Building International Communities

Welcome to the International Affairs blog. This blog is an opportunity for students, faculty, and academic researchers across the UO community to discuss worldwide events in real time. The goal of this blog is to inform readers about ongoing global issues and then come up with intricate resolutions. Every week, a new topic will be uploaded to the site, revealing the latest problem for the international community. These topics may include food security, the future of work/unemployment, climate change, financial instability, internet restrictions, gender inequality, guerilla warfare, and global trade. The post will reveal how governmental and non-governmental organizations act during a crisis, allowing readers to give their insights on the response. 

While many of these issues are on the rise in the U.S., the main point of this blog is to escape from the first-world bubble. The blog is designed for students and faculty to expand their horizons and think about the nations outside of the U.S. This blog is also a safe space for international students to discuss any doubts or concerns surrounding their nation’s future. Many internationals come to the U.S. seeking a better life than the one they had in their home country. Their stories can also become public knowledge for this blog. Judgment will not come for them. 

One of the key outcomes of this blog is that people take action. Chaos and catastrophe do not simply go away with ignorance. The issues facing the world only get resolved when people make powerful decisions. At the end of every blog post, there will be an opportunity to donate to an organization that aims to prevent humanitarian disasters. It is highly encouraged that any reader donate to an organization as it will help those impacted by poverty, wars, and many other issues. It is also highly encouraged that readers share the blog with their friends or family members through social media, as it will help spread awareness of large-scale global issues and ensure no voices are being ignored.

Before diving into the numerous issues surrounding international affairs, it is essential to understand the agency that will be the center of attention for most of the blog posts, the United Nations. Below this post is a video titled “The United Nations Explained: How Does it ACTUALLY Work?” from TLDR News. There is also a link to an article from the History Channel that describes the purpose of the United Nations. There will be many organizations that come up in future blogs. For now, these will provide context. 

1. Video

2. Link to article: https://www.history.com/topics/stories/united-nations#section_6