MUN Training Notes

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GE11MUNC

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GE11MUNC Flow Chart

Training 1:Introduction to

Topic Areas

Training 2:Research &

Position Paper

Training 3:Rules of

Procedures

Deadline forPositionPaper: 20

July

CommitteeMeeting

Training 4:Demonstrationof Conference

GeneralAssembly

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Contact

[email protected]

Subject of email:start with [Country Name/Committee]

e.g. [Niger/HRC]

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GE11MUNC Training

Workshop (I)

Introduction to Topic AreasMr. Steve Chung Lok-wai

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Model International Conferences in GE

Model Six-Party Talks, 2006

Model United Nations Security Council

(Reform of Security Council), 2007 Model United Nations General Assembly

(Humanitarian Crisis), 2008

Model G-20, 2009 Model COP, 2010

Model UNGA (SOCHUM, HRC, EC), 2011

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Basic Concepts of United Nations

History: From League of Nations to UnitedNations

Functions: Collective peace-making,International cooperation, Human rightsprotection, Equal opportunity protection

Member-states: Sovereign-states

Resolution in General Assembly:Not legally binding

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From High politics to Low Politics

World before WWII, only sovereign states were themajor actors in the global arena and issues related tonational security and military development wereoccupied predominantly in any regional andinternational negotiations.

With the rise of non-governmental forces and growingawareness of the value of mankind after the WWII,global platforms were deeply enlarged and issuesrelated to poverty, environmental protection and rightsprotection were gradually accepted as main topics ininternational politics

The fall of Soviet Union and the dawn of the 21st

Century re-invented the notion of Human Security,especially after 911.

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Issue 1: Food Security Crisis

Background

In the last three years, the global food markethas experienced two food crisesin 200809

and 2011. The food price index, compiled byFood and Agricultural Organization (FAO),reached its historical peak in 200809 and 2011

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Issue 1: Food Security Crisis (II)

Question: The myth of insufficient foodsupply

Globally there will be enough food for

a growing world population by theyear 2030, but hundreds of millionsof people in developing countrieswill remain hungry and many of theenvironmental problems caused by

agriculture will remain seriousWorld agriculture: towards

2015/2030, UN Food andAgriculture Organization (FAO)

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Issue 1: Food Security Crisis (III)

Question: Food Speculation

Story: Farmer Giles can agree in January to sell his crop to atrader in August at a fixed price. If he has a great summer, he'lllose some cash, but if there's a lousy summer or the globalprice collapses, he'll do well from the deal.

Through the 1990s, Goldman Sachs and others lobbied hard andthe regulations were abolished. Suddenly, these contracts wereturned into "derivatives" that could be bought and sold amongtraders who had nothing to do with agriculture. A market in"food speculation" was born.

So, after deregulation, it was no longer just a market in food. It

became, at the same time, a market in food contracts based ontheoretical future crops and the speculators drove the pricethrough the roof.

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Issue 1: Food Security Crisis (IV)

Key concepts:

Protectionism: Economic means of restraining trade betweenstates through methods such as tariffs on imported goods,restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government

regulations designed to discourage imports and preventforeign take-over of domestic markets and companies.

Neoliberalism: An illustration of the market-driven approach toeconomic and social policy based on neoclassical theories of

economics that stresses the efficiency of private enterprise,liberalized trade and relatively open markets, and thereforeseeks to maximize the role of the private sector in determiningthe political and economic priorities of the state.

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Issue 1: Food Security Crisis (V)

Powers positions

Food exporting countries vs. importing

countries Countries strong in speculation vs. weak in

speculation

Countries favor of protectionism vs. favor ofneo-liberal in trade

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Issue 2: Womens Rights

Background

In todays world, the worlds pursuit of

gender equality has yet affectedwomen in some countries. Thesewomen are faced with the samerestrictions and discrimination as their

ancestors were, due to a genderperception deeply rooted from theirtraditions and cultural norms.

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Issue 2: Womens Rights (II)

Question: Tradition vs. Modern

Traditional speaking, women are not welcomed toparticipate in any open event (even watching soccer live)or should be limited to reproduction function (nurturing

children and perform as housewives)The gender role was largely altered because of the two

world wars as men were conscripted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xF029bEi00

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Issue 2: Womens Rights (III)

Question: Religion vs. Secular

Islamic view: Qu'ran states in 4:34, Men are the protectors andmaintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them toexcel the other, and because they spend from their means.Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard inthe husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard.

Christianity disallows women to take any measure on birth control

Islamic women suicide bombers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tjN7yfoqqM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m95_ReSA5U&feature=related

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Issue 2: Womens Rights (IV)

Key concepts:

Feminism: Movements aimed at defining, establishing,and defending equal political, economic, and social

rights and equal opportunities for women

Positive/Negative Freedom:Negative freedom is the absence of obstacles, barriers

or constraints.Positive freedom is the possibility of acting or the fact

of acting in such a way as to take control of one'slife and realize one's fundamental purposes

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Issue 2: Womens Rights (VI)

Powers Positions

Open-minded society vs.traditional andconservative society

Strong in religion vs.secularize countries

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Issue 3: Green Energy and Sustainable Development

Background:

Climate change presents a very seriousglobal risk, and does demand an urgentglobal response.

Most of the energy use in todays worldare environmental unfriendly andbecoming unreliable very soon.

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Issue 3: Green Energy and Sustainable Development (II)

Question: Green vs. Safe?

Compare to fossil fuels, the invention of nuclear energy resolvedthe human crisis in energy scarcity and provided a cleaner

option for current situation as well

From an environmental perspective, nuclear energy cant be

beaten. No belching smokestacks or polluting gases. Itreleases nothing into the atmosphere - no carbon dioxide, no

sulfur, no mercury.The nuclear crisis happened in Fukushima recently illustrated

the evil side and uncontrollable consequences of the greenbut unsafe energy production

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Question: Safe vs. Effective?

Disregard nuclear energy, wind, hydro and solar energyproduction are not as reliable, inexpensive, and effective asnuclear

Solar energy can be somewhat unreliable depending on theplacement, location, and surrounding environment of the solarcells

The main disadvantage of tidal energy is the effect on the

surrounding environment, affecting sea life, and shore access.

Issue 3: Green Energy and Sustainable Development (III)

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Issue 3: Green Energy and Sustainable Development

Key concepts

Sustainable development: is a pattern ofresource use, that aims to meet humanneeds while preserving the environmentso that these needs can be met not only inthe present, but also for generations tocome

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Powers Positions

Countries with nuclear programme vs. without buthave intention to build nuclear programme vs.anti-nuclear

Energy-exporting countries vs. heavily rely on

importationCountries rich in renewable energy vs. without

renewable energy

Issue 3: Green Energy and Sustainable Development