UN is vital in peacekeeping

Dear editor: Re: Reform long overdue at UN, Herald, Letters, Nov. 1

John Thompson continues to astound: “Canada isn’t accountable to the UN or any other global institution for our internal affairs, including aboriginal issues.”

The UN doesn’t do everything perfectly, nor is there an argument that there isn't a pressing need for reform; nevertheless, there are a number of things that are and can only be done by the UN:

“The UN's World Food Programme is among the most effective multilateral bodies bar none. They feed 104 million people a year in 80 countries.”

I’m sure the people in those countries appreciate interference in their internal affairs to reduce the number of deaths caused by starvation.

“The UN High Commissioner on Refugees is another star in the UN galaxy. There were 17 million asylum-seekers, refugees and the like in 2004 who got help from UNHCR.” Of course, Syria, didn’t appreciate the help at all.

“UNICEF has built a reputation as an advocacy and service powerhouse, with programs ranging from immunizations to AIDS prevention to education and protection against exploitation.” I wonder how many African nations objected to the UN interfering in their countries?

“The UN has 16 active peacekeeping missions right now, in places like Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Lebanon, Liberia and Burundi.

Make no mistake: In most of those places if the UN weren't there, no one else but the marauders would be and the peace or relative peace being kept would have disintegrated long ago.” Speaks for itself.

Of course, Canada is so dependent