The Canadian International Model UN (CANIMUN) was held this past weekend at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, AB. Although designed for university students, the Calgary Current received a special invitation to participate given their great reputation within UNA-Canada.
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| The Indonesian delegation @ CANIMUN 2012 |
Students from the Calgary Current made up a delegation that represented the Republic of Indonesia on the Rio+20, the GA1, and the WHO committees. After a crash course on the rules and procedures of model UNs, the students worked towards solutions on Arctic sovereignty, private security companies, the green economy, social determinants of health, global pandemics, and global technology transfers.
Negotiations were tough at times with predictable tensions between delegates from Iran and Israel, and unlikely diplomatic tensions between delegates from Sweden and Sudan.
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| Greenland Icesheet (greendiary.com) |
To add to the tense environment, a state of emergency was declared on the second day of negotiations with reports that the Greenland icesheet, roughly 80% of the total landmass of Greenland, had broken off and fallen into the North Atlantic Ocean, raising global sea levels by an alarming three meters.
An emergency joint session of Rio+20 and the GA1 was called to work through the refugee relief efforts and commitments to CO2 reductions before sea levels reached an apex of five meters from their previous levels. A global disaster of this magnitude saw the brief departure from the usual developed nations vs. developing nations alliances; parts of the UK and much of the Netherlands was now underwater, along with many of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). However, no resolution was actually agreed upon during these emergency negotiations.
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| Under-Secretary-General Mr. Sha |
Overall, it was a fantastic experience for the Calgary Current participants, who also had the privilege of meeting Alberta's Minister of Environment & Water, Alberta's Deputy Premier, and the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic & Social Affairs, Mr. Sha Zukang. Great job team!
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| Reading the Rules & Procedures for model UNs |
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