Page 9 - LRCC April 2022 Focus
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lansingchamber.org MEMBER NEWS
Ukraine War and
Greater Lansing
By: Joseph Hess, former president of the Greater
Lansing United Nations Association
ussia's violation of
its membership
Rcommitments to
the United Nations (UN)
has triggered ever-widening economic and humanitarian
repercussions worldwide. During a UN General Assembly
special session in March, 141 nations voted to condemn
Russia's violation and join the global campaign to stop the
invasion and comply with the principles of the UN Charter.
The Greater Lansing community is already feeling the
effects in the form of higher gasoline prices, increasing
inflation, restrictions, costs of international travel,
among others.
Multiple UN agencies are assisting millions of Ukrainians in
escaping the ravages of war. European and other countries
are providing them with food, shelter, clothing, etc. The
majority hope to return to help rebuild a free, democratic
Ukraine. If Russia succeeds, millions will decide to resettle
elsewhere, including in the U.S., Michigan, and Greater
Lansing. Many Ukrainians are highly educated and could
quickly become contributors to the local economy. Local
agencies and businesses will welcome them.
One of the overriding issues that UN member nations
will need to address is how to more effectively deal with
members whose leaders violate the commitments made
when they became UN members. The current structure
with five permanent members of the Security Council
ORIGAMI PEDIATRICS (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and U.S.), each
with veto power, was a pragmatic compromise made in
1945 to initiate a global organization dedicated to peaceful
resolution of international conflicts.
As UN membership has grown from 51 to 193 nations, the
glaring weakness of veto power has become increasingly
unacceptable. During the 73rd session of the UN General
Assembly in 2018, a motion was passed to "remove veto
power and expand the Security Council to include new
permanent seats." Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine will
increase the urgency of addressing Security Council reforms.
LOCATIONS IN LANSING AND MASON No nation or individual will escape the negative
consequences of Russia's most recent violation. They will be
Serving newborns to adolescents with neurological disorders,
orthopedic injuries, vision diagnoses, mental health needs, multiplied if nuclear or biologic weapons are used to prop
speech and oral motor conditions, and more. up a faltering Ukraine invasion. The role of the UN to bring
all nations together to address complex global issues, like
OrigamiRehab.org | 517-336-6060 refugee support, resettlement, and climate change, has
never been more critical. l
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