TOMUN DAILY #3

TOMUN DAY THREE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

How to save the world guide (in a nutshell)Alicja Taratuta (04)

The interview with chairs - Helena Lewińska (05)

The story of „Jedynka” - Wiktoria Przybylska (07)

Daniel Szczygieł - The man who made us - Wiktoria Wódczak (08)

Run, run Nicolas, run - Maksym Zielaskowski (09)

HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD GUIDE (IN A NUTSHELL)

Alicja Taratuta

As the ToMUN Conference is on its home straight, I was scrat ching my head over what I should write today. I thought that during the whole event we put emphasis on environmental issues and that made me pose a question: how to save our planet? One of Commis sions, UNEP, which is an abbreviation for United Nations Environment Programme, is dealing with how different aspects, like tourism and agriculture, influence the earth. What little, simple actions can we perform in our everyday life to reduce this impact and live in a more sustainable way? Let’s find out!

Buy less. We live in the capitalistic society in which possessing is seen as a foundation of happiness. However, I think we should think about how producing loads of clothes, objects and food products af fects our climate and then once again wonder if successful transac tions are more important than saving the world we live in. Moreover, reducing the use of plastic is also worth considering.

Plant a tree. It might sound silly but it’s a simple task and in an era of mass deforestation it can do a lot – trees provide oxygen and clearer air. If many people did it, the results would be astonishing!

Reuse and recycle. Think about how many things you throw away each day, sometimes completely needlessly, let alone the food waste. Enforcing the rules, we learned in kindergarten, such as sorting waste or giving second life to old things, could be an obvio us way to improve the si tuation at least a little bit. Also, it’s connected with the first point – the less one buys, the less waste is produced.

Use public transport and whenever possible – bike. It goes witho ut saying. The simplest way of reducing exhaust fumes which go into the atmosphere.

Don’t send chemicals into your waterways. Instead, use non -toxic detergent at home and in office.

Educate. This is probably the most vital. It’s also one of the re asons we all gathered here – to become aware of the problems we need to resolve as the citizens of the world. Sharing ideas makes us stronger because we can do more together than solo. I hope that many of you have come up with such conclusions or at least felt this power. That’s what I wish you all after the fruitful debates and an enri ching experience of ToMUN 2022.

THE INTERVIEW WITH CHAIRS

Helena Lewińska

With heated debates going on for two days now I’ve man aged to take some time out of chairs’ schedule and interview them. Deputy Chair Dominika Budzyńska and Chair Martyna Grupa from HRC are here with me now, ready to answer puz zling questions regarding their duties.

What exactly do you do as chairs?

Martyna: We take care of a smooth flow of the debates, basically, do everything to keep them going.

Dominika: There wouldn’t be much done without us there.

Any specific things that you do?

Dominika: We receive resolutions and amendments from delegates and transcribe things that are being said.

What’s the hardest part of your job?

Martyna: I’d say the hardest part is keeping everything under control such as taking care of procedures, amendments and giving delegates the space they need.

So would you say it’s stressful?

D&M: Yeah, it is. All eyes are on us and when many people look at you and you have to make some decisions, improvise sometimes, if there are no rules, it’s very hard to keep every thing under control. You have to be resourceful and clever at times like this.

But there must be something that you enjoy doing, what is it?

Dominika : Lobbying.

Martyna: I like voting. The procedures excite me, it’s the most thrilling part of the whole debate, when delegates try to persuade others about their opinions.

Dominika: I also very like dividing the house. It’s when you ask each delegate separately if they vote in favor of against. It’s not the standard procedure. It happened twice in our committee though.

Martyna: It usually happens when votes in favor and against are 50/50.

Dominika: Yesterday, when we had 10 to10 situation so

one of the delegates had to take the floor and persuade others to vote in favor.

Martyna: And in the end it worked out.

And lastly – why did you choose to be chairs?

Martyna: Last year we participated in TOMUN as del egates and it was when I found out I’m not the best at di plomacy, but I handle organization well so I chose being a chair.

Dominika: I just wanted to be a chair and not participate as a delegate again.

Thank you for sparing us some time and all your work during TOMUN.

fot. Alicja Stanicka

THE STORY OF „JEDYNKA”

Wiktoria Przybyszewska

One of the most popular schools in Thorn has existed since 1568. It is located in the building of the former famous Acade mic Gymnasium. In 1724, students from our school took part in Thorn Tumult. There were a religious riots. In 1879 this gymna sium was taken over by the Prussians and changed the name to the Royal Gymnasium. In 1884 a secret philomath organization was formed by the school students. It was the society against germanization Towarzystwo im. Tomasza Zana (Society named after Tomasz Zan). The main aim of this organization was to ra ise national awareness, study literature and history, or celebra te national holidays. In 1926 it was named after Mikołaj Kopernik (Nicolaus Copernicus). During the Second World War, this place served as a field hospital and cunters for German and Soviet sol diers. In 1968 in the school auditorium victims of Second World War were honored with memory plaque. Since 2015 our school took part in Tomun. During more than four centuries of existen ce, this extraordinary instituion has developed hundreds of out standings talent and personalities of doctors, teachers, people of art, culture and science, whose achievements are famous for Toruń and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship in the country and in the world- said Marshal Piotr Całbecki during the celebra tion of the 450th anniversary of the school. Most of our teaching staff consists of recent graduates.

DANIEL SZCZYGIEŁ - THE MAN WHO MADE US

Wiktoria Wódczak

For students from First High School in Toruń, Daniel Szczy gieł is English teacher, but for delegates he is the main organiser and always will give you a helping hand. Professor Szczygieł is very busy right now, but he spared us some time for a short interview.

What is the difference between first and last TOMUN?

Well I wasn’t here for the first edition. I joined for edition number three. Definitely it’s changing, I admit that students are much less prepared, they are less experienced because of the covid break but on the other side speaking about preparations – they are perfect. Everything is prepared by students and I don’t have to be involved all the time because it’s handled very well by them.

Despite so many years of action, are your emotions still as strong?

Yes, you know I don’t even know the names of some stu dents. You guys are so hard working that I feel like yours grandfa ther. I would hug you or give you my handshake I don’t know how to thank you guys because the conferences wouldn’t ever happen without the students. It’s given me goosebumps.

How do you feel about TOMUN?

I’m glad that is going bigger again because we would love to have the same size as in 2019, there were 2500 delegates from schools from 16 countries. It’s good opportunity to meet people from abroad. Even if you don’t know how to follow the rules of pro cedures or if you aren’t prepared well enough and you just doing your best.

What is your favourite part of this year’s TOMUN?

I guess there’s two things that I like the most. First of all, cooperating with students becouse I like get to know my students. I would never ex pect that some of you have crazy hobbies like diving. I love working with people in your age. The second of all is meeting the teachers from abroad. It’s like meeting sib lings or cousins. There is fam ily and friendly atmosphere what is fantastic.

fot. Lena Kaliszuk

RUN, RUN NICOLAS, RUN

Maksym Zielaskowski

On Friday, October 7th, Copernicus Run took place at the city stadium on Bema Street. Thirteen teams took part in the competition. It was the ninth edition of the Coperni can run organized by the first High School in Torun.

The competition started at 10:30. The starting team consisted of three boys and three girls. The run was two kilo meters long, or more precisely five laps along the track. The order of the teams depended on the last person to cross the finish line. The competition was won by the team from the 10th High School. The fourth High School’s team scored the second place, and our first Nicolaus Copernicus High School team was third. All competitors received prizes for participa tion, including things related to the above-mentioned race. After the run, all competitors could eat hot soup and taste delicious cakes prepared by the Housewives Club. The main focus of the Copernican Run was teamwork, mutual mobili zation, and a friendly attitude.

fot. Jakub Lelewski