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€1 THURSDAY January 26, 2012
SEAS AND OCEANS
Conference Chairs Battle With Being Friend or Foe Page 4
Afternoon Off for THIMUN offers Cultural Opportunities Page 2
Don’t be baffled by the raffle!
Exploring the depths of seas and oceans with THIMUN’s keynote speaker
HANNAH HEMPERLY and SEKHEENA DESLORIEUX MONT´ KIARA IS
LEILA ELABBADY IS BRUSSELS FROM age three, when she first felt the ocean’s waves crashing at her feet, Sylvia Earle claims that pursuing oceanography was “irresistible and inevitable” for her. She claims never to have lost her childish sense of wonder that fuels her curiosity and drive for discovery. Living most of her life underwater, Earle dedicated her life to discovering the unexplored. When asked about her most memorable expedition, Dr Earle replied with ‘Always the next one.’ Even after retirement she continues to have a drive for discovery and exploration. The speech Dr Earle gave during the opening ceremony of THIMUN XLIV on Monday inspired THIMUN delegates to take advantage and contribute to the beginning of the era of exploration. Less than 5% of the Earth’s oceans and seas have been seen; thus we, as the upcoming generation, have a lot to find - let alone understand. As the keynote speaker for THIMUN XLIV, Earle hoped to spread her love
Dr Sylvia Earle’s message at Opening Ceremony has remained with the delegates throughout the week for the ocean to the delegates, and encourages us all to ‘get in the water and dive at some point,’ in our lives. She believes that ‘the highest priority today is to protect the natural systems of our world, and, although the environment is suffering at the cost of growing businesses, it is urgent for
us to use our well-trained minds to be more sustainable.’ According to Dr Earle, it is vital for people to recognize early in their career the critical importance of diversity in achieving the sustainability of the natural systems. Therefore, THIMUN becomes an or-
ganization that fosters the inspiration for respecting one another, regardless of culture or religion, and understanding the concept of dignity and internationality. Many THIMUN participants who listened to Dr Earle’s speech expressed a sudden interest and desire
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MAKE sure to buy a raffle ticket for the chance to win THIMUN’s mascot teddy bear Muney III or his new friends Delphina the Dolphin and Squirtle the Turtle! You can find the raffle tickets for €0.50 on the second floor where all THIMUN merchandise is sold. In accordance with this year’s theme – Seas and Oceans, all proceeds go to Greenpeace, an organization dedicated to maintaining the fragile place we call home. Remco van der Zwaag, the Treasurer on the Board of THIMUN, notes this as “a chance to show your care and concern for the rest of the world.”
to experience diving and life underwater, in order to better understand the world around us. Overall, delegates, directors, admin staff, and guests all found her speech exciting and wondrous, as we all learned more about the myriad of life unexplored and waiting to be discovered.
She’s the Man: Women in THIMUN HANNAH HEMPERLY MONT´ KIARA IS
THERE are a total of 2,944 students participating in THIMUN this year, and 1,563 of these students are female. In selecting student officers, the Board tries to maintain a balance of “male and female, junior and senior, and multiracial [officers],” explains Ms Linda Dubock, the Chair of the THIMUN Board. Model United Nations has always continued to be an activity in which women are involved more than their
male counterparts, especially in The Hague where there have been more female Secretary Generals than male. Ms Dubock does not believe that there is any real reason to account for this. The position of Secretary General is not the only position this year that is held by a woman – Leonie Reese -- but also the position of President of the General Assembly, which is held by Nina Kamaruddin of Mont’ Kiara International School in Malaysia.
Ms Kamaruddin believes that this position is not any more demanding for a woman versus a man, but sometimes, she says, “it is difficult to regain the respect of the male delegate, but I feel like I’ve done a good job.” Ms Dubock says selecting Kamaruddin as President was a “big deal – she was so perfect, so cool and so calm.” Any and all positions of the THIMUN conference are open to both men and women with the sufficient qualifications. How-
ever, some schools do not always offer the same opportunities for their female students. These female students cannot come to the conference because of a variety of social and religious limitations, which is why THIMUN has brought the conference to them. One example of this is the conference THIMUN Qatar held in Doha, where the women are not only eager to speak about the issues but also “eloquent and elegant in their speeches,” says Ms. Dubock. continued on page 5
Funny notes around the conference
CONFERENCE NEWS 2
Editors in Chief Caroline Ludeman Isabelle Stillman Text Editors SeoHyun Bae Hannah Hemperly Yasemin Parlar Lily Rivkin Reporters Laura Antuna Anna Bradley-Webb Sekheena Deslorieux Mariana Domingues Leila Elabbady Maximilian Enthoven Dina Farag Sophia Hengelbrok Vicky Liu Isla McDougall Alexandra Miller Aury Naranjo Allison Shapiro Charlotte Smith Layout Rebecca McDonald Nicole Novey Tyler Payne James Roh Photographers Tamara Bastaki Maggie Bliss Tomas Clarkson Leah Cumming Anna Soer
THE THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
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Commisions get cultured AURY NARANJO IS PANAMA
Every year during the conference, THIMUNers are given Wednesday afternoon where meetings end at two instead of five. With this time, delegates and MUN Directors are free to go and do whatever they please. These three extra hours can be used to explore the city they have been staying at for the last couple of days. Some go even further as to travel outside the city in Amsterdam. Others, however, prefer to stay in and use the day instead to relax and prepare for the debate-filled day ahead. As predicted, the most popular locations include Amsterdam and The Hague. Amsterdam seems to be quite the hotspot for any Holland newcomer. A delegate of Kyrgyzstan coming all the way from Brazil, as a first-timer, did not know anything about Amsterdam before arriving. He hoped to learn more about Holland’s culture, feeling that The Hague was not as traditional. After hearing so much about the city, he hopes to see all that he has been missing out on. Delft is another popular location. MUN Director of St.
Andrew’s Junior College from Singapore, Charis Lo, Singapore described her delegation as being
very excited, considering the fact that Wednesday is not like any other day. They would have time
Mauritshuis
now. Lo sees it as a chance for the delegates to get out and explore the city on their own. “It’s also an opportunity for learning,” Mr Lo said. “The delegates are most looking forward to enjoying this rest of the city and seeing something new. Meanwhile, I’ll be taking a breathe of fresh air with them.” There are other locations, however, that are not as popular but equally enjoyable. As MUN Director, from the British School of Paris, Joanne Craig, explained how their delegates are given choices every day, often discussing and negotiating the activities that will take place during the afternoon. For yesterday’s case, they chose to stay in The Hague and relax. They enjoyed a walk around the city, taking in museums and later on a movie. As Ms Craig put it, “I think there’s a lot of build up to the conference and work that goes into it. It’s quite competitive to come, so students work very hard. They are all tired and want a bit of rest and relaxation for the day of debating that lies ahead.” It seems that MUN Directors, as much as delegates, took full advantage of their day off.
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A day in the life of the IT coordinator Sekheena Deslorieux Mont’ Kiara IS
Who do you have to thank for making sure all the technical aspects of THIMUN run smoothly? Meet Jochen Vermeulen, the man in charge of the IT infrastructure. In a normal day, Mr Vermeulen runs around all parts of the World Forum making sure that everything is in its right place and everything is working the way that it is supposed to. Mr Vermeulen works mostly in the Approval Panel, helping with word processor problems or fixing the system when it doesn’t work. The entire system for recording, managing, and saving resolutions was created by Mr Vermeulen, much before the conference started. Mr Vermeulen was introduced to THIMUN by a friend who previously worked as IT management and has loved it ever since. “To be here, to meet all these people and help them have a good conference is something that I enjoy.”As a full time
employee of THIMUN, Mr Vermeulen has been at six THIMUN conferences in The Hague and three THIMUN conferences in Singapore. Having a job that requires him to travel around the world is something that he really takes pleasure in. When Mr Vermeulen is not at THIMUN Hague, he spends his time making the THIMUN database more efficient and modern so that the registration process improves. As part of his job, Mr Vermeulen travels to Singapore for the annual THIMUN Singapore conference and for the first time, Qatar for THIMUN Qatar. Mr Vermeulen, who spends most of his time at the THIMUN conference fixing minor technical problems, says, “It’s a lot of fun to be able to help high school students have such an experience.” Even the smallest thing that he does that helps the delegates continue with the debate and enhances the THIMUN experience makes him enjoy his job even more. When Mr Vermeulen is not working, you can find him some-
where playing the piano or travelling. “I play the piano, I play music whenever I can,” says Mr Vermeulen. Even though he didn’t have his heart set on anything particular when he was
Jochen Vermeulen
younger, a job as a computer engineer appealed to him because it gives him a lot of freedom to do what he wants, work where he wants, and in his current job, the possibility to travel.
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THE THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
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The dating game ALLI SHAPIRO
HEIDELBERG AHS YOU saw them at the Opening Ceremony. You saw them at the sales tables. Now, here they are. Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen, to the dating game.
Candidate One: Squirtle the Turtle Candidate one is a very nurturing guy, having helped his exwife bury over 200 of their eggs. He would like the ladies to know that he may walk slowly, but he moves fast.
CONFERENCE NEWS 3
Mid-week, delegates adapt to THIMUN struggles and successes ALLIE MILLER AS PARIS
WE have all felt it before: the stress, the anxiety, the self-consciousness of being in a new place. For many of the delegates, it is their first THIMUN- for some even their first conference. Now that the first few overwhelming days have come to a close, I asked delegates about their adjustment to THIMUN. Some of the hardest parts, delegates said, are the workload, lobbying, and stick-
ing to one’s country’s opinions. Coming up with a thorough, well-researched resolution is one thing, but persuading others that it can accurately solve the issue is another. Even experienced delegates have a hard time constructing convincing speeches on the spot. Others were shocked that the resolutions they spent countless hours on got completely reworded, torn apart, or merged with various others, making them barely recognizable. Ever had your leading clause become a clause of a clause? Ever been unsure about how to handle par-
ticularly aggressive delegates? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Lobbying can be a scary time. When it comes to debating, some countries are easier to represent than others. Countries with strong political positions, or those who are very involved in an issue of debate, are generally seen more often on the floor. But most of the countries represented are not those countries. What are their views? Many new delegates find it hard to truly represent their countries, and instead find themselves partially representing their own views.
What was the most surprising part of the conference? The immense number of delegates was certainly a shock to most newcomers. While this was initially intimidating, it was comforting for delegates to know they were not alone. By now, most of the new delegates have adjusted and are starting to enjoy themselves. The atmosphere, spirited debate, and new friends will all be greatly missed when the conference is over. Wish I could say the same thing about the lunches!
THIMUN delegates making a difference VICKY LIU and HANNAH HEMPERLY
JOHN BURROUGHS SCHOOL and MONT’ KIARA IS
Candidate Two: Muney III Candidate two enjoys fishing, swimming and looking sad in documentaries about global warming. His favourite pickup line is: “Do you know how much a polar bear weighs, baby? Enough to break the ice.”
Candidate Three: Delphina the Dolphin Candidate three enjoys deep sea diving and rescuing drowning sailors. She is a crowd pleaser, and often stars in shows. Do not worry, this girl isn’t just beauty – she’s got brains! Well, delegate, which of these mystery dates is your pick? Make sure to purchase a raffle ticket for €0,50. After all, you might get lucky.
Model United Nations, although not the real deal, makes a real difference in the community. One of the most popular questions asked about the THIMUN participants is whether or not the delegates work at home also affects the world around them. After interviewing several THIMUN delegates and a few admins and directors, there is no doubt that they do. From building schools to visiting orphanages, it is remarkable to realize that although THIMUN meets in The Hague, the participants effect the entire world. Ian Fitzpatric ACS Cobham International School After participating in the Disaster Relief Fund for over 4 years, Fitzpatric has helped the Fund raise over 35,000 pounds for various charities. He also travelled to Namibia over the summer to help build schools, bringing new school supplies, purchased with the 50,000 pounds raised for the trip. As he is currently with the Human Rights Committee in THIMUN, he states that these past experiences have definitely inspired him to be more involved and he really wants to make a difference.
Delegates discuss their community service at home.
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Milena Zychlinsky Scharff John F. Kennedy School A judge on the ICJ, Zychlinsky has volunteered not only at homes for the elderly, but also at the Ronald McDonald House. At the Ronald McDonald House, she cooks for families of sick children staying at the hospital. Many of these families are too poor to stay in a hotel during their children’s operations, and the Ronald McDonald House allows them to support their children during this time. She states that these first-hand experiences make cases dealing with poverty much more genuine. Angel Figueroa Colegio Internacional de Caracas Figueroa explains that his high school in Venezuela requires all students to participate in some sort of service, in his case, at the Santa Maria Orphanage. He explains that the students bring food and play with the kids. Figueroa notes most prominently how sad the kids are, and how happy they become when the students visit.
Catherine Braun Park Tudor School As the president of the Honor Council, Braun has worked with Save the Elephants and travelled to both Kenya and China in the effort to conserve the elephant population. Braun also works with scientists and researchers to study conservation methods and is a member of the Global Scholarship Program for the conservation effort.
MUN Director talks about service
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Although this is only a small snapshot of how the participants of THIMUN serve their communities, the conclusion is clear—although delegates spend a week simulating United Nations, their effect on the world is continued when they go home, and remain very strong.
THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012 CONFERENCE NEWS 4 THE www.thimun.org
HOW DO CHAIRS BALANCE AN ENTERTAINING DEBATE WITH A CONTROLLED COMMITTEE?
Order on the floor ISLA MCDOUGALL BENENDEN SCHOOL IN order to create an environment where constructive debate can thrive, chairs must decide how to define the relationship between themselves and their committee. Hsiao explains that she doesn’t tolerate “analogies, singing, accents (imitated of course), and extremist views complete with violent gestures.” She advises being quite strict to start with but gradually growing less strict and adds that “being [informal]/allowing informal behavior shows that we [the chair] have a life too.” Phillips draws the line between the appropriate and inappropriate by assessing whether the controversial matter is relevant. He claims that “metaphors and non-offensive jokes are normally okay, as long as they relate to the resolution at hand,” but affirms that “trying to be outrageous/ funny just for the sake of it is not accepted.” He also describes how being in a position of authority makes him realize his responsibilities as a role model and how this forces him to maintain concentration throughout
the day. There is a consistent view among the chairs that although it can be good to allow some informality, this gives rise to the risk of things getting out of hand, therefore they generally try react strongly to stamp out informality and rowdiness before things go too far. It is clear when speaking to delegates that they believe that the chair usually gets the balance right, allowing them to have fun, while maintaining an environment that encourages good debate. Christina Schofield from International School of Zug & Luzern, representing Ecuador on the Special Conference Sub-Commission 2, was enthusiastic about her committee, saying, “it’s very interesting, you realize that there are so many more issues than what you first thought,” and added that the chair had allowed her to enjoy debate as fully as possible. The delegate of Germany from ‘General Assembly, 3rd Committee’ also gushed about her chairs, and like so many others, attributes her enjoyment of the conference to the chairs, saying, “[it] has been very fun so far, which is greatly due to the chairs.”
The chairs all seem to be reveling in their newfound authority, but are all aware that on Friday afternoon, when THIMUN XLIV is declared closed by the President of General Assembly, that they will return back to normal life and once again become equals with the rest of participants at THIMUN.
THIMUN chairs make the world go ‘round
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Gradual Growth MAX ENTHOVEN JFK BERLIN
THIMUN expansion in Qatar and worldwide
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IN the last forty-four years, THIMUN has not only grown in size with a capacity of 3,500 students, yet has also established two other conferences in Singapore and Qatar. As it is the conference’s objective to seek solutions to numerous global issues through discussion, negotiation and debate, it is necessary to give studious youth in continents such as Asia, Africa, and South America an equal opportunity. The Board of THIMUN decided to enhance its influence and carry its original name throughout the
world, thus the Treasurer of the Board of THIMUN Mr. Remco van der Zwaag commented in an interview that the “conference has grown to its maximum size, that is the reason why, six or seven years ago, we started the conference in Singapore to facilitate in particular the Asian and Australian part of the world.” Driven by global equality, the THIMUN Board established a conference in Qatar recently, as “many students from the Islamic part of the world were often not allowed to come to The Hague or Singapore,” Van der Zwaag stated. “So we thought, if that is the case, we should come to them.” The Qatar foundation spon-
sored the conference, widening the Board’s ability to achieve their objectives. Plans of expanding THIMUN to Uruguay are under investigation, India and South Africa are still “very, very vague”, but it might be a plan to incorporate as many students possible into the network of MUN. As Van der Zwaag contended, “We are not there yet, but we are careful not to grow too quickly”. THIMUN, the largest conference worldwide, seeks to maintain this position and inspire young people all around the globe to practice their political and economic interest.
THE THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
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THE FACES OF THIMUN 5
She’s the man: women VIP: Markus Shicketanz in THIMUN DINA FARAG JFK BERLIN
Continued from page 1
The number of women involved in Model United Nations had always been high, and that was because it was a Western based ac-
tivity. But the confidence level is continuing to increase, which Ms. Dubock believes is a “generation issue, the girls are going out and getting more confident.” Although the origins of MUN are from the West, the largest amount of
female delegates hail from Asia, specifically South Korea and Japan. Regardless of gender, all participants in THIMUN should hold their position to the best of their abilities.
Nina Kamaruddin, PGA battles it out with male participant
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WHO is Alain Meidinger? Mr Meidinger was born in France, but has lived in The Hague for 17 years, working at the Lycee Vincent Van Gogh in The Hague as a geography and history teacher. He was very enthusiatic about his job concerning MUN as he said, “MUN changes one’s prespective.“ In few words, Mr Meidinger is a member of the Board of Directos, but his
title only explains a small part of what he does for THIMUN in The Hague, Qatar, and Singapore. As a member of the THIMUN Board, Mr. Meidinger is in charge of the information desk, and organizing the cinema night, and is responisble for the flag parade held during the Opening Ceremony. In addition to this, Mr Meidinger is the man who proposes the themes of the three major conferences around the world. This year, he chose the theme Seas and Oceans because of the documen-
tary (which was shown on Tuesday), and has already has started brainstorming an idea for the theme of the Conference for 2013. Every year, Mr Meidinger is excited to see what MUN can give a student who is beginning to think about world problems. He is enthusiastic about giving the students the tools and understanding they need to acomplish their goals. Mr. Meidinger work is a vital component in the organization of THIMUN and all the ones to come.
Mr Meidinger (middle) poses with ARAMCO representatives
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many young ladies roaming the halls of the world forum. These videos are available on YouTube as well, with helpful links on the website of MUNITYonline. Thanks to Markus Schicketanz, the MUNITY press team can display its editions online, allowing even more people to read and enjoy them all over the globe.
Markus Shicketanz
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VIP: Walter Peterson SEOHYUN BAE IS BEIJING
VIP: Alain Meidinger LAURA ANTUNA Zurich IS
NOT too many individuals are acquainted with the mastermind behind the MUNITY -online editions uploaded to the internet only a day after the issue is published. This THIMUN conference being his second, Markus Schicketanz can mostly be found at the back of the MUNITY press room, sitting behind a computer. Originally from Germany, Mr Schicketanz now teaches at the Deutsche Internationale Schule Den Haag, in addition to being the MUN director for the delegation of Canada. Loving his job at THIMUN, Mr Schicketanz explains how he enjoys working with his three helpers in the press room, making videos and
ensuring MUNITY-online runs smoothly. Together with his team, Mr Schicketanz includes photo slide shows with music, various interviews and many entertaining videos from the opening speeches or lobbying, for instance. A recent video called “Shots of short shorts at THIMUN 2012” humorously captures the inappropriate short skirts of the
MR Walter F. Peterson is now at his 28th and, sadly, last THIMUN conference. He spent his first years at THIMUN solely as the MUN coordinator of the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin. Later, he also became a member of the THIMUN Advisory Board and the head of Human Rights Commission. Ever since Mr Peterson came across the words ‘Model United Na-
Walter Peterson
tions,’ he was “convinced that students should be able to and can create a learning environment that combines fun and intellectual challenge. The empowering atmosphere of the conference challenges students on many levels: intellectual, social, and affective. It gives them opportunity to make decisions, affecting their own learning process.” As the head of Human Rights Commission, Mr Peterson considers himself and the forum “meant
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to be. I don’t know how I was given the position but its core value lies in what I believe for all people.” 21 years ago, on their way back to Berlin from The Hague, one of Mr Peterson’s students suggested creating a MUN conference for their own community. A year later, Berlin MUN, a THIMUN affiliated conference, was founded and it recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. He is extremely proud of the students for “taking something from THIMUN and creating their own tradition,” not only within their community but also around the world. Mr Peterson describes MUN as a spider web, a wonderful network that stretches out and connects students all around the world. With a melancholic tone, Mr Peterson expressed his hope of visiting THIMUN again. “I cannot imagine not meeting my friends and the young people. I certainly want to keep experiencing the overwhelming atmosphere of THIMUN or MUN one way or another.”
THIMUN FASHION 6 Tamara Bastaki Maggie Bliss Tomas Clarkson Leah Cumming Anna Soer
THE THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
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THE THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
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THIMUN FASHION 7
CONFERENCE ACTION 8 ECOSOC considers the resolution “Toxic Dumping and the Effects on Food Source”
A delegate of ECOSOC is previewing her resolution before the debate
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VICKY LIU
JOHN BURROUGHS SCHOOL
Yesterday in ECOSOC, the delegates were busy discussing a resolution with a topic very close to the theme of the conference--“Toxic Dumping and the Effects on Food Source.” The resolution heavily emphasized the need to distinguish between legal disposal and illegal dumping, encouraging the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to subsidize green disposal programs in order to encourage not only legal disposal, but also environmentally healthy practices such as recycling. This theme of encouraging green ways of disposal continued with the creation of a waste management committee, as well as an interest in the development and research of new technologies for waste disposal. Interestingly, the resolution took an approach favoring positive enforcement, such as encouraging more education and media awareness, and asking countries to ratify the Basel Convention, rather than attempting to inspire legal waste disposal with threats of heavy punishments. The delegates spent some time discussing whether or not to pass an amendment presented by the delegate of Japan, which struck Clause 6 of the resolution. The delegate argued that this clause, which suggested the testing of the quality of food everywhere, especially in locations near toxic dumping sites, was asking the physically impossible. Much of the delegation seemed to support this amendment, with countries such as Hungary defending it from critique. With admins running around passing notes between delegates, delegates arguing over both the resolution and the amendment, and chairs settling in for what is sure to be an interesting discussion, THIMUN will soon see whether ECOSOC considers this approach to waste dumping efficient.
THE THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
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Human Rights: a voice for the unfortunate Mariana Domingues CAISL
In order to make a positive difference in the world, people need a voice and, most importantly, someone to listen. When humans are deprived of basic rights, society is deprived of improvement. This lack of development then leads to stagnation and torpidity within a nation. The primary goal of this year’s Human Rights Commission is to ensure that a greater variety of people have a say in their community, thus promoting better standards of living for the impoverished. Nonetheless, the delegate of North
Korea believes that this Commissions’s ultimate mission is “to promote the rights of children living and working in the streets.” According to several delegates, the issue of impoverished street children is clearly present in numerous nations around the world. Having an enormous population of uneducated street children negatively affects a nation since it may ultimately result in less innovation and fewer available and productive workers within a country. One main submitter, Eva Chorna, is representing Mexico in the Human Rights SubCommission 2. On Tuesday,
Chorna mentioned that the delegates were successfully cooperating with one another in order to facilitate different ways of raising the GDP. By raising the GDP, the resolution’s sponsors hope to make further child labor unnecessary, since the parents will be earning sufficient income to support their families. Chorna also stated that, “although Mexico is more of a developing country, we are actually affected by this issue and can bring good contributions to solving the issue through our resolution.” On Wednesday, debates in both the Commission rooms were heating up, and the in-
tensity level continued to rise throughout the day, with the issues of torture and genocide being particularly prominent. In the words of Miguel Sobral, a delegate representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Sub-commission 1, “the highlight of the past two days was undoubtedly the debate on street children; seeing as that, although the intents of all nations were similar, the method advocated by various delegations differed significantly, sparking endlessly riveting debates.” Ultimately, representatives are looking forward to continue contributing stimulating ideas throughout the week.
No funny business in the Security Council SEKHEENA DESLORIEUX MONT’ KIARA IS
THE Security Council continues their journey to solve the Questions of Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Al-Qaeda. The Deputy Presidents, Abhinav Menon and George Evgenidis feel that the conference is going very well so far. The debate has been productive and the council has passed issues in a quick and efficient manner. The Deputy Presidents note that the delegates are really getting into the debate and paying close attention to their countries policies. The delegates in the Security Council are very impressed with the way that the conference is going. Jeremie Langlois, one of the delegates of Colombia from the Cairo American College, says,
“I’ve actually been very pleased at how productive the Security Council has been.” After a day of debating, almost half of the clauses were passed. The Permanent Five (UK, France, Russian Federation, China, USA) who have veto power in the Security Council have really been using their power. The P5 members have given numerous veto threats, though always with good AS reasoning. Delegates present arguments with comThe Security Council, keeping with posure its serious nature, does not entertain any inappropriate behavior. Menon, one of the Deputy Presidents sums it up with, “This is the Security Council, nothing funny happens.”
Advisory Panel cuts, criticizes, and collaborates
Special Conference debate unfolds LEILA ELABBADY IS BRUSSELS
SPECIAL Conference Sub-commission 1 (SPC1) spent their morning discussing aquaculture by highlighting the need for education and defining the international fishing licenses. Delegates debated the gap between LEDCs and MEDCs regarding the need for financial aid in supporting a more sustainable fishing industry. The delegate of South Africa expressed his cynical opinion on MEDC funding towards sustainable fishing internationally. With a busy week ahead of them, SPC1 delegates will be debating fair and
equal access to the natural resources of the oceans, combating the ‘ghost fishing fleets’ and the role of the UN in protecting areas of outstanding natural beauty. In Special Conference Sub-Commission 2 (SPC2), delegates strived to reduce the gap between countries caused by water disputes. They aimed to re-invoke the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in order to increase the sustainability of people’s water consumption. Whether they are dealing with oil spills, redefining water boundaries, or natural disaster preparation, this Commission will be in concen-
trated debate throughout the week as they work on the seven respective resolutions. On Tuesday, they discussed the measures to reduce the environmental impact of deep sea extraction of minerals; the delegate of the International Whaling Commission took the lead in promoting her resolution and pushing it towards success. Media awareness and post natural disaster guidelines were just two of the topics mentioned regarding the respective issue. After rejecting their first resolution, the delegates in SPC2 were able to pass the resolutions that followed.
Alli Shapiro
HEIDELBERG AHS
Wednesday the focus of the Advisory Panel on the Question of the Mediterranean Region (APQMR) was sustainable tourism and coordination between the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and nations in the Mediterranean Region. “Well, this year’s [Advisory Panel] concentrates on the Mediterranean Region; the topics debated so far are peace and stability in the region, sustainable tourism, and water access and management,” said the expert from Iran. The first topic up for intense debate was an amendment to strike a clause that requested nations to “incorporate migrants and refugees in sustainable tourism programs.” Harsh criticism of the clause—some experts said it created opportunities for press-ganging—as well as passionate defense highlighted the drive of the experts to settle on only the best clauses for Friday, when everything is submitted to the Security Council. “It’s going very well. Very busy, and exciting. The debate is strong and experts are interested and engaged,” concluded the Deputy President.
THE THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
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COMMENTARY 9
Vegging out? A measure of the dedication of delegates LEILA ELABBADY, SOHPIA HENGELBROK IS Brussels, JKF Berlin A few years ago vegetarians were an obvious minority, yet everyday more and more people are converting to vegetarianism. In the MUNITY 2012 press room alone we have six vegetarians. With the current lack of environmental sustainability in the food system, many believe that vegetarianism is a healthier and more environmentally friendly lifestyle to adopt. The demand of the fishing industry alone has led to the depletion of our oceans and seas. These special diets link directly with the theme of Seas and Oceans, so the MUNITY team examined what THIMUN participants have to say on the subject. There are endless reasons why people choose to eat a vegetarian diet,
however the most promi- many people away from fied by the high consump- rate of meat production. nent ones revolved around eating meat. tion rates leading to the Others acknowledge the culture and environment. On the other hand, the use of genetically modi- fact that our back molars Some THIMUN partici- majority of the world still fied foods in cattle farms are made to rip meat thus pants are greatly dedicated eats meat. This is exempli- in order to increase the we are biologically meant to helping the environment and thus do not want to deplete resources or disturb the ecosystem by killing animals for food. Sekheena Deslorieux, a MUNITY reporter stated that “we eat to live, not live to eat.” To her it seems selfish for humans to kill an animal for their own satisfaction when we do not need them for survival. Culture also plays a role as some delegates’ and participants’ religious beliefs prohibit them from eating meat. Furthermore, with documentaries like ‘Food Inc.’ (directed by Robert Kenner) and ‘If Slaughter House Had Glass Walls Everyone Would Be Vegetarian’ (directed by Paul SH McCartney), modern day slaughter houses and their 44 out of 60 participants said that they would not become a vegetariansfor our seas methods of slaughter turn
to eat it. Of course many people like the taste of red meat, chicken, or fish - a major drive in the demand for meat. Just as vegetarians believe that abstaining from meat is a healthier lifestyle and more environmentally friendly, their fellow meat-eaters believe that eating meat is a part of nature and helps balance the energy pyramid/supply and the demands of our ecosystem as a whole. Although you can only choose one of these eating habits, it all depends on your own experiences, culture, and beliefs. The diversity of opinions on this subject further highlights the different methods in combating the natural depletion we face today. Finally, we asked THIMUN delegates whether they would change their eating habits in order to save our seas; here are your results!
Building bridges: is ‘Austrenglese’ a nationality? CHARLOTTE SMITH ACS Hillingdon On the 23-hour trip to Australia this December, it struck me that the land ‘Down Under’ wasn’t my only home anymore. Ordering dumplings in Chinese and complaining about the weather are just as comforting as vegemite toast on a cold morning. I go to English football games on the weekends but in class I have an Asian outlook. People know me for my Cantonese exclamations and, on top of that, my ever-changing accents depending on whom I talk
to. I’m versatile. I’ve been in 3 different education systems and, when telling adults my year, grade and class I’m in at school, the conversation grows complex. I can switch the grammar I use in my sentences at the drop of a hat, depending on the teacher who assigned the work. This week it’s Australia Day AND Chinese New Year, and I am as excited for the dragons as for the lamingtons. I don’t look Chinese, I don’t have the British accent, and there is no way you would ever catch me saying “G’day” to someone – but all of
those aspects patchwork together to create the quilt I call myself. I left Sydney, Australia when I was 12 and moved to Hong Kong. I lived there for almost three years, before I moved to London, England, at 15 years of age. My dad lived in England until he was 9, so half of my relatives are English. Personally, it doesn’t feel right to leave out any of these details. There isn’t a dictionary definition for how I feel, but I doubt I’m the only person who has had to have the confusing conversation explaining where
they are from this week. I’m slowly getting
over that not everyone is going to understand ev-
VL
“I’m not giving up my passports!”
erything I say (this week - if anything should have taught you that “English” has many forms), but I’m getting slightly worried about supporting teams in the Olympics this year. As leaving school is coming closer, I am starting to have to make some decisions about where I want to spend the rest of my life. I’m not ready - and don’t think I ever will be to let go of the confusion which is my nationality. I can’t pinpoint on a map where home is, but I’ve learned over time that it’s not important – I’m not giving up my passports!
World Action 10
THE THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
www.thimun.org
Health care around the world
ANNA BRADLEY-WEBB AS PARIS
China
Rwanda
Is enough of China’s new wealth going toward health care?
Stretching international aid as far as possible
In China, the economy has grown exponentially over the past few decades but the quality of health care has not. Despite its new wealth, it is only ranked 112th out of 191 nations in the World Health Organization’s ranking for quality of care. China does not require its citizens to have health care, and its government plan covers mainly serious illness that may require a hospital stay. Some worry that this is ‘sick care’ rather than health care, in that it does not cover preventative care. Concerns also arise be-
Although Rwanda is among the poorest countries in the world, an astounding 92% of its citizens have health insurance. Its resources are limited by its insufficient funding, and many surgeries and procedures are unavailable. However, the government is able to provide basic health care to its citizens for the equivalent of two U.S. dollars per year. Much of this coverage is made available by non-governmental organizations such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, as the
cause although the government is communist, it does not spend much money on public health, and thus citizens must pay for most of their own care. This can be a great burden for some: a hospital visit or surgery often costs nearly the average annual income. Despite these obstacles, however, China has made significant progress since the beginning of the century, when basic care was virtually unavailable and there was no public health plan.
Rwandan government cannot collect sufficient taxes to subsidize the two dollar payment. Part of the theory behind requiring this co-pay is Rwandan President Kagame’s desire for his country to be self-sufficient. Despite the growth of this plan and the rapid improvement of the care it provides, Rwanda has a long way to go. The World Health Organization rates it 177th out of 191 nations for the quality of care, and nearly 1 in 5 children die before the age of five.
From complete coverage to simply “sick” care, healthcare alters from culture to culture.
France
Cuba
Best in the world! But a large burden for the government
A system that focuses on preventing disease before it arrives
In 2000, the World Health Organization named French health care as the best in the world. Health care is almost completely reimbursed for 96% of the population, and the government is heavily involved in the regulation of health services. However, this exceptional coverage is not without cost, and 60% of it is financed by federal income taxes on every French worker. The rest of its funding comes from taxes on alcohol and tobacco, a practice designed to charge more to those who voluntarily put their health at risk. There are public, private, and non-profit hospi-
Cuban health care has many advantages. Infant mortality rates on this island are lower than those of the United States and the average of the European Union countries, and Cuba has consistently had among the highest life expectancies in South America. There are many reasons for these successes. All doctors of Cuba are trained in primary care, so the focus is placed on preventing disease rather than curing it. Health care costs are kept low because doctors’ wages are low; doctors do not need to earn as much as those in other na-
tals, and French citizens are reimbursed for care at all of them. While all French citizens are eligible for basic governmental coverage, many choose to purchase private plans. A distinguishing feature of this system is that the healthy pay for the care of the sick, and those who suffer from severe health problems are completely covered by government care. This health care is clearly effective—France ranks 214th out of 222 countries for highest infant mortality rates, and has the 13th highest life expectancy in the world.
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tions because there is free medical training for those who qualify and they have no need to repay education debts. All health care is government-run and funded, and is thus free and available to all. There are, of course, downsides to this system: because funding comes from taxes, those who earn more must contribute more, and those who are healthy pay for the care of others. The World Health Organization ranks Cuba 39th out of 191 countries for most efficient public health systems.
THE THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
www.thimun.org
SURVEY 11
THIMUN survey results SEOhyun Bae, Hannah Hemperly, Yasemin Parlar, and Lily Rivkin IS Beijing, Mont´Kiara IS, BLIS, and AS Paris
Most Most excited important about this week? issue? Debating resolutions and finding holes in resolutions
Discrimination on religion, and the occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights
Getting to know all kinds of new people, and sharpen my debating skills
Cooperation between North African countries
Debating, meeting new people, and catching up with old MUN friends
Trade of illicit assets and sustainable development
Wearing a suit all week
Chemical weapons
Passing the resolution and meeting new delegates
Measures to protect rights of unaccompanied migrant children which if not put in motion would lead to problems such as human-trafficking Nuclear energy All issues are of equal importance. You can’t judge what’s more important, you can only have an opinion Marine animals and toxic dumping Coral reefs because their destruction leads to the death of marine animals Science and technology in warfare, as it is the most dangerous thing that can happen in warfare
My first ambassador speech THIMUN Crushing others’ resolutions Intellectual debate Finding a solution for the question of coral reefs Fruitful debates
Delegate making a point of information
The elimination of religious discrimination because it affects most people
Why THIMUN?
Child labor
I want to do law in the future and this would be a great addition to the experience
Financing the Stabilization Mission of Haiti
To understand current global issues and countries’ perspectives Because it allows me to get a better understanding of the world and its people It’s the biggest and most exciting MUN Reputation in Europe, the whole MUN Experience, and to meet new people and find old ones Because it’s THIMUN! And there was this French person… Ocean and Sea themed discussions
flickr
JR
I didn’t choose, I was picked I was selected to represent the country, and knew it would be a great experience I wanted to change the world To get experience in debating, and be in a more exposed international environment I’m interested to change the world as much as possible Most interesting MUN because it is held in a city where there are so many important buildings and UN facilities
LIGHTER SIDE 12
THE THIMUNIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
www.thimun.org
MIND GAMES
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Crossword: Capitals of the world
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Capitals of the World Cross
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Down: 2. Kampala 3. Tokyo 5. Ashgabat 6. Beijing 8. Dhaka
9. Minsk 13. Kyiv 14. Brussels 15. Paris
Across: 1. Tunis 4. Astana 7. Amman 10. Taipei
11. Nairobi 12. Lome 16. N’Djamena 17. Kabul 18. Santiago 19. Ankara
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LOST AND FOUND Ege Dindor has lost his bag within which was his laptop, iPod touch and iPod shuffle. It is a black leather messenger bag with a white stripe around it. If someone finds the bag, please return it to the Lost and Found desk in the entrance.