UNGA’s Wildest Moments: From Castro to Dinosaurs

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has hosted some of the world’s most memorable and unusual moments, combining history, politics, and a touch of whimsy.

Brazil traditionally gives the first speech, followed by the U.S., and then other countries according to a complex algorithm.

Notable highlights include Fidel Castro’s record-breaking 4-hour 29-minute speech in 1960 and Hugo Chavez famously calling U.S. President George W. Bush “the devil” in 2006.

Symbols like the Icelandic gavel, which broke during Nikita Khrushchev’s shoe-banging protest in 1960, highlight the Assembly’s dramatic history.

Leaders like Jacinda Ardern brought her three-month-old daughter to promote gender equality, while unconventional moments include a dinosaur video warning about fossil fuels.

The Assembly has also adapted to modern challenges, hosting its first-ever virtual session in 2020 due to COVID-19.

These moments reveal the UNGA as a stage where global diplomacy, historical milestones, and unexpected spectacle intersect.