Going Green: A Misnomer?

By Jenny Suh
447 quadrillion BTU - is the amount of energy released by a small atomic bomb and the amount of energy the world consumes in a year. By 2030, this figure has been projected to reach 702 quadrillion BTU. With the ever-increasing demand for energy and the dwindling of sources of coveted crude oil, understanding “the big picture” of the pressing energy situation has become a priority for governments and organizations. By necessity, renewable energy sources are increasing in popularity. Renewable energy supplies theoretically offer unlimited power because the source never runs out, or can be replenished. Advantages of using renewable energy sources have been publicized to an extent that even people with no expert knowledge can rattle them off, but the “cons of renewable energy” is not a topic that has been debated sufficiently.The phrase “renewable energy” brings to mind images of clean, green pastures, distant windmills, and people hugging trees. In fact, while renewable energy in the form of wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear power is established to be cleaner than energy produced by coal, gas, and other non-renewables, they come at a high environmental and economic cost.As they are alternatives to the conventional resources, it is inevitable that changing over to renewable sources would have an impact on the environment, some of it negative. Nuclear power, first used in 19541, has long since been strongly linked to radiation poisoning, heat pollution, and increased cancer rates. Granted, modern nuclear plants are safer and more efficient than earlier ones, but they still run the risk of accidents which may lead to environmental catastrophes like that of Chernobyl in 1986, the long-term effects of which are still devastating lives. On the other hand, wind power, which uses wind to turn a generator, causes “visual and noise pollution” with hulking buildings that impose on the scenery and noise from the wind turbines that grates on nerves. According to National Atlas, thousands of birds each year, including the endangered golden eagle, are caught and killed in the wind turbines. Hydroelectric power, which employs the flow of running water to turn a turbine-generator, too, has a detrimental effect on the environment. The creation of dams needed for these projects disrupts habitats by flooding large areas, and reduces the water flow downstream. This disruption runs the risk of causing drought, and displaces plants, wildlife, and human populations. Alex Yuan, a delegate from China, described the problems caused by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. “The pink skinned river dolphins are now extinct because of the dam,” she said. “Not only is the build up of sludge from the hydroelectric dam detrimental to the environment, but it also damages cultural relics, which have been immersed, and really, cannot be recovered ever again,” she added. Even solar power, a form of renewable energy which has been popularized for its versatility and cleanliness, is not without drawbacks; the manufacturing of the reflective panels results in dangerous toxic waste such as arsenic and gallium. Ironically, by using renewable energy sources to alleviate environmental problems, we have created a new set of environmental problems.Using renewable energy costs as much as two to three times as much as using non-renewable energy. According to the National Atlas, wind energy is twice as expensive as non-green energy. Using solar and hydroelectric power costs three or more times as much as using non-renewable energy. The unreliability of most renewable resources accounts for some differences in cost. Consider wind power: its overall economic viability depends on consistent wind flow, time of the year, and location. In addition to its unreliability, wind power equipment is expensive compared to other energy sources. On the other hand, solar power is not continuous, and in order to store the energy collected during the day over the night, an expensive storage device is required. Additionally, the cost of operating renewable energy plants, and switching factories to green must also be taken into consideration. Jean Choi from the Korean Minjok Leadership Academy said, “Methods of green energy are not so cost-effective as we want them to be.”Also important to take into consideration is government interference in the issue of renewable energy. While implemented with good intention, it has resulted in more problems than it has solved. The government quite often interferes with the marketing process by providing incentives to use renewable energy sources through raising the prices of existing resources and implementing laws. This type of government support shields producers from competition, and stifles technological innovations which are needed to bring the prices of renewable energy sources down. In this way, actions intended to promote alternative forms of energy may likely inhibit it. Although benefits of renewable energy largely outweigh the cons outlined above, these drawbacks should be kept in mind to produce genuinely clean energy resources. Each form of renewable energy has its individual environmental, economic, and technological limitations. Consider the present energy situation as a child emerging into adolescence: like the pressure teens experience to conform to this world, the pressure to go green is pervasive in that it is not limited to merely individuals or certain countries, and inevitable. As teens emerge as mature, responsible individuals, so too will, renewable sources mature, meaning a greener earth and cheaper energy prices.

Renewable Energy: Going Green Will Benefit All

By Titilayo Ogundele

As the world becomes more developed, more resources are being demanded. Although humans are very resourceful, there’s one thing that we haven’t figured out how to do: renew natural resources. With the colossal amount of economic development going on, coal, petroleum, and natural gas will soon be gone, a change which will cripple the world and its economy. So what can we do in to prevent or, at lease lessen this catastrophe? We can go green-the sooner the better.Renewable energy effectively utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tide, and geothermal heat, which are quickly replenished unlike oil. There are two advantages to going green. One advantage is that the planet will be less polluted than it would be if we continue to use fossil fuels. The other reason is that by using renewable energy, we will spare the non-renewable resources from being completely used up.When it comes to change, some people tend to oppose it. However, we must consider what fossil fuels do to the environment. Using fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—to make electricity dirties the air, consumes and pollutes water, hurts plant and animal life, creates toxic wastes, and contributes to climate change. Renewable energy resources can provide many immediate environmental benefits by avoiding the impacts and risks that occur from fossil fuel use. Although there are some disadvantages to using renewable energy, such as wind farms changing the landscape and harming birds and the large amount of land required to harvest energy, which could otherwise be used to feed the rising population, these impacts are generally less than the impacts of fossil fuel use on the environment.Still not convinced? Wondering how pollution from fossil fuel use affects you? Well, let’s take a look at how this issue affects our health. With the world’s population growing at a rapid pace, we tend to see more people living in the cities due to jobs being located there. Think of what you’re breathing when go do your shopping or go out to eat. I can assure you that what you’re breathing isn’t the healthiest thing in the world. Teresa Shiang, who is the delegate of Belgium in the General Assembly committee two, expressed her feelings towards the environment in Beijing stating that in Beijing “you can’t drink out of the tap because its not clean water.” Beijing, which is a heavily populated area, is growing quickly. Due to extensive building there, the water, and the air, are becoming polluted with toxic substances. Fossil fuels tend to do much more to the environment than just polluting the air and water. These non-renewable resources have been blamed for causing global warming as well. While some areas of the world are experiencing floods from extreme weather, other parts are experiencing droughts. Ngcebo Gwebu, better known as just Gwebu, represents Canada in committee two of the General Assembly. Coming from Swaziland, Gwebu states that his country “is currently experiencing longer than usual droughts.” Although this situation only occurs in some parts of the country, it is still believed that this condition of long droughts is caused by the use of fossil fuels, which bring on global warming, even though Africa is the country that produces the leastgreen house gases. This shows that no matter how far a country is from another, what one does, will surely affect another. The cost of switching to using renewable energy can be great. However, the alternative of a having a very sick planet is greater. If we want to have a planet that is healthy not only for us, but for future generations, we must act now and do something about the environment before the damages become irreversible. Let’s act now and go green.

The Purple Army

By Grace Chou Every morning as THIMUN participants step off the buses, press members dressed in purple t-shirts rush up to sell them the newest Munity-East newspaper. In fact, this 16-paged newspaper is a collaboration of hard work, passion, and creativity from nearly 40 press members. “It is incredibly satisfying to see five issues published in a week,” says Jessica Ooyang, a layout editor. A typical day for Munity-East reporters consists of conducting interviews, researching facts, and creating topics that aim to attract readers. Their jobs are far from easy. “I think starting my articles and meeting my deadlines are the most difficult aspects of my job as a reporter,” comments Pertz Liao. The cooperation of other MUN participants is also crucial to the progress of reporting. “It gets frustrating when committee chairs don’t take our jobs seriously and refuse to help us when we’re between a rock and a hard place,” says a reporter who wishes to remain anonymous. Artists and photographers do not have it any easier. “It’s a big challenge for artists this year because we don’t have drawing pads. When everything has to be done with the mouse, our jobs become incredibly difficult,” comments Anya Yu. Photographers, the faces behind the big cameras, deal with the challenge of capturing the real smiles and tears of the people at THIMUN. It is not hard to appreciate the persistence and determination in these members, as they push through these technical barriers to strive for perfection in their work. Layout editors are at the end of the chain. When articles, artwork, and photos are complete, the layout editors perform the magic of putting the puzzle pieces together to create the final pages that readers see. Yee-wen Huang, a layout editor, explains the difficulties she has experienced. “Since I am a layout editor, I have to wait for all my group members to finish their tasks before I can begin my job. So, it gets difficult when somebody fails to meet his or her deadline.” Reporter Renee Klioufis agrees. “In the press room, I’ve learned the importance of working together,” she says, “and if somebody doesn’t meet his or her deadline, the entire chain slows down and everything gets affected.” All Munity-East members have learned the crucial importance of living up to their deadlines. Perhaps it is reasonable to say that Munity-East is like a line of dominoes. If one domino falls, everything else collapses. Finally, Munity-East would be incomplete without advisor Brian Longbotham, teacher advisors Ms. Janice Rossing and Ms. Yvonne Craig, and the editors-in-chief and assistant editors. “The press team this year is really awesome,” says Mr. Longbotham. “The writing and researching abilities of this year’s press members are incredibly high. With their level of writing, interviewing, and researching, significantly less editing and rewriting is required. This definitely speaks to the English programs of the schools from which our members come.”

Making the Show a Reality

By Pertz Liao
While the delegates are busy debating resolutions in air-conditioned rooms, a number of adults observe them quietly, sometimes jotting down notes. They move from room to room, paying attention to the delegates’ arguments that, back at their schools, they have helped prepare. These behind-the-scenes workers are the MUN directors, those who use their personal time to enrich and add value to the conference for all students.The MUN directors’ main job is to prepare their students for their roles as delegates who represent different countries. Mr. Mark Clement, who is from the International School Ho Chi Minh City, shows his students DVDs of actual delegates in action. Aside from making sure that the students do their research on their assigned country and topics, and organizing mock debates for them, the directors must also make certain that their students know the parliamentary procedures used during debates and how to compose a resolution. Additionally, the directors review their students’ speeches and give feedback on the strong and weak points of their arguments.Along with preparing students for lobbying and debates, directors are also in charge of numerous tasks before the conference begins. Many of them must make arrangements for their delegations’ stay months in advance, fill out stacks of paperwork, and consult with parents and school staff. They also have to choose their delegation, assign roles, and deal with any issues fellow teachers might have from the students’ extended absence.Once the conference begins, the work doesn’t stop for the directors. They are assigned a variety of tasks, such as screening notes for inappropriate material and evaluating student officers. Directors also move around the different committees and watch and take pictures of their students in action. After each day’s session is adjourned, they de-brief with their students about what happened in their committee and help them with any problems they might have encountered.Even though most are not paid extra for their additional work, the directors feel that their efforts are worth it when they see their students standing at the podium in action exhibiting diplomatic finesse. Ms. Martha Dominguez of the American School Foundation in Mexico City explains one of the rewarding aspects of her job is “seeing the look on the students’ faces when their resolution passes and watching them give their speeches and defend their positions.”Without the efforts and dedication of the MUN directors, THIMUN-Singapore would be a less rich experience than it is today. They are an integral part of the large network of people that help create a successful, educational, and exciting conference that all participants can enjoy.

The Hwa Chong Staff and Students

By Grace Leo
All of us have seen the brown blazer clad students of Hwa Chong busily guiding delegates around the seventy-nine hectare campus. And, if they possess anything in truckloads, it is their dedication that drives them to come to the school every morning at 7:30 am and leave between 6-9pm at night during their holidays to make this conference possible. Mr. Samuel Lim, a history teacher at Hwa Chong, is the head of administration for the conference and takes care of logistical and infrastructural needs. Together with his assistant, Ms Tan Yew Hui, Mr Lim ensures that all the delegates at THIMUN-Singapore have an appropriate rooms and a conducive environment to work in. A particular aspect of the conference that Mr Lim organizes is the opening and closing ceremonies. He works to “ensure that there is ambience and the grandeur” and is responsible for the floral arrangements, the order of proceedings and musical entertainment. Furthermore, during the actual conference Mr Lim takes care of any problems that arise as despite the best planning, “things can always go wrong such as with the loss of placards at the conference.” He is also to be recognized for his generosity as during lunchtime and breaks he tutors some of the student officers and delegates for their examinations.Ensuring the smooth running of the conference is not just a one-man show however. Wong Qi Han is a year ten student of Hwa Chong who plays a key role as Executive Administrative Officer. He helps co-ordinate the students and answer delegate enquiries and enjoys the “Satisfaction of knowing you help.” Gideon Ong, of the approval panel commended Wong Qi Han as “the first executive administrative officer I have seen to work so hard,” and as a leader who not only delegates but leads by example to inspire the other students. Ong also gave due attention to the other 64 students from Hwa Chong assisting as administrative staff, “The [Hwa Chong] students are the most serious I have seen about the job. They screen every single notice.” This is no light praise as Gideon has attended eighteen MUN conferences and been involved in administration for seven of these. Students of Hwa Chong may be involved in security and opening venues in the morning. There are also students on the approval panel and different assemblies, passing notes and assisting delegates with tables and chairs. Tee Yoon Siang is part of the administrative staff for the ICJ. He is using his participation as a way of learning the procedures as he looks forward to attending THIMUN in January as a delegate. Another group of students are on a public relations committee, organizing tours and manning the tables at the entrance to the SALT Centre. Jonas Koh is one such student. A year nine student, he enjoys his job as “A chance to learn more” and as a “new and unique experience.” He also comes to understand his friends better. “As we work together, we meet difficulties, come to realize differences and accommodate one another” he remarked.The staff and students of Hwa Chong are of many talents and work hard for the conference. As Alfred Wan, a Hwa Chong student on the Advisory panel remarked, “The administrative staff are selfless and always on the move. They are simply admirable. They deserve two thumbs up.”

MUN = Better World

By George Jieh

You heard her in the opening ceremony. You’ve seen her around the Hwa Chong campus, but who IS the THIMUN board member, Mrs. Frances Laughlin, really? Munity-East gets up close and personal with about her and her feelings about MUN.Munity-East: Could you tell us a little bit about what you do on the THIMUN board?Frances Laughlin: I am the secretary of the board, which means I take minutes at meetings and put out agendas, but as a board we act collectively. We have discussions about how conferences should be run. Last year we had a set of statutes which we discussed in great length and which we published on the website. We also talk about how to push THIMUN even further. Munity-East: What are some of your experiences with Model United Nations?Frances Laughlin: The one that I remeber most vividly is the first time I went [to THIMUN-The Hague]. I stood in for another teacher who was sick. I was allowed to go to THIMUN-The Hague conference, which was then about 3000 students, and I was just blown away by the level of expertise, things people knew, and the confidence [with which] people spoke. I was just totally hooked. That first experience has stayed with me. I am still always amazed by what students say, what they can do, what they know, and how they conduct themselves when they come to these conferences. Munity-East: What’s your impression of THIMUN-Singapore so far?Frances Laughlin: I am very impressed. I like the setting. I like the institution here. I think people take it very seriously. The level of debate and lobbying has been very serious, and that’s what we are aiming for, not just a fun trip. I am definitely impressed by the people and admin staff who have really gone out of their way to make things work. Munity-East: What’s the main difference between THIMUN in The Hague and THIMUN in Singapore?Frances Laughlin: I think its the size. The Hague has about 4000 people. THIMUN Singapore is THIMUN not just any other THIMUN affiliated conference, many things are the same. A lot of it is familiar. The rules of debate, the student officers, and Munity-East, are very familiar. Munity-East: What are your views on the delegates here in this year’s conference?Frances Laughlin: I think they are working very hard. I think there are more delegates here that are serious about what they’re doing. Sometimes you feel like people come to The Hague for a bit of a party, but here I can see people are working very hard and the resolutions I have seen are very impressive. That really made an impression on me.Munity-East: What do you consider to be the deeper meaning of Model United Nations?Frances Laughlin: There is a better way. There is a future that is better. The really important thing about MUN is that it consists of people who do believe that you can change things and make things better for everybody. I know it sounds cliché to say that you want to make the world a better place, but I think that’s what MUN does. I think it makes better citizens that will make a better world. [It causes] a constant move towards improvement. Munity-East: Any words for the delegates?Frances Laughlin: Make the most of the time you [spend] doing MUN. [The conferences] are really important in your life. Even if they don’t feel like it now, they are and will be the most important times of your life.We are the future, and we can make a difference. Munity-East wishes

Child Labor In the Modern World

By Grace Chou

According to UNICEF, there are around 218 million children from ages five to seventeen who work as child laborers around the world. “Hazardous child labor is a betrayal of every child’s rights as a human being and is an offense against our civilization,” stated UNICEF in its article, “The State of the World’s Children.” Though many may believe that child labor is a thing of the past (chimney sweepers during the Industrial Revolution), the truth is, it still exists in developing countries even today. A number of underage laborers work in factories or agricultural settings, but the majority of them work informally by selling things on the streets, or work hidden in houses, “out of reach of official labor inspectors and media scrutiny.” However, among the most debated forms of child labor is the use of them as child soldiers or prostitutes. The exploitation of underage children in jobs unsuitable for them further endangers their lives and hinders their possibilities of having a “normal” ch-ildhood. Both the United Nat-ions and the International Labor Organization strongly denounce child labor. The U.N., in the Convention on The Rights on The Child, asserted that “States Parties recognize the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development.” In the 1990’s, every country in the world except for Somalia and the United States ratified this Convention.The concern for child labor has resulted in the boycott of many products produced by underage labor. For example, in November 2005, the International Labor Rights Fund filed a lawsuit against the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, which operated a rubber plantation in Liberia staffed by children. In October 2007, The Guardian, a British newspaper, “found children as old as nine working sixteen to nineteen hours a day in India at a vendor producing Gap for Kids clothing. However, Gap officials have dismissed these allegations, claiming Gap to be a company that “strictly prohibits child labor.”This boycott of child labor products may actually produce a negative side effect. Children, without the jobs provided by the factories, have turned to more dangerous and hazardous professions. For instance, UNICEF has found that around seven thousand Nepalese children turned to prostitution after the United States banned the country’s carpet exports. Africa has the largest number of child soldiers, with a 2004 estimate putting the nu-mber at around 100,000. In So-malia, nearly all factional militias use child soldiers, while the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda has abducted nearly 30,000 boys and girls over the past twenty years. Children in Zimbabwe are recruited by a National Youth Service, and are used for acts of violence against political dissidents. However, child soldiers are not only found in the African continent, but exist in all parts of the world, such as in Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America.Child labor is a topic of crucial importance in the current world, as it usually affects those out of the range of the media’s eye. The United Nations should work to protect laboring children from exploitation and environments dangerous to their mental and physical health. It is essential for children to have access to minimal levels of education, nutrition, and health care. Ultimately, the total elimination of child labor should be a goal the U.N. strives to achieve.

Taiwan’s Struggle for U.N. Membership

By Pertz Liao

Long a controversial topic, Taiwan’s most recent bid to join the UN this September was promptly rejected by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on legal grounds established by a resolution passed in 1971 that ejected Taiwan from the UN. The battle will continue, however, as those who support UN membership for Taiwan vow to continue fighting for what they believe to be right. When the UN was established in 1945, China, one of its founding members, was controlled by the Kuomingtang (KMT) political party and was known as the Republic of China (ROC). In 1949, the Kuomingtang fled to Taiwan in order to escape the Communists, who established the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The ROC government then took power in Taiwan. However, the ROC government continued to represent China at the UN until 1971, when the General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, making the PRC government the representative government of China. After Resolution 2758, the ROC government in Taiwan was forced to surrender its seat in the UN to the PRC government in China. In 1972, President Nixon of the United States visited China, formalizing ties with China and acknowledging the fact that there is only one China. That was more than 30 years ago.Over the past fifteen years, Taiwan has applied for admission to the UN every year. Each attempt to join the UN has failed, due to the small number of political allies and China’s power of veto. However, the most recent bid for UN membership was different from the previous attempts; this time around, Taiwan applied under the name “Taiwan,” not “Republic of China.” Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki-moon, reiterated the UN’s stand on the One-China policy, commenting on the recent request by stating, “Membership [to the United Nations] is given to a sovereign country. The position of the United Nations is that the People’s Republic of China is representing the whole of China as the sole and legitimate representative government of China. The decision until now about the wish of the people in Taiwan to join the United Nations has been decided on that basis. The resolution [General Assembly Resolution 2758] is clearly mentioning that the government of China is the sole and legitimate government, and the position of the United Nations is that Taiwan is part of China.”In response, sixteen of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, including the Solomon Islands, proposed a motion to place the issue of Taiwan’s application on the Assembly’s agenda, but a General Assembly committee rejected the proposal.Leaders of the ROC government argue that the 23 million people residing in Taiwan are not represented in the UN. Vice President Annette Lu of Taiwan said, “The Resolution said nothing about the Republic of China or Taiwan. There is only one China but there is also one Taiwan. We are applying for UN membership under the name Taiwan.” President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan plans to hold a referendum asking citizens if the island should join the UN under the name “Taiwan.” Demonstrations have also been held in Taiwan; in September, around 100,000 people filed into the streets of Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan, to show their support for the referendum. Taiwanese expatriates also held their own protest outside of the UN Headquarters in New York City.China and the United States, two major world powers, are both deeply involved in Taiwan’s effort to increase her presence in world affairs, but they share different views. Chinese officials hold the belief that Taiwan is part of China, and therefore do not want Taiwan to join the UN. Membership, they claim, would increase Taiwan’s international sovereignty. China is also afraid that Chen implies that Taiwan is separate from China. The United States has warned Chen to “behave in a responsible manner.” American officials worry that Chen’s actions will provoke China, and that the shaky, but peaceful relations between the island and the mainland will dissolve.With Taiwan and China refusing to budge from their position, it is certain that the question of Taiwan’s status will remain a hot topic for some time indefinitely.

I Died on Orchard Road—While Waiting for a Cab

By Raymond Chuang
“Bye, bye we’re not taking you,” said the cabbie. A Deputy President of the Security Council who wishes only to be known as “Danny” was having some chicken and beef in a food court when the rain started to pour down. It took about 30 minutes for the rain to stop, and another hour before he could sit comfortably in a Singaporean cab.Recalling his previous THIMUN-Singapore trip, Security Council Delegates of the United Kingdom Etienne Ma and Hanson Gu stated that they were “two hours late for curfew [because] of the lack of taxis during [a lineup that lasted] an hour. They eventually decided to take a bus. Etienne, however, was grateful for his advisors’ understanding of the situation; the day happened to be “some Singaporean holiday for kids”; taxis were even less available than usual, and the delegates returned to their hotel unpunished. While the locals may already be inured to half, one, or even two-hour waits at taxi stands, many who live in countries where taxicabs might pull over at the sight of an outstretched hand (whether indicating a yawn or sneeze) suffer the inconvenience of the merciless sedans, which habitually bear on their roofs the signs “Hired,” “On Call,” or “Changing Shifts.” What then, exactly, can we do in these moments of frustration, exasperation, and outright rage? A number of local Singaporean delegates have proposed some invaluable solutions. “You have to either go to a hotel where the lines are not that long, or a taxi stand—getting [a taxi] off the street is impossible,” exclaimed Jennifer Ching, International School of Singapore’s (ISS) Delegate of Mexico for ECOSOC. She enthusiastically gave more invaluable advice by cautioning us “not [to] go to Takashimaya because the lines are usually 50 meters long…” Although most delegates would be grateful for Jennifer’s fantastic advice, press reporter Raymond Chuang almost cried when the interviewee stated that the Mandarin Hotel is a good spot to wait for taxis (Raymond’s advisors had recently punished him for breaking curfew after waiting for a taxi outside of the Mandarin for two hours). Taking in the reporter’s expression of pure horror, she instead suggested the taxi stand at Cineleisure (a fantastic Orchard Road spot near the Mandarin and HMV that has a cinema, large game zone, shopping mall, hawker food, and “tons of [other] things”). Jennifer also addresses a common mistake that newcomers make: “Do not switch locations every five minutes because you’ll never get a cab… If you stay and be patient, you’ll [usually] get one in around half an hour, but if you switch locations, it will take a couple of hours.”Under exceptionally unfortunate circumstances, however, delegates may have to resort to booking a cab. Bookings from 0730 to 0930 and 1700-2300 on Mondays to Fridays cost an extra S$4.00; all other times cost an extra $2.50, and bookings 30 minutes in advance will cost you an extra S$5.20. Don’t jump up in glee at the thought of quick cab-waiting just yet, taxi corporations are sometimes too busy to respond to your calls.In a last attempt to rescue you from the tortures of waiting for two hours, ISS Delegate of Lithuania Gini Sponzilli advises students to take buses if they are more “used to Singapore” and have enough time to “organize on a wider schedule.”Hopefully, you can now take a stroll on Orchard Road and enjoy the Christmas lights, sipping your Starbuck’s with less fear of breaking curfew. For those of you staying near or right on Orchard Road, appreciate the privilege. For those of you who lodge far, far away from the Singapore hot spots, good luck.

The Merlion

By Grace Chou
While contemplating what gifts to buy for friends back home, consider purchasing miniature models of the most well known icon of Singapore—the Merlion. Since 1972, the Merlion has attracted more than one million tourists every year to Singapore from all over the world. To Charles Lok representing Mongolia and Hue Zin representing Guinea Bissau, the Merlion symbolizes “strength, unity, and…. love!”An emblem designed by Fraser Brunner for the Singapore Tourism Board in 1964, the statue is made up of a lion head with a fish tail resting on a crest of waves that light up at night. The lion head represents the lion spotted by Prince Sang Nila Utama when he rediscovered Singapore in 11 A.D. The fish tail represents the ancient city of Temasek, which means “sea” in Javanese. Singapore was known as Temasek for before the Prince named it Singapura (meaning “lion city”). Temasek represented the country’s humble origins as a fishing village. Built by Mr. Lim Nang Seng, the Merlion is made of cement fondue, measures 8.6 meters high, and weighs 70 tons. Interestingly, the Merlion has a baby counterpart, also known was the Merlion Cub, located 28 meters away. Measuring 2 meters high and weighing 3 tons, the Cub is also constructed from cement fondue, with its outer layer from porcelain plates and eyes made from small red teacups. Pump systems are installed for both statues so the Merlion and its cub can spout water throughout the day and night. Singaporeans sometimes jokingly refer to this spouting as “spitting.”The original Merlion statue was located at the opening of the Singapore River. On September 15, 1972, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew officiated the installation ceremony of the Merlion. On September 15, 2002, the Merlion was moved to Merlion Park, adjacent to One Fullerton. The statue now overlooks the scenic Marina Bay and welcomes all visitors to the beautiful country of Singapore. The statue was relocated to ensure that visitors have an unhindered view of this iconic landmark. A pier, which stretches into the bay, has been constructed so visitors can see and photograph the Merlion more easily. The Merlion gives Singaporeans a unified sense of belonging to their country, and represent the psychological defense of the nation. According to Foo chuan De, a Singaporean representing Chad, “I’ve seen the Merlion for all my life. To me the symbol represents our country, and it is a national icon for which the rest of the world recognize us.” Kevin Chu, an ICJ participant who has not seen the Merlion, speculates that “the Merlion is Singapore’s national symbol because it shows how Singapore can dominate both the land and the sea!”

When It Rains, It Doesn’t Always Pour

By Sonja Chai
For those of us who traveled to Singapore from places with actual seasons, the prospect of warm weather was exciting. This was particularly true as we anticipated with dread the upcoming winter—cold rain, biting wind, and gray skies for months on end. However, even for those who attend school in similarly hot climates, the weather in Singapore has presented itself as something to get used to. ECOSOC Delegate of Kazakhstan Tyler Penney is here from the American School of Doha, and pinpoints the main difference between the weather in Singapore and that in Qatar as the humidity. “It’s hot and dry [there].”As soon as we left the airport, it was apparent that being here was somewhat like being in a sauna. Indeed, the BBC describes the “level of discomfort from humidity” here as “high” for every month, other than July, in which the level of discomfort from humidity is “extreme.” Security Council Deputy President Yihan Tan remarked that her glasses “[were] fogging up” because of the humidity. Given the number of bespectacled delegates attending the conference, this cannot have been a singular occurrence.While acutely difficult to bear when outside, most places have taken measures to make it comfortable inside, which somehow makes being outside much easier to bear. Secretary General Sanam Kader’s strategy for beating the heat: go outside to warm up, and stay inside to cool down. She remarks that the rain and humidity are rather inconvenient, particularly as someone who must walk from forum to forum fairly often. She mentions “dealing with rain and puddles and soggy grass . . . makes it difficult to navigate the campus.”There are indeed signs in a multitude of places around this colossal institution that report that the sidewalk is “slippery when wet.” For girls balanced on heels and juggling briefcases, papers, and umbrellas, the wet, uneven cobblestone-like walkways present themselves as a formidable opponent. The humidity here also “affects delegates because they worry about their hair,” according to Secretary General Kader. The rain is another issue. As these words are creeping oh-so-slowly onto the page, at this very moment, the sun is shining and it’s humid as usual. The last two days however, have been rainy, most often a steady drizzle that pushed the humidity level unbearably high. According to Michael Wang, Delegate of Columbia in GA2, “It feels like I’m swimming” as he walks outside. Average monthly rainfall here, according to the BBC, never dips below 170 millimeters and is much higher for the months of November and December, Singapore’s monsoon season. All the rain is beneficial to Singapore though, as it is a country that must import half of its water supply and relies on rainwater to provide the other half. This tropical rainforest environment does make for a much greener city that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. For example, in Shanghai, the only green grass encountered will probably be a little patch in a public park no one has allowed to step on. Apparently the body’s natural cooling system, perspiration, only works effectively if sweat can evaporate, which tends not to happen in a humid environment. This therefore makes it a lot easier to overheat and suffer from mild forms of heat-related diseases in humid environments, although anyone would be hard-pressed to overheat when sitting in an air-conditioned forum.

Dreaming of the Model United Nations

By George Jieh
For this issue Munity-East was fortunate enough to sit down and have a short talk with a leading figure in the world of Model United Nations, Mr. David L. Williams. He is one of the founders of THIMUN the Hague, and helped construct THIMUN-Singapore. He had done all this with one vision of bringing everyone together for the purpose of world peace. Here is what he has to say about Model United Nations and his experiences:
Munity-East: Hello Mr. Williams. Could you please give us a brief introduction to yourself and what you do?
David L. Williams: I have been teaching for 40 years, I have retired, and started to teach again. I was one of the founders of THIMUN the Hague. When I retired from teaching, I retired from the board of directors. I helped to set up THIMUN-Singapore together with Katharina Haucke. It was mostly Katharina Hauke’s initiative to set up the second conference in the Far East to widen the scope of THIMUN to make it available to more people, particularly in Asia. Because the cost of coming to the Hague prohibited many students from participating and the Hague was full anyways. I am very pleased, now that I have gone back into teaching, to be able to bring delegates to a conference that I helped set up. Now I am the MUN director of the American School in Taichung.
Munity-East: What is your vision in setting up THIMUN Singapore?
David L. Williams: The vision is, because I believe very strongly in United Nations first of all, having the Model United Nations as an educational tool for bringing young people together to discuss the current issues. For THIMUN-Singapore, this is an opportunity to widen and bring more schools, and schools that haven’t done MUN have the opportunity to participate in a big conference. To bring young people together with different nationalities and cultures. I think I am making a contribution to world peace. When you understand people, you will be less likely to kill them.
Munity-East: What do you see in MUN? What is its deeper meaning?
David L. Williams: The deeper meaning is international understanding, particularly among the youths because everyone says that the youth is the future, which is true. More people will have the opportunity to meet more people of other cultures and other nations. They will try to solve their problems with diplomacy. This will also help young people to become aware of the environmental problems, such as global warming and so on. It makes them aware of human rights, it’s abuses, and how we can prevent human right abuses. The deeper meaning really is the education of young people in cultural aspects for better understanding.
Munity-East: How do you feel about this year’s conference?
David L. Williams: I think the conference is very well run. The students are working hard, well dedicated and well prepared. I think it will be a very good conference this year. The other thing that I didn’t mention is the book. So I will tell you a little bit about the book. When I retired from teaching I decided to write a book. I wrote a book on United Nations and Model United Nations. The title of the book actually gives my philosophy towards MUN. It’s a book for students, with a DVD that has shots that I had taken in THIMUN the Hague with real delegates talking and explaining how they prepared and made the speeches. That is what I am promoting now because I think this is just a useful resource for schools and students that wants to prepare for Model United Nations.
Munity-East: Do you have any memorable experiences pertaining to MUN?
David L. Williams: The most memoriable experience was when the former Secretary General of United Nations, Kofi Annan, came to a conference in the Hague. Because I was a chairman of the board, I had the honor of greeting him, and presenting him to the students. He was such a great secretary general. He was a man with outstanding diplomatic ability. He made a speech in front of 2000 students. In the middle of the speech he thanked me for all my work. That was the real highlight of my MUN experience.
Munity-East: Do you have any last words of wisdom for the delegates this year?
David L. Williams: I said it all in the book, which contains my real words of wisdom. All I can say is, prepare well, work hard, and enjoy yourself meeting other people and working together with other people.
Having heard the vision, meaning and purpose of MUN, Munity-East hopes that all delegates will be able to live their MUN experience through the words of Mr. Williams, and carry it on in real life.

We Know What You Did Last THIMUN-Singapore

By Raymond Chuang
Frank Castle (a.k.a. The Punisher) mercilessly blows away at Takagi-san’s entourage of Yakuza warriors. The hero pulls out a twelve-inch long, double-edged serrated knife and commences to attack his enemies in gruesome ways that should not be described and be published in this delegate-friendly newspaper. Just as Castle grabs a grenade and uses it to attack his enemies in ways that are also too gruesome to be published in this newspaper, your mother opens the door to find her eight-year old son reading shocking, violent, and “philistine trash.”Whether you were caught reading heinous comic books, stealing cookies from the jar, or drooling at your older brother’s treasured Maxim magazines, those instances ruthlessly embarrassed you to a traumatic extent—the painful truths you had to face during puberty.Now that most of us are all mature, grownup, big boys and girls who can openly discuss with our parents the profound meanings of our blood and gore comic strips and bikini postcards, we face a new challenge. And the new challenge is this: “Do we or do we not have the courage to tell the truth to our advisors about our after-curfew activities?” Face it, people, they all know the truth; they’re just waiting for you to turn yourself in to show some integrity—some magnanimity, some nobility of spirit. To help you embark on such a quixotic task, I’m going to start off by revealing to the public some of your favorite after-curfew activities.One of the most popular ones would be the late-night phone calls. Although most of us have gotten past the addiction of harassing people, memorizing someone’s room number and making a dozen calls in ten minutes until the victim decides to throw the telephone across his hotel room still tops the charts on the most popular MUN games. You might have some explaining to do if your advisor happens to be room-checking your victim’s place and decides to pick up the phone, but you can always turn to the alternative by waking up at three in the morning to fwalk across the hallway to pound on the poor delegate’s doorbell.But hey, this is a four-day conference, right? Some of us stay in that hotel for six, seven, eight days—there has to be some other after-curfew activities to keep us occupied. What about jumping hyperactively with five other friends on the two single beds at four in the morning? And then you can all either snuggle cozily together in bed or lose a round of rock papers scissors and be forced to doze on the couch. If you feel that the phone/doorbell game and slumber party do not suffice, I’m assuming you’re one of the more “outdoor types.” By “outdoor type,” I mean that you have this twisted and almost sadistic problem going on in the darkest corners of your psyche that causes you to be totally unsympathetic to your roommate’s wellbeing. At around 3:30 A.M., you intuitively jump out of bed and decide to take a walk, but the walk would not be complete unless you coerce your friend with the hot iron you’ve stolen from the maid to get him to shuffle hesitatingly into the elevator. After you’ve blocked the elevator’s security camera with your THIMUN-Singapore badge, and slapped your sleepy buddy around a bit, the door opens and you and your buddy walk out to the lobby to find a seemingly responsible but highly annoying concierge who threatens to report you to your advisor. You dig your hands deep into your pockets to pull out a large wad of 100 Singaporean dollar bills, “tipping” the concierge for his discretion. After getting the concierge to call a cab, you and your pal inconspicuously enter the vehicle and tell the driver to drive to “that spot with the lion-fish thing.”Well, my fellow delegate, this is the end of your confession to your advisors. I hope you feel purified, liberated, and unburdened by guilt once again. You feel the same catharsis that you have not experienced since your mother shrieked hysterically at the sight of you reading about The Punisher throwing people into automatic meat grinders. You can finally look your advisor in the eye shamelessly and unflinchingly as your understanding teacher studies you with a forgiving gaze and tells you that “everything is all right.” Anyway, now that you’ve spilled all of your darkest secrets (or rather, I spilled them for you), don’t you feel a lot better? I certainly do.Note: Violent and overly honest events in this article have been tempered/deleted at the editors’ request.

Death Penalty:

By Titi Ogundele
om those in the Middle East to that of the United States have used the death penalty, better known as capital punishment, to rid society of evil-doers. Depending on the culture, crimes that deserve this ultimate punishment range from robbery to mass murder. It can be agreed that attempts have been made to make the methods of execution more humane. For example, hanging in the United States has been replaced with lethal injections. However, even if current practices are somewhat more humane than they were in the past and that is questionable capital punishment is a very controversial topic in that it remains a violation of the number one right of all humanity: the right to life. In this year’s conference, the General Assembly, specifically committee three, will have to find a way to address the question of killing in the name of “justice”. As of now, 90 countries and territories, such as South Africa, Vatican City, Spain, and the United Kingdom have abolished the death penalty for all crimes;11 countries, such as Lebanon, Kuwait, Guinea, and Belize, have abolished the death penalty for all but exceptional crimes, such as wartime crimes or murder; 32 countries, such as Austria, Algeria, and Brunei, rarely apply it in practice, and 64 countries, such as Japan, South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, and the most powerful nation on earth, the United States, retain it.Why is it so hard to get rid of capital punishment if it’s seen as morally questionable? Support is the answer. Although most of Europe is opposed to the practice, there are still many areas where it is supported. Countries that tend to use capital punishment are fully developed countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and The United States. We must not forget that China, the country that carried out the most executions in 2006, reported a staggering 1,010, although it may be that the real number is between 7,500 and 8,000. With powerful advocates such as these, abolishment of capital punishment is nearly impossible.In the past, the death penalty was abolished in some countries, only to be reestablished later. Countries that did so were the United States from 1973-1977, India from 1995-2004, and the Philippines from 1987-1993, but the latter then abolished it again in 2006.Those opposed to the death penalty may ask: If it is supposed to set an example to prevent crimes, why do people continue to commit crimes anyway?. Certainly the death penalty is not a fool-proof way to get rid of society’s evil-doers. Another issue raised by opponents of capital punishment is: who decide who lives or dies? What if a mistake is made, and an innocent person is executed? Such a death would be both spiritually and morally wrong. God, according to most religious views, should decide who lives or dies, not man, for only God is infallible.How can anyone make a moral decision on so difficult a question, especially when our holy books and leaders tell us two different things? For example, the Dhammapada, a Buddhist holy book, states that since everyone fears punishment and death, one should not kill or cause any one to be killed. Clearly, then, killing is wrong according to Buddhist teachings. However, countries such as Thailand and Sri Lanka, where Buddhism is the official religion, practice the death penalty. Even the Bible gives mixed messages about the issue of killing. In the Old Testament, the eye-for-an-eye mentality was accepted in terms of punishment; however, in the New Testament, we are taught to turn the other cheek and forgive those who have done wrong. Which guideline is appropriate ?

Diamonds Aren’t Always a Girl’s Best Friend

By Natalie Boyle With the GA’s first committee focusing on conflict diamonds, we should probably be more educated about the issue than what the movies and cliches tell us. Conflict diamonds, also called blood, war, and dirty diamonds, are mined in areas controlled by groups in conflict with the legitimate government and then sold to finance insurgent activities. Cassiterite, coltan, and gold are also sold as alternatives to diamonds.While the money made from this illicit trade is often used to buy weapons that will be used against trained soldiers, those weapons are more often used against civilians. It is not uncommon in Sierra Leone and Angola to see men and women lacking limbs which have been cut off by machetes, nor is it unusual to find children as young as nine who have been recruited by insurgents to carry on this conflict and to mine these diamonds that are, essentially, the direct cause of the deaths of thousands of people. The problem of conflict diamonds is as much an issue of human rights violations as of disarmament.When the topic of conflict diamonds first came to the UN’s attention in 1998 during Angola’s civil war, blood diamonds made up 20% of the world’s diamond industry. Today, due to such advances as the introduction of the Kimberley Process Certification System (KPCS) and the International Certification System, that figure has now been reduced to 1%.While Sierra Leone with the RUF and Angola with UNITA are infamous for their use of conflict diamonds, the stones have also affected the conflicts in Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, and The Republic of the Congo. As a result, the UN Security Council has banned all diamond trading with Cote d’Ivoire, Angola, and Sierra Leone, although bans have been lifted from Liberia.An end to the trade in conflict diamonds is a vital step in ending civil unrest in African nations. As we all know, if you cut off a group’s funding, you essentially cut off the head of the snake. Recently there has been a flood of information on conflict diamonds and their effects on people: Leonardo di Caprio’s movie, Blood Diamond, the recent movement for ‘conflict-free’ diamonds, and Ishmael Beah’s Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, have captured people’s attention and created an uproar. So the next time you walk by Tiffany and Co., or some other diamond retailer, just remember that there is a 1% chance that the diamond you’re coveting cost someone his life.

THIMUN: The Untold Story

By Grace Leo and Tiffany Sung Why do we attend THIMUN-Singapore? Most of you will be able to list the reasons, be it the impressive addition it makes for university applications, the chance to travel and shop or to learn about the world and deal with issues of global significance. However, it begs the question, why are teachers and directors involved in THIMUN-Singapore? What motivates them? To seek these answers, Munity-East talked to three important contributors to the conference-Mr. Boyle-Woods, Mr. Burchell, and Mr. David Taylor. Mr. Dennis Boyle-Woods is a Social Studies teacher at the American School of Doha and supervisor of the Approval Panel, Youth Assembly and the Security Council. His role at this year’s conference is centered around observing the students in action. Mr. Boyle Woods ensures there is not too much ‘coaching’ or disrespectful behavior. He speaks with enthusiasm about the conference as a “Stepping stone to greatness.”Mr Boyle-Woods regaled us with stories of successful THIMUN attendants. We heard of Michael O’Mary, a THIMUN participant of the 90’s and Harvard University student. When Hilary Clinton requested a tour of Harvard and Boston, Michael was chosen. Despite being nervous about knowing very little of Boston, he purchased a tour book and quickly read and memorized it overnight. The eloquence and confidence that Michael displayed impressed Hilary so much that she asked him to become her speechwriter. Michael quickly became President Clinton’s head researcher at the age of 19. So where did Michael develop such talent? Michael’s experience at THIMUN taught him to represent himself, take chances with confidence and expand his horizons. However, it is not just students who may benefit. “Teachers are also nervous. They need to learn to be risk-takers and take a chance on their students.” For Mr. Boyle-Woods, MUN allows him to watch an amazing revolution transform both students and teachers. For Mr. Ean Burchell, becoming a coordinator for the International Court of Justice came as a surprise. At first he was just involved as a teacher helping out with debate at a school in Tokyo. However through a series of events, he became more and more involved to the point that he now sees THIMUN as a large part of his life. Though he gains pleasure from seeing his students playing active roles in various areas, his most treasured experience was this morning when he walked into the Advisory Panel and saw over a third of the panel comprised of his own students. Mr. Burchell admits that his role is not always fun and preparations such as booking hotels and dealing with various staff may be taxing. To Mr. Burchell, one of the best aspects of THIMUN is the tight community that forms over the week and the opportunity to learn and meet a whole variety of people. As a History teacher at the Overseas Family School and Director of Development for the conference, David Taylor sees THIMUN Singapore as an opportunity for students to apply the skills learnt in the class room and “make a meaningful impact in the world.” He hopes that in this conference and those of the future, the quality will keep on improving; “I want school students to learn to really represent their country and discuss issues.” He values the way in which students become involved and enthused about MUN to the point that one delegate became so excited about passing her resolution in the GA that she hugged her rather surprised principal. When questioned why he became involved in THIMUN-Singapore, Mr. Taylor expressed his gratefulness to his school for allowing him to work with THIMUN and commended the unique experience that students receive in attending the conference, stating, “In too many places, people cannot talk. At MUN events, people are exposed to someone else’s point of view. The experience is internalized and they take it home with them.” The topic of this year’s conference, Gender equality, is one Mr. Taylor sees as particularly relevant as progress is being made and women are emerging as political candidates in places such as America and Argentina. Talking to these teachers and all of the advisors for THIMUN-Singapore, it is easy to appreciate the vision they have for their students and for the conference. Being observers is not always an easy task, but these gentleman are, as always, prepared to do what is best for their students and make the conference an experience which truly develops a range of life-skills including public speaking, co-operating, making compromises and being positive contributors to our society.

Dignity-Stripped Children Forced into Tourism

By Renne Kliofis
Human rights violations have plagued the world for centuries. People fight for their gender or race, but what about the rights of children. Who are being sexually exploited? Children cannot defend themselves -- especially against those whom they trust. Child sex tourism is just one of the branches on the tree of debate in human rights.The quickly elevating rate of sex tourism presents a devastating image for all. Sex tourism by definition is the act of traveling to engage in sexual intercourse or sexual activity with prostitutes, and is typically undertaken internationally by tourists from wealthier countries. Sex tourists tend to converge on places to nations such as Brazil, Thailand, Cambodia, Costa Rica and Mexico, because those places offer little protection against these predators. In 1997 UNICEF estimated that more that one million children were involved in sex tourism. This number has since sky-rocketed. It is nearly impossible to provide accurate statistics about the number of children involved in prostitution, but studies show that 325,000 children are sexually exploited in the United States annually, and 40 percent of the girls who engaged in prostitution were sexually abused at home, as were 30 percent of the boys.Child Sex Tourism is a shameful assault on the dignity of children and a form of violent child abuse. The practice exploits children and is in league with pedophilia and child pornography. The commercial sexual exploitation of children has devastating consequences for these minors, including long-lasting physical and psychological trauma, disease (including HIV/AIDS), drug addiction, unwanted pregnancy, malnutrition, social ostracism, and possibly death.“On this trip, I’ve had sex with a 14 year-old girl in Mexico and a 15 year-old in Colombia. I’m helping them financially. If they don’t have sex with me, they may not have enough food. If someone has a problem with me doing this, let UNICEF feed them.”-Retired U.S. Schoolteacher.The justification offered by sex tourists ignores the exploitation and abuse suffered by these children. The violation that these children suffer impedes on their rights as human beings and cannot be justified.Studies by the UN and World Vision show that prostitution by young and old is largely involuntary; rather, they are forced into it by pimps, are sold by their own families. “Maria is . . . prostituted by her aunt. Maria is obliged to sell her body exclusively to foreign tourists in Costa Rica; she only works mornings, as she has to attend school in the afternoon. Maria is in fifth grade.” A child of this age, under both the international and individual nation state laws, is under the protection of a parent or guardian. This guardian has the responsibility to uphold the child’s rights without exception whatsoever. The Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that “the child shall enjoy special protection, and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by law and by other means, to enable him to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity.” Sex tourism directly denies this right. It also violates the dictum that children “shall in no case be caused or permitted to engage in any occupation or employment which would prejudice his health or education, or interfere with his physical, mental or moral development.”The Universal Declaration of Rights of the Child is in place to protect and support children, ensuring that their rights are upheld. If so, then why are children forced into prostitution and the sex tourism trade? Why are children forced into this form of abuse with no way out?In 2003, the United States strengthened its ability to fight child sex tourism by passing the Prosecutorial Remedies and other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act and the Trafficking Victim’s Protection Reauthorization Act. These laws increase penalties to a maximum of 30 years in prison for engaging in child sex tourism. Since the enactment of the PROTECT Act in 2003, there have been over 20 indictments and over a dozen convictions of child sex tourists. While these indictments are a positive step, the reality of sex tourism is a much graver issue. In China more than 10,000 women and children are abducted and sold each year in Sichaun alone. In San Jose, Costa Rica alone more than 2,000 child prostitutes are regularly sold to foreign pedophiles as part of sex-tour “packages.”With the promotion of extended education concerning child sex tourism, citizens are becoming aware of what is happening in other countries, and even their own country. Sex tourism is a problem throughout the world and needs to be dealt with quickly so that children are no longer exploited and can live their early lives innocently and safely.

When Women Take Over!

By Tiffany Sung
The era of male domination is coming to an end. Now, many women have started an important role in society. People used to always consider men as overpowering; however, as the idea of gender equality becomes more and more prevalent, “the weaker sex” is starting to take over. Strong female leaders have appeared all over the world. In 2005, Angela Merkel became the first woman ever to serve as chancellor in Germany. Merkel’s reduction of Germany’s unemployment kept her ratings to be high even after two years of her reign. Furthermore, since Merkel became chancellor, she has been chosen as the “world’s most powerful woman” by Forbes magazine two years in a row. Despite her status as an influential woman, Merkel recognizes the problem of gender inequality. She believes that equality between men and women is crucial for social development, and she has been requesting that the World Bank provide financial support for women’s education. The Chancellor clearly demonstrates a female’s capability as a good leader, and as Forbes magazine stated in a recent issue, Merkel will continue “to impress the world with her cool leadership.”Empowering women not only proves women’s ability, but is also the best way for developing countries to grow economically. Argentina, the first country to have a female president, Isabel Martinez de Peron, is a nation that strongly emphasizes feminism. While many other countries’ men and women do not receive equal job opportunities and education, Argentinean women acquire proper schooling and earn only 2% less than men. By allowing people of both genders to enjoy the same privileges, Argentina is able to produce more intelligent citizens who help the country grow and develop.When people think of a country that may replace the United States as the most powerful nation, China immediately comes to mind. China’s economic and social status was raised abruptly over the past decade, but very few people realize that the key person who made all this happen is, in fact, a woman.Wu Yi, the Vice premier of China, is an extremely influential and clever female leader. In the year 2000, Wu Yi helped China take the first step in becoming a nation with immense economic power by settling its entry into the World Trade Organization. Wu Yi also demonstrates her high emotional quotient (EQ) by developing diplomatic relationships between China and other countries. Ever since Wu Yi became the Vice premier, China has been an active participant in global trading; right now, products with “Made in China” labels have become ubiquitous. Although women in a lot of countries still do not receive the same treatment and benefits as men, the fact that people of both genders have equal potential to become important contributors to society is undeniable. Don’t give up just because you are a woman. Who knows what will happen in the future? Maybe in time, women will be the ones standing on the top of the world.

Gender Equality

It might be hard to imagine, but currently, some still consider women ignorant, worthless beings born to be at men’s disposal. Of course this impression is not true; however, countless women, with their basic rights unrecognized, have already spent their entire lives living under men’s rule. Discrimination toward females leads to poverty, abuse, and violence, but despite such serious consequences, many in the world today continue to tolerate gender inequality and regard it as a righteous practice. In order to achieve peace and social advancement, gender equality is essential. People must stand up for equal gender rights so that one day, women will be able emerge from the darkness and enjoy the freedom they dream of.