The United Nations

Just a little history lesson. The following is taken from the United Nations website:

The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived in similar circumstances during the first World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security." The International Labour Organization was also created under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League. The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.

In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States in August-October 1944. The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States.

Why do I insert this lengthy block quote from the United Nations? It is because I heard someone complain about how much the U.S. has to give the United Nations. Well, as it turns out we don't give them anything... although we should be. The Better World Campaign (a US interest group) reports the following:

United States debt to the United Nations, in both the regular and peacekeeping budgets, exceeded $1.5 billion at the start of 2009. By far, the largest amount of debt is for peacekeeping, which is more than $1.3 billion. These arrears make the United States the largest debtor to the United Nations and threaten its ability to leverage the international community toward achieving key U.S. national security priorities.

This is ridiculous and shameful. We bail out auto-makers in Detroit for billions more, and the United States fails to contribute properly to the United Nations. The amount owed by the United States has been accruing for several years. It is a pittance of the United States GNP.

To me, foreign policy matters. Let's give this wonderful organization some legitimacy. I hope Obama keeps shaking hands with Chavez. Let's make friends not enemies. Yes, be firm with countries doing terrible things. But lets talk before we make a press statement about the "Axis of Evil".

Vaccines and Autism

I was about to get ready and rip into THIS ARTICLE. First of all, I thought it would just be another one of those "I'm a celebrity and thus I'm a scientist as well" type article... but it wasn't. It was actually very, very well written. It is by Jim Carrey. It is about vaccination and autism. Which makes sense, as Jenny McCarthy has long been the major spokesperson against the over-vaccination of children.

Now, let me say that this movement has kind of irked me a bit. It reminds me of the people that keep my beloved fluoride out of my water. But while I still doubt the link between vaccines and autism (and other developmental issues), Carrey highlights the fact that these huge concerns about vaccines still haven't been investigated properly.

Now I do NOT take my notes from Jim Carrey, but it reminded me of special I saw on Larry King about a week ago that highlighted the vaccine issue. Pretty much everyone there acknowledged that the concerns over vaccines still have not been properly investigated. This seems fair, right? Even many on the "pro-vaccine" side (if you can call it that) acknowledge that we should just bite the bullet and do a study comparing rates of autism among the immunized and non-immunized.

To this I agree. Why don't we put this whole issue to rest and get some definitive findings. What is stopping us? Why hasn't this research been conducted?