Intimations of internationalism

Following our visits to Lausanne and the "Swiss Riviera," our group arose early enough to go into Geneva in order to take the morning United Nations tour.  The United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG) is the largest presence of the United Nations in Europe.  It is second in size only to United Nations headquarters in New York City, where most of the political bombast takes place and where all of the peace-keeping operations are managed.  The Geneva office is generally where the day-to-day work of the UN and its specialized agencies is administered and monitored.

The United Nations compound comprises the Palais des Nations, where the League of Nations, the ill-fated predecessor agency of today's United Nations, was headquartered, more recently-built additions and several outbuildings.  With the additions, the complex is 600 metres long, with 34 conference rooms and 2,800 offices.

After the events of 9-11 and subsequent global destabilizing actions, the UN park, which was at one time open to the public at large, is no longer open to visitors except on very rare occasions.  One of these occurred on 5 June 2010 to celebrate World Environment Day.  Access to the compound itself is allowed only upon presentation of an identification document.  If one is there for a tour, access to most building areas is also quite restricted and visitors are required to remain with the tour leader.   Various objets d'art are scattered throughout the buildings, all gifts from member state governments.

Tours can also vary depending on which conferences are using which building facilities.  As it happened, the General Assembly hall was being used for an International Labour Organization (ILO) conference during our visit, so we were not allowed to view it.  Still, we were able to see other parts of the old Palais des Nations building.

One room that we were allowed to visit was the Council Chamber, where we were treated to murals on the ceiling and walls.  The murals were painted by the Catalan artist José María Sert and were a gift from the Government of Spain in 1936.

The murals depict human progress through health, technology, freedom and peace – all united by five colossal Dantesque figures (representing the world’s five continents) grasping each other’s hands in apocalyptical triumph at the dome of the ceiling.

Another room that we were able to view through glass from the upper gallery was the recently renovated Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room.  The main feature of the renovated room is a ceiling sculpture by the prominent contemporary Spanish artist Miquel Barceló, a gift from the Government of Spain again (!) in 2008.  The ceiling sculpture consists of many layers of paint of different colors, composed of pigments from across the globe and sprayed onto the ceiling to generate stalactites.

The sculpture is groundbreaking both artistically and technically.  So we added our own personal touches here.  I don't believe that the artist will mind.

Although we did not have an up-close view, we were also able to catch a glimpse of one of the famous peacocks that live on the grounds and were "treated" to its harsh and raucous cry as we accompanied our tour guide.