Yesterday the weather was absolutely fabulous after a very bitter cold couple of days upon arriving. Today was a little bit chillier, so I decided it would be perfect for me to walk the few blocks over the United Nations and take the tour. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and they run most of the day in various languages. Only six were on our specific tour, so it felt a little more intimate.
The shallow U-shape of the Assembly Building is dominated by the Assembly Hall, the biggest room in the Palais, which can seat about 2,000 people.
It comprises four main buildings: The Secretariat, the General Assembly, Conference Area (including Council Chambers) and the Library.
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1945 after World War II to promote international cooperation and peace among nations. Its headquarters in New York City is, specifically, in the Turtle Bay neighbourhood of Manhattan.
The UN comprises 193 member states, which come together in various forums and bodies to discuss and address global issues such as climate change, poverty, human rights, and security. The main decision-making body of the UN is the General Assembly, which meets annually to discuss and decide on various matters.
Being able to sit inside the General Assembly and hear the stories of the history of the United Nations and the building they're very interesting. Some of the donated artwork from various countries is a joy.
Some of the more interesting facts about the United Nations are that the building was built in 1952. At that time, they designed quite innovative heating and cooling system that is still used today. The hundreds of clocks in the building we're all connected to a vast IBM computer that was purchased though it will once an hour sink them all together. Apparently, it broke down years ago and is now done manually. However, no one uses them because, of course, all have smartphones.
Yes, the United Nations sits on international soil
Another significant body of the UN is the Security Council, responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It has 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and ten non-permanent members who serve two-year terms.
The UN complex in New York City includes several buildings, such as the iconic Secretariat building, which houses the Secretary-General's offices and the UN's administrative staff. Other buildings include the General Assembly building, the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, and the UN headquarters conference building, where many of the UN's meetings and events are held.