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“That
was then: This is now.” Gateway
Model United Nations 2002
Conference for the Future Friday
& Saturday, Feb. 1-2, 2002 [Click
here to register!] For the nations that created it 56 years ago, the
United Nations represented a wish for peace and international cooperation.
Becoming a member of the United Nations was an act of hope and trust. But creating a United Nations charter to which
member nations would agree was a tricky proposition. The countries that
started the UN were powerful—they were the victors in World War II.
While their motives well intentioned and somewhat global, they set up the
United Nations to work to their own advantage. Since then, we’ve seen huge political and
economic shifts, civil and border wars, refugee crises, a proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction, increasing terrorism, and the emergence of
many new nations, who have swelled UN membership from 51 to 189. The world
of 2002 is not the world of 1945. So, here are some questions: Do the rules and
structures of the United Nations still work? As Gateway Model United Nations delegates quickly
learn, doing things the “United Nations way” can be difficult and
frustrating: Often, veto power, economics, bloc voting, cultural
differences, funding, and military chains of command get in the way of
progress and peace. Worse yet, the UN Charter is often “at war”
with itself: Balancing the principles of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights with the sovereignty rights of nations is a perpetually
sticky problem. As a delegate to Gateway Model United
Nations’ 2002 Conference for the Future, you’ll talk about these
issues and collaborate with other country delegates to revise and improve
the way the UN works. This is not an abstract exercise: In fact, the UN
has been trying to revise its charter for many years. There’s a lot to
talk about. This two-day 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 an
important discussion with worldwide implications. Gateway
Model United Nations 2002
Conference for the Future When:
February 1-2, 2002 Friday
evening [4:00 p.m.] through Saturday afternoon [5:30 p.m.] Where:
Radisson Clayton Hotel, 7750 Carondelet Ave. Cost:
$60 per student. This fee includes: Hotel
room for one night [2-3 students per room] All meals [Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, Saturday lunch] Snacks
and beverages during sessions and breaks Conference
materials Validated [free] parking in hotel garage Who may attend:
Students
currently attending high schools that participate in
Gateway Model UN. Enrollment is limited—we’ll
fill available slots on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to get
your application, money and permission form to us as early as possible. Enrollment deadline:
Monday, January 7, 2002
Please enroll early, so we can make country assignments far enough
in advance to allow you time for research. How the conference works: The
Conference for the Future will operate as a Model U.N. Session, with discussions centering around
working papers and/or UN-style resolutions—prepared and submitted in
advance by students, or developed during the conference. Parliamentary procedure and common
sense will govern discussions. A professional chairperson will
moderate discussions. Each student will represent a
United Nations member country or an invited group. Before the conference,
you’ll research your country in order to represent its interests during
committee discussions. Committees:
We’ll
have three committees, which will meet simultaneously. Delegates will stay
with the same committee throughout the conference. Each committee will
focus on a separate subject area. You’ll have a chance to indicate which
country you would like to represent, and in which committee. Subject
areas—and possible topics for discussion—are as follows: Committee
#1: The Strong and the Weak This committee will consider the balance of power in the UN between large/small/strong/weak nations. How can countries as diverse in strength as—for example—the U.S. and the Seychelles Islands, get fair representation in the UN? Who can vote, and when? Should there be veto power for some nations? Is the Security Council still a good idea? Should it be expanded, abolished, shrunk? What should be done if a country doesn’t pay its dues? Should voting rights be denied to countries under some circumstances? How should voting be structured—one country, one vote, or proportionate to area, population, military strength, contribution to UN, etc. How could the UN Charter be revised to address these types of issues? Committee
#2: My Country, My Culture, My Self This committee will examine the conflict between human rights and sovereignty. Should the UN be structured to represent individuals, so-called sovereign nations, prominent cultures, or other entities? When—if ever—do human rights issues override sovereignty? Are human rights really universal? Is adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights a criterion for continued status as a member in the United Nations? Who decides? Can the UN enforce a universal standard of human rights, or do cultural differences justify differences in human rights from nation to nation? How should the UN Charter be revised to address these and other similar issues? Special note about committee #2: Some
delegates to this committee will play the roles of individual citizens
of their countries, while others will play the role of official diplomats.
Committee #3: Visualizing Peace This committee will examine the UN’s role in promoting, monitoring and keeping peace. Should the UN have its own, full-time peacekeeping force? How would it be structured, when would it be used, and who would decide? Should the UN take on the responsibility of safeguarding weapons of mass destruction in countries that can’t do this job themselves? What is the UN’s role in preventing and dealing with terrorism—including cyber-terrorism? Does the UN have to wait for permission to send its forces into civil wars, border wars, or internal humanitarian crises? What should the UN’s role be in refugee crises that threaten to destabilize neighboring countries? How would you update the UN Charter
to address these and other similar issues? Conference schedule: Friday, Feb. 14:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Registration/Room assignments/Check-in 5:30
– 6:30 p.m.
Dinner and Overview of the Conference for the Future 7:00
– 10:15 p.m.
Evening sessions Committee
#1 [Strong & Weak] Committee
#2 [Country/Culture/Self] Committee
#3 [Visualizing Peace] 10:30
– Midnight
Free time [Optional Late-night swim and/or workout] 12:30
p.m.
Curfew Saturday, Feb. 28:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Continental breakfast [provided by hotel] 9:30 a.m. – 12:15
p.m.
Morning sessions
Committee
#1 [continued]
Committee
#2 [continued]
Committee
#3 [continued] 12:15-12:30
Check out of hotel rooms 12:30
– 1:30 p.m.
Lunch [provided by hotel] 1:30
– 4:30 p.m.
Afternoon Sessions
Committee
#1 [continued]
Committee
#2 [continued]
Committee
#3 [continued] 4:30
– 5:30 p.m.
Plenary session/Reports from committees/Wrap-up
Go home. [If you’re not driving, please arrange to be picked up
at the hotel no later than 5:45 p.m.] To make debates meaningful, it’s important to truly represent your country or group. Each delegate should prepare for the conference by researching his/her country or group, paying special attention to the following key areas of information: population; economic strengths and weaknesses; ethnic/religious/political makeup; literacy rate; past and current alliances; trade relationships; military history with other countries in the region and beyond; and how these factors influence relationships with other nations. Much of this information is readily available, particularly if you search the Web and/or look at recent newspaper coverage. Working papers
& Resolutions -- Optional, but helpful Resolutions-- You’ll help focus the work of committees by preparing and submitting working papers and/or UN-style resolutions that reflect your country/group’s point of view, and that offer reasonable and creative approaches to the topics we’re discussing. You may submit them in advance, or work toward developing resolutions during the conference. For guidance in preparing a working paper or resolution, please consult your “Delegate Handbook,” or visit our on-line course at www.civitas-stl.com/tutorial. Country selection & Committee assignment: On your application form [It’s attached to this packet], please indicate your top three choices for countries to represent. Also, indicate your committee preferences. We will try to fulfill as many
first choices as possible. However, to make the discussions meaningful, we
will try to create committee rosters that reflect geographic and
political/economic balance among UN member nations. We hope you’ll be
flexible in accepting your country and committee assignment. Remember: there will be no veto
power in committees. Also, smaller countries need representation,
particularly in these discussions, and they can make highly significant
contributions to the debate! Country list: Please choose from the following countries and invited groups: Afghanistan – Albania - Argentina - Australia – Bosnia/Herzegovina - Brazil – Chad - Canada - China – Colombia – Costa Rica – Croatia – Cuba - Cyprus - Djibouti - Egypt – Finland – France – Germany – Guatemala – Haiti - India – Indonesia - Ireland – Israel - Jamaica – Japan - Laos - Mali – Mauritius – Mexico – Monaco – Morocco - Nepal - Norway - North Korea – Oman - Pakistan – Philippines - Peru – Russian Federation – Rwanda – Samoa - Saudi Arabia – Seychelles - Sierra Leone – Singapore – South Africa - South Korea – Sweden – Trinidad/Tobago - Tunisia – Turkey - Ukraine – United Kingdom -United States – Uzbekistan – Vietnam - Palestinian Authority Special roles:
If you do not wish to
represent a country, you may choose
to serve in a special role. These roles are: Journalist:
You’ll attend the sessions as an observer, taking notes, asking
questions during discussions, and then report on the proceedings from a
neutral point of view during the wrap-up session on Saturday afternoon.
UN Charter Specialist:
Before the conference, you’ll familiarize yourself with the existing UN
Charter, and research the issues that have prompted proposed changes.
During discussions, you’ll be able to guide the committee through the
Charter, point out sections relevant to the debate, and track changes
suggested by delegates. What to bring:
You’ll need the usual
stuff for an overnight stay [toiletries, medications,
a change of clothes, etc. All hotel rooms have hair dryers.]
Dress code: School clothes Permission &
We must have a current
permission and emergency contact form-- Emergency Contact
signed
by a parent or guardian—from every delegate. Form: You’ll find a form attached to this packet. Please return it to us before the conference begins, or bring it with you at registration.
Optional supplies:
Laptop computer; calculator
Visual aids to help you represent your country/group and to back up your proposals. [Charts, graphs, statistics, books, dictionary, newspaper/magazine articles, editorials, etc.] If you wish, you may wear symbolic clothing, or bring small flags or props that symbolize your country/group. Rules
and regs:
No
smoking, alcohol, or use/possession of illegal drugs. If you violate this
policy, we’ll notify your parents immediately, and you’ll be sent
home.
Friday
night curfew [12:30 a.m.] will be strictly enforced. Chaperones will
conduct a curfew bed check. You’ll be expected to be in your own room.
Any delegate not in his/her room, or found in any room other than his/her
assigned room after curfew, will be sent home immediately, with parent
notification. A security guard will monitor the halls from 12:30 to 8:30
a.m.
You’ll be expected to attend all sessions, and to remain in the
hotel at all times during the conference, unless specifically excused by
conference leaders. For
more info:
Please
call Arthur Lieber, 314-367-6480, or 314-705-1198 [cell]
Or
Gloria Bilchik & Arthur Lieber at home, 314-567-6112
Or email us: [email protected] To
sign up for the conference, please click
here to go to the application form.
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