DiocesanGirls'SchoolModelUnitedNationsConference2015

2nd- 4th July, 2015

PressCorpsBooklet

DiocesanGirls'SchoolModelUnitedNationsConference2015

2nd- 4th July, 2015

PressCorpsBooklet

TheGroupof20

EurozoneCrisis-

ForeignMilitaryExpendituresandInterventioninInternalConflicts

-ArticlesbyTseYanTung

2ndJuly,2015

BackintheGroupof20council,thedelegatessatfidgetingintheirseats,nervouslywonderingwhatsinstoreforthecomingfewdays.Albeitthesmallcouncil,thiscertainlydidnothindertheireagernessandexcitement.

Astheopeningspeechesweredelivered,delegateshavealreadystartednote-passing,eagertoconnectwithdelegateswiththesamestancetoformblocs,andultimatelyreachingconsensus.Itappearsthatallcountriesbelieveincollaboratingtogethertodealwiththeproblemfromthecore:whichisthelackofsustainabilityoftheeurozonecurrently.

Uponthelaunchingofa20minuteunmoderatedcaucus,delegatesgatheredimmediatelytolearnofeachothersstances.ThedelegateofAustralialaidouttwosolutionsimmediately,namelysettingupcommitteestomonitorexpenditureofcountriesthathaveoverspentandofferingGreecefundingsshoulditneedtoholdinternationalevents,gainingthesupportofChinaandRussia.However,theEuropeanUnionhaditsdoubtsabouttheseproposals,questioningthenecessityofthemotionsandwhetheritwillgainsupportfromfundingcountries.Thetwodelegationslaunchedintoaheateddiscussionastheotherdelegationssidedwitheitherone.Evidently,therewillbeforeseeableintensedebateanddiscussionregardingwhatisthemosteffectivewaytosolvetheproblem.

Jumpingstraightintocommitteesessionafterlunch,delegatesofG20immediatelystarteddiscussingwhetherastimulusorausterityplanshouldbeinplacetoassistthecountriesfacingthecrisis.Mostcountriesagreedwithfundingthecountriesinneed,butweredoubtfulaboutdoingsothemselvesbecausetheyquestionwherethemoneywillgo.WhileItalysuggestedandprovedthatanausterityplanhadalreadyworkedonitself,othercountriesseemtohavetheirreservationsasUKaccuratelypointedoutthebenefitsofusingastimulusplan.

Anxioustolearnthedetailsofhowtomonitorthewhereaboutsofthefundedmoney,countriessoonlaunchedintoadiscussionregardingthedetailsofthesuggestedstimulusplan.Ideassuchastourismwerebroughttothetable,gainingrecognitionfrommostdelegates.Theideaofimposingstrictermonitoringonfundedcountrieswasalsobroughtup,whichwaschallengedbycertaindelegatessuchastheUKbyitsfeasibility.

Furtherintothediscussion,theEUproposedthatanausterityplanhadtobeinplaceintheshorttermbeforelaunchingastimulusplan.Anunmoderatedwassooninplacetodiscussthedetails,anddelegatesjoinedinthediscussionwholeheartedly.Thiscommitteesessionendedwithastartofanewdiscussiononwhetherfiscalunionsshouldbeinplace,withdiverseviewsthatagreeanddisagree,basedonnationalsovereigntyandthestateofothereconomiesiftheyweresetup.Thediscussionwashalted,butitiscanbeseenthattherewillbepromisingdebatesregardingthisissueinthefollowingcommitteesessions.

3rdJuly,2015

Despiteitbeingprettyearlyinthemorning,thesecondcommitteesessionstartedoffwithabang,goingbackintowhethertheimplementationofafiscalunionshouldbesetup.AsAustraliabroughtupyesterday,afiscalcommitteewouldbepreferredasitdoesnotinfringeonnationalsovereignty.However,Koreaexpresseditsconcernsasacommitteewithoutlegalbindingpowerwouldnotbeaseffective,andthispointwasechoedbyIndonesia,whoalsosuggestedthatonlyafiscalunion,whichhasacertaindegreeofauthority,wouldbeeffective.

ItalyandFrance,bothcountriesintheEuropeanUnion,questionedtowhatextentthisunionhasovertheireconomy,hencebothagreedthatafiscalcommittee,whichonlyprovidessuggestions,willbepreferred.TheEuropeanUnion,whosefundamentaljobistoservethesecountries,agreedtosetupfiscalcommitteesinstead.ThisreceivedoppositionfromcountriessuchasAustraliaandtheRepublicofKorea,astheybelievedthatthenationalsovereigntyofcountriesshouldbeforgonetoensurethattheireconomieswillbeboosted.TheEuropeanUnionstressedtheneedtorespectandfollowthewillofcountriesintheEU,hencecalleduponanunmoderatedcaucustodiscussfurtherdetailsandformblocs.Aftermuchdiscussion,theideaofausterityversusstimulusplanwasbroughtbacktothetable,whichwasverymuchcontroversial.Delegateswerethoroughlyengagedandbroughtouttheirconcernsandideas.

TheEUsresolutionwasthenbroughttodiscussion,whichwasoriginallyopposedbyseveraldelegates.However,afterseveralfriendlyandunfriendlyamendments,theresolutionwassurprisinglypassedunanimously.ThisclearlydisplaysthespiritofMUN,andthisclosedthesessiononahighnote!

3rdJuly,2015CRISIS:TheEUfallsapart?

Inthiscommitteesession,delegatesdiscussedthewaystodealwiththecrisisofPortugal,Spain,Italy,FranceandGreeceleavingtheEU,unlesstherestoftheG20countriesagreedtonotrequiringthemtorepaytheiroutstandingdebt.NotonlydidthisaffectthecountriesintheEU,butitalsocausedstockmarketsindifferentcountriestoplummet.

Thiscrisistookalldelegatesbysurprise,especiallyItalyandFrance.Italyexpresseditsconcernforitsdelayedretirementage,whichsetthediscussiononamorelight-heartednote.However,delegatesrecognisedtheurgencyofthiscrisis,anddivedstraightintothedetailsofsolution.

Unmoderatedcaucuseswereheldfordelegatestowriteclausesforthisissue,afterwhichthewholecouncilwillgothroughandvoteforeachclause,resultinginaresolutionthatwillhavebeendecidedtogether.Delegatessatinclustersdiscussing,comingupwithatotalof7clauseswithinhalfanhour.

Whileotherclauseswerenotpassedduetomanyvotesofabstention,thefollowingthreeclauseswerepassed:DeclaresthatthecountriesofFrance,Italy,Portugal,SpainandGreeceshallnolongerberecognizedasamemberoftheEuropeanUnionortheEurozone,andwillnothavetheobligationtoabidebyanyoftheEUregulations.RequeststhatFrance,Italy,Portugal,SpainandGreecereturnallitsdebtsowedtotheECB,IMFandtheirdebtorslatestbyJune30,2023.Encouragescountries,especiallythosewithinG20,toinvestactivelyinthestockmarketattheirowndiscretiontoboostconfidenceintheeconomy.

Thiscrisissparkedmuchmorefiresamongthedelegates,anditappearsthatdelegatesaremuchmorecomfortablewithdiscussionatthispoint,lookingforwardtothedebatestocome.Welldonedelegates!

SecurityCouncil

BiochemicalWarfare-

TheNATOPresenceinAfricanCountries

-ArticlesbyCharlotteIm

2ndJuly,2015FreshFaces.FreshBeginnings

Theconferencewaskickstartedwithdelegatesbecomingmoreacquaintedwitheachother,beginningwithashortself-introduction,continuedbyice-breakinggamessuchastwotruthsonelies.ThedelegateofUSAmayormaynothaverevealedthathehasthecommunistmanifestoinhispersonalpossessions.Thelinguisticskillsofdelegatesalsocameunderscrutinization.ThedelegationsofUSandSyriathenstruckupanunorthodoxcamaraderieupontheirhatredtowardsphysicssubject.Tofreshenuptheatmosphere,thedelegateofChadevenlenthissingingvoicetothecouncil.

Afteraroundoffriendlyovertures,eachdelegationwasinvitedtomakeopeningspeechestointroducetheirrespectivecountriestothecouncilmembers.France,Chile,USA,China,andUKeachspoketoillustratetheirthoughtsonthecouncilandontheirownnations.TheAmericandelegationcreatedthelargestimpactintheroomwithhisopeningstatementofWevegotthisroomrigged.,startlingthecountriesinsession,especiallyRussia.ThedelegatethenconcludedwiththeexplosivestatementthatconsensuswouldbereachedwithAmericandemocracy,causingabriefuproarinthecouncil.HewasthencalledonbythechairpersonstoapologizetoRussiaforcertainoffensivestatementsthatputtheRussiandelegateatunease.

Onamoreseriousnote,thetwochairpersonstooktheopportunitytogooverrulesandprofessionaltermsthatwouldbeinuseduringthecouncilsessions,inordertofacilitatethesmoothoperationofthefollowingcouncilsessions.Withthat,thecouncilbrokefordelegatestoprepareforthetwotopicsthatwouldbediscussedinlatersessions.

2ndJuly,2015TheDilemmaofInternationalPeace

TheSecurityCouncilsfirsttopic,BiochemicalWarfare,officiallycommencedaftertheformalitiesofthemorning.Variousmoderatedcaucuseswereproposedbydifferentmembernationsofthecouncil,largelyfocusingontheeffectivenessofassortedmeasuresthatcanbeusedinlimitingtheexistenceofbiochemicalwarfare,rangingfromthefeasibilityofmilitaryinterventiontothescopeoftheChemicalWeaponsConvention.DelegatesofSyriaandChinaheldstrongtothestancethatnationalsovereigntyshouldbeputovermilitaryintervention,whiletheUnitedKingdomheldamorefavourablestancetotheopposingspectrum.However,mostdelegatesdidagreethatstricterregulationandmonitoringhadtobeputinplace,especiallyconcerningthedevelopmentandacquisitionofbiochemicalweaponsinterroristorganizationsinordertoprotectcivilianlives,withmilitaryinterventionasalastresort.

AnunmoderatedcaucuswasthenproposedbythedelegateofChina,whichwasextendedbythedelegateofJordanforatotalof25minutes,discussingthesolutionsthatcouldbeusedfortheresolutionsubmittedinthesessionnextmorning.Despitethevigorousnotepassingthathadoccurredinthesession,alliancesseemtonothavebeendevelopedascountriesworkedtogethertowardseradicatingthethreatofbiologicalwarfare.ItwasagreedthataseriesofactionswouldbeadoptedbytheUNwhenencounteringnationswhoareinpossessionofbiochemicalweapons,startingfromverbalwarningstonegotiationsthenfinallyprogressingontothedeploymentofpeacekeepingtroops.

Despitedifferingopinionsandongoingcontroversies,itseemsthatmembernationshavebeenabletoreachageneralconsensusastothedirectionofhowinternationalpeacecanbeupheldinfaceofthethreatofbiologicalwarfare,andmanyremainhopefulastowhattomorrow'ssessionwillbring.

3rdJuly,2015AStepintheSameDirection

Delegationsquicklyreacquaintedwitheachothertoproceedondiscussionoftheresolutionsthatweredraftedovernight.ThedelegatefromJordanshowedupwithaJordanianflagaroundhisneckinaboldshowofpatriotism,whichwaslargelyignoredbyotherdelegatesastheywereoccupiedwiththeresolution.

ThesessionwentunderwaywithanunmoderatedcaucustofurtherdiscussthetworesolutionsproposedbytheUnitedKingdomandFrance,andmostdelegatesexpressedtheirsupportforbothresolutions,whichcombinedtogetherhavecoveredmanysolutionsthatarefeasibletopreventbiochemicalwarfare.Nocaucuseswereproposedduringthedurationofthissession,howeverdiscussionstillstartedinthegeneralspeakerslisttowardsthetrackingandmonitoringofbiochemicalweaponsandconsequentrawmaterials.

ThedelegationofChinabroughtuptheideaofaninternationaldatabasetoservethispurpose,butwasimmediatelydoubtedunderclosescrutinizationbyFrance,theUnitedKingdom,andAmerica,especiallytheeffectivenessofthedatabaseinlightofvariousotherintelligenceagencies,aswellasconcernscirclinghumanrightsandprivacy.Despiteexistingambiguity,thecouncilgenerallyachievedaconsensusinthegeneralframeworkofactionstobeadoptedregardingthetopicathand,anditseemsasifasolutionisinsight.

AfterabriefdetourintosolvingChinasbiochemicalproblem,thecouncilresumedintodiscussingamoregeneralframeinpreventingbiochemicalwarfare.ThecouncilfirstdiscussedtheresolutionproposedbytheUnitedKingdom,withitsmainfocusonsanctions.TheeffectivenessoftheresolutionwasimmediatelybroughtintodoubtbydelegationsofNewZealandandChina.Chinasresolution,containingfollow-upactionsandtheideaofaninternationaldatabase,wasthendiscussedbythecouncil,butdetailswerealsoquestionedbyfellowmemberstates.Hence,amoderatedcaucuswascalledtodiscussbothresolutionsandthesubsequentpossibilityofmergingbothresolutionsintoone.Manycountriesexpressedsupporttothecombiningofthesetworesolutions,thusanunmoderatedcaucuswascalledtofurtherexploretheproposition.

TheCouncilfinallydecidedonanewresolutionputforthjointlybybothUKandChina,whichwasputonthetableforfurtherdiscussion.Subsequentclarificationsandamendmentsweremade,andwasquicklypassedunanimously,withtheexceptionofVenezuelawhowasabsentforthecouncil.Onceagainthecouncildemonstratedanuncannyabilitytoresolveallcontroversiesthroughdiscussionandcriticsexpressamazementtowardstheabilitytocompromiseamongthedelegates,aswellastheabilityofthechairpersonstostartquestioningtheambiguousrelationshipstatusbetweenthedelegatesofUSAandtheUK.

3rdJuly,2015AntagonismandCoalition

AsuddenbiochemicalleakageinXinjiang,China,byanAmericancompanywasbroughttotheattentionoftheSecurityCouncil,interruptingthesession.However,thecontroversyoftheissuelayintheunsanctionedpresenceofNATOtroopswithoutChinesenorUNapproval.Afteramoderatedcaucusandanunmoderatedcaucus,twoblocsquicklyformed,oneconsistingofUK,US,andFrance,whiletheotherconsistedtherestofthecountriesledbyChina.Theformerblocstressedontheimportanceofpeacekeepingtroopsintheregiontopreventterroristattacks,whilethelatterwasadamantthatsuchactwasaninfringementofChinasnationalsovereignty.

ThediscussionwasbrieflyinterruptedbyabreachofsecurityintheCouncil,inwhichanimmigrantsuperhuman(asquotedbytheChairpersons)threatenedbodilyharmtotheUSdelegate,puttingtheblameoftheleakageonthenation.TheAmericanblocsawthisasaproofoftheneedforsecurityintheregion,thusNATOshouldremaintoensurestability,doubtingthecapabilityofChinainmaintainingregionalsafety.However,theotherblocsawsuchactasaconsequenceofAmericanandNATOactions,whiletheChileandelegationspropositionofallowingNATOtroopstoremainuntilChinesemilitarytroopstakecontrolmetoppositionfromtheopposingbloc.

Afterabreakinsession,thecouncilreturnedtoaresolutionproposedbyFrance,detailingtheconsensusthatcountriesagreedoncooperatingwithnon-governmentorganizationsandalsobanningfactoriesthatareallegedlyproducingbiochemicalweapons,meanwhileindividuallyofferingaidtoChina.Countriesexpressedgeneralagreementtothemaincontentbutconflictsstillexistedwhendiscussingthespecificsofimplementation.Afinalunmoderatedcaucuswascalledbythechairpersonstofinalizetheresolution.Compromiseswerequicklymadeandmultiplefriendlyamendmentsweremadetosolidifytheresolution,includingsettingatimeframeforthewithdrawalofNATOtroops.

Allinall,thecouncilwasextremelypeacefulandharmonious,withnounfriendlyamendmentsraisedregardingtheresolution.TheresolutionproposedbyFrancewasthenpassedunanimously,andthediscussionendedonapleasantnote,withmemberstatesexpressingoptimismtowardsworkingtogetherwiththeaimofreachingworldpeaceinfuturesessions.

3rdJuly,2015SyrianCrisis:Syria-sly?

ItwasbroughttotheCouncilsattentionthatNATO,ledbyFranceandAmerica,hasonceagainmilitaryintervenedintotheSyrianCivilWarwithoutrecognizedauthority,involvingthebombingofcivilianareas,whiletheSyriangovernment,assistedbyRussia,carriedoutherownfightagainsttherebels.Ontheotherhand,Jordanrefusestotakeinwarrefugees.

AmoderatedcaucuswasimmediatelyproposedbytheUnitedKingdomtodebatewhetherJordanshouldtakeinSyrianrefugees.TheJordaniandelegatewasputunderhumongouspressurebyothermemberstatesdisapprovalforhischosenstance,butarguedwiththeeconomicandsocialproblemsthatwouldbebroughtforthifthenationchoosestotakeinSyrianrefugees.ThedelegationofChinaproposedtocompensateJordanandtosetupanUN-runrefugeecampinJordantoalleviateherburden,whichwassecondedbyvariousothernations.

ThecouncilthenmovedontoqueryingthelegitimacyofNATOinterventionintheregion.Onceagain,theCouncilwasseparatedintotwoblocs,althoughnotasdistinctasbefore,oneconsideringtheinterventionofNATOnecessaryandusefulwhileotherssawitasathreatofaggression,asdescribedbySyria.However,manydelegatesalsopointedoutthatthesituationwasextremelycomplicatedandtheSyriangovernmentseemtobeunabletocontrolthepoliticalturmoilintheregion,whilereservationsstillremainastowhetherNATOshouldhaveactedwithouttheauthorisationofinternationalbodies.

Despitefiercediscussion,thecruxoftheissuestillremains.IfNATOwithdrawsfromSyria,whatthen?IfNATOispermittedtostay,whatdoesthatspellforfuturemilitaryactionsoftheorganization?Thereismuchtobediscussed,buttheclockistickingforSyriancivilians.

Social,HumanitarianandCulturalCommittee

EliminationofRacialDiscrimination-

HumanitarianCrisisintheGazaStrip-

ArticlesbyPearlChengandEuniceChong

2ndJuly,2015APromisingStart

Theatmospherewastenseduringthestartofthesession.Thechairsattemptedtoeasetensionbyinvitingdelegatestoaskquestionsabouteachother,thisinitiatedonlyoccasionalsparksofhumour.

Inviewofthepresentsituation,chairsintroducedaminigamesession.Thisconsistedofaskingeachdelegatetointroduceoneselfbycomparingitselftoanothercountry.Delegatesseemedtobeongoodtermsastheytookturnsmakingpuns.Forexample,thedelegateofRussiamentionedthatshewouldcomparehercountrytoAustraliabecauseitwas"hot",likeherself.PopularcountriesforcomparisonwereFranceandBritain,inviewoftheirromanticandrelaxinglifestyle.Differentaspectswereexploredbyall,fullyshowingthateachandeverydelegatehadanunderstandingofallcountriesanditsrespectivefeatures.

Forfinals,a"FunCountryFacts"gamesessionwasintroduced.Delegateswereinstructedtoformblocswiththreeotherdelegatesrepresentingothercountriesonthebasisofsimilarities.Thefirstthreecountriestoformablocwouldwin.Afteraseriesoftwistsandlaughter,theblocofBolivia,BrazilandSouthAfricawon,theirsimilaritybeing"havingthecolourgreenonourflag".

Itwasafuntimethatcertainlygotdifferentdelegatestogetherandeverydelegateenjoyedittothefullest.

2ndJuly,2015Racialdiscrimination:theurgencyofelimination

Asdelegatestooktothepodiumtovoicetheirstancesontheseriousnessofracialdiscriminationanddescribetheircountry'sethniccomposition,itbecameincreasinglyapparentthatcollectiveactiontofightdiscriminationtoachieveracialequalitywasabsolutelyparamountatthispointintime.

WhentheGSLopened,Israelexpressedconcernonthegrowingtrendofviolentracialconflictsandaskedtofacilitatemediainfluenceontheissue.USA,GermanyandAustraliainsistedoneducation,withRussiaalsoagreeingonlegislations.Syriaurgedperpetratorstochangetheirnegativeracialperceptions.

Israelproposedamoderatedcaucusdiscussingtheeffectivenessofeducationincombatingracism.Mostcountriesagreedthateducationisultimatelythemosteffective,longtermsolutiontochangingthefuturegeneration'sperceptionsandsolvingracialdiscriminationatitsroot.However,IvoryCoasttookadifferentstance.Theyarguedthateducationwasyettobeaccessibleorcommoninthecountry,hence,educationwouldnotbeusefulinsolvingthisproblem."Legislationisthemostpracticalsolutiontosolvetheproblem"hesaid.

Bulgariainitiatedamoderatedcaucusontheeffectivenessofsocialmediaontacklingracism.Mostcountries,suchasUSAandUAE,saidthatthemediaisamodern,fastpacednetworkwhichcanspreadequalityideologiesandraisesocialawarenessacrosstheglobe.However,thedelegatesofBolivia,GermanyandIvoryCoastspokeagainstthismotion.ThedelegateofBoliviaargued,"Onemayonlyseekforsourcesthatcorrespondtotheirstances,andnotthoseagainst.Whatusewillsocialmediabethen?"GermanyandIvoryCoastarguedthatsomedevelopingcountrieswouldnothaveaccesstosocialmedia,sothiswouldprovetobefruitless.Worriesofracistmediainformationcausingcounterintuitivebacklashesalsosurfacedduringthisdebate.

Russiaembarkedonamoderatedcaucusontheeffectivenessofsigninglaws.Countriesweredeeplydivided:thosewhowereforthemotionclaimedthatlegislationwouldbringeffectivelegalramificationsagainstracialdiscriminationperpetrators;othersarguedtherewereloopholesinthecriminal-justicesystem.

Afterwards,thedelegateofUAEmotionedforamoderatedcaucusontheeffectivenessofeconomicsupport.UAEstatedthatmoneywouldbeusedtopayforexpensivetechnologies,suchassocialmedia,thusraisingawarenessonracialdiscrimination.Israeladvocatedsettingupafundtooffersupporttolessdevelopedcountries.However,Russiawasagainstthemotionwiththereasonthatthiswouldonlycausefurtherdiscrimination.Syriaalsostatedthatcountriescouldpossiblyfacefinancialproblems,sotherefore,economicsupportwasn'tfeasible,andsettingupafundwouldbemorepragmatic.

Suddenly,aslighttwistwasbroughttolight.TwoschoolchildrenofAfricandescentfromSouthAfricagavetheirtestimoniesonhoweducationworsenedtheproblemofracialdiscriminationattheirschool.Thischangedthewholescene.Mostcountrieschangedtheirstancesandproposedsolutionsastheyadvocatedforstricterlegislations.

Withthedebatecomingtoanend,resolutionsstartedtoformamongblocs.Delegateswillhopefullypassthemostusefulresolutionsoutofthediverseplatter.

3rdJuly,2015ResolutionsonEducationandEconomicSupport

Asthechairsopenedthefloor,tworesolutionsbroughtforward.OnebySyria,UAEandGermany,anotherbyUSAandIsrael.

Israelproceededtointroduceresolution1.1.TheirmainfocuswastosetupmoreeducationopportunitiesandUNorganstocombatracialdiscrimination.Thiswouldpromoteracialequalityinschools.Theyoungergenerationwouldbeinclinedtotheantiracistideasthatweadvocatehere."Onthelegallevel,Israelproposedactivelegalramificationsagainstracistperpetrators.

Syriathenproposedtopassresolution1.2.Thisincludedtrademarkets,anddetailedguidelinesfortheimplementationofpoliciesamongcountries,"1.2ismorecomprehensivebecauseitincludesguidelinesforcountriesontheimplementationofpolicies,"saidSyriaandGermany,supportersof1.2.However,IsraelandAustraliawerenotinfortheresolution."Bysettingupschoolsforindividualraces,itiscontradictorytotoday'saimofeliminatingracialdiscrimination!"Thedelegatesaffirmed;USA,too,expresseditsdisapprovalonthepointsofsettinguptrademarkets.Aheateddebatethencommencedspecificallyontheeffectivenessoftrademarksmentionedintheaforementionedresolution,withneithersidegivingin.UAEassuredthatthenegativeeffectsofthetrademarksystemcouldbealleviatedbylegislation,butthedelegatesofRwandadidnotagreeso.ThisresultedinanextendedmotionbytheUAE.Attheveryend,thesuggestionoftrademarkswassmited.

Anothertwistwasthenputforth.AfterlisteningtoanaudiorecordedbyaterroristgroupKuKluxKlanandatestimonybyformergroupmember,USApromptlyfoundoutthattheirministershadbeenbribed.USAandIsraelthenproposedtofightthisradicalgroup.OthercountriesalsoproceededtodenysupportingKKKanddespitegrudgesbetweencountries,delegatesdecidedonlongtermpoliciesandideologicalsolutionstoeradicatethisgroupanditsideologies.However,thechairsremindeddelegatesthat"onecannotkillideas"and"eradicatingterroristsgroupsrequirelegaljurisdiction"

Countriesputforthdifferentideas,onenotablybeingeducationbyUAE,inwhichtheybelievedthateducationwouldteachpeoplefromwrongtorightfromdayone.Butallideaswerenottakenintoconsiderationyetasthecongregationbrokeupforlunchbreak.Furtherdevelopmentwillbeseeninthefollowingconference.

Delegateswastednotimetoproposetheirstances.Allexpressedtheirdeepestconcernsandcondemnationondifferentaspectsoftheterm'humanitariancrisis',beitrefugeesorhumanrights.All,exceptIsraelitselfwereadamantthatthiswasdevastatingandcertainlycatastrophic.Israelhastenedtopointoutthattheywerethevictimsofthiscrisis,thattheysufferedfromattacksonaweeklybasis,andtherealculpritwasinfactHamas,butnevertheless,delegatesofothercountries,suchasMexico,continuedtobombIsraelwithcritics.

Astheconferenceproceeded,itcouldbeseenthatcountriesweremainlydividedintotwostances:supportiveofIsraelandsupportiveofHamas.Australiaurgeddelegatestonegotiateandfindsolutionsoutofthiscrisis,anactwhichwashighlycommendedbybothchairs.Ontheotherendofthespectrum,Israelcontinuedtofightbackagainstthecondemnationsinlightofthecountry'sselfdefenceandmilitarypower,despitethefieryaccusationsofmostcountries,showingabsolutelynoconcernforthewelfareoftheciviliansofGazaandbeingthefirsttobreaktheceasefire.

Somecountries,suchasAustraliatookamilitaryview,proposingtotakedownIsrael'sblockadeonGazaandstoppingmilitarysuppliestoHamasandIsrael.OtherssuchasSouthAfricaandPhilippinesproposedtoprovidedailynecessitiessuchaswatersystems,electricityandinfrastructurefortheirdailylives.

Intheend,animpassewasreachedasnocountrycouldgettoaconsensusofwhatfurtheractiontotakenext.Newprogressishopedforthenextsection.

3rdJuly,2015UnwillingtoGiveinonGazaStripCrisis

3rdJuly,2015

Followingthebreak,IsraelproposedamoderatedcaucusondetailedsolutionsofhowtopeacefullydisarmHamas.Thisisindeedanidealmove,seeinghowitcorrespondstothestancesofbothsidessupportiveanddisagreeingandalsoshowsIsrael'sdeterminationforpeaceintheGazaregion.

IsraelproposedtonegotiatewithHamasandurgedothercountriestojoinherhandinhandinthisendeavour.Thiswassupportedbymanyothercountries.Manycountriessuggestedotherpoliciestoresolvethesituation:AustraliaproposedforminganUNarmytocombatforpeaceintheareaandnegotiatewithHamas.RussiapromisedtobeamediatortoencourageHamastostoptheconflictwithIsrael.Syria,howeverwasagainstthisidea,arguingthatHamaswasaterroristgroup,andthatmadethemalmostimpossibletonegotiatewith.

TwocitizensfromGazawerethenintroducedtogivedelegatesinsightonlifebehindtheIsraeliblockadeinGazaandalsotoputforthnewideasnotpreviouslyexplored.Delegatesrespondedmoreorlessenthusiastically.

Thetopicofdeliveryofaidandlooseningthebarricadewasthenbroughtforward.AustraliasuggestedformingaUNcommitteetomonitortheproperusageoffundsandaid.IsraelfurtherannouncedthatitwouldloosenthebarricadeonlywhenHamaspromisedtoobeytheceasefire,thatis,whentheircountry'ssafetywasnotatstake.

Soon,mostcountriesagreedonnegotiatingwithHamasononehandandprovidingdailynecessitiesforGazacitizens.Furthersuggestionsweremade,suchassendingNGOs,teachingaidstotheGazastoallowthemtofendforthemselves.

Solutionswerethenpresented.Russia,IsraelandUSAmentionedwayssuchasnegotiatingwithHamasforaceasefire,temporarilyliftingthebarricadeandprovidingmedicalandmaterialaiddiplomatically.A"safezone",toactasabufferbetweenthetwoareasandamonitorsystemwasalsomentioned.Butontheotherhand,Syria,UAEandmostcountriessupportedbattlingHamaswithforceandtakingawaybothside'smilitarypower.

Attheendoftheday,vaguestancesandblocswereformed.Wecanhopetoseemoredevelopmentonthematterwhentheconferenceresumesthefollowingday.

PeopleBehindtheScenes

HeadofPressCorps:SiobhanLeungArticleWriters:PearlCheng,EuniceChong,CharlotteIm,TseYanTungPhotographers:AudreyYee,ChanWingHei,MaggieLam,KellyLiang,ErinaChow,ClariseLam,JaneMok,AdelleChan,JoeyChanSocialMediaUpdaters:JaniceWong,ChristieLeung

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