United Nations Peace Plaza

Last updated
The United Nations Peace Plaza in Independence, Missouri, with the RLDS/Community of Christ Auditorium in the background. Upon signing the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, California on June 26, 1945, President Harry Truman arrived in Independence, Missouri the next day, and addressed a crowd of about 10,000 in the RLDS Auditorium. UN Peace Plaza Independence and CofChrist Auditorium.jpg
The United Nations Peace Plaza in Independence, Missouri, with the RLDS/Community of Christ Auditorium in the background. Upon signing the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, California on June 26, 1945, President Harry Truman arrived in Independence, Missouri the next day, and addressed a crowd of about 10,000 in the RLDS Auditorium.

The United Nations Peace Plaza in Independence, Missouri, U.S., was unveiled on October 27, 1997, formally dedicated by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on April 25, 2003, [1] and is described by its creators as "the only memorial in the world to those persons serving in the Peacekeeping Forces of the United Nations". [2] The 12.5-foot statue is named "Girl with Dove" by its sculptor, Tom Corbin, [3] [4] and in 2003, a four-foot miniature was gifted to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. [5]

On December 11, 2006, after his final speech as Secretary-General, delivered at the Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri, [6] [7] Annan visited the Peace Plaza for a wreath-laying ceremony. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kofi Annan</span> Secretary-General of the UN from 1997 to 2006

Kofi Atta Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He was the founder and chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation, as well as chairman of The Elders, an international organisation founded by Nelson Mandela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations</span> Intergovernmental organization

The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and serve as a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. It is the world's largest international organization. The UN is headquartered in New York City, and the UN has other offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague, where the International Court of Justice is headquartered at the Peace Palace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council</span> One of the six principal organs of the UN, charged with the maintenance of international security

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN Charter. Its powers as outlined in the United Nations Charter include establishing peacekeeping operations, enacting international sanctions, and authorizing military action. The UNSC is the only UN body with authority to issue resolutions that are binding on member states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peacekeeping</span> Activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace

Peacekeeping comprises activities, especially military ones, intended to create conditions that favor lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed warfare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary-General of the United Nations</span> Chief administrative officer and head of the United Nations

The secretary-general of the United Nations is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and head of the United Nations Secretariat, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Headquarters of the United Nations</span> Group of buildings in New York City

The headquarters of the United Nations (UN) is in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Midtown Manhattan, New York City, U.S., on 17 to 18 acres of grounds overlooking the East River. It borders First Avenue to the west, East 42nd Street to the south, East 48th Street to the north, and the East River to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakhdar Brahimi</span> Algerian United Nations diplomat

Lakhdar Brahimi is an Algerian United Nations diplomat who served as the United Nations and Arab League Special Envoy to Syria until 14 May 2014. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria from 1991 to 1993. He served as chairman of the United Nations Panel on United Nations Peace Operations in 2000. Its highly influential report "Report of the Panel on United Nations Peacekeeping" is known as "The Brahimi Report".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum</span> Library and museum for U.S. President Harry S. Truman, located in Missouri

The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and resting place of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States (1945–1953), his wife Bess and daughter Margaret, and is located on U.S. Highway 24 in Independence, Missouri. It was the first presidential library to be created under the provisions of the 1955 Presidential Libraries Act, and is one of thirteen presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the United Nations</span> Aspect of history

The history of the United Nations as an international organization has its origins in World War II beginning with the Declaration of St James's Palace. Taking up the Wilsonian mantle in 1944-1945, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt pushed as his highest postwar priority the establishment of the United Nations to replace the defunct League of Nations. Roosevelt planned that it would be controlled by the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and China. He expected this Big Four would resolve all major world problems at the powerful Security Council. However the UN was largely paralyzed by the veto of the Soviet Union when dealing with Cold War issues from 1947 to 1989. Since then its aims and activities have expanded to make it the archetypal international body in the early 21st century.

Since the late 1990s there have been many calls for reforms of the United Nations (UN). However, there is little clarity or consensus about what reform might mean in practice. Both those who want the UN to play a greater role in world affairs and those who want its role confined to humanitarian work or otherwise reduced use the term "UN reform" to refer to their ideas. The range of opinion extends from those who want to eliminate the UN entirely, to those who want to make it into a full-fledged world government. Secretaries-General have presented numerous ways to implement these new reforms. There have been reform efforts since the creation of the UN and closely associated with each of the Secretaries-General.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auditorium (Community of Christ)</span>

The Auditorium is a house of worship and office building located on the greater Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri. The Auditorium is part of the headquarters complex of Community of Christ which also includes the Independence Temple.

The United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) was a peacekeeping mission established by the United Nations Security Council in December 1994, and its mandate expired in May 2000. Its purpose was to monitor peace agreements during and after the Tajikistan Civil War. The observers were first deployed in the wake of the ceasefire, in 1994, between the ruling government of Tajikistan, led by Emomali Rahmonov, and the United Tajik Opposition. After the UN-sponsored armistice ended the war in 1997, the UN expanded the mission's original mandate to monitor the peace and demobilization. The mission was headquartered in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Department of Peace Operations</span> Department of the United Nations

The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) is a department of the United Nations charged with the planning, preparation, management and direction of UN peacekeeping operations. Previously known as the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), it was created in March 1992, as part of a restructuring of the UN's peace and security apparatus. The DPO retains the core functions and responsibilities of its predecessor, with a greater emphasis on cohesion, integrating different resources and knowledge, and promoting human rights.

The Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations (2000) is commonly called the Brahimi Report, named for the chairman of the commission that produced it, Lakhdar Brahimi. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had convened the Panel on March 7, 2000, ahead of the upcoming Millennium Summit, and had tasked it with making a thorough review of United Nations peace and security activities and recommending improvements. The report was published on August 17, 2000. In identical letters dated 21 August 2000 transmitting the report to the presidents of the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, Annan called the Panel's recommendations "essential to make the United Nations truly credible as a force for peace."

The United Nations Peacekeeping efforts began in 1948. Its first activity was in the Middle East to observe and maintain the ceasefire during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Since then, United Nations peacekeepers have taken part in a total of 72 missions around the globe, 12 of which continue today. The peacekeeping force as a whole received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 East Timorese crisis</span> Pro-Indonesian attacks in East Timor after an independence referendum

The 1999 East Timorese crisis began with attacks by pro-Indonesia militia groups on civilians, and expanded to general violence throughout the country, centred in the capital Dili. The violence intensified after a majority of eligible East Timorese voters voted for independence from Indonesia. Some 1,400 civilians are believed to have died. A UN-authorized force (INTERFET) consisting mainly of Australian Defence Force personnel was deployed to East Timor to establish and maintain peace.

Truman High School is a public high school located in Independence, Missouri, serving students in grades 9-12. It is named after hometown resident U.S. President Harry S Truman and his family. The mascot of Truman is a patriot, and the school's colors are red, white, and blue. Truman students are competitive with students from surrounding areas, but mostly towards William Chrisman, their cross-town rivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1150</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 1998

United Nations Security Council resolution 1150, adopted unanimously on 30 January 1998, after reaffirming all resolutions on Georgia, particularly Resolution 1124 (1997), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) until 31 July 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1308</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2000

United Nations Security Council resolution 1308, adopted unanimously on 17 July 2000, was the first resolution to address the impact of HIV/AIDS worldwide. The Security Council asked countries to consider voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counselling for troops deployed in peacekeeping operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Security Council Resolution 1599</span> United Nations resolution adopted in 2005

United Nations Security Council resolution 1599, adopted unanimously on 28 April 2005, after reaffirming previous resolutions on East Timor (Timor-Leste), particularly resolutions 1543 (2004) and 1573 (2004), the council established the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) to follow on from the United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor (UNMISET) as a special political mission for one year until 20 May 2006.

References

  1. "...Peace Plaza dedicatory ceremony in Independence April 25, 2003..." Quickview of July, 2004 UNA-GCK newsletter report.
  2. Partial explanation of the Plaza and Statue at website of "United Nations Association - Greater Kansas City Chapter."(UNA-GKC)
  3. "Artist and Biography of Tom Corbin" [ dead link ]lists the U.N. Peace Plaza as one of his works.
  4. "Tom Corbin: The Inevitable Artist" by Beverly Bellinger Biography of the sculptor Tom Corbin published in 2006, previewed at Amazon.Com
  5. "Expedite! Ships statue for United Nations Quickview of July, 2004 UNA-GCK newsletter report.
  6. Audio of Annan's "Farewell Address" December 11, 2006 at trumanlibrary.org
  7. Text of December 11, 2006 speech Archived July 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine at United Nations official website
  8. Annan pays tribute at U.N. Peace Plaza Robert Hite, The Examiner, December 12, 2006.

39°5′26.5″N94°25′44.3″W / 39.090694°N 94.428972°W / 39.090694; -94.428972