B. Working Together

The 193 countries that make up the United Nations are working together on a world of problems. You may have seen stories about these problems in the newspapers or on the news. In the following pages, you can read about some of the major concerns of the United Nations. Discuss some solutions with your classmates!

Refugees | Periscope

Episode 1

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Grades: 9 10 11 12

During times of war, people sometimes have to leave their home, or even their country, for safety. Often these people, or refugees, have no place to live and nothing to eat. They have fled their homes...

The Environment | Periscope

Episode 2

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Grades: 3 4 5 9 10 11 12

Can you imagine growing up in a world without the panda bear, forests, clean water and food? Around the world, pollution and development have affected the water, forests, animals, and air. The member...

Sustainable Consumption | Periscope

Episode 3

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The words "sustainable consumption" are used to describe a major goal of the U.N.. It's a couple of big words so lets break it down: The word sustainable means to sustain, or keep going. The word...

Hunger | Periscope

Episode 4

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Today over 800 million people go to bed every night hungry. Every year, over 24,000 of those people will die from hunger and problems related to hunger. Many of them will be women and children. This...

World Food Program | Periscope

Episode 5

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The World Food Program (WFP) is a part of the United Nations that works to feed hungry people. Some of their programs bring food to refugees and victims of disasters such as droughts, floods and...

Postal Service | Periscope

Episode 6

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Grades: 3 4 5 9 10 11 12

People in countries belonging to the United Nations send nearly 430 billion pieces of mail each year. But every country in the United Nations has a slightly different postal system. An important role...

World Health | Periscope

Episode 7

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Have you ever heard of disease called smallpox? You may not have heard of smallpox because a United Nations agency called the World Health Organization (WHO) helped wipe out the disease. The last case...

Eliminating Disease Through Education | Periscope

Episode 8

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Today, the World Health Organization works to eliminate diseases such as AIDS. Like smallpox, AIDS is an epidemic, or incredibly widespread disease. Through WHO, the United Nations provides education...

Human Rights | Periscope

Episode 9

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Grades: 9 10 11 12

Every nation provides its people with certain rights. These may be the right to vote, the right to work, or freedom of speech. The idea that the most important rights should be shared by people in...

Women's Rights | Periscope

Episode 10

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

In many nations, women are not allowed to vote, receive an education, or hold a job. The United Nations works to help countries create equal rights for men and women. This U.N. poster from India...

Racial Equality | Periscope

Episode 11

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Grades: 3 4 5 9 10 11 12

Racial discrimination is a problem in most countries. People are denied access to education or political office because of the color of their skin or their cultural background. The United Nations...

Child Labor | Periscope

Episode 12

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

In some countries, young children work at dangerous and difficult jobs. Children have even been used as soldiers in the military. The United Nations protects the right of a child to have a safe...

Freedom of Thought and Religion | Periscope

Episode 13

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Grades: 9 10 11 12

The world is full of different cultures and religions. But in some areas of the world people are not allowed to talk about their faith and opinions. The United Nations considers the right to express...

Solutions? | Periscope

Episode 14

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Grades: 3 4 5 9 10 11 12

The United Nations works together to come up with solutions for these problems and many more. Do you have any ideas on how one could solve problems such as the ones described?