Friday, 28 January 2011 Volume XIX, Issue IV

There were laughs aplenty at the MUN-directors Introductory Meeting on Monday, but the topic was serious – THIMUN is looking to expand to a new conference in Qatar in November of 2011. The conference’s stage is the brand new Qatar National Convention Center in Doha, which is scheduled to be completed in June of 2011. It will be THIMUN’s second expansion; The THIMUN Conference started in The Hague in 1968 and the first session of THIMUN Singapore was held in 2005.

Ms. Linda Dubock, Chair of the THIMUN Foundation, expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of a third conference. “We just went to Doha to sign off the official agreement,” she explained. “It’s been a lot of work, but rewarding.”

“The Qatar Foundation, a very generous institution, will team up with the THIMUN Foundation to organize an MUN conference for those in the Middle East and Northern Africa,” Ms. Dubock continued. The new

location will make this conference more accessible to students living in that area. Ms. Dubock emphasized that “We want THIMUN to be inclusive, not exclusive.”

The new conference will be lead by director Cameron Janzen, a former teacher in Qatar Academy in Doha. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to not doing two jobs,” he confesses, “but I’m going to miss the classroom.”

The THIMUN Foundation made the decision of Qatar as the host. According to Mr. Janzen, the foundation was “looking for a host country in a third region,” and chose Qatar because it was a good “hub” and economically stable.

The conference will “service the region from India to Morocco,” though students from farther away will also be accepted.

Like THIMUN Singapore, the conference in Qatar will feature a 1200-1500 delegate cap to maintain a mid-size conference. The cap maximizes the possible speaking and debating time for delegates and makes the conference more interactive.

Mr. Janzen does not believe there will be a problem with a culture gap. “Doha is a very cosmopolitan, ethnically diverse city.” This conference would be a unique experience that can “shatter cultural stereotypes about the Middle East.”

The idea for this conference has been received primarily with enthusiasm.

Abdullatief Tubailah, a Palestinian student at a school in Qatar, explained that Qatar is a good site for the new THIMUN conference because of the country’s cultural landmarks and the modern conference center that is available there.

While Saudi Aramco sponsors the Dutch edition, Royal Dutch Shell will be a sponsor of THIMUN Qatar through its affiliate Qatar Shell.

Applications for THIMUN Qatar will be made available in April. Information on the conference can be found at www.thimunqatar.org. It will certainly be an opportunity to debate the UN cases while enjoying a culture most MUN delegates have yet to experience.

THIMUN Looks Past Borders, into Multicultural FutureBy Adriaan Hilbers

Bleak Months to Follow: Post-THIMUN Depression

- Page 8

Muney, Pandy and Snowy will Get to Know their Family

- Page 3Azra Sudetic Karina Dukalska

Abdulrahman Al-Khori

An Interviewwith ProsecutorSerge Brammertz

- Page 14Abdulrahman Al-Khori

“The Qatar Foundation, a very generous institution, will team up with the THIMUN Foudation to organize an MUN conference for those in the Middle East

and Northern Africa.”

The THIMUN conference in The Hague is expanding as well. The majority of the schools present attended the conference last year, but there are new schools as well as schools that are back after absences.

NEW SCHOOLS:• International School Hannover Region,

Germany• Birkerød Gymnasium, Denmark• International School Nido de Aguilas,

Chile• Lycée Français Saint Joseph d’Istanbul,

Turkey• The Beacon Academy, The Philippines

COMING BACK:• American School Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

(last in 2008)• St. Julians School, Portugal (last in 2008)

January 28, 2011

Witnessing History at the ICTYThe mere sight of Radovan Karadzic in the

flesh is enough to leave one with goose bumps. The disheveled crown of bright white hair; the down-turned mouth; and the dark, deep-set eyes could belong to any stranger on the street, but the power behind these relatively non-descript features imparts a sense of intimidation and trepidation not easily shaken. It doesn’t help that the journey to the courtroom in which he sits requires a labyrinth of metal detectors, security guards, passport scanning, and pat downs, which only increases the suspense and fear. Needless to say, there hangs in the air a heavy feeling of severity along with a profound gratitude for the glass wall between the viewer and one of the most-wanted criminals of our day.

“I hope we will not be meeting each other in the next war, because there will not be a next war,” Radovan Karadzic pronounced yesterday afternoon, a slightly mocking, but faintly genuine smile on his mouth and his glasses balanced precariously at the end of his nose. General Jonathon Riley nodded briefly but politely in response, not lifting his eyes to the man who had been questioning him for the previous half an hour.

The witness, Mr. Riley, was a commander

in the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), during the hostage crisis of 1995, in which Karadzic allegedly played a role. On the table in the courtroom yesterday was the subject of a certain group of soldiers who had been taken captive during the conflict. Karadzic, who is facing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity, among others, asked his witness, Riley, whether these individuals had been in active service when they were taken captive. After some back and forth banter, Riley affirmed that the soldiers were indeed active. The session with Riley soon came to a close, with no further questions from the defense or the prosecution. Because of an illness, the next witness’s arrival was delayed, and the stand was not occupied yesterday.

To observe the specific events of such a momentous trial is to see true history in the making. The ICTY constantly enacts precedents concerning mass murder, genocide, and crimes against humanity, all the while striving to attain a broader goal of justice, peace, and potential reconciliation, and Karadzic’s case presents a quintessential example of these principles. The experience is an opportunity to see crime and punishment in action.

By Isabelle Stillman

Saudi Aramco and the AOCThe THIMUN conference is sponsored by

Saudi Aramco, but unfortunately only a few of the delegates know what this company is or where they are from. So, who are they and why are they sponsoring the THIMUN conference?

Saudi Aramco is the state-owned oil company from Saudi Arabia. It is the largest oil corporation in the world, and the largest non-governmental employer in Saudi Arabia. Due to the company’s size, it has many subsidiaries around the world, including the Aramco Overseas Company (AOC), whose headquarters are only a block away from the World Forum Convention Center on the Scheveningseweg.

The AOC was established in 1948 in Rome

and for more than 60 years years it has been “supporting Saudi Aramco and its affiliates in fulfilling their role to provide a stable, safe and reliable source of energy to the world.” The headquarters moved to The Hague in 1952, then to Leiden, the Netherlands in 1984. It returned to The Hague in 2009.

Besides funding THIMUN, the company is involved in numerous charities and events, sponsoring a 6K run for the “Right to Play” foundation, which make sports and physical activities possible in regions of povery. It also paid for educational trips for Saudi students as well as Dutch students from the University of Delft, and funded a school for children with special educational needs in Switzerland.

As well as educational funding, the AOC has donated to the Shooting Star hospice, which helps families and children who have life-threatening conditions. AOC employees are encouraged to donate blood.

THIMUN Managing Director Irene Crepin explains that AOC’s donation among other things provides the delegates enhanced conference experiences.

By Adriaan Hilbers

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MUNITY XLIII Staff

EDITORS-IN-CHIEFJaimi Kim

michaella KossaKowsKi

TEXT EDITORSNeslihaN cabuK

aNthoNy GoKiaNluy

mari-aNa NarboN

bavo steveNs

REPORTERSmuNir atalla

KristiN bucKmaster

Parisa Frost

adriaaN hilbers

sasha KruGmaN

caroliNe ludemaN sieNa morrell

Nicole Novey

so yeoN ParK

isabelle stillmaN

maheK tulsiaNi

mara weNdebourG

LAYOUT EDITORS

seohyuN bae

ramesh balachaNdraN

Joshua david

rebecca Jetter

Julia laNcaster

Juliet moore

James roh

PHOTOGRAPHERS abdulrahmaN al-Khori

lara batato

mohammed bdeir

marGaret bliss

KariNa duKalsKa

GweNdoliNe scholteN

azra sudetic

Opinions expressed by MUNITY are not necessarily those of the newspaper, The Hague International Model United Nations, its affilliates, sponsors, or participants, but rather those of the individual writers formed from their observation of the conference with research. Commentary and response referring to the articles are welcomed. MUNITY reserves the right to withhold or edit submissions.

FeaTUReS

GweNdoliNe scholteN

January 28, 2011

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FeaTUReS

A Day in the Life: President of the General Assembly

Guillaume Julian is known for many things at THIMUN. He is the guy who stood at the podium during opening speeches. He is the guy who walks around with an earpiece and a walkie-talkie. He is the guy who looks kind of like Kurt Hummel from Glee. “I’ve never seen Glee, but I appreciate that,” he said. “I don’t look anything like this guy, I bet.”

Above all, however, he is known as the President of the General Assembly (PGA). Hailing from the American School of Paris, Julian has a wealth of experience, having attended around 15 conferences in his MUN career. He has main-submitted a resolution at THIMUN as the delegate of Israel; he has presided over Paris Model United Nations (PAMUN) as the Secretary-General at his own school; and now, he has the top THIMUN position available to those not residing in the Netherlands.

Essentially, the PGA is a key problem-solver of the conference. He roams the General Assembly committees, making sure that everything is running smoothly and dealing with any issues that may come about. He presides over the opening and

closing ceremonies. He deals with rowdy members of the conference (so please, delegates – make sure to behave). All in all, the PGA is one of the most powerful people at THIMUN, and, as was once said by the iconic Uncle Ben from Spiderman, “with great power comes great responsibility.”

“I think you need to have your head on your shoulders, because otherwise you might not be able to lead the way you should,” Julian said. “I think it’s a challenge. It’s a challenge to make sure that everyone’s in order and to make sure that everyone is behaving, but it’s a challenge that I like to undertake. It’s a challenge that I enjoy.”

The PGA’s job is one that many delegates would love to have, but one

that precious few could actually handle successfully. Aside from intelligence and practicality, the job requires the innate ability to make a room of advisors and chairs as well as hundreds of delegates settle down and pay attention. “His charisma makes you want to listen to him,” said one awestruck General Assembly delegate. “He just has that certain je ne sais quoi.” Whatever it is, Julian is certainly admirable as one of the main people to thank for such a fantastic THIMUN XLIII.

By Mahek Tulsiani

Last Day Until Muney, Pandy and Snowy Will Get to Know Their New Family

After four days of intense debate, the THIMUN delegates have shown their dedication by buying raffle tickets, a charity benefiting Amnesty International. The prizes are three teddies, Muney, Pandy

and Snowy, they have raised up to €516. Both Ms. Dubock and Mr. van der Zwaag were very positive about this year’s contribution. In addition, they happily informed MUNITY that a generous donor bought several tickets for €100. This important amount of money being donate to

received €4000 in a week for the

Haiti charity at last THIMUN conference and was won by the John Burroughs School of St. Louis. After one year away, he is back in The Hague, attending his second THIMUN conference. During his year abroad, Teddy Muney discovered the United States and went to local central state conferences. In his new home in St. Louis, he spent the rest of the year at the Head of School’s office welcoming visitors.

Hereby, we invite all delegates to buy more raffle tickets so that Muney, Pandy and Snowy, this year’s endangered teddies, could have the chance of having a new home and great adventures like Teddy Muney.

The raffle’s results will be announced at the Closing Ceremony at 4:30pm.

By Mara Wendebourg

Maggie Bliss

KaRina DUKalSKa

Amnesty International charity raffle raises the €2000 that were given by delegates in the charity boxes in their committees.

Popular polar bear, Teddy Muney

January 28, 2011 PHOTO COLLAGE

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January 28, 2011

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PHOTO COLLAGE

January 28, 2011 ISSUES & FORUMS

Size Matters in the General AssemblyBy Kirsten Buckmaster

Unraveling ECOSOCThe third morning in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),

which tackles issues such as the Exploitation of Migrant Workers and the Goals of the First Millennium Development Goal (MDG1), demonstrated the delegates’ sincere interest and enthusiasm about the discussed issue. When asked about the atmosphere of the Council, the Chairs replied that, it has been “a balanced medium between intensely energetic and calmly constructive.”

For ECOSOC, yesterday was a day of working hard and, as the

Chairs stated, “weeding out the problems in the resolutions currently discussed”. The chairs were faced with an influx of amendments, as the topic of “Achieving the Three Targets of MDG1 – to Reduce Poverty by 2015” was discussed. Delegates were eager to take the floor since the issue at hand was relevant to many of the delegations. Many delegates said they simply “did not feel comfortable” with some of the clauses and sent in amendments. Some countries such as Venezuela and the USA spoke for the resolution. The Delegate of the UNFPA spoke against it. After multiple re-votes the resolution failed. The committee moved on to discussing a resolution addressing “Criminal Exploitation of Migrant Workers”. Different delegations raised questions regarding a number of clauses, and thus the general atmosphere of the committee was loud.

Regardless of the rowdy atmosphere in the committee, ECOSOC remains to “treat debates with diplomacy and seriousness and a light-hearted tone,” as one of the chairs stated; however,“they still know how to have fun.”

By Sasha Krugman

Page 6

The delegate cleared his throat. He took the long walk to the podium at the front of the enormous room, and set his gaze over the sea of heads in front of him.

As the largest committee at THIMUN, being a part of a General Assembly sub-committee poses a plethora of problems to delegates. These problems are slightly different from those challenging delegates in, say, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or the Security Council (SC), because of one aspect: size. With so many delegates in one room, handling the physical logistics, as well as the wdynamics of the committee’s debate, is a challenge. Ask anyone sitting in the back row of their large committee room, and you will discover the real hardships suffered due to the distance between them and the chairs.

For example, Sakshi Shah, the Delegate of Bulgaria in GA 5, expressed her frustration at being overlooked by her chairs, who sit at the other end of the room from her. The Delegate of Bolivia in the same committee, Aniroodh Shankar, also commented, “the hardest part is actually getting your point across to one hundred and twenty others.”

But despite the limitations of large

committees, the GA has been outstandingly productive over the past few days, having passed resolutions on a myriad of issues.

GA 3 spent Wednesday debating the issue of “Deglamorizing the Role of Crime and Criminals in Popular Culture,” and then moved on to the issue of “Improving the Lives of Slum Dwellers,” which carried on into Thursday’s debate.

Time on Wednesday in GA 2 was also divided between debating the “Question of External Debt and Development” and “Combat Fiscal Fraud,” It was on this issue that the committee passed their first resolution. GA 1 took Thursday morning to discuss how to provide “Measures to Fight the Spread of Terrorism in LEDCs,” and scrutinized the main submitter, Canada’s, resolution. It was the responsibility of GA 6 to debate the issue of “Eliminating International Terrorism” on Wednesday.

And while each GA sub-committee discussed different issues, most were similar in the way size affected proceedings.

But for some of the smaller GA sub-committees, such as GA 1 and GA 4, the issue of size is less pertinent. The Head Chair of GA 4, Mick van der Valk, said that as opposed to his committee, in those with more delegates, “counting votes takes a lot of time.” Mick also commented on the slightly less personal atmosphere of large committees, saying, “You can’t accurately estimate how the committee will react, because you obviously don’t know every one of them.” He then added, “but overall, we’re doing marvelously!”

AbdulrAhmAn Al-Khori

AzrA Sudetic

Gwen Scholten

“A balanced medium between intensely

energetic and calmly constructive.”

Clashing Ideologies in SCJanuary 28, 2011

By Siena Morrell

Page 7

ISSUES & FORUMS

Though progress in the THIMUN Security Council yesterday was slow as the delegates debated a 27-clause resolution concerning nuclear non-proliferation, negotiations were reinvigorated when debate resumed on the later clauses. Several amendments and aggressive Points of Information confirmed the Council’s debate expertise. One observer commended the debate, reporting, “the delegates have demonstrated the depth of their knowledge and preparation through articulate amendments, and speeches have been eloquent, coherent and well-reasoned.”

The basis of the resolution was to promote diplomatic relations between established and new nuclear powers through increased transparency between nations. It would both alleviate tensions in the Middle East and reduce the need for nuclear weapons as deterrents.

In a controversial move, the delegate of the United Kingdom – a P5 country – abstained from voting on a clause that requested Iran to accept the Tehran Research Reactor proposal, and in doing so directly contradicted British foreign policy. The Security Council President, Ilteris Kaan Canberk, and the delegate of the Russian Federation noted the “clashing ideologies within the Council,” and how progress was hindered as a result of delegates’ contradicting each other’s policies.

The Delegate of the Russian Federation had a vested interest in Iran being more transparent in its ventures regarding its nuclear program, though as an ally of Iran, the prejudiced phrasing of clauses came under fire as the Russian Federation reiterated Iran’s “peaceful intentions” for their nuclear program.

A clause requesting 7-Party talks with the USA, China, France, the Russian Federation, Israel, Iran and the IAEA in attendance was passed. However, a dispute was raised over the delegate of Lebanon Clara Steiner’s assertion that Israel “never explicitly denied or confirmed their possession of nuclear weapons.” As a result, numerous clauses were deemed redundant, as the main-submitters had assumed that Israel was in possession of nuclear weapons when drafting the resolution.

Despite the protracted debate over amendments, clauses and resolutions, delegates can be assured that any development is well-argued and thoroughly criticized. “Progress has been slow, with heavy scrutiny. But it is all for a good cause,” said the Delegate of Japan.

Shakespeare in the Committee Room

By Nicole Novey

AzrA Sudetic AzrA Sudetic AzrA Sudetic

KArinA duKAlSKA

“So with this resolution, we must say a strong speech and strong document we debate today. There’s only one solution, strike this trading in the heart, for we fear that this trading problem is only just the start!” These are the rhyming words that the Delegate of Tonga, in Disarmament Sub-Commission Two (DC2), said to favor the Delegate of Senegal’s resolution. Upon entering this committee and listening to the debate, it is immediately noticeable that the delegates have a deep yearning to fight for peace.

DC2 has already debated resolutions on all of their topics. One of the resolutions that stood out was introduced by the Delegate of Togo on the question of “Measures to Regulate Cyber Warfare by Nation States.” A proposed solution was to sign a treaty called the Cyber Warfare Strategic Regulation Initiative (CWSRI) which assured that all countries signing it would take responsibility for and help prevent cyber crime. Another was to create the United Nations Cyber Warfare Agency (UNCWA) to help regulate cyber warfare. The resolution passed with a clear majority and almost no objections. This morning the DC2 discussed a resolution on the “Question of Trading Arms to Terrorist Organizations,” which

did not pass. Nonetheless, there was a lot of heated debate on it, especially during a conflict with the delegates representing Middle Eastern countries, who unified to defend themselves against one of the amendments.

Yet, not everything was tense and serious; occasionally it was possible to hear a few laughs in the room due to some funny moments. The chairs of this committee revealed that once in a while they would allow a funny pun or two to lighten the mood in the room. Ironically, the chairs said that this kept the delegates focused and interested in the debate and that in return they were very cooperative with them. The content of the debate was visibly very strong and full of spirit. Delegates kept on topic and united to improve resolutions, finding ways to put their purposes into action.

You wait for days, weeks, months even, for this trip to arrive. Coming from all over the globe by train, plane, bus, cab, tram, or foot, delegates finally arrive in The Hague. The week is packed with resolutions, speeches, French fries, and pestering MUNITY staff members, but what happens next? Where will you go from here? Maybe you will continue on with no significant changes to your agenda, maybe coming to THIMUN was a chance to see Europe for the first time, or if you are lucky, you can come back home having just experienced the greatest week of your life. A trip so fantastic it literally changes the course of your future.

Ms. Mari-Ana Narbon, Director for Balboa Academy, gives accounts of such experiences at THIMUN, which, in her opinion, “changes [students’] world and makes them see the world in a different light, makes them want to do something.” One such student, a former co-chair for GA1, studies law in Panama and is establishing an MUN program for the whole country alongside the Minister of Education. Another student wrote his college essay on his experiences at THIMUN. Glowing with the pride of past students, Ms. Narbon states, “Until you see it, see the kids interact and debate issues, you don’t understand what MUN does to them and how it influences what they want to do.”

Ms. Linda Duggan, Director for Nido de Aguilas School in Santiago Chile, taught a former Ambassador for the World Bank in GA2 who now works for the United Nations in Panama. She describes her experience at THIMUN as “definitive” in becoming what

she is today. Another former student, a Deputy Chair, became an investment banker in NYC. Ms. Duggan recalls that this time “leading a group of 200

students was an amazing experience and gave him a confidence that he turned to throughout all of high school and college.”

Mr. Michael Allen, Director of St.

Andrews College, taught students that went to Yale to become the Secretary General of Yale Model UN, Trinity College to teach law, but most leave THIMUN with an interest in international affairs. He approximates, “Out of the top ten academics, seven have been to The Hague. The Hague correlates significantly, we feel.”

Martin Kollar, Advisory Board Member, has over 25 years of experience under his belt and has seen Ambassadors become FBI agents, delegates become congressional aids, generals in the air force, and teachers. He describes THIMUN “a ladder of development. You start as a delegate, move to MUNITY, work to become a chair, and if you have the right stuff, you can be president. It’s a teaching ladder of developing skills and leading you to the next place to learn.”

Even if THIMUN does not inspire a change in your career path, the skills THIMUN teaches can offer many other opportunities for the alumni. Mr. David Williams, former chair of the THIMUN board of directors, keeps in touch with the top geologist consultant to oil companies, a doctor working in Darfur and Sudan, and the owner of a fruit importing business in the Netherlands. “The skills students learn are applicable in all kinds of walks of life, all committed to making a better world,” said Mr. Williams. When the time comes for you to finally leave THIMUN, depressed and exhausted, remember, in the words of Mr. Kollar, “A bad day at THIMUN is better than any good day at school.”

Oh, the Places You’ll GoBy Caroline Ludeman

“A bad day at THIMUN is better than any good day at school.”

January 28, 2011 FOCUS

Page 8

Ramesh Balachandran

MUNITY apologizes: due to technical difficulties MUNITY left out a nationality in the Nationaliy Survey that was printed yesterday. Joining us at THIMUN this year are four participants from

Denmark.

Ramesh Balachandran

Bleak Months to Follow: January 28, 2011

Page 9

An exciting new event undertaken by the THIMUN Foundation (besides the new conference THIMUN Qatar) is the THIMUN Qatar International Film Festival. “The idea behind the film festival is that MUN delegates can create documentaries about the issues they debated,” explains Cameron Janzen, director of the festival.

The event is open to all MUN delegates that have attended a THIMUN or THIMUN affiliated conference. Mr. Janzen hopes for “massive amounts” of entries: 800-900 films from about 400 schools. Northwestern University sponsors the event and also brings in the judges that rate the films.

Ms. Linda Dubock, head of the THIMUN Foundation, is enthusiastic about the festival, saying it solves an “issue they have in the real UN: that they just talk about the issues.” Mr. Janzen agrees and explains that the key to the event is the power of film as a medium. “Imagine the difference between speaking about hunger and seeing a child starving.” The films will, according to him, make an audience or producer “more likely to act [on what they see].”

The festival “is designed to encourage MUN delegates to engage in video advocacy on the issues they debate in MUN conferences,” according to the THIMUN Qatar website. The films should “help put a human face on the contemporary issues of the world today,” as well as providing “a venue for high school students to showcase their cinematic productions.”

A grand prize of around €2500 will be awarded to the best picture, as well as numerous other prizes based on artistic design, technical features and messages of the film. All films that win an award will receive some cash prize as well as a trophy.

All films should be between three and seven minutes in length and should be about either sustainable development, environment or human rights. Schools or delegates that are interested in participating should contact the THIMUN regional office in Doha or send an email to info@qatarfilm.org.

THIMUN Plans

By Adriaan Hilbers

to OrganizeIts Own Film

Festival

FOCUS

THIMUN is the biggest conference held in the MUN community. Every year thousands of students and their MUN advisors flock to The Hague to be a part of the THIMUN experience. When taking a stroll around the conference building, participants can find people of all nationalities and cultural backgrounds. After a long week, participants walk away with more than just another conference experience under their belt. Therefore, it is to be expected that the phenomenon known as Post-THIMUN Depression (PTD) will descend on delegates when they return home.

With the incredible atmosphere and all the great friendships created, it is not surprising to see students participating in THIMUN more than once, yet as all who have participated in THIMUN know, parting comes with great sadness. After spending a week away from school in a beautiful city with stimulating debate and good company, one does not want to return to the hustle and bustle of school life. No matter where you are or who you are with during the conference, it is always possible to find new friends and new experiences.

Upon returning to school after a conference, there is always the trouble of having to repeat MUN stories to your classmates who were absent. It is bittersweet to reminisce with your fellow delegates and advisors. PTD symptoms include: tearing up at the sight of a

tram, an insatiable desire to wear formal attire (tie included), and glandular fever.

It is only natural for the delegates to have trouble adapting to life after THIMUN. No matter what your position, students are faced with a great challenge. By the end of the week the fast-paced conference leaves you exhausted and out of breath. It can be a simple song coming on the radio or a phrase said in class that will trigger the fondest memories of THIMUN to flood right back.

Luckily, nowadays we have social networks that allow us to keep in contact with our new-found friends, and there are always future conferences at which we can meet up again. However, to some we say a last goodbye, and wish them luck in future endeavors. “I’m going to miss it,” one member of the administrative staff said, “even as admin we meet new people, and we’ll be sorry to see them leave.”

It is always nice to arrive at a conference and socialize in a new environment, but even nicer to see one or two familiar faces on the first day in session, though most people are recognized by past countries they represented rather than their names!

Younger delegates are able to overcome PTD by simply attending their next THIMUN conference. But, for the unfortunate seniors for whom this will be one last THIMUN, PTD is incurable, though their memories will undoubtedly be sentimental.

Post-THIMUN Depression By Sasha Krugman & Siena Morrell

Abdulrahman Al-Khori

January 28, 2011 ISSUES & FORUMS

Go Green: Environmental Commission UncoveredDuring the third day of THIMUN, all

committees are involved in the most interactive part of the conference: the debate. This includes the Environmental Commission, which is debating diverse issues ranging from the extermination of gorillas to control over the export of hazardous material.

Sub-Commission 1 started the morning debating the resolution submitted by the delegate of Pakistan on the issue of “Clearing the Waters: a Focus on Water Quality Solutions.” While the resolution was being debated, there were many opposing ideas presented. Some delegates, like the one from Turkey, thought the resolution was misleading since it gave wrong facts about the issue, while others supported it wholeheartedly. Cyrus Mijares, the delegate of Niger, said that, “the topics at hand are very interesting. I’m glad that I got a chance to debate them.”

Similarly, Sub-Commission 2 was engrossed in the debate, going over the resolution presented by Gabon on “Measure

to Prevent the Export of Hazardous Materials.” The resolution was supported by many delegations, like the United States of America, although some amendments had to be made to make the resolution perfect. Anna Mallach, Assistant President, stated that the commission is “working very well. There is a lot of constructive debate going

on.” Also, she was “amazed to see many people trying to find realistic solutions to these issues,” and wanted to note that their

first resolution debated was the first one that passed, something that does not happen that often. This showed the dedication of delegates like Claire Poyser, representing Uganda. She affirms that the debate is “quite entertaining. The quality is very good. We have many resolutions of the same topic, which helps in making very strong ones by merging them.”

Both Sub-Commissions displayed great potential solutions to the issues at hand and there are many other resolutions waiting to be debated. These will be received in this commission with its “arms wide open,” ready to embrace the challenge to make sure there is a worthy solution found for every issue presented in the Environmental Commission.

By Mari-Ana Narbon

TYA: Small Room, Big ThingsWhile THIMUN delegates pore over

resolutions and individually take to the podium, at the Rio Grande and Amazon rooms (roughly 1/8 of the World Forum Theater), special kinds of delegates work together to create innovative solutions to the daily problems that plague our communities. For those who still do not know -- Welcome to the TYA.

The TYA, or THIMUN Youth Assembly, is a THIMUN-affiliated sub-group that focuses on collaborative discussion and development on the projects of each delegate. It seeks to expand single new ideas through a series of group brainstorming sessions. Ms. Akua Nyame-Mensah, President of the 15th TYA elaborates, “this assembly helps participants develop the skills to implement their own projects”. One project works with a charity to collect and send old,

disused textbooks from a school in London to schools in Tanzania, since they also use the same curriculum. Ms. Nyame-Mensah believes that the foundations of projects like these can be further strengthened over the five days of the assembly.

One particularly new aspect of the TYA is the “World Cafe”, so-called because of its promotion of informal discussion and because of the different nationalities present in the room. Such discussions typically start with a question followed by ten minutes of talks seeking to answer the question, and finally culminating with the group posing another question for the next group. For instance, on the question “What is so special about the youth”, Ms. Samah McGona has an answer: “Hope... because the youth always expresses hope and optimism for the future.” On another question focusing on “what makes a good grassroots project”, Ms. Gabriela De Jesus states that local cooperation is key. Her group ends by posing a more specific question: “How can grassroots projects gain approval from all levels of society?” According to Ms. Nyame-Mensah, “in order to create something efficient, realistic, and well-received, individuals need to develop the necessary

networks” -- the group dynamics of the TYA enables it to be successful. While the assembly remains one of the lesser known arms of THIMUN, its delegates purport that it leads to more advocacy and allows for one’s voice to be audibly heard, in comparison to that of the big committees of the GAs.

In many ways, the TYA prepares and empowers the youth to become sensitive stakeholders on an international stage. It takes more than a fancy idea or an impressive speech to find solutions to problems relating to sustainable development or to social tensions. Yet, big things do happen when a collective of people are dedicated to a goal. The delegates of the TYA may have the capacity and motivation to do just that.

By Anthony Gokianluy

Page 10

Margaret Bliss

gwen scholten

Fishing for WhalesWhaling, as many know, is a slippery

issue. Although illegal for commercial purposes worldwide, “Australia believes that Japan has exploited a loophole,” explained President of the International Court of Justice Ayesha Dayaram. “Japan claims that it is hunting whales for scientific research, but Australia suspects that something does not add up,” continued Dayaram.

Thousands of whales have been killed for “research” in the past few years, and the international community is apprehensive. This suspicion is supplemented by the fact that whale meat is a delicacy in Japan and often

sold at very steep prices, a factor that adds yet another layer of complexity to the case.

In the ICJ this morning, a nervous witness dodged questions from a panel of fierce judges. The questions were unrelenting. “What sort of data did the research collect?” and “was the research lethal or non-lethal?” pressed the judges.

Adding to the serious atmosphere was the jittery witness who seemed truly frightful that her secret might slip out. The real question remains, however, whether the accused party is guilty or not. At the closing ceremony on Friday, the President of the ICJ will announce the judge’s decision.

“At the moment, we feel hopeful about

the verdict,” stated Ali Cem Ertekin and Kaan Murat Pinar, the Advocates for Australia.

The two-man tag team believes that when the case is closed on Friday, it will be in their favor. “But then again, it could go either way” stated Pinar, “our opposition is formidable.” As the ICJ members walked out the door on their way to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, they discussed the benefits of the ICJ. “It is more official than regular MUN,” stated one. “We are able to establish a more personal connection with everyone,” another added. “Everyone is equal here,” just as they are in the eyes of the law.

By Munir Atalla

Special Conference on Crime and PunishmentThe atmosphere in the two sub-

commissions of the Special Conference (SCCP) greatly differed from one another on the fourth day of the conference. While the delegates of Sub-Commission 1 were shivering in their seats due to the low temperature in the room, Sub-Commission 2 was having a heated debate on the question of “Supporting Women and Other Victims of Sexual Crime and Their Reintegration into Civil Society.”

Sub-Commission 1 wasn’t entirely uneventful either. The resolution submitted

by the Delegate of Ecuador addressed the topic of “Achieving Justice for Victims: the Role of Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers”. Co-chairs Leah Wiedenmann, Holly Morgan, and Stefan Capriles perfected their routine of chairing: as Chair Wiedenmann explains, “We always have one chair chairing, the other organizes amendments, and the third answers notes. We get along very well and have a lot of fun together.” The great organizational skills of the chairs ensured the smooth running of the debate. The Delegate of Turkmenistan in Sub-Commission 1 verbalized his creative side in the form of a rather expressionistic poem about an amendment with which he did not entirely agree. In the second half of yesterday’s session, Sub-Commission 1 continued debating

the issue of “Links Between International Terrorism and Organized Crime.”

Being a part of the Special Conference is a truly special experience for delegates, due to the committee’s great variety of discussed issues. Chair Idiz stated that she is “pleasantly surprised about how serious everyone is about the topic.” The debated topics reach the participants at a personal level and therefore, as Idiz puts it, “everything runs smoothly.”

By Neslihan Cabuk

January 28, 2011

Page 11

ISSUES & FORUMS

Lara Batato

aBduLrahman aL-Khori

Lara Batato

margaret BLiss

Lara Batato

January 28, 2011

Sarcastic Rhetoric: The Hidden Ferocity of Human Rights Commission

Maybe it is because Italian animosity after World War II or agricultural methods in Sub-Saharan regions are issues that most people cannot particularly identify with. Perhaps it is because we are raised to relentlessly believe in a set of intrinsic moral standards, and when a debate concerns such deeply held opinions – regardless of MUN or not – harsh responses are inevitable. No matter what the reason, it is obvious that the Human Rights Commission houses distinctly heated and controversial debates; where impassioned speeches are a guarantee and sensitivity towards opponents is scarcely found.

In Sub-Commission II when the issue of “Combating the Defamation of Religion” was the topic at hand, not only did the Delegates of Albania and USA hold extremely conflicting opinions, they also held zero inhibition about letting one another know. Confrontational caucuses became severely frequent between the two countries, in addition to the ever present image of both placards trembling in the air, begging to be recognized. For example, after challenging Albania with accusations of libel, the USA was met with a fully charged response: “It’s quite funny how Albania knows more about the

American Constitution than the delegate representing the United States… perhaps let’s understand our countries policies before making smart comments or accusations”, and with that left the microphone. Soon thereafter the Delegate of the United States took the floor and did not hesitate to return bold assertions with the same confidence in which he had received them. After listing his

accusations, with a sardonic tone he nonchalantly added, “Just a few helpful suggestions to help check the accuracy of your information for next time.” In the end, the Delegate of Albania did in fact have his resolution passed.The room became a tidal wave of frowning faces, shrugged shoulders, and high-fives.

Perhaps the Human Rights Commission is at times overlooked, but it holds a unique trait here at THIMUN: it is a committee with students that often find themselves

personally attached to their topics, even if they might not realize it at the time. The delegates negotiate with a surprising ferocity and stimulate emotionally charged debate that one may not find elsewhere. The delegates in HRC speak with a sort of unintended sentiment that resonates through the uniform ties of parliamentary procedure.

By Parisa Frost

APQCI: Productivity is Not Proportional to SizeIn the two small rooms on the second

floor sits a group of experts representing various organizations and nations, ranging from the World Bank to The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Small, yet incredibly productive, this is THIMUN’s Advisory Panel on the Question of the Caribbean Islands (APQCI).

On Thursday, the APQCI experts started another day of formal debate. They were divided into two separate commissions, which provided ample opportunity for the experts to thoroughly examine each clause of the resolution. A plenary session in the afternoon was held to allow a comprehensive examination of ideas based on a large group discussion.

In the morning session, both sub-commissions primarily dealt with the issue of promoting autonomy and independence of the Caribbean Islands. Experts in sub-commission 1 shared their ideas on measures to encourage economic development of the Caribbean Islands.

The experts provided constructive criticism to one another. For instance, they provided many supportive suggestions concerning a clause that focused on encouraging foreign investment in the Caribbean Islands. The expert of the

World Bank noted that while trying to promote more foreign investment, it will be crucial to “ensure the development of local economy” as well. As a result, the expert of Trinidad and Tobago submitted an amendment that addressed the importance of protecting the local economy.

Sub-commission 2 also proved to be a very supportive group. Sub-commission

2 was working to enhance the living conditions in the Caribbean Islands.

The expert of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) called for improvements in the standard of living, especially regarding

education. When one of the experts asked “how the improvement in education would promise autonomy and independence of the region,” UNCLOS responded confidently that “educational improvement would be a long-term solution to the problem as it would ensure that the citizens become more engaged and interested in the region’s political matters.”

As the productive debates carried out by both sub-commissions reveal, the size of the APQCI is definitely not a hindrance, but rather a promise that ensures focused and involved participation from each and every expert. With their enthusiastic and cooperative discussions, the experts in the Advisory Panel will continue to prove that the APQCI is a powerful and productive commission.

By So Yeon Park

Page 12

ISSUES & FORUMS

Gwen Scholten

Karina DuKalSKa

January 28, 2011 VIEWPOINT

Page 13

Behind Glass WallsBy Munir Atalla

Kundera, in 1995, was years before the days of Julian Assange and Wikileaks, but not before the days of Psycho, where behind her bathroom curtain, Marrion Crane was enjoying a bout of privacy as a shadowy silhouette crept up on the unsuspecting victim and splattered Hollywood ‘blood’ all over the bathroom floor. In the same way that viewers were traumatized by this scene, they should be discomfited by the curtain ripper discussed in Kundera’s statement. Deep down, everyone knows that curtain-ripping is a crime; the trouble is we only feel that way when it’s happening to us.

As the Internet, the greatest information sharing device in history, becomes more powerful by the day, the public rides a wave of entitlement. Every global citizen now believes that they have the right to

know anything they want. A great debate has emerged not about the freedom of speech but about the freedom to know. People feel entitled to their own secrets as well as to everyone else’s.

Being a curtain–ripper is something that is idolized by some and scorned by others. Julian Assange is the perfect example of this. Although controversial now, soon the Wikileaks might be seen as a right of the people to transparency from their government. In the future, will entire institutions be asked to operate behind glass walls? Historically, governments have thrived on hidden information, but where is the line drawn between what is inconvenient for the public to know and what must be withheld for them to operate? As the saying goes, “if you’re doing something that you don’t

want people to know about, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.” While the debate surges on, the public can rest assured knowing that from this day on, politicians will think twice before throwing around the word “transparency.”

Anonymity Hides the TruthBy Bavo Stevens

When French writer Eric Schmitt said that “the internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn’t understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had,” he might as well been commenting about the large degree of anonymity that people enjoy on the internet. Anonymity breeds

a lack of responsibility and in turn people are rarely held accountable for what they say.

Prejudice is the most visible drawback that anonymity has. As one THIMUN delegate put it, “while anonymity might seem beneficial, it can easily lead to abuse and racism.”

Racist slurs and comments can easily be made because

of this lack of accountability. Unlike other forms of expression, the authors of blog posts rarely name themselves. Anyone can create an e-mail or Facebook account without proof of identification, making it easier for people to impersonate others. Cases of cyber bullying have increased because abuse and illegal activity becomes a lot easier when one remains anonymous and his/her identity is hidden.

So-called “hackers” have been using anonymity on the internet for years for criminal activity. Credit card scams and identity theft are not unheard of, and inability to track these criminals is a huge hindrance to stop the crimes. Other crimes such as child pornography have also persisted because of the failure of authorities to track these perpetrators.

The trouble with anonymity is also the difficulty for people to find the credentials of the authors of certain posts. Rarely do people publish their names or credentials. This can be especially terrible since people tend to believe print media more than they do something they hear in a conversation. This raises concerns that people could quickly believe information that is not entirely valid if the necessary credentials are missing.

Anonymity and freedom of speech have become synonymous and often seem inseparable. Being held accountable for what you say, however, is not the same as being denied the chance to say it; rather it is a question about taking responsibility for what you say.

Mohammed Bdeir

Azra Sudetic

“Private and public are two essentially different worlds and that respect for that difference is the indispensable condition…for a man to live free;

that the curtain separating these two worlds is not to be tampered with, and that curtain rippers are criminals.”

- Milan Kundera, Czech Writer

We are often faced with seemingly incompatible concepts or tasks that are hard to address and even harder to reconcile. Do we choose friends over family or prioritize play over studies? As delegates, we find ourselves confronted with even greater world issues that require a collaborative effort of two parties to create a lasting solution.

At the start of the 43rd THIMUN conference, Dr. Serge Brammertz, the Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) highlighted this year’s theme of Crime and Punishment in relation to two important concepts: peace and justice. MUNITY had the wonderful opportunity to ask Dr. Brammertz certain questions and gain his perspective on some issues.

During the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Brammertz highlighted the need for the coexistence of peace and justice. He challenged THIMUN delegates to redefine their roles in relation to this year’s theme of Crime and Punishment. For Dr. Brammertz, “it is not a question of what is more important: peace or justice.” In his speech, he noted that “prioritizing peace over justice might seem expedient in the short term, but in the long run, a sustainable peace cannot be built upon the foundation of impunity.” Undeniably, there are difficulties in bringing peace

and justice together. “It is a paradox,” Dr. Brammertz said, “that the people driving the war and all of its brutalities are the

only ones who have the power to stop it.” Dr. Brammertz similarly pointed out that people should avoid sacrificing peace for justice or vice versa, and that amnesty should not be given blindly to perpetrators. Peace and justice “need to take an integrated approach,” he told MUNITY. The first step is to create stronger bonds of collaboration between the judicial systems at the national and the international levels.

In the aftermath of the wars in the former Yugoslavia there was little interaction between the ICTY and local authorities.

However, these last fifteen years have seen an increase in the capacity of national authorities to deal with such situations.

More importantly, Dr. Brammertz emphasized a key principle of the International Criminal Court (ICC): “complementarity.” Dr. Brammertz went on to explain that “the ICC is only competent if national authorities are unable or unwilling to handle cases by themselves.

Crime has to primarily be addressed at the national level and the international approach is the exception.”

Dr. Brammertz also believes that accountability for people’s actions, especially in terms of peace and justice, should begin at THIMUN and that we, as delegates, have already begun to do so. He felt that Secretary-General Lara Nonninger’s speech exemplified the fact “that the youth today are interested in those important issues that people often see as fatality” and those which many adults have very little knowledge about.

When asked what inspired him to study law and become a prosecutor, Dr. Brammertz told MUNITY that he knew from a young age what it was that he wanted to do. Working for the ICC and later the ICTY was not something that he had prepared or planned for, but something that occured naturally.

Finally, when asked if he had any last words of advice for our delegates and the next generation of jurists, Dr. Brammertz emphasized the importance of objectivity: “nothing is black and white.”

The travesties of justice abound in our world today. You, as a THIMUN delegate, are a crusader – fighting, working, and making sacrifices to ensure justice and, ultimately, world peace.

January 28, 2011 FEATURE

Peace and Justice Meets Crime and Punishment:

An Interview with Prosecutor Serge BrammertzBy Anthony Gokianluy and Bavo Stevens

Page 14

“...prioritizing peace over justice might seem expedient in the short term, but in the long run, a sustainable peace cannot be built upon the

foundation of impunity.”

Abdulrahman Al-Khori

Abdulrahman Al-Khori Abdulrahman Al-Khori

January 28, 2011

Page 15

BEHIND THE SCENES

Behind the Scenes

MUNITY

January 28, 2011 GAMES

Games

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City where THIMUN takes place.A person authorized to act as representative for a country.Person in charge of the committee.To give up time, usually to questions or another delegate.Dignifiied propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.A sign that identifies your country.Penalty for illegal activity.The most senior staff of a Model UN conference.

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The tool the Chair uses to keep order.Name of Conference newspaper.Site of latest expansion for THIMUN.Debated solution to an issue.Illegal activity. Best Mexican restaurant in The Hague.Change to resolution.