United Nations Tour

For one of my classes, my group had to work with the United Nations Global Compact to come up with a recommendation for raising awareness and driving interest in the agency. Last Thursday we presented to them and also took a tour of the United Nations building. We got to sit in the press box (on green courdoroy seats!) in the general assembly room and see a meeting in session but no pictures were allowed.


There was a security council meeting in progress and after the meeting, this is where the press interviews people. I was tempted to pose as if I was being interviewed but I think security would have tackled me...


As we walked onto the press floor, I smelled cigarette smoke. As part of an international agency, the UN staff doesn't have to adhere to the smoking laws. The UN building will go under renovation next year. I wonder if they'll keep these old school phone booths.


The press floor line with daily press releases from member countries.





I got excited when I saw this statue...cuz it's Saint Agnes! The tour guide down the room yelled at me for being loud.




Turning violence into art. One of the art pieces in the disarmament section.


There's a wall filled with art like this one describing the prinicples of the UN.

Giant paintings, murals and tapestry cover the walls through the building.

Many member countries give the UN art pieces. Above is a gift from China. They killed 20 elephants to create the piece. PETA should get up on the UN for this. Poor Dumbo :(

The meticulous detail is amazing...but still, poor Dumbo.

A mosaic mural based on Norman Rockwell's painting, the Golden Rule. The inscription reads, "DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU."

A view of the front of the building.

Not sure what this painting is about. I just saw naked people and thought, "Whoa, naked people on the walls of the UN."