Glossary of Scenario Terms

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 Browse or search for a term alphabetically by clicking the appropriate letter above, or enter the term below to search all the pages in the glossary.

 

______________U_______________

unilateral: made or entered upon by one party, without reciprocal obligation on the part of another. 

 

United Nations (UN): consists of 159 member countries representing 98 percent of the world’s population. The UN was established after World War 11 to solve international disputes that threaten world peace and security. It advocates the equal rights of women and men, of all races, and of small and large countries; it works to maintain justice and uphold international law; it promotes social progress and improved standard of living; it creates organizations to study world problems and administer various programs.  Go to the UN’s home page at http://www.un.org/english/ (click on the bottom menu to read the site in Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic or French)

 

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development  (UNCTAD): established in 1964 to deal with issues of trade, finance, technology, investment and sustainable development. UNCTAD’s main goals are to maximize the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries, and to help them face challenges arising from globalization and integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis.  Go to UNCTAD’s home page at http://www.unctad.org/

 

______________V_______________

vaccination: the inoculation of an individual with an organism or substance of a disease to induce or increase immunity by stimulating the body to form antibodies that attack the disease. 

 

______________W_______________

weapons of mass destruction (WMD): weapons that have the power to cause mass casualties or destruction of people, property, livestock, plants and animals. The term usually refers to biological weapons, such as anthrax bacteria; chemical weapons, such as poisonous gases; and nuclear weapons. 

 

WHO: see World Health Organization  

 

WMD: see Weapons of Mass Destruction  

 

World Bank: officially called the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The World Bank was established in 1944 to promote economic rebuilding after World War II. Its primary purpose now is to lend funds at commercial rates and to provide technical assistance that helps economic development in the poorer member countries. 

 

World Conference on Global Warming: international conference in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997. Its aim was to formulate measures against future warming. Each member nation was to formulate and implement its own plans to counter global warming. 

 

World Conference on the Human Environment: held in Stockholm in 1972, this conference examined issues of industrial pollution. It led to the founding of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP). 

 

World Health Organization (WHO): An intergovernmental agency connected to the UN, WHO is the world’s largest health-related organization.  Go to the WHO home page at www.who.int/en/

 

World Trade Organization (WTO): formed in 1994 to be a successor to GATT. Entry into this organization will mean trade benefits for all members. Formed by international agreement as part of the Uruguay Round of GATT, countries that have agreed to GATT can join the WTO. It has become the primary regulative body for international trade.  Go to the WTO’s home page at www.wto.org/

  

WTO: see World Trade Organization