Crumbling U.N. Seeks $1 Billion for Renovation

[The Mad Monk]

What's the total annual UN budget?

[DRoseDARs]

I am very much NOT anti-U.N. Quite the opposite actually. However, I firmly believe it is high time the U.N. relocated its headquarters to a more deserving and worthy host nation. The United States has abused and denigrated the organization for far too long.

I would agree that Switzerland would make a far better location than New York. Other places that would also be better exist, I'm sure, but I would choose Geneva because of that country's usual neutrality in the midst of hostilities.

[HershOstropoler]

UN budget is about 1 billion/year, excluding suborganisations.

[Saras]

Originally posted by HershOstropoler
Hell, maybe UN toilet seats are even more expensive than in the US military.

Black operations of teh UN are bigger in scope than those of the US. It's a freemason conspiracy, after all.

[Saras]

Budget

The budget for the two years 2000-2001 is $2,535 million. The main source of funds is the contributions of Member States, which are assessed on a scale approved by the General Assembly.

The fundamental criterion on which the scale of assessments is based is the capacity of countries to pay. This is determined by considering their relative shares of total gross national product, adjusted to take into account a number of factors, including their per capita incomes.

In addition, countries are assessed -- in accordance with a modified version of the basic scale -- for the costs of peacekeeping operations, which stood at around $2 billion in 2000.

from un.org

[The Mad Monk]

Just for comparison's sake: The Empire State Building.

http://www.famusoa.net/ibs/proj/ornl/cs/cs.php3?004

Lighting Retrofit This award-winning project consisted of the replacement of over 30,000 light fixtures with “energy efficient equivalents,” according to Empire State Building managers. Consequently, lighting levels were not reduced in any areas of the building, and actually enhanced in some other locations. The retrofit not only reduced electrical energy consumption by an estimated 30%, but also reduced the cost of periodic replacement of light bulbs due to longer lamp life. As lamp replacement is highly labor intensive, the labor cost savings more than offset the higher cost of the more energy efficient lamps.

Window Replacement The building’s 6400 original windows were replaced with aluminum, double hung, thermopane windows manufactured by Traco. (http://www.traco.com) In addition to doubling the “R” value over nearly 180,000 s.f. of the building’s exterior envelope, the windows can be cleaned from the inside. The original windows required exterior cleaning using harnesses attached to hooks embedded in the limestone exterior. Although no window cleaners were ever killed or seriously injured, the interior cleaning feature reduces the hazard and its attendant liability. The window replacement is part of a $66 million, 7 year renovation program which also includes improvements to the souvenir area, renovation of the observatory deck and fence, computerization of the elevator system, state-of-the-art fire and security systems, new entrance gates and loading docks.

Other Improvements Other improvements made during the lighting retrofit included conversion of the chiller plants to dual electric and steam usage, and the upgrading of all water pumps to high-efficiency electric models. The original air conditioning system was installed in 1950 and upgraded in 1984 and 1998. The air conditioning system provides 7450 tons of refrigeration and changes the air 6 times each hour.

[yavoon]

Originally posted by HershOstropoler
Hell, maybe UN toilet seats are even more expensive than in the US military.

I agree america can not afford both wastes of expenditure. so I say we should buy some toilet paper for our troops and just move on!

[HershOstropoler]

MM, that's comparing apples and oranges. It all depends on the renovation needs.

But 1 billion $ for 20.000 m2 (is that the total area?) sounds an awful lot. What does it cost to build an office tower that size?

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Saras


Coming from an expert in CEE Real Estate.

Vilnius is hardly a worthy city, especially due to its support for an ILLEGAL war that was HIGHLY opposed by the members of the UN and the world in general

[The Mad Monk]

In today's costs? I'm not sure, I'll check.

The Empire State Buiding cost forty million, but that was in the thirties.

[Saras]

Originally posted by Tassadar5000


Vilnius is hardly a worthy city, especially due to its support for an ILLEGAL war that was HIGHLY opposed by the members of the UN and the world in general

Members of the UN, such as Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Syria, etc.

[Saras]

You could build in Vilnius for under EUR 1500/sqm. Land included. VILNIUS!! "doitnow!"

[The Mad Monk]

This is the Goldman Sachs tower, being built in Jersey City just across the river from Manhattan, at a cost of $650 million:



42 stories.

The complex will consist of a 42-story, 1.5 million sq ft (139,350 m2) office tower and a 15-story, 500,000 sq ft (46,450 m2) mixed-use facility. The two structures will be joined by a 135 ft (41 m) tall glass structure that will encompass 25,000 sq ft (2,323 m2) of space. Called The Terraces, this structure will be open to the public and will offer a climate-controlled environment from which to view Manhattan. Four levels of parking below the complex will accommodate approximately 1,400 vehicles.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/30hudson/default.htm

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Saras


Members of the UN, such as Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Syria, etc.

Or France, Germany, Spain, UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Canada, Russia.........

Need I remind people of the numerous polls taken, and the "infamous" 2 ovations at the UN (In support of Russia and France)?

[Saras]

The land there is owned by Tony Soprano, right?