NOTE TO STUDENTS: This article might not seem very interesting to you. But don't get discouraged - you will start voting soon and it is important for you to understand various national/global issues so that you can be an informed voter. The issues discussed at the U.N. are very important to every American citizen, as the U.S. dues to the U.N. are approximately 22% of the entire general budget (in 2005 the U.S. dues were approximately $440 million, and total U.S. contributions to the UN in 2005 were: $1,959,053,000). That money comes from your taxes. 191 countries are members of the U.N. and the U.S. pays almost 1/4 of the dues. (Read more about money paid by the U.S. to the U.N. at unausa.org.)

1. Who is Ban Ki-moon?

2. Prior to the opening of the annual U.N. General Assembly debate, on what issues did Mr. Ban and other leaders conduct meetings?

3. What is President Bush's itinerary for the three days he will be in New York?

4. This year, media attention is on Iranian President Ahmadinejad. What visits outside the U.N. have angered U.S. citizens and caused others including 2008 presidential candidates and the NY Police Department to denounce his ability to travel outside the U.N. meetings?

5. What is the purpose of the speeches by world leaders during the annual debate?

6. How do the issues emphasized by developing countries differ from those of industrialized nations?

7. Secretary Ban said "As we move well into the 21st century, the United Nations is, once again, the global forum where issues are discussed and solutions are hammered out."
Ask a parent to read this article and then ask whether he/she thinks that the U.N. is doing the job it should be doing. What do you think based upon what you know and what your parent thinks?