Friend of the United Nations - F.U.N.

What is F.U.N and how did it begin?

F.U.N was born when a friend asked how he can help the United Nations, "What does the UN need most?" he asked. "Friends are what the UN need most", was our answer, and it just happens to spell F.U.N.

The Peace Knott

We asked a Belgian designer, Jean-Paul Knott to design the first blue F.U.N bracelet. The bracelet has the first three words of the UN Charter printed on it in thirteen European languages. "We the Peoples". We wrapped it around a blue post card, with the same three words on it, and sent it out as UNRIC's 2006 Season's greeting card. Jean-Paul Knott has called his blue bracelet, the Peace Knott.

We also started to name some people F.U.N, by giving them a bracelet, a post card and a certificate naming them Friends of the United Nations. It is a democratization of the UN Goodwill Ambassador concept, except that you don't have to be a celebrity to become F.U.N and there are no strings attached on either side. It is a loose netzork of Friends of the UN in Europe. When you wear the bracelet, you shoz that you are a supporter of the UN, a global citizen. The list of European F.U.N is growing.

Our second F.U.N bracelet was created by the French-Moroccan designer Claude Sabbah, who wanted "We the Peoples" in Hebrew and in Arabic Printed on the bracelets. Sabbah calls his bracelet "L'Anneau de la Paix".

We have since contacted other designers asking them to design their version of the Blue Bracelet. Celebrated Italian designer Gaetano Pesce has suggested a new design for a futur bracelet, and we are looking for any other ideas you may have.

If you are interested in designing your own version of the F.U.N bracelets, send us your ideas.

The Campaign

The idea is simple: by wearing the ribbon you show your support for the UN. It is in a way the democcratization of the UN Goodwill ambassadors. The blue ribbon says that you are a Friend of the United Nations, a Global Citizen.