Grey Coat Issue 19: January 2012 Model United Nations General Assembly (MUNGA)


Whilst the flags of many nations were prominently displayed on Monday, 12th December, it was left to the Russian delegation to enliven the scene. Though fur coats and a fir tree were not as dramatic as Louis Van Kleeff's spiked WWI helmet (Pickelhaube), the clothing was entirely appropriate to the Siberian temperature in the Sports Hall where students delivered informative presentations on 24 nations from Australia to Zambia. As Mr Chesterman employed ruthless tactics to keep sixth formers on track, Ms Stevenson prompted the General Assembly to evaluate issues of relative affluence or poverty on a scale from Switzerland to Madagascar. Staff felt that overall the standard achieved was high and the prize for the best presentation was awarded to the UK (Shayane Lacey and Lucy Kernick) and Jane Ferma (Ghana) was judged the best individual presenter.


In the afternoon in the Sports Hall, Mr Chesterman chaired the discussion on the motion that 'The UN should establish an international drugs enforcement agency to take control of the war on drugs.' This motion was not passed.


In M39, school Governor Janet Dain again proved to be an excellent chair for the polarised positions generated by the motion, 'the UN should force its member nations to adopt a one child per family policy'. Opening this second debate, Nigeria acknowledged that resources for its dense population were being ever more thinly spread whereas Japan believed that, with decreasing numbers, there was clearly no call for it to support the motion. Whilst Brazil felt straitjacketed by the Catholic Church's stance on contraception, Lucy Kernick stated that in the UK'S view enforcing the policy would be undemocratic. Though the policy has suited China it would


not, pronounced Shakira Noel, be acceptable in Afghanistan where war is destabilising an underpopulated nation. For Zambia, Simonette Carlton- Carew confirmed that, with 66% of the population living on less than a dollar a day, her delegation would endorse the motion.


The accelerating rate of deaths from HIV and AIDS in Thailand means that the demand there is for more babies not fewer. On behalf of Colombia, Melissa Hatton categorically proclaimed that the motion went against nature whilst Switzerland, also disagreeing with the motion, advocated greater investment in sex education. Believing that larger families bring social stability, Bethia Atkinson announced that in Jamaica children were welcomed as a blessing. For Mexico, delegate Destina Thompson opted for legalising abortion and contraception whilst South Korea, aware that its elderly were verging on 40% of the population, was determined to focus on boosting the workforce. Further opposition to the motion came from the USA's Beatrice Chequer who foresaw major regulation complications whilst the Portuguese concern centred on its economy not affording more care homes for the ever-increasing numbers of old people. The Chinese representative expressed total confidence in the one child per family policy which ensures a better deal for its citizens. The basic requirements for Somalians, according to Charlie Marchment-Rowe, are sex education and husbanding water resources for agriculture. The high mortality rate from AIDS meant that Ghana would not risk public anger by supporting the motion. Like the UK, Dutch representative Theodora Preece considered the motion was contrary to human rights. Imogen Thom pointed out that, with only 41% of its people having access to water and only 11%


to sanitation, Madagascar would vote for the motion. Finally India, in the turbaned form of Nathanael Watchorn, reminded the assembly that its huge workforce provided cheap goods and services for many nations. Members of the General Assembly extended the debate with Zambia recommending gradual implementation of the policy in the face of Chinese insistence on authorised birth certificates, a fine or termination. Whilst the UK stressed that limiting the number of pregnancies would reduce the population and improve female health, Colombian concern focused on the cost and availability of condoms. After assuring the Assembly that the BRIC countries feature an improving economy and decreasing population, India noted that its expenditure on food, housing and other essentials is infinitely less than equivalents in the family budget in the USA.


The revised resolution produced by India declared: 'The UN should offer financial backing to those countries which need a reduction in birthrate and if - even with the financial backing - those countries show no improvement, then the policy or some other form of precaution should be enforced'. Immediately the Dutch and the Americans wondered where the money would be going and what would constitute a positive outcome. As 1 of the 49 least wealthy countries, Madagascar cited its desperate need for help since it had lost 90% of its forestry owing to overpopulation. Financial backing, said China, should raise standards of living, offer better medication and lead to longer life expectancy but should not be given to corrupt governments. Wide support for financial backing ensured that the new motion was carried.


Ms McMellan 7


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