UN Lets Gucci Use Global Lawn to Celebrate a Store
Opening, Madonna and VIPs in Tents
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at
the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS, January 25 -- On the North
Lawn of the UN's campus, facing the East River, metal frame buildings have this
week been going up. Some thought this was the beginning of construction of the
temporary General Assembly hall for use during the Capital Master Plan
renovation. But inquiry found that these structures are even more transitory,
meant for a one-night concert and fundraising on February 6, which is promoted
by, and promotes, Gucci. This seeming strange, Inner City Press asked at
Friday's noon briefing who approved this use of the UN, if the UN was charging
any money for the use of the lawn, particularly given
Gucci's advertising-like statement that
"the
event will celebrate the opening of Gucci's New York 5th Avenue Flagship store
in February 2008." Click here for the press release, which also notes the
involvement of a slew of celebrities including Madonna. (One wag at the noon
briefing blurted out, "child
trafficking." Other, playing
off the name of
Skanska, the UN's Capital Master Plan
contractor, muttered "Skank-ska.")
UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said she
would look into it, and later replied by email that "the UN decides who may use
the lawn or other facilities. The sponsor is asked to pay the UN upfront prior
to the event for all cost incurred (Security, Plant & Engineering, Custodial,
Event Coordination, Lawn Repair, etc.) In this instance there is a Memorandum of
Understanding between the sponsor Gucci and the UN."
UN's North Lawn, now to celebrate a
new Gucci store
The MOU was not provided, and it was said that it is the UN's Office
of Legal Affairs which checks on which companies can use UN premises and,
presumably, the appropriateness of their public statements about the use, and
whether it is in connection with or to celebrate a commercial venture like the
opening of a retail store. Ms. Okabe said that any further questions should be
directed to the United States Fund for UNICEF's Director of Public Relations,
Marissa Buckanoff.
Inner City Press immediately telephoned Ms. Buckanoff and left a
detailed message, on deadline, seeking comment on the appropriateness of Gucci
deeming the event on the UN's North Lawn as celebrating its opening of a store.
As of deadline, no response was received. Nor has it yet been confirmed how much
each ticket would cost. Watch this site.
* * *
These reports are also available through
Google News and on Lexis-Nexis.
Click
here for a
Reuters
AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army.
Click
here
for an earlier
Reuters AlertNet
piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's
$200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund.
Video
Analysis here
Because a number of Inner City Press'
UN sources go out of their way to express commitment to serving the poor, and
while it should be unnecessary, Inner City Press is compelled to conclude this
installment in a necessarily-ongoing series by saluting the stated goals of the
UN agencies and many of their staff. Keep those cards, letters and emails
coming, and phone calls too, we apologize for any phone tag, but please continue
trying, and keep the information flowing.
Feedback: Editorial
[at] innercitypress.com
UN Office: S-453A,
UN, NY 10017 USA Tel: 212-963-1439
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(and weekends): 718-716-3540
Other, earlier Inner
City Press are listed here, and
some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.
Copyright 2006-08 Inner City Press, Inc. To request
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UN Office: S-453A,
UN, NY 10017 USA Tel: 212-963-1439
Reporter's mobile
(and weekends): 718-716-3540
