Nassau, Bahamas-
The 14th Annual Model United Nations Session Debate
,
organized jointly by the Rotary clubs of The Bahamas and the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs will
take place between 9am and 7pm on
Monday, 4th
April, 2011 at the
Wyndham Nassau Resort
.
Last year's
winning team from Queen’s College received their prize of a free trip
to New York where they had a tour of the United Nations and watched the
Minister of foreign Affairs, The Hon. Brent Symonette represent. The
Bahamas. They will not participate this year but will attend to help
with time adjudication/ moderators.
The
same prize is offered to the winning school this year. There are fourteen
(14) schools participating to include the Turks & Caicos Islands
making this a truly international event. Each of the sixteen schools
competing this year has drawn a country to represent in two debates.
The morning topic to be debated (8am-12pm):
“ How
does the increase n non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in many regions of
the world, particularly in CARICOM Member States, impact the
achievement of the healthier related MDGS , as well as the overall
soci-economic development?
”
and
The afternoon (4pm-7pm) topic:
“
With
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development less than two years away, what are the implications for the
sustainable development paradigm given the emergency of the "green economy' and how should the concerns of the
Small Island Developing States (
SIDS) feature on the agenda
?”
This is a highly prestigious event which will be attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and numerous other dignitaries.
Participating schools: CC Sweeting High (Russia); Aquinas College (Japan); RM Bailey Sr. High (Malaysia); Government High School (Mexico); Sunland Baptist Academy (Nigeria); Cat Island High School (Jordan); Preston Albury (Canada); St. Andrew's School (Egypt); Lyford Cay School (China); Dr. Doris Johnson Sr. High (The Bahamas); New Age Academy (South Africa); St. Paul's College (USA); St. Francis de Sales (Brazil); S. C. Bootle (Australia); St. John's College (Czech Republic).
Rotary and the United Nations "In 1942, Rotary clubs from 21 nations organized a conference in London to develop a vision for advancing education, science, and culture after World War II. That event was a precursor to UNESCO. In 1945, 49 Rotarians went to San Francisco to help draft the UN Charter. Rotary and the UN have been close partners ever since, a relationship that’s apparent through PolioPlus and work with UN agencies." (www.ruinday.org)
The United Nations (UN) evolved out of the League of Nations which was organized and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles as a consequence of the First World War. It was the objective of the organization to promote peace and security through international cooperation. The United Nations was established on the 24th October, 1945 upon the ratification of the Charter by the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, France and China. In 1945 there were initially 51 member states that comprised the UN and in 2006 it totaled 192 members with the addition of Montenegro.
The UN is central negotiating machinery, where many of the critical global challenges and key issues are addressed. There are currently more than thirty affiliated organizations which work to promote issues concerning the human rights, combating disease, the reduction of poverty, and the protection of the environment.
MODEL UNITED NATIONS SESSIONS (MUNS)
Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations within an academic platform. The objective is to educate and in part train the participants in matters relating to civics, issues of globalization, communication and diplomacy. Students are assigned a country, where they take on the role of diplomats and participate in a simulated session of an intergovernmental organization (IGO).
Simulations may be facilitated in various settings from a single classroom to nationwide conferences where schools participate as Model UN delegates, taking on the role of diplomats of the representative countries of the United Nations.
It is important that the participants’ research with the aim of critically understanding the rational and the position of their respective assigned country, as it relates to international issues in order to represent the best interest of their nation. Students can avail themselves of vast resources such as the library, reports, research studies, internet and media.
Preparation is key to how effective the participants are able to deliberate, negotiate, and present their views on the issues. The particular areas the issue may encompass are but not limited to human rights, conflict resolution, sustained economic development, and issues pertaining families particularly women and children.
MUNS PARTICPANTS
The participating school teams each consist of six (6) members comprising of two (2) faculty advisors and four (4) students maximum. The role of the faculty advisor is to assist and guide the students in their research activities and the overall preparation of their deliberations. Also, the faculty advisor is instrumental in maintaining the team organized, enthused and motivated throughout the exercise. `This process poses many opportunities for the students to enhance and develop critical thinking, oratory, negotiating, and communication skills.
