1748-1750 UNITED NATIONS - We the peoples...

1748 - A child from Solomon Islands

 

CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS
PREAMBLE

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

• to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
• to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
• to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
• to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

1749 - A Kirghiz family at the foot of
the Kongur mountains in Xinjiang, China

AND FOR THESE ENDS

• to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and
• to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
• to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
• to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

1750 - A Northern Ndebele woman from Zimbabwe

HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS

Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.

1402 ZIMBABWE - Wooden Carvings

Zimbabwe is an ethnically diverse country, but the Shona, the Bantu people considered the oldest in the region (are believed to be the legendary guardians of King Solomon's mines) holds an overwhelming majority of 70%. They are known as skilful and creative sculptors, Zimbabwe being considered the center for stone sculpture in Africa. Besides stone, they also use wood, mainly Ebony, African Teak, and Mukwa. The sculptures depicted in the postcard seem to be made of Mukwa, which is only found in Tanzania, Zambia,  Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It has variable colors such as a pale uniform brown, chocolate brown, brick red or purplish brown and golden brown. The two men depicted in sculptures wear sumptuous headdresses and play drums, probably a ngoma (the one supported on earth), and a calabash (the one hemispherical).