The Martlet

Delegates of the fifth annual Victoria Model United Nations conference walked away with a better understanding of the complex entanglement of security and sustainability after debating the issues Nov. 7 and 8 at UVic.

The conference, titled “A New Leaf: Turning Toward a Greener Globe,” was hosted by UVic’s Model United Nations club (MUN) and organized by club members Teresa Sims and Dex Zucchi.

Steve Lonergan, a UVic professor and a former director of the UN Environment Program, delivered the keynote speech, predicting that the debates over international environmental topics would ultimately be grounded in security issues.

Delegates representing the world’s nations on four simulated UN committees made good on Lonergan’s prediction, having only managed to get though four of the eight suggested topics.

“Despite the theme being environmental sustainability, the direction of the conference mostly engaged with nuclear non-proliferation and international security,” said Zucchi.

The UN Security Council debated the security issues involved with Iran’s bid to generate its own nuclear power, while the International Atomic Energy Agency debated the broader challenges of nuclear non-proliferation.

Delegates sitting on the UN Environment Programme and the UN General Assembly engaged each other on more environmentally relevant topics. Still, the terms of the debate focused on the food security aspects of agriculture and biotechnology, and the potential for human displacement due to global warming, respectively.

Sims pointed out that because the conference was held the weekend after the U.S. elections, there was a marked “cheekiness” among delegates who referred to the possibilities of diplomatic change emanating from an Obama White House. Many delegates, especially those representing Iran, mirrored their country’s stance by professing their willingness to work constructively with the U.S. after Obama takes office.

Approximately 80 high school students and 20 UVic MUN members took part as delegates in the conference, with 25 club members volunteering to fill roles in the UN Secretariat and international press corps. According to Zucchi, the high schoolers were more than formidable participants.

“Sometimes UVic delegates are beaten up by the high school delegates ... [they] are among the brightest students in the region” said Zucchi. Sims said the conference is largely designed in mind of high schoolers.

“The primary goal of the conference is to create an international experience for high school students and have them practice diplomacy,” added Sims.

She also said that the conference gives MUN members a chance to prepare for the five day National Model UN conference at UN headquarters in New York City, where they will compete against 2,000 delegates from universities around the globe.

Sims put the figure for the national conference at $1,400 per delegate. To help with fund raising, the club will be hosting a dress-up party at Felicita’s on Nov. 28, titled “CoUNtries of the World.”

Sims also pointed out the value of the MUN experience for all UVic students.

“It’s a resume builder, for one thing,” she said. “It appeals to any student that’s interested in learning about the international community.”

Sims stressed that as more backgrounds are represented in the club, the debates can better reflect interdisciplinary perspectives.

For students interested in getting involved with MUN, or for details on their Felicita’s event, visit their website at web.uvic.ca/~unclub.