Refugees after Second World War 16.5.1960

Many refugees remained in camps almost fifteen years after the end of the Second World War. This was seen as disgraceful by those who had suffered greatly during the war and those who were concerned about their situation. It was at this point that the United Nations launched a program to resolve the refugee problem once and for all. 1959-1960 was announced as World Refugee Year. The aim of this project was to 'clear the camps'. It achieved some significant results, especially in Europe. By the end of 1960, for the first time since before the war, all the refugee camps in Europe were closed.

The United Nations approved World Refugee Year in June 1959 with the intention to encourage the return of refugees and Displaced Persons to their original places of residence  

Expo 58 - Brussels World’s Fair 12.4.1958

Expo 58, also known as the Brussels World’s Fair (Exposition Universelle et Internationale de Bruxelles), was held from 17 April to 19 October 1958. It was the first major World's Fair after World War II.

The site is best known for the Atomium, a giant model of a unit cell of an iron crystal (each sphere representing an atom). More than 41 million visitors visited the site, which was opened with a call for world peace and social and economic progress, issued by King Baudouin I.

Notable exhibitions include the Philips Pavilion, where ”Poeme electronique”, commissioned specifically for the location, was played back from 425 loudspeakers, placed at specific points as designed by Iakisannis Xen, and Le Corbusier. 

Another exhibition was the Congolese village that was on display. The city of Paris had its own pavilion, separate from the French one. The stamp on this cover features the official French pavilion at the EXPO.

This could really be called an Expo of Lights. Pavilions like France, U.S.S.R. and U.S.A. glowed from inside out like big lit-up boxes of blocks.

Thank you Maria.