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 The eagerly awaited second Model United Nations Conference at the British School took place on March 2004 at Urca and involved a total of 82 delegates representing 24 countries. The event attracted participants from several schools as well as a number of ex-students, who were involved in the organization and direction of the committees. Stº Inácio from Botafogo and Colégio Laser from São Lourenço once again sent excellent delegations representing Germany, France and Eire but were also joined by students from Escola Parque, Colegio Moliere and a large delegation from St Patricks. In addition students traveled from the British School of Montevideo to represent Canada and all the way from the Glenunga International High School in Australia to represent China.
The Opening ceremony was a very formal event with each of the head delegates been invited up to the stage to give an opening statement. In addition we were honoured by the presence of Deputado Estadual Andre Correas who gave an excellent speech on the importance of debate and the involvement of young people in current affairs. The ceremony was very well organized and competently directed by Secretary-General Paulo Anderson, who at the end invited delegates to start lobbying at the cocktail party that followed.
 The weekend was divided into six intense three-hour sessions, with the delegates spread over four committees, dealing with some pretty sensitive issues. In the Security Council the question of North Korea was under scrutiny. North Korea, highlighted by the Bush administration as part of an axis of evil, presented the delegates with a series of problems, such as examining the validity of this statement, the course of action required regarding the state’s possession of weapons of mass destruction, and a focus on the question of why reunification and peace talks with South Korea have ground to a halt. The committee was very professionally directed by Roberto Szatmari and Fernando Junior and a resolution was obtained at the very last minute late into Sunday afternoon.
The Historical Security Council, directed by Cesar Beck and Karina Brum (ably assisted by Sebastian Johnson), dealt with the Falklands Conflict between the UK and Argentina in 1982, which placed delegates back in time in a crisis meeting just before the outbreak of the war. Delegates were challenged with the task of diffusing tension and trying to find a peaceful solution to the problem and hopefully finding a resolution, which would satisfy both sides claims to the territory. After 2 days of intense debate and with many delegates sympathizing with the Argentinean claims (due excellent debut performances by Frederico Israel and Daniel Bacon), a peaceful resolution was produced and war averted.
 The General Assembly Committee on Human Rights, directed by Clarissa Gandour and Gabriela Clayton, addressed the complex issue of environmental refugees, with regards to their status before the United Nations. Environmental refugees are defined as those displaced by natural disasters, environmental degradation and more recently climate change. The United Nations High Commission for refugees at present only aids those fleeing political persecution or war and claims environmental refugees are the responsibility of national governments. So in light of current world affairs should their status be changed ? According to the delegates, yes, and the resolution that was written guaranteed rights to all including the people of the small Pacific island of Tuvalu, which was well represented by Raphael Flinker.
The final committee, the General Assembly on the Environment and Development, was directed by Oivind Nordbo and Edward Byers and dealt with the Weapons of Modern Warfare. There has been much debate over the control of weapons of mass destruction such as chemical and biological weapons but little has been said about the use of controversial arms such as depleted uranium capped missiles, cluster bombs and landmines. In the aftermath of war, who should be responsible for locating, deactivating and cleaning up unexploded ordinance which poses an enormous threat to civilian populations. The resolution produced by the students placed responsibility very firmly in the hands of those who used the arms in the first place and a reasonable set of UN recommendations for action were produced.
 On Saturday night a disco was held to allow delegates time to relax and socialize. The event was organized by the CAS Action Aid group to raise money for the Cidade de Deus radio project and I am happy to report that 1200 reais was collected, a significant start to the campaign to raise 7000 reais by July. Congratulations should go to all the Class 11 students involved but particular to Anna Theophanatos who managed to do this on top of been a delegate for the USSR. Thanks also to the DJs who gave up their time for free including our very own Carson Gardiner.
Once again there was a very high level of debate and intellectual comment throughout the weekend which says much for the research and commitment of the delegates that took part. The conference was as an outstanding success and I would particularly like to thank the directors, the press team and Urca site administrative for all their tremendous efforts in getting the conference organized and for doing such a professional job during the debating sessions. Finally, I would like to single out Paulo Anderson and Daniel Taylor for their exceptional contribution in preparing videos, certificates and CD roms as well as for their boundless enthusiasm for Model United nations. They were simply magnificent in everything they did, from publicizing and letter writing, to looking after our visitors and for giving the event a truly professional touch.
Congratulations to all on a tremendous second BSRJMUN.
Note: The resolutions produced by the delegates will be published here and posted to the United Nations in the near future |
