Saturday, July 23, 2005

Part 3 of Day 2 in NY- Inside the UNO

Finally,our turn came and we had a Pakistani guide,who was to take us around the famous building.It turned out that he was actually a student from Columbia University,doing a part time job at the UNO,as a tour guide!Now,that is SOME part-time job!He gave us an excellent tour.Really loved it!He was well informed,but spoke a touch fast,as we were racing against time.

Learnt that the UNO building is treated as international territory and is NOT considered as part of the US.Now,that left me wondering why they didn't ask me for my passport,at the security check in the front of the building!Anyways...

As the guide took us into the interiors of the UNO,I saw for myself,why the UNO is as powerful as it is, what prompted it to be formed,how the evolution of man in the mid-20th century propelled the need for peace etc.And how all those different segments - General Assembly,Security Council- came into being.

We first went to the Security Council.It was a huge auditorium, sound proof,with state-of-the-art technology in it.The seating arrangements,the speakers,the language translation capabilities,the sound control systems within the Council were explained in great detail by our guide.He was pretty knowledgeable and fielded questions from us quite efficiently.Learnt that the UN recognises 6 languages in the world as official languages.Also learnt that the universal system of traffic symbols is a from a Security Council lineage.It was also a novel learning experience that the Security Council created the system of immigration,passports,customs and such international travel procedures!Ensured that I took snaps inside this historic auditorium,where scores of the power leaders of the world have treaded on!

Exited from the Security Council and walked through the corridors of the UNO,seeing signs, gifts from other countries to the UNO.There were a few gifts from China(an ivory model,before the trade in ivory was banned),a small memorial from the Japanese government,and a huge ship model from the Indonesian government.Very interesting indeed!

The walls of the UNO are studded with snaps - war against terror,disarmament,social issues,education,deprivation of children - the range of issues that the UNO works on is amazing.What staggered me most was the minimal budget that they operate on.It was really shameful that such a powerful,global organization operates on a budget that would well be the turnover of a small division of a Fortune 100 company.That's how bad the budgetary outlay for the UNO is.Sorry,we are not supposed to state anything outside the UNO,so not appropriate for me to quote the budgetary figure.Will suffice to say that its paltry,to say the least!

We then entered the hallowed portals of the General Assembly.I stood blank at the door.I was actually at the General Assembly.Couldn't quite take this element off me right through the NY trip, every place I went,shook me,made me believe that what I was seeing was unreal etc.

Our guide explained to us how the General Assembly works.There are 3 seats on the podium of the General Assembly.All sessions of the Assembly is chaired by the Secretary General,and his absence the Asst.Secretary-General.The UN budget is presented and passed in the General Assembly.There are broadcasting and television studios right around the General Assembly,which is where we get all the live telecast from!As usual,took snaps,though will treasure the first glimpse of the General Assembly forever.It HIT hard!The UNO is not just a building you see.Its a world by itself!

After a quick round of the Economic & Social Council,our guided tour ended,as we handed over the badges that were given to us at the entrance gate.

Came down the elevator,stepped outside the UNO and clicked a lot of snaps of this world famous building.