THIMUN 2018 Munity Tuesday 30

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@munityonline Issue. 03

The XXVI Annual Session of THIMUN The Hague. Tuesday Issue.

#MUN Impact

05

Committee Reports

07

One of THIMUN’s greatest assets is its global population of delegates. Students from a variety of backgrounds are united by their passion for debate, mutual understanding, and the challenge of solving the complex issues that we face as citizens of the world in the 21st century. Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s ‘Humans of New York,’ MUNITY asked eight THIMUN delegates to share their stories and thoughts on the conference. Despite the motley of nationalities and cultures, certain themes- namely the genuine enthusiasm for progress and change- unite delegates. Displaying unmatched conference diversity, here are the ‘Humans of THIMUN’:

By Layla Murphy

“[I decided to go to boarding school] because Portuguese is my mother tongue, and I really wanted to get better at speaking English. [...] I’ve only been there 6 months.

I really like it, but I miss home a lot. It’s difficult. [...] In my school in Brazil they had [MUN], but I couldn’t do it because I had lots of extra activities. Now that I’m in LAS and have the chance to do it, I’m really enjoying it. [...] I didn’t realize that people take MUN as seriously as they do. Here, everyone is so concerned about the problems.

It’s really cool.”

- Maria Pena Leysin, Switzerland

“This is my second THIMUN conference.

I was a delegate last time. [...] One of my chairs was really inspiring last year, so I decided to be a chair too. She spoke so confidently, you know, and she had control over the room. I was like, I wanna be like that!

[Chairing] has been a learning experience.

Despite chairing numerous conferences, you can never go to a conference without learning something new.”

- Jane Chae Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

MUN Today

08-09

13

THIMUN “[In Taiwan] the people are pretty nice, but the weather is pretty hot! I didn’t really feel well when I first came here; because it’s so cold, I felt like I almost died! [...] The guy who sits next to me is actually from China.

I’m happy because I can talk to someone in Chinese! I don’t really mind the political relationship with Chinese people. [...] I don’t care where he’s from, or whether he’s Chinese. All I care about is the personality. [...]

As time passes, I learn a lot from [MUN].

LEDCs, MEDCs, NGOs, they contribute so much. Walking this path has brought me closer to the world.”

- Advika Mehra Cairo, Egypt

- Sean Ko Taichung, Taiwan

- Vimalen Madre Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Opening Speeches

HUMANS OF

“In other conferences, there’s a lot of people that don’t want to participate very actively.

Here, everyone is willing to get involved.

There are people here from all over the world, from so many different backgrounds.

For some people, THIMUN is their first conference, and other people have been doing it for years. I love talking to them, seeing what their lives are like, where they’re from. I love MUN. It’s made me much more open minded, informed, and confident in my abilities.”

“People call me Vim for short. I’m from Mauritius. My dad works at the biggest motorbike company in Kinshasa, so he manages the business there. [...] I like [MUN] because it’s a lot of public speaking… and I really like wearing a suit! [...] I quite like the lifestyle. And through our discussions we’re actually trying to make a change in the world, aspiring to make the world a better place. [...] The Hague as a whole is a beautiful city. The conference itself, well… it’s not that bad!”

星期二2018年1月30日

“I’m Irish, but I was born in Holland, and I’ve lived here all my life. [...] I like having the responsibility of knowing what’s going on, supervising the admins. I like helping people; whenever something goes wrong, I’m always the person to be like, okay, how am I going to fix this? [...] As for debate, there are quite a few striking topics this year.

I wonder how [the delegates] are going to debate them, what’s the for, and what’s the against.”

- Meghan Kennedy The Hague, Netherlands

“[The Hague] feels… like it’s a different world, because where we live, it’s more about conflict; it’s about problems; every day you have to face challenges. There are a lot of issues, but here you feel that it’s calm; it’s a peaceful place. [...] The great example of MUNImpact would be HELA. In such a short time, we are now an organization involving more than 1000 young people in Afghanistan. [...] That is the real impact that we see. Through MUN, the lives of people in Afghanistan are changing. [...] It is the start of a big change.”

- Mohammad Sulaiman Sulaimankhil Afghanistan

“I’m from Chile and I live in Venezuela. I think [MUN] has made me less ignorant, in the way that you meet so many people. You meet so many smart people, from so many different places, who have such strong opinions about some things… you open yourself up to those opinions.”

- Samuel Kahn Caracas, Venezuela

Photos By Madison Cornwell

02 THIMUN INSIGHT Reactions to the 50th

The THIMUN Opening Ceremony took place for the 50th time in the World Forum Convention Centre on the 29th of January 2018. It was the culmination of months of planning and discussion, but now that it has finally transpired, did it live up to expectations? Yes it has.

Interviewing delegates who attended the ceremony, there could be no doubt that the ‘Royal Opening’ filled their heart with passion, commitment, and joy. When asked how she felt about the opening ceremony, Fede Everts (Delegate of China, General Assembly 3) said, “it was really amazing how so many different aspects of the 50th were compiled together and exhibited as one composition, especially the two coordinators and the King; it all created a wonderful atmosphere.” Another delegate, Zameena Rajabali (Delegate of the Bahamas, GA3), added that “The ceremony was beyond my expectations. I really appreciated the fact that there were speeches that emphasized personal experiences. They motivated me to work harder, find my voice, and get results. The flag parade, music, and lighting

were all so well coordinated that it honestly felt magical.”

Apart from the delegates, the Chairs and members of the Board of Directors were also very pleased with the opening ceremony.

Ms. Frances Laughlin, Co-Chair of the THIMUN Board says, “I thought it went very well; we were very excited having everyone there and it went very smoothly. It exceeded my expectations.”

Nadia Hanter (Deputy Chair, General Assembly 6) also mentioned that, “It really hit me then [during the flag ceremony] just how many nations were represented, and it was breathtaking.”

When asked if the ceremony could have been improved, Shahla Hirani (Delegate of the Bahamas, Special Conference 2) mentioned that “although it was incredible to see the King of the Netherlands come up and officially open the conference, it would have been astonishing if he had said a few inspiring words directed towards delegates as he was previously also a delegate at THIMUN.”

Moreover, Laughlin said, “the only thing I would have loved to have would be more music, but the schedule is always very tight so it’s quite difficult.” Hanter also added when asked what is one thing she would have loved to see, “[...] a speech from a delegates perspective. It allows us to look at the theme not just in the eyes of it’s creators but also in that of the audience.”

Incidentally, the speeches given at the opening ceremony also galvanized delegates. In reference to the Mayor of the Municipality, Ms. Pauline Keikke’s speech on the history of the United Nations and the King of the Netherlands,

Photo by Reka Gardai Pranav Rughani (Delegate of Dominica, GA2) commented that “her speech was truly inspiring as she clearly stated how today’s global issues are so important. She inspired me to become a UN officer in the near future to help inform and eradicate such issues as well as contribute to infinite peace.”

The ceremony has indubitably left its mark, inspiring thousands of young delegates to work diligently over the coming week to debate and produce intelligent, educated solutions to the pressing challenges to global development.

By Joon Alibhai

Conference Security

Each morning at THIMUN, delegates swarming into the World Forum, rushing to get to their committee on time, are a common sight.

It’s safe to say that THIMUN is a logistically hectic event. Since this is the 50th annual conference, and the Opening Ceremony was attended by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, this chaos is all the more apparent. It was evident that the security was exceptional and multiple bodyguards were needed when walking into the World Forum. However, not many people have realised the level of effort put in by the security guards to make THI-

MUN a safe and smooth conference for all of its participants.

The THIMUN conferences have gradually increased in magnitude every year, and this year there are around 3,200 students and teachers from over 200 different schools. With this increase in size, there are also increased security measures that have been taken in order to make sure that the entry to the conference is secure and that only the verified people enter the conference. When asked about the measures they take at the front door to the lobby, Hilbert, one of the security guards, stated, “We take (the) control of the door and put the children and people to the side and ask them good morning, and hello, and can we see your badge so that we can clear room.” When asked what it was like securing the doors every morning and how it could be improved, one of the security guards, Curt, mentioned “Students could work together with us a bit more, like having their card ready when they come in. It makes it easier for us, and easier for the students as it all goes faster.”

However, it is essential to realise that the security at THIMUN is exceptional, and that even though the size of the conference has increased, all necessary measures are taken in order to make the conference run smoothly and safely for everyone.

By Holly Roberts

Photo by Reka Gardai

MUNITY apologizes to Onur Keretli for leaving out his photo credit for the wonderful page 1 photo in the previous issue.

03 THIMUN INSIGHT Uncharted Waters

The committee of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) opens the 50th anniversary of THIMUN with a new approach this year. The committee is trying a case that has never been tried before in the actual ICJ. Judges, advocates, and witnesses alike must deliberate and decide on a case entirely without precedent.

The UN’s involvement in the maritime dispute between Turkey and Cyprus provides motivation for the ICJ to take on this case. This contention questions the legality of both Cyprus’ claimed exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which is reserved by a country for exploration and drilling for economic benefit, and Turkey’s claimed continental shelf. Cyprus’ claim to its EEZ is recognized by the EU, the United States, international committees, and is in accordance with the United Nations Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

Though Turkey signed the Treaty of Guarantee in 1960, which guarantees the independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus, the nation refuses to recognize these rights, and claims that its continental shelf has precedence. Turkey believes that islands (such as Cyprus) are not fully entitled to EEZs.

The advocates and judges of ICJ are tak-

Artwork by Ghalia Lemseffer ing a stab in the dark with this case, as all the decisions made by the committee will be based exclusively on the jurisdiction of its members.

There will be no past decisions to base arguments upon besides information derived from current events and historical data. Taking on this case is a productive experience for members who hope to simulate a true hearing of the ICJ. “[The case is] a pretty good idea...you have to indulge in serious research, you can’t just find stuff online for this case,” says Judge Deyash

Goel. Though daunting, this new experience is one that ICJ members enjoy. “[It] makes the case more interesting because we have no base to make our decisions on,” stated Judge Margaret Cayce. Relying solely on their own judgements and independent research, the ICJ members will be able to deliver an interesting and original final decision at the conclusion of this case.

When people hear THIMUN, the first thing they think of is a world-renowned Model United Nations(MUN) conference, regrouping youth from all corners of the earth in order to debate international events. Yet it is so much more than that. Behind the scenes, the admins tirelessly work to set up the committees starting two days before the conference actually opens.

From setting up the various rooms to note-passing in committees, printing resolutions to ensuring security, their contribution is visible in every aspect of our week here at the World Forum Convention Center (WFCC).

Students and their MUN Directors from all over the world go to the admins with questions, and they are always greeted with smiling faces. Camille Thomeer, a student at the French School of The Hague, is attending THIMUN as an admin for the first time. For her, working at the info booth is the perfect place. “My favourite part is meeting new people,” she mentioned.

When asked what her least favourite part was, her answer was one many can relate to: “My shoes… To have to stand up all day with my shoes.” Nevertheless, the admins are all happy to answer questions and be of help.

Inside the WFCC, admin staff buzz around to make sure everything is in order for the participants. From the perspective of Leonard Krill, Head of the Secretariat and a student from the German International School of The

Hague, this involves working with his team to verify that the many resolutions to be debated will be printed on time. “We get the resolutions in over a system, and then I print it and wait for the PGA to come and tell me what to copy.

Then, I can tell my people to copy it in the right amount for the PGA to come, pick it up and bring it to the committee,” said Krill.

Similarly, the individual committees would not be able to function without the zeal of the admins. Admin Brice Badibanga from the International School of The Hague, who is responsible for SPC1 and SPC2, works with his team to make sure the committees are “well taken care of, and that the chairs and delegates have everything they need.”

The admin staff members are truly the backbone of the conference. On their feet all day, yet never letting the smiles vanish from their faces, they organize rooms, assist students and facilitate communication during debate, standing-by before the delegates arrive and staying until after they have left.

By Bella Villanueva

Inside the Mind of an Admin

Photo by Lucia Gonzales Holgado

By Kara Jessup

04

THIMUN

Why Education Is so Important in Building a Civil Society

Artwork by Eva Vaynshteyn

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

After the Millennium Development goals expired in 2015, the United Nations(UN) introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 goals, encompassing issues from clean water to climate action, aim to be solved by the year 2030.

Journey to School There are nearly 4,000 participants at this year’s THIMUN, and for the majority of us with privileged backgrounds and an international education, journeying to school each morning is a fairly stress-free process.

Madison Cornwell is a American student, and the 33rd member of her family to attend John Burroughs School in Missouri. At age 17, she owns a Jeep and drives just three minutes every day to get to school. Since passing her test over a year ago, Madison has never been stopped, received a citation or damaged her car. Although they may not be exactly the same, many of us privileged and internationally educated students from the Western world have a journey to school similar to Madison’s. We may walk, take public transport or drive, but our journeys are largely uneventful, safe and comfortable.

Mitra Ashgari, an Afghan national, attending THIMUN from the HELA delegation, has a wholly different experience every morning on her journey to school. A similar age to Madison, Mitra cannot leave her house alone nor can she drive. In order to get to school, she has to travel with a driver she knows well, along with other male security. In Afghanistan, women cannot walk the streets alone. Mitra said she, like many other girls travelling to school in Middle Eastern provinces, fears being kidnapped when leaving the house, as well as the possibility of militant bomb attacks. While education rates for females are low in Afghanistan – notably so in more rural areas – Mitra is optimistic, as day-by-day they are increasing.

The theme of this year’s THIMUN is “Building Civil Society through Education”, which directly relates to SDG Number 4: “To ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning”.

Nelson Mandela believes education is the essential building block of any society, and could be the key to solving all of the other 16 SDGs. In the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s words, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” Without it, wars would rage, we would not develop and the world would wilt.

That is the reason why the 50th THIMUN conferences’ theme is “Building Civil Society through Education”. The theme emphasizes the importance that schooling has in the world. In the 2017 Report of the Secretary-General on progress towards the SDGs, António Guterres stated that “Despite considerable gains in education enrolment over the past 15 years, worldwide, the adjusted net enrolment rates were 91 per cent for primary education, 84 per cent for lower secondary education and 63 per cent for upper secondary education in 2014.”

The UN has made huge strides in educating the youth of the world and plans to keep going. Education is closely linked to sustainable development. To have actual sustainable development, education is key. It lays the foundations for future generations and provides a place that can be grown from, which will bring us all closer to a civil society.

By Shane Hynes

To many of us students in the Western world, difficulties in travelling to school seem almost alien. There are over 7,000 miles between Missouri and Afghanistan, and daily life in the two places could not be more different. It is unfair that Madison and Mitra live such different lives in this modern day. The stark differences between these two journeys demonstrate how we need organisations such as HELA and MUN to promote debate and encourage change.

By Max Shirley

Artwork by Suwaphat Nongkum

#MUNIMPACT 05 Feminist Initiative

Goal 5 of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aims to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.”

Though the world has accomplished significant progress in moving towards equality, there remains discrimination across the world.

It is a topic that weaves its way into many issues discussed here at THIMUN and the lives of many of its participants.

As a part of the #MUNImpact, two students, both from the John F. Kennedy School of Berlin, Marian Bothner and Thea Voyles, aim to promote gender equality in a community-oriented way based around “making changes that they could see,” not just bringing about awareness.

Bothner, the Secretary General, stated, “[Their project] is a student-organised group at our school, aimed at promoting gender equality.”

While this is still a new project, they have already accomplished much change: “We have organised lectures at the Girl Scouts; we have raised money to support victims of female genital mutilation in Berlin, and we are also organising a week long event with feminist lectures and other media that will draw attention to our issues,” Bothner revealed.

Voyles stated that “it was something that was necessary at our school...having gone through high school as women, we thought there was a space for us, and for younger girls and boys, it would be really important.”

Bothner added, “ It has to do with the fact that there are so many misconceptions about what feminism is... We felt as though the feminist message was just not connecting with any of the boys we knew.” She also mentions the significance of finding out the importance of feminism and what it really is at this impressionable age.

While motivated by personal interest, they also stated how MUN has had an influence on the initiative. About the BERMUN conference at her school, Voyles added,“The focus was women’s empowerment...we definitely took our own experiences with MUN and tried to use those experiences to kind of construct that environment for other people.”

When looking at the outcome of their project and thinking about the future, Voyles mentioned,“...It hasn’t fully reached its potential. Already by existing, we have created a space for people to discuss these things. A lot of our members are younger girls, and I think for them it has definitely become a supportive community.”

Find out more about their project on Instagram: @feministinitiative

By Holly Roberts

Artwork by Suwaphat Nongkum

MUNITY Creds: Edtors-in-Chief :

Michelle Liu, Naledi Tilmann

Head of Layout and Design:

Hannah Moran

Managing Editor :

Text Editors : Reporters :

Layout : Photography : Artists :

Maya Mishra

Shane Hynes, Dawn Kim, Katherine Schupp, Thea Voyles, Lindsey Yu

Joon Alibhai, Amalia Anhalt, Alia Ayoubi, Rashmi Hemrajani, Kara Jessup, Jingyi Jia, Gayatri Meswani, Layla Murphy, Peter Nguyen Minh, Chang Qu, Holly Roberts, Max Shirley, Bella Villanueva, Evan Williams Will Couch, Riva Kishanchandani, Willa Lin, Jaywon Yi, Jiwon Chung, Seoeun Choi.

Anais Caudron, Madison Cornwell, Reka Gardai, Onur Keretli, Lucia Gonzalez Holgado.

Claudia Bata, Ghalia Lemseffer, Suwaphat Nonkum, Eva Vaynshteyn

Plug in to the Future of MUN

We live in a world that is beingtseized by technology. Without access to computers, phones, or other devices with the capacity to connect us to the internet, we might as well be like American writer (and eccentric) Henry David Thoreau and settle in for the long haul of a hermit’s life. All jokes aside, it is a gravely serious matter. Students who are left without adequate access to technology and the benefits that come with it can easily be left behind and miss opportunities. What a great misfortune it would be for brilliant young people to remain hidden, for their ideas and creations to fall through the cracks merely due to the lack of something as basic as a functioning computer.

Two years ago, THIMUN 2016 attendee Madison Swanson recognized this travesty. Then a senior at John Burroughs School in the United States, she hoped to “further the MUN education of students in less developed countries by giving them access to used, fully-functional laptop computers.” In essence, PiMUN works as such: schools, businesses, organizations, and individuals who have technology which solely gathers dust can have the devices’ memories wiped, then send them to PiMUN. From there, the devices will be sent to those in need.

Perhaps the most notable recipients of PiMUN devices are the delegates of Hope in Education and Leadership in Afghanistan (HELA), the inspiring group of young minds who became the first MUN delegation from Afghanistan. In fact, Madison was largely inspired by her interactions with HELA at THIMUN to start PiMUN. It is worth noting that the HELA delegation is here today representing Denmark, and received a fresh shipment of PiMUN laptops this afternoon.

PiMUN embodies what is great about MUN: it connects people.

Whether these connections are emotional, intellectual, made in person, or made online, they contribute to a global community working towards solutions to real world problems together.

The MUNITY press team and PiMUN are calling on all delegates and schools attending the conference to donate their unused technology. To do so, simply email the faculty sponsor of the program, Andrew Newman, at anewman@jburroughs.org, and he’ll guide you through the process.

By Evan Williams

Photo by Madison Cornwell

Send us your submissions at: munity2018@gmail.com

06 THIMUN INSIGHT Socio-Economic Diversity at THIMUN

We can all agree that THIMUN brings people from all corners of the globe together, but is it truly diverse? “Although the conference is culturally diverse, socio-economically, it’s quite homogenous. Most participants come from relatively privileged backgrounds,” said Jonas Thiergart, the Delegate of the Netherlands from the Security Council. “The opportunity of coming here is not give to everyone, simply because they can’t afford it,” added Salome Garnier, the Delegate of Afghanistan from Sub-Commission 1 of the Special Conference.

The problem here isn’t limited to the affordability of the conference. “The schools invited to the conference are mainly international schools,” noted Guilherme Grupenmacher, the President of the Special Conference. This may not be in our best interests because it leads to most of us having similar perspectives on global issues. “We’ve grown up hearing similar liberal ideas meaning that our debates tend to be centered around a certain worldview,” explained Estella Nouri, the Ambassador of Afghanistan from General Assembly 6. The sentiment that the limited socio-economic diversity at the conference has negative implications is echoed

by Jeeho Choe, the Delegate of China from the

Security Council. According to Choe, “The whole point of the conference is to have people from all walks of life represented. This allows delegates to generate solutions to issues that are sustainable for every group of people. However, this homogeneity might lead to the creation of resolutions that are beneficial only to people from certain demographics, limiting the scope of the conference.”

These repercussions leave us with the task of making the conference more accessible, a task which can be achieved by “allowing grants for costs related to transport, housing, and food,” noted Garnier. Additionally, “continuing to provide the community housing facility, and even expanding it, would allow THIMUN to become more economically diverse,” said Alison Tuck, MUN Director for the British International School of Jeddah. “The foundation could offer more scholarships to students, such as those given to the HELA delegation, on the basis of merit and financial hardship, so that students can afford to attend the conference,” she added. By adopting these measures, and making the conference truly heterogeneous, more sustainable solutions can be generated to solve the world’s problems.

By Gayatri Meswani

Artwork by Suwaphat Nongkum

A Sit-Down with David Williams

Behind a yellow sea of his own work, Mr. David Williams sat down with me for a discussion about his own MUN experience. The coffee table-style hardback encompasses dozens of stories from past-MUN delegates, many who are now in the working world, such as the current King of the Netherlands, and some who are even retirees.

Mr. Williams attended his first MUN conference as a teacher in 1977. Since then he has truly stayed involved in this sphere by going on to become one of the founding members of the THIMUN Foundation and, currently, an emeritus member of the advisory board. At his first conference, he came to the realisation that “MUN is student-led, and the learning process is student-driven,” forming his love for the programme.

Starting in January 2017, Mr. Williams first began talking about the idea of this book with a previous student, Mr. Reinhardt Smit.

Their plan was to create a memento to mark the 50th anniversary of this prestigious conference.

It was evident, he said, that when compiling the book, “for the majority of students, it [MUN] was the most important thing they ever did in school.” The book itself, Mr. David Williams said,

is a collection of very individual stories.

When setting out to edit and collate the experiences of previous delegates, the pair “did not want to write a history book about 50 years of conferences; we wanted stories.” Many of the writers’ experiences in the anthology are very heartfelt; it is clear that MUN has had such a positive impact on the lives of many people, and it will continue to do so. Mr. Williams’s work is a clear example of how all those involved can use their MUN experience to actually impact their lives and the wider world.

Jokingly, when asked when part two of his expansive work is coming, Mr. Williams’s said that he “won’t be here for the 100th anniversary!” His work should, however, be ongoing.

We, as young people, are – as the cliché states – the future of tomorrow. Much like many of the stunning stories we can read about past participants, our stories will, too, be sources of inspiration one day.

“Shaping Tomorrow: 50 years of inspiring youth,” can be purchased throughout the conference on the first floor for the price of €25.

By Max Shirley

Photo by Anais Caudron

COMMITTEES

07

Committee Reports HSC

Discussion of the History

In the small, warm room of South America on the second day of the conference, delegates were having riveting discussions on the the situation in Vietnam, which they lobbied yesterday and are currently debating this issue.

Achieving compromise on issues as complicated as the situation of Vietnam seemed a daunting task to some delegates. However, the delegates enthusiastically tackled the task.

“There may have been small problems with merging the clauses, but they eventually managed to pull together a collective document,” stated Jane Chea, Deputy President of HSC. With the delegates’ passion on the topic and their determination to come to an effective solution to the issue, the lobbying process was victorious in the HSC.

Considering the nature of the committee where the SC is considered the most tension

SC Nobody’s Perfect

Walking into the Central America room, home of the Security Council this week, you will find a room of fifteen enthusiastic delegates.

They are debating four issues: the situations in Yemen, Mali, Libya, and Afghanistan.

According to Anya Haldemann, Deputy President of the Security Council, the mem-

Photo by Anais Caudron

filled committee combined with a historical background of the chaotic year of 1968, conflicts were inevitable. According to Chea, the delegates were so passionate that “both the USSR and the US submitted a veto threat for a clause” and, as a result, “a P5 caucus had to be held.” Seeing the high level of preparedness and activeness in the committee, the chairs were all very impressed.

Chea commended the delegates: “They have shown their research and knowledge in debates, and proved to be eager to pass clauses.” However, the Deputy President did have words of advice for these ardent debaters. “They should definitely be more careful about their countries’ policies and their word choice when they deliver their statements,” she recommended. Indeed, only by adhering to their nations’ standpoints can the delegates find appropriate solutions and reach acceptable compromises. Furthermore, considering the complex time period, Chea also reminded the delegates to keep the date of 1968 set by the HSC in mind at all times. ber-states engaged in “fruitful debate” on the question of Mali, which concerns a civil war between the south and north of the country.

The delegate of Equatorial Guinea, a bordering country of Mali, was a particularly passionate member of the debate, and believed that foreign armies would not be helpful in diffusing the war in Mali. She also believed that a United Nations body should be established in Mali, an idea that the delegate of the United States supported.

In voting for the clause that concerned foreign armies aiding the Malian army in combat, the Russian Federation, a permanent member, initially voted against the clause. However, on second thought, the delegate rescinded the veto and abstained, joining China.

Haldemann believed the debate on the situation in Mali would last for the “rest of the day” and was optimistic that it would conclude in an “effective and reasonable resolution.”

ECOSOC The Spirit of ECOSOC

“Governments of all levels, NGOs, and agencies of United Nations must work together.

The delegate is excited to discuss and debate these issues at the chance,” proclaimed Ethan Wang, the delegate of Peru in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in his opening speech.

At the centre of the UN development system, ECOSOC conducts cutting-edge analyses and agreements on global norms and advocates for progress. Delegates of ECOSOC started debating on decisive global social issues after the brief merging agenda yesterday.

For most delegates, the enthusiastic discussion they had yesterday were doubtlessly eventful. As Wang recounted, “Leading up to it, it was definitely a struggle. We had lot of things to cut down and merge, though. Our group finally

mingled with another group, and the final product has been really exceptional: combined great ideas from both groups. At the narrow moment when I looked at the draft resolution, making sure I have covered everything I wanted and cut things off, meaningful is not the word I was looking for.” By emphasizing combined economic, social and environmental concerns, ECOSOC encouraged agreement on coherent policies and actions that make fundamental links across all three, and this demands massive cooperation between delegates.

Rosana Schimicut, the delegate of Moldova, also holds the same belief. “The most memorable thing for me is about mingling with [delegates] you never see before then fixing the issues,” said Schimicut. “What we are doing is

Photo by Anais Caudron

Though agreement may come slowly due to the complicated nature of the committee, the delegates’ fervor as well as the chairs’ proficiency would certainly help the Historical Security Council develop comprehensive resolutions over the week.

By Lindsey Yu

On Monday, the Security Council participated in hectic lobbying sessions. According to the Eoin Brennan, delegate of the United States of America, the lobbying process for the Security Council is “different” and can be described as “mayhem,” as everyone who is concerned with a situation gathers to create a resolution.

The most memorable moment so far was when the delegates of Peru, Matthew Williams and Emma Gillanders, felt that their clause was “long”, and to make it more “memorable,” they included a quote from a Hannah Montana song.

At the end of their clause, they quoted the song “Nobody’s Perfect,” by saying that “everybody makes mistakes” and that they believe everyone had made mistakes on the situation in Mali.

By Katherine Schupp

like shaping the future for so many people and children, and that might include my children, or children of my children. It’s very impressive, it’s just so cool!” As Schimicut responded, knowing people from almost every country in the world and forming allies to tackle daunting global issues are indelible.

Both chairs and delegates in ECOSOC are looking forward to fruitful debates on a multiple range of topics, from combating fraudulent medicines to rushing for private sector investment in education. As the heated debates and discussions continue, the committee will bring participants and issues together to promote collective action for a sustainable world. All participants are assured to have a marvellous week in ECOSOC.

By Jingyi Jia

08

MUN TODAY

Since its conception in the early 20th century, MUN conferences have evolved from local-based mockups of League of Nations meetings to week-long formalities of multicultural origins. From Quito to Istanbul, MUN conferences have sprouted up all over the world, boasting diverse features and procedures native to the schools and organizations that host them. Here are some examples of MUN conferences around the world.

United States - SLAMUN

Ecuador - CAMINU CAMINU is held by The Colegio Americano de Quito each year. The three day conference is attended by 12 different private schools.

The conference is set to meet its 25th anniversary in 2019. The conference not only debates on resolutions but also on current issues worldwide that relate to the issues of the committee.

“In Quito where I live, every private school has a MUN meeting such as Camino and Segno,” said Paula Viteri, Delegate of Papua New Guinea of Human Rights Commission (HRC) II. “Since CAMINU has been going on for about 25 years, it is one of the oldest ones in Ecuador. Because it is good, I think that I am very prepared for THIMUN.”

Self-described as the “largest and oldest” MUNs run by high school students in the Midwest, the Saint Louis Area Model United Nations (SLAMUN) is a one-day conference that involves private schools in St. Louis and Missouri.

Since the conference is shorter than others, delegates create resolutions beforehand, then spend the day debating.

“It went pretty well. Our second session’s coming up next week when we come home from this conference,” said Sam Holmes, Deputy President of Environment Commission I. “Right now we have schools from Columbia, Missouri, which is an hour and a half outside of where we live.

It’s expanding and getting bigger, which is really fun for us.”

09 Switzerland - LYMUN The Leysin Youth Model United Nations (LYMUN) Conference is a two-day conference that takes place in November or December. Though the distinctions between committees is not as clear as other conferences, LYMUN focuses on varied topics to differentiate between its committees.

“Almost all the students in the school come. We went [last year] and lobbied about three different topics: environment, disarmament, and education,” said Reina Isahai, Delegate of Finland of the General Assembly (GA) 1. “All delegates have an opportunity to speak for opening speech, but [students of Leysin] need to speak at least twice to get grades as it is a part of their curriculum.”

Turkey - TIMUN The Turkish International Model United Nations (TIMUN) is hosted by the Üsküdar - American Academy each year. With delegates of 32 schools in nine different committees, the four-day-experience takes place in the academy’s campus, built roughly 160 years ago.

“TIMUN is the oldest conference in Turkey. This year we will celebrate its 25th anniversary. It is a conference worth checking out,” said Kaya Colakoglu, delegate of France of the Historical Security Council. “It is one of the most competitive conferences in the region because it is old and organized. All the delegations bring their best delegates, and the level of academic debate is high. I would recommend it to everyone.”

South Korea - SEOMUN

Switzerland - LYMUN The Singapore Model United Nations (SIMUN) is a three-day conference held by the Lycée Fraçais de Singapour.. Though the event is held at the school’s building, school remains open during the meeting. Students of the Lycée have the option of attending their classes or the conference.

“We have people coming from Vietnam, Cambodia, mainly from French international schools in the region,” said Mouna Miri, delegate of Trindad & Tobago of Environmental and Social Council (ECOSOC). “Our school is nice because we are all involved. We have many admins from our school. It’s nice to have twelve-yearolds be admins first, and then move into delegates and chairs.”

The Seoul Model United Nations is a three day conference that happens in November of each year. Over the years, the conference has grown to host 600 participants from 25 schools, sorted into 14 different committees.

SEOMUN often takes place in the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) and Korea Int’l Exhibition Center (KINTEX).

“Seoul Model United Nations is the biggest MUN that is held in South Korea. This year [our school] had the opportunity to host it for the 20th anniversary of SEOMUN,” said Sky Park, Delegate of Myanmar of General Assembly (GA) 6. “We had schools coming in from Canada, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Finland, and the Netherlands.

We’re always trying to grow. Feel free to reach out.”

Graphics By Jaywon Yi

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THIMUN IN THE WORLD

O p i n i o n : C i t y o f Pe a c e

Home to the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, it’s no surprise that The Hague has earned itself the title of the City of Peace. Its Peace Palace serves as a beacon of unity in a city where representatives from all over the world gather to resolve global issues. However, would it be fair to completely disregard the city’s flaws? How is it that visitors to The Hague, who have come to create a better world, are able to ignore the irony that is the fact that Shell International is a twenty minute walk away from the Peace Palace?

Dating back as late as the early 1990’s, Royal Dutch Shell has found itself in several major scandals regarding the funding of armed gangs in Nigeria in order to silence community protests against the oil company. The issue was brought up by an industry watchdog who also claimed that the funding had fueled the abuse of

human rights in the populous West-African nation. These armed gangs had tortured and killed innocent Nigerians living by the river delta- a highly polluted area in which Shell owns onshore oil blocks.

While they did not carry out these acts of terror themselves, it was their irresponsible funding of dangerous paramilitary groups to protect their pipelines that enabled them to commit crimes that clearly violated human rights.

Shell, however, denied any connection with these groups and attempted to separate themselves from the situation. This particular scandal brings back the issue of taking responsibility for one’s actions. Whether they were directly or indirectly responsible, they were still involved. Not only are they leaving a direct negative environmental impact on the country, their involvement with the Nigerian government evidently injured its

citizens as well.

Now is the time for The Hague to take responsibility for its own actions. It is easy to judge the city solely on all of its positive impacts (there are countless), but it is crucial to also force the city to recognize its own flaws. A supposed “City of Peace” should have no room for corporations who are responsible for violence in underdeveloped nations and exploitive tactics. To sit around and try to figure out ways in which they can resolve conflict in these regions without acknowledging that the main drivers of these human rights abuses are so close is irresponsible and disappointing. The potential to meet the expectations set by its title could easily be met if they held themselves to the same standard that they try to set for others.

By Alia Ayoubi

The Women’s March Fighting for Equality in an Unequal World

On January 21, from New York City to Osaka, from Oslo to Adelaide, people got together to stand up for women’s rights. The demands were outlined in the H.E.R.S. mission: health, economic security, representation, and safety for women according to Women’s March Global.

Health, particularly reproductive health, education, and general healthcare are vital to ensure that women can be safe regardless of the fact that they are women according to Women’s March Global.

Women must additionally have economic security. Jobs must provide basic amenities to women such as equality, humane working conditions, and a living wage. Women’s March Global also stresses the importance of women’s representation in government and at work to ensure that the goals are achieved, and that women have a say in world affairs. The last initial of H.E.R.S. is ‘s,’ which stands for safety. Women mustn’t be subjected to violence.

If they are, the criminals must be held accountable and receive fair repercussions. Most, if not all of the H.E.R.S. demands can be found in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, illustrating again that women’s rights are human rights.

Though much progress has been made recently, it is vital not to forget the fact that women

are still repressed in many countries; they do not have the chance to go to school and are frequently subject to underage, arranged marriages.

Tristan Strzelczyk, who represents the Delegation of the Netherlands, participated in the women’s march in Berlin, Germany. When asked about his views on gender equality, Strzelczyk believes that “making your voice heard and actually marching is the only way that [gender equality] can be achieved when all other measures seem to be failing.”

In a world in which women are still not always equal to men, supporting women’s rights and exercising the right to protest are more important than ever. THIMUN’s Secretary General, Marian Bothner, who was also part of the Women’s March, shares the sentiment that “it’s important that we are not silent about the problems that we face whether it’s the wage gap, or if it’s sexual harassment, or just systemic sexism.”

Photo by Maya Mishra

Movements for women’s rights in general have been gaining traction in the last years, with movements such as “#metoo” that are contributing to speaking out against sexual harassment. In the past, mistreatment of women has had little to no consequences, but times are changing and women are getting together to defend their rights and have their voices heard. Maya Mishra, the Managing Editor of MUNITY, who marched in Washington D.C., shared her perspective encouraging youths to speak up reminding them that “when you don’t have a vote, you still have a voice and you can go out and make that heard.” There has been change, but much progress still needs to be made for gender equality to exist.

By Amalia Anhalt

THIMUN IN THE WORLD

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Exploring Sustainable Tourism

The overwhelming majority of THIMUN participants come from families who have money to travel and in turn, support the tourism industry in the countries they visit.

However, living in a highly developed world where travelling has become more convenient and common, individuals should keep in mind the importance of sustainable tourism.

Sustainable tourism aims to remind visitors to leave a positive impact on the environment. The Netherlands, the newest member of Green Globe, an international system of certification for sustainable tourism embraced by more than 80 countries, is working hard to make its tourism industry greener. Today in The Hague, delegates from around the world gather to further discuss how a truly sustainable tourism industry can generate additional economic and cultural values.

A healthy tourism industry can stimulate economic growth by providing abundant job opportunities. For instance, in 2016 alone, nearly 12,000 new positions were created for local workers in Sweden, thanks to the well-managed tourism industry. The total revenue of tourism in Sweden also increased by 6%. Significant results like this promote other nations to discuss the potential of taking economic advantages from tourism . For example,

the First World Conference on Tourism for Development in Beijing and the T20 Ministers’ Meeting held by the Chinese G20 Presidency provided attending nations opportunities to fully explore viable strategies in using tourism as an economic driver.

THIMUN participants are also discovering cultural values when examining the topic of sustainable tourism.

Varun Krishna, the delegate of Sweden in Sustainable Development Sub-Commission 1, recognized a potential solution to the topic: “By involving local people who know the local culture best into [the] tourism industry, countries could save undervalued civilizations.”

When local citizens are employed as tour guides, it helps popularize their own history and culture.

It is essential for teenagers to recognize the obstacles they confront when addressing the topic of sustainable tourism. “Tourist sites have both high-peak seasons and off-peak seasons, and creating sustainable environment for all year long can be difficult,” said Emma Fogarty, Deputy President in Sustainable Development Sub-Commis-

Artwork By Eva Vaynshteyn sion 1. Additionally, the tensions between environmental protection and economic achievements are complicating the situation. Despite these, Fogarty expressed her hope on this issue: “Delegates are combatting together to draft resolutions, endeavouring to conquer the challenges.” By drafting resolutions on issues like sustainable tourism, THIMUN participants are shaping the future, and they are doing their best to make sure it is a bright one.

By Chang Qu

Sexual Education: A Guide for Civil Society Sexual education is a controversial topic. In some countries it is openly embraced, even obligatory, but in countries where personal beliefs and law tend to blend into one, there are restrictions. This raises the question, could changing sexual education laws create a significant effect in countries working towards a civil society?

Sexual education is a priority in many countries. Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, who are amongst the very best in terms of their sexual education, have reported an average of 4-6 teen births per every thousand, as reported by the United Nations Population Division (UNDP).

In this scenario, allowing sexual education and investing in it has resulted in minimal teenage births.

The implementation of sexual education is significant. According to the UNDP, there is an average of 130 teenage births per every thousand in Chad, where sexual education is illegal.

In Chad, as in several other African countries, sexual education rights are ignored, resulting in inflated birth rates for teenagers. In Britain, where sexual education was previously not mandatory in secondary school, an average of 78,000 teenagers ages 15-19 were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection every year.

In Botswana, an average of a 1,000 girls drop out of school each year due to pregnancy.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health in the United States and globally, sexual education reduces the risk of diseases that can become fatal, prevents pregnancies, and allows young men and women to stay in school. With all these negative effects, countries are unable to focus on building and collaborating for the promotion of a civil society.

“The word civil implies organization,” Gabrielle Hodes, Delegate of Vietnam in the

Special Conference on Building Civil Society through Education reflected, “In order to achieve this there must be some sort of system where people are taught how they can be healthy and safe in order to achieve their fullest potential.”

Evidence suggests that the benefits of sexual education result in men and women who are knowledgeable and prepared - men and women who are able to contribute to society without being held back by consequences of uninformed choices. The Delegate of Mauritania in General Assembly 1, Julia Maciazek sums it up best: “I believe that civil society is characterized by people who are educated on what their rights are, and that every person is allowed to carry out actions they wish to, freely.”

By Rashmi Hemrajani

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OPINION

Democracy of Dunces

Artwork by Ghalia Lemseffer

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

- Winston Churchill

It is a widely accepted fact in the Western world that democracy is the “best” form of government, and so countries are eager to claim that they are democracies. We need only to look at how many countries have the term “Democratic” within their titles, though one may argue that it applies to them the least.

This does raise the question on how one tells the difference between true democracy and one that only pretends to be genuine. Additionally, what does this have to do with the role of the press in a civil society? Well in fact, they’re very much interconnected. The fundamental difference that a true democracy has is transparency and thus accountability.

Arguably, the role of the press is to provide objective, varying and easily accessible sources of information on what is happening in the world so when people make decisions they have the opportunity to be well informed.

The press also has a responsibility to make sure figures of power live in glasshouses, not to police them per se, but to make sure the general populace is aware of how their actions may or may not affect them. This is one way transparency is provided. If we consider Secretary General Marian Bothner’s definition of a civil society, “private citizens voluntarily organizing for social change,” then a free press is an essential part of that, as the information provided is what inspires and enables private citizens to enact and organise social change.

There is, however, the question of how accountable we can hold the press in influencing the general populace? How does one measure the ease of accessing information, and what if the people simply wish to ignore the facts? The latter point was often raised when supporters of the 45th President of the United States were questioned about their reasoning, many admitted that their decision was based purely on instinct.

One example of the interconnection between the press and civil societies is the Arab Spring in 2011. This was a revolutionary wave of both violent and non-violent demonstrations which lead to multiple civil wars across North Africa and the Middle West. This is relevant because many of the countries which had a change of regime closed their free press as an initial step. This then led to crackdowns on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs),

limiting their social and humanitarian work and even arresting members.

There are, however, inherent problems within the free press which don’t necessarily benefit society. The main one is that it allows differing views, as it is quite difficult to only report facts and to completely eliminate bias.

This is a common occurrence as it is often influenced by other factors such as money, as news publications need money to sustain themselves. This is what led to the need for sensationalism in many news programmes, for example, Fox News. There is also the prevalence of a political agenda, so difficult to avoid as one’s political affiliation is determined by their beliefs and character, which cannot be completely erased from one’s work.

Essentially the free press is both an integral part of civil society and also its own potential downfall. It does beg the question whether or not a “civil” society built upon a foundation of misinformation could be better than a true democracy, given that a “true democracy” might circumvent its own ability to enact social change? It isn’t a question that can be answered objectively; boiled down it is a choice between determined complacency or a roll of the die. It is a question we should be asking before we no longer have the opportunity to ask any questions at all.

By Peter Nguyen Minh

THIMUN Opening Speeches:

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STRESS & SUCCESS

Photo by Lucia Gonzalez

Opening speeches are the delegates’ first impressions on their committees and the starting points for debate. Some will approach the podium with anxiety, others with excitement, but for all of them this moment is the culmination of weeks of research and preparation. We asked delegates how they prepare their speeches and how they calm their nerves.

For Tidan Balasingam, the representative of Switzerland in General Assembly 2, the first step is to “figure out your nation’s policy and make an outline.” This approach focuses on remaining consistent with the country you’re representing. Other delegates, like Milena Fantón representing Korea in the SPC 1, use opening speeches as an opportunity to give their fellow delegates an insight into their plans for future debate: “I made a resolution for each issue and then made a mix of all the resolutions for the opening speech.”

According to many studies, people fear public speaking more than death. Despite their preparation, delegates, too, are nervous to give their speeches. To calm their nerves, most

delegates try to slow their breathing. Michael Elter, the delegate of Bahrain in GA 2, calms down by rereading his speech and reminding himself that he is comfortable with his position. Balasingam also tries to empathize with the other delegates and realize “other people are probably nervous too.”

However, delegates also said that it gets easier over time. Having given an opening speech at THIMUN once before, Kaylee Sink, the delegate of Poland in SPC 1, feels “more comfortable with the situation” and less nervous to speak.

As the delegates set their nerves aside they are free to focus on “fruitful debate.”

By Thea Voyles

IPS

HOW TO GET YOUR POINTS ACROSS

Keys to Success

Whether you’re a seasoned MUN veteran or a first-time delegate, it is incredibly important for you to communicate effectively in committee.

You may have the best solutions to the issues being discussed in committee, but if you can’t get them across to other delegates, then what’s the point?

Here are some tips to best communicate your ideas.

Preparation is paramount. “If you’re not prepared, and if you’re not fully convinced of your own points, then other delegates won’t be convinced by them,” said Alison Tuck, MUN Director for the British International School of Jeddah. She recommended to “do your background research, write position papers, and go on the UN website, so that you feel confident enough to communicate effectively.”

“Empathy is key,” says Guilherme Grupenmacher, the President of the Special Conference.

“It’s not just about what your country wants. Under-

Photo by Madison Cornwell stand who the people around you are and consider their interests as well. Voice what other delegations might want, and mention how your resolutions benefit them, in order to convince them to vote for your resolution. It’s important to engage those in your committee, especially at a conference as large as THIMUN, because it’s hard for just one person to stand out in committee.”

Emotions are just as important. “Many people consider only the logical aspects of their points, but to effectively persuade other people you must also appeal to their emotions,” counseled Jeeho Choe, the Delegate of China from the Security Council. However, it isn’t just about appealing to the emotions of other delegates; it is also about keeping your own emotions in check. “Don’t get caught up in that race to take the floor. Instead, identify certain clear points that you want to get across, and know beforehand how you plan on do-

ing that,” recommended Jonas Thiergart, the delegate of the Netherlands from the Security Council.

Interaction also plays a role. “Be approachable and get to know people from your committee,” chorused a group of delegates from the Centre International de Valbonne, representing Afghanistan.

“The friendlier you are with delegates from your committee, the less scared you’ll be when you take the floor. You’ll feel more comfortable speaking in front of them because you’ll be less scared of being judged,” they recommended.

Effective communication makes for effective debate; getting your point across is fundamental to MUN success. In the words of Mari Rothman, the Secretary General of THIMUN, “argue as if you’re right, and listen as if you’re wrong.”

By Gayatri Meswani

14 PHOTOGRAPHY

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Photos by: Madison Cornwall Reka Gardai Anais Caudron Onur Keretli

Layout by: Jiwon Chung

GAMES & ARTWORK16 A Decade an Issue 1990-2000

The 1990s bore witness to immense cultural change (from the internet to Vanilla Ice), a plethora of governmental shifts, as well as changing attitudes towards government itself, and remains cemented as perhaps one of the most forward-looking decades in recent history.

In August of 1990, the Gulf War began, marking a period of conflict which would carry into early 1991, and ultimately mean the defeat of Saddam Hussein, sowing the seeds for his eventual removal in 2003.

Communist East Germany and democratic West Germany became one once again on October 3rd, 1990, after the monumental fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The reunification of Germany was a step toward democracy in Europe which, after World War II and the Cold War, had seen many atrocities and violations of human rights.

On August 6, 1991, the World Wide Web shocked the general populace, offering a previously unprecedented opportunity to access an unparalleled wealth of knowledge. The impact

Cartoon Strip

extends beyond basic information, paving the way for the genesis of social media and, of course, cat videos.

Nelson Mandela, a pivotal figure of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, was elected president with his party, the ANC, or African National Congress, in 1994 after being released from prison in 1990. He was the first black president in a country plagued by its racial separation and discrimination and was responsible for newfound social mobility among black communities.

Through international troubles, tragedies, and monumental social victories, THIMUN kept on keepin’ on during the 90s, and in fact, even grew, with the addition of the MUNITY press team (1992), which would blossom into the flowering organization it is today. In addition to the aforementioned cultural shifts, the 90s revealed once again that the world is indeed malleable, and it falls to the young minds in the halls of conferences like THIMUN to mould it properly.

By Evan Williams and Amalia Anhalt

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By Claudia Bata

Munity Picks For the third issue of MUNITY, we decided to emulate the Chinese newspaper “Global Times”. It was found in 1993 and began publishing an English edition in 2009. The Chinese version focuses primarily on international issues, while the English one reports on domestic issues. In 2013, “Global Times” became the first daily Chinese newspaper to publish a US edition in both English and Chinese. The publication is one of the most popular daily newspapers in China and focuses on global issues from a Chinese, communist perspective.

It is different from other Chinese newspapers due to its populist approach, prone to cause controversy.