Tuesday, 25 January 2011 Volume XIX, Issue I

Delegates, Ambassadors, Administra-tive Staff, honorable guests, and MUN Directors crowded the halls of the World Forum eagerly awaiting admittance to the Opening Ceremony of THIMUN XLIII. A pair of delegates representing Vietnam was all smiles, jittery with enthusiasm over their luck at acquiring such sought-after tickets.

The moment the doors were flung open, participants streamed in, armed with cam-eras, notebooks and badges to the beat of a melody performed by a guest band from the British School of the Netherlands. De-spite the requests for silence by the President of the General Assembly, Guillaume Julian, a murmur hovered throughout the audience, exhibit-ing the thrill that all the spectators felt. When the house finally came to order, Julian invited Marjolein de Jong, the Deputy Mayor of the Mu-nicipality of The Hague, to take the floor and share her opening words.

The Hague is “a city where the whole world is at home,” de Jong philosophized, emphasizing the city’s prominent position in the international community. The members of different in-ternational organizations headquartered in The Hague work daily to address issues such as ethnic cleansing and chemical weapons, striving to create “a world gov-erned by the strength of law, not the laws of the strongest.” De Jong stressed the need for dialogue between nations, “devel-opment and diffusion of knowledge,” and respect of one another to create solutions to environmental, security and poverty

issues. After encouraging such collabora-tion between participants of THIMUN, de Jong wished success and fun, predicting that she would see members of the au-dience again as the leaders of the world.

Ms. Linda Dubock, Chair of the THIMUN Foundation, took the floor next to address the Conference she has worked so hard to put together. After mentioning a list of all the influential people who attended and made the Ceremony possible, Dubock dove into a discussion on this year’s theme, Crime and Punishment, as well as the coun-

terparts to these ideas, peace and justice. Dubock opened the eyes of the audience to consider not only criminals who face right-ful punishments but also those imprisoned for crimes by unjust means. Citing Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. as ex-amples of the latter, she brought to life the injustices that have occurred throughout history, expressing a desire to see a change in the near future. Dubock used these ex-amples of heroes who have achieved the previously-thought “impossible” to dem-onstrate the sacred right to freedom of

speech and the restrictions that many have on this natural human right. “We are most-ly not conscious of how privileged we are to be able to exercise our right to freedom of speech,” Dubock noted, advising the delegates, Ambassadors, Chairs and MU-NITY press team to take advantage of this freedom at this year’s THIMUN Conference. She asked the participants to “use that right beyond the Conference” and stand up for themselves and their rights. Dubock concluded with an overview of the char-ity work THIMUN will be doing this year;

through a raffle of several stuffed animals, THIMUN looks to raise money for Amnesty International.

Keynote speaker Serge Bram-mertz then took the floor, discuss-ing the coexistence of peace and justice, and questioning whether maintaining peace and punishing criminals are mutually exclusive.

Next at the podium was Sec-retary General Lara Nonninger who addressed the common ig-

norance toward international issues by humans around the world. However, Nonninger expressed her belief that “we are not a generation of quitters; we are not a generation which does not care.”

The Opening Ceremony concluded with the traditional flag procession, during which UN Ambassadors handed the flags of their countries over to student Ambas-sadors, as a “token of trust.” The audience applauded with admiration, and once again a tangible feeling arose: one of community, trust, motivation, and belief in the future.

Welcome to THIMUN XLIIIBy: Mari-Ana Narbon & Isabelle Stillman

A Day in the Life:The Coat Checks

- Page 3

Lobbying:The First Hurdle

- Page 11Karina Dukalska Maggie Bliss

Abdulrahman Al-Khori

Jaunary 25, 2011 FEATURES

Give it Your Best Shot: Advice on Being a THIMUN Delegate

Every year, in preparing for the next THIMUN conference, we are reminded of the esteemed schools and apt students that will be returning for another exciting year of inventive and constructive debate. If you are a new delegate, however, nothing can quite prepare you for when that peculiar knot in your stomach begins to form as you watch hundreds of returning students confidently flood into the World Forum Convention Center on your first day at THIMUN. So here are a few words of wisdom from experienced delegates on how to survive, thrive, and succeed in THIMUN.

While recalling their first THIMUN conference delegates tend to remember lobbying as a time of true intimidation. It is not uncommon to realize that there are people from all over the world, some with much more experience than yourself, collaborating and discussing resolutions.

“Trust your preparation… and just go for it. If you remain proactive and assert yourself, people will come to you,” says third-year THIMUN delegate Alexander Thomas on how to ease nerves.

Some of the most supported resolutions don’t necessarily come from the delegates who seem to be the most intellectual, but rather those with instant appeal.

“During plenary if you can manage to stay confident and charismatic, you’ve just won 90% of the battle right there,” continued Thomas.

Veterans also shared tips they wished they had been told as a newcomer.

“If your country has controversial opinions regarding the topic at hand – use it to your advantage. Don’t come in with your own opinions, play your part, because it’ll make for an interesting political situation and better debate,” advised returning

By Parisa Frost

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THIMUN Archive

delegate Colin Johnson. Even if broadcasting

controversial political stances is not your cup of tea, being the “dark horse” of a committee is actually an amazing opportunity. Just because it is your first year participating in THIMUN, and just because you know other countries are likely to disagree

EDITORS-IN-CHIEFJaimi Kim

michaella KossaKowsKi

TEXT EDITORSNeslihaN cabuK

aNthoNy GoKiaNluy

mari-aNa NarboN

bavo steveNs

REPORTERSmuNir atalla

KristiN bucKmaster

Parisa Frost

adriaaN hilbers

sasha KruGmaN

caroliNe ludemaN sieNa morrell

Nicole Novey

so yeoN ParK

isabelle stillmaN

maheK tulsiaNi

mara weNdebourG

LAYOUT EDITORS

seohyuN bae

ramesh balachaNdraN

Joshua david

rebecca Jetter

Julia laNcaster

Juliet moore

James roh

PHOTOGRAPHERS al-Khori abdulrahmaN

lara batato

mohammed bdeir

marGaret bliss

KariNa duKalsKa

GweNdoliNe scholteN

azra sudetic

Opinions expressed by MUNITY are not necessarily those of the newspaper, The Hague International Model United Nations, its affilliates, sponsors, or participants, but rather those of the individual writers formed from their observation of the conference with research. Commentary and response referring to the articles are welcomed. MUNITY reserves the right to withhold or edit submissions.

muNity Xliii staFF

with you, does not mean you cannot remain actively involved in the debate.

Furthermore, if you have a particularly small country you have to remember that your voice is still important and deserves to be heard.

“Everybody would rather see Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Madagascar or whichever L.E.D.C. it may be, voicing their opinion in the debate instead of hearing the same speech over and over again from bigger countries,” assured experienced delegate Amy O’Halloran.

As a newcomer, you should keep in mind that although you’re trying to remain as true to real life as possible, it’s okay to break geographical constraints. For example, just because you are a delegate of Latin America does not mean your only allies lie within the South American borders. While still making relatively realistic partnerships, you should branch out, extend your influence or collaborations further. As THIMUN is an international conference, delegates should not feel constrained to their immediate surrounding countries. THIMUN is about diverse opinions and collaboration from all over the world, regardless of your country’s population or political prestige.

No matter how many experienced delegates, esteemed ambassadors, or expert directors you may ask, there is unanimity in saying the best advice is to truly be confident, believe in yourself, and take advantage of the opportunity you’ve been given in every way possible. If you are too scared to speak, or are intimidated by the genius delegate to your left, take a step back, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that you can only get as much out of this experience as you put effort into it.

Delegates put a lot of effort and dedication into doing research and honing their debate skills to advantage themselves at the THIMUN conference. The last ingredient to complete the recipe for success is not easy to find. In fact, it takes a bit of luck.

For many THIMUN participants, luck comes in the form of pre-conference superstitions and their dependence on inanimate objects. Superstition is a phenomenon that is known to influence human behavior. Due to the brain’s constant search for links between cause and effect, humans have been trained to believe that a specific action will lead to a reinforcement of a particular notion. Though these acts are everything but forthcoming, the superstitious belief persists and the wait for reinforcement continues.

Since it might be difficult to find a four-leaf clover in January and carrying a

lucky rabbit’s paw could be perceived as a little odd by other delegates, THIMUN participants have created new ways to evade “disasters” during the conference.

Assistant President of the Disarmament Committee, Hyerin Park, for example, is rather fond of the pens handed out at the Berlin MUN conference.

“If I use any other pen during the c o n f e r e n c e , I feel like I’m doing something wrong or simply cheating on my BERMUN pen!” said Hyerin, who feels insecure without her BERMUN pen in hand.

On the contrary, Leah Wiedenmann, Assistant President of the Special Conference, wishes to keep her superstition undercover.

“I don’t really believe in talismans, but I hope to get my grandmother’s old pearl necklace fixed before THIMUN since I always wear it at [MUN] conferences,” said Leah.

Like Leah, many don’t like to admit to their attachments to seemingly meaningless objects.

Regardless of all the energy delegates put in to ensure a successful debate, sometimes it is a small sprinkle of luck that really changes the course of THIMUN. Being superstitious, in this case, is greatly welcome. Even if the idea of talismans or rituals seem senseless to some delegates, there might be an object in near proximity which is, as Leah Wiedenmann puts it, “maybe just a tiny bit lucky.”

Jaunary 25, 2011

A Day in the Life: The Coat Checks“Melig” meaning full of laughter is how

we could describe Robert the coat check and his colleagues. Their cheery and upbeat attitude and their big smiles are incredibly endearing. Upon asking Robert, one of the coat checks, to walk me through his day,

he laughs. Robert is an artist but works odd jobs due to the e c o n o m i c recession -- sometimes

he is a waiter and othertimes he is a coat check at the WFCC. Always enthusiastic, he says he enjoys “serving people” and that for him “there is always work”. When asked how he ended up as a coat check, he simply said, “I fell from a tree”. Keeping a positive attitude is key for Robert and his colleagues: “the work is tough and keeps you on your feet”, he says. Yet, whether it is for a concert or a conference, the coat checks work day in and day out to serve and assist. Despite the difficulty and tediousness of their work, the positive attitude radiates from their personality and spending a simple five minutes with them is enough to lift your mood.

All the coat checks are friends and all have a joint morning ritual. After coming in and having coffee as a team, they recite their mantra “Today will be a Real Rocking Day”. As I interview him, Robert is distracted by the large group of THIMUN delegates entering through the doors but no matter the size of the group, they manage to work with a smile on their faces. Not only do they joke around, but they also have made great friendships behind the scenes. Admittedly, their days are pretty standard. After arrival they begin work, adjusting themselves depending on the event. On slow days, the coat checks moonlight as waiters but during THIMUN conference, the work is fast-paced and sometimes grueling for them. Groups of delegates crowd the lobby and as each new group arrives, Robert and his colleagues focus on the task at hand. As delegates arrive and hand him their coats, Robert jokes with each of them.

Each person has a different interaction with the coat checks. Some delegates treat this small standard experience as if it were a business transaction while some take the time to get to know the checks “behind the coat”. Aster, another coat check, has a lengthy conversation with one of the customers as she searches for his coat and shares her family history.

Even though they are on the job, these cheery coat checks are not shy when it comes to expressing who they are. Robert, possibly the most outgoing coat check, can not stand still for a minute. He jumps around and laughs with his collegues as they try to give me insight into their worlds. The jokes that are made behind the scenes are really what sets the tone of their job. As the excited Robert speaks to me, one of his collegues jests that “they will be taking him back to the asylum in thirty minutes”. At this point, the coat checks burst out in laughter.

This group of colorful individuals may be constantly overlooked in general but with their humour and positive energy, they manage to bring something more to the table, something more than just coats.

By Sasha Krugman

Page 3

FEATURES

By Neslihan Cabuk

Maggie Bliss

Karina Dukalska

Lucky Charms: The Key to Success at THIMUN

Karina Dukalska

Jaunary 25, 2011 ISSUES & FORUMS

Page 4

Rich nations have failed in their promises to ease the debt burden on developing countries.

“Debt is a single crippling issue that imbalances the world morally as well as financially,” Bob Geldof declared during the G8 meetings in 2007. He added: “We must not let it fall off the agenda.” This massive issue is a relevant concern in today’s economically precarious world.

As the global debt total is forecast to reach $43.3 trillion (USD) in 2011, an increase of $10 trillion in just two years, it is imperative that innovative economic strategies are developed if the international community is committed to their attempt to meet the targets of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Despite countries pledging their support and intention to eradicate global debt, it appears there is a disparity between agenda and action. Not one developed country has succeeded in their promise to raise the amount of official development assistance to 0.7% of their gross national income.

Still, affluent nations put pressure on low-income countries to focus on debt repayment rather than funding health and education. As a result of this, the tragedy of debt repayment is that it is not the political elites of developing countries who suffer the most. Instead, delegates should be mindful of the grinding poverty endured by seven in every ten of our fellow human beings in developing countries.

But there is mounting evidence that countries are granted debt relief contribute funds to poverty reduction schemes. On average, in the thirty-six countries that are receiving debt relief, spending on health, education and sanitation services has increased by five times. So the question must be asked: why are countries so reluctant to contribute to debt relief?

Creditor countries have directly debilitated some struggling countries such as Pakistan through illegitimate debt, arisen from

immoral and irresponsible lending policies. Even the most democratic governments in developed countries have granted loans to oppressive and corrupt autocracies. Just last year, the Australian government pledged over $5miliion to Zimbabwe, claiming that they were “under no illusions about the fragility of the political situation.”

Yet, autocratic third world countries continue to request loans from Western collaborators, and partly justify their need for the loan by using the generally poor living conditions of the masses as an excuse for claiming more money. Once the loan is granted, however, most of the money ends up in private accounts, and while the developing countries owe more and more, they have nothing to show for how and where the initial loan was spent.

Underdeveloped countries find it so difficult to progress because the fluctuating income of aid and the lack of finance through debt relief impede governments’ medium-term planning. Rich countries need to stop thinking only of how development assistance can benefit their strategic interests.

As the big players on the world stage act dictate how and where development assistance is distributed, campaigners for debt cancellation demand a transparent mediator organization be established to decide how to lighten the burden of debt on the poorest countries.

Resolutions at this THIMUN Conference will need to be revolutionary and far-reaching, and focus should be on generating domestic development in the poorest countries, not funding by foreign investors. Unfortunately, with every debt solution, new problems occur. As hard as diplomats, politicians and humanitarians try, we must come to terms with the possibility that there is not a durable solution to this catastrophic debt crisis.

Debt: The Silent WarBy Siena Morrell

The Future’s Bright: TYA 2011 After Sunday’s opening ceremony declared this year’s THIMUN Youth Assembly (TYA) in session, delegates got to know each other a little better through an unorthodox ice-breaking activity: speed-dating. Delegates had two minutes to get to know one another as best as possible, and discussions ranged from fine literature to extreme sports. Coordinators advised delegates to be themselves and they took this to heart; delegates even used pick-up lines in their native tongues. The TYA is a student-run conference that strives to make its young participants more aware of world issues. TYA is similar to MUN in preparation; however, delegates are representing their own views, rather than those of a specific country. The Assembly encourages a spirit of collaboration and cooperation to advance personal projects that have specific focal points on global issues such as HIV/AIDS and the Millennium Development Goals. Once delegates had become better acquainted with each other, they divided into their committees: Social Tensions & Conflicts and Sustainable Development. Initially, a

discussion regarding plans for the week took place, amidst stifled laughter over trips to Amsterdam and the dance on Friday night. Coordinator Sebastiaan Bouwman stressed the fundamentals of TYA, emphasizing the importance of “being open to changing yourself as a result of what you learn from each other.”

The Committee for Sustainable Development opened with a discussion on emotive images chosen by the delegates to illustrate what, for them, best depicts sustainable development. Social equality was a prominent feature in many presentations and focus rested on the

future. As US President Barack Obama said, “living up to the expectations of our children” is paramount to progress. Delegates were also made aware that it is critical that sustainable development comes from the people. Delegate Vanessa Kitching stated, “it is all too easy for [sustainable

development] to come from the government” though it is essential that policy makers understand people’s needs and motivations for growth. The question of the influence of youths over older generations also provided discussion. The delegates believe the older generation will not have to suffer the consequences that the younger generations are currently working to combat. Committee members were angered that the senior politicians who run our world are apathetic about the impact of their actions on the future.

Though the morning provided productive debate, further talks will yield better insight and increased understanding into other delegates’ perspectives on various topics. Needless to say, much is yet to be accomplished through the cooperation of these highly capable delegates.

By Siena Morrell

Abdulrahman Al-Khori

Jaunary 25, 2011

Page 5

ISSUES & FORUMS

SC to Dicuss Multilateral IssuesThe goal of the Security Council (SC) is to maintain peace

and safety across international borders. At the 2011 THIMUN Conference, the SC will be focusing on the situations in Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula, and the Middle East, as well as addressing the topic of non-proliferation in Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, i.e. decreasing the spread of nuclear weapons.

The situation in Afghanistan has been at the top of America’s agenda since the country’s invasion in 2001 following the attacks of 9/11. With the goal of eradicating the Taliban and Al Qeada, President George W. Bush deployed troops to Afghanistan, beginning the war.

Since the beginning of U.S. President Barack Obama’s term in office in January 2008, an additional 37,000 troops have been deployed to Afghanistan, continuing with the objective of eliminating Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Early in his term, Obama asserted that American troops would begin to withdraw from Afghanistan in mid-2011, and continues to hold to that promise, predicting a full withdrawal by the end of 2014.

The goal of the U.S. troops is to weaken the Taliban until they agree to make a deal. This October, news surfaced of a possible meeting between Taliban leaders and American government officials; however, reaching a deal does not seem a possibility in the near future. Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, the region has been divided between two separate countries: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the north and the Republic of Korea in the south, communist and capitalist, respectively.

The uncertainty of the U.S.’s date of withdrawal from Afghanistan is causing unrest world-wide. The issue remains whether or not the U.S. troops have achieved their goal of overthrowing harmful officials and establishing peace in a politically tumultuous country. Missions are still being deployed to capture “high-value individuals” who are putting their country and citizens in danger, as well as disrupt “insurgent networks” working for violence. The United Nations (UN) has passed several

resolutions in regards to the situation in Afghanistan, and there current position stands to promote the well-being and safety of the citizens. The question at this year’s THIMUN Conference will most likely be: are the citizens safer with a withdrawal of troops, or with the help of the troops?

Kim Jong Il’s term as Head of State of North Korea has been defined by a declining North Korean economy, as well as famine and other hardships. The country’s experimentation with nuclear weapons has only worsened these conditions. However, the North Korean government has decided to decrease the production of these weapons. Conflicts in North Korea have been further stressed by recent exposures by Wikileaks, saying that Korea’s Beijing allies are considering withdrawing their support as well as Kim Jong Il’s appointing his son Kim Jong-un as heir apparent.

In 2006, North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, began testing nuclear weapons, sparking fear of the country’s power and the chance of a re-igniting the conflict with the South. U.S. troops have been stationed in the Korean Peninsula to settle disputes should they come to a head.

Neither South or North Korea, however, want to go to war; North Korea would most likely be annihilated by a militarily stronger South Korea, and South Korea would suffer as well. However, for many years, North Korea has threatened and intimidated its neighbor, as the South Korean army lurks on the border, ready to fight. The U.S. encourages South Korea’s going to war, in order to pre-empt the attack of North Korea; China and Russia, on the other hand, are against violence. The UN Security Council is very conflicted over the issue, consistently unable to come up with any solution. The main goal is to lessen tensions. The Security Council at THIMUN will focus on a process through which peace can be attained, perhaps through a changing of leadership, negotiation of a treaty, or assistance by a third party.

The Security Council will discuss these issues in depth during the 2011 THIMUN Conference.

By Isabelle Stillman

Natural Disasters 2010: A Year of Staggering NumbersIf the apocalypse is truly coming in 2012, 2010 seems to be a

prelude for what we can expect. The past year, the human race has witnessed almost every conceivable type of natural disaster. Though natural disasters have caused deaths every year, the year 2010 stands alone in the number — and ferocity — of natural disasters.

Death tolls due to natural disasters have been averaging about 80,000 per year over the last ten years, but this past year approaches 250,000 deaths.

By far the most traumatizing and serious — at least by death toll — natural disaster this past year was the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The tremor left 230,000 dead and 1,000,000 homeless. In a poor country of 9 million, help was slow and had to come from other countries, primarily the US. Almost a year later, the effects are still felt, with a UN report warning of many more deaths from a cholera outbreak.

On the subject of poor response to the disaster, Hamel el-Zein, head of the southeast division of the UN World Food program, explained that Haitian authorities often hindered help: “The promise rapid response […] I can only think that their priority must be somewhere else.”

Just a list of the natural disasters in 2010 awakens memories and shock. There were earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, forest fires in Greece and California, mud-slides in Hungary and China, disproportionate amounts of snow in Europe and North America, airline traffic-halting eruption of Eyjafjallajökull and floods in Pakistan.

Haldun Anil, president of ECOSOC at THIMUN 2011, realizes 2010 was a tough year in terms of natural disasters.

“Personally, I believe that the most catastrophic natural disaster

of 2010 were the Pakistan floods,” explained Haldun. Besides leaving over one fifth of the land mass useless, it “also left millions of people homeless and poor and thousands dead.” Furthermore, the floods caused food shortages and drove prices up worldwide.

“In ECOSOC this year, we will be discussing new and effective ways of providing humanitarian aid to areas which have been devastated by natural disasters,” continued Haldun, emphasizing that it is very important for the world to remain conscious about what has unfolded there. “I hope that all the delegates will be prepared to speak up and try to improve ways with which we deal with catastrophes”.

Though many of the disasters have nothing to do with climate change, it is more or less agreed that climate change increases the power and frequency of natural disasters.

The UN cannot prevent natural disasters but plays a big part in helping those in need after they occur.

“Although there is a growing awareness of the perils of climate change, its likely impact on human displacement and mobility has received too little attention,” said António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Despite the fact that we cannot prevent natural disasters in the short term, “we can look into the role of governments and citizen movements more critically, taking a more active role to […] better the impacts of relief,” commented Uday Mehra, Judge in the International Court of Justice.

In this sense he agrees with Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General: “The first ingredient for political stability is an informed citizen”.

By Adriaan Hilbers

ISSUES & FORUMS

Jaunary 25, 2011 OPENING CEREMONY

Page 6

WELCOME TO

THIMUN

Jaunary 25, 2011

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OPENING CEREMONY

WELCOME TO

THIMUN

As the first month of the new year ends, the population of The Hague seems to multiply as delegates from all corners of the globe arrive from their planes, trains, and buses to spend five days in the World Forum Convention Center to debate, caucus, and simply have fun. As the largest Model United Nations conference in the world, part of the beauty of THIMUN comes from the size of the conference and the diverse backgrounds of participating delegates.

The sheer size of the conference may seem daunting to newer delegates, which

makes it much harder to stand out. As Mr Eamonn Hobbins, the advisor of the International School Manila (ISM) MUN program states, “The depth of debate and quality of speeches coming from the mouths of 14 and 15 year olds is… astounding,” something that also holds true for many of the delegates from the other schools participating in THIMUN. At THIMUN, delegates often find that the training they’ve had in the months leading up to the conference, innate speaking or writing skills aside, will be the key to their success.

As THIMUN is the only MUN conference associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) and with Roster Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Security Council, all participating schools hold high standards and only the crème de la crème are chosen to participate in the conference. At the International School of Manila only 18 out of a total of 80 students are allowed to travel to THIMUN, chosen after a rigorous trial period that requires commitment, dedication, and passion. “We really place an emphasis on staying on policy and developing knowledge of the way the UN works as well as of the rules of the conferences we go to,” says Ayesha Dayaram,

ICJ President as well as founder of the first ICJ program in the Philippines. Similarly, at the International School of Tanganyika, delegates place an emphasis on “researching the geography, culture, and social aspects of Venezuela,” as stated by delegate Anne Orr.

The phrase “Model United Nations” has two possible definitions for the word ‘model.’ The first is that the conference serves as a smaller scale version of the original conference; however, it can also mean that the conference acts as a model, setting an example for others to follow. It is every school’s goal to move from the former to the latter with their Model United Nations program -- setting an example rather than simply imitating. As a result of the hard work that delegates put into training for the conference, this goal might just be achieved. The high level of preparation for the conference needs to be maintained by all schools and all participants. So, as you step into the World Forum with your placard in hand and your ID around your neck, ask yourself this: Are you ready for THIMUN 2011? Being a good delegate entails more than just looking good in a suit -- essentially, a good delegate is always prepared, whether in the conference room or out of it.

Jaunary 25, 2011 CONFERENCE

THIMUN: More Than a ModelBy Anthony Gokianluy and Mahek Tulsiani

Introducing This Year’s Secretary GeneralLara Nonninger, THIMUN 2011’s

Secretary General (SG), shares with us her secrets of success, tips to balancing school and a social life, and hopes for this year’s conference. Seventeen years old and currently living in the Hague, Lara moved to the Netherlands when she was only five years old and since then, she has participated in three THIMUN conferences.

“My favorite memories of past conferences include traveling to Paris and Lisbon and meeting people in MUN who, luckily, [are] not all memories but still present in my life,” said Lara.

In her free time Lara enjoys reading historical fiction, meeting up with friends to go shopping, and enjoying hobbies such as photography and fashion.

The SG is well learned in the art of balancing schoolwork and social life.

“The best ingredient,” said Lara, “is to avoid procrastination. I like to get things done as soon as possible which also reduce the workload for over the weekend.”

She credits her success to the inspiration she sees and receives from the people involved in MUN, all striving for the same goal: attempting to solve global issues.

Her job as the SG entails making sure the Conference runs smoothly and settling any problems that may arise.

“Next to fulfilling these duties it is also of great importance to me that I keep a good relationship with the secretariat and the whole student officer team to…improve the conference,” said Lara.

Her first priority in the conference is to keep the peace between all members, a tough task in the world of politics.

”Our individuality, our great teamwork

and communication within the team [will ensure] a great balance between fulfilling the task as the SG and being a team that the rest of the Student Officers and also delegates can relate to,” continued Lara.

For all who have the desire and motivation to become the SG, Lara sets stepping stones which begin with showing commitment to MUN which requires attending conferences, meeting and talking to people but most importantly leaving a lasting impression.

Page 8

By Caroline Ludeman

Chris Ong

Maggie Bliss

Jaunary 25, 2011

The Question of the Caribbean

To many tourists, the mention of the Caribbean Islands conjures images of idyllic white shores and sipping cocktails out of coconuts; a place to throw your troubles to the wind. Political borders seem literally set in stone. Beneath the surface, however, similar to the tectonic plates that constantly grind and mash against each other, is the volatile political and economical climate that can be crushing at times. “In many ways, the islands are allies, but also fierce competitors” explained Bill Cai, the deputy president of the Advisory Panel on the Question of the Caribbean Islands (APQCI). Like siblings who constantly bicker for their parent’s attention, the islands compete for their main source of income: tourists. If Anguilla, for example, releases a new tourism packet, it will inevitably sap the business of its neighbors. Fishing, the islands’ other main resource, is another cause of problems as maritime border tensions run high. The United States, the United Kingdom, and other nations such as France and the Netherlands have vested interests in the small island states. These hefty powerhouses have a large degree of sway in the Caribbean, each one engaging in resource trading with the small agriculturally rich nations.

“The islands are autonomous but not independent,” explained president of the APQCI Kimberly Rodriguez. Some delegates went as far as to call the foreign countries’ power over the Caribbean states “neocolonialism”. Delegates on the APQCI are especially knowledgeable on their nations. Rather than being part of a school delegation where everyone represents the same country, they are the only representatives of their country from their school. The room is small and welcoming, and the atmosphere is not as formal as the larger, stricter committees, but delegates here mean business. “In the long run,” stated Cai, “the Islands will benefit from cooperation, from finding areas of overlap in their problems and engaging them together,” similar to what delegates are doing here in The Hague. On the table for discussion this year is the possibility of establishing a Caribbean Court of Justice similar to that of the European Union. Island delegates are also looking to have their countries specialize in one resource, while simultaneously expanding the other sectors of their economies in case one fails. If anyone has an answer to the growing question of the Caribbean Islands, it is the delegates of the APQCI.

By Munir Atalla

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ISSUES & FORUMS

As more and more religions are suffering from the violent attacks of the strongly opinionated, the world continues to question the right to freedom of expression. Only three months ago, on the ninth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, international ‘Burn a Qu’ran Day’ was organized by members of a non-denominational church in Gainesville, Florida. “We believe that Islam is of the devil, that it’s causing billions of people to go to hell, it is a deceptive religion, it is a violent religion and that is proven many, many times,” said Pastor Terry Jones, leader of the church. Pastor Jones called for the burning of hundreds of Qu’ran, which was met with international outrage, in Western and Muslim communities alike. This week at THIMUN, the Human Rights Council (HRC) will convene to debate an issue raised by Pastor Jones’ actions: the Question of Combating the Defamation of Religions. Though the controversial event in question did not take place, as the US Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Pastor Jones not to proceed with the mass immolation, the Pastor’s claims have reverberated throughout the international community, reintroducing the issues of religious libel that have characterized the global news scene in past years. The defamation of religions is the criticism of any religion with destructive intentions. The UN links defamation to racism, xenophobia, and intolerance. Yet any attempted definition of the phrase raises the question: does insulting a particular religious group fall into this category? In which case, wouldn’t Ricky Gervais’ detailed ridicule of Genesis, or Billy Connoly’s foul-mouthed rants on Islam be considered religious defamation? Why are comedians not in the midst of the

same controversy as Pastor Jones? Perhaps it is because of differing intentions. Pastor Jones clearly aimed to defile and destroy Islam’s holy book, one of the strongest acts of disrespect towards a religion one could commit. Comedians and satirists merely mean to amuse and entertain. Then again, were these not the aims of the cartoonists for the Danish newspaper “Jyllands-Posten” in 2005? If so, why did the controversy escalate to the burning of European flags by Muslims and the storming of Danish embassies in Muslim countries? Essentially, it comes down to the action itself. What comedians say or columnists write are simply words, while a degrading cartoon or call to burn the Qu’ran is threateningly proactive. In response to this growing issue, governments are encouraging open, constructive and respectful debate. It is widely believed that education will prove imperative in the eradication of intolerance and religious libel. Many international human rights organizations are campaigning against laws that criminalize defamation, for fear of the elimination of freedom of expression. While it is true that religious reputations are compromised by freedom of speech, this is just as much a matter of respect. If legislature was stricter about what people could and could not say there may be less dissidence or criticism expressed. However, society would become a patchwork of oppression as religion is not the only institution that disapproves defamation. It will be up to the delegates of the HRC this week to decide if the protection of religious integrity constitutes what some see as a modern form of non-secular censorship. Similarly to all other issues debated at THIMUN 2011, there is neither a clear nor simple solution.

Saving Face:

By Kirsten Buckmaster

MohaMMed Bdeir

Religious Defamation

Jaunary 25, 2011 ISSUES & FORUMS

The Awakening of a Powerful CommissionThe Disarmament Commission slowly

awakened on Monday morning to a whole day of caucusing and lobbying. Six active chairs from sub-commissions 1 and 2 maintained the commission’s structure while delegates got used to the MUN atmosphere. The first order of business once the commission convened was to vote for the order of the issues to be debated.

For sub-commission 1, “the threat of nuclear weapons in the Middle-East/DPR Korea” was the most popular issue (51 votes), next to “International piracy on the high seas” (47 votes). Delegates explained the nuclear issue’s popularity by stating its importance in our world today (nukes are the source of growing tensions) and by repeating the motto: “we have to fix it.”

In sub-commission 2, the delegates were mostly in favor of starting debate with the issue on “tradingarms to Terrorist Organizations.” The delegates felt that this problem was a “big deal, and a great threat to all nations’ security”.

After having voted on the order of the issues, the chairs declared “lobbying time in session.” All delegates got up and formed

groups, eager to merge their resolutions. Some of the groups were small and delegates huddled around a computer where they shared their clauses to form one solid resolution. On the other hand, some of the groups were bigger and met in circles to discuss. There were also others who exchanged ideas and listened to delegates read their resolution out loud.

“I used to think that all delegates would have strong personalities. From the lobby today, I found out that all delegates I met are open to new ideas; I found it very nice to cooperate with them,” said the delegate of Equatorial Guinea.

Other delegates adopted a different strategy and looked directly for potential mergers. A couple of delegates looked for country allies such as Iran, Russia, or in some cases, non-NATO countries.

During the first hours spent at the THIMUN conference, the disarmament

By Mara Wendebourg

Passionate about Crime and PunishmentAs soon as one approached the Special

Conference Committee (SCCP), today he or she could see that delegates had

formed dozens of little groups to discuss their issues and sign resolutions. Inside the conference room, delegates ran up

and down from group to group enthusiastically trying to come up with solutions for their topics.

Everyone seemed to be drawn to the chairs, bombarding them with questions and asking them for advice on their resolutions. Delegates were so excited and full of energy that the chairs were worried about the number of resolutions being presented. Expert Chair, Natsumi Komori, dashed around to the different clusters of people and advised delegates to merge their resolutions. The chairs expect to get at least twenty resolutions, ten for each committee and approve five for each.

The delegates in the Special Conference seemed to be more interested in resolving the issues

of “Improving Measures to Prevent Youth Crimes”, “Supporting Woman and Other Victims of Sexual Crime in their reintegration into civil society”, and “Implementing measures to combat the concept of Honor Killing in society.” These topics were chosen as they are more accessible and delegates stated that they feel more emotionally attached to them.

The Special Conference is unique due to it encompassing a variation of issues ranging from human rights and law to economics, a concept that is rarely seen in other committees. Delegates in SCCP will be lucky to experience a wider scope of topics to debate about. “I expect delegates to lead this conference with an ambition to become something greater in their MUN experience,” states Chair Sebastian Naranjo who has very high hopes for his committee. With lobbying finished, it is evident that the delegates in this committee are ready to jump into debate.

By Nicole Novey

Page 10

AbdulrAhmAn Al-Khori

AzrA Sudetic

commission has proven itself active and ready to debate. Delegates and chairs had the will to form a productive atmosphere.

“I really hope that our resolutions will be promoted to the actual UN, because we put a lot of effort into it,” said the delegate of São Tomé e Príncipe.

Sherif Hassanien, a delegate from the American School of Cairo, has high expectations for this year’s THIMUN. He aims “to pass good resolutions, to find proper solutions, to raise awareness of the problems we face today.”

Jaunary 25, 2011

Lobbying: The First HurdleIn every committee, there is always one

person at the very center of each group, gesticulating wildly as they outline the merits of their resolution. They are the ones who talk the loudest, fight the hardest, and the ones who refuse to take “no” for an answer. Often, they are the ones who will seize the coveted title of main submitter of a resolution. While this is true in any committee in the conference, in the General Assembly, things can get a little more intense.

“The ego of the delegate might be in some cases a little more stimulated because there is the prospect of presenting the opening speech of the resolution on the final day of the conference in the General Assembly. There are quite a few delegates who want to do so and there’s fierce competition,” dramatically stated Mick van der Valk, Chair of the 4th Committee of the General Assembly (GA4). Aside from that, passed resolutions at THIMUN can be sent to the actual United Nations in New York, allowing main submitters to truly have their voices heard by the world.

Lobbying can be intimidating and even downright frightening for some of the more timid delegates, but it is a necessary part of every MUN conference. “It’s really, really hard,” said one such delegate. When asked if he had anything else to say, he said, after a pause, “Not really. I don’t really know what I’m doing here.”

It certainly is daunting to stand in the middle of a room, surrounded by delegates who all want their ideas heard, not really knowing which group to join. Is it better to join the large group of delegates who are all speaking animatedly, even perhaps aggressively, or to join a smaller, quieter group? The response to this question can vary, depending on whom you ask. In larger groups, there are more ideas and opinions to go around, which could lead to a more comprehensive resolution, but could also set the stage for more drama and conflict than in an episode of Gossip Girl. On the other hand, in a smaller group, it’s much easier to get along and get your ideas heard, but it can result in a narrower perspective due to the less varied range of opinions.

Although different delegates had different approaches, it seemed that those most successful were those who were able to maintain the fine balance between assertiveness and cooperation.

“You have to sway people without being swayed,” says Mariella Salazar, the delegate of

Albania in GA2, “and you have to be confident in your resolution. If you don’t believe that you’re good enough to be main submitter, then chances are you won’t be. But you have to be nice,” she added. “No one likes people who are mean. And besides, it’s bad karma.” After all, the people you lobby with tend to be the people you stick with for the rest of the week. The alliances made can make you or break you during the course of debate. Lobbying essentially sets the tone for the rest of the conference, and so it is imperative to build bridges rather than burn them.

At the end of the day, however, lobbying is just another stage of the conference. Whether delegates like it or not, the time they spend huddled in groups on staircases or sitting in circles on the floor inevitably comes to an end. Though lobbying is an important aspect of resolution writing, the most exciting parts of the conference are yet to come. Resolutions have been merged, main submitters have been chosen, alliances have been made and speeches have been written – now it is time to let the real games begin.

By Mahek Tulsiani and Kirsten Buckmaster

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Maggie Bliss

lara Batato

Don’t forget to watch:the storM-worlD foruM theater- 19:30

“a thriller aBout the work of the prosecuters office of the un triBinual for forMer Yugoslavia”

proDuceD BY Britta knoller (Ms knoller will Be present to answer questions after the screening)

ISSUES & FORUMS

Karina Dukalska

Karina Dukalska

Jaunary 25, 2011

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COLLAGE

Abdulrahman Al-KhoriAbdulrahman Al-Khori

Karina Dukalska

Gwen Scholten

Gwen Scholten

Maggie Bliss

Mohammed BdeirAbdulrahman Al-Khori

Abdulrahman Al-Khori

Karina Dukalska

Maggie Bliss

Abdulrahman Al-Khori

PointingPeople have different ways of expressing

themselves. What’s your point?