BY PROANNE LIAO
All committees of THIMUN started with a blast as delegates excitedly interacted with each other while lobbying. In both small classrooms and massive auditoriums, groups of students formed, discussing their policies concerning their issues. General Assembly 6,Chair Alex Ito, commented on an oddly large group discussing the question of compensation to civilian victims of armed conflict or their surviving heirs, “We’ve got this big group on only one issue… This is a controversial topic, so I would want two or three [resolutions].” Usually, smaller groups of delegates discuss their stance on an issue, and then merge with other groups to create a resolution, but this group did not function in that way. This abnormality caught the eye of the chairs.
Smaller committees such as APQN did not split into groups—instead, they sat in a group and discussed the issue in Nepal. ICJ also did not lobby, but started their trials, as their committee does not concern resolution making.
Before THIMUN, many delegates used the Internet as an agent of communication to hold pre-lobbying discussions. Forums proved to be a very useful way of online communication before the conference, where delegates got to know each other both on a personal level and professional level. Delegates who did not communicate through the forums found it more difficult to find their allies and launch straight into making a resolution, which would have made lobbying much more efficient.
Within a few committees, including ECOSOC and GA 3, each issue had its designated area, in which more groups formed. One of the groups in ECOSOC was in the process of producing a resolution on the consequences of mass air travel, and said, “We’re looking for many ways to decrease mass air travel.” Though delegates of ECOSOC may have controversial ideas to discuss, many countries may have the same ideals, and may consider merging their resolutions.
One would expect large and powerful countries to be main submitters, but GA5 Chair ,Paik Haenn, believes that smaller countries may also be likely main submitters. The chairs expect a wide variety of countries to participate, and not only the countries involved in the issues or countries that stand at the extremes.
Those committees in smaller classrooms seemed to be more active in comparison to those in the auditoriums, but also seemed less likely to efficiently finish merging and writing resolutions due to the compact environment. THIMUN’s lobbying session proved to be a much different experience to those who have been to other MUN conferences. Compared to smaller conferences, delegates found that THIMUN participants as a whole are much more active. In many other MUN conferences, lobbying is known to be a time to sit back and relax. With their laptops flipped open and fingers typing away, most delegates were actively participating in their heated discussions on their issues. However, a few delegates took the backseat and signed onto resolutions that did not harm them, yet did not contain their voices. Only a few delegates will dominate the debates if others do not speak up. Chairs have encouraged delegates to participate not only in the future debates, but also in lobbying.
More controversial issues required more attention, and therefore a larger group of delegates. Amongst the many issues for each committee, there is usually one or two that take the most time and effort to resolve because of the controversial nature. For example, the ECOSOC issue of economic growth in the view of climate change has two extremely controversial sides. Developing countries may oppose the idea that developed countries want to promote their economy even though there is an immediate environmental problem. Oftentimes delegates do not have a complete idea of a resolution until it is close to the end of lobbying. Then, combining all of the ideas, the main submitter should type up the final resolution that all co-submitters have agreed upon.
As a start of the conference, lobbying has brought the diversity of the many participating delegates together, mingling so that resolutions to the issues could be resolved. Even though these resolutions may not pass, lobbying provides a less formal way of discussion, allowing delegates to become comfortable with each other and the MUN environment around them. Hopefully the debates following the lobbying will be just as lively as the many discussions in each committee held today.
All committees of THIMUN started with a blast as delegates excitedly interacted with each other while lobbying. In both small classrooms and massive auditoriums, groups of students formed, discussing their policies concerning their issues. General Assembly 6,Chair Alex Ito, commented on an oddly large group discussing the question of compensation to civilian victims of armed conflict or their surviving heirs, “We’ve got this big group on only one issue… This is a controversial topic, so I would want two or three [resolutions].” Usually, smaller groups of delegates discuss their stance on an issue, and then merge with other groups to create a resolution, but this group did not function in that way. This abnormality caught the eye of the chairs.
Smaller committees such as APQN did not split into groups—instead, they sat in a group and discussed the issue in Nepal. ICJ also did not lobby, but started their trials, as their committee does not concern resolution making.
Before THIMUN, many delegates used the Internet as an agent of communication to hold pre-lobbying discussions. Forums proved to be a very useful way of online communication before the conference, where delegates got to know each other both on a personal level and professional level. Delegates who did not communicate through the forums found it more difficult to find their allies and launch straight into making a resolution, which would have made lobbying much more efficient.
Within a few committees, including ECOSOC and GA 3, each issue had its designated area, in which more groups formed. One of the groups in ECOSOC was in the process of producing a resolution on the consequences of mass air travel, and said, “We’re looking for many ways to decrease mass air travel.” Though delegates of ECOSOC may have controversial ideas to discuss, many countries may have the same ideals, and may consider merging their resolutions.
One would expect large and powerful countries to be main submitters, but GA5 Chair ,Paik Haenn, believes that smaller countries may also be likely main submitters. The chairs expect a wide variety of countries to participate, and not only the countries involved in the issues or countries that stand at the extremes.
Those committees in smaller classrooms seemed to be more active in comparison to those in the auditoriums, but also seemed less likely to efficiently finish merging and writing resolutions due to the compact environment. THIMUN’s lobbying session proved to be a much different experience to those who have been to other MUN conferences. Compared to smaller conferences, delegates found that THIMUN participants as a whole are much more active. In many other MUN conferences, lobbying is known to be a time to sit back and relax. With their laptops flipped open and fingers typing away, most delegates were actively participating in their heated discussions on their issues. However, a few delegates took the backseat and signed onto resolutions that did not harm them, yet did not contain their voices. Only a few delegates will dominate the debates if others do not speak up. Chairs have encouraged delegates to participate not only in the future debates, but also in lobbying.
More controversial issues required more attention, and therefore a larger group of delegates. Amongst the many issues for each committee, there is usually one or two that take the most time and effort to resolve because of the controversial nature. For example, the ECOSOC issue of economic growth in the view of climate change has two extremely controversial sides. Developing countries may oppose the idea that developed countries want to promote their economy even though there is an immediate environmental problem. Oftentimes delegates do not have a complete idea of a resolution until it is close to the end of lobbying. Then, combining all of the ideas, the main submitter should type up the final resolution that all co-submitters have agreed upon.
As a start of the conference, lobbying has brought the diversity of the many participating delegates together, mingling so that resolutions to the issues could be resolved. Even though these resolutions may not pass, lobbying provides a less formal way of discussion, allowing delegates to become comfortable with each other and the MUN environment around them. Hopefully the debates following the lobbying will be just as lively as the many discussions in each committee held today.
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