|
|
|
Civitas Population Conference
Delegate Packet
|
|
People and the Planet: Civitas’ Conference on World Population Friday/Saturday February 25-26, 2005 Doubletree Hotel, 9600 Natural Bridge Rd. [Near the airport]
At the beginning of the 20th Century, the world was home to 2 billion people. By 2000, there were nearly 6 billion. If we keep growing at present rates, world population will reach 13 billion in the next 40 years. What does that trend mean for your future and for the rest of the world? Every one of those billions of people has an environmental “footprint.” That's the area of the Earth each person needs to provide food, water, energy, and other essentials. Logically, the more people on the planet, the larger the total footprint, and the less room there is for other species and natural systems. Population growth is hard on Earth’s resources. As the world’s population has grown and taken over more land for cities, industries, transportation and recreation, the amount of crop-producing land per person has declined. So have the fresh water and forested areas that provide resources vital to human survival. And as these resources become scarcer, individuals and nations naturally take action to ensure their own survival. People in more well-developed countries—the “haves”—consume what the “have-nots” view as more than their fair share of resources. Some horde resources, cutting off the supply to other nations or groups of people. Some migrate in search of more resources. Others try to find ways to slow population growth. All too often, people and countries fight over the diminishing resources that they all need. At Civitas’ Conference on World Population, we’ll talk about the political, social, humanitarian and environmental impacts of these trends. One of the big questions we’ll be asking will be: How can we change the world from one of scarcity and destruction to one of hope and opportunity for everyone? Your role will be to represent a country of your choice, to identify issues, and to work collaboratively with other delegates to develop creative, positive solutions. The conference will be serious, intense, and intellectually challenging. You’ll use skills in communication, research, collaboration, reasoning, conflict resolution and debate. The conference is a place to learn, to be heard, to meet new people, to work collaboratively, and to add your creative thinking to important discussions with worldwide implications. Attendance is limited, so sign up early. If you think you might be interested in attending, please fill out a registration form now, and give it to a member of the Civitas staff. The cost is $60 per person. Financial aid is available. Your $60 fee covers your hotel room, all your meals [Friday evening, Saturday breakfast and lunch, plus an afternoon snack. If you would like to attend, but need help with the fee, please let us know. We have scholarships. How the conference works The topic is world population. Among the issues you’ll examine will be: How does population growth affect the quality of life for people around the world, and relations among countries? What can individuals, countries and the United Nations do to control population growth, mitigate the effects of overpopulation, and more fairly and efficiently share the world’s limited resources? Each participant represents a country. Before the conference, everyone chooses a country to represent. You’ll study your country, paying particular attention to its population size and growth, its population policies, its access to resources, and its track record and in using and sharing resources. We won’t be writing UN-style resolutions. Instead, we’ll try to develop “working papers” and “policy statements:” Committees will work toward developing policy statements suggesting positive solutions to issues related to world population trends. A “working paper” is a draft of an idea These documents can be the raw material for discussions and resolutions. Our goal will be to bring these ideas together to create more formal policies for full discussion and voting by the end of the conference. Committee structure and assignments. We’ll have two or three committees, each with 15-20 members. Committees will set their own agendas, focusing on issues chosen by the committee itself. Committees assignments will create a balanced mix of countries. Delegates and chairpersons stay with their assigned committees throughout the conference. In order to maintain continuity, we do not permit “committee hopping.” Research: Every participant will be required to do research on his/her country before the conference. After you have indicated your choices for countries, we’ll assign you one and provide some general guidelines for your research. We ask that all participants submit their research in advance, so that we can provide the information to others. Discussion starters. In this packet, you’ll find s a list of questions that committees may choose to address. The research that you bring to the conference will help make discussions meaningful and fact-based. Common sense and parliamentary procedure. As always in Civitas sessions, while formal parliamentary procedure offers a practical structure for organizing discussions, it never trumps common sense. Newcomers to our conferences and UN simulations need not be intimidated by the notion of parliamentary procedure. Your chairperson will guide you through it. Also, committees often decide to operate—at least part of the time—as a “moderated caucus.” In this mode, you relax parliamentary procedure and allow a more free-flowing dialogue among delegates. Unmoderated caucuses also are useful when creativity and negotiation are in order. Learn, join in the discussions, and have fun! Your active participation is what makes the conference educational and fun. Don’t be afraid to try out an idea, ask a question, or make a constructive comment. We hope you’ll find many opportunities to speak, share your ideas about issues, and participate in problem-solving discussions. How to prepare for the conference Research your topic in advance. To make debates meaningful, it’s important to bring solid information to the discussion. Each delegate should prepare for the conference by researching his/her country, and looking at all sides of the issues. A research worksheet is attached to this packet. Attend “prep sessions.” Before the conference, we’ll hold 2 prep sessions, at which we’ll introduce the issues, familiarize ourselves with the facts, and practice representing countries. Feel free to bring information to help you add “expertise” to the discussions. You can bring books, dictionary, newspaper/magazine articles, editorials, statistics, etc. The more factual information you can bring to the discussion, the more meaningful it will be. If you think they’ll help, you may also bring a laptop computer, and/or a calculator. What to bring to the conference: You’ll need the usual stuff for an overnight stay [toiletries, medications, a change of clothes, etc. All hotel rooms have hair dryers.]
Permission & Emergency Contact Form: We must have a current, permission and emergency contact form—signed by a parent or guardian—from every delegate. You’ll find a form attached to this packet. Please return it to us before the conference begins.
Civitas 2005 World Population Conference Friday/Saturday, February 25-26, 2005
Friday, Feb. 25, 20053:00 – 5:30 p.m. Registration/Room assignments/Check-in 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Dinner and Introduction to the Conference 7:30 – 10:15 p.m. Evening breakout sessions Committee 1 Columbia Room Committee 2 Missouri Room Committee 3 Jefferson Room 10:30 – 12:15 p.m. Free time 12:30 a.m. Curfew & Room Check Saturday, Feb. 21, 20048:30 – 9:15 a.m. Breakfast – Lewis & Clark Ballroom 9:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Morning breakout sessions Committee 1 Columbia Room Committee 2 Missouri Room Committee 3 Jefferson Room 11:45 – 12:00 . Check out of hotel rooms [Bring your luggage to Lewis & Clark Ballroom] 12:00 – 12:45 p.m. Lunch - Lewis & Clark Ballroom 12:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Afternoon breakout sessions Committee 1 Columbia Room Committee 2 Missouri Room Committee 3 Jefferson Room 2:15 – 3:00 General session/ Reports from committees/Wrap-up – Lewis & Clark Ballroom Please arrange to be picked up at the hotel by 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 26, 2005 Discussion-starters for committees
The big question:
Some issues to think about: 1. Which countries are experiencing the most pressure from population growth? What factors contribute to rapid population growth? How does your country fit into this issue? 2. Which countries have experienced a stablization or a slowdown of population growth? What factors contribute to this trend? How does your country fit into this issue? 3. How do the behaviors and needs of individuals contribute to population trends? In comparison, how do the behaviors and needs of governments contribute to population trends? Where does your country fit into this discussion? 4. What are the pros and cons of population growth? What are the pros and cons of population decline? How does your country fit into this question? 5. What is the impact of overpopulation on the environment, and on the availability of resources? 6. What impact does population growth have on a nation’s economy? What about the world economy? 7. How do human rights, women’s rights and children’s rights fit into a discussion of world population issues? 8. Do world population issues affect interactions between countries? War? Peace? Where does your country fit into this question? 9. What obstacles stand in the way of population stabilization? How would your country propose to help remove those barriers? 10. Should rich nations have a role in helping poor nations stabilize their population-growth rates? Should the United Nations have a role? Is your country in a position to help change the situation? What would your country be willing to do? 11. Other questions?
Civitas 2005 World Population Conference Please email your completed worksheet to civitas@swbell.net by Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2005. We would like to be able to share your information with others at the conference.
Country: Your name: Your school: Population statistics: Number of residents Average age Life expectancy % urban vs. rural Population density [no. of people per square mile] Population growth rate in recent years: Literacy rate: Average level of education: Economic statistics: Average annual income per capita: Top 3 goods or services produced in your country: Top 3 goods or services imported by your country: Top natural resources: More imports or exports? Main occupations of residents: Political information: Form of government: Would you consider this a stable government? Any recent international conflicts? With whom? Social & Human Rights information: How do human rights organizations rate your country? What are the main human rights issues in your country? What are the main impacts of population trends in your country? Other information: Please add anything else that you think would be useful for others to know about your country when discussing world population issues:
Civitas 2005 World Population Conference Rules and Regulations
|
