“We prefer world law in the age of self-determination to world war in the age of mass extermination.” – John F. Kennedy, US President, 1961 – 1963.

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

• to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
• to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
• to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
• to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom

As never before since coming into force the UN is under threat from world powers undermining its principles, and its organisations.

Many regions of the world are engulfed in wars and genocide, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; Israel’s genocide in Gaza; the devastating civil war in Sudan; and the abuse of Human Rights across the world.

Today, Saturday, Peace campaigners in Orkney will again meet on the Kirk Green, outside St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall between 1 and 2pm not only to raise awareness of the Gaza genocide but to support the foundation of the United Nations and the values it is determined to uphold.

Basic human values:

• to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and
• to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
• to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
• to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples

UNRWA ( United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) has had 394 of their workers killed in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, (311 UNRWA personnel and 83 persons who were supporting UNRWA, as of 20 October 2026.

Despite this incredible toll of those killed, and of many more injured, they have continued to try and support civilians. 10,500 Palestinian UNRWA personnel continue to provide services and assistance to people in the Gaza Strip. In the occupied West Bank, UNRWA also plays a central role with more than 4,000 of the Agency’s Palestinian personnel providing education, health, and other services to Palestine Refugees.

The occupying Israeli authorities have not granted UNRWA’s international staff visas or permits to enter the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the Gaza Strip, since the end of January 2025. This followed on from a Law passed by the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament.

Since March 2025, the Israeli authorities have been blocking UNRWA from directly bringing humanitarian personnel and aid into the Gaza Strip. Despite the huge needs on the ground, UNRWA was therefore unable to distribute the aid it had pre-positioned outside Gaza, which included enough food parcels, flour, and shelter supplies for hundreds of thousands of people.

People continue to be killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks, and winter is approaching. Families will be trying to survive in flimsy makeshift shelters and tents. The pumps needed to get rid of the stinking flood water when it rains are unable to function due to the lack of engine oil. Dirty water breeds disease and allows rats to infest places where families are trying to live.

In the West Bank where illegal Israeli settlers continue unhindered to intimidate and attack Palestinian farmers 96 people have been killed since the beginning of this year alone. The valuable olive harvest which started on 10 October has been particularly targeted as it is a means for Palestinians to trade and be economically viable. Ancient trees have been uprooted or burnt to the ground. Those harvesting the olives, or witnessing the harvest, have been physically attacked, and seriously injured – Washington Post journalist hospitalized after Israeli settler attack on Palestinian olive harvest in West Bank. On 17 October, in At-Tayba, a European diplomatic delegation came under attack during a visit to observe the olive harvest.

The whole purpose is to drive Palestinians from their land and occupy it.

So on this United Nations Day, where countries like the US, Israel, Russia, China – to name but a few continue to undermine the work of the UN and its agencies, it is more important than ever to remind the world of its founding principles which those countries have either forgotten or feel they are no longer bound by.

Click on this link for the list of member states of the United Nations and when they joined. Member States of the United Nations.

The US was one of its founding members. The first meetings of the General Assembly, had 51 nations represented, by 2011 it had 193 members. Like all organisations it relies on funding from its members. The US and China are notorious for delaying payments, putting funding streams under extreme pressure, in the hopes of influencing decision making. This includes not only peace keeping activities but challenges to world health.

Its Headquarters are in New York City, US – which is increasingly being called into question given the current regime in the US and its attitude towards the organisation. A sad indictment of the condition the US is in under its current regime given how instrumental previous Presidents were in the founding of the UN.

“If we do not want to die together in war, we must learn to live together in peace.” – Harry Truman, President of the US, the White House on April 25, 1945.

The Peace campaigners in Orkney welcome all those who wish to join with them on the Kirk Green between 1 and 2pm on Saturday. Their call remains the same, a permanent ceasefire, and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. Below is a short film from last week’s Vigil.

Fiona Grahame

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