Less thank 2/3 of people were at MUN today, and we're still missing Position Papers. Like almost all of them. GET POSITION PAPERS IN!

Wednesday, January 16

Tomorrow we'll be talking about the conference, and preparing for a mock-conference the next week.

Position Paper Information

Each position paper must respond to the following
questions:

1. What are current problems related to this topic in the world? Please identify at least two.

2. What has caused these problems to exist in the world? Please identify at least two causes for each problem: first, describe how developing nations are causing the problem: second describe how more developed, 1st world nations are causing the problem.

3. What has the United Nations done in attempting to resolve those problems?

4. What is the position of your country on those problems?

5. What is the possible position of other countries in your committee on those problems? Consider at least two other countries.

6. How should the United Nations resolve those problems? Make sure that your solution(s) is/are consistent with your country’s position

Committee Topics

General Assembly 1
Eradication of Non-Self Governing Territories
Focus Question: One of the UN's goals, since its establishment, has been to eradicate Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs). As of 2012, 16 NSGTs remain colonized, and home to approximately 2 million people. What should the next steps be to decolonize the remaining NSGTs? Should the UN lead the decolonization effort, or should the decision to decolonize be left between the colonial powers and the territories?

General Assembly 2
Sovereignty and U.N. Intervention
Focus Question: To what extent can the United Nations require compliance to established U.N. protocols or resolutions from sovereign nations? To what extent do countries have rights of sovereignty over their own natural resources? How can the UN support state rights to sovereignty over natural resources or governance and to what extent should it do so?

Security Council
Process and Structure of Peacekeeping Operations
Focus Question: How can U.N. peacekeepers successfully intervene in nations that are in need of assistance, but publicly denounce it? How might the U.N Peacekeepers optimize their efficiency? When should the peacekeeping forces be aided by a standing group of rapid deployment peacemaking troops? Does this go against the UN Charter?
Consider the following countries: -Syria
-Somalia
-Sudan
-South Sudan
-Zimbabwe
-North korea
-Democratic Republic of Congo
Creation of Rapid Deployment Forces
Focus Question: To what extent should the U.N. Security Council consider the composition of R.D.F.s in regards to culturally or ethnically tense regions? How would an entirely Western/European force be more effective than a more locally or regionally composed
force?

Security Council Procedure
Focus Question: Should the U.N. modify the members of the Security Council in light of the recent political and economic developments and conflicts? Should voting be modified when conflicts directly involve member countries?
Consider the following conflicts: The Korean Peninsula Israel-Palestine
Pakistan-India
Sudan
Syrian civil war
Role of U.N in Regime Changes
Focus Question: To what extent should the U.N. assist and involve itself in regime changes? Should it act as a mediator or use its peacekeeping forces? To what extent should the U.N. intervene in post-regime change situations such as electoral violence or power vacuums? Consider the following countries: -Libya
-Egypt
-Tunisia
-Sudan
-Zimbabwe
-Ivory Coast

Committees 1A, 1B, 1C – Global Security
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Focus Question: How, when, and to what extent should the U.N. intervene with countries that refuse to follow or violate international weapons protocol? Should the UN promote a transition to a WMD-free world?
Ethnic and Religious Conflict
Focus Question: What are some major current issues regarding ethnic and religious conflict and what kind of threats do the conflicts pose to other nations? How and when should the UN intervene to help address these conflicts. Does the U.N. have a right to intervene at all?
Cyber-Warfare
Focus Question: Should the U.N. work towards eliminating or protecting nations from attacks of cyber-warfare or cyber- terrorism, and if so, how? Should the U.N. aid nations in protecting their online systems which may include, but are not limited to, privacy, infrastructure, intelligence information, or monetary funds stored online?
Terrorism
Focus Question: What measures should the U.N. take in order to reduce or eliminate terrorism growing in developing nations? To what extent can preemptive actions be utilized to suppress terrorism?

Committees 2A, 2B, and 2C – Global Economics
Oil Supermajors and Multinational Corporations
Focus Question: How should the U.N. address the influence of multinational corporations, especially oil supermajors, on developed and developing nations? The implications as to how this would affect state owned oil companies should also be considered.
Multinational Trading Unions
Focus Question: With global trading initiatives such as Multilateral Free Trade Area, The Common Market, and the success of the global economy, how should the UN protect the interests of these blocs, if at all? How can the UN use these blocs to help the economies of developing nations, and/or stabilize the economies of already developed nations? Be sure to take into account your specific countries position in relationship to the trading blocs. Consider previous actions taken by the UN to support trading unions.
Free Trade
Focus Question: Should the U.N. promote and aid in free trade or should it support current policies that often lean towards protectionism? What should the U.N.’s role be in trade negotiations? Keep in mind the benefits and drawbacks of free or regulated trade in your specific country.

Green Business
Focus Question: Considering the new ‘green’ movement and the new business opportunities in this industry, should the U.N. play a role in regulating this new industry? Should the U.N. provide economic benefits for nations and businesses that are more environmentally friendly than others? What should the U.N.’s role be in the drafting and signing of protocols and environmental agreements?

Committees 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D – Human Rights
Access to Information
Focus Question: Considering forms of media such as newspapers, the internet, and publications in general, under what circumstances, if ever, is it the U.N.'s duty to intervene in issues of government regulation of information?
Human Trafficking
Focus Question: What should the U.N. do to discourage and prevent human trafficking? Furthermore, what should the U.N. do regarding governments that allow or ignore human trafficking within their jurisdiction? Consider the treatment of refugees in areas of strife.

Rights of Women and Children
Focus Question: How can the U.N. advocate for and enforce the rights of women and children in areas where local practices and attitudes cause inequality, discrimination and abuse of women and children? How can the U.N. avoid contradicting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through its efforts while respecting societal norms?
State Sponsored Violations
Focus Question: How can the U.N. combat human rights violations that transpire as a result of political strife? Furthermore how can the U.N. protect the best interests of citizens when perpetrators are governmental militias without violating a nation's sovereignty?

Committees 4A, 4B – Environmental
Climate Change
Focus Question: What should the U.N. do to better address issues of climate change, in light of the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-15)? What should the U.N.’s role be in the drafting and signing of protocols and environmental agreements?

Energy Policy
Focus Question: Concerning the growing need for long-term sources of renewable energy, how can developed member- nations assist in the research and development of energy through nuclear fission and fusion, if at all? How can the developed member-nations assist in the development of basic renewable energy sources (wind, solar power, etc.) in developing countries?
Note: *A major nuclear fusion program to consider is ITER
Biodiversity
Focus Question: To what extent should the United Nations protect global biodiversity? In what ways can the U.N. promote preservation of native species in response to industrialization and climate change? Should the U.N. work to protect endangered species?
Food Security
Focus Question: What should the U.N. do to address the inefficiencies in food production and distribution? Should the U.N. encourage the production of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) and if not, what stance should they take? Research Focus Points:
Cropland allocation
Technologies used in producing food 

Committees 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D – Health and Human Services
Resource Scarcity
Focus Question: What actions should the U.N. take in order to more effectively and efficiently distribute aid in the form of food and water to lower-income nations that are affected by extreme hunger? Keeping in mind recent events, what should the U.N. do to establish essential resources in areas of recent natural disasters, warfare, arid lands, and contaminated water? What should the U.N. do to promote timely and effective relief measures?
Diseases of Poverty
Focus Question: In what ways should the U.N. attempt to combat and contain epidemics that are the result of poverty such as HIV/AIDS and malaria and eradicate curable diseases such as polio and rabies in developing nations? What actions should WHO take to alleviate the consequences of poverty right after the disease breaks?
Access to Medical Assistance
Focus Question: How can the U.N. provide medical assistance to nations that are hostile towards foreign involvement?
Education in Developing Nations
Focus Question: To what extent should the U.N. provide education in areas that lack basic educational access? How should the U.N. promote the development of education?

Committees

Last	First			Committee
Anuta	David			GE C
Autumn	Kendra			GA 1
Baranow	Natasha			GA 1
Burcham	Mia			GS C
Carrick	Sam			HS B
Cote	Camille			HR D
Duckler	Ilia			GE A
Eissinger	Josie			HR B
Gansberg	Oliver			HS B
Greaves	Jack			HS D
Hanau	Mercer			HR A
Harper	Ellie			HS A
Harris	Jonah			GA 2
Hartwell	Zeke			GS B
Kauffman	Gabe			GE A
Keller	Anna			HS A
Kershner	Ally			HR A
Kukla	Peter			GS A
Lemley	Claire			EN A
Mahar	Henry			SC
Marr	Carter			EN B
McCauley	Sean			GE B
Molloy	Abby			HR C
Noble	Kenny			EN B
Ormond	Olivia			HR B
Parodi	Paul			GS B
Price	Maddie			HR D
Reed	Ruby			EN A
Rincon	Alberto			GE B
Smith	Liane			HR C
Shmakov	Sasha			GS A
Stember	Samantha			HS D
Szczepanski	Edward			SC
Vlastelicia	Britta			HS C
Vlastelicia	Haley			GS C
Waugh	James			GA 2
Wilson	Uriah			GE C
Woods	Bethany			HS C

HR = Human Rights

HS = Health and Human Services

GS = Global Security

GA = General Assembly

GE = Global Economics

SC = Security Council

EN = Environment

For those who care...

If James, Mia, or I have received 15 of all 76 position papers by Tuesday January 1st at 11:59 pm, I will dress up like a girl on the first day back...but I'm not too concerned. Right now there are about 5 position papers in.

Blog is Up

Hey everyone! We now have access to the blog! If anyone has questions about MUN, or how to get started on position papers, please contacte Mia (mia@starsatnight.com), James (james.t.waugh@gmail.com), or myself (jonah.b.b.harris@gmail.com).