User Reviews

This brief explanation of the United Nations' activities usefully makes the point that most of the UN's work is done beyond the public spotlight. No mention is made of the General Assembly, where delegates of the scores of UN member countries openly debate. The film says that the UN's major work is done through its many agencies, including the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), UNESCO (education and other social improvement), and the World Health Organization (disease prevention, control and treatment, among other health issues). This is even more true in 2023, when the UN's agencies have, with time, become enormously knowledgeable, well-resource, and respected by almost all countries. But, as the movie says, we don't see much news reporting about that. And so people reasonably ask, why does the world still suffer armed conflict, famine, disease? The message here is that these problems often are outside the UN's authority and require political solutions. Which is true today as in 1962 when the film was made. One element of the film that does date it is suggestion that the challenge of creating a Palestinian homeland has been met. But as we know, in 2023 that problem remains to be solved.