Todo Concostrina – “Nace la ONU. ¿Sirve para algo? Yo no lo séééé… yo no lo séééé”

Host: Nieves Concostrina
Date: October 24, 2023
Podcast: Cadena SER

Overview

In this episode, Nieves Concostrina takes a sharply critical and iconoclastic look at the United Nations (ONU), on the 78th anniversary of its founding (October 24, 1945). The central theme: Does the ONU really serve its founding purpose—preserving world peace—or has it become an institution mired in bureaucracy and symbolic acts, failing to prevent or resolve global conflicts? Through humor, historical context, and current affairs, Nieves deconstructs the power dynamics, achievements, and failures of the organization.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin and Purpose of the UN (01:43–02:32)

• Main Purpose: Born after two devastating World Wars, the ONU’s foundational goal was to prevent future wars and secure peace.
• Foundational Irony: Nieves questions if the ONU has fulfilled its promise, suggesting its major achievement may be “inventarse días mundiales de tal o cual cosa importantes,” rather than real peacekeeping (03:03).

“Ha fracasado estrepitosamente en el principal propósito para el que fue creada: la paz.” – Nieves (01:53)

2. Symbolic Declarations vs. Real Impact (04:26–06:20)

• The ONU frequently declares international days (e.g., Día de las Viudas, Día Mundial del Retrete), but these often lack real-world significance or impact.
• The very day commemorating its own creation, October 24 (Día de las Naciones Unidas), is not a public holiday in any major country, not even among its five most powerful members. This apathy reflects its lack of real influence.

“Declararon tantos días internacionales que les faltan días en el calendario… Parece que todos entendieron y entienden que no hay nada que celebrar.” – Nieves (04:42, 04:57)

3. Power Dynamics: The Club of Five and the Veto (05:55–10:00)

• Founders’ Control: The five permanent Security Council members (USA, UK, Russia, France, China) have veto power, effectively rendering the votes of the other 188 nations inconsequential for crucial decisions.
• Historical Roots: This imbalance was built in from the start, with the victorious allies of WWII (including the then-Republic of China and USSR) designing the system to their advantage.

“Esto son lentejas: si quieres las comes, y si no, las dejas… Lo gordo lo vamos a decidir nosotros.” – Nieves (08:55)

• The Assembly is “democratic,” but the Security Council is “el club de alto standing,” an aristocratic oligarchy in disguise.
• Non-permanent members endure “aguantazos por entrar en el Consejo” (struggles for temporary power), but real control stays with the five.

4. Case Study: The Palestine Partition and the Roots of Failure (11:20–14:57)

• 1947 Partition: The Assembly (not Security Council) formulated the partition plan for Palestine, a process recounted as being both “injusto” (unjust) and ultimately unmanageable, leading to deep, continuing conflict.
• Repeated Powerlessness: The ONU has since issued countless resolutions about Palestine and Israel, typically ignored by those with power.
• Notorious Moment: In 1975, after being denounced as racists, Israeli ambassador Chaim Herzog dramatically tore up the resolution at the podium, signifying the organization's lack of enforceable authority.

“El representante judío... subió a la tribuna y rompió el documento delante de la Asamblea de la ONU. ‘¿Veis por donde me lo paso?’ debió decir...” – Nieves (14:42)

5. Contemporary Relevance and Cynicism (Throughout)

• The episode is contextualized within current conflict (e.g., recent Gaza hostilities), illustrating once more the ONU’s ineffectiveness to compel peace or mediate powerful players.
• Meetings become venues for bellicose speeches rather than peace, as Nieves notes after hearing Blinken address the Security Council (13:25).

“Eso para ser del Consejo de Seguridad, eso era prácticamente un discurso beligerante. No estaban buscando la paz. Esto es imposible de enderezar.” – Nieves (13:36)

6. Biting Satire and Social Commentary (Interwoven)

• Throughout, Nieves uses biting humor and colloquial expressions to underscore the futility and paradoxes of the ONU’s supposed mission.
• She compares the day to the “día de los inocentes,” and suggests many of its celebrated days are of little consequence.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On purpose and frustration:
  “¿Para qué sirve la ONU? No lo sé. Yo no lo sé.”
  — Nieves (01:45, 14:54)
• On the UN holiday nobody celebrates:
  “Bueno, pues no hizo caso ni Dios… no hay nada que celebrar.”
  — Nieves (04:52)
• On asymmetrical power:
  “Esto va a ser un club estupendérrimo, vosotros vais a poder votar muchas cosas, pero lo gordo lo vamos a decidir nosotros.”
  — Nieves (09:04)
• On historic injustice in Palestine:
  “El plan judío era meter en el cuarto trastero a un millón trescientos mil palestinos y quedarse ellos… con el salón, la cocina, los dos váteres, la terraza, la piscina y las tres habitaciones.”
  — Nieves (12:26)
• On futility:
  “Publicaban resoluciones. Hacían declaraciones, daban regañinas… Ni caso.”
  — Nieves (13:34)

Key Timestamps

• 01:43 – Questioning the usefulness of the ONU.
• 03:03 – Satirical take on International Days.
• 05:55 – Explanation on the power of the veto.
• 07:07 – Historical makeup of the five permanent members.
• 11:30 – Palestine Partition origins and consequences.
• 13:36 – ONU’s actions during current crises; perceived impotence.
• 14:42 – Chaim Herzog tearing up a UN document.

Tone and Style

True to her reputation, Nieves delivers history with sharp wit, irreverence, and clear-eyed skepticism. She combines colloquial Spanish (“Esto son lentejas”, “¿Veis por donde me lo paso?”), humor, and biting analysis. The episode is both entertaining and uncompromisingly critical—ideal for listeners seeking both amusement and insight.

Summary

Nieves Concostrina’s exploration of the ONU’s 78 years is a potent mix of history lesson, satire, and political commentary. She argues that the organization, though born of noble intentions to “preservar a las generaciones venideras del flagelo de la guerra,” has achieved little of its central mission—its powers sabotaged by the same victorious powers that created it. The enduring result: a beautifully decorated stage with little real-world consequence, earning, in Nieves’s view, more international days of observance than peace. As she repeats: “¿Para qué sirve la ONU? Yo no lo sé… yo no lo sé.”