Delivering the messages: The UN works for you!

I had the privilege of serving as Commissioner-General for the United Nations in EXPO 2000 held in Hanover, Germany. The United Nations joined 161 countries and 13 international organizations at this exciting, globally meaningful world event. From 1 June to 31 October, we welcomed 18 million visitors to the dramatic UN Pavilion at the first universal world exposition of the new millenium and the first ever held in Germany.

Of the numerous UN activities in which I have participated over the past years, Expo 2000 was in many ways one of the most gratifying. It gave me the opportunity to help millions learn first-hand about the United Nations central role in combating natural and man-made problems, supporting sustainable development, and championing peace and human rights worldwide. It was an ideal opportunity to spread the word: "The UN Works for You!"

Indeed, the UN presence at Expo 2000 was a centrepiece component of the Organization's public information activities for the year. We adopted the new millennium theme of the United Nations as mandated by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, "The UN Works for You!", to dovetail with the Expo 2000 theme, "Humankind, Nature and Technology: A New World Arising", inspired by Agenda 21 of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, and highlighted the vital work of the UN system and its 30 specialized agencies, funds and programmes globally.

This enormous undertaking did not cost one penny from the UN budget. Working together with the German Government, we were able to secure full sponsorship by four major German enterprises--Volkswagen AG, RWE AG, Deutsche Telekom AG, and the Association of German Public Sector Banks. This created a fund of 4.5 million deutsche marks administered by the Hanover Exposition Authority to design, create, install and maintain the hightech, multimedia UN Pavilion and its many special activities.

The UN Pavilion team secured in-kind support of an additional DM1 million from many other generous German-based companies, including Fujitsu Siemens, Aerome, Coca-Cola, Benetton, Roy Robson, Steinhoff, Lichtbreust, Gilde, Mas Cafe, Bahlsen and the Deutsche Post.

As the UN Commissioner-General for Expo 2000, I had the pleasure of working closely with overall Expo Commissioner-General Birgit Breuel, then Under-Secretary-General of the UN Department of Public Information Kensaku Hogen, Secretary of the Joint UN Information Committee (JUNIC) Therese Gastaut, and Germany's Ambassador to the United Nations, Dieter Kastrup.

Our exceptional working team included UN Deputy Commissioner-General Axel Wustenhagen, the UN Pavilion staff--Technical Director Jan Ralph, Artistic Director Luis Sarda, Manager Alexandra Lauer, Public Relations and Special Events Manager Christian Gladel--and many UN volunteers from more than a dozen countries in four continents. It was a truly international collaboration! (The photograph shows the Secretary-General and Mrs. Annan with the international staff of the UN Pavillion at Expo 2000)

United Nations participation in Expo 2000 was a five-year-long process of conceptualizing, strategizing, coordinating and fund-raising. But we had only two fast-paced months to construct the 850-square-metre pavilion! Fortunately, a talented and experienced team was assembled to create and supervise construction of our cutting-edge, inspiring structure.

The United Nations is indebted to Jan Ralph, a long-time veteran of the UN system, who created the pavilion concept and coordinated much of its day-to-day activities.

The fully developed design came from Luis Sarda, one of Spain's most creative designers. It was a task to which this team was well suited, having created the UN Pavilion at Expo 1998 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Expo 2000 Pavilion was designed as three overlapping chambers, shaped like a chambered nautilus seashell--one of the most fascinating geometric shapes in nature. Based on guidelines approved by JUNIC, which had overall responsibility for UN participation, each chamber of the Pavilion represented one of the Expo 2000 themes, and used extensive imagery, multimedia, interactive exhibits, music and motion to document the United Nations corresponding work.

Accordingly, the Humankind Chamber presented UN efforts and accomplishments in peacekeeping, human rights and poverty eradication; the Nature Chamber documented UN action to protect the environment, monitor climate change, conserve biodiversity and prevent desertification; and the Technology Chamber highlighted United Nations worldwide support of technology transfer, the beneficial use of modern technology, and the bridging of the technological gap.

A worthwhile venture

Participation by the United Nations in Expo 2000 marked its 15th such venture, and for good reason. Historically, world expositions are "friendly competitions between nations" and promote architectural, industrial, technological, cultural and social progress. The first such event was held in London, United Kingdom in 1851, and 102 have been held since throughout Europe, in North America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and the Caribbean. It is estimated that more than 100 million persons have visited these magnificent showcases, and their history thrives through oral history passed down from one generation to the next.

Expos are temporary by design; their fascinating structures are often conceived as testing grounds for new construction principles. But some Expo constructs--like the Eiffel Tower in Paris (1889), the Ferris Wheel in Chicago (1893), the Space Needle in Seattle (1962), and Habitat in Montreal (1967)-have endured long beyond the events that inspired them. Their themes have ranged from arts and sports to aviation, urban development, agriculture, horticulture and the world's oceans. Still others have explored technology, humanity, the space age, science, youth and discovery.

But Expo 2000 was one of the first to combine the modern world's three major themes--humankind, nature and technology--and explore their interconnection and development. Against this backdrop, the participation of the United Nations, which represents the common interests of the planet and humanity, was of enormous symbolic and practical importance.

The UN works for you!

The UN Pavilion was given pride of place at Expo 2000. We were located immediately adjacent to the main entrance and the German Pavilion, and directly opposite One World Expo Plaza--the main events stadium and focal point for all major activities, performances and celebrations.

On the first day, Germany's President Johannes Rau walked directly from the opening ceremony to the UN Pavilion, signalling the importance of the United Nations to the world community. On 2 July, Expo 2000 held "UN Honor Day' during which 400 representatives from 140 countries wore national costumes and waved their countries' colours in an "Alley of Nations" to welcome Secretary-General Annan. On UN Day in October, the Canadian Pavilion hosted "Expo MUN". This first Model UN ever held at an international Expo attracted 100 youth participants from several countries, who gathered to discuss globalization, Security Council reform and the complexities of humanitarian intervention versus national sovereignty.

Throughout Expo 2000, the UN Pavilion welcomed a steady stream of visiting dignitaries, including several heads of State, numerous foreign ministers, many corporate chief executive officers, heads of UN agencies and civil society leaders of non-governmental organizations. And every occasion, such as the World Children's Day on 20 September, was used to highlight the United Nations message and mission in all three chambers of the Pavilion. Thanks to the UN presence at Expo 2000, it was made clear to millions how and why the United Nations works, arduously and creatively, on behalf of all the people of the world.

Nadine B. Hack, United Nations Commissioner-General for Expo 2000, is the President of NBH Executive Consulting; an international strategic planning and major events production company that produces multi-faceted projects with a global focus.