Missing THIMUN Air

What will we miss most about THIMUN?

by: Tugce K

    When MUNITY asked the delegates what they are going to miss about THIMUN the most, the answers were very similar. Expectedly, there are many delegates who will miss the intense debates they have participated in at THIMUN. According to others, the participants love to socialize. Many of the delegates stated that they are going to miss the intimate bonds they have formed with each other in THIMUN. The Student Officers and Admin Staff are also going to be missed a lot by the delegates. Some of the participants answered that they are going to miss the night life they have experienced here. Obviously, meeting with people out of the academic circle and gaining new friendships were memorable experiences for delegates. In addition to socializing, the delegates loved The Hague and Amsterdam and stated that they are going to miss these beautiful cities.

    There were times that were pretty icy as delegates began lobbying and debating, but overall we've fotgotten what we miss most about home as we form new friendships in the warmth of the World Forum. MUNITY wishes the participants safe travels to their homes and hopes that a warm smile paints their faces when they look back at the conference.

 

Praise the Admins!

Admin Staff Keeps THIMUN Chaos Organized

By: Bavo Stevens

Delegates are the face of THIMUN. They are the picture that comes to everybody's mind when we think about THIMUN, and their standard is what we use to evaluate its success. Had there been no delegates, there would have been no THIMUN. Yet, while the delegates unquestionably do play an important role, the Admin staff plays an equally important one. Despite the fact that they have been often called 'note-passers', [admittedly even by MUNITY reporters!] they are the people who work behind the scenes to ensure that this conference goes smoothly, and without them, there would have no organized chaos.
When it comes to lobbying and debating, the amount of work that the Admin staff has can be said to be less than that of the delegates, their jobs aren't as easy as many of us would like to believe. The students at the American School of The Hague (ASH) started preparing for their positions as Admin staff in November. Nathanial Bulovas, from ASH, told MUNITY press that he had devoted his lunch breaks during these last two weeks for his Admin position training. Admin staff Kelly Smith and Julian Janssen from ASH, said that their positions required them to know everything from dress code to the safety procedures needed in the case of an emergency. They went on to tell us that at the end of their training, they were required to take a test to prove that they were sufficiently prepared to be Admin staff Despite the amount of work that the ASH students had to endure, they are happy that they volunteered as Admin staff, telling us that THIMUN had provided them with a rewarding experience.
Not all Admin staff, however, volunteered for their position. The students at the British School in the Netherlands (BSN), for example, have to participate in THIMUN during their junior year. Having no real option over the matter, Billy Baric, Admin staff and student at BSN, said that he could not think of many students from his school that didn't particularly enjoy participating in THIMUN.
What some of the readers might not know is that many of Admin staff needed to have good academic records before they participate in this conference. Kelly Smith said that ASH required grades above 75 percent and teacher recommendations for each of her classes before she could miss a week of school for THIMUN. Other schools had similar requirements; Thuy Nguyen, a student at the International School of The Hague, said that her grades needed to be high enough to miss a week of school but still be prepared for her International Baccalaureate exams.

CENSORSHIP

CENSORSHIP

by Patricia Kim

"The suppression of ideas and information that certain people find objectionable or dangerous." The previous phrase written by the American Library Association sounds like a common notion from a communist regime or a wartime slogan. However, there is a certain degree of truth as suppression still exists all over the world in newspapers, books, politics, business, and the media.

    This is called censorship. It's a deadly method used against free-willed people that is even more dangerous than guns or knives. Censorship is especially effective when applied to mass media since the public is most influenced by it. People have no choice but to believe what they see; what they see is what the media want them to.

    Who controls the censorship? Who decides on what should be shown to the public? Usually it is the large corporations that hold powerful authority or governments that give themselves the right to filter information. Censorship would not be much of a problem if the authorities based their censoring standards on morals and human rights. Problems and issues pertaining to the expurgation of ideas arise because the standards are corrupted with power, money, and contracts.

    Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to avoid editing in today's society. For every liberal who declares freedom of speech and press, there will always be a conservative who argues against vulgar information or images thrown out into the public.

Yet as Potter Stewart, a former associate justice of the U.S. Supreme court, said, "Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence. It is a hallmark of authoritarian regime."

    If censorship is inevitable, it should be the people who censor certain content themselves, rather than relying upon censorship abused by the government.

MUN Directors

Delegates Greatly Appreciate Their MUN Directors
By: Genna Snider
None of us would be here if it wasn't for our delegations' directors. They take the time out of their busy schedules to haul us all to The Hague for a week in the middle of the school year, often leaving their own classes to fend for themselves with a substitute teacher. Some directors organize trips to Amsterdam for the free Wednesday afternoon, dinner out in The Hague, nights out with our friends and fellow delegates. Ms. Jangochian from The English School says that she organized "delegation dinners and a tour of Amsterdam on Sunday" when their delegation arrived in the Netherlands. They stay up late to make sure we make it back to the hotels in time for curfew and also make sure that delegates are home safe at their host-homes; they spend sleepless nights with one ear on the hotel room door so they can be sure none of us sneak out to go to each other's rooms. So by the end of the week, the directors are exhausted, and deserve a big thank you from each and every delegate.
    While many of you may think that your director is bothersome – not letting you stay out later, and checking in on you in your commission to make sure you are there and not skipping, they are doing it for your own good. They are legally responsible for you this week and the directors have to avoid problems and they have to be prepared for anything whether it is a bloody nose or a drunken delegate. Directors are here for your benefit; they only want you to learn as much as possible and take as much away from this conference as you can. Ms. Herding from the Benenden School in Kent, UK, was quoted saying "this is a very professional conference that takes a lot of commitment and voluntary work from the directors". The directors aren't forced to be here, but they are taking the time to be here and make your MUN experience that much better
    One director, Alexander Kish from the American International School of Budapest, has participated in THIMUN for nineteen years, and one of his own former-students is now a director here at THIMUN. Ms. Dubock complimented Mr. Kish and commented that "he is a very dedicated man and is really going to be missed by many here". Mr. Kish will "really miss the energy and the unique, differing viewpoints from the students at THIMUN" and he "truly believes that the real UN and legislatures should always look at students resolutions".
THIMUN Advisory Board is made up of MUN directors, such as Mr. Kollar who in addition to their responsibility of chaperoning their delegations, help coordinate all the forums here at the conference.    While we wouldn't be at THIMUN without our directors, this is a student-led conference and the directors take a back seat role and let the students lobby, debate, speak etc. In the off-conference hours, directors aid delegates writing their resolutions, practicing public speaking with the delegates and helping them become the best delegate they can be.
    Hopefully this article will make many of you realize that these directors aren't here to be a nuisance; they are here to make sure that each and every delegate gains maximum benefit from this conference. So make sure to thank your directors for all their hard work this week; you owe it all to them for being here!

MUN Directors

Delegates Greatly Appreciate Their MUN Directors
By: Genna Snider

None of us would be here if it wasn't for our delegations' directors. They take the time out of their busy schedules to haul us all to The Hague for a week in the middle of the school year, often leaving their own classes to fend for themselves with a substitute teacher. Some directors organize trips to Amsterdam for the free Wednesday afternoon, dinner out in The Hague, nights out with our friends and fellow delegates. Ms. Jangochian from The English School says that she organized "delegation dinners and a tour of Amsterdam on Sunday" when their delegation arrived in the Netherlands. They stay up late to make sure we make it back to the hotels in time for curfew and also make sure that delegates are home safe at their host-homes; they spend sleepless nights with one ear on the hotel room door so they can be sure none of us sneak out to go to each other's rooms. So by the end of the week, the directors are exhausted, and deserve a big thank you from each and every delegate.
    While many of you may think that your director is bothersome – not letting you stay out later, and checking in on you in your commission to make sure you are there and not skipping, they are doing it for your own good. They are legally responsible for you this week and the directors have to avoid problems and they have to be prepared for anything whether it is a bloody nose or a drunken delegate. Directors are here for your benefit; they only want you to learn as much as possible and take as much away from this conference as you can. Ms. Herding from the Benenden School in Kent, UK, was quoted saying "this is a very professional conference that takes a lot of commitment and voluntary work from the directors". The directors aren't forced to be here, but they are taking the time to be here and make your MUN experience that much better
    One director, Alexander Kish from the American International School of Budapest, has participated in THIMUN for nineteen years, and one of his own former-students is now a director here at THIMUN. Ms. Dubock complimented Mr. Kish and commented that "he is a very dedicated man and is really going to be missed by many here". Mr. Kish will "really miss the energy and the unique, differing viewpoints from the students at THIMUN" and he "truly believes that the real UN and legislatures should always look at students resolutions".
THIMUN Advisory Board is made up of MUN directors, such as Mr. Kollar who in addition to their responsibility of chaperoning their delegations, help coordinate all the forums here at the conference.    While we wouldn't be at THIMUN without our directors, this is a student-led conference and the directors take a back seat role and let the students lobby, debate, speak etc. In the off-conference hours, directors aid delegates writing their resolutions, practicing public speaking with the delegates and helping them become the best delegate they can be.
    Hopefully this article will make many of you realize that these directors aren't here to be a nuisance; they are here to make sure that each and every delegate gains maximum benefit from this conference. So make sure to thank your directors for all their hard work this week; you owe it all to them for being here!

The Reproduction of Teddy M.

Teddy MUNY Reproduced!

by Jessica Gao

The teddy family is growing at THIMUN! Since the start of the conference, the raffle for Teddy MUNY, organized by Chair of the THIMUN Board Ms. Dubock, has already raised 750 Euros and counting. The aim of the raffle is to raise money for the relief efforts of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti more than two weeks ago.
Due to the success of the raffle sales, Ms. Dubock has decided that chances of winning Teddy MUNY are too slim. This resulted in a second prize and third prize to be added to the raffle – Mini-MUNY and Baby MUNY. Both new members of the teddy family are slightly smaller than Teddy MUNY, resulting in their names Mini-MUNY and Baby MUNY, but they are just as adorable as their predecessor. Each of the two teddies, like Teddy MUNY, is embellished with a THIMUN identity.
All proceeds of the raffle will go towards helping the citizens of Haiti rebuild their home as well as their lives. Please continue to show your support by purchasing a raffle ticket for 50 cents at the merchandise stand!

CHAIRING

What makes a good Chair?

By Divya Sharan

 

"Sometimes I find my Chairs are factually wrong."

"My Chair doesn't know the rules!"

"I raised my placard a million times, but my Chair still won't recognize me!"

These are just some of the sentiments that delegates in various committees expressed when asked to offer constructive criticism about their Chairs. Perhaps not the response that the Chairs would have hoped for from the delegates, but Ms. Dubock was of a different opinion about the Chairs saying, "they get better and better every year" and that she was "pleased with the Chairs this year."
She further added that the workshop run by Mr. Ouriel Reshef from the American School of Paris was "very successful." The workshop, she said, doesn't simply teach the Chairs about general procedure, but also teaches them the importance of bonding as a team and about other qualities that make a good student officer. Delegates in different committees seemed to agree with the THIMUN Board's list of qualities in good student officers.
Ms. Dubock said the first quality of a good Chair is impartiality. A Chair should remain unbiased during debate and give all delegates an equal opportunity to speak. If a team of student officers works together well and keeps a list of who has spoken and who has not, then every delegate can get a chance to speak when he or she raises his or her placard. The delegate of Syria in Human Rights Committee, Sagar Khemani, from the International School Manila, agrees that "there is absolutely no need for a Chair to constantly pick on the same delegate in the interest of debate, because even delegates who are not fully pertinent to the topic can often contribute to discussion."
The second quality of a good Chair is knowing the procedures well. A Chair who is well informed about debating procedures can quell the qualms that the delegates in the committee may have. Such a chair gives delegates confidence and helps make debate flow. Ms. Dubock added that "a Chair should show no arrogance and instead should encourage delegates in their committees." Speaking about making delegates comfortable, Ms. Dubock said that "the Chair should put non-native English speakers at ease during debate when they are nervous."
The final quality of a good Chair is being flexible to the delegates' needs depending on the situation, which the Secretary General, Alessandro Guglielmi, feels is the most important quality. Ms. Dubock termed this as being "quietly authoritative." A good chair needs to be firm and also have a sense of humour to appease the committee. Ian Nightingale, delegate of UNCHR in Special Conference 2 from John Burroughs School, agreed saying "laughing is an important part of debating."
With these three qualities, an average Chair can become a good Chair, perhaps even an excellent Chair. These characteristics are what the delegates look for in their Chairs. Perhaps, if Chairs are able to incorporate these three qualities into the manner in which they conduct debate, the delegates too will respond by displaying only those qualities that Chairs look for in delegates. We will leave the final judgment on how the Chairs performed up to you.

 

 

SOMALIA in GA 4

Somali, Palestine and Cyprus: GA4 unveiled

By: Mari-Ana Narbon

In this year's General Assembly, sub-committee four, one of the issues being discussed is the controversial topic of the creation of a stable Somali government in order to guarantee economic and social security in the country and the region. Delegates were urged to find solutions that remediate this matter as this is one of the most important problems faced in Africa and the world today. Regarding this issue, the President Chair of this committee, Cem Ucan from the American College Institute in Izmir, stated that "Somalia is an important part of our agenda. There were five resolutions made about this issue, and the debate has been really intense."
The Somali government is characterized by civil wars. As a result, there has been no stable government for decades. The power has been divided between two main groups: the Transitional Federal Government and the Islamic Courts of Union. The Transitional Federal Government, who has the support of the United Nations, is working on gaining control of the country, while the Islamic Courts of Union also battles for control. The constant war and a lack of government have destabilized the economic and social security of the country and the region. Another pressing problem in Somalia is the constant attacks of pirates. This hurts the economy and the well-being of its citizens. Furthermore, these conflicts put the population in continuous danger.
When asked about the quality of debate, President Chair Cem Ucan expressed that "it is not as heated as last year, but it is still good because the delegates are productive and the issues at hand are very interesting." Concerning the other issues, he said that "Cyprus and Palestine are really important issues that should be discussed." One of the resolutions debated yesterday was Resolution 180 on the assistance to Palestinian refugees. "Its main focus is on the Israeli-Palestine conflict and how it can end peacefully. It is a good resolution that involves a lot of debate since there are two strong opposing sides," said the delegate of Kuwait, Keun Hee Kim, from the Association of Korean Schools.
With this in mind, MUNITY would like to congratulate the GA4 committee for its great take on the issues as well as the creative and helpful solutions presented for these very important matters.

Environment Commission

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Roller Coaster at the Environment Commission.

By Aditya Naganath

 

James Ellis, the delegate of Micronesia of Kings College, Chester, had a bumpier ride than he expected before his resolution was passed. The resolution in question, concerned the effects of the global financial crisis on the environment. Ellis had formed a bloc with the United Kingdom and Austria, and the three had initially decided to work together to draft a resolution. However, due to conflicting views and increasing dissent amongst the trio, the United Kingdom decided to leave Elllis' bloc. Not a terribly major blow to Ellis, who managed to see his resolution pass through the advisory panel before it was being debated in committee.
That's when chaos struck! In the middle of the heated debate, the United Kingdom charged Ellis and his Austrian ally with a plagiarized resolution. He then proceeded to evade questions by absconding, leaving the Environmental Commission in utter commotion. This was soon followed by a motion by the UK's to table Ellis' resolution.
Upset by the unfolding events, Ellis met with Deputy Secretary General Lara Nonninger and the President of his Commission, providing them with evidence of the originality of his resolution. Following the meeting, the UK representative decided to revert to his original stand and 'untable' Ellis' resolution. Austria and Micronesia had reworded the resolution after the meeting; as it is, he had lost interest in the matter at hand and didn't want to create more trouble. While this was favorable to Ellis, such an action would still need a two third majority in the Commission and due to the existing accusations of plagiarism, James was wary of majority opinion.
The vote proved to be nail biting with Ellis acquiring a two third majority by only two votes! However, after these (to him) scary and unexpected events, Ellis was able to breathe easy as his resolution was finally passed in Commission.

 

THIFUN

THIFUN: Striking The Perfect Balance

by Aditya Naganath, - Dhirubhai Ambani International School

 

Providing a perfect balance of seriousness and fun, THIMUN XLII seems to be unfolding into a huge success. The vibrant and exciting atmosphere at the conference is palpable the minute one opens those doors to the World Forum, with delegates greeted by passionate MUNITY members seeking to bear the fruits of their labor.
Once delegates enter their respective committees, they are welcomed by intense debate on issues of extreme global importance, some of which are discussed at the United Nations. Delegates at THIMUN are well behaved… maybe 'too' well behaved says Ambika Vora (Deputy President – Economic and Social Council) – "a little squeak in the microphone asking for order and everyone goes silent. It can get a bit creepy at times." MUNITY saw some quality resolutions proposed on issues ranging from cyber warfare to the current food crisis. Delegates definitely made some extremely pertinent points – "We shouldn't provide fish, we should teach how to fish." I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Ban Ki Moon secretly stole operatives from these resolutions. But enough of the serious stuff! Like I said, THIMUN has provided its fair share of hilarious moments.

• Under stressful conditions, Kuan Yu Shen (Editor in Chief – MUNITY 2010) isn't exactly the best grammarian. "Hey Aditya is it not only – but as well? no sorry sorry I know this. Not only- along with…Ahhhhhhh." Shen pleased herself with some fruit yoghurt before she recommenced her seemingly insurmountable endeavor. "How can I not know this?! I'm Chinese! I'm supposed to have remembered these from the SAT!" After a couple of minutes of deliberation and a little prodding from her colleagues, Shen's light bulb finally flashed – "Not only – but sometimes." Ouch. Stress does not suit our high command. (P.S – In a tranquil environment, she figured out it was not only – but also. KY as she is known, was recently accepted into Northwestern's prestigious Medill school of journalism.)
  
• An anonymous entity gave the administration a hard time. It tricked them into searching for a country delegation which didn't even exist; it took approximately three frantic rounds around the World Forum for them to realize that they had been duped.
  
• An interesting 'this resolution' quote: At the Disarmament Committee sub-commissions two, a delegate said 'this resolution is like British cuisine, it doesn't even exist and even if it did, it'd be fish and chips."
  

THIMUN XLII has arguably been a very entertaining conference with every participant having a great time both inside and outside their committees. This conference has raised the bar for the quality of experience that a participant enjoys. Hopefully, next year's conference will be just as lively and entertaining.

HUMAN RIGHTS

HRC: Hope comes from the depth of the World Forum
by Vera Bloemen and Liske Bruinsma

After receiving a note from Equatorial Guinea, saying: "Don't write about this [committee], it's NOT interesting!!!" and intercepting notes such as: "Hey there is a rumor going round that you have SUDOKUs, send us one?" from the Kingdom of Lesotho, as well as another off topic note, saying: "Hey! I don't like this too much… Anyways are you going out tonight?" from Burkina Faso, we didn't have any high expectations regarding the Human Rights Committee while descending to Atlantic. However, after witnessing a great debate on measures to prevent arbitrary detention and involuntary disappearances in civilian populations, I knew that in this committee too, delegates were working hard to find solutions to human rights violations.
Also, delegates had no option but to pay attention, because every once in a while they received a wakeup call from the squeaking microphone; thankfully DSG David Ollivier de Leth was there to save the day. Due to the fact that only one out of three resolutions have passed in sub-commission two so far and none in sub-commission one, we can say that the delegates are taking great care and making sure that only resolutions that will make a difference are passed. The single resolution that passed on measures to combat discrimination and social isolation of the disabled, was sure to be greatly detailed and welcomed many delegates to join in an intense debate.
According to the Chair, Naz Gurpinar, in sub-commission two "the committee is firing up right now" and she's looking forward to more debates to come. "[Even though] our delegates are a bit destructive, we also have some delegates who are pretty passionate." Overall, the chairs are positively excited for the days to come and hope that they can be proud of their delegates by the end of the week.

Due to great research done by the individual delegations they were able to discuss and argue the topics at hand, sometimes causing intense struggles between nations which lead to notes such as: "So.. I want an apology; make it very good and believable. An idea: fly a plane to me saying sorry".

When the issue on human trafficking arose one delegate came with the interesting fact that an average slave costs a mere ninety dollars around the world. Bearing in mind that there are approximately twenty-seven million slaves globally it is of great importance to comprehend the extent of human suffering and take great care in finding concrete and tangible solutions to the issue. In essence, it is the responsibility of both the UN and THIMUN to burst the bubble of unawareness concerning this issue.

The similarity between the both sub-commissions was outstanding: a weird fascination for lollypops. In sub-commission two, the delegation of Bulgaria asked the delegate of Haiti out for dinner and offered him a lollypop on the floor, whereas in sub-commission 1, the delegate of India sent a note saying; "India feels we didn't get off to the best start, but it would be nice if we are friends J Lolly?"
So let's hope the "lollies" will give them enough energy to keep the debate burning.

HRC: Hope comes from the depth of the World Forum
by Vera Bloemen and Liske Bruinsma

After receiving a note from Equatorial Guinea, saying: "Don't write about this [committee], it's NOT interesting!!!" and intercepting notes such as: "Hey there is a rumor going round that you have SUDOKUs, send us one?" from the Kingdom of Lesotho, as well as another off topic note, saying: "Hey! I don't like this too much… Anyways are you going out tonight?" from Burkina Faso, we didn't have any high expectations regarding the Human Rights Committee while descending to Atlantic. However, after witnessing a great debate on measures to prevent arbitrary detention and involuntary disappearances in civilian populations, I knew that in this committee too, delegates were working hard to find solutions to human rights violations.
Also, delegates had no option but to pay attention, because every once in a while they received a wakeup call from the squeaking microphone; thankfully DSG David Ollivier de Leth was there to save the day. Due to the fact that only one out of three resolutions have passed in sub-commission two so far and none in sub-commission one, we can say that the delegates are taking great care and making sure that only resolutions that will make a difference are passed. The single resolution that passed on measures to combat discrimination and social isolation of the disabled, was sure to be greatly detailed and welcomed many delegates to join in an intense debate.
According to the Chair, Naz Gurpinar, in sub-commission two "the committee is firing up right now" and she's looking forward to more debates to come. "[Even though] our delegates are a bit destructive, we also have some delegates who are pretty passionate." Overall, the chairs are positively excited for the days to come and hope that they can be proud of their delegates by the end of the week.

Due to great research done by the individual delegations they were able to discuss and argue the topics at hand, sometimes causing intense struggles between nations which lead to notes such as: "So.. I want an apology; make it very good and believable. An idea: fly a plane to me saying sorry".

When the issue on human trafficking arose one delegate came with the interesting fact that an average slave costs a mere ninety dollars around the world. Bearing in mind that there are approximately twenty-seven million slaves globally it is of great importance to comprehend the extent of human suffering and take great care in finding concrete and tangible solutions to the issue. In essence, it is the responsibility of both the UN and THIMUN to burst the bubble of unawareness concerning this issue.

The similarity between the both sub-commissions was outstanding: a weird fascination for lollypops. In sub-commission two, the delegation of Bulgaria asked the delegate of Haiti out for dinner and offered him a lollypop on the floor, whereas in sub-commission 1, the delegate of India sent a note saying; "India feels we didn't get off to the best start, but it would be nice if we are friends J Lolly?"
So let's hope the "lollies" will give them enough energy to keep the debate burning.

Child Soldiers

Silent Army: Story of a Child Soldier

By: Mari-Ana Narbon

After two long days filled with excitement and debate, the delegates of THIMUN XLII had the privilege to watch the film "Silent Army" by the Dutch director Jean Van de Velde, who was present during the showing. The film, released in 2008, shows the lives of a boy, Thomas, and his father, and how they are affected by the disappearance of Thomas' best friend, Abu. Abu was abducted by a rebel army that was dedicated to raising child soldiers. As he becomes more and more "brainwashed" by the leader, Obeke, the brutality and damage that armies as such create is shown in a more clear way to the viewers.

As the movie progressed, the horrors that the child soldiers go through, like having to kill their friends and family for their own survival, startled the audience, making some shed tears of sadness and anger. When the movie finished and the lights went on again, a feeling of change and resolution hovered in the auditorium which was filled with about 500 viewers. Even if initially many of the delegates present, felt tired or had other things in mind, by the end of the night there was one common thought shared by all: how do we fix this problem?

After the showing, Mr. Van de Velde entertained a session of questions and answers regarding the movie and the problem itself. This gave the delegates the opportunity to understand the deep repercussions of the existence of these armies and to see how there is a way to fix it. According to Mr. Alain Meidinger, member of the THIMUN Board of Directors, Mr. Van de Velde was "surprised by the questions that were asked. He had no idea they were going to be as deep as they were. The interaction with the delegates was very entertaining."

Thus, this year's movie had a strong impact on all of the delegates that watched it. An example of this is the delegation from the Hisar School in Turkey who were so shocked and touched that they stayed up late at night discussing the movie and what can be done about the issue. To those who missed it, MUNITY highly recommends it and thanks the director Mr. Jean Van de Velde for his time and dedication.

PGA Can Soylu

PGA Is A Crisis Solver

    This year's President of General Assembly (PGA) Can Soylu from Robert College of Istanbul, is like a hero of GA commitees. With what little spare time he has, he agreed to answer our questions and resolved a few more issues while answering the questions. We thank him very much for answering our questions.
Up to this point, how is THIMUN going from your point of view?
It's going very well. Sometimes small urgencies pop up but we are overcoming them. I am enjoying the ceremonies and debates very much.
What do you consider to be your best MUN moment?
There are more than one "best moments". The Closing Ceremony of my first RCIMUN was unforgettable; we said goodbye to many of the people we looked up to. Yet my truly "best moments" are the times when I got lost in Berlin, The Hague and Poland! Surprisingly, I somehow always ended up finding my way!
On the contrary, what was your worst MUN moment?
It was at my very first conference, at SPIMUN 2006. I was intensely working on a Point of Information and I was very passionate about delivering it. However the chair did not recognise me! In an anxious way I kept on working on my point and finally got the floor. So I asked my question, but unfortunately I had been working so hard on writing it down that I didn't notice that an amendment was being entertained and my question's timing was wrong. To make the long story short, everybody started shouting "Point of Order!". That's all I need to say!
What can you say to the delegates about the rest of the conference?
I encourge them to seize the opportunities instead of getting stuck with petty things. THIMUN only comes once a year!

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions! Keep up the good work!

WEMUN

MUNITY sat down with one of the MUN advisors, Mr. Leo Chen, to discuss the newly established conference WEMUN in China and more.

How did you become interested in the MUN program?

I got to know MUN during my freshman year in college at Beijing University. At that time only college students were involved in MUN. The first MUN club for high school was established in 2004, and it grew very quickly after that. However, the teachers [of the program] lacked experience, which led us to establish an organization to promote [MUN] education in Chinese local schools.

What does the organization overlook?

Weland International is an organization initiated in 2005. [It is] an educational organization that tries to promote education in China. We are a network, and local high schools connect with us; then schools can apply [for MUN activities]. [It is] an open opportunity for all schools. We travel together with the students and teachers, and provide them with MUN skills.

What is special about WEMUN?

[There are] unique features. This year a WEMUN exposition will take place. It is like a carnival where we invite [committees of] THIMUN, HMUN etc. They will [subsequently] choose [the] best and most unique committees and bring them to the conference.

What do you hope to achieve through this?

We try to focus on issues that developing countries are facing right now. After a few years, it is crucial for young people, for China, and for the rest of the world to know each other and to create a new channel to communicate. In the name of WEMUN, the "we" unites young people from all around the world like a family

What do you hope to take away from THIMUN to further enhance WEMUN?

[THIMUN], it's great. It is very international and competitive. [I like] the operation of the approval panel. The system is very good, involving directors and teachers. Also, opening ceremony was very good.

As Ms. Dubock, Chair of the THIMUN Board explains: "Leo has a particular way of approaching the organization through his enthusiasm that makes other people join him. He is a very important figure of MUN in China."

We wish you all the best Mr. Chen!

 

Water Quality

Tackling Water Quality Problems That Bedevil Our World
by Genna Snider
Poor quality of water is a constant worry for many Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs). The Environment Commission is in place to address concerns over increasingly serious environmental problems as well as their consequences for the global economy. While a wide range of environmental issues are being discussed at this years' THIMUN conference, including the continuing deforestation of the Amazon and the growing problem of greenhouse gases, the pressing issue of the availability of clean, unsullied water is most critical and is being discussed in Environment Sub-Commission 1.
Environment Sub-Commission 1 recognizes that environmental problems are global. There needs to be a worldwide consensus to ensure that clean, uncontaminated water reaches every human being in the world, from the heart of the Congo to the mountains of Tibet. Every year, 1.8 million people die worldwide due to waterborne diseases such as typhoid fever, diarrhea, hepatitis, and malaria. In Bangladesh alone, 110,000 children die annually due to contaminated water.
A resolution was submitted on Tuesday which called for "countries having water allocation disputes and countries with cross border water issues" to mediate those differences. The resolution also requested "a water report every year for those areas most affected by the lack of safe drinking water". The resolution suggested that nations "enable the most effective solutions to water shortages or contamination".
The atmosphere in the room was tense; many countries desired clarifications and asked a variety of questions. Water quality affects everybody and should thus be one of the main issues addressed by both THIMUN, the UN and the international community.

Disarmament

Disarming the Delegates at Disarmament

by Bavo Stevens

    Unlike the other commissions at the THIMUN conference, Disarmament Commissions one and two are not located in the World Forum. Instead, the delegates for the Disarmament Commissions have the opportunity to debate and lobby in either the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Warfare (OPCW) or the Crowne Plaza.

Disarmament One (DC1) is the only THIMUN commission located in the OPCW, a building that delegates can only enter after a stringent security check. But this fortified building is ideal for the delegates in DC1 who have been working with a serious and dedicated mindset. In fact, Admin staffs Kyra Borland-Walker and Caroline Walker have said that the delegates in the commission have been treating each other with respect and maturity. The debates have been constructive, Danny Lalani, a student from ACS Hillington representing Saint Vincent and Grenadines, said that the controversial points presented in the debates have sparked interesting discussions

Disarmament Two (DC2) has a similar atmosphere, but unlike DC1, DC2 is located in the Crowne Plaza. The delegates in DC2 have also had feverous debates, dishing out retorts about resolutions they oppose. The delegate of Peru, for example, mentioned that if had to circle all the flaws in the resolution the commission was debating he would have to circle the whole resolution.

The Disarmament Commissions has thankfully been able to lose the bad reputation that they have garnered during the previous conference. The OPCW warned delegates this year that any immature behavior could result in THIMUN no longer being able to use the OPCW as part of their conference. There were complaints last year about the noise and the mess the delegates were making in the bathrooms. Kyra Borland-Walker and Caroline Hamker told us however, that this year no such complaints have been made.

 

Youth Assembly

The TYA Takes on a New Stride

by Patricia Kim

    Maintaining their mission statement but going for a whole new structure, THIMUN Youth Assembly (TYA) started their second day with an inspiring guest speaker, Thom Woodrofe - the founder and Director of Left Right Think-Tank. This year more than every other year, TYA has invited numerous guest speakers to give motivational speeches to its members, and to emphasize the sheer importance of young people and their fresh ideas.
TYA took an an entirely new stride this year with the introduction of the idea of individual projects. The Conference had been working on group projects in previous years, which meant that the members of each committee contributed with different ideas to create a complete project for the pertaining topic. TYA 2010 officers approached the Conference differently."We thought coming up with only one project as a committee would be hard to be implemented in all countries," said Akua Nyame-Mensah, one of the Deputy Presidents. "By creating individual projects, members are able to project ideas and projects that pertain to their own country on a smaller scale."
    TYA includes four major committees: Environment, Sustainability, and Human Development (ESHD), Gender Issues (GI), Cultural Awareness, Human Rights and Globalization (CHRG), and Diseases and Development (DD). For the reason that these issues sometimes seem too broad, the individual projects come into the picture to allow participants to freely come up with various ideas of a much greater range.
    Selen Uman, a participant of DD, suggested raising awareness of cervical cancer in African countries, while Seungho Yang, another participant of DD is designing a program that can predict diseases or illnesses according to a person's symptoms. In CHRG, Raymond Ha is coming up with a plan to raise awareness of foreign migrant workers in South Korea.
One of the goals of TYA is to contribute to the capacity of youth to create, develop, and construct community specific projects via the workshops; after all, THIMUN Youth Assembly produces many of the youth's most innovative ideas.

Security Council

The Security Council

by: Vera Bloemen

As I arrived at Central America, the room assigned to the Security Council, I was greeted by a 'Do Not Disturb, We Are in Session' sign; the current resolution seemed to have triggered a passionate discussion amongst the members of the Security Council. After a severe "Could the delegates please come to order!" from one of the Deputy Presidents, everybody sat down hastily, only to immediately re-start the lively debate on the resolution at hand. The particular resolution was submitted by Australia and concerned the reform of the Security Council.

The temperature in the room rose as the debate on the first topic became more heated; however, the delegates remained focused and continued on, introducing some interesting ideas. The delegate of Austria, for example, explained that "every country should have a voice in the Security Council, not simply the countries that are lucky enough to be chosen." However, to rebut this suggestion it was argued that Austria suggestions for equality in representation were solely based on criteria that do not apply to all members of the Security Council.

Another issue debated on Tuesday was the issue of Piracy in Somalia. Most delegates felt that the underlying causes of the problem are extreme poverty and corruption within the country, as well as pollution in the sea. This widespread pollution rapidly depletes fish stocks, thereby removing the primary source of income and nutrition for most Somalis.

Additional topics to be discussed in the following days, include the Taliban with the reinforcement of military supplies in Afghanistan. Also on the agenda is the issue on the situation in the West Bank and Nuclear Disarmament, which, as China stated, is an "issue of global importance and security and a long-term problem."

When asked about his opinion of his committee, the President of the Security Council, Young Hyun Choi, answered that he was "very pleased; with the high level debates and four successfully passed resolutions, and there was no fraction." Deputy President Mick van der Valk added, "Our delegates are like Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They have to defeat trolls of issues and might have some internal struggles on the way, but they'll surely defeat the Darkness in the end."

ARAMCO

Aramco Gives Back

by Victoria Uwemedimo

Saudi Aramco is a Saudi Arabian state-owned national company and the world's largest oil corporation. The company produces on average 8.9 million barrels of crude oil per day (www.saudiaramco. com), employing tens of thousands of workers and having an estimated worth of billions of USD. Perhaps most importantly, Aramco strives in every way to make a positive impact, both on education and on the environment.

Aramco's proposal of sponsorship for this year's THIMUN conference was met with genuine enthusiasm and delight on the part of the THIMUN Board of Directors. The Board's Chair, Ms. Linda Dubock, explained that "Aramco thought it was a worthy cause to invest money in education. They thought THIMUN, being global and an accredited NGO, would be a great investment."

Indeed, the Saudi Arabian Oil Company's investment has ensured significant financial aid for the conference. Aramco donated money to THIMUN with 'no strings attached', wishing to invest in a good cause. And with that said, the THIMUN Board of Director's chose to use the money in different ways, including the financial sponsorship of seven students so that they could attend the conference. These students are from the United World College of South East Asia (UWCEA) in Singapore. One of the fortunate students, Guatemalan Jorge Rivera, said "I would like to thank Aramco for the opportunity it has given to students from UWCEA to attend THIMUN. It's a great opportunity to experience what it is to come together as a whole world for a common goal."

Additionally, Aramco is committed to "[operating] in an environmentally responsible manner". The oil company has put into place numerous requirements for itself, such as "waste management procedures and vital oil spill contingency plans" which ensure an effective way of counteracting any negative effect that the corporation may have on our eco-system.

Aramco's interest in world affairs and the environment can be said to be inspiring at the very least. Unquestionably, we are grateful to Aramco for their generosity, which is matched with the same desire we share: to give back.

POLL

QUESTIONNAIRE – POLL.

by All Reporters.

    Long before THIMUN was bursting in everyone's mind – that is, around November- MUNITY asked its members to interview a few chosen delegates from their own schools with a common set of questions. We received a variety of responses: lengthy answers, short, concise statements, and some that were just plain bizarre. Below is the questionnaire these students received, along with select, hand-picked answers.

1. HOW EFFECTIVE DO YOU THINK THE UN IS AS A PEACEKEEPING FORCE?
2. WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE LEAST FUN PART OF AN MUN CONFERENCE?
3. IF YOU WERE TO DESCRIBE MUN WITH A SONG, WHICH SONG WOULD YOU PICK?
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE OVERALL TOPIC FOR NEXT YEAR'S CONFERENCE?

1. "Although the United Nations has proven to be effective, it could do better. Security, being one of the pillars of the UN, lies in the hands of the Security Council. The Security Council has the responsibility of international peace. Any action proposed can be vetoed by one of the five permanent members; hence, the decisions made may not be the best ones." – Sebastian Naranjo (11), International School of Panama

"Effective enough; its existence has helped to cool things down, but there is no complete tranquility. But it keeps conflicts to a minimum." – Anwar Akrouk (11), ACS Amman
"I think the UN has been a failure in keeping peace in our world….it seems that the UN at times is not much more than a medium for the US to bully other countries into accepting war." – Dillon Van Auken (11), ACS Cobham International School
"Our best shot at world peace as of now." – Stephanie Char (12), Seoul International School
"I believe that the UN is quite effective as a peacekeeping force. Many things in the world have changed because of the UN. It has impacted people all over the globe because the UN was able to be insightful and think of new and effective ideas at the conferences. "– Vicki Ko (10), International School of Beijing 

"I personally believe the UN is almost as effective as it gets, and that we would be nowhere without it. " – Madeleine Versteeg (12), Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar
--- ----

2. "Eating Gouda cheese all week – because that's what they eat in Holland… Right?" –
Laurelle Remzi (12), British School of Paris

"When a resolution could have easily been passed an hour ago but for some reason people keep on voting to change little details." – Sebastian Becht (11), ACS Cobham International School
"The stress of lobbying and merging. Sometimes you get lucky and find a really cooperative group to work with, but sometimes your group consists of over dominating delegates whose sole objective is to get their delegation printed at the top of the resolution." – Aurore Nedellec (12), International School of Beijing
"I don't like it when people get all up in your face about a resolution or a certain point, because they can get really obnoxious. People like that just spoil the fun of the debate." – Kimi Rodriguez (11), International School of Manila
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3. "I Gotta' Feeling – Black Eyed Peas" – Shloka Sharan (10), International School of Manila
"Waiting on the World to Change – John Mayer" – Raymond Ha (12), Seoul International School
"Let the Bodies Hit the Floor – Drowning Pool" – Nicholas Cointepas (12), Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar
"We Are The World – Michael Jackson." – Kipp Clarke (11), British School of Paris 
"Magic – Klaxons (for when people are speaking) and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (for when it's boring). – Roberto Cerina (12), British School of Paris
---- --
4. "Re-establishment of the UN Charter, Specially Focusing on the Security Council" – Can Alaluf (11), Işikkent High School
"Environmental Sustainability" – Omar Abbas (11), International School of Panama 

"Slavery" - Silvia Correia (12), British School of Paris
"The Preservation of People in an Age of Globalization" – Yeeun Chun (10), Seoul International School

"Nuclear weapons or arms" – Raheem Abid (12), International School of Manila

Plenary Speeches

Plenary Speeches Grab Attention

By: Bavo Stevens and Brianna Felegi

    It was with great passion and enthusiasm that Ambassadors approached the podium of the General Assembly yesterday. Many of the delegates addressed issues concerning this year's theme of Good Governance, advocating the need for more international cooperation so that countries can achieve peace and prosperity. As Olympia Fellipeli, Ambassador of the delegation of Yemen from the American Community School of Athens stressed, this year's conference should be "about collaboration and not competition."

    Indeed, most speeches focused on increasing international cooperation. Charlotte Murphy, the Ambassador for the delegation of the U.S.A, from St. Andrew's College in Dublin, affirmed that "the future does not belong to just one nation." Other countries agree, Mike Lien, Ambassador of the delegation of Bolivia from the International Secondary School of Eindhoven, told the General Assembly that he saw the United Nations as a stack of papers, every paper representing a different country. As he put it, one country easily tears, but a stake of them doesn't. Delegations addressed the General Assembly yesterday with the hope that their work will result in a broader international community, stressing the fact that many of the planet's problems cannot be solved individually. Daniel Benarroch, Ambassador of the delegation of Argentina from the International College of Spain, "countries need to work together to solve problems that affect us all."

Not all speeches came with the same degree of optimism however. Other delegations noted with trepidation the tumultuous challenges that the world faces. Mohammed Omar, Ambassador of the delegation of Algeria from the Overseas Family School, stated that "we are in hell right now," passionately noting the importance of continued cooperation and progress as a way back from the rut we are in. Other countries noted the immense challenge that many countries, especially those in Africa, face combating malaria, and that the threat of climate change looms ever closer, emphasizing that the next decade may well see the first climate change refugees. Even these speeches, however, emphasized the need for more global collaboration. It was clear that whether the speeches given at the General Assembly look favorably towards the future or not, most, if not all, stressed the importance of global cooperation.

HAITI

Haiti Struggles to Recover and Develop

by Genna Snider

A country already struggling with grappling diseases, lack of sufficient primary education and extreme poverty, Haiti has been struck by a horrific natural disaster, leaving more than 150,000 people dead and thousands more missing. An earthquake of 7.0 on the Richter scale swept through the Republic of Haiti on January 12, 2010. Countless buildings collapsed, trapping people for days. Haiti is no stranger to crisis as the country faces hurricanes all year round. However, this earthquake has left the nation devastated.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Covering only 27,750 square kilometers, it is located on the Western side of the island Hispaniola, sharing the island with the Dominican Republic.

The country is plagued with disease and poverty. The possibility of catching an infectious disease in Haiti is high, and diseases such as hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever are common among children. Less than 40% of the population has access to basic health care and 90% of Haiti's children suffer from waterborne diseases and parasites. Only 65.9% of the population is literate with a mere 30% of the children making it to the sixth grade.

Political instability is the bane of Haiti's existence due to extensive foreign intervention in the past, establishing a tumultuous precedent. There have been thirty-two coups in the 200 years since Haiti gained independence from Spain. Eight thousand UN workers have inhabited Haiti since 2004 and are still attempting to keep civil peace and to improve the country's overall conditions.

Ultimately, this French-speaking country gratefully accepts millions of dollars each year in aid, and they remain in continued need of foreign aid, not only to alleviate the distress caused by the recent natural disaster but also to improve its health care and education systems. This financial assistance is critical in order to save the future of this deteriorating country.

Delegates, please remember to purchase raffle tickets to win the Teddy MUN bear. Tickets are being sold for only fifty cents at the Merchandise Stand! Proceeds will go to a charity in Haiti chosen by Her Royal Highness, Princess Mabel von Oranje-Nassau, to aid in the relief efforts for the most recent earthquake.

General Assembly

General Assembly Committees Get Real

by Jessica Gao

This year's GA consists of six committees in total, each addressing a different set of issues including disarmament and international security, economical and financial, social/humanitarian and cultural, special political and decolonization, administration and budgetary and legal.

At the start of the conference, the six committees were combined, and each delegation had one representative deliver the opening speech which presented the delegations' stances on the issues. Following the opening speeches and the conclusion of lobbying, the six committees commenced debate independently.

The overall atmosphere of the GA plenary was positive and hopeful, with most of the opening speeches conveying a sense of eagerness for action to solve the pressing issues at hand. Many delegates quoted great leaders of our time, including Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama, who are both great representatives of this year's conference theme – Good Governance.

This spirit of collaboration and cooperation carried through to debate in the separate committees. The delegates focused on the durability, sustainability, and plausibility of the resolutions at hand, as the delegate of Norway of GA4 and the delegate of Micronesia of GA3 clearly examined what a resolution shouldn't be in order for it to be successful. Even though the delegate of Norway's topic was on assistance to Palestinian refugees, and the delegate of Micronesia, on comprehensive implementation of and follow up to the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, both delegates commented on how a resolution should provide the right amount of detail, not too much and not too less, for it to be plausible. The delegate of Russia from GA5 also expressed similar concerns when she conveyed the missing realistic factor of the United States' resolution on the scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of United Nations peacekeeping operations. It seemed that many delegates of GA committees this year have had plenty of experience in the MUN circle, bringing the quality of the resolutions up to a whole new level.

The resolutions that did not supply plausible clauses and solutions were not so lucky. In GA2, debate on the topic of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba resulted in an unsuccessful thirty-nine for, seventy six against, and eighteen abstentions on the resolution. This is largely due to the unrealistic clauses proposed.

However, debates in the GAs are generally less heated this year, as delegates seem to be more willing to submit amendments, showing a willingness to improve the resolutions rather than a thirst to destroy it. Hopefully, the GA committees will be able to, through collaborative efforts, produce the necessary, high quality resolutions for the plenary session on Friday.

International Court of Justice

ICJ: The Lighter Side of the Law

by Divya Sharan

As I stepped into the room, I struggled to stand under the weight of the air pushing down on me – a sensation distinctly different from the lightness of the air on the other side of the door. The thick air was split by the voice of Brian Pettitt-Scheiber, the advocate of Belgium, from Atlanta International School, as he presented his opening statement along with evidence to support his claims.

This is the manner in which proceedings began on Monday morning in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The first case put forth to the Court, as mentioned in an unofficial press release from the ICJ, was a dispute between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of Senegal "regarding Senegal's compliance with its obligation to prosecute the former President of Chad, Hissène Habré, or to extradite him to Belgium for the purposes of criminal proceedings". By Tuesday evening, both sides would have presented their evidence. From then on, it is up to the sixteen judges in the ICJ to deliberate the final outcome of the case.

The serious expressions on the faces of everyone in the room are representative of the nature of their work. However, that doesn't stop members of the ICJ from having fun, too. On Monday morning, the advocates, judges, and officers took a short trip to the International Peace Palace in The Hague where the actual ICJ meets.

Judge Ayesha Dayaram, from International School Manila, commented, "The trip to the International Peace Palace was my best experience in the Hague so far. It was really informative and it really put our work in the ICJ into perspective." Other delegates agreed with her sentiments. Judge Jacqueline Cremos, from American Community Schools, Athens, was impressed by how "the culturally diverse mix of artwork represented the international atmosphere of the ICJ."

Aside from the meeting, members of the ICJ also took time out on Monday to plan a surprise birthday party for Deputy President, Guan Zhen Tan, from Mont' Kiara International School. He later commented that "it was the sweetest thing ever."

Such moments were hard to come by in the course of the day. After all, the ICJ is a judicial court. Both Tan and Mr. Stern, the ICJ Advisor, looked forward to serious debate in the coming few days. Tan said he was looking forward to "seeing deep debate and people reading between the lines of the law," while Mr. Stern said he looked forward to the students "getting it" – "understanding the legal process and using the right terminology." There is no doubt that the pressure in the room will intensify, but the members of the ICJ can look forward to lighter moments both outside the meeting, such as an informative trip on Wednesday, as well as lighter moments during proceedings in the ICJ.

APQUAR

Advisory Panel

by: Liske Bruinsma

This year's Advisory Panel on the Question of the Arctic Region (APQAR) consists of 28 experts; their task is to provide the Security Council (SC) with a final proposal to rectify the problems concerning the Arctic region after their discussion on the topic.

According to Laure Joumier, Deputy President of the APQAR, the "world's attention must be focused on the Arctic Region" to prevent the effects of global warming from expanding. The international community "must take action", as explained by Raheem Abid, the other Deputy President of the APQAR, "if we solve the question of the Arctic region this can be the first step to solving global warming,". The experts showed their "deep concern" on the "dreadful situation" of the Arctic region in their "passionate opening speeches", and are extremely motivated to create an effective proposal for the Security Council, Joumier confirmed enthusiastically.

Each of the five issues is of either political or humanitarian concern, and will be addressed over the course of the week. Therefore the panel will be divided into two different groups who will be debating in a clause-by-clause format during the first days of the conference. By discussing each clause in an Ad-Hoc debate, all experts can show their concern and interests for each clause. Later on in the week, the entire APQAR will come together to discuss the proposal as a whole, before presenting it to the Security Council. Afterwards, the Panel will meet once again with the SC to receive feedback in respect to the individual clauses compiled in the proposal.

The issues to be discussed in the panel regard the primary issues that must be dealt with when trying to solve the question at hand. Principally the experts must work together to discuss the issues concerning the claim to and ownership of the waters between the neighboring countries. Other issues to be discussed include the access and ownership of the Arctic seabed resources, and the development of maritime and commercial routes from/to the Atlantic Ocean to/from the Pacific Ocean to ensure that transportation in the Arctic region evolves in a sustainable way. While effectively discussing the aforementioned topics, the protection of the fauna and flora in the Arctic Area must be adhered to, as well as the place and role of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic Area.

After a morning of getting used to the rules and procedures that must be adhered to during the conference, the experts actively came together to discuss their clauses and improve them in all ways possible. While in session the experts believed that through "direct negotiations" present organizations must coordinate and organize an improvement in seabed mapping. Furthermore, the Exxon Mobile Group continues to "fight for the rights of indigenous people" to prevent any "exploitation" that may arise.

The experts form an intimate, and smaller group within the conference; thus undeniably, by the end of it all, the experts will develop a lasting friendship.

Animal Cruelty

Looking Inside the Pitiless World of Fur Factory Farms

by Victoria Uwemedimo

More than half of finished fur clothing imported for sale in The United States of America originates from fur farms in China. This may not seem like an important or a particularly shocking figure until it is paired with the fact that there are no existing rules or regulations concerning Chinese fur farms – the farmers are free to raise and slaughter the animals on their farm as they wish. Thus animals find themselves forced to lead a claustrophobic existence, coupled with the brutality of agonising pain.
They live lives filled with the dread of surviving another day and with no escape from their horrifying fate.

The quantity of energy required in order to manufacture a genuine fur coat amounts to roughly fifteen times the quantity of energy required to produce a fake-fur garment. The ecological issues implicit in fur factory farming are difficult, even impossible, to ignore. Additionally, due to the chemical treatment that the garments receive in order to keep them from decomposing, fur is not biodegradable. Similarly, such chemical agents are detrimental to the environment as they often cause water contamination.

Yet another appalling fact about fur farming is that some of the animals' hearts continue to beat for five to ten minutes after they have been skinned. This is perhaps the most significant fact of all. It mirrors our unnecessary cruelty and utter lack of compassion at times. It mirrors the inhumanity of human nature and the shameful corruption of our morals. It mirrors the blissful imperviousness we enjoy through bare ignorance. The way in which we treat animals has various grave repercussions on the world we live in. It can be conceded that diverse measures have in fact been put into place in order to avoid animal cruelty in fur factory farms, such as the EU dog and cat fur ban of 2007 and the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act of 2000 in the United Kingdom. Nonetheless, we are certainly all morally responsible – indeed morally reprehensible – for the violence occurring in our world today, both towards humans and towards animals.

ECOSOC

The Session in a Far Far Away Committee

Attending the sessions in another building can be both difficult and interesting at the same time. The ECOSOC delegates are very well aware of this fact. Debating about world issues under a huge dinosaur skeleton is a pretty fascinating experience; however going to the Museon from the Convention Centre is hardly achieved without being frozen to death.
The session of the committee started almost an hour late. While the delegates were waiting for the session to start, they continued lobbying informally, listened to music, or read their copy of MUNITY. When the Chairs arrived, they quickly informed the House about the agenda of the day and the session finally started. First, the Deputy Secretary General, David Ollivier de Leth, made an opening statement regarding the committee. He emphasized the significance of the committee's agenda and wished the house a fruitful session. After his speech, the delegations were asked to deliver their opening speeches, which started with Romania until it was time to adjourn for lunch.
After overcoming the cold and bumpy (especially if you were in high heels!) journey to the Convention Centre for lunch, the delegates came back and had an indoor recess. Following that the debate started at last. The first issue concerned the challenges imposed by illegal organizations to society and good governance. After submitting the resolution, the main submitter delivered the usual explanation of it, deciding to entertain as many points of information as the Chairs allowed. On a funnier note, at the beginning of the session there had been many Points of Personal Privilege due to audibility; yet the wireless microphone was brought to the rescue.

MUNITY wishes the ECOSOC committee good luck in THIMUN as well as in future conferences.

secrets of success

Selection Process and Preparation Leads to THIMUN Success
by Bavo Stevens

The competition is tough. Sometimes there are more than a hundred applicants for twelve highly coveted delegate spots. Essays need to be written, speeches prepared, intensive research needs to be done; and all of these before we are even chosen as delegate! With that said, the conclusion is obvious: THIMUN violently gets us to feel the true numbing power of a selection process. Those long waits outside the interview rooms, the insistent clattering of stiff knees, and alternatively the way in which time leading onto the final decision seemed to creep by, are all things we became painfully aware of. After all, regarding the interview process, how can we be expected to, with a meager three minutes, explain how MUNtastic we are?
It just isn't fair. Therefore, lesson of the day: if you're here, congratulations; you've made it.
And thus begins the long, cumbersome, but rewarding preparation phase. In just a few months, we are changed from (hopefully) idealistic youths to (hopefully) idealistic delegates. As Manuel Ramos, delegate of the Dominican Republic, put it, to be successful at THIMUN, one should be interested in doing only good. But the transformation from idealist youth to idealistic delegate doesn't happen overnight. With the help of our THIMUN advisors, we master the skills that will help sharpen the dull edges of politics as we know it today.
According to many delegates, no lesson has been lost on them. Sweat, blood, and tears are put in their work, and with the help of their THIMUN advisors, they've become successful delegates through the mastery of these age old.


Lesson 1: The Art of Speaking. Eloquence in your way of speech will make you look intelligent, confident, and resolute even if you aren't intelligent, confident, or resolute. By mastering the Art of Speaking you will be able to inflame the hearts of millions to your cause. Patrick McGuire, a Chair of General Assembly Two, commented that to be successful at THIMUN one should be an excellent public speaker.
Lesson 2: Research. At THIMUN, research plays an essential since it's the foundation of all our interactions. From the delegates who need to know almost everything about their country to the chairs who need to memorize around 4,000 words of information, research is essential. Research has prevented proclamations of naval warfare by landlocked countries.
Lesson 3: Know your way around. Preparation for THIMUN often goes beyond the conference itself. Tourism is an integral part of most, if not all, delegations that travel to The Hague. For many schools, especially those outside the region, THIMUN is also an opportunity to travel around Europe. Some delegations even studied Parisian metro maps before going sightseeing.
Lesson 4: Pack Wisely. Packing is also an important part of the trip, and for some delegates, a challenging one. THIMUN advisors from tropical regions have mentioned that packing for the cold has been nearly impossible. Coats, sweaters, and thick socks were borrowed from friends or family, and most probably thoroughly washed. But otherwise, complaints about packing have been limited to socks and gloves, articles of clothing that can be easily replaced in The Hague.
It is clear that this year THIMUN delegates have been well prepared.
Furthermore, remember to practice sitting on chairs because as the World Forum Conference Center wisely announced "due to safety regulations, sitting on the stairs is forbidden at all times."

The Art of Lobbying

Discovering The Art of Lobbying

by Aditya Naganath, Dhirubhai Ambani International School

Delegates looking to make their mark in this year's conference seized the very first opportunity they got – the 'Lobbying' session. As the adage goes, 'first impressions are last impressions' and this is exactly what delegates kept in mind when they sought not only to impress their allies (and their chairs!) but also to intimidate their adversaries. Of course, the most successful delegates did employ some 'sophisticated' MUN techniques, some of which I have taken the liberty to enumerate for you:

• Well Researched: Well prepared delegates like Amy Zheao (Delegate of UK) entered the conference not only with clear objectives but also with enough firepower to bamboozle other delegates who were not as well researched, assimilating them in her bloc in the process.
  
• Laptops! : It has been proven MUNtifically that delegates tend to crowd around the person who wields technology. Fernando Zanardi (Delegates of Antigua and Bermuda) seemed to have cracked the system as he watched others swarm around him, each dictating their own preambs and operatives. When the dust has settled, the credit goes to him. Those clauses did come from his laptop after all.
  
• Eloquence Worked: Nikhil Lalvani (Delegate of Peru) was extremely fluent and glib when communicating with other delegates. He evidently knew that eloquence always creates the notion of intellect, whether or not one has the content backing one up. A majority of the delegates used it as a marketing tool to get recognized. It was observed that delegates were attracted to the eloquent and glib talkers, not the reticent fact spewing robots and rightly so! It's always important to have something to say and to say it well.
  
• Associating with others: Mitchell Norstrom (Delegate of Botswana) realized that even if he doesn't know the delegate next to him, it pays to hang out with him anyway. Nobody likes to be stranded without a bloc/ group after or for that matter, during lobbying. Norstrom, like many other delegates, was attracted to those whom he felt knew others as everyone seeks to be a part of some sort of circle. It was also amusing to see delegates who had no real stand on an issue, approached by a couple of other people; the numbers game does have a profound psychological impact on a delegate's decisions.
  
• Some Schmoozed: "I'll give you chocolate if you recognize me" – these unforgettable words to the General Assembly 2 Chair Rabia Majeed, clearly explicate the kind of under hand tactics certain delegates employed during the lobbying session. That said, softening the chair up a bit can grant certain privileges: an extra minute to speak, your overly aggressive behavior overlooked from time to time etc. The accumulation of these minutiae may actually reap rich rewards at the end of the day – like one's resolution being passed for example. It's nice to see that some delegates are meticulously planning for their future.
  

After an extremely fruitful session of lobbying, it will be interesting to see what delegates do next when the real conference begins. With the amount of planning put into the lobbying session, one can only imagine their output during discussion time. It looks like THIMUN XLII will unfold into a very enriching and fulfilling conference.

(On an off note: While I may not be the most experienced delegate, I do know that during lobbying, a delegate must adhere to his country's stand rather than act on his emotions. As a reporter, it was surprising to see delegates representing conflicting countries work together in the lobbying session purely because they wanted to form a bloc, knew that person or needed to be authors of resolutions. A baffled chair recounted how she was once presented with a resolution co – submitted by Russia and the USA! Talk about irony! To some of the aspiring and relatively inexperienced delegates out there, it is imperative to stick to one's stand not only because one is 'representing' that country but also to preserve the reality of a Model United Nations that gives it its name.)

Security Council

The Veto Power Reform in the Security Council

"I forbid!" That's what Vyacheslav Molotov, also known as Mr. Veto, meant by using the power to veto. Since fifty-one countries adopted the UN Charter in 1945, the veto power has been used many times for the sake of international diplomacy and world peace. Although the system has worked successfully for over half a century, the veto power of the UN has always been a controversial issue among the states of the Security Council since it was established.
When we look back through history, the veto power was established just after the founding of UN. In sixty-five years the veto power was used 261 times in total, almost three times per year. The vetoing record belongs to the Russian Federation and its predecessor the Soviet Union with 123 vetoes and the country with the least amount of vetoes is China with six in total. Even though the record belongs to the Russian Federation, the United States has used the veto power eleven times in recent years, mostly on the controversial issues concerning Israel.
The effect of veto power is essential in guiding resolutions, although the pros and cons of vetoes are debatable. Those advocating the veto power, mostly the Permanent Five countries, imply that the utilization of it is rare and that it is essential for the collaboration of the P5 countries. They suggest that since the international arms control agreements are the responsibility of the Security Council, the veto power is needed in the monitoring of the applications of arms. On the other hand, some groups such as the G4 bloc, formed by Brazil, China, India and South Africa, advocate reform by limiting the veto power, requiring agreements from multiple states before using it or even abolishing it entirely. Some voiced concerns that the national interests of the P5 can stunt the process of peacekeeping. In addition to these opinions, some argue that countries like Brazil, Japan and Germany should be a part of the permanent states to balance power distribution within the Security Council.
The hint of reform has already been given with a proposal concerning the increase in the number of permanent states made by the G4. It seems that the strong policies of nations and the sensitivity of the issue may heat up the process of the reform.