Big Bird visits the UN Headquarters in 1995, with Joseph Verner Reed Jr. (left) and Leia Boutros-Ghali (right)
Basma and Sherrie Westin at the United Nations General Assembly in 2019
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization, headquartered in New York City, whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace. The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue.
There are currently 193 member states, including every internationally recognised sovereign state in the world but the Vatican City. The Muppets have worked with their organization UNICEF on multiple occasions.
Appearances[]
- Big Bird visited the UN Headquarters in 1995.
- Kami appeared at World AIDS Day, which was created by the UN, at the UN Headquarters in 2002.
- Grover and Gary Knell appeared at the UN in 2006, where Knell received a Common Ground Award.
- Kermit the Frog "wrote" and appeared in the book For Every Child, A Better World, a fundraiser for the United Nations.
- Basma made her debut public appearance on September 23, 2019, at the United Nations General Assembly.
References[]
Betty Lou's view of the President's speech at the UN Headquarters.
- In the 1993 book I Want to Be President, Betty Lou watches the President make a speech at the United Nations building, which inspires her to become President.
- Sesame Street productions often recognize United Nations observances on social media, like the International Day of Families (see Nick Jonas) or World Toilet Day (Galli Galli Sim Sim on Facebook).
Mentions[]
- Speaking in front of the U.N. General Assembly in September of 2021, British Prime Minister Boris Jonson gave a speech about climate change, evoking Kermit the Frog, his song "Bein' Green," and Miss Piggy. On September 23, 2021, Stephen Colbert played the clip of Johnson on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and added additional Muppet quips. (YouTube)
Connections[]
- Kofi Annan served as Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997-2006
- Pearl Bailey was appointed as a special ambassador to the United Nations in 1975 by President Gerald Ford
- Ban Ki-moon served as Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2007-2016