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URGE THE US TO PAY ITS UN DUES

 

The Sixth Principle of Unitarian Universalism states: “We Covenant to Affirm and Promote the Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty and Justice for All”.  Now UU’s are being called to bear witness to this belief by taking action to improve relations between the U.S. and the United Nations.  History has shown that the U.S. cannot, and should not, bear all the human and financial costs of providing international security.  Working with the UN, the U.S. shares this responsibility with 191 other countries.  The UN currently has over 100,000 peacekeepers deployed in 17 conflicts worldwide, maintaining stability for a fraction of the cost of a comparable U.S. force. 

 

Payment of U.S. dues to the UN is not a voluntary commitment.  It is negotiated and agreed to by the U.S. Government.  U.S. annual contributions to the UN represent approximately one tenth of one percent of the federal budget and recent reports issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and the RAND Corporation have demonstrated that UN peacekeeping operations are highly effective and cost efficient. 

 

Working through the UN will help restore America’s international image, assist refugees, further human rights, and provide assistance to populations assaulted by conflict or natural disaster.  In addition, the U.S. has asked the UN for help in Afghanistan and Iraq,

yet the U.S. is currently $2.8 billion behind in its payments to the UN! 

 How YOU can help: 

Let your Congressional delegation know that you support responsible U.S. participation in the United Nations:

 
  1. Voice your opinion.  Write your Congressional candidates and elected representatives.  Conduct meetings with them in their district offices.  Urge them to support payment of U.S. dues to the UN in full and on time.  Visit http://www.unausa.org/ Advocacy Center for sample letter and on line composition tool.
 
  1. Research and help publicize their voting records on this issue.  Write letters to the editor and opinion pieces for your local newspapers. 
 
  1. Inform and involve your entire congregation by observing United Nations Sunday on October 26th. 
 

Additional Resources Available:  http://www.betterworldcampaign.org/, http://www.un.org/, http://www.thomas.gov/,  http://www.uu-uno.org/   

 
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