Afghanistan has long been a land of marginal environment—too dry and too cold for extensive agriculture. Thousands of years of environmental stress by the country’s people have dramatically altered the landscape and caused extensive environmental destruction. Because the Afghan people lack the financial … Continue reading
Tag Archives: United Nations
Bangladesh in 1972: An overview
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Few countries can have suffered such protracted and agonizing birth pangs as those endured by the infant republic of Bangladesh in 1971. But the country not only has survived but has also restored parliamentary democracy after 13 years of repressive military rule as part of Pakistan.
In February the United Nations secretary general, Kurt Waldheim, issued an appeal for $565 million in contributions from the international community by the end of 1972. With 5 million houses razed to the ground, Bangladesh has a homeless population of 30 million, including almost 10 million refugees who trekked back from India but are now accommodated in suppurating shantytowns. The Pakistanis also destroyed hundreds of bridges, schools, and colleges. No jute or paddy crops were planted, and farmers had to eat their seed grain.
Bangladesh in 1972: Economic planning
The United Nations launched a $100 million crash program in April when the director of the UN relief operation, Toni Hagan, predicted that Bangladesh was ‘heading for disaster.’ The feared food riots did not materialize, but the price of rice (the staple diet) and all other essential commodities rose sharply under the pressure of hoarding and black market sales.
Though Rahman‘s threats to shoot down clandestine operators have made little impact, he has gone ahead with the economic promises of his 1970 election campaign. Luxury imports were banned; monthly salaries were frozen at $134; and all locally and Pakistani owned tea estates, banks, insurance companies, and jute, cotton, textile, and sugar mills were nationalized. Workers have been promised a share in the management of 253 nationalized factories.
This year’s modest budget shows a slight surplus, while a $668 million development plan for 1972-1973 aims to spend $137 million on the raising of rice. Bangladesh hopes to launch its first five-year plan in 1973.
An Evaluation of Hitler’s Germany
Hitler left Germany and much of Europe in ruins. Over 60 million people died worldwide in the war, and tens of millions more lost their health and homes. Certain that they did not want to fight the Germans a third time, the Allies insisted on an unconditional surrender. They occupied all of Germany and divided it into British, French, American, and Soviet zones. Even after the western zones were joined into the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949, the country remained divided until 1990.
The German people discovered for the first time the extent to which modern warfare could destroy a country. World War I had not been fought to any great extent on German soil. The events of the war also demonstrated to many Germans the problems of dictatorship. Increasing numbers were now prepared to try a different, democratic, path at home, as well as an attempt at reconciliation with their neighbors. Both projects would take time, but they were major departures in the history of Germany and of Europe.
The war also brought the Soviet Army into central Europe and provided the Soviet regime with legitimacy in the eyes of its own people, a new empire in east and southeast Europe, and superpower status in the world. The world role of the United States was also enhanced in spite of the American preference for remaining aloof. Outside of Europe, the war hastened the end of colonial empires and the emergence of the new Jewish state of Israel. It also brought about the creation of new international organizations like the United Nations (UN) that might prevent such wars in the future.
Ironically, these developments were the exact opposite of what Hitler had hoped for. His ambition to make Berlin the capital of the world was not realized, and the enormous buildings he started designing for it in the 1920s were never built. Hitler combined organizational and manipulative talents with great cunning. He was simultaneously obsessed with fantastic visions and blinded to reality by those very visions. However, many Germans shared at least a portion of those visions. This support made it possible for Hitler to utilize the resources of Europe’s second largest population and most advanced economy to pursue his ends. The result was an outburst of destruction that consumed the lives of millions and transformed the world.
Agriculture in Africa, Agriculture-Based Continent
Despite being the most agriculture-based continent in the world, Africa does not produce enough food to feed its people. There are a variety of reasons for this problem, notably Africa’s high rate of population growth, the loss of farm labor due to widespread movement of workers from rural areas to urban areas, the economic priority given to the production of export crops, and a general lack of adequate investment in modern agricultural technology. Many African countries must import food staples and require food aid.
Africa’s most important export crops are coffee, cotton, cacao beans (cocoa beans), peanuts, oil palms, tobacco, cloves, and sisal. Major food subsistence crops include maize, rice, millet, and cassava. Cattle, sheep, and goats are also important sources of protein.
The continent’s different climatic zones have their own opportunities and limitations for agricultural development. The lack of modern agricultural technology among African farmers renders them powerless to overcome the climatic limitations of their regions.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: An overview
Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a statement affirming the dignity and rights of all human beings, adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 1948. It is based on principles expressed in the UN Charter. The declaration is the first section of a proposed three-part international covenant, or agreement, on human rights. When adopted, the covenant will bind the participating nations in the same way as any international treaty. The two remaining sections of the covenant amplify the initial declaration in specific and enforceable terms. One is concerned with civil and political rights, and the other with economic, social, and cultural rights.
The rights described in the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights include the right to life, liberty, and security of person; to freedom of conscience, religion, opinion, expression, association, and assembly; to freedom from arbitrary arrest; to a fair and impartial trial; to freedom from interference in privacy, home, or correspondence; to a nationality; to a secure society and an adequate standard of living; to education; and to rest and leisure. The declaration also affirms the rights of every person to own property; to be presumed innocent until proven guilty; to travel from a home country at will and return at will; to work under favorable conditions, receive equal pay for equal work, and join labor unions at will; to marry and raise a family; and to participate in government and in the social life of the community.
The declaration affected the terms of several national constitutions that were written after World War II (1939-1945). In 1956 the UN requested progress reports on human rights every three years from member nations.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was prepared by the Commission on Human Rights of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. Eleanor Roosevelt, social activist and widow of United States president Franklin D. Roosevelt, chaired the commission. French jurist and Nobel laureate René Cassin was the declaration’s principal author. In 1950 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed December 10, the anniversary of the 1948 adoption of the declaration, as Human Rights Day. In 1963 the General Assembly approved a part of the supplementary section on economic, social, and cultural rights that prohibited discrimination on grounds of race, color, or creed in addition to the universal declaration of human rights.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 26
The universal declaration of human rights as contained in article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
The universal declaration of human rights as contained in article 26.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 7
The universal declaration of human rights as contained in article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
The universal declaration of human rights as contained in article 7.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 2
The universal declaration of human rights as contained in article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
The universal declaration of human rights as contained in article 2.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 3
The universal declaration of human rights as contained in article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
The universal declaration of human rights as contained in article 3.
