Latvian Current Events: A Dynamic Perspective by Hope Coulter

(Source: Getty Images)
Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis

Latvian Current Events

This past month, Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis (Greens and Farmers party) expressed his continued support for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada. Although opposition to the deal is concerned that it will allow multinational companies an unhealthy amount of power and put the EU’s environmental and consumer protection standards at risk, Kucinskis emphasized ways in which the agreement will benefit Latvian business, by providing a new foreign market for Latvian agricultural industries and entrepreneurs. CETA talks scheduled for Thursday may be blocked by a socialist region of Belgium, the only EU country that has not been able to officially support the talks. (The Baltic Times, Reuters, BBC News) 

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Thondup) has just returned home from his tour of five European states, during which he spent two days speaking in Riga to a crowd of supporters from a number of Baltic States and Russia. The Dalai Lama encouraged Buddhists in the region to unite across political and cultural differences to focus on their shared beliefs. Meeting with Tibet supporters from the Baltic States, he drew parallels between the oppressive experiences of Tibet and the Baltic States. During his visit the Dalai Lama also met with 15 parliamentarians from the Baltic states, including 10 from Latvia. (Tibet Post International, Phayul, EIN News) 

(Source: Dinamo Rīga)
Former Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis

Latvian Person of Interest

Former Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis was elected as President of the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) in early October. Kalvitis is also the chairman of natural gas company Latvijas Gaze, Chairman of the Board of alcoholic beverage company Latvijas Balzams, and co-owner of Latvian KHL team Dinamo Riga. After serving as minister of agriculture (1999-2000) and minister of economics (2000-2002) Kalvitis became the Prime Minister of Latvia from December 2004 to December 5 2007.

As Prime Minister, Kalvitis led a coalition government made up of the People’s Party, New Era Party (now a defunct party), Union of Greens and Farmers, and Latvia’s First Party. Kalvitis stepped down from his position in response to popular disapproval of his dismissal of the head of the anti-corruption bureau. 

(Source: Baltic)
The results of the latest Latvian election

Political Parties in Latvia

Latvia has a multi-party system, in which no individual party is powerful enough to gain power on its own. Each party must cooperate with other parties and form a coalition government, in which parties are forced to build consensus across party lines in order to achieve a majority vote on issues in the Saeima (Latvia’s parliament).

There are eight major parties and nine minor parties. Major parties in Latvia, in order of most MPs in the Saeima to the least MPs, are as follows: Harmony, Unity, Unity of Greens and Farmers, National Alliance, Latvian Association of Regions, For Latvia From the Heart, Who Owns the State?, and the Latvian Russian Union.

Minor parties in Latvia are Christian Democratic Union, the Fatherland Union, For Native Language!, Latvian Development, Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party, Our Land (Party), People of Latgale , Reform Party, and the Socialist Party of Latvia

Food for thought: Given Latvia’s geographic location (neighboring Russia, between Lithuania and Estonia, bordering the Baltic Sea), which issues would you expect to be most difficult for the parties of Latvia’s coalition government to achieve consensus on?

Are the Tensions in the South China Sea Decreasing the Chance for International Nuclear Disarmament? By Hope Coulter

(Source: MindaNation)
Rodrigo Duterte speaking with Shinzō Abe

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte spent three days in late October visiting Japan, where he held two rounds of talks with Japan’s Prime minister Shinzō Abe. During talks which focused on military and economic policy, Duterte expressed support for Japan’s continued naval presence in the South China Sea. Abe commended Duterte’s efforts to improve the Philippine-Chinese relationship, easing the tension that Duterte’s pursuit of an economic relationship with China had put on Philippine-Japan relations. The two heads of state signed a number of agreements which included Japan’s provision of coast guard boats and military trainer aircraft to strengthen Philippine maritime security, and commitment to support economic development in the Philippines through agricultural promotion projects. (Japan Today)

(Source: UN)
Prime minister speaking on the possibility of abstaining from the outlawing of nuclear weapons

Japanese political sources have stated that Japan will not be supporting a United Nations resolution urging negotiations in 2017 to outlaw nuclear weapons. It is not yet known whether Japan will abstain from voting or will vote against the draft. The United States, with whom Japan shares close diplomatic and economic ties, has urged Japan to vote against the draft. The Japanese Foreign Ministry opposes the resolution, stating that it does not account for the importance of nuclear deterrence. (Japan Today, Kyodo News)

US Flexes in South China Sea by Thomas Brown

(Source: Reuters)
US Navy image shows China circling the heavily disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea

On Friday October 21^st, 2016 a US destroyer sailed through the South China Sea to exemplify the abilities of the US under International Laws of the Sea from the UN, according to the White House spokesman Josh Earnest. This action was also meant to show a signal to China that the international sea is not open for their claims. 

Over the past few years, China has been actively forming man made landmasses for military use in the South China Sea. These new formed islands are for naval supply ports and air force landing bases, felicitating China’s interests of asserting dominance in this region. The US has responded to these movements by supporting territorial allies, and exercising our rights to sail in the South China Sea. The Chinese Defense Ministry responded to these events by calling them a serious breach of law, however did not use physical means to express a threat. 

As tensions rise between the US and China grow increasingly tenser, movements in this sea will determine how future actions will be responded to. Will China continue to build artificial islands and military strongholds that threaten other countries and their rights in the South China Sea? Only time will tell. 

(Source: US-China Institute)
The many facets of the disputes in the South China Sea

Getting to Know Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr. Ira Helfand's Views of Nuclear Disarmament by Mariana Topich and Makena Hulme

Some of our lucky delegates meeting Dr. Ira Helfand after his keynote speech at the 2016 Sacramento UNA Dinner

On Sunday, October 23, 2016, The United Nations Association of Sacramento and the Sacramento Physicians for Social Responsibility chapter hosted a dinner in honor of United Nations Day. The theme of this event was a celebration of the successes of the Sustainable Development Goals and how we can prevent nuclear warfare.

There were numerous prominent speakers present, including the United Nations Youth Observer, Nicol Perez. Nicol discussed her role in the UN and how important youth voices are in the international policy. Not only do they have unique perspectives on how to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals targets, they have innovative thought processes for preventing warfare and increasing empathy in the global sphere. She also spoke on how exhilarating her life has become and what an honor it is to represent the global youth when speaking to leading members of nation-states.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Ira Helfand, the esteemed co-president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Dr Ira Helfand won the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize for his work within the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, particularly for encouraging multilateral communication about the prevention of future nuclear wars. By having Soviet and American physicians and experts work in the international sphere to prevent further nuclear warfare, Helfand demonstrated excellence in his capacity to give international relationships a quality of unity rather than conflict. His contribution can therefore be seen as a step on the way to a bilateral and controlled disarmament.

In Helfand’s keynote speech he talked of the dangers of limited nuclear war as well as large-scale nuclear war. In the event that a large-scale nuclear conflict arises due to increased hostilities between the U.S. and Russia and the proxy war in Syria, it is possible for the largest nuclear war that the world has ever seen will ensue. In this case, the climate will be disrupted and the land from up to 62 miles from the bomb will be entirely sterilized of all life. In the case of a limited nuclear war between India and Pakistan, the damage to the climate could cause mass casualties and a food storage so severe that our world would quickly use up the 90 day food storage and people would starve to death on an unprecedented scale. Ultimately, Dr. Helfand adopts a constructivist viewpoint in regards to nuclear weapons when he states, “Nuclear weapons are not a force of nature, or an act of God. It’s something we as humans have created.” Meaning, nuclear weapons are something we created with great minds, and with those same great minds, we can disarm the world of nuclear weapons. He also highlighted the danger of vulnerabilities in cyber security and underscored the fact that the US Pentagon is hacked around six times a day. If our cybersecurity continues to be vulnerable, then the world is vulnerable to the devastating possibility that outside nonstate actors or other states could potentially hack into the safeguards protecting nuclear weapons in any nation and create global chaos and mass death.

At the end of his speech there was a Q&A segment where guests could submit questions pertaining to this issue. The question that was received most often was, “How can we as normal citizens, and not policy makers, take a stand and become involved nuclear disarmament?” Dr. Helfand urged the audience to call and write letters to the White House’s toll free number and urge them to spend less money updating nuclear weapons and warfare and instead prioritize the health of the world and our nation. In the 1980s a large civil movement renouncing nuclear war was successful in reducing the nuclear capacities of every nation in the world. We as a nation and as global citizens can make a difference if we unite against the perils of nuclear war. The public comment line for the White House is 202-456-1414.

Quick and Easy Policy Statement Outline by Hope Coulter

What is a policy statement?

1.      A place for delegates to synthesize their research

2.      A tool to use during conference

3.      A measure of a delegate’s knowledge

What is a policy statement composed of?

·         A policy statement consists of a header and 3 paragraphs

·         Concise, factual language mixed with the names of resolution, conventions, and treaties

How does one format a policy statement?

·         The total length should be close to, but not exceed one page single-spaced

·         The header consists of the country’s official name, committee, and topic; each on a separate line

o   EX:      Kingdom of Denmark

            General Assembly

            Restructuring the Security Council

·         An additional space between the header and first paragraph and then each subsequent paragraph

·         Use a formal tone throughout your writing. Imagine as if you are presenting this as an official, circulated document to the United Nations.

What should the three paragraphs include?

1.      Present and define the problem as your country views it

a.       International history from your country’s perspective

b.      Historical action (and inaction) by the UN and International Community

c.       Summary of the issue book

2.      Illustrate how your country handled/remedied the problem in the past

a.       Current status and aspects of the issue

b.      Mention and explain 4-5 ways in which your country interacted with the issue

                                                              i.      How has your country dealt with the issue internally?

                                                            ii.      How has your country dealt with the issue globally?

c.       Longest paragraph

3.      Present the official policy of your country

a.       Proposed solution directed towards the international community (think resolution)

b.      Reasons your country supports this position

c.       Oftentimes, you will use your country’s internal policies and previous actions to generalize about its foreign policy

Where should my research come from?

·         UN Mission websites, government websites, bilateral agreements, internal policies, speeches, etc.

·         Actions taken by your government in regards to the issue

·         Conventions, Resolutions, and Treaties that your country is party to

·         UN Action that your country has supported (or opposed)

Formatting the Policy Statement and Resolution for MUNFW by Hope Coulter adapted from MUNFW

Formatting

	Policy Statements Policy statements are to be based upon the knowledge that the delegation has acquired of its country.  A country’s general policies are frequently found in speeches presented to the General Assembly during general debate; these are usually summarized in Monthly Chronicle.  The embassy or information office of the country in question might be able to supply such data; a list of these information sources is located here. The statement must be typed, 1 inch margins, single-spaced and each paragraph is separated by a single-space.  It must have the country’s name in the upper left corner followed by the committees name on the next line and the agenda topic on the third line: THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA SECURITY COUNCIL UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT: RESTRUCTING THE SECURITY COUNCIL It must consist of three paragraphs and contain the following: The first paragraph: Background of the main elements of the problem or concern (e.g. brief historical                    overview of the issue) from your country's perspective. The second paragraph: Current aspects of the issue and how your country is involved or affected by it. Include current action or resolutions by the UN (i.e. current or last session of UN). The third paragraph: Your country's official policy positions on the issue and proposed solutions. Main reasons that support your country's point of view or position on the issue. Strongest reasons favoring opposition and strongest points of rebuttal. The proposed solution should be directed toward the international level and not toward the selected country’s internal policy. Heading-- 1st Paragraph Background from your   country's point of view. 2nd Paragraph Current status Current Action 3rd Paragraph Your country's point of view or position ARGENTINE REPUBLIC SECOND COMMITTEE FOLLOW-UP TO THE RIO+20 CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT With still one in four people likely to live in scarce water resources by 2050, and one in five people currently living without access to modern electricity, the need has arisen for countries to transition to a much more robust level of infrastructure and to investigate methods of sustainable development. At the Rio+20 Conference in the summer of 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, participants gathered to discuss different methods of achieving sustainable development, as well as the inauguration of various methods to measure, communicate and assess progress being made toward these goals. Precipitating this conference was the United Nations' adoption of Agenda 21, which stressed the importance of meeting the basic needs of all individuals, improved standards of living, regulated ecosystems, and called for the creation of a global partnership among participating entities in order to cooperate in undertaking such an ambitious endeavor. Argentina has ratified the Rio Declaration, the Agenda 21 program and the Johannesburg Plan of  Implementation, the latter calling for a specialized framework within which to pursue sustainable development. Argentina has also been a party to other resolutions dealing with sustainable development, including draft resolution A/67/437, which called for the promotion of new sources of energy to replace conventional energy sources; resolution A/67/437, which stressed the importance of the conservation of nature and natural resources; and co-sponsored A/C.2/64/L.21/Rev.1, which, among other things, called upon Member States and relevant United Nations organizations to make greater strides in the development of sustainable development technologies, pressed for the inclusion of marginalized men, women, and youths, and drew attention to the ever-important role of women in the implementation of strategies for sustainable development. As a member of the Group of 77 (G-77), Argentina was included as a co-sponsor for A/C.2/67/L.3/Rev.1, a resolution which requested that the Secretary-General of the United Nations include in his report to the General Assembly “an updated overview of the major international economic and policy challenges for equitable and inclusive sustained economic growth and sustainable development and of the role of the United Nations in addressing these issues,” in addition to ways to overcome issues arising from the existence from these challenges. All of these resolutions reflect Argentina's internal policies and practices on the matter, as evidenced by the United Nations 2011 Human Development Index, wherein Argentina was ranked as a “Very High Human Development” country. Argentina would continue to support resolutions that stress the importance of continued  implementation of sustainable practices and development. Also, Argentina would support resolutions and policies that encouraged the participation of oft-ignored groups in the execution of any policy changes. Argentina believes that it is the responsibility of Member States to make determined efforts toward the improvement of infrastructure in order to raise the standard of living for all human beings. Because of the dire importance of this issue to those living below an acceptable standard of living, Argentina believes that due diligence is required, and that progress must remain monitored and communicated so as to investigate any possible means to expedite the change necessary to effect sustainable development.   Resolution A resolution is a formal statement of opinion or recommendation to be presented to the summit.  Armed with a full understanding of its country’s stand on an issue, a delegation can draft a suitable resolution on the issue.  A resolution must be directly concerned with the agenda item and must accurately represent the position and national policy of its author and sponsors. Resolutions are the basic decisions or statements of the constituent units of the United Nations. While drafted by individual states, they declare the official policy for the particular organ or body.  While resolutions have a standard format, they may serve different purposes.  Most resolutions state or reaffirm Assembly policy on a particular item.  Some resolutions include an entire treaty, declaration, or convention, making it available for state accession. Some resolutions may give directions, requests, or suggestions to other UN bodies, other international bodies, or specific funds and programs.  They may condemn the actions of a state, urge collective action, and, in the case of the Security Council, require compulsory compliance. If the proper format is followed, resolutions are easy to construct.  Each resolution is one single sentence.  The subject of the sentence is the organ making the statement, in this case, Restructuring the Security Council.  The remainder of the resolution is divided into two parts: preambular and operative. The preambular phrases are the justifications for action.  They denote Charter authorization for action, past resolution precedents, and statements about the particular problem.  They are similar to the given in a logic proof.  All actions taken in the resolution should be deducible from or supported by the preambular phrases. The policy portion of the resolution is composed of operative paragraphs.  Each of these starts with a verb. Taken as a whole, the operatives should deal thoroughly with one complete idea and should be arranged in logical progression.  They should not be a collection of unrelated thoughts or statements on a broad topic.  Instead, the resolution should deal as completely as possible with a given aspect of a topic. In doing so, more states can become involved in the resolution process, the quality of the resolutions will improve, and the overall treatment of a topic will be more detailed and specific. - Is the resolution in the proper form? Use 1 inch margins and follow the heading format below. - In the preambular portions, is there legal justification for the actions taken in the operative paragraphs? - Do the operatives form a coherent whole, and are they fully developed (i.e., if a new program is established, how is it to be funded; if a committee is created, what will be its membership, means of selection, scope, and time of reporting)?   Sample Resolution
Heading ----------- Sponsoring Country Title: all caps---------- Address, the Security Council Body -------------- Preambular Clauses: 1. Indent first line; 2. Underline first word/phrase; 3. Commas after each clause. Operative Clauses: 1. Always numbered; 2. Indent first line; 3. Underline first phrase; 4. Semi-colon (;) after each clause and a period (.) after the last clause.		SC/15/1/Res. 1 Security Council Special Summit Syrian Arab Republic RESTRUCTURING THE SECURITY COUNCIL The Security Council,         Stressing the importance of the Holy City of Jerusalem for mankind,         Deeply alarmed by the repeated escalation of violence in the Middle East,         Affirming the inadmissibility of military territorial acquisition,         Reaffirming the commitment to the Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 252 (1968), 338 (1973), 478 (1980), and 672 (1990),         Strongly emphasizing the necessity to ensure a just and comprehensive peace in the region,         1. Urges the sides involved in the conflict to cease fire;         2. Demands that Israel withdraw all its military forces from territories occupied since 1967;         3. Expresses its full support for the creation of a Palestinian State with official capital in Jerusalem;         5. Strongly supports the competent national authorities in safeguarding and preserving cultural property;         6. Authorizes ECOSOC, the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, and UNESCO to coordinate the monitoring process on the implementation of the points of this resolution;         7. Reaffirms its commitment to the peacemaking process in the Middle East.

Preambular Clauses

Acknowledges Acknowledges with deep gratitude Affirming Alarmed and concerned Appreciating Appreciating highly Aware Basing itself Bearing in mind Also bearing in mind Believing Calling attention Cognizant Commending Concerned Conscious Considering Continuing to take the view Convinced Deeply alarmed Deeply appreciative Deeply concerned Deeply conscious Deeply disturbed Desirous Determined Dismayed Distressed

Encouraged Expressing concern Expressing deep concern Expresses its appreciation Expressing its mounting concern Expressing its regret Expressing its particular concern Expressing its satisfaction Expressing its support Firmly convinced Gravely concerned Guided Having considered Having examined Having heard Having received Looking forward Mindful Noting Noting also Noting with appreciation Noting with concern Noting with gratitude Noting with satisfaction Paying tribute Profoundly concerned Reaffirming

Realizing Recalling Recalling further Recognizing Reconfirming Re--emphasizing Regretting Reiterating its appreciation Reiterating its conviction Reiterating its dismay Seriously concerned Solemnly declares Solemnly proclaims Stressing Stresses its desire Strongly emphasizes Strongly supporting Supporting Supporting fully Taking into account Taking into consideration Taking note Taking note also Taking note with satisfaction Underlining Welcoming Welcoming also Wishing

Operative Clauses

Accepts with deep appreciation Acknowledges with appreciation Adopts Affirms Affirms its confidence Again expresses its special alarm Again urges Agrees Also notes Also notes with satisfaction Also welcomes Appeals Appoints Appreciates deeply Approves Authorizes Calls Calls for Call upon Calls once more upon Categorically condemns Commends Also commends Commends and encourages Concurs Condemns Congratulates Considers Decides Declares Declares its firm opposition Declares its solidarity Demands

Demands once more Denounces Deplores Determines Drawing attention Draws the attention Emphasizes Emphasizing Encourages Endorses Expresses concern Expresses grave concern Expresses its appreciation Further expresses its appreciation Expresses its conviction Expresses its deep concern and condemnation Expresses its full support Expresses its gratitude Expresses its profound concern at and unequivocal condemnation Expresses its satisfaction Expresses the desirability Fully supports Highly appreciates Invites Insists Notes Notes with appreciation Notes with interest Notes with satisfaction Once again urges Places on special record Proclaims

Reaffirms Reaffirming its deep concern Recalls Recommends Rejects Reiterates Reiterates its appeal Reiterates its call Reiterates its firm support Reminds Renews its appeal Renews its invitation Renews its request Requests Also requests Further requests Shares the concern Stresses Also stresses Strongly condemns Suggests Supports Takes note Takes note with appreciation Takes note with satisfaction Thanks Underlines Urgently appeals Urges Welcomes Welcomes also Welcomes further Welcomes with satisfaction

Source:  Adopted from the MUNFW.org

Policy Statements Are Coming! By Makena Hulme

As a delegate in Model United Nations it is crucial to know the policy of your nation in order to write excellent policy statements and resolutions for the conference. This intensive and formal research process is also vital for successes in the conference because knowing your nation's policies will guide your actions and all your speeches in conference.

Conferences are a daunting task. You are in a new hotel that you have never been to around hundreds and sometimes thousands of college students and professionals that you have never met before. You are only speaking of policy and have to speak in third person and work with people you've never met to write resolutions in committees. In addition, you will have to learn how to communicate with the dais and use the P-rules to your full advantage.

For all of these reasons, it is my responsibility to lead our group with the help of my PRs and cabinet to great success in conference by helping them conduct accurate research and write a total of two policy statements and one resolution per committee in each nation.

I remember writing my first policy statement last year and feeling a bit lost, as did most of the cabinet members. This year we are doing absolutely everything possible to ensure your success in writing magnificent policy papers that will be incredibly useful in your conference experience. 

The first step of the process is creating wonderful country profiles. I am so incredibly proud of the amazing country profiles that all of our teams compiled in such a quick amount of time. The absolute most important part of the country profile is the last paragraph that includes how your nation acts in the UN and what policies it carries out.

In order to get ready to write our country profiles, it was vital that we take another look at the committees' roles inside the UN and how the pursue their nation'n UN goals and their foreign policy. To do so, each delegate was assigned a foreign policy prompt wherein they described the position of their nation in foreign policy and how their committee in the UN helps their nation attain its foreign policy goals.

The next step are the policy statements. These three paragraph documents are absolutely essential to creating a winning team in conference. For simplicity sake, we are breaking up the due dates for each policy statement. The first part of the policy statement that will be due is the background paragraph that introduces the committee the delegate is on.

In conclusion, our academic writing journey for the conference is as follows:

1. Country Profile

2. Committee Foreign Policy

3. Policy Statement Introduction Paragraphs

4. Policy Statement 2nd and 3rd Paragraphs

5, Resolution

6. Integrative Conference Plan

We have successfully completed two of the six academic writing prompts and I am confident that we will create wonderful documents in time for the conference in April.

Hope has created an outline for writing your first policy statement and has adapted the official guide for policy statements and resolutions from MUNFW. They will be in the following posts.

Bolivian Markets’ Potential Access to China by Alysun Littlefield

(Source: International Business Times)
Premier Li Keqiang Speaking on the Potential Railway through South America

In 2015, Premier Li Keqiang promised to provide $10 billion to study and eventually construct a railway that would run from Brazil's Açú Port, northeast of Rio de Janeiro on the Atlantic Ocean, to an undecided port on Peru’s Pacific coast. This 3,000 mile long railway would make it significantly cheaper for South American goods to make it to Asia.

(Source: RailNews Media Ltd)
Evo Morales of Bolivia speaking with Premier Li Keqiang of China about Bolivia's Role with the South American Railway

The major issue with the proposed route was the 140 mile stretch of inhospitable rain forest from the Brazilian city of Cruzeiro do Sul to the Ucayali River in Peru, which could not only have a large negative impact on the environment, but would also have run through territory populated by a dozen different indigenous tribes.

After careful consideration, the Chinese estimate of the cost of the railway to be more than $60 billion, basically killing the project. Bolivian President Evo Morales instead suggested the route come from Brazil’s Port of Santos, run straight through Bolivia, and end in Peru’s southern port of Ilo. This route would not only be less environmentally destructive and dramatically cheaper, estimated $13.5 billion in total, it would also give Bolivia direct access to the Pacific ocean, which could solve many problems it faces due to its landlocked status.

(Source: Inter-American Dialogue)
The Proposed South American Railway

(Miami Herald) (Reuters)

Africa and the International Criminal Court by Hope Coulter

Source: dw.com

On October 26th, Gambia became the third country to leave the International Criminal Court this week when it formally began the process of withdrawing from what the country’s Minister of Information, Sheriff Bojang, has called the “International Caucasian Court”. Gambia follows in the footsteps of South Africa and Burundi, who have also accused the court of discrimination against African countries. These states are the first to ever have withdrawn from the International Criminal Court, and disapproving global leaders worry that it will spark a mass exodus of African states, which could diminish the Court’s credibility and effectiveness.

The operation of the International Criminal Court is based on the Rome Statute, an international treaty adopted in 1998. Tensions among African nations over the International Criminal Court came to a head in 2015 when South Africa hesitated to arrest Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who had been convicted by the Court of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Following this incident, South Africa, initially a supporter of the Court, stated that the Rome Statute conflicts with its obligations to members of the African Union, and with its laws regarding diplomatic immunity.

While supporters of the withdrawals are refreshed to see African nations standing up to Western imperialism (all 39 persons convicted by the court since its creation have been from African nations), critics worry that the move is a step backward in ending the devastating genocide and war crimes that have occurred, and are still occurring, in Africa. GenocideWatch.net has issued a Genocide Emergency or Genocide Watch warning for the states of Burundi, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan.

Disagreement exists among African Union states about the idea of withdrawal. Botswana’s foreign minister Pelomoni Venson-Moitoi, a candidate to become the next African Union chief, urged African states to reform the Court instead of abandoning it. Meanwhile Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, has said that the African Union should set up its own Criminal Court to demand reparations from the West for war crimes and crimes against humanity inflicted by Western nations, particularly during the colonial era.

The International Criminal Court has urged countries to discuss their discontent within the Court’s Assembly of State Parties, and has pointed out that preliminary investigations are currently taking place in six non-African countries.

(DailySabah.com, Huffingtonpost.com, GenocideWatch.net, ICC-CPI.int, Mgafrica.com, Theguardian.com, BBC.com, Thinkprogress.org, Foxnews.com, Reuters.com)

NWMUN Portland Country Facts by Makena Hulme

We are privileged to send our most experienced delegates to the North West Model United Nations conference in Portland for the first time ever next year. In order to get ready for the vigorous conference, it is essential that we do excellent research, keep up on current events, and write wonderful academic paperwork.

Bolivia

Basic Facts

Capital: La Paz

Population: 10,800,882 (2015)

Currency: 1 boliviano (B$) = 100 centavos

Current Events

• Experts seek underlying cause for persistent health inequalities in the Caribbean
•  United Nations Paris Climate Agreement goes into effect on November 4^th
•  Bolivia’s Morales accuses Chile of restricting access to ports
• The disappearance of Lake Poopo destroyed the livelihoods of hundreds of fishing families and has added to a new category of climate refugees
• In Bolivia, drinks made from the endangered Titicaca water frog are promoted as a cure for many ailments, without scientific support
• Thousands of fish are dead in Lake Alalay and scientists are researching what caused oxygen levels in the lake to drop so rapidly
•  Evo Morales loses bid to seek a fourth term
• Morales’ secret dead son has been found alive and in good health
•  Bolivia’s health ministry has recommended eating llama instead of processed meat, after the World Health Organization warned an excess of red meat could cause cancer
• Anger in Chile ensues as International Court of Justice at the Hague declares it has jurisdiction to rule on Bolivia’s claim to a strip of the land in the Pacific Ocean

Spain

Basic Facts

Capital: Madrid

Population: 48,146,136

Currency: euro

Current Events

• List of new Catholic cardinals named by Pope Francis
•  Euro zone economy resilient to recent shocks
• More than 100 African migrants were saved from the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain
• Spain has plodded along without an elected national government for a year as of October 2, 2016  (New York Times)
• Barcelona is using superblocks as a transportation initiative to ease traffic and pollution and make better use of public spaces
• Hundreds of thousands of Catalans took to the streets of four major cities to urge their leaders to push for separation from Spain
• A hospital patient in Madrid died of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Spain without having traveled to an endemic area.
• Spain’s Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez steps down to clear way for formation of government
• Spain’s Donana coastal wetlands being added to UNESCO danger list
• The chef Jamie Oliver’s inclusion of chorizo in paella causes a “paella gate” and unites fractured Spain together against Oliver

MUNFW Country Facts by Makena Hulme

This year, we are privileged to represent Latvia and Japan at the Model United Nations Far West Conference.

Latvia

Basic Facts

Capital: Riga

Population: 2,151, 638 (2015)

Currency: Euro

Current Events

•  27,000-euro fine given to suspect in vote-buying case in 2014 Latvian general elections
•  Tourism scams in Riga have declined in recent years (Riga Tourism Development Bureau)
• 10 tons of expired confectionery found in warehouse tied to Triom (warehouse tied to large chain stores) in Jelgava (Food and Veterinary Service)
•  Criminal process of Slokenbeka Lake pollution forwarded to prosecutor’s office
• Baltic and Nordic foreign ministries’ officials meet in Riga to discuss current UN agenda
• 21 out of 23 refugees admitted to Latvia left for Germany
• Number of needy residents decreases in Latvia
• Latvia’s coalition will remain stable until next election

Japan

Basic Facts

Capital: Tokyo

Population: 126,919,656 (2015)

Currency: yen (Y)

Current Events

• Japan is striving to build strong economic and diplomatic relations with Cuba
• Top Liberal Democratic executive Nikai urges lawmakers to prepare for Lower House Election
• Kuroda signals Bank of Japan may delay reaching its 2 percent inflation target to 2018
• South Korean President Park Geun-hye hopes for progress in Japan-South Korea economic cooperation
• Japan considers option of seeking return of Russian-held island in two stages
• After earthquakes, Kumamoto tourism industry take another hit with the eruption of Mount Aso
• A United States nuclear powered aircraft carrier takes part in joint naval exercises with South Korean forces

UNA Dinner by Makena Hulme

Delegates from ARC MUN 2015 at UNA Dinner last year

The United Nations Association of Sacramento and the Physicians for Social Responsibility Sacramento Chapter are hosting an annual dinner on Sunday, October 23^rd from 5-9 pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Sacramento. The keynote speaker is Dr. Ira Helfand, the esteemed co-president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.

Dr. Ira Helfand (source: CNN)

Dr. Ira Helfand also won the 1985 Noble Peace Prize for his work within the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, particularly for encouraging multilateral communication about the prevention of future nuclear wars. By having Soviet and American physicians and experts work in the international sphere to prevent further nuclear warfare, Helfand demonstrated excellence in his capacity to give international relationships a quality of unity rather than conflict. His contribution can therefore be seen as a step on the way to a bilateral and controlled disarmament.

This is a can’t miss event and you won’t want to miss out on excellent speakers, delicious food, and getting to network with important local and international figures in the United Nations and the PSR.

I hope to see you all there. Visit our Facebook page for ticket information or order directly from www.unausasacramento.com. 

Who Will Succeed Ban Ki-Moon? By Thomas Brown

(Oct. 12, 2016 - Source: Drew Angerer/Getty Images North America)
Guterres with Ban Ki-moon

As the term of the current UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, comes to an end possible successors have come forward. 

The process for selecting a new Secretary General takes place within the UN Security Council of the P5 (the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China) the victors of WWII, where several straw polls establishes consensus. 

The tops three delegate names that came from the most recent poll are António Guterres of Portugal, Miroslav Lajčák of Slovakia, and Vuk Jeremić of Serbia. These names represent a wide range of strong leadership to experienced public service, however there was anticipation of a female UN Secretary General successor.

In the more than seventy years of existence, the UN has not had a female Secretary General. As the leader of these polls designate who will follow Ban Ki Moon, the results suggest António Guterres will be the next UN Secretary General. Guterres is the former prime minister of Portugal (1995-2002), and the United Nations high commissioner for refugees (2005-2015). 

Delegate Preparation: The Country Profile by Makena Hulme

The reason we write country profiles is to get a grasp of the basic information about the nations we are representing at conference. In order to expand your awareness of the nation you decide to represent, it is absolutely essential that you spend some time understanding all six parts of your nation before tackling the task of writing policy for the committee you choose.

Government

When researching the government of your nation, focus on the type of government used and note if the government type has changed, not merely the leader changing. Also consider the relations the government has with its citizens, regional neighbors, and international community.

Economy

When researching the economy it is crucial to focus on the type of economy, the current state of the economy, the major industries, and the level of imports and exports.

Military

When researching the military presence in your nation, focus on the types of military it possesses, the size, strength, and capacity of said military, and the willingness and capacity the nation has to use military force.

Culture

Culture is a vast topic so remember to only mention topics that are important to your nation. Research dominate religion and any recent problems, immigration and migration, ethnic, tribal, and race considerations. Also emphasize values and major concerns of your nation.

Geography

In considering the geography of your nation, research the absence or presence of important resources as well as the land. If the nation is land-locked or has natural harbors, it will have political impact for the nation.

United Nations Policy

In order to understand your nation from a United Nations perspective, knowing the nation’s country voting bloc, level of participation, relationship of UN policy to domestic and foreign policy goals, and its overall strategy in the UN is imperative.