Just a people who live in communities depend on each other, the countries of the world too are interdependent. For example, India sells fresh vegetables, pulses and tea too the countries of the Middle East. In exchange, Indian buys petroleum from them to meet its needs. Similar exchanges take places between countries all over the world.

Sometimes countries make laws which affect the trade of their neighbors. Or a country may have to share its river waters with its neighbor. Race and religion are other reason that may make for hatred between nations. Sometimes, these differences lead to war.

The United Nations

It provides a meeting place for them to discuss their problems and try to salve them through peaceful talks. Sometimes, member countries send their soldiers to war areas as part of a UN peace keeping Force. They try to maintain a ceasefire between the warring soldiers.

In the twentieth century alone, there have been two major world wars involving countries in Europe, the USA and Japan. Millions of people lost their lives, whole cities were destroyed, thousands of people were injured and many children became orphans. In World War II, a single atom bomb dropped on Japan, killed thousands in a few moments. Several thousands became seriously ill and died slow, painful deaths.

War broke out between Kuwait and Iraq, and many oil wells in Kuwait were set on fire. Smoke from these fires caused lung diseases in the local people. The smoke polluted the Atmosphere and was carried around the world by winds. Black soot from these fires was found as far away as the Himalayas!

The broken pipes leaked oil into the desert and the sea, endangering wild life. Oil companies had to close down, so that many people lost their jobs. The shortage of oil, petrol and diesel affected countries all over the world.

How UN members work together

The other members agree:

If it works for you, we might try the same thing with our river.

We can send some experts. Who know a lot about dams?

What about irrigation?

Fifty nations contribute advisors and materials to help the four nations with their project.

Some things are harder to work out.

Instead of each trying to control the river, why don’t we share it and develop the river basin together?

A fine plan!

We have engineers who can help electricity.

We can help.

The law is wrong! In the Character we agreed to treat all people fairly.

If you don’t live up to the rules, then you can’t participate in community activities.

I don’t care. You can’t tell my nation what to do.