What Am I Doing Up At This Hour? and The Big, Bad MUN Guide III: "All Those in Favour of Adjourning, Please Raise Your Placards!"

Delegates!

Obviously, I'm far too excited to be sleeping right now; the day of the conference has arrived! Thrilling, isn't it? Just wait. It gets better.

Delegates, we thank you (well, at least, those of you who did) for your position paper submissions. I've read on other blogs of some other dais staff responding personally to each submission; that will not be the case in our committe (sorry, but then, I guess you would have guessed that by now), but we do appreciate your work, and, in case there was any doubt, they do all get read.

Well, what else can I counsel you on? Not much, in this, the eleventh hour. I would imagine your pens are neatly arranged by your notebooks, your neckties carefully chosen, your piles and piles of statistics all colour-coded and ready to go in your backpack (right?).

Just one thing left. Here's Part Three of the BBMUN Guide, for your last-minute reading pleasure. I've tried to round out the description of the conference, sort of picking up where I left of in Part One, filling in the missing details. My goal, in all this, has been to familiarize you (particularly those of who who need familiarizing, to sound redundant) with just what the conference entails. Enjoy! I'll see you later today.

The Big, Bad MUN Guide, Part Three (Microsoft Word File)

The Big, Bad MUN Guide II: "All Those In Favour Of Passing Draft Resolution 1.0 Will Please Raise Their Placards!"

Delegates!

I expect many of you will pass out with excitement at this announcement:

PART TWO OF THE BIG, BAD MUN GUIDE IS UP! Click the link below NOW to read it!

The Big, Bad MUN Guide, Part Two (Microsoft Word File)

This instalment is (hopefully) a little more interesting to read than the previous; at the very least, you should read it for the lame attempt at making pop culture references.

And... I guess that's it. Enjoy! Man, I am so excited to see you people on THURSDAY!

WE'RE ALMOST THERE!

Delegates!!!

I hope you noticed the additional exclamation marks after the salutation; we have reached a very exciting time! It is THE WEEK OF THE CONFERENCE! Only a few short days left until the causcusing, resolution-writing, politicking festivities begin! Celebrate!

(Or get on researching, if you haven't done that yet. But I would submit that this is rather last minute.)

Well, having reached this point, I've realized that I probably never will find the time to finish the full version of the Big Bad MUN Guide. And so, I have decided that you will get the abbreviated version, which I will be posting later tonight. And hopefully still that third part coming just before the conference.

Two things for you to visit:

First, the UNEP 2010 Foreign Policy Index site, which I've mentioned before (link to the right, under "Resources"). It was updated today with a number of articles, which covered a number of different areas of foreign policy. I've tried to make the site as useful a resource as possible for as many nation-states as possible.

Second, visit www.un.org/en/members- it will prove immensely useful. Here you can find links to the websites of all the missions to the UN of the UN Member States, often with articles outlining foreign policy. A must in preparing for debate.

Enjoy, delegates! I'll see you in a few days! I'll be the one wearing the toga!*



*That is a joke.

Happy February! Happy I-Week!

Delegates!



Do you know what this week is? It's International Week at the University of Alberta! If you have some free time, come on over to campus- there'll be a variety of free-and-open-to-the-public events every day this week, including speakers and film presentations. Don't miss this opportunity to get a glimpse of the 'big picture'! You can find a schedule by following the link below:

U of A I-Week.

NMUN background paper

NMUN is a highly respected model UN conference for university students and generally puts together a number of fabulous background papers for their delegates. This one discusses chemical management and contains a number of links to sources which might be useful when putting together your position paper on the topic of toxic and biohazardous wastes.

Background Papers!

Just a reminder that background papers are an excellent resource:

Impact of Climate Change on Marine Life

The Handling of Toxic and Biohazardous Wastes

Good luck with your research Delegates!

Site O' Resource-iness

Delegates!

(I get all tingly every time I write that.) It has been taking me longer than I'd thought to get up part 2 (of 3, or at least, that's the plan- this might end up having an Adams-ian series twist) of the Big, Bad MUN Guide, but have no fear! It's underway and should be hitting this blog... 'shortly'

So, until that gets here, here's a website I've found to tide you over. It looks like a very promising resource (for discussing the effects of climate change on marine life); I admit that I haven't reviewed everything on it yet- there are many pages and hours' worth of video clips-, but I think you'll find it useful. So click on over!

Marine Bio: Marine Conservation

On a different note, has anyone else been as put off as I have by the absence, so it seems, of recent periodical articles that help to give good 'political bearings' as far as foreign policy goes? I know I sure have. But, of course, up-to-date information relating to nation states' stance on current events on the world stage is critical to effective debate. So my suggestion to you today is to work with other delegates openly. Share what resources you've found and network efficiently (I was about to create a message board so that delegates from different schools could already be developing their 'presentations' of certain talking points, but then I realized that there was probably a Facebook group for that. There is. Go join it.). There are no winners in this game- you either have a great conference or a REALLY great conference.

All right, that's enough chatter. I'm headed back to work.

What's to be Done?

Delegates!

It's taken me a little longer than I'd thought to search out this 'scattering' of information related to climate change I present to you now. And, still, it isn't quite what I've been looking for: although (particularly in the first video below) important issues (like the "so what?" moment, and the highly-touted role of technology in finding solutions for climate change) are addressed, it's hard to find potential solutions for the environmental challenges we face that are explicit, credible, and doable. (In my travails o'er the vast expanse of the net, I have found proposed the idea that we reduce the effect of human activity on the umwelt by 'eliminating' all those 'useless surplus humans'- please, nobody suggest this at HSMUN.)


At any rate, here's what I have for you:

The UNEP's continual plea: Invest in the Green Economy.

Greenhouse Gases: What's the Problem?

Also, do you know what year it is?

I've got this melody in my head that I can't get out- got me singing like, na na na na everyday. It's like my ipod stuck on replay, replay.

Delegates!

Taking a break for a moment from the transboundary movement facet of toxic waste handling, here are a couple of videos that share a common theme: getting rid of harmful pollutants by feeding them to something else. Take a few minutes to watch them- they may raise (and I hope they do) a number of questions in your head about the viability, use, and concerns of these methods.

When Bacteria Attack.

When Good Worms Go Bad.

You might be thinking that this isn't relevant, seeing's as these videos feature reactive 'clean-up' methods, rather than proactive treatment of hazardous wastes. It's worth noting (and doing some further research) that, as I've read, these methods are being considered for application in a waste-treatment context, a little tweaking to the technical details being needed, of course.

In other news, the background papers went up a short time ago. There're links under "Resources" on the right that you can click on to get to them. In a little more than a month, the Conference will be upon us! Get excited!

(Apologies for the post title; as you might have realized by now, this post has nothing to do with that. It's just a statement of truth for the day.)

"People Sometimes Do Need to See to Learn a Story"

I found a video that ties in with that Reader's Digest article I linked to the other day; it's just one of many that you can find on the interwebs on the problem of improper e-waste disposal. Here it is for y'alls:

Guiyu's Economy

The Big Bad MUN Guide I: "Those Wishing to Be Added to the Primary Speakers' List Will Please Raise Their Placards!"

Delegates!

I hope you're enjoying your well-deserved break from studies. What a wonderful time to lean back, enjoy the season, look forward to next semester's classes (Practical Aspects of German Applied Linguistics is gonna ROCK!), and relax.

Wait... relax? How silly of me! What I meant to say was that this holiday break means time to HONE OUR MODEL UNITED NATIONS SKILLS! WOOHOO! (I can hear you all cheering along with me right now.) Let's get to work!

Well, okay: perhaps it will be permissible for you to kick back just a little these next couple of weeks, but when that unavoidable, itchy "I-need-my-dose-of-global-dynamics-and-international-politics" feeling hits you, we're here for you. As promised, this post brings to you the first installment of the "Big Bad MUN Guide". I hope you enjoy it, huddled up warm inside as I'm sure you all are right now. If anyone spots errors, omissions, or even merely has a humourous comment, by all means, e-mail me. Alright, then, without further ado:

The Big Bad MUN Guide (Microsoft Word file)

So, I guess that`s about it. Maybe just one last thing: not that the information itself is anything new to you, especially if you`ve been following this blog, but I was reading Reader`s Digest the other day, and came across and article that focused on exactly what we`ll debating this February. If for no other reason than that I was simply excited to encounter it so unexpectedly, here`s the article:

E-Waste (Reader's Digest) *

Happy New Year, All!

*The URL for that RD article seems to change; make sure the last digit is 0, not 1.

Who Wants a Climate Change Glossary?! (Answer: All of you)

Delegates!

I was just cuisine around the BBC’s website, as I’m sure many of you do religiously as well, when I found a very informative CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY. Yes, you heard correctly, someone has taken the time to compile a helpful list of all the scientific and otherwise associated terms being tossed around the UN climate summit in Copenhagen. I would highly recommend that when you find a term you don’t quite understand in your research that you check here to find it!

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8314171.stm

Although the discussions in Copenhagen may seem very far away right now, come February you will share in many of the same problems that the leaders and representatives of the world now face in their discussions.

“The first week of the United Nations climate meeting has unfolded more or less as expected: with much posturing, minor progress and punctuated moments of drama — inside and outside the meeting’s venue.”

1. Dealing diplomatically in a conference full of setbacks while trying to work within the constraints of a limited amount of time.

When you look at our conference’s length in hours compared to the Copenhagen conference’s length in days, time constraints are definitely an obstacle faced by both. Add in procedural matters (all I can say is, start practicing your placard raising delegates so your arms won’t get too tired in the conference!), positions stated and re-stated and re-re-stated, unavoidable deadlock, and all of the joy and frustration that comes with any kind of negotiation, and you’ll wonder how anyone can solve anything in so little time, particularly something as complex and important as the environmental problems we face.

“But as the enthusiasm gave way to actual deliberations, and amid a flurry of negotiating texts for a pact, alternative texts and somewhat secret alternatives to the alternatives, familiar stumbling blocks quickly emerged.”

2. A lack of options.

Sure, we all know what the problems are, and how important the effects of those problems left unsolved could be, but who actually has any idea how to solve them? Delegates, I would strongly urge you to come to the conference not only understanding the issues and your county’s position on it them, but also with some initiative. What are your country’s policies domestically? How effective are they? Can they be applied internationally? Even if you think that the answers are “not at all,” and “probably not,” you’d be surprised by how often you’re able to merge and fuse these policies as you interact with other delegates.

“Poor and vulnerable countries — represented, for the most part, by the Group of 77 (which actually counts 130 developing countries among its members) and the Alliance of Small Island States — quickly adopted a hard stance, insisting that the talks would be threatened if rich countries did not commit to steeper reductions of greenhouse gases and higher levels of financing for poor ones so that they could adapt to a changing climate and change their carbon profiles.”

3. The schism between North/South and Developed/Underdeveloped Countries

Once you finally find some shaky common ground on which to build a resolution, the question comes: who is going to pay for it? This question can be divided a million ways: who “SHOULD” pay for it (the richest countries? The highest producers of toxic and biohazardous waste? The countries with the most to lose?) and then, of course, who CAN pay for it?

These are all obstacles that you will face (and hopefully, overcome!) both in your research, and in the conference. Good luck!

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/business/energy-environment/14iht-green14.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Brr... Winter's Arrived, I See. Is Global Warming So Bad?

Delegates!

It’s been a while! We, the UNEP Dais Staff, apologize for our apparent disappearance this past number of weeks. We also bring to you an excuse: final exams. We hope you understand. (I`ve just got calculus on Monday, and then I`m DONE! WOOHOO!)

So, what’s happened since we’ve been ‘gone’? Well, “Madrid” is behind us, and that big bad “Copenhagen” is upon us! I had planned a post showing the developing nature of Canada’s role in this conference (noting a number of really good articles from the Edmonton Journal, the Gateway (the U of A`s student newspaper), and other publications), but, again, finals happened, and that fell by the wayside. So now we find ourselves here, well into December, and with the end of the year fast approaching, I note with excitement that HSMUN 2010 CAN`T BE FAR BEHIND (YAY!). (We`ll get those background papers to you soon. Promise. Just doing some final editing right now…)

In this light, my thoughts have turned a little from the environmental issues you’ll be debating to the technical nitty-gritty stuff of the conference. Now, I know that many of you are seasoned veterans of HSMUN, and have no fear at all of marching off into the battle that is caucus. Others, however, have never participated in a Model UN, and I don't think I'd be entirely wrong to say that a number of you are a little unsure of what to expect. What do you do when you first get to the conference? What kinds of thinks will you find yourself involved in doing? And, very importantly: how on earth does debate run in this crazy MUN thing? Well, empathizing with those of you who do have these questions, you'll be seeing in the next little while an EXCITING (maybe) and INFORMATIVE (hopefully) series of posts that will be designed to walk you through what you need to know to shine at February's conference, with a special focus on rules of procedure. So keep your eyes peeled for that.

While you're waiting... I'd like to direct your attention again to The HSMUN 2010 UNEP Foreign Policy Index. Still in its beginning stages, there are only a small number of articles indexed, but it is still a resource worth checking out to get clear statements of foreign policy (even for some more obscure nation-states).

If you have an article that you'd like to share, or want to draw our attention to anything that ought to be indexed, by all means, feel free to help out! Send us what you've got. In a similar vein, if there's something you'd like to get cleared up, or if you have any ideas for a 'feature' you'd like to see in this blog, we'd love to hear from you! Let us know- you can e-mail us by clicking on our names in that top right-hand corner box.

I'll leave you with just two more items:

1. Canada's role at Copenhagen. I can't help it: I know I've fallen behind and I've pretty much abandoned the idea I mentioned (above) about tracking this, but I still just want to turn your attention to two Journal articles, with kind of contrasting topics:

a) Canada Mocked and Praised At Copenhagen

b) Canada Working Constructively At Copenhagen

2. Research at the University of Alberta. So, I was searching for articles pertaining to this year's topics of debate, and found an interesting article (similar to previous ones posted, but with some new information) I wanted to share (see a) below). I got to thinking about why I'd never heard of this "School of Energy and the Environment" before, but then though, why would I have? A university setting is a goldmine of information and research, and that's about when I found the list of experts at the U of A (b) below) that's I've given the link for. Not quite sure of key issues? Having troubles with your research? Go ahead and contact these folks! That's what they're there for! And it's all so easy- you can just fire off a quick e-mail...

a) Climate Change and the Environment

b) University of Alberta Experts Listing

Radioactive Waste

You may have heard recently of the Italian mafia's newest venture of illegal toxic waste dumping in the Mediterranean.

The international community hasn't done nearly as much as it should in the way of monitoring the safe disposal of wastes, especially radioactive and nuclear materials.

Here are some links, though, which should help you figure out what has been done in this area:
- Most important, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, which has been signed (although not ratified) by most countries of the world;
- UNEP's Earthwatch, which has tons of documents about what the IAEA, UN, UNEP etc. have done and discovered about radioactive waste management;
- and the Nuclear Energy Agency's publications on everything related to nuclear waste management (it has some very helpful documents which outline the basics).

Well, hope that helps! Enjoy! =)

Eww... marine mucilage?

Check out this excellent article from The Economist on 'The Rise of Slime' which discusses the results of a warming ocean.
The scientist discussed in the report can be seen in this video, talking further about his study and the culprits causing ocean degredation.