September 30, 2005
“Friends of the world… the United Nations has exhausted its model… the twenty-first century demands fundamental changes which will only be possible if a new organization is founded. This UN does not work. We have to say it. It is the truth.”
With these words, Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela, whom Pat Robinson wanted US army to “take out”, may not have touched the callous hearts of most of the heads of states who gathered in New York for the grand drama staged every year by the United Nations, but he spoke on behalf of all those who care for the world and have the courage to speak truth. Chavez called for the establishment of another international body with its headquarters in the South. His demand was grounded in solid historical data and in accordance with the wishes of millions of human beings around the world—men and women who have, and are even now, suffering the unjust economic and political order enforced by power and sanctioned by the United Nations.
Chavez clearly showed why the UN has no future: “Five years after the Millennium Summit,” he said, “the harsh reality is that the great majority of goals set forth—which were very modest indeed—will not be met. We pretended reducing by half the 842 million hungry people by the year 2015. At the current rate that goal will be achieved by the year 2215. Who in this audience will be there to celebrate it? We had claimed the aspiration of achieving universal primary education by the year 2015. At the current rate that goal will be reached after the year 2100. Let us prepare, then, to celebrate it.”
“Ladies and gentlemen for the year 2020, the daily demand for oil will be 120 million barrels. Such demand, even without counting future increments, would consume in 20 years what humanity has used up to now… It is unpractical and unethical to sacrifice the human race by appealing in an insane manner the validity of a socioeconomic model that has a galloping destructive capacity. It would be suicidal to spread it and impose it as an infallible remedy for the evils which are caused precisely by them. Not too long ago the President of the United States went to an Organization of American States’ meeting to propose Latin America and the Caribbean to increase market-oriented policies, open market policies—that is, neo-liberalism—when it is precisely the fundamental cause of the great evils and the great tragedies currently suffered by our people: the neo-liberal capitalism, the Washington Consensus. All this has generated is a high degree of misery, inequality and infinite tragedy for all the peoples on his continent.”
“What we need now more than ever, Mr. President, is a new international order. Let us recall the United Nations General assembly in its sixth extraordinary session in 1974, that is, 31 years ago, had adopted an action plan for a new International Economic Order, as well as the States Economic Rights and Duties Charter by an overwhelming majority, 120 votes for the motion, 6 against and 10 abstentions. This was the period when voting was still possible at the United Nations. Now it is impossible to vote. Now they approve documents such as this one which I denounce on behalf of Venezuela as null, void and illegitimate. This document was approved violating the current laws of the United Nations. This document is invalid! This document should not be discussed; the Venezuelan government will make it public. We cannot accept an open and shameless dictatorship in the United Nations. These matters should be discussed and that is why I petition my colleagues, heads of states and heads of governments, to discuss it... this document was handed out five minutes ago—and only in English—to our delegation. This document was approved by a dictatorial hammer which I am here denouncing as illegal, null, void and illegitimate. Hear this, Mr. President: if we accept this, we are indeed lost. Let us turn off the lights, close all doors and windows! That would be unbelievable: us accepting a dictatorship here in this hall.”
This is the reality of the United Nations: it is an instrument for the “legalization” of barbaric invasions, unjust economic policies, and the old process of colonization. If the UN is allowed to exist any further, the only thing it will perpetuate is economic and political disorder, creating more misery and pain for the disenfranchised millions. The United Nations was created on an unjust model and it perpetuates that injustice. Yet, how many countries are willing to listen to people like Chavez? How many countries, especially in the Muslim world, have representative governments?
This should not be a deterrent to saying what is simple and plain truth, for the first step toward a change is the realization that what exists now in the name of the United Nations is the old-fashioned instrument of colonization of the world. This realization is becoming more and more apparent to millions of people around the world as every so-called summit of the G-7 proves. A new realization is growing around the world and though Hugo Chavez’s bold words may have fallen on deaf ears in New York, they have been heard by millions around the world and recorded in history. Thank you Hugo Chavez. You have said—more eloquently and more forcefully—what this second installment of “Whither the UN?” was going to say. May the hand of the assassin never reach you.
(concluded)
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