UN at Geneva, Switzerland - 11 October 2007

My main sight-seeing goal in Geneva was the United Nations buildings. Adam and I toured the New York headquarters the Christmas before last and I was keen to further my understanding of how the UN is supposed to work.
It was an easy journey from the hotel (which incidently seemed to be located in a red-light district which seemed to offer something for everyone!).
Immediately opposite the main gates (although not used for entry it seems) was this three-legged chair. We later learned that the reason for the missing leg was a reminder of the work that still needs to be done regarding land minds.

The headquarters for the Red Cross is across the road from the UN.
The back of the entry building
It's official - I have my photo printed on a tag, a hot-pink tag, which says I am a visitor and can join the tour. I am so pleased Adam doesn't really care about this stuff as only one from each group was given a tag and I wanted it! Hot pink isn't really his colour anyway. Our guide was excellent.

Adam thought he would try out the translation ear piece. Maybe his translater was trying a different language? I believe that the UN can be addressed in any language (not sure though), I do know that it is translated into only 6 languages and the delegates need to be able to understand one of the official 6 languages of the UN. Anyone know what they are?
English, Chinese (I assume Mandarin), Spanish, Arabic, French and Russian are the official language of the UN. The board below shows how all the various oganisations and arms of the UN fit together.
The building has many gifts donations from member nations (currently 192 nations are members). This carpet below was a gift from China, as you move from side to side the path appears to move with you so it is always leading from you to the door. Spooky!
This is the original building and was built following WWI for the League of Nations whose aim was to prevent another world war - obviously it failed but the building is a beautiful example of art deco. As most of the nations were experiencing significant economic trauma (the great depression) there was not a lot of money available to donate to the building - thus the different countries donated materials. The marble you see here is from 3 different countries.


The land the UN stands on in Geneva was donated. This building below is called Ariana, the wife of the man who donated the land - in her name. His 2 conditions were that the land be used for the common good of the people and that the peacocks be allowed to always live there (we did see a few peacocks around).
The UN is far from perfect afterall it is a politcal body. It has no power of its own, only what is granted by the member states. There is a lot more information here http://www.un.org/english/. Half the time I find myself disagreeing with the actions and non-actions of the UN, but I believe it has an essential role and as the nations of the world are still learning how to function together, it does an adequate, and sometimes exceptional job. It does afterall, in its charter, ensure I have the right to disagree with anything it decides...