Future delegates of Flekke frozen in their hot seats Model United Nations at Red Cross Nordic officially began it's preparation process on the 25th of January. The generally laid-back atmosphere of the College was replaced by security crews, disciplined men and women in suits and tied back hair.
As the upcoming participants of RCNMUN 2011 made their way down the aisle of the big auditorium, the tension in the air swelled. Dramatic music blasting out of the speakers and screaming security guards set the scene this evening. The tension reached its peak when the eyes of giggling young students met the enthusiastic, disciplined and serious faces of the Chairmen, Presidents and Secretaries.
Expectations for the delegates to come were high amongst the organizers who put great effort into this event. " I hope that they, when selected and placed in committees, will do their best to research the topics and look forward to the conference. It is an amazing learning experience and as I heard from delegate Samuel Diaz yesterday: It is not about the country, topic or committee. It is about the delegate and what he or she makes out of the experience" says Andreas Hovland, Sub-Secretary General.
The speech of the evening was given by Matti Suomenaro, Secretary General of RCNMUN. After stumbling over some of the first sentences, he proceeded with style and a charming smile to connect the Model United Nations to the core elements of United World Colleges.
Later he moved on to more complex issues. Glorifying the positions of worldwide politicians in power and taking most of the glory away from volunteers and activists was not appreciated by everyone in the audience. Marie Rueskov Grif, Amnesty International activist and student says "It is a shame that he neglects this particular part of politics, especially when expressed as 'you're in or you're out'".
The wellspoken President of the Security Council, Motaz Al-Chanati with his fellow President, Sara Marie Armbjørndalen presented the issue of the use of depleted Uranium Ammunitions and the issue of maintaining stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These will be the issues discussed in the Security Council of RCNMUN 2011.
While the Chairs from DISEC, Financial and Economic, SPECPOL and Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Committee all presented their topics of discussion*, the organizers seemed to have lost the interest of the student body. When the floor finally was yielded to the Chairs of the Legal Committee, the tension in the air had been replaced by snoring and impatient students, wishing to leave the room.
Still, the organizers are optimistic: "The organizers of RCN MUN 2011 are attempting to create a forum which is actually based on the inhabitants of the forum - the delegates. In their personal ways, all delegates are expected to contribute to the simulation of the United Nations. This will give students an insight in the United Nations, encourage understanding between cultures and an opportunity to get better at certain things, such as: discussions, dressing up in suits, creating new connections or exploring theatrical and rhetorical skills. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, grasp it!"says the hopeful Assistant to President of General Assembly, Naina Quyum with great enthusiasm in her voice.
Model United Nations at Red Cross Nordic United World College takes place on the 21st of March 2011.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Useful for preparation)
The topics that will be discussed in the different committees are:
Security Council
1. The Issue of The Use of Depleted Uranium Ammunitions
2. The Issue of Maintaining Stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo
DISEC
1.The Issue of Iran's threats on acquiring International security and the
nonproliferation treaty
2.The issue of The Global counter terrorism strategy.
Financial and Economic:
1.The Issue of the establishment of the free trade zone know as United States of
Africa?
2. The Issue of Chinese Currency Manipulation
SPECPOL
1.The question of administrative detention
2.The issue of Morocco’s sovereignty in Western Sahara
Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Commitee
1. The issue of Promoting Human Rights against the death penalty in Nigeria
2. The issue of Child Labour in Bangladesh
Legal Committee
1.The Issue of International drug control with special regards to the activities that
financially support terrorist groups
2. The Issue of sovereignty over the arctic region and the economic exploitation of
natural resources and the convention on the law on the sea
