The vetoing of further sanctions against Zimbabwe by Russia and China was to be expected. Neither Russia nor China are known for their adherence to human rights.

The fact that two countries with such poor human rights records have the power of veto is just one example of the complete nonsense that is the United Nations. Many of the other thuggish member countries also tell us what a useless waste of time the UN is.

Graham, why wait for the Security Council to reform itself? It's a fool's errand.

On the other hand, Australia - along with other mid-sized democracies - can reform the United Nations right now by replacing its ambassador with directly elected representatives.

The UN Charter allows for up to five representatives per member state (Article 9). All could be elected much like our (Australian) Senate is elected now.

For this reform, no change to the Charter would be required, the Permanent Five could not veto the proposal and there would be no need to get 2/3 majority in the General Assembly.

In fact, at first, we'd only need the support of a few member states to start the ball rolling. Over time, more and more member states could (would?) elect their representatives and generate an irresistible movement towards democracy not only with regard to the UN, but also within non-democratic states such as China.

Imagine a UN human rights council made up of directly elected representatives from the most advanced democracy's on Earth!

The UN Security Council should not be reformed but completely disbanded. Unfortunately, the power of veto makes neither option probable.

However, bear in mind that China and Russia are not the only bad guys when it comes to exercising the Security Council veto to ignore human rights in the interest of promoting vested agendas.

The US veto has protected Israel from ever having to negotiate with the Arabs. Also, the US veto is the only thing that has stopped the UN from tossing out the 50-year embargo on Cuba. And it was virtually the only thing that prevented the lifting of the grotesque 13-year embargo against Iraq, reducing its entire social infrastructure from being arguably one of the most advanced in the Arab world to being one of the most miserable, poverty-stricken nations on earth

The UN will never be reformed while it has the hubristic arrogance of the US hanging over it.

BB - Buntine, WA