Munity-East Features

Behind-the-Scenes: MUNITY-East Press

2008-12-05T17:19:00.000-08:00

By: Annie Park, Korea International School

A day in the life of a press member is nowhere near easy. From 8 in the morning until 4 or 5 in the afternoon, every reporter, layout person, artist and photographer is constantly on his or her feet. The tension that emerges within the pressroom every day is unbelievable – it grows and grows until the prized USB containing eight hours of intense labor by 40 people is placed in the hands of the publisher.
Having started preparation months in advance, the team produces a daily newspaper for all THIMUN-Singapore 2008 participants. “The press, in my opinion, is here to highlight the successes of the conference, to really celebrate the students’ achievements – we’re the historians of MUN,” said Mr. Longbotham, chief advisor for the group.
Although working in the press does not involve hours of lobbying, days of heated debates, placards, speeches or resolutions, the truth is, the members producing the paper are just as much a part of MUN as any of the delegates at this conference. Press advisor, Mr. Parker, expressed, “One thing that really impresses me is that the students all get along. That kind of cooperation is very much the heart of what MUN should be - delegates all over the world coming together and working toward a common cause.”
Considering all of the time, the stress, the effort and the work the students put into creating the paper, it is no surprise that something so impressive as a 16-page newspaper is produced every 24 hours.
The true importance of the press is revealed each morning, when delegates purchase a paper, and show their interest and excitement in seeing themselves and their friends featured in the articles. “In terms of our role in the MUN society, I think that the delegates can sometimes be so focused on their own committee that they don’t know what’s going on in the other committees. By reading the newspaper, they can gain knowledge on many of the other issues – [the press] serves a very valuable purpose because of this,” said Mr. Parker.
The MUNITY-East press truly is a business, and what makes successful is, as Mr. Parker said, that, “The students all get along – people are working with the editors and accepting the editors’ suggestions without any attitude problem … there’s a real sense of professionalism in the atmosphere of the pressroom – every member is very mature and responsible.”
Advisor, Ms. Craig, added, “I think the press gives something that people can take away– a keepsake, a memory that will last even after THIMUN-Singapore 2008 is over.”

The Men of Law

2008-12-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

By: Ting Chen, American School of Taichung

In a corner of the SALT Center, the International Court of Justice isolated itself from the other committees with its blocked windows and secured doors. The deputy chairs and registrar, Varun Arte, Yenson Huang, and Akihiro Matsukawa, spread out in a line on one end of the room with their President, Jessica Hung. The three silent young men helped to strengthen the structure of the court.
Varun Arte’s first experience as an advocate of the ICJ at THIMUN-Singapore in his tenth grade year kindled his enthusaism and passionate love for the committee. Through intense debates and questioning of the witnesses, Arte learns to self-actualize his potential as a successful deputy chair. “[ICJ] is a different forum [in which] we can speak without using the third person,” said Arte. “ I’m interested in law.” He found using the third person hard to trigger an active debate.
Arte’s satisfaction for the conference so far was beyond his expectations. “The advocates have prepared the witnesses really well. The witnesses are really making some good points. In our previous conferences we have witnesses that didn’t know what they are talking about.” Arte’s fellow companion, Akihiro Matsukawa, who has worked with him for numerous conferences, also added that “The judges are really active this year because [in the past] they usually fall asleep because of the boring debates.”
Matsukara began his career as an MUNer in THIMUN-Singapore a delegate in the GA. He became a judge in the ICJ for the first time when he joined BEIMUN the following March. “It’s really different from MUN, that’s why people shied away from it,” remarked the Registrar. “[But] the debate [here] is more direct. It’s less formal, so it leaves more room for actual and heated debates.”
Unlike Matsukara, who had experience in chairing, Yenson Huang from Taipei American School took on the deputy chair role for the first time in his MUN career. “ICJ so far has been quite exciting for me because its my first time being a student officer. I was quite nervous so I staggered a lot while I was chairing. It was quite scary for me,” stated Huang. He came in touch with MUN during a summer camp in Yale University. “I want to major in law,” replied Huang when asked about his devotion in the ICJ. “I don’t like to speak in front of a lot of people, so ICJ is a small conference [suitable for me].” In school, Huang demonstrated his love for singing by joining the choir. “I love singing in a group. I don’t sing solos or duets,” continued Huang as he moved on to voice his hope for this conference. “ I hope to be more firm and to speak more properly because I tend to mumble a lot.”
Arte, another enthusiast for the performing arts, tried out Theatre back in the International School of Beijing. He said with a comical tone that “Even though [he is] Indian, [he does] not like cricket.” As for his advice to the future judges, advocates, and chairs? He asked these participants to consider carefully before they step into the court. “If you really want to be a chair. You’ve really got to be interested in law, because it’s completely different. Once you got in, it’s really hard to get out. You’ve got to stick to your decision.”
Together and hand in hand, Arte, Huang, and Matsukara kept the ICJ under control and gave their full support to Hung the President.

Busted!

2008-12-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

By: Lauren Lee, Korea International School
Resolutions might take days, weeks, or even months to put together. I haven’t seen a delegate that loved the process. But it is a matter of fact that every delegate loves debating the resolution afterwards. Maybe due to such a long preparation period, some delegates have forgotten that they loved debating. Munity-East snapped photos to find out how and why some delegates were rocking THIMUN Singapore and why some were sleepwalking through the conference
We witnessed a lot of snoozing. While other delegates were presenting or debating against the submitted resolution, some delegates were nodding off, possibly dreaming about debating and portraying their ideas. Due to packed schedules -- conference, homework, flirting, shopping -- delegates could no longer stay awake to hear resolutions that they had spent hours on. Whether or not they were going to be able to present a valuable vote did not matter, sleep was sweet as candy for those delegates.
If sleeping didn’t suffice, reading and texting proved tempting substitutes. Some delegates preferred novels to resolutions. They were very concentrated -- just on the wrong material. Some delegates were so excited about telling their friends about the resolution that they actually forgot about debating and went ahead with texting.
However, more good attitudes than bad attitudes presented themselves. Most of the delegates had resolution out and ready to quickly turn to the necessary clauses. Most of the delegates also had pens or highlighters to mark important passages. Delegate of Cameroon Callum Jubb and Suzie Kim never stopped taking notes and commenting on the margins of his resolution copy. This left him well-informed and ready for speeches right away. Good attitudes also included delegates’ speaking confidently and portraying their colors and ideas. Delegate of Netherlands Rick Harting commented that he demonstrated his enthusiasm for MUN by “speaking confidently and portraying his ideas whenever he is recognized.”

THIMUN's Fashionistas

2008-11-21T23:25:00.000-08:00

BY: JACQLYN HANNA, PRESBYTERIAN LADIES COLLEGE SYDNEY

Delegates from all over the world gather together at THIMUN-Singapore, bringing with them their individual fashion styles.
Standing in the midst of the stressed and anxious young teenagers, a sense of personality and professionalism emerges through the clothing they are wearing. The female members are seen in dresses, skirts and shirts, pants and shirts, and suits, while the male participants are all in suits with a large variety of colored ties and shirts, expressing who they are.
The past two days at THIMUN-Singapore, presents us with black as the most popular color worn by both male and female candidates. The hue black demonstrates a sense of formality and seriousness, which is how these teenagers want to be perceived.
“The fashion this year has definitely improved since last year. The girls seem to be expressing who they are more here at THIMUN-Singapore than they have at previous conferences, which I think is fantastic. The boys also seem to be courageous with their brightly colored shirts and ties,” said GA 3 Delegate of Thailand Renée Klioufis.
Although the females are in suits, they have each added their own personal touch to their outfits through their accessories. The most popular accessories seem to be large designer bags and colorfully printed scarves.
GA 2 Delegate of Liechtenstein Anton Kabischa, commented on the current fashion at this year’s THIMUN-Singapore conference, saying, “People should be combining their jackets and pants, and making sure they fit. I also like pointy shoes on both males and females. The badges do not really work well with most people’s outfits, so they should be subtler. Scarves are also really fashionable on girls.”
A popular trend amongst the male delegates is the combination of plain suit pants with patterned jackets and ties. Striped shirts are also in style.
Kahyun Park, Manas Bajaj, and Jingshen Zhao, Chair and Deputy Chairs of GA 1, stated, “We like grey, stripes, and black. Everyone seems to look acceptable. Earlier today in the Student Officers meeting, we had people wearing inappropriate clothing, so the Secretary General said not to wear anything that would make people cringe, and no converse shoes!”
The majority of females at the conference seem to have opted for flat comfortable shoes, as opposed to stilettos and other shoes that are based on looks rather than comfort.
The floral patterns, stripes and spots seen in bright colors on the female participants’ skirts and scarves, compliment the males’ ties, bringing together a sense of unity between all the members from all over the world. With bright colors coming through all the outfits, Delegate of Ireland Cristie Kennedy, said, “There are fascinating trends, and the bright colors are interesting.”
Chair of GA 2 Yoon Siang, summed up the overall fashion at this year’s THIMUN-Singapore as, “Pretty decent. Both the females and males are all dressed formally and appropriately.”

Advisory Panel on the Question of Nepal

2008-11-21T23:24:00.002-08:00

by Emily Kim, Korea International School

With a room only a fourth the size of General Assembly and the small debating circle consisting of ten seats, one could easily stereotype the APQN forum as rather quiet. However, the enthusiastic, passionate delegates – or rather, “experts” – disaprove this assumption. Talkative participants like the zealous expert of the Communist Party of Nepal stimulated the debate, continuously presenting new amendments to the clauses.
As the forum itself is called the Advisory Panel on the Question of Nepal, APQN focuses on the issue of developing and stabilizing the small Himalayan nation. Conflict in Nepal started as Maoist rebels sought for a people’s republic in a country that had been a monarchy for over 200 years. The experts in APQN have had a hard time coming up with the perfect resolution. On top of the economic issues, there is the difficulty of reaching all the Nepali citizens living in rural, mountainous areas. Debaters are to recognize the different roots of the problem and come up with both political and humanitarian solutions.
Because the group is so small, the debaters got to know each other very quickly. By break time, everyone was busy socializing with one another, although most of the conversation revolved around MUN-related subjects. This intimacy among the participants helps create a more relaxed environment, which probably explains why the APQN room is not as tense as some of the bigger forums that have delegates eager to attack one another.
Another advantage of having a small group is that because everyone can be heard in the little discussion circle, there is no need for microphones, and thus, podiums. point of informations are simply asked in each expert’s seat, and for speeches and amendments, all they need to do is stand up and present.

ICJ –Intense, Concentrated, and Jumping with Joy

2008-11-21T23:24:00.001-08:00

By EUNJI RHEE, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BEIJING

“Today [the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is] here to debate the delimitation of the maritime borders of Peru and Chile. We’ll be referring to international laws and listening to the cases that both countries bring to the court,” explained Judge Aisha Fakhroo from American School of Doha. Fakhroo added, “This case dates back to a long time ago, so we also have to consider previous cases.”
A long time is right. The dispute over the borderlines of Peru and Chile surfaced in 1879 when Peru and Bolivia engaged in a four year war against Chile over this matter. While Peru claimed that the marital border was undefined, Chile claimed that it was, in the Santiago Treaty of 1952. The controversy has grown more intense and finally in 2008, Peru decided to bring the case to The Hague. At THIMUN Singapore 2008, The ICJ committee will discuss this case for two days.
“On the first day of trial, we had an opening statement, followed by an introduction of evidence from the advocates of Peru and Chile. We evaluated the evidence by the significance it held, and then Chile called for three witnesses,” said President Jessica Hung from Overseas Family School. The ambassadors of Ecuador, the United States, and Chile stood as witnesses in favor of Chile. On the second day, the trial began with the ambassador of Peru, a witness that the advocates of Peru called for. The intense and incessant questioning from both Peru and Chile surrounding this witness exemplified the gravity of this hot debate.
The advocates of the two countries showed determination to win. “We think we are better prepared, with a multi-faceted case to back us up. We also have many more pieces of evidence,” remarked advocates of Chile, Chong Kee En and Toh Jia Jun from Hwa Chong Institution. Advocates of Peru, Jesse Chang and Hunter Putzke from the American School in Taichung, disagreed: “We believe that our case will succeed because the Santiago Treaty states that the border would be defined from the parallel to the land border in the presence of islands, which, there are none.” Although engaged in such an intense debate, the advocates are happy to be here. Chang added, “This is my first time in ICJ, and I’m glad to have this wonderful opportunity.”
Overall, events in ICJ seem promising. As Registrar Varun Arte from the International School of Beijing commented, “The forum is enriching, advocates are focused, witnesses are well prepped, and the judges are keen.”

Showing Potential of the Youths

2008-11-21T23:23:00.001-08:00

BY: HEE SANG PARK, BEIJING WORLD YOUTH ACADEMY

Although their forum follows a very different procedure, representatives of theYouth Assembly have the same concerns and attitudes toward global issues as delegates of other forums. What sets the Youth Assembly members apart is their enthusiasm. Chair of the 1st forum of the Youth Assembly, Charles Tsai from the International School of Beijing, described the forum, as an experience which “ brings youth to solve global issues.”
The Youth Assembly works on an action paper, which is quite different from a resolution. Tsai explained it as “People who are in the same level as us establishing solutions,” and repeated the significant role in society by citing it as an example of the change a real-world organization made a few years ago just because of one action paper submitted in the Youth Assembly. He looked forward to his fellow co-workers finishing their work on time with fresh suggestions to embellish action papers and attempt to have a great impact on the plenary session this Saturday.
The Action Paper was the one task that they pursued with limited variety of readers, but people in each forum of the Youth Assembly also worked on group projects to appeal to a wider range of the population. The project aimed to relate to as many parts of the world as possible by actively using media that allows a great amount of people to access it. This year, forums of the Youth Assembly worked on assignments such as making web pages and videos.
Enthusiasm of the Youth Assembly is apparent not only when considering the projects that they have been working on, but also from interviewing delegates. Kevin Wu from Shanghai American School aims to “find out ways to increase global citizens and encourage youth to do more work for a world.” He thinks “children these days are too obsessed with their own world,” and explained that the Action Paper of Forum 1 will concern itself with how to urge youth to become more globalized citizens. Ji Hye (Amy) Park in forum 2 who is from Qingdao MTI International School also found the action paper to be very significant regarding the issue of “being aware of severity of gas emission and child labour” because she realizes that she is taking actions to support the solving of problems by making videos about them. Lastly in forum 3, when asked about his topic in Youth Assembly, Gabriel Macbeth, International School of Beijing said, “I think the problems are worth while topics that substantially affect both the world and personal lives.”

Human Rights

2008-11-21T23:22:00.001-08:00

BY: YURA JUNG, KOREA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

As the delegate of Italy, (Krithka Chandra Mouli, Ruamrudee International School), begins to read her operative clauses, the first debate of the Human Rights Council started successfully. “This resolution is precise and effective. It also tackles the issue point by point. Moreover, it’s flexible without loopholes. Therefore, it is utmost important for the resolution to pass for the protection of indigenous people, ” said the delegate confidently.
The first resolution on Wednesday dealt with the Implementation of the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Starting with a quiet debate, the Human Rights Council progressed to an ardent discussion with strong feelings on both sides of the issue. Arguing against the resolution, the delegate of Bangladesh, (Dennis Kim, Yongsan International School of Seoul), spoke passionately about his stance on this issue and by the time he walked back to his seat, the room was filled with points of both agreement and disagreement. At the encouragement of the chairs, even the most timid delegates overcame their nervousness and spoke out their country’s opinion pertaining the resolution. Yet, as the number of delegates making speeches or points of information dwindled, the chairs once again rectified the quiet atmosphere by calling a caucus time, where the delegates were given three minutes to discuss the resolution with other delegates.
The room was filled with varying opinions about the resolution. Those who claimed that the resolution failed to recognize a effective solution reasoned their opinions by agreeing with the speech made by the Federation of Russia, (Sarah Han, Mont’ Kiara International School), who stated that the resolution only had “recommendations, but no valid solutions to carry out.” However, there were delegates who full heartily supported the resolution such as the delegate of Canada (Jason Lee, International School of Beijing), who claimed that the resolution “brings hope to the world.” Others, who were mute about their precise opinions about the resolution made amendments to enhance the resolution- out of the three amendments made by the delegates, two amendments passed.
Yet, when the delegate of Bangladesh gave a humorous speech against the resolution, many delegates in the room seemed convinced by his simple rhetoric query, “How many of the countries do you think will follow this resolution?” The question reminded the delegates to consider the countries they are representing rather than their personal opinions.
After numerous convincing speeches by both sides about the resolution, many delegates were left capricious, not knowing which side better pertained better to their representing countries. Nonetheless, after 90 long minutes of for and against speeches, points of information, and amendments, the committee moved to the voting procedures. With 31 votes against, 5 votes for, and 18 votes abstaining, the resolution failed. Despite the well-written solutions scrutinized in the two-page resolution, it was not appropriate for many of the countries in the forum. Although a resolution was not passed about the issue of the Implementation of the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples, many delegates became more aware of the abundant solutions to the issue.

ECOSOC

2008-11-21T23:21:00.001-08:00

ECOSOC started its day with an intense debate on 2010 World population and the Housing Census Program. Every delegate seemed to be fully prepared and eager to stand out. The delegates of USA and Poland were the two main submitters of the first resolution debated. However, the first resolution seemed to show that United States was no longer a superpower— at least not in the U.N.
The delegate of USA started the debate with a convincing speech. However, when the chair asked for points of information, an ocean of arms shot up. The delegate of USA answered with some difficulty, citing information regarding monetary restrictions, responsibilities issues, and moral issues.
The delegate of New Zealand questioned the US delegate as to why the Security Council was responsible for holding and taking down records of financial transactions used for aid, and sending all records, claiming that the Security Council was not related to population issues. The US delegate replied by stating that the clause included relating organizations as well.
Even after the supporting speech by the delegate of Poland, points of information and amendment proposals continued. Another major issue that many nations objected to was the two clauses in the resolution concerned with the abandonment of children and rewarding people for finding kidnapped children.
The delegate of Barbados objected to the resolution, arguing that it promoted and allowed the abandonment of children due to the clause which stated that the parents had to pay a fine each time they abandoned their children. Delegates of other nations supported the objection by stating that the clause not only did not help solve the problem, but also made abandonment legal for the wealthy. The delegate of the Netherlands conceded and proposed striking out the whole clause regarding abandonment. The delegate of the United States of America tried to explain the motive of such a clause, but when the delegate of Belarus asked the US delegate if such clause promoted the code of “love and justice” the U.N. endorses, the delegate of United States of America had to step down.
The delegate of Somalia pointed out that some clauses promoted kidnapping by providing rewards if the lost child was found. Another amendment was proposed to erase such sub clauses. But even with the multiple amendments, the majority raised their hands against the resolution. Although the resolution appeared well-founded, most delegates agreed that small details had to be considered to reach a larger goal.

General Assembly 5

2008-11-21T23:20:00.001-08:00

BY: BROOKE BULLOCK, AMERICAN SCHOOL OF DOHA

General Assembly 5 seemed fairly together on the situation concerning the Oil for Food program and methods to prevent corruption in UN organizations. A majority of the group signed on with the Delegate of Canada, Jessica Kung, as main submitter. Their goals, Kung said, are to “increase transparency, establish accountability, improve auditing processes, and create a program to report corruption.” This issue was sparked by a problem in Saddam Hussein’s regime. “[Hussein] stole 4.6 billion dollars that were supposed to go to civilian purposes,” said the Delegate of India, Adnan Gilitwala. Both delegates were eager for a solution.
The Delegate of India, Dion Loke, and the Delegate of Greece, Minji Jang of General Assembly 6 discussed their resolution with astounding zeal. They worked together on a resolution about compensation for civilian victims and their surviving heirs. “It’s the best resolution ever,” Loke boasted. With their main submitter and thirty cosigners, the Delegate of India and Greece formed a resolution covering deals with organizations and types of compensation to be given to victims. According to the Delegate of Greece they plan to “have headquarters at UNCC” which will urge “international NGO and small regional organizations cooperation.” Other resolutions were in process as students merged and signed on.

General Assembly 4

2008-11-21T23:16:00.000-08:00

BY: Akilan Shanmugaratnam, Hwa Chong Institution
Commencing the debate on the first resolution addressing the stability of Iraq, the Security Council witnessed heated discourse between delegates of the fifteen member nations represented in the Council. The major bone of contention proved to be the issue of ethnicity, and by extension, the division of the three main ethnic groups residing on Iraqi soil – the Sunni Muslims, the Shi’a Muslims, and the non-Arab Kurds. There exists a distinct religious, linguistic and cultural dichotomy between these separate groups, and conflict has recurrently arisen, prompting the delegate of Italy to compare them to “rabid dogs” to be “put in cages”.
The resolution sought to mitigate this problem by proposing the partition of Iraq into three autonomous regions, presided over by a central government that should serve as a single, impartial entity with control over common resources.
The delegate of Russia astutely raised concerns that such delineations might merely aggravate existing fault lines. The delegate cited the historical cases of East and West Germany, and North and South Vietnam, underscoring the implausibility of peaceful coexistence.
The delegate of France did not hesitate to clarify that a temporary separation would, conversely, foster open-mindedness, thereby encouraging receptivity and acceptance between the various ethnicities.
Amidst this discussion, concerns were eventually raised over a conspicuous oversight that could not go unexposed – the protection of the rights of minority groups. This omission was hastily rectified by the delegate of Costa Rica, in the form of an amendment proposing the provision of military and police protection of minority ethnicities.
The delegate of China advocated a more pragmatic outlook, purporting that police would not willingly protect Iraqis of other minority ethnicities, though the delegate of USA allayed these concerns by declaring that his nation would devote troops to this cause.
This scintillating ideological tug-of-war moved the delegate of Indonesia, Siddarth Raghavan, to announce, “The standard [of debate] is very high, I feel like a dumb---, and you can quote me saying that.” Ronnie Yang, delegate of the UK, echoed the sentiment in milder terms, saying, “All in all, SC is doing good.” The first day of debate in the Security Council was certainly anything but MUNdane!

General Assembly 3

2008-11-21T23:15:00.000-08:00

by Rukmini Mahurkar, American School of Bombay

Climate change, the conference theme, tied in perfectly with one of the 3rd General Assembly’s most prevalent topics, sustainable development. Delegates representing various countries agreed on one thing: Individual nations can progress economically while still collectively maintaining the environment.
Delegate of the Seychelles Julia Hendra started on a grave note, saying that “For most countries, the consequences of global warming are warmer weather and higher gas prices. For low-lying countries, the danger is floods right in our living rooms.” Delegate of Moldova Zoey Zhu urged, “We can change… if we do it now.” The soft-spoken delegate of Russia agreed, hoping that “we can live with more peace, more humanity, and more tolerance.”
Delegate of Iran Isabel Tanenbaum stated that their “nuclear programs are not meant to harm anyone,” and that “nuclear energy is simply an alternative power source” in the face of the crisis the world must confront. Delegate of Sweden Ho Lit Xian promised an “oil-free Sweden in 2020,” to which the delegate of Singapore added that his country’s new environmental plan had just been launched.
Delegate of Thailand Renee Kloufis ended with strength and optimism, saying that although the future seems daunting, “We can succeed.”

General Assembly 2

2008-11-21T20:02:00.000-08:00

by Nayantara Dayal, American School of Bombaby

The 2nd Committee of the General Assembly (Economic and Legal) was off to a great start and teeming with positive energy in its lobbying session. The topic of focus under discussion by these eager delegates was the exploitation of African countries by industrialized and industrializing countries. One of the Deputy Chairs Choo Jun from the Hwa Chong Institution, estimated around five successful resolutions brought in by this topic.
An anonymous delegate shared a secret about one of these resolutions, saying, “I don’t want my resolution to pass and go onto plenary… I want it to be debated and criticized because that’s what makes it fun.” The delegate of Greenpeace Sang Min Oh from the Daewon Foreign Language High School, said, “The lobbying process really gives people the time to discuss their topics. We had a hard time choosing clauses because there were so many resolutions, so we broke off into little groups in order to produce good clauses.”
The delegate of Jordan described the issue on the implementation of trade policies as “hard work, although the lobbying process has been going well.” As the other Deputy Chair Aahan Bhojani puts it, the General Assembly 2 is “a committee full of young minds and hearts that will definitely arrive at fruitful solutions.”

General Assembly 1

2008-11-21T19:05:00.000-08:00

BY: HANNAH REES, PRESBYTERIAN LADIES COLLEGE SYDNEY

During THIMUN Singapore, General Assembly 1 commenced discussing Disarmament and International Security yesterday afternoon. The chair and deputy chairs were Kahyun Park, Jingshen Zhao and Manas Bajaj, respectively. The floor was open for debate regarding the two resolutions that were lobbied and voted for yesterday regarding the fostering of Democratic progress in Myanmar. India and Canada’s resolutions – two “contradictories and direct opposites” as the delegate for Madagascar Ng Shu Hui and the delegate for Mauritius Jasmine Koh put it – are the two resolutions battled for support.
India’s resolution aimed to lift embargos and sanctions in Myanmar in order to improve trade to generate revenue, income and better infrastructure. Their response has been referred to as the “soft” response that pleases people and government, but may not necessarily encourage democratic progress.
Canada’s resolution planned to impose embargos and sanctions in a hardline approach to the issue that would pressure the government into democratic progress. It focused more closely on education and human rights than India’s resolution and is far more than “India’s plan to elevate their own power,” said delegate for Mauritius Jasmine Koh.
The question on everyone’s mind before the session commenced was the outcome of the debate. It seemed that India was the most popular candidate for the final resolution with Myanmar itself voting for the aforementioned resolution. Delegate of India Christopher Hoskings, speaking for their resolution, said “It doesn’t deal with human rights and issues because any [resolutions] that do, Myanmar will say no to.”

Advisory Panel President: Rachel Hemperly

2008-11-21T18:33:00.000-08:00

“I love the Advisory Panel, and the potential of what it is able to achieve, even in a mock setting like MUN,” says Rachel Hemperly, this year’s Advisory Panel President for THIMUN-Singapore. One of the reasons Hemperly joined MUN was because she is ardent about politics, international relations, and the globalization theory. Therefore, MUN creates opportunities for her to learn more about her personal interests.
She has been in MUN for the past four years and has participated in everything from note passing to logistics, delegating to chairing. Her experiences include: BEIMUN, THIMUN 2008 and MYMUN 2006, 2007 and 2008. Sadly, she will be soon participating in her last high school conference in MYMUN 2009.
In THIMUN this year, Rachel will be chairing the sub-committees, Humanitarian and Political, and will also deal with the question on Nepal. As President, her goal is to encourage a flowing discussion and a debate involving many delegates.

ICJ President: Jessica Hung

2008-11-21T18:30:00.000-08:00

She’s turning heads and creating quite a buzz as the President of ICJ. Jessica Hung is up and coming in the world of THIMUN Singapore, and we’ve got the scoop on this rising star. Previously seen at THIMUN Singapore (2006 and 2007) and Beijing MUN (2007 and 2008), Jessica has been a prominent face in the MUN world for several years. She originally joined MUN because there was no debate team at her school, the Overseas Family School of Singapore, but she was instantly hooked by this compelling world. Jessica strives to increase her knowledge of world issues while improving her speaking skills. She also leads the way in exemplifying what she considers the most important quality for an MUN officer: discipline. Motivated and committed to school and extracurricular activities, Jessica uses discipline throughout her life to keep on the all-star track to success. Jessica has words of advice for newbies though: “Be willing to adapt to different procedures… Make the conference run more smoothly.”

Hotels – (Kind Of) Wonderful

2008-11-21T17:53:00.000-08:00

BY: HANNAH REES, PRESBYTERIAN LADIES COLLEGE SYDNEY

With around 1000 students from around the world attending THIMUN Singapore, our homes away from home are dotted across the country and include hotels the likes of the Hilton and the Regis. But what makes a good hotel?
The International School of Bombay are occupying rooms at the Albert Court Hotel. Students have commented that overall their experience so far in the hotel has been positive; the rooms are cosy, comfortable, and clean. Nayantara Dayal commented that the hotel “is conveniently located near Orchard Road and close to Hwa Chong Institution.”
Ravenswood School for Girls are currently residing in the York Hotel. The school’s choice of accommodation was influenced by the fact that they had stayed at the hotel before; it was a “familiar and safe option” as Ms. Charlesworth of Ravenswood commented, rather than the risk of a new and disappointing hotel.
Despite the positive experiences, some students have not been so fortunate in their accommodation. The Korean International School have been placed at the Bencoolen Hotel 81. Even though they have only had a short stay of two days, they are already relocating to the Link Hotel. Although this is not the likes of the Hilton or Regis, it is an improvement. The rooms at the Bencoolen were rundown and due for upgrades and renovations, whilst the food was of poor quality and anonymously described as “tasting similar to plastic”. Sex workers whose clients were staying in same location also visited the hotel.
But the question is: What determines a school’s choice of hotel?
The majority of schools at the Conference were placed in hotels recommended by Tour East. Their recommendation follows several criteria that ensure the client has a comfortable and enjoyable stay. A representative for Tour East, Janet, listed three main areas they evaluate in selection of hotels. The first criterion was price as “Most students come with a tight budget” and require a hotel that fits to their financial situation. Secondly they consider the location of the hotel, something that many Delegates and Press members commented positively on. Bencoolen Hotel, Albert Court Hotel, and York Hotel are all within prime locations and surrounded by appealing tourist attractions. They are in walking distance of Orchard Road, various shopping complexes, Raffles City, Raffles Hotel and Suntec.
The last criterion was looking for a hotel with a good track record. However, each individual’s experience and opinion is as Janet said, “subjective” which makes selecting a hotel on this basis difficult. Where one school may have no problem with the quality of a hotel, another school might.
With that in mind, if disappointing hotels are anything to go by, you will be guaranteed a comfortable stay if you stay somewhere familiar or somewhere you’ve been before.

First Threshold to Prolonged Moment

2008-11-21T17:52:00.000-08:00

By: Heesang Park, BEIJING WORLD YOUTH ACADEMY

In the blazing weather of Hwa Chong Institution, with the cooperation of MUN directors and registration officers, the registration of delegates has been successfully completed. Staffs checked the students in from 9:00 to 17:00 on Tuesday, and continued from 9:00 to 11:00 on Wednesday. MUN directors from different schools came along with their delegates, and were friendly greeted by the officers.
One of the conference manager assistants, Pamela Usai, who graduated from Overseas Family School, shared her experience of two days as a registration officer: She witnessed “the registration flowing straight forward, MUN directors and delegates being very kind and cooperative.”.At times officers experienced minor troubles such as misspelling the delegates’ names, but overall, everyone was supportive and forwent arguing.
When asked which school had the biggest student body, Pamela named four institutions that have around 50 to 60 students: Overseas Family School, International School of Beijing, American School of Doha, and Qingdao MTI International School. Administrators expect these schools to have a powerful impact on the debate as a whole.
There are 73 establishments registered world wide with 133 delegations in total; the location of schools ranges from Asia and the Middle East to Europe. Many directors and students travelled from hot weather to the campus, some amazed by the immense size of Hwa Chong Institution, some astonished by the diversity of students in THIMUN-Singapore, and some waiting to enter the prolonged lobbying time with resolutions in hand.
Although registration is a trivial moment compared to the actual debate, it is significant as a threshold to the delegates’ most awaited moment after months of preparation.. It should be appreciated that although MUN conferences consist mainly of chairs and delegates, there are also secretariats, MUN directors, and most importantly, conference managers who put in endless effort to support the delegates.

Singapore: A Tourist’s Guide

2008-11-21T17:51:00.000-08:00

By SEJIN PAIK, KOREA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL & RUKMINI MAHORKAR, AMERICAN SCHOOL OF BOMBAY

You’ve done your MUN prep, you’ve booked your tickets, you’ve done your packing, you’ve picked out your cutest outfits, you’ve checked out your hotel room—but wait! There’s something you’ve forgotten: venturing into Singapore.
There is so much to see in this seemingly tiny country, contradictions and resolutions, the huge assortment of cultures blending together while each one still stands out, unique: the hard lines of the shopping centers and the fluid movements of the surrounding greenery; and the scents of laksa (a typically Singaporean noodle dish) and McDonald’s mingling in the air. There’s the shopping (does the name Orchard Road ring any bells?), the world’s largest Ferris wheel (the Singapore Flyer), the restaurants, the temples, and the museums. If you haven’t already taken a tour, listen to what other people have had to say about their experiences in Singapore.
Two delegates of Malaysia, Sina Haase and Kathrin Eichinger, from Switzerland, talked about their time swimming with dolphins on Sentosa: “It was amazing,” said Haase, especially in light of the contrast between Switzerland and Singapore. Just being able to swim at this time of year was a luxury for them.
Another interesting attraction is the Night Safari, a tour of the rainforest in which ICJ advocate Supriya Balachander, from India, saw several varieties of exotic animals: lions, tigers, tapirs, flamingoes, porcupines, anteaters, and more. She commented that as she entered, she asked herself “why I felt as if I had just entered Disneyland.” The answer may lie in the amount of gift shops in the area!
Press delegate Hannah Rees, from the Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Australia, added that it was “fantastic,” to hear the lions roar—although her fellow delegate Ice Nakwichian commented that it “sounded like they were choking.” Rees loved how natural it was: “…it was open, with no fences—the animals weren’t caged off like they are in Australian zoos.” Nakwichian’s favorite part was the sleep she caught up on—she “kind of dozed off” at some point.
Delegate of Myanmar Isabel Tannenbaum had a different perspective. As a local (she attends the Singapore United World College), she was able to recommend the best places for newcomers to visit: Holland Village, for the varied international and local food; Vivo City, for its excellent shopping and direct train to Sentosa Island; and, of course, Sentosa Island itself.
In all of this excitement over the shopping and leisure activities available in Singapore, don’t think that the multicultural aspects of Singapore have gone unappreciated. Delegate of Portugal Lauren Kang from South Korea developed a different viewpoint of the country while on a trip to Little India. In Kang’s words, “seeing [the Hindu temples] and the religious motivation of the people was an experience that can never be repeated.”
Her words can be applied to all of us visiting Singapore for the first time. See everything you can, as soon as you can—it may be an experience you will never relive, so take advantage of this opportunity!

Getting to the plane...

2008-11-21T17:50:00.001-08:00

by NATALIE BOYLE, TEDA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

For the most part, the only dreaded part of international trips is the flight, compounded with the chaos of the airports. Some people have gone so far as to suggest that a better way to fly would be to simply sedate travelers after they check their bags, so as to lessen the pain and frustration one often experiences with both the airport and the actual flight. Sadly, that day has yet to come, and so we still have to manage that agony.
The actual traveling undertaken by all MUN conference delegates is plagued by horror stories; four hour layovers and delays with nothing to eat or do are the bane of most delegates, and that’s just the airport. To top off the frustration of confusing and often dirty airports comes the ordeal of dealing with disgusting seat mates very close to you, unpalatable food and ten sleepless hours breathing recycled air. It’s amazing how much easier traveling seems to be when the airport isn’t, at least, a hell hole. In general however, flights never go as planned and patience is tested and then you get to Singapore.
Coming from the tiny Tianjin and Xiamen airports as Teda International School did, Changi Airport was a haven. “There’s food! And internet! And it’s clean!” said one very happy delegate, Amy Williamson. These stories of initial awe are perfectly understandable. Changi is huge, boasting three movie theaters, a pool, ‘napping areas’ and little foot baths next to the very fast travelators. Not to mention the fact that Changi is a shopper’s paradise; with over three hundred stores, it’s as big as most malls.
Unfortunately, at this point when delegates have only arrived, these facilities have been largely ignored and have been treated apathetically by delegates in their haste to get out and actually enjoy Singapore. When asked how the airports were in terms of cleanliness and facilities over the course of their journey, many responded with “umm . . . I dunno . . . Ok, I guess?” Most simply didn’t remember. As the conference gets into gear, delegates have other, more important matters on their minds, like how they’re going to rule the world one day.
For the most part, delegates are oblivious to the airports they pass through until they encounter a problem. Then they’ll simply debate with the poor lady behind the counter until they get what they want, and so their skills find a practical use, and travel becomes quite a bit easier.

...and what happened inside

2008-11-21T17:47:00.000-08:00

by EUN JI RHEE, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BEIJING

Resolutions being read. Formal attire being selected. Fellow passengers wondering why a large group of teenagers have dominated the plane. Yes, you are on the flight to THIMUN-Singapore.
Over a thousand participants from all around the world gathered for The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) Singapore, 2008. The location of departure, hours of flight, and name of airline may have varied, but the delegates shared a similar experience.
Delegates tended to break the ice in the plane by starting up conversations. With a lot of time on hand, topics for conversation were drawn from eclectic sources. “We talked about a lot of stuff, from Obama to Chinese homework,” stated Laura Du from International School of Beijing. Peter Huang from the same school agreed: “I actually spent a lot of time talking about foreign soap operas.” Proximity to friends can brighten up the journey. “I enjoyed the flight because all my friends were with me,” commented Hanna Tu from Shanghai Rego International School.
Hibernation was also a hot activity. The sedentary— and in some cases, comfortable— trip immediately proved to be an optimum environment for catching up on what many of the participants are deprived of— sleep. A lot of students who came from far distant locations stated that they enjoyed the reenergizing slumber. Mayada Alhasham from Dharan School remarked, “I had an eight hour flight from Saudi Arabia, and I enjoyed it [because] I could sleep for a long time.”
Some of the flights were shakier than others, Delegate So Hyun Eum from Daewon Foreign Language High School (DFLHS) reported an unstable trip: “I [suffer from] air sickness, and the plane was really shaky, so I had a hard time during the trip. I even had to skip lunch.” This turned out to be an unfortunate event for Eum, as Hilary Ahn, also from DFLHS, commented that “[Lunch] was good.”
There was a dramatic episode regarding possessions. Hyun Kyu Kim from Korean Minjok Leadership Academy lost, and then found, his wristwatch. “Near the end of the flight, I heard an announcement that said they found a brown wristwatch. I thought, ‘What kind of stupid person would lose his or her wristwatch?’… until I found out that person was me.”

Human Rights President Guan Zhen Tan

2008-11-21T17:34:00.000-08:00

There is one part of MUN that connects most to "humans." It is an entity that reaches out to every single individual in the world: Human Rights. Without the protection of human rights, chaos would spread all over the world! So, let's hear it for Human Rights President, Guan Zhen Tan!
He attends school in Mont' Kiara International School in KL, Malaysia, and he's been participating in MUN since 8th grade. It seems that, ever since he laid eyes on MUN, he has completely fallen for it. He proclaims that MUN is the one “free time” that keeps him distracted from school.
His future plans are not clearly mapped out, but he certainly wants to excel in academics and be recognized for his resilience. His goal is to become a businessman. But don’t worry, he will use the money to save and support those that are the poorest around the world.

Security Council President Sharifah Amirah Al Idrus

2008-11-21T17:32:00.000-08:00

“France. France? FRANCE!!!” Startled, first-time-delegate Sharifah Amirah Al Idrus puts her doodling away and yells “present” to the president. Little did this delegate know that soon she would become a president herself.
Starting from her initial MUN experience in 2004, this year’s Security Council President has a long history: she has been involved as a delegate in several conferences in Kuala Lumpar, her hometown, as well as several MYMUN’s, two THIMUN’s, and a KLASS Mini-MUN at school, which helped her realize her passion for Model United Nations. Al Idrus’ first chairing experience was at KLASS Mini-MUN 2007, which she continued to co-organize and chair after the school’s directors left. Outside of school, Al Idrus chaired at MYMUN and SGMUN, and more recently, she has been appointed as the president of the SC at THIMUN Singapore, and President of Disarmament at THIMUN. The motivation behind all these dazzling records? Al Idrus answers, “Interest keeps you motivated. MUN is one of those things you can learn to be good at. [Above] all, try to have the most fun possible!”
An avid reader, a gifted artist, and a brown belt in Taekwondo, this bubbly president has numerous talents even outside of the conference room. Her advice to this year’s newbies? “Remember that it's not just what you say but how you say it. And don't be afraid of making mistakes. Making mistakes is how you get better.”

GA President Samantha Sawan

2008-11-21T17:31:00.000-08:00

Currently a 12th grade student at the American School of Doha, Qatar, Samantha Sawan has been associated with the MUN for four years. “I enjoy learning and researching about today’s most pressing issues and devising new and creative ways of settling these disputes,” she said.
Sawan hates spiders but loves sailing. She spent three weeks on a hundred and twelve foot vessel while learning how to sail. She is working towards getting her Captain’s license and wishes to sail around the world once she gets it.
A lover of all types of physical activities, such as softball, sailing and scuba diving, Sawan was never sure as to what she wanted to be. The only thing she was sure of was the fact that, as her hobbies suggest, she wanted to be active and never get caught behind a desk.
In this year’s THIMUN-Singapore Conference, Sawan will participate as the President of the General Assembly. “My hope for this Conference is that well-researched students from all around the world will be able to unite for a week of meaningful debates.”

Deputy Secretary General Hyun Kyu Kim

2008-11-21T17:29:00.000-08:00

Strolling down the school hallway with his earphones plugged in, listening to Jason Mraz’s new album, carrying a couple of books and sharing a few quick chats with a friend before the bell rings, Hyun Kyu Kim, a junior at Korean Minjok Leadership Academy, might seem like just another ordinary kid. But what his physical normality may not reveal is that he is actually an MUN superstar. Having attended nearly fifteen conferences and chaired seven of them, Kim is no novice in the MUN society. He joined Model United Nations initially because of his strong fascination with global politics and international relations, but later realized that there was much more offered than just that. He considers the experience two times rewarding, because not only has he made close friends and great memories throughout the conferences, but he has done all of that while coming up with ideas to make the world a better place. To Kim, MUN is a “microcosm of the real world” that has helped him to become a stronger person both socially and mentally – it’s one of his passions in life, something he would never give up. As one of the secretary-generals for this year’s THIMUN-Singapore, Kim hopes to see that same kind of enthusiasm in all of the delegates throughout the three-day conference.

Deputy Secretary General Mareike Herzog

2008-11-21T17:28:00.000-08:00

She rocked the THIMUN Hague 2008 conference and is now bringing back her superpowers to THIMUN-Singapore 2008. Her optimistic attitude brightens up the entire conference room, and her leadership skills allow people to look up to her at all times. Mareike Herzog, 17, proves her powers by already having experienced four conferences in executive positions. As a Deputy Secretary General for the upcoming THIMUN conference, she is prepared for new experiences, challenges, and opportunities in getting to meet new people.
Some may question how much MUN really impacts the real world, but Mareike has no doubt that it helps bring about great changes. She believes that MUN changes the world little by little, starting with the way many delegates and other participants perceive society. She hopes that in the midst of constructing debates, exploring global cultures and voicing strong opinions, the delegates may not only map out the blueprint of our future, but also plan the responsibility to realize it. Mareike finds herself attracted to MUN because she loves that conferences bring a number of dedicated people together, all working towards a better goal.
Ambitious, qualified and experienced, Mareike is ready to rock and roll for the first time at THIMUN-Singapore. She says, "Cheers! I'll probably talk your ear off, so feel free to hide!"

ECOSOC President Ho Woong Chun

2008-11-21T17:27:00.002-08:00

Many people say attending an MUN conference is too much work, yet for this year’s THIMUN ECOSOC President, it is viewed as pure joy. Interested in learning about the world issues, Ho Woong Chun started his MUN career as an 8th grader. “I joined it with no hesitance,” he says. Although MUN is burdensome, Ho Woong likes utilizing his spare time to broaden his views about the world affairs through Model United Nations.
MUN, an activity not well known in Vietnam, encourages Ho Woong to go beyond his title as an MUN participant. Enduring the difficulties in creating a school paper, he successfully established The High School Herald Press Team. Yet, his attainments did not end with the creation of a successful student publication. Through this newly created extracurricular activity, this devoted MUN member discovered the necessity of conveying his ardor for the club and its objectives. Consequently, he became a founding member of the Mekong River International School Association MUN.
Ho Woong is more than ready for THIMUN Singapore 2008. To all ECOSOC members, your President’s main focus is impartiality. Speak up, and he will take the time to listen!

Secretary General Haebin Kim

2008-11-21T17:27:00.001-08:00

Having acted as an ICJ advocate, President of Advisory Panel in THIMUN-Singapore, Deputy President, and President of ECOSOC at BEIMUN, Haebin has enjoyed many aspects of MUN, including the hard work that is required to be successful. Hence, MUN has played a great role in her life.
Her interest in MUN grew as she discovered a passion for making speeches and going overseas. Yet, it was learning about the real world that truly motivated her to become a member of MUN. Since then, she has learned that MUN is the “safest microcosm,” since it provides space that allows people to develop their skills in collaborating and making speeches.
Haebin faced her biggest challenges when leading forums because each was different from the others. Nonetheless, she successfully finished the conferences by collaborating with other team members and getting fully prepared. Serving as the Secretary General this year, she hopes to facilitate another successful event.

Going Green: A Misnomer?

2007-11-23T21:14:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-23T21:08:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-23T21:06:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-23T19:40:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-22T19:05:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-22T19:02:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-22T18:56:00.002-08:00

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

2007-11-22T18:56:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-22T18:55:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-22T17:54:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-21T20:20:00.001-08:00

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:

2007-11-21T20:19:00.002-08:00

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

2007-11-21T20:19:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-21T19:08:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-20T19:25:00.001-08:00

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!

2007-11-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-20T19:17:00.000-08:00

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.