VOLUME XXV ISSUE 4
THURSDAY , 2ND FEBRUARY 2017
It Takes a Village to Raise a Conference
From SG to President?
Weird and Unusual Things to Do In The Hague
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Page 3
Actions Speak Louder than Words
Page 12
by: Amanda Dagron
On Tuesday night, the first episode of the powerful BBC documentary, Exodus: Our Journey to Europe, was screened in the World Forum Theatre. Film director, James Bluemel, asked refugees to film themselves travelling from wartorn Syria to Turkey, then arriving in Greece and having in mind a final destination of United Kingdom and Germany. Beforehand, Alain Meidinger, co-Chair of the THIMUN Foundation, introduced the audience to two special guests: Hassan Akkad, a Syrian refugee and star of the film, and Sophie Yates, British student and volunteer. Hassan Akkad is a former English teacher in Syria and currently a refugee reporter. He fled Aleppo during the Syrian Civil War after having been tortured in prison for protesting. ‘’I got caught. Both of my arms were broken, three of my ribs and my left leg. I was electrocuted and then released. But I was banned from working and my flat was bombed. So I had to leave,’’ shared Akkad. Akkad’s found sanctuary in the United Kingdom. He successfully arrived there and is now living in London after a long, oppressive journey. However, his main goal is to someday return to his homeland. He yearns to rebuild the Syria that has been wrecked beyond recognition. Luckily, Akkad’s strong faith and ambitious personality will allow
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him to pursue his objective with a touch of humor. The documentary has had a significant impact on THIMUN viewers. ‘’What was really special about the movie was how real it was. Especially regarding the interview with the refugee afterwards’’ said Maxwell Hammer, Delegate of the Russian Federation, Disarmament Committee 1. Hammer lives in Berlin and has seen that there is a “stigma against refugees that they are essentially not human, that they’re something else.” Likewise to what Hammer said, Akkad remarks ‘’you watch and you can relate, you’re like...I could be him.’’ The dehumanization of refugees, lack of solidarity and a pessimistic perception towards them change the way people act towards them. While some lay back and quickly theorize solutions, others, like Akkad’s guest Sophie Yates, have taken action. Sophie Yates is 23 years old and currently studying International Relations at the University of Leiden. Sophie volunteered at a refugee camp in Alexandria, Greece when she had two weeks off from her studies. There, she met Akkad who was reporting on refugee stories. Sophie expresses her apprehension with regard to the whole situation, saying ‘’I wanted to see beyond what is expressed in the media and I wanted to form my own understanding of the refugee crisis.’’
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by: Alyce Hammer When Jad Zeroual, Delegate of Georgia in General Assembly 2, was asked if the film made him want to do something about the refugee crisis, he replied, ‘’At the THIMUN conference, we all want to act to change something in our world.’’ He then continued more reflectively, ‘’but do we have the means to do that? Personally, I think I would volunteer […] it may sound selfish, but I don’t want to leave my comfort and sacrifice somehow my life to help others. It’s awful what I’m saying. But we are in a globalized world, but also a selfish world. We all want the best for us.’’ The delegate exposed an unfortunately dark reality of reluctance that many are struggling to fight against. Nevertheless, small, progressive actions can be taken, which have a lasting impact. Feeling like an outcast in any situation is daunting. For this reason, Akkad urged everyone to ‘’teach [refugees] your language, go out with them, party with them, take them out so they don’t feel like strangers. They will feel integrated” and therefore softening their culture-shock. Overall the movie was a success, despite the ‘’unnecessarily dramatic’’ features according to Zeroual, which Akkad himself jokes about. The film is a desperate call for action that raises cause for concern.
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Thursday February 2, 2017
2 | NEWS
Ride inside the PGA’s Mind When participants talk about THIMUN, most of them first think of a huge conference with delegates gathered from all other the world. Even if most of the THIMUN participants are delegates, there are also a few student officers. With the guidance and support of the THIMUN Board of Directors, a selected few international applicants are chosen to serve as Secretariat members at every THIMUN Conference. These members include the Secretary General, Deputy Secretaries General, and the President of the General Assembly. Their mission is to manage the conference efficiently by looking after the logistics and guiding the student officers, making sure that all the delegates have tactful debate, which is the focus of this year’s PGA, Patrick Sheppard.
by: Quentin Aubert
Q:
see what we can improve from last year’s conferHow do you contribute to the conference ence thanks to the evaluation. We also, review, and what is the role of the PGA? Is it stressful, escheck, give feedback of the chair’s report and pecially here in THIMUN The Hague with more prepare workshops for them on Sunday before than 3,000 participants? the conference. During the conference, I make “I oversee the six GA committees and there sure everything is printed for delegates to be able is a lot work that goes before the conference. We to debate, I also make sure the debate is flying nicely. Furthermore, I check all the chairs to see if everything is going well, and solve any possible issues.”
A:
Q: How can this experience help you with your future career?
A: “This is my last conference and I think I can
Q: Good morning Patrick. For starters, could
bring a lot of organisation, as well as good communication in a team because I work with the SG and the five DSGs and I realize how communication is imperative.”
A: “I am Patrick, I am half British and half Bel-
qualities to become a PGA?
Q: In your opinion, what are some necessary
you present yourself?
A: “You need to be a confident chair yourself
gian and I go to the British School of the Netherlands here in The Hague. I have done MUN for 4 years now with various conferences round The Hague. I was president of the General Assembly at MUNISH and that was a nice build up to this.”
and have experience because you’re essentially there to give advice to the chairs. The key is to know how to work in a team and keep calm in stressful situations: because yes, there are a lot of stressful situations.”
Q:
How did you end up applying for the position of the President of the General Assembly?
Q: Do you have any kind words to the aspiring
A:
delegates out there?
“I had one of my mentors when I started MUN who was PGA at THIMUN. When I started getting into MUN more and started chairing, I thought that was a goal I really wanted to achieve, and I thought why not? And it worked out!”
A: “If you put lots of effort into MUN conferences, and you put passion in it to do your best, as well as fun, then it would be one of your best experiences in your high-school life.”
And So The Debate Begins by: Ginger Schuppan
Considering the gripping theme of this year’s THIMUN, it is inarguable that the committee debates will be intriguing. After two days of lobbying and debating, committees are beginning to set into heated action, and on the third day, delegates are passionately putting their placards in the air. With so many committees in session simultaneously, it would be challenging for participants to keep track of all the engaging debates. So let MUNITY do that for you!
The General Assembly is an integral part of THIMUN and most other Model United Nations conferences as well. GA1, which focuses on disarmament and international security, began on Tuesday with opening speeches and then swiftly commenced debate. The resolutions were related to topics of combatting sexual violence in conflict zones and managing the disputed territories between Sudan and South Sudan. Abhinav Batchu, delegate of Andorra in GA1, stated, “The topic is quite tedious as it only concerns a few nations and it’s quite specific.” Tensions rose when the delegate of Sudan’s resolution aimed to impose sanctions on South Sudan, but other delegates felt less involved. On the other hand, GA2, the committee focusing on economic and financial issues, debated much broader topics. Topics such as a code of ethics for tourism were already debated on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, the question of using culture as by: Lucy Hammer
by: Holly Roberts
a tool for sustainable development for tourism was discussed and a resolution was passed. Remco Holstege, a delegate representing France in the GA2, stated, “France is really for solving this issue, as we are the most visited country in the world with a rich culture and history, which we want to preserve. We even have this institute aimed to preserve French culture by banning words like ‘hashtag’, etc.” Delegates are trying to ensure that both nations and people are not exploited while also protecting the rights and the environment of others. On Tuesday, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) primarily debated about implementing a coordinated response to the Zika Virus, ensuring economic livelihood for refugees, and achieving access to banking, insurance, and financial services for them. On Wednesday, the debate shifted to sustainable consumption patterns, with measures discussed to reduce global food waste at the consumer and retail levels. With still two days left of this five day simulation, there are sure to be more passionate speeches and fierce points of information to come. There is still much to look forward to from this THIMUN conference - especially the next issue of MUNITY!
3 | NEWS
It Takes a Village to Raise a Conference
Thursday February 2, 2017
by: Sarah Kim & Chitvan Bansal
Months of preparation goes into a large conference like THIMUN, for hosts and participants alike - administrators must reserve conference spaces and set up facilities, while delegates and chairs need to prepare resolutions and several days worth of a proactive attitude. Even the slightest imbalance in effort between the two sides may hinder the efficiency and quality of the conference. Simply put, the onus is on both sides for the conference to run smoothly and successfully. The question of responsibility for the success of THIMUN is one that is not easily answered. According to Chea Mun Tan, Deputy Secretary General, “the success of THIMUN falls on the backs of every single person who devotes their time, either preparing for this to happen or actually attending this conference.” While the host school’s primary responsibility is more relevant to organization prior to the conference, individual schools have the duty of preparing their students to be actively engaged throughout the conference. Once it begins, THIMUN is “a student-run conference, so [individual students] take on that responsibility,”
according to Ms. Fran Laughlin, CoChair of the THIMUN Foundation. At a large conference like this, involving hundreds of different schools, there are only a handful of participants from each school. People are bound to judge certain schools, favorably or unfavorably, based on those handful of students and their conduct throughout the conference, as these students represent their school and country - not just the country they are delegates for, but also the country they come from. This gives them the responsibility of presenting themselves in the best way possible because, after all, THIMUN is the world’s largest international conference and is an extremely serious matter for many. At the Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest, only experienced delegates and chairs are even considered for participation in THIMUN because of the policy set by MUN director Mr. Chris Ellison. “We have a lineup of local and international conferences that our school attends in the fall,” he said. “So students have generally had a lot of practice being a delegate at various different conferences. The people that are chairs have always been chairs at other conferences first. In addition, we
Editors in Chief Madeleine Schulz Yashwini Sodhani Text Editors Andrea Blattler Michelle Liu Joel Vasama
have students that want to be chairs the ones that are able to think on the at larger conferences chairing small- spot and act on these specific issues.” er sessions at our school, because we However much preparation have MUN as a club. By preparing and selection takes place, there are for other conferences, the students’ bound to be some gaps in the proskills can build up to THIMUN.” cess, and reality may be wildly dif While applying, the ethical ferent from expectations. With this, question of truthfully yet impressively it is up to the delegates, chairs and describing oneself comes into play, and the Secretariat to make the most there is a grey area over the extent to of what they have and ensure that which applicants can exaggerate their they can move on after a hiccup. qualities. According to Ms. Laughlin, “[applicants] always present the best side of [themselves], but we also have recommendations from the MUN directors. It’s partly up to the school to be honest about their delegates, while also supporting them.” However, she agrees that generally, the application is representative of their actual skill level. While selecting student officers, she said, “We read the letters, we look at experience. So much depends on the teacher’s recommendation as well.” Thus, there is a huge responsibility on the MUN directors to send accurate descriptions of the applicants in their letters of recommendation. Mariana Plaza Cardenas, Secretary General, stated, “the MUN directors put forward their best chairs, so it’s their responsibility to know what kind of a chair they are putting forward.” Unfortunately, there are loopholes in every application process, and it is impossible to guarantee that every chair applicant is accurately represented in their embellished applications. The chairs are the face of the committee, and a chair’s competence is the most important aspect to a committee’s procedure, as one chair’s lack of skill may result in other chairs having to take additional responsibilities. Felipe Félix Méndez, Chair of Security Council, agrees that “it is really important to be well versed in procedure because that makes it much more efficient.” Tan thinks similarly, “It’s really important to come prepared. Chairs, as mediators of debate, although they actually don’t debate, are a direct influence in the ways and the success of the committee.” However, when handling unexpected situations, she says, “the best officers are Photos by: Alyce Hammer & Maxine Russel
Reporters Sarah Kim Quentin Aubert Chitvan Bansal Amanda Dagron Abbas El Menjra Saady Peter Nguyen Minh Holly Roberts Chang Qu Lindsey Yu
Layout Irina Chen Vivian Chen Melat Gebreselassie Joonhee Han Christine Heidbrink Artwork Samantha Arnold Emma Benoit
Photographers Tahlia Briscoe Aseel Einjury Alyce Hammer Brian Kim Lucy Kirkwood Ginger Schuppan Maxine Russel
Thursday February 2, 2017
4 | NEWS
HRC The Right For a Better Future
by Joel Vasama
Like most committees, the Human Rights Council began their debate on Tuesday afternoon and were well under way by Wednesday morning. So far they have debated two resolutions, with debate beginning on the third one. The theme Borders in a Globalised World is very prominent in the HRC, as some of the most common topics pertain to the rights of refugees. A few other frequently discussed subjects in the HRC have been the protection of children and child labor. The HRC does exactly that, council human rights. Their goal, according to Chair Matias Salo, is “to ensure that the international community seeks to relieve current humanitarian crises.” This includes finding preventative methods to ensure that human rights are upheld around the world. Structurally the HRC is very similar to other committees, and debate progresses in the same way as in most others, but the difference becomes clear when observing the topics they discuss. The HRC concentrates exclusively on issues and abuses related to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Though the committee debates these subjects and aims to create a more pleasant world for all of us, they have no executive power, unlike the Security Council. One big difference in the HRC is the way delegates participate and cooperate. Almost everyone in the HRC has their sights on creating a more just world. “We’re all striving for the same goals, so there’s a lot of cooperation” said Ms. Maria Ion, the Delegate of Togo in HRC 1. This results in a rather constructive environment in which all delegates aim to create resolutions satisfactory to as many states, nations and organisations as possible. As delegates make points, they come out as comments proposing changes, instead of criticising the resolution as a whole. As a delegate in the HRC it is important to take into consideration all delegates and their policies in order to work together. The HRC is without doubt one of the most important bodies of the UN and this can also be observed at THIMUN as the delegates debate matters important to all of us. As the committee continues its debate, we can be sure to expect that they are seeking a more stable world for all.
by Brian Kim
EC Green Compromises
by Michelle Liu
by Lucy Kirkwood As the second day of debate, after an entire day of lobbying, commenced among the rooms of Yangtze 1 and 2, both environmental committees were engaged in passionate discussion. The Environmental Sub-Commission 1 was successful in debating three resolutions two days prior, and began to tackle the issue of assessing and counteracting coral bleaching and managing human overpopulation in areas of profound biodiversity on Wednesday morning. Fortunately for submitters of both resolutions, their resolution was met with positivity from fellow delegates, with many submitting amendments in attempts to improve the resolution for all nations, instead of any major conflict. Active in debate, the delegate of the United States, Bilge Tayyar, explained her stance, “We believe that overpopulation is an important issue to be solved. However, the governments should not be interfering with the decisions of the parents. Instead, they should raise awareness and give family planning education.” With these ideas in mind, the delegate of the US, among other delegates, was able to contribute constructive amendments to the resolution. In EC Sub-Commission 2, they have made significant progress on debating their issues as well. “We are debating the impact of tourism on World Natural Heritage [Wednesday]. Yesterday [Tuesday], we have done managing the growth of protected species populations, and promoting advanced agricultural technology as a tool for sustainable development,” Lucas Semprimoschnig, Assistant President of EC 2 listed. Although the committee has been fairly calm so far, with less conflict and more cooperation among delegates, delegates have remained passionate about their issues. “As everyone knows, we value our culture more than anything, and World Heritage Sites are our past, present, and future; therefore, our culture,” explained Kaan Akun, delegate of the United Kingdom in EC 2, “We must make sure that people are aware of the site’s importance and inform the community [on that].” With delegates in both sub-commissions ardent for methods of protecting the environment, while still being cooperative in nature, it is safe to say that the Environmental Commissions are off to a great start!
Thursday February 2, 2017
5 | NEWS
Photography in the Foyer by Abbas El Menjra Saady Upholding the tradition of previous years, THIMUN gave students a chance to show off their artistic skills, organizing a photography contest from the shortlisted photos which are stationed in the foyer. The rules were simple: follow the theme of the conference and produce a photo of great quality. However, only one student from each high school was allowed to enter. The theme, “Borders In A Globalized World” gave much flexibility in producing a photo that would best represent it, but for the
competitors, the main difficulty was finding inspiration and narrowing down ideas to find the best one to capture. As Kenza Boussaid, an MUN Director for The Louis Massignon’s High School, one of the participants this year, said “The key of the problem was to just find an acceptable superposition of all of the images that I already have taken.” When asked how she found inspiration, Boussaid replied “[by] analyzing all of the words of the theme and finding images that may correspond to the words.” Regardless of the difficulties, several contestants rose to the challenge. As a result, one can now see the impressive display of photos taken by teenagers from all over the world in the foyer, each accompanied by a description that explains the connection to the theme. They weren’t just limited to submitting raw photos; contestants were allowed to use different techniques such as photoshop, and of course, anything their artistic instincts called for in order to create their best work. To reward the contestants for their hard work, two awards will be distributed: the Best Photograph Award, granted by a group of judges, and the People’s Choice Award, the photo that garners the most votes. All participants of the conference with a THIMUN badge are the con-
by Lucy Kirkwood test judges. Don’t forget to check out the foyer for the beautiful and eye-catching photos, but be aware, you only have until Thursday to cast your vote!
Making Friends at THIMUN With delegations attending from all over the world, there is an abundance of new people for attendees to meet at THIMUN. At such a conference, where productivity lies in the communication between delegates, it is almost inevitable that people will leave the conference with some newfound friends. Not only is THIMUN a conference with over 3000 students, which in itself provides a great opportunity to meet new people, but they all come from a vast array of countries. Tim Lam, delegate of Rwanda in Disarmament Sub-Commission 2, said, “THIMUN is a great opportunity for you to meet people of different cultures, that come from different backgrounds, because it’s an international organization.” There are few platforms better than THIMUN to make such interesting connections. Annabel Chammas, delegate of Belgium in the 2nd Committee of the General Assembly, and Antonio Marinho, delegate of the Bahamas, also in GA2, met
during their lobbying sessions. Chammas also mentioned the importance of cultural exchange at the conference. “The whole part of the experience is learning about new cultures, and when you make friends, it makes that experience
different people from myself.” Two Deputy Secretary Generals, Chea-Mun Tan and Kaan Ertas, enthusiastically agreed when asked if making friends has a large influence on a delegate’s experience at THIMUN. Tan elabo-
more fun.” Marinho agreed, saying, “I think that you learn nearly as much from meeting new people [as from the conference itself]... especially for myself, coming from Brazil, it’s really interesting to be in contact with new cultures and very
rated, “I feel like half, if not most, of the reason that people do keep coming back to MUN conferences is because of the people they meet.” Although meeting people from other cultures is evidently a highlight for THIMUN attendees, Tan
by Madeleine Schulz
also mentioned that “in MUN, I meet people from all over the world that are very like-minded.” Delegates come from vastly different backgrounds, yet ultimately, many do have similar interests. When asked about whether she and Marinho plan on staying in touch after the week ends, Chammas seemed confident that they would. Given the amount of time delegates spend with one another throughout the five days, it is only natural to add each other on some form of social media. This way, delegates are able to ensure that the friendships they make at THIMUN do indeed last longer than the week.
by Brian Kim
6 | PHOTOSPREAD
Thursday February 2, 2017
Thursday February 2, 2017
7 | PHOTOSPREAD
by: Tahlia Briscoe, Aseel Einjury, Alyce Hammer, Brian Kim, Lucy Kirkwood, Ginger Schuppan, Maxine Russel
Thursday February 2, 2017
8 | PEOPLE
Have You Met...?
If you could be one influential person, who would you be?
Dressed to Impress
When asked who Isaac would be if he could be any influential person, he said, “honestly I would pick Kanye West just because I find him to be such a genius, but he gets such a bad wrap in the media. I think I’d become Kanye.” Isaac Ortlipp Admin environment Committee British School in The Netherlands If Hannah could be one influential person, she would “probably be Donald Trump because first of all he attracts a lot of media attention, and second of all he is someone who has a large influence on politics in general. The unpredictability of the person himself is something I’d want to try.” Hannah Kim Delegate of Zambia Seoul International School After being asked what influential person Travis would want to be, he said, “I think I would be Muhammad Ali because he stood up for what he believed in, even when everyone else opposed him.”
Elodie Vercoutere Belgium Ambassador Zurich International School
Travis Hogan Admin International School of the Hague
Elmar Johan Nijkamp Delegate of Singapore Oostvaarders College
by: Tahlia Briscoe
Victory in the SPC by: Lindsey Yu
Special Conference Sub-Commission 2 had riveting discussions on the topics of combating cyber crime and strengthening global borders over the past two days, passing a total of three resolutions. Delegates focused on promoting cultural diversity, as well as keeping borders open and safe, reflecting the theme of this year’s THIMUN: Borders in a Globalised World. They fervidly tackled the ideas of terrorism and illegal trafficking, while never forgetting to stick to their policies. “I am honored to chair such an esteemed committee with so much passion,” affirmed Addison Baker, Assistant President of SPC2. “However, they [delegates] should focus more on their countries’ specific news and biases, as well as continuing to ensure that they create the most constructive resolutions they can.” So far, the chairs in SPC2 are very impressed by the standard of debate in the conference. Delegates in Special Conference Sub-Commission 1 were as passionate as their partner sub-committee. Throughout the discourse on “The
question of countries building walls and other forms of barriers” and “Measures to better protect international maritime routes”, numerous delegates raised their placards whenever the floor was open, drawing a smile to the chairs’ faces. Speeches talked both positively and negatively about the openness of globalization, generating vehement discussion that ultimately pushed for compromises. Not only were delegates unintimidated by the difficulty of the issues, they were consistently motivated to amend resolutions, passing three resolutions in total in the past two days. As Martina Sanchez, President of SPC, stated, “The current political situation in the world makes borders a topic of utter importance,” all chairs were very satisfied with the delegates’ depth of debate. However, Elizavetta Fursova and Michael Chen, Assistant Presidents of SPC1, do have some suggestions for these ardent debaters. “We recommend delegates to further prepare on following their
official policies and have clear positions regarding the different focuses of resolutions.” Nevertheless, the chairs are confident that the SPC delegates’ will make lots of improvement tomorrow.
by: Aseel Einjury
Thursday February 2, 2017
9 | OPINION
The Effects of Psychological Borders by: Peter Nguyen Minh
One would think that physical borders are the hardest to break. They can be guarded by armed personnel, have intense security checks and often vast physical structures for which one would need to read an ACME guide to cross. They are however nowhere near as difficult to break as the borders people have built up in their minds. These borders can be to avoid seafood, to only buy MUNITY from a particular individual, to disassociate the lower classes, or to hate entire countries. These mental barriers are what can tear apart an entire community that was otherwise peaceful. It is ingrained into human nature to classify and evaluate social standing and then act accordingly. These psychological borders can be established within minutes and are almost impossible to break. One could argue that in today’s society which boasts equality and acceptance as its primary ideals it is somewhat hypocritical, as in the pursuit of making everyone accepting, one builds a barrier between those who are deemed accepting and those who are not. These barriers are due to a multitude of causes, making it rather difficult to pinpoint a specific one, but patterns do emerge. They stem from beliefs which are either related to a past event or experience or upbringing. People are also often open to psychological manipulation. One extreme example of current psychological borders being built up was in the UK on the 23rd of June, 2016. The build up to Brexit had been slowly advancing, yet no one expected it. Ev-
erything changed in the span of a day. One could taste the tension in the air and it wasn’t sweet. All the constituencies which had voted ‘remain’ immediately ostracized the ‘leavers’ and all pro-EU protests after Brexit were deemed unpatriotic and undemocratic. There were reports of fights and horrible deaths, but thankfully that wasn’t the norm. The norm however had become the intense judgement and passive aggressive attitude that anyone was foreign enough or didn’t sound Southern (English) enough faced, as the rest of England voted leave. The situation has since died down, but these barriers between people are still very much present; only the English have been presented with other annoyances to complain about, mainly the bloody rain and cold. Another example of this in the Middle Eastern countries, specifically in Bahrain, is that the number of immigrant workers is incredibly high, often making up 50% of the population or even more, like in Qatar, where they make up 60%. Bahrain, compared to others, is quite a free country, citing a high score on the Human Development Index. Unfortunately, a hierarchical system has developed there as well, with workers being put at the bottom. One of the most “popular” jobs is being a maid, as higher income parents are often working hard and have no time to take care of their children, similar to nannies in Victorian England. This could lay the groundwork to become a caste system, but thankfully they’re somewhat more attentive to Human Rights abus-
es. However, this does not take away from the fact that when one finds themselves in a mall (a very popular destination in Middle Eastern countries) and two families with differing social status pass each other, it can be nothing special or a rather uncomfortable exchange. Finally, another example of intense barriers between people is in Europe, due to the refugee crisis, focusing on Hungary especially. Unfortunately, Hungary has its government to blame partly for these kinds of divisions as it ran an intense poster campaign inciting the people against the refugee crisis using facts which were proven untrue, exaggerated or twisted, similar to how if one controls the axes on a graph, one can make it show anything that one would want with any results. This resulted in a large division between people who all want the same thing: what is good for their people and country. However, who the people and country are is what these divisions decide. It’s these kinds of psychological borders which can really destroy friendships and ruin lives, when it’s often simply due to circumstance. Therefore, to break free of these shackles, the global community should realise that differing opinions and ideals is not an acceptable reason for these psychological barriers as they will simply eradicate any chance for a solution.
by: Samantha Arnold
Thursday February 2, 2017
10 | NEWS
Between the Lesser of Two Evils by: Yashwini Sodhani The balance of the world’s political inclination has always shifted between the right and left, but looking back at 2016, one might say that the global community is once again at a critical juncture where it must decide between the two. The re-emergence of populism as a political strategy to mobilize begs the question, do we continue to embrace globalism, or do we stick to our roots with nationalism? The meaning of the word ‘populism’ has moved from ‘defending the sentiments of the bourgeoisie from a group of controlling elites’ to ‘using the sentiments of a group of isolated people to polarize the general populace against the status quo to win votes’. Not only does the word resurface in every discussion of the Trump administration’s victory and immigration policies, its has been resurgent in many countries around the world. With every coming election, the world moves a step further to the far right, with conservative policies and a romanticized idea of nationalism. The outlook in the EU remains supportive of the populist agenda, with Marine Le Pen’s National Front party in France, Leif-Erik Holm’s Alternative for Deutschland party in Germany, and Nigel Farage’s Leave campaign, responsible for the disaster that was Brexit. With the growth of the right wing fanaticism in these countries, what was peculiar was the ineffectiveness of the left - with most left-wing parties failing to
curb the growth of the right’s popularity among voters. With the example of the conservative immigration policies that the right is infamous for, their popularity only grew, being reinforced by the fear of migrants taking crucial jobs and the rise in the number of terror attacks. Not only does populism reinforce nationalistic sentiments, it has resounding effects on communal tensions around the world. The saffron agenda in Narendra Modi’s India echoes a similar sentiment, with the aim of establishing the Hindu majority’s power through communal historiography, countering the erosion of national identity through globalism. Globalism even failed to meet its objective of bridging the gap between the poor and the rich in India, and prompted the move towards nationalism - kick-starting the Make in India movement - which revolutionized Indian industries that had long been overshadowed by multinational corporations. This particular case makes a strong argument for the potential of nationalism in improving local economies. The choice that the world is making right now has an enormous impact on our future. Populism is forcing a move towards extreme nationalism and authoritarianism, unraveling the work done by globalization in establishing the democracies the world is so proud of – by means of fear mongering and manipulation. Only the future knows whether the choice our vulnerable communities are making is the right one.
From SG to President?
by: Samantha Arnold
by: Lindsey Yu After António Guterres became the new United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General from 2007 to 2016, issued a statement about his return to the Republic of Korea. His announcement read, “I am ready to give my all to uniting the divided country and making South Korea a first-rate nation.” This statement has generated great interest, and polarized opinions, regarding his possible decision to run for president, “As United Nations Secretary General, I have seen why some nations prosper and why some fail,” commented Ban Ki-Moon as he arrived home on January 12th. A vast number of South Koreans see Ban Ki-Moon as a role model, ‘a man who made South Korea proud’ and claim that his experiences serving the UN have taught him what would be best for South Korea. his supporters say that he is a seasoned, pro-American diplomat who is best equipped to deal with North Korea’s advancing nuclear weapons program. One of the first things Mr. Ban did after his homecoming was to support the deployment of an American missile defense system. “Definitely he will be better at international relations than the current president,” stated Jeffrey Heo, Delegate of Zambia, General Assembly 3.
by: Samantha Arnold
Despite the generally positive views on Ban Ki-Moon, many of his critics have said that a person known as “Mr. Half-Half ” is not capable making strong decisions while leading a country. Even though the UN under Ban Ki-Moon had accomplishments such as The Paris Agreement and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it still couldn’t negotiate a ceasefire on the Syrian Civil War due to Mr. Ban’s neutral stance on the issue. Furthermore, many of his detractors also refer to him as the “one who has lived his life on the sunny side.” Jeffrey Park, the Deputy President of GA5, commented on this, saying; “He would not be able to understand what the general public wants.” All in all, opinions from both sides should be considered when evaluating if Ban Ki-Moon really should run for president. It will be interesting for the international community to see his final decision; and if he decides to compete in the election, the party he chooses also promises to stir much interest.
Thursday February 2, 2017
11 | NEWS
African Union Welcomes Morocco by: Chang Qu
by: Emma Benoit After three decades of absence, Morocco rejoined the African Union on the 31st of January, 2017. The reentering of Morocco significantly marks the visible unification of countries in Africa and stands as an irreplaceable landmark for the globe on the path of seeking peace. This great event which has just taken place once again brings the public’s attention to the topic of Africa’s unification. Africa possesses its own unique social and financial situation which can be found nowhere else due to its history. In recent decades, a number of the most concerning global issues arose on the continent, appealing to more worries and attention. Meanwhile, the relevant countries were actively searching possible methods for a better future. Undeniably, the African Union, the most formal and important organization of the region, largely promotes the development of the area. Having Morocco as its 55th member country this past Tuesday, the AU once again strengthened its influence, acquiring more importance not
only within the continent, but also in the world. The THIMUN delegates, being devoted to the topic of global issues, paid great attention to the AU’s expansion. Laurens van Oost, the delegate of Morocco in Disarmament Commission 2, spoke of his great excitement in seeing the country he represents take a big step in the world’s development. “The benefits of having Morocco back into to the AU are obvious. First of all, the economy will thrive due to more convenience in the exports and imports of goods. Additionally, the re-entry will efficiently make the structure of the AU stronger, making it easier for the African countries’ voices to be heard on the stage of the UN. For the AU, it is really a goal for it to be as powerful and influential as an organization like the European Union in which small countries can come together and make their voices recognized.” Countries in Africa are fighting against the mutual troubles of mankind, such as terrorism, poverty and diseases. The entering of a new gives more hope to faster development. As a
result, more confidence will be generated when countries manage the local society. The delegate of the African Union, Christian Kuhn, in Disarmament Commission 1 expressed his own opinion after hearing the good news about the AU. “The AU will get more attention definitely. More secretaries means more respect. It is not only Morocco which is gaining benefits, but every country in the union is going to be stronger and more influential in the diplomatic world.” Kuhn then told the press what he thought to be a very important fact. “We have to acknowledge that the African Union is just a name. The organization is not consolidated enough. The expansion will strengthen the connections between countries, and the positions of all member countries. Additionally, I think as the AU is getting bigger and stronger, the organizations gain more hope in getting chances cooperating with other continents or international organizations like members of UN and the European Union.” Kuhn also told the press his own description of the AU, saying, “At the moment, the AU is more like a formal representation instead of achieving a solid solution.” The population is facing a number of challenging issues: the spreading of the Ebola virus, continual terrorist attacks, famine and poverty. Fortunately, with a tighter relationship within the local countries, people obtain hope and more possibilities of developing better solutions to these problems. In the process of combatting troubles, the region needs the efforts of every country in order to establish a complete unification of the African Union. The continent is currently working hard on the path of building a stronger society, and it is an undeniable responsibility for every country to support the unification as well as the further development of the African Union.
Solutions Wednesday February 1st Maze:
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THURSDAY , 2ND FEBRUARY 2017
12 / ENTERTAINMENT
Weird and Unusual Things to Do In The Hague by: Andrea Blattler
Weighed as a Witch! At Leeuweringerstraat 2, 3421 AC Oudewater, get weighed to see if you are a witch! The village of Oudewater near Utrecht is featured on most lists as the Netherlands’ prettiest villages but it is also quite strange. Forget the typical cobbled streets and canals – if you go to the town’s weighing house, you can find out if you are witch. People were weighed during the witch trials, not because the good folk of Oudewater were determined to stamp out witchcraft, but because, so the legend goes, they were exceedingly honest. Hundreds of people used to make their way to Oudewater in an effort to prove their innocence and no one was ever
found to be light enough to be a witch. Today it has become a tourist attraction, but you can still get a certificate to prove your innocence. Dead or Not Dead? Originally built in 1830 by a city architect, this death house was originally used to house the recently dead. Before medicine was more adept at identifying whether the dead were truly deceased, the recently dead would be moved into the building’s central room and attendants would check them for signs of life days after their apparent death. The professional death-watchers would place feathers and mirrors in front of the corpse’s faces to check for breath, and the bodies were attached to elaborate systems of strings and bells so that any movement would be immediately detected. This eerie house can be found at Kerkhoflaan 12 Cemetery in The Hague. An Island That No Longer Exists… Walk around an island that does not exist - the island of Schokland. It used to have several villages, but was finally abandoned in 1859 on the orders of the government who were fed up with rescuing its population from floods. All the buildings were destroyed so locals could not move back. Follow the round Schokland walk and imagine how bleak it must have been to live on this swampy rise in the middle of the sea, especially during a storm, and experience for yourself the reason they left.
by: Emma Bwenoit
MAZE
SUDOKU
FACTS ABOUT THE UN 1) The United Nations was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001... 2) ...and an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) in 1947. 3) The UN provides food to 90 million people… 4) They assist over 34 million refugees 5) The U.N.’s first purpose is to keep peace throughout the world. 6) On Feb. 2, 1946, Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie was elected as the first Secretary General of the United Nations