The UN is one of the largest interstate coalitions, which was organized after the end of World War II. Like any other organization, it has the UN flag, that is, the official emblem. What is the peculiarity of this symbol of an international organization? What does the color and tree on the flag mean?
When was the official UN emblem adopted?
Today, the official emblem includes the emblem and flag of the UN. The photo offered to our readers for viewing will allow us to understand in more detail all the components of this official attribute. But let's start from the beginning - with a historical excursion.
The UN flag begins its history from the moment when the activities of the staff involved in developing the emblem of the Conference in San Francisco were organized. The meeting organizers wanted to create a distinctive sign for all participants, so that it was possible to easily distinguish ordinary visitors from official delegates. This was of key importance, since it was at this international symposium that the first UN Charter was adopted.
The United States was represented by a delegate, Edward Stettinius, who served as Secretary of State. Seeing the emblem, he came to the conclusion that this image could become the official symbol of the international coalition. Thanks to this initiative, a committee was created, which included Oliver Landquist. It was he who transformed the emblem of the Conference in California, coined by Donal McLaughlin. The approval of this attribute occurred in December 1946.
What does the color of the UN flag mean?
When developing the symbols of an international organization, they primarily tried to embody the very concept of this association. In particular, the developers made an attempt to convey in blue the opposite of the military color, which was indicated by a red flag. The exact shade of blue was never officially fixed, however, the Pantone 279 was initially chosen. Therefore, the question of what color the UN flag should be did not arise. Initially, the UN flag, developed in 1946, had a gray-blue hue, so it was very different from its modern counterpart.
The second primary color is white. According to sources, there is no official interpretation of what the colors of the emblem mean. Therefore, it remains only to speculate and make assumptions.
Mark of distinction
The UN flag is a blue rectangular canvas, which, in addition to the official color, has an additional image located in the central part. This emblem, as well as the color cast, was modified over time. Initially, the model of the globe was depicted in the form of azimuthal design. In particular, the main emphasis was placed on the North Pole with the dominant central position of the United States. However, in this option, the design of the South Pole was excluded, in particular for all countries below Argentina.
The modern UN flag has been revised so that no country takes a dominant position, because all states are equal. Now the image of the globe was divided exactly in half with the help of the Main Meridian and the Demarcation Line of Time.
What do olive branches mean?
The olive tree on the UN flag is not just depicted, but has a specific meaning. In particular, in Western culture, the olive branch symbolizes peace and goodwill. Thus, the idea laid down by the author of the flag in color, “No to war, ” was continued. In addition, it is in this emblem that the concept of the international organization itself is laid down - representing all people and protecting their interests and rights.
