases. Infectious diseases are now spreading
geographically much faster than at any time in history. Because of fast air travel, an outbreak or
epidemic in any one part of the world is only a few hours away from becoming an imminent
threat somewhere else. Infectious diseases are not only spreading faster, they appear to be
emerging more quickly than ever before. Since the 1970s, newly emerging diseases have been
identified at the unprecedented rate of one or more per year.
The World Health Organization at the international level and governments at the national
level can work together to prevent, detect, and provide a coordinated response to infectious
diseases. In coordination with the WHO, the national governments can strengthen health systems
to prevent and control epidemics.

Climate Change

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 There is currently widespread concern about a rapid phase of climate change, commonly
known as global warming. Global warming is the rise in earth's temperature due to trapped
greenhouse gases. While many complex factors can affect climate in general, the large majority
of scientists conclude that the chief culprit in the current rapid warming is an increase in
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Over the past century, human activities have released large
amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The majority of
greenhouse gases come from burning fossil fuels to produce energy, although deforestation,
industrial processes, and some agricultural practices also emit gases into the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases act like a blanket around Earth, trapping energy in the atmosphere and causing
it to warm. This phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect and is natural and necessary to
support life on Earth. However, the buildup of greenhouse gases can change Earth's climate and
result in dangerous effects to human health and welfare and to ecosystems.
What worries us today is the impact of global warming that is enormous in scale. A small
change in Earths temperature can upset the delicate balance of ecosystems and affect plants and
animals that inhabit them. Experts predict that one-fourth of Earths species will be headed for
extinction by 2050 if the warming trend continues at its current rate. Global warming causes sea-
levels to rise. Rising seas threaten to inundate low-lying areas and islands, threaten dense coastal
populations, erode shorelines, damage property and destroy ecosystems such as mangroves and
wetlands that protect coasts against storms. Climate change intensifies drought, storms, and
floods around the world. The true economic impact of climate change is hard to predict. But its
safe to say that many key economic sectors will feel long-term impacts of climate change. As we
move into an era in which climate change impacts are all around us, adapting to these changes
quickly will be key for all sectors of the global economy.
As our activities have largely caused global warming, it becomes our responsibility to
limit its impact. We can reduce the risks we will face from climate change by making choices
that reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and by preparing for the changes that are already
underway. The choices we make today will affect the amount of greenhouse gases we put in the
atmosphere in the near future and for years to come.

Classroom Activity
1. Are you in favour of the development of nuclear energy in Nepal or you are against it? Give
reasons for your choice.
2. Draft an editorial for any national newspaper published in English stating the negative effects
of landmine in Nepal.
3. Ask any two elderly people of your community about the problems they have faced in the
last fifty years living in the community. Write a short report and present it to the class.
4. Create a one-page proposal for addressing a current global problem highlighting a solution.

Answer these questions.

1. What do you understand by contemporary events? Make a list of contemporary events taking
place in the world these days.
2. What is terrorism? How can it be stopped? Make a list of measures that can be adopted to
stop terrorism.

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3. Is climate change always bad for us? Support your answer with reasons.
4. Write any four effects of climate change on Nepal.
5. How can you protect yourself and others from bird flu? Briefly describe.
6. What activities have been done to maintain healthy environment in your school and its
surrounding? List them.

Community Activities
1. Make a list of current events that have taken place in the world recently by listening to the
radio and by reading newspapers. Which of these events are desirable and which are
undesirable? Discuss with a friend in class.
2. Interact with the learned persons of your community and find out the causes, effects and
controlling measures of climate change. Write your findings in a table.

Lesson 6: Globalization and Localization

Every country and every society in the world are now affected by global forces. We can
purchase goods and services made by companies thousands of miles away and our goods and
services may likewise reach markets and consumers thousands of miles away from us. We watch
news on the CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera, watch music videos on MTV, wear Adidas shoes and eat
burger at a KFC outlet in Kathmandu. Now we are accustomed to spend time on Facebook and
Twitter, and communicate with our family and friends via Skype and Viber. We have invited and
welcomed many international organizations to set up their country office in our country. Our
government receives foreign aid in the form of loan and donation to meet the annual budget
deficit. This information shows the impact of global forces in our country and society. So, in this
lesson, we learn about globalization and localization.
Globalization is the process of international integration arising from the interchange of
world views, products, ideas, and other aspects of culture. The term refers to the phenomenon in
which economies, cultures and governments from around the world appear to integrate toward
one global system. Advances in transportation and in telecommunications infrastructure have
been major factors in globalization, generating further interdependence of economic and cultural
activities among countries and societies. Sociologists Martin Albrow and Elizabeth King define
globalization as "all those processes by which the peoples of the world are incorporated into a
single world society." In The Consequences of Modernity, British sociologist, Anthony Giddens
writes: "Globalization can thus be defined as the intensification of worldwide social relations
which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring
many miles away and vice versa." In 1992, Roland Robertson, professor of sociology at the
University of Aberdeen, Scotland, defined globalization as "the compression of the world and the
intensification of the consciousness of the world as a whole."
In the year 2000, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) identified four basic aspects of
globalization: trade and transactions, capital and investment movements, migration and
movement of people, and the dissemination of knowledge. Further, environmental challenges
such as global warming, cross-boundary water and air pollution, and overfishing of the ocean are
linked with globalization. Globalizing processes affect and are affected by business and work
organization, economics, socio-cultural resources, and the natural environment. Academic
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literature commonly subdivides globalization into three major areas: economic globalization,
cultural globalization, and political globalization.
We can define economic globalization as economic integration and interdependence of
national, regional, and local economies across the world through cross-border movement of
goods, services, technologies and capital. Economic globalization may affect cultures. Foreign
resources and economic measures may affect different native cultures and may cause
assimilation of a native people exposed to English language, computers, western music and
western culture. Global media companies export information around the world. This creates an
exposure to mostly western products and values.
Political globalization refers to the growing power of institutions of global governance
such as the World Bank, IMF and WTO. It also refers to the spread and influence of international
Non-governmental Organizations, and social movement organizations. The creation and
existence of the United Nations Organization can be considered as one of the classic examples of
political globalization.
Cultural globalization refers to the transmission of ideas, meanings and values around the
world in such a way as to extend and intensify social relations. It involves the formation of
shared norms and knowledge with which people associate their individual and collective cultural
identities. It brings interconnectedness among different populations and cultures. One impact of
cultural globalization is homogenization which means the end of cultural diversity and the
development of monoculture. For some critics, globalization brings to mind nightmare images of
a world where a single, homogenized global culture sweeps the planet, crushing whole cultures
in its path. They envision a world where major corporations and international organizations
wield powers held formally only by nation states. Everyone wears the same shoes, eats the same
food, listens to the same music and accepts the same mainstream values. The following table
sums up the merits and demerits of globalization:
S.N. Merits Demerits
1. Increased foreign aid in a developing People of developing countries benefit
country improves the quality of education relatively less from the advancement of
and health services. science and technology than people of
developed countries.
2. By extending friendly relations with People may ignore the local culture,
developed countries, a developing country tradition and values and adopt the western
can increase its economic growth, reduce culture and tradition.
poverty and trade deficit.
3. People of the developing countries can Foreign dependence on national economy
have access to art, literature, culture and may erode national unity and nationality
politics of the developed countries of a developing country.
through the media of cable TV, satellite,
radio, air travel, and the Internet.
4. Technological advancement has enhanced Migration of professionals to developed
trade diversification, capital flow, foreign countries of the west creates the scarcity
direct investment, labour efficiency and of skilled human resources in developing
free trade. countries.

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 5. Ever increasing competition in
international trade has reduced the price
of quality goods and services; as a result,
consumers are able to purchase them at
cheaper price.
6. Larger connectivity between countries has
resolved international misunderstanding
and promoted peace and security.
7. The flow of hi-tech goods and services
from developed countries has improved
the quality of life of the people of
developing countries.
Illegal drug trade, abuse of weapons,
social perversion and transmission of
communicable diseases may increase.
Expansion of multinational companies in
a developing country may cause the
disappearance of small local businesses
and loss of jobs.
Developed countries of the west may
impose their policies, points of view and
ideas upon developing countries.

Localization
Localization is the process of making something local in character or restricting it to a
particular place. Unlike globalization which promotes the free movement of goods and services
between communities or countries, localization emphasizes on promoting local businesses and
on being more self-dependent. It promotes local production and consumption as much as
possible. It is about nurturing locally owned business by using and promoting local resources. It
focuses on building strong social relationships within communities and paving a path for strong
local economies with not much dependence on some other community. It is basically a type of
favoritism towards domestic products and services. In Localization: A Global Manifesto, Colin
Hines defines localization as a process which reverses the trend of globalization by
discriminating in favor of the local. Localization also refers to the process in which a product or
service is customized to suit the local needs. The table given below sums up the merits and
demerits of localization.
S.N. Merits Demerits
1. Promotes local production and Restricts people from consuming goods and
consumption. services produced by multinational
companies.
2. Discourages internationalization of Local goods and services do not get access to
labour and goods. wider international markets.
3. Encourages the conservation of local May make a specific ethnic community or
culture and tradition. class very rigid regarding its local tradition.
4. Promotes decentralization of power and People do not get benefit from foreign culture
development. and economy.
5. Encourages popular participation in Discourages competition by unnecessary
development activities. protection of local industries and businesses.
6. Opposes foreign domination of any Local companies cannot reap benefits from
kind and promotes nationality. the advancement of science and technology.

A new word has been coined by combining globalization and localization. This new word
is glocalization which is used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed
globally, but is also moulded to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market. This

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means that the product or service may be tailored to conform to local laws, customs or consumer
preferences. According to sociologist Roland Robertson, glocalization "means the simultaneity --
- the co-presence --- of both universalizing and particularizing tendencies" in contemporary
social, political, and economic systems. The motto of glocalization is Think globally and act
locally. Yahoo! is an example of a company that practises glocalization. It markets a portal that
is viewed worldwide and offers different versions of its website and related services for different
users. For example, it provides content and language variations in some countries including
China, Russia and Canada. It also customizes content to appeal to individuals in those locations.

Classroom Activity
Suppose you get a chance to attend a trade fair held in your district headquarters. Lets suppose
the aim of the fair is to encourage the visitors to buy local products. Now write down what
information you may get from the fair. Also draft a brief news report based on the information.

Answer these questions.

1. What do you understand by globalization?
2. Define localization in your own words.
3. What do you understand by glocalization?
4. What do you think are the advantages of globalization for a developing country like Nepal?
5. What are the disadvantages of globalization for Nepal?
6. What are the economic characteristics of globalization?
7. How do you distinguish localization from globalization?
8. Briefly discuss the merits and demerits of localization for a developing country.

Community Activity
Interview an economist, businessperson or industrialist of your community and collect
information about the effect of globalization on the economy of Nepal. Present the information
to the class.

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