Youth initiatives of solving global problems: Moscow International Model of the United Nations

Youth initiatives of solving global problems: Moscow International Model of the United Nations

Posted in UN , Russia | 14-Apr-04 | Author: Dmitry Udalov

Model of the United Nations is a role game during which work of the main bodies and committees of The United Nations is simulated. For several days students become the Ambassadors of different countries who meet in the UN to discuss the vital problems of humanity. The model helps students to implement their knowledge, to make their first practical steps in world politics, and to learn the structure and work of the UN.

This year about 800 best students from Russia, CIS countries, Baltic States, China, Spain gathered in MGIMO University to take part in the Model of the UN.
The Model lasted for one week, so the participants had enough time to discuss the agenda.

As for me I was representing the delegation of Canada in the Commission on Sustainable Development. The term “Sustainable Development” was at first introduced by Norwegian delegation in the UN General Assembly in 1987. It means such kind of human development under which the contemporary demands are satisfied and enough recourses are saved for future generations. The idea of a Sustainable Development of nations is one of the key-points in the Millennium Declaration.

There is no doubt that the roots of many challenges of contemporary world come from poverty, poor social security, very low level of education, economic instability, demographic problems in many regions. Besides, the ecological problems endanger the whole humanity.

So the Commission on Sustainable Development main task is to work out practical, realistic and useful measures of implementing the Millennium Declaration. Having studied carefully this topic I came to the conclusion that not many things had been done, except numerous resolutions which mainly set the global goals but don’t produce step by step programs of achieving these goals. Unfortunately the UN is continuing to be very declarative but not very productive in solving global problems. Yet we don’t have any better organization.

So as a representative of Canada I introduced a resolution which contained some new ideas, for example:

• All different ecological non governmental organizations could join together under the United Nations to make their work more efficient
  
• UN could introduce a special annual award for the producers who use pure technology and don’t spoil nature
  
• The idea of establishing a special ecological tribunal of international court
  
• The idea of establishing a big research centre under the UN auspices where the best scientists could make their researches on pure technologies and alternative sources of energy. As this centre is financed by the UN its final products can be used for free by any nation. (The technological gap between nations is really great nowadays. Developing countries can afford neither making research neither buying environmental friendly technologies. )
  
• Why not make countries suffering from poor medicine and educational systems cut their military budgets and transfer money to the social sphere to improve medicine and education.
  
• Developed countries should stop giving credits and money donations to the developing countries, as they are not often used efficiently. Developed countries would better support them by concrete projects (building infrastructure, lending equipment )
  
• World Health Organization could work out a special program on training proficient doctors and organize special courses for doctors in developing countries to improve their professional skills.

Some of the delegates had special programs for desert regions. For example Egypt enjoys today unilateral right of using the Nile water resources. It would be faire to settle this problem with the help of scientists of how water recourses of the Nile could be used equally and efficiently by African countries.

During the discussion of the ways of implementing program of Sustainable Development we had a lot of debates. Yet all the delegates came to the conclusion that the realization of Sustainable Development is essential for fighting with other global problems. In our final resolution we’ve tried to call for all nations and their leaders to pay more attention to the comprehension of the vital necessity of achieving Sustainable Development goals. Let’s hope they will follow our appeal!

• Tags:
• UN
• Russia

Share