Unprecedented technological progress in the 20th century has made of the world a global village. Unfortunately, at the dawn of globalisation, war at a planetary level raised its ugly head for the first time in 1914. At the end of the conflict in 1918, encouraged by progress in communications and motivated to wipe out forever the horrors and prospects of global war, a league of 57 nations was formed to promote peace and international cooperation for economic and social progress.

In the 1930s, greedy, intolerant, autocratic and megalomaniac leaders like Hitler were to call upon low instincts such as racial superiority to dominate other nations through the use of force. This eventually led to World War II, which lasted six years taking in its trail 60 million lives while bringing the world to its knees by the end of the conflict in 1945.

On 24 October 1945, in the aftermath of WW2, 51 of the original league member states ratified the UN charter against the sad background of fuming battlefields and a defunct League of Nations.The United Nations Organisation was born. Its objective : to make the world a better place by developing friendly relations among nations, helping in the elimination of poverty, disease and illiteracy, stopping environmental destruction, encouraging culture and, above all, keeping peace.

To date, strengthened by an additional 140 member states, the UN is, against all odds, still pursuing its noble objectives. Nonetheless, in spite of even greater communication progress, there is still accrued room for improvement in the bridging of nations with the invaluable cement of peace, one of the main problems being intolerance and lack of understanding among people.

Diversity in human species is as large as the extent of the population. If combined with respect and tolerance, it adds up to an infinite bouquet of scents and a no less extensive palette of colours. Nothing is as forlorn as a world in black and white, it only ends up in grey.

We all are born different and perceive things differently. The very UN flag can be interpreted in various ways. Where one would associate its blue background with the universal nature of blue skies, the other might refer it to the exclusive characteristic of royal-blooded persons. Where one would argue it?s a colour fit for fighting evil spirits, the other might associate it with sultry eroticism.

The olive wreath representing peace among nations as it crowned winners in ancient Olympic games, which marked a period of peace among states, may also be associated with gender inequality as the games were exclusively intended for males! Married women were even banned from the spectators? terrace under threat of death.

While the azimuthal projection of the world map centred on the North pole gives an impression of the world being protected from a supernatural being from above, it might also convey the idea of a Northern (westernised) outlook on the world.

The white colour chosen for the emblems is most probably associated with values, such as truth, purity and honesty, while white is also associated with death and sadness in some societies. These differences in interpretation are our strength, yet we should not let them fall into anarchy.

Though we might at first sight perceive the flag differently, we should have the wisdom to accept the idea conveyed by those who conceived it. Otherwise there would have been six billion UN flags floating on our buildings! Diversity must not lead to anarchy but is to be used wisely for the welfare of all. While symbols and perceptions are important, actions speak volumes. The contribution of the UN to promoting love of mankind worldwide is enormous.

Khalil Gibran rightly said that, when one loves, one should not say God is in one?s heart but one should rather consider that one is living in the heart of God. As there is only one God, yet different ways of worshipping him, the only way to his peaceful and loving heart is through love of humanity via universal values like justice, tolerance, sharing, equity, peace and harmony. It?s only at that price that nations will be united and this is the ultimate aim of the UN.

Alain JEANNOT