november 8, 2014
issue 3 volume xvi
seoulite
SEOULITE Meet the staff
meet the Staff Editors-in-chief Celine Hwang & Yasmin Yoon
Layout artists Sang Ho Lee Alan Huh Joonhee Han
Sarah Doh Suyoung Yang
Reporters William Son Sarah Kim Alice Lee Julie Song
Marie Park Justin Chang Angie Kim
photographers Jane Lee Kelly Kim Brian M. Kim Brian S. Kim Andrew Lee
Adviser
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Christopher Lee Dongwoo Lee David Choe Esther Hwang Mr. David Coleman
Co-graphics editors Yeni Cho Hollis Hwang
Layout Editor Hyewon Kim
assistant layout editor Alice Rhim
Managing editor Jean Cho
assistant editor Christine Seo
Copy editors Joyce Kim Yeaji Park
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SEOULITE columns
Faux News
apples no longer accessible to russians by jean cho
This past week has been a week of fresh starts and innovation for the Russians. One of the major changes was the removal of all apples from logos and symbols due to recent research that has proven the fruit’s uncertain yet plausible association with AIDS. “An apple a day definitely does not keep the doctor away,” said Mark Leich, scientist at the Russian Center for Scientific Research, an organ-
ization sponsored by Russian President Jeffrey Novaki. “Although there has not been any conclusive research done to prove my claim, my intuition tells me that there is a positive correlation between the number of apples consumed and the possibility of getting AIDS.” Furthermore, all Russians are required to return their Apple products and purchase their electronics from Orange instead, a Russian start up that
was recently launched under the private ownership of President Novaki. Despite speculation from other countries, President Novaki and his administration have denied that the banning of Apple products was in any way affiliated with the recent coming out of Apple CEO, Jim Book. “I personally endorse Orange because it is better than any company out there and is an innovative startup,” Presi-
dent Novaki said. “The other investors, who all happen to be also members of non-government organizations such as the Russian Anti-LGBTQ Federation and the Russian Orthodox Church, are committed to helping this business prosper. I assure all of you that these groups are only offering a helping hand to Orange because they want to create a company that offers only the best to their fellow Russian citizens.” SL
Blast From the Past: Journalists Detained by Christine Seo
“Let me also be clear that our constitutional rights to speak freely, to assemble and to report in the press must be vigilantly safeguarded, especially in moments like these.” President Barack Obama, who reaffirmed his support for journalists arrested in Ferguson, Missouri, accurately stated the current situation in not just the United States, but also in countries around the globe, as the detainment of journalists by governments and organizations has been an issue for decades. In fact, David Tam Baryoh, radio host of Monologue on Citizen FM, was recently arrested by Sierra Leone’s President Earnest Bai Koroma after a guest on his show criticized
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the government for its handling of the outbreak of Ebola. Such treatment of journalists is not uncommon, as indicated by a simlar case involving the detainment of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two American journalists who were captured by North Korean soldiers. As reporters for Current TV in 2009, Ling and Lee went on an undercover mission to write an investigative report about North Korean refugees and thus crossed into North Korean soil hoping to gather information from inside the country. However, after being caught by North Korean soldiers and dragged to investigations for espionage, the two women were sentenced to twelve years of hard
labor for illegally trespassing into North Korean territory and illicitly reporting. After the American public gained knowledge of the journalists in hostage and expressed their outrage for such violation of human rights, President Bill Clinton met with Kim Jong Il to broker their release. Governments do not just detain journalists; sometimes, they execute them. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 34 journalists have been killed in 2014, with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) having murdered at least 17 of them. However, although reporters are fully aware of the dangers of their job, many still pursue their stories in these perilous
environments because they realize the importance of presenting a true representation of the world to their respective audiences. It is especially necessary for media sources in countries with oppressive governments to present accurate and unbiased information in order to combat the harmful propaganda totalitarian governments may spread to its citizens. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that nations take care of their journalists. If journalists are not protected, the revelation of the truth is not protected. And if the truth is not protected, it is impossible to develop a functioning society that emphasizes the individual’s rights. SL
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SEOULITE point of interest
MUN 101: How to pass a resolution by marie park At first glance, a resolution is an intimidating document. It tackles pressing world issues in a logical, cohesive manner. While this goal may be difficult to attain, by working collaboratively, delegates can address several outlooks in a single resolution. “You need to work together with your teammates to merge all of the different opinions into one final, effective resolution,” said Katherine Lim, delegate of China in the Economic and Social Council. It is necessary to consider the stances of all the different countries as well because you need their support to pass your resolution.” Another point of consideration is the fact that resolutions are read by dozens of delegates and chairs. To
maximize the impact of their resolutions, delegates are advised to utilize clear, straightforward language. “It is best to be as concise as possible when trying to find the most effective solution,” said Claire Yoon, delegate of the Russian Federation in Human Rights Council 1. “Delegates need to make sure their resolutions have logical and extensive solutions along with rational arguments to back these clauses up.” While formality in MUN important, a degree of originality is also encouraged. Instead of completely complying with MUN procedures, delegates can challenge themselves to think outside of the box. “My experience tells me that creativity is an important characteristic of any resolution,” said Lauren Ahn, International Court of Justice
Judge. “Often times, resolutions’ operative clauses tend to be very redundant, so individuality and uniqueness contribute to the resolution’s overall quality.” Once delegates complete their resolutions, it is critical that they publicize them in a postive manner to ultimately gain the support of fellow delegates.
“Delegates have to make sure to gain support for themselves beforehand by supporting other resolutions and/or amendments made by other delegates in their committee,” said Angela Yoon, Assistant President of Special Conference. “They need to maintain an active presence even when their resolutions are not at stake.” SL
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Behind the Scenes: Executive Directors’ Roles by julie song Enter any room during the conference and you will see placards set up, printed resolutions on tables and delegates reading notes. Each aspect was meticulously set up for the delegates’ convenience. However, these details are still often overlooked by attendees of SEOMUN even though they are result of hours of work by executive directors. As Secretariat members responsible for the logistics of the conference, administrative directors Jaewon Choi and Eugene Yang oversee the admin staff members, deliver necessary items to each of the conference rooms and make sure everyone is fulfilling his or her role in the
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conference. “As an administrative director, I address concerns and respond to them by presenting quick and easy solutions,” Jaewon said. “Whereas delegates are at the conference solely to debate, the secretariats have more responsibility regarding their workloads. Although some responsibilities may seem a bit trivial or insignificant, they nevertheless provide a new experience for me. Each extra piece of work is done to create a more wholesome MUN experience for the delegates.” Along with the administrative directors, the Information and Technology (IT) directors, Daniel Choi and
YooJeong Lee, help coordinate the SEOMUN conference by presiding over the entire conference and dealing with technological problems. “Being a secretariat member is beneficial for us because the position causes us to look at the conference in a unique way,” said YooJeong Lee, IT director. “Since our duty is to deal with technological problems as well as overlook the conference as a whole, the experience provides a wider perspective for us as former delegates who have never acted as a supervisor before.” From setting up basic materials to fixing network problems, the Secretariat is
responsible for juggling a variety of tasks during SEOMUN. According to Courtney Caldwell, SEOMUN adviser, in order to tackle the significant amount of workload, members of the Secretariat must be assiduous and meticulous. “All the directors are incredibly important because they are the main form of communication and are also in charge of the logistics during the conference,” Ms. Caldwell said. “Every morning is very hectic because they are required to set up everything within a short period of time. I am proud to have such diligent, responsible students and I admire them for their hard work.” SL
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SEOULITE point of interest
Notes: tools to facilitate communication by Yeaji park
Emily Chun, delegate of Brazil in Special Conference
Helen Jeon, delegate of Afghanistan in Economic and Social Council
“I think that note-passing helps clarify my understanding of issues because by sharing notes with other delegates, I am able to gain insight into a greater variety of perspectives. Last time other delegates helped me prepare before for my speech by writing possible counter arguments for me. This really helped me because I was able to fill in the weak points of my resolution.”
Danny Kang, delegate of India in Special Conference
“Notes are effective tools to use when I try to garner support or when I want to ask questions for clarification during speeches because we are not allowed to speak to one another when the debate is in session. Moreover, notes help me get an idea of who supports my cause and who doesn’t, so that I can tell who I need to convince.”
“I often use notes to ask allied nations to present POIs agreeing or restating my main arguments. I was going to make a speech regarding women’s rights in Africa and the Middle East so I passed a note to the delegate of China asking her to make a POI that supports what I said.”
Main-submitting procedures prompt competition among delegates by ANGIE KIM Delegates at SEOMUN can choose to sit back, relax or even doze off, but in order to prove themselves as competent individuals, delegates often create their own resolutions. However, because delegates must gather a significant nu,mber of supporters to main-submit, only those who can convince others that their resolution is the most effective can achieve this goal. “Many people want to main-submit, so you have to prove to other delegates that you deserve it,” said Joanne Na, delegate of South Korea in Human Rights Council 1. “Extensive research helps you prepare. You also want to make sure that you try to
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include a bit of every delegate’s resolution in your main submission.” To persuade others to support their resolution, delegates need to display confidence. Those who possess public-speaking skills have a foothold in the competition. “I spent a lot of time researching my topic, so I wanted to be recognized for my hard work,” said Daniel Yi, delegate of South Korea in General Assembly 2 “I think my confidence in my topic really helped me main-submit.” The desire to main-submit can create tension among delegates, but the process requires cooperation. The articles that were main-submitted were ones that not only satisfied
the needs of the main-submitter’s country, but also the needs of other delegates. “The main-submitter’s resolutions represented the main-submitter’s stance, as well as the general desires of
other nations” said Zoey Ryu, Assistant President of Environmental Commission. “The main-submitter is chosen based on the number of operative clauses that he or she contributed.” SL
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SEOULITE committee
HRC 1 debates on domestic abuse BY WILLIAM SON
HRC 2 engages in Rigorous Debates BY JOYCE KIM
photo by esther hwang In an attempt to prevent further escalation of the domestic abuse of women in South Asia, Human Rights Council 1 (HRC 1) debated their second resolution, which was proposed by Kevin Kwon, delegate of China. In the Asia-Pacific region, the majority of domestic abuse crimes involve husbands as perpetrators of violence. Furthermore, many women who have been abused in the past are deprived of education, health and opportunities to participate in the government. Therefore, delegates of HRC 1 strived to come up with a resolution that would allow South Asian women to not only gain but also preserve their rights. As Kevin standardized the definition of the ambiguous term, domestic violence, the debate began. “Domestic violence is any gender-based act of violence that results in mental, physical or sexual suffering for women,” Kevin said. “This definition set by the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women specifies actions such as coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.” Once the perimeters of domestic violence were established, Kevin suggested the addition of surveillance
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cameras and other methods of security in hot zones where domestic violence is more prevalent. However, some delegates found this clause impractical. “It is unreasonable to expect a third world country to institute surveillance cameras and other types of expensive technology everywhere,” said Jay Lee, delegate of Canada. “The idea of gaining financial support from NGOs in order to afford such pieces of technology will only act as an unnecesary burden. Therefore, this clause is not pragmatic and cannot be implemented in the real world.” Moreover, some delegates found that the resolution did not provide enough incentive for an entire country to change its long-held tradition of domestic violence. “The culture of South Asia is being treated too lightly,” said Angela Zheng, delegate of Iran. “Although most of the resolution makes sense, the incentive for an entire culture to take action is lacking. Thousands of laws may be made, but if nobody follows them, there may as well be no laws at all.” Following a long series of amendments, with 28 delegates for, 0 against, and 7 abstaining, the resolution was passed. SL
photo by andrew lee On the second day of SEOMUN, the delegates of the Human Rights 2 Council (HRC 2) explored ways to regulate private military companies (PMC) in Middle Eastern and African regions. PMC troops have been a topic of controversy because they are motivated to combat solely for profit. Although the reduction of troop casualties is celebratory, the use of PMCs is questionable from a human rights standpoint. Christine Kim, delegate of Pakistan, submitted a resolution supporting the complete eradication of these private companies, given that her country’s people are victims of PMCs. Garnering support from numerous advocates, such as delegates of Libya, Bhutan, Singapore and Indonesia, the resolution was avidly supported by Jun Yeong Oh, the delegate of Singapore, who condemned the privatization of war and praised the feasibility of the resolution. “For the past few decades, privatization of war and the use of PMCs have gained popularity among many member states in the United Nations,” Jun Yeong said. “But after acknowledging the problems caused by the utilization of private military computers, I strongly feel the necessity to regulate PMCs. I believe this
resolution suggests practical mechanisms to promptly resolve this issue regarding the international laws and human rights of modern society.” Many delegates, however, such as Janice Hahm, the delegate of USA, expressed disapproval of the resolution, indicating the need for clarification and amendments. Janice stated that implementation would be challenging, given the vague nature of the resolution. “As the USA prioritizes the rights of its own citizens over those of other nations, I believe that the resolution needs more clarification and should focus on how it will achieve a greater peace for citizens in the affected regions,” Janice said. “The USA is particularly concerned with how the local government will justify foreign arrests and under which conditions suspicious activities can be identified.” Despite the clause’s failure to pass, Stella Li, Deputy Assistant President, expressed confidence that her delegates would reach a feasible solution for the issue at hand. “They are motivated and constantly bring up points that improve the quality of the discussion,” Stella said. “We are all excited to both listen to and work with this hard-working batch of delegates.” SL
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SEOULITE committee
GA 1 and 2 exchange information security and financial aid By YEAJI PARK
Aiming to improve international security by enhancing telecommunication and discussing how reliance on network data sharing makes electronic attacks possible, General Assembly 1 (GA 1) debated on a resolution proposed by Sang Yeon Lee, delegate of Denmark. The resolution, which included the establishment of international organizations and the regulation of privacy and security, was met with support from delegates such as delegates of Colombia and Spain. “I support the resolution because it is important for people to understand the dangers of the Internet and telecommunication because they will be aware of using them with caution,” said Nina Udagawa, delegate of Spain. “Additionally, by encouraging citizens
to be educated, they may start using the Internet as a basis to telecommunication because they would be provided with background knowledge.” Despite this indication of approval, delegates of China and Pakistan felt that the resolution may cause more problems by disclosing confidential information regarding cyber attacks. As a result of their opposition, the resolution failed to pass. “I agree with the resolution in that territorial integrity over cyberspace should be upheld because nations cannot neglect the rights of complete and total privacy,” said Wonjai Lee, delegate of China. “However, the resolution still contained ineffective methods and systems. Educating the public about cyber attacks can be harmful because it may give
the public the tools to conduct the cyber attacks themselves.” In General Assembly 2 (GA 2), Martin Yoo, delegate of Pakistan, addressed the issue of misappropriation of financial aid to LEDCs by targeting corruption. Taking into the account several incidents in which federal finances were misallocated among government officials or nations, his resolution aimed to promote a positive effect on countries with the effective use of financial aid. “One of my points concerned establishing a compromise of financial aid for less developed countries,” Martin said. “There are two types of financial aid: controlled, and free. If we can avoid bias towards one type of financial aid, countries’ economies can grow and benefit exponentially.”
The proposal received a lot of support but was met with disagreements from delegates of other nations. Michaela Hwang, delegate of Germany, found flaws in the resolution’s operative clause and saw little connection between points and the resolution’s intentions. Despite these disagreements, the resolution was passed because other countries found the proposed solutions effective. “I did not agree with the resolution because it put an unreasonable amount of burden on donor states and recipient states for an unclear cause,” said Michael Hwang, delegate of Germany. “[The resolution] also contradicted itself because it opens up LEDCs to exploitation and is unsuccessful in addressing the issue at a local level.” SL
ECOSOC tackles women’s rights issues BY WILLIAM SON
photo by ANDRREW lee To address issues related to women’s rights and the role of women in Africa and the Middle East, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) debated a resolution written by Nicholas Kim, delegate of Germany. In hopes of providing social services such as public education and basic necessities for women, Nicholas proposed direct interaction with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
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In response to the resolution, however, delegates such as Alice Cho, delegate of USA, questioned the lack of incentives for women. “We should have increasingly diverse incentives including the establishment of an area that women could leave their babies [for free] so that they can be educated,” Alice said. “If this resolution includes these incentives, it can reach a wider number of people, therefore helping to alleviate
the issue of the violation of women’s rights globally.” Despite clashing viewpoints on the feasibility of this resolution, the majority of delegates agreed that education and other salutary services were necessary to enforce women’s rights. To further support women’s rights, however, delegates argued for stricter punishments for violators of women’s rights. “Many delegates believe that women’s rights are difficult to protect because women do not have the courage to voice their concerns after suffering from abuse,” said Sei Chang, delegate of the United Kingdom. “However, we believe that this resolution is effective because it directly addresses education, which is an integral part
of the solution, and includes stricter punishments for those who violate women’s inalienable rights.” As the debate came to an end, the resolution was passed with 23 delegates voting for and 9 against. “This resolution adequately addressed the issue at hand because it looked at the issue in both a short term and long term perspective,” said Katherine Lim, delegate of China. “I think it passed so successfully because it included a plausible solution that appealed to many delegates. Because women are marginalized and suppressed so often, it is evident that we must improve the lives and rights of women to move society forward.” SL
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SEOULITE focus
Technological issues intensify with advancements by sarah kim From the introduction of the Internet to the development of 3D printers, technology has developed at an extremely rapid rate in the past few decades. However, in a way, every step forward is a half-step back, as numerous controversies relating to technological problems have recently emerged. Technology originally intended to benefit society has been distorted, causing issues such as the Yahoo scandal and online piracy to surface. Recently, the public discovered that the National Security Agency (NSA) was able to screenshot any video call made on Yahoo’s platform as a means of surveillance. Those in favor of such methods of surveillance deem it essential for national security, but most of the public is upset with this incident as well as last year’s NSA scandal involving Snowden. These individuals feel that because both disclosed questionable actions of social-networking corporations and the government that were previously unknown to citizens. “I personally believe the problem is that the government is infringing on the citizens’ most basic rights through immoral means, such as violating our Yahoo accounts and webcams,” said David Kim, Deputy Assistant President
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of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). “If events like these are repeated, people will begin to distrust the government, and the gap between the gove r n -
m e n t and society will continue to widen.” According to Sang Gu Chung, Assistant President of ECOSOC, there are c o n s e quences of surveillance that go be-
yond the infringement of basic, salient rights granted to citizens. “Once people discover that their private
information was accessed by the government, they are psychologically affected,” Sang Gu said. “This leads to people being intimidated in their social lives, and in the long-term may even result in economic depressions.”
Unfortunately, surveillance is not the only source of technology-related controversy, as online piracy is a problem that has also become critical to address. On Nov. 3, 2014, Fredrik Neij, co-founder of the Pirate Bay, the file-sharing website, was arrested for having avoided incarceration for the past five years. In 2009, he was found guilty of illegally sharing 33 copyright-protected files. Neij will begin serving his prison sentence of one year within the next month. The general public seems to have mixed feelings about the arrest. Though many people are in favor of the Swedish government because of Neij’s unconstitutional actions, many users also expressed support for the Pirate Bay and Neij. “The people who create or are involved in the creation of works of literature, music, and films are not being paid for their work, and this is horrible,” said Daniel Choi, Director of Information and Technology. “On the other hand, online piracy is simply an extension of the openness and unrestricted nature of the internet. I’m not exactly sure about my stance, but I’m interested to see how the debate will change over time, as it will change the way in which we view media and how media affects us.” SL
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SEOULITE focus
ISIS beheadings go viral, instigate controverby Alice lee Confirming the extremity and fanatical nature of its actions, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), recently released a video in which an ISIS soldier slices open the neck of a reporter. Attracting an immense number of views over the past few weeks, the graphic video spread awareness of ISIS’ violent tactics to avenge foreign forces and punish journalists. Dragged out of his cell by his kidnappers, James Foley, an American journalist who was reporting on abductions in Syria, was interrogated with overly personal questions, such as “Who cried at your brother’s wedding?” until they were able to get in touch with his family. Soon after, in December 2013, Foley was videotaped in the remote hills of Syria, speaking solemnly to his family and friends before he was decapitated with a dagger. The United States’ plans to address ISIS’ violent actions included four major parts in strategy: increasing airstrikes against terrorists from the ISIS, sending US servicemen as militants, blocking the flow of money and fighters and providing humanitarian aid for the civilians. “The US should oppose terrorist groups because this issue concerns human rights, which should include all human beings,” said Stella Li, Deputy Assistant President of Human Rights Council 2. “In other words, we should not passively accept such current issues as unfortunate occur-
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rences and move on. Instead, we should work toward a better future by taking action against these crimes and sending military aid.” On Sept. 10, President Barack Obama promised to prioritize the security of US citizens by not only implementing governmental procedures but also actively opposing ISIS. Following this speech, 44 percent of Americans expressed approval of his plans while the rest disapproved, according to the CNN/ORC poll. The rest of American citizens have expressed that the US should take a different approach against ISIS, instead of promoting constant airstrikes or planning to fight ISIS. “The US should consider learning and understanding the stance of ISIS by negotiating with them for peace, instead of immediately taking an aggressive stance by enforcing military attacks,” said Samantha Chong, delegate of Chad in Special Conference. “In other words, the US should be aware of the beliefs the ISIS holds, and the fact that ISIS soldiers are convinced that violent beheadings are actually working. As moral, delegates, it is up to us to prove that fighting violence with violence will only lead to more casualties and chaos.” Along with Foley, a total of 23 foreign hostages from 12 countries were killed by ISIS.
In order to prevent the reoccurrence of these crimes, countries including Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, France, Italy Germany, Canada and Britain have joined forces with the United States. These nations, among others, have sent military troops and arms to support the foreign bases in the Middle East, as well as humanitarian aid. As a result of this international support, Americans have also expressed approval of Obama’s plans. “International assistance is necessary to prevent ISIS from engaging in any more illicit activities that will put the lives of innocent civilians in danger,” said Sabin Kim, delegate of Iraq in Security Council. “We should set specific regulations and enforce greater security within the country itself, in order to prevent the terrorists from harassing more people as a domestic measure.” SL
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SPC aims to promote labor rights By JEAN CHO and christine seo Hoping to promote the accountability of employers around the world, Jiwhan Moon, delegate of France, and Sunny Lee, delegate of Pakistan, tackled the issue of the exploitation of employees in the Special Conference (SPC). Supported by over 20 other nations in the committee, this resolution generated a productive debate session. “Someday in the future, we will all be employees,” Jiwhan said. “Would you rather have an employer who physically harasses you or respects your dignity and identity? Because our world is full of many dire issues, I wanted to devise a comprehensive solution that would be feasible and transparent.” The resolution called for support from numerous organizations, including the International Labor Organization
(ILO), the UN-specialized administration that aims to promote human and labor rights. Following the resolution’s suggestion, the ILO agreed to ensure the accountability of employers with biannual reports and manage negligent employers with financial retribution, expulsion or arrest. “I think that labor-specialized organizations can provide valuable suggestions and insight on how to stop workplace abuse because they have the experience needed to deal with this matter,” said Samantha Chong, delegate of Chad. “We can also rely on ILO Conventions, the most fundamental standards created since the 1930s, to help countries find the details and guidelines concerning the prevention of this matter.” To deal with the array of health and safety risks asso-
photo by Christopher Lee ciated with industrial environments, delegates proposed amendments regarding facilities and resources, such as the designation of smoking areas. “I think that the debate provided by the delegates of France and Pakistan was extremely fruitful,” said Angela Yoon, Assistant President. “The chairs received amendments continuously through-
out the session, which shows how enthusiastic the delegates are in discussing, improving and building upon the solutions presented to eradicate workplace harassment.” After continuous debate on the resolution and numerous amendments, the resolution passed by a large margin of 31 votes for, one vote against and four abstentions. SL
AP strives to resolve ethnic conflicts in China BY SARAH KIM
photo by Leo lEe Proceeding with their heated discussions from the previous day, the advisors of the Advisory Panel (AP) focused on relieving tension among different Chinese ethnic groups. The advisors debated a clause presented by Minji Suh, advisor of the Republic of Korea (ROK), that called for the Chinese government to alleviate discrimination against minority nationalities. “I thought that the first step of curtailing limitations im-
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posed on the religious and cultural activities of minorities would be effective in ensuring the plausibility of the clause,” Minji said. “I also suggested that we produce proposals to alleviate media control in Tibet and Xinjiang and form representative bodies within ethnic minorities to eliminate ethnic conflict.” In response to Minji’s proposal, the majority of the advisors wished to voice their disapproval. Those such as Brian Kim, advisor of South Sudan, warned that only relieving
media control in Tibet and Xinjiang would potentially result in discrimination. “Alleviating media control in specific areas may lead to reverse discrimination, as the Chinese government would be placing a certain group of people above others,” Brian said. “This subclause also infringes the Chinese national sovereignty, so the government is unlikely to comply to such rules.” To resolve this conflict, Patricia Song, advisor of China, proposed an amendment to strike out the controversial sub-clause not only because it would contribute to the rising inequality in China, but also because it did not abide by the Chinese constitution.
“I had to reflect the thoughts and interests of the Chinese government as much as possible throughout the debate,” Patricia said. “All nationalities in China are deemed equal under Chinese law and enforcing partial control will only lead to reverse discrimination, and leave China with no incentive to follow such proposals.” Despite criticism regarding the extremity of the amendment, it eventually passed with 10 votes for and five votes against. After necessary changes were made to the clause proposed by the advisor of the ROK, AP moved on to voting procedures for the entire clause. With 12 votes for, none against and three abstentions, the clause ultimately passed. SL
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SEOULITE committee
SPT addresses DPRK labor conditions BY MARIE PARK Focused primarily on the proposed construction of the Korean Peninsula Trade Corridor, a corridor that would connect the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the delegates of the Six Party Talks (SPT) discussed their various concerns about the DPRK. Wanting to give DPRK an incentive to create a trade corridor that would initiate more trade relationships, countries in the SPT strived to identify the source of the DPRK’s reluctance to trade. Because the DPRK has been reported to have poor living conditions and work ethics that affect willingness to cooperate with other countries, Six Party Talks (SPT) brainstormed methods to alleviate the issue with a clause-
by-clause voting procedure. “It is important to think of progressive ideas for trade and industrial areas of business,” said Michael Kim, delegate of China. “North Korean workers face difficult living and working conditions. By raising awareness about these issues, we can not only fix overcrowding and poor sanitation conditions, but also give DPRK more incentives to cooperate with other countries through the Korean Trade Peninsula Corridor.” According to Michael, improving water facilities and the health care system will increase the productivity of North Korean workers and give the nation a more competitive edge in trade. However, other delegates such as Jerry Kim, delegate of Russia, disagreed, questioning the feasibil-
ity of opening nation’s borders. “How would the UN open up the borders of the DPRK if they have been closed for decades in the past?” Jerry said. “This fact makes the clause implausible because we cannot simply force the borders open. As for promoting the workers’ facilities, no word on the implementation of sustenance was mentioned. Such
improvement would require immense monetary stress.” Because of the strong clashing views, delegates sat in a divided house with two votes for, two votes against, and two votes abstaining. As a result of the tie, the chair excluded the ability to abstain, leaving the committee with the decision to pass the clause with four votes for and two votes against. SL
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SC discusses clauses on nuclear power BY JULIE SONG
PHOTO BY leo lee Though members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) pledge to use nuclear power only for conciliatory purposes, the development of science and disarmament, this privilege is often abused. Traditionally, USA and its allies feared the possibility of a nuclear catastrophe, thus demonstrating the need for immediate solutions. Despite repeated promises to utilize nuclear energy peacefully,
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USA and its allies were reluctant to comply with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s request for a trade-off. “I personally believe that countries with nuclear power should give the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certain rights to ensure the proper usage of nuclear energy for their country’s welfare,” said Kenneth Yim, delegate of Republic of Korea (ROK). “Since the IAEA
has the ability to reach out to all current nuclear weapon holders and submit proposals to the UN Security Council, further implementation of the IAEA is the quickest way to get our eyes and ears into nuclear development programs around the world.” While some delegates agreed that ROK’s resolution successfully addressed the implications of nuclear power, others questioned its influence on national sovereignty and the motives behind the resolution’s sub-clauses. “For the IAEA to be under government control would be a severe violation of the company’s autonomy and rights,” said Hok Yin Kong, delegate of India. “India does not wish for any third-party oversight in its
nuclear programs. Therefore, the IAEA is violating India’s will by looking into nuclear programs in India.” In reponse to these complaints, Claire Kim, delegate of France, submitted an amendment to increase the IAEA’s significance by making it an international organization. By taking this measure, Claire hoped to increase transparency and foster peace. “I supported ROK’s amendment because it recognized and prioritized the real issues related to nuclear energy,” said KJ Lee, delegate of Indonesia. “It was also a necessary measure for the IAEA to fully gain the trust of member nations and therefore gain the ability to oversee specific usages of nuclear technology.” SL
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Environmental Commission rejects resolution due to ambiguity By justin chang In order to actively prevent global warming, the Environmental Commission (ECOSOC) began with a resolution, submitted by Zin War, delegate of Mexico, regarding the implementation of solar radiation management (SRM). The resolution stressed the importance of raising awareness on the advantages of SRM use, urged the cooperation of MEDCs and LEDCs and encouraged the use of the color white to reflect sunlight, thus lowering the temperature of planet Earth. “I am positive that SRMs will work because there are multiple examples that showcase the plausibility of this system,” said Soo Kyum Kim, delegate of Saudi Arabia. “The cooling of Seoul because of the Tancheon River is one example. Before the man-made
Tancheon River was excavated, Seoul was undeniably hotter. However, because the river was effective in lowering the temperature of the nearby area, Seoul’s temperature was able to become cooler.” Unlike Soo Kyum, most delegates found the resolution vague and unsubstantiated. According to David Moon, the delegate of Germany, the resolution discussed topics only distantly related to global warming, rather than those specifically related to SRMs. “First of all, the issue requires taking risks,” David said. “However, in order to take these risks, the resolution needs to have an exhaustive procedure detailing steps. This resolution would only be practical if there was such solid information available about SRMs. But because SRM technology is still new and unclear,
photo by esther hwang the clauses of this resolution are not realistic.” Although delegates attributed different reasons for voting against the resolution, they shared the idea that one of the resolution’s most major problems was its lack of focus and details. “The resolution did not have the specific measures it needed for the implementation of SRMs,” said Kelvin Lee, delegate of the Dominican Repub-
lic. “Instead, it had ineffective methods such as trying to play along with public support. Additionally, the resolution is too rigid for the delegates to work with because it is too centered on raising awareness about global warming . This allows us to mediate an agreement about SRMs.” With seven for, 22 against and six abstaining, the resolution was a lesson learned the hard way. SL
Italy seeks proper compensation in ICJ By angie Kim
The second ICJ debate of the conference began with no delay, and included advocates this time. The court case debated upon was the Jurisdictional Immunities of the State, which concerned the extent of state immunity. After numerous attempts by the Italian courts to ignore the state immunity of Germany, Germany was able to bring forward its case and declare Italy as guilty. “The main problem we have with Italy is the Treaty of Peace,” said Peter Kim, advocate of Germany. “This document invalidates all the court cases in which Italy asks for further compensation. Italy needs to recognize that once it signed the treaty, it agreed that Germany had properly compensated Italy for the lives lost in World
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War 2.” In response, the advocates of Italy explained that because the court case represented a conflict between victims and perpetrators, advocates of Germany must address the violations of human rights in Germany and further compensate for neglecting human rights. “Italy values meticulous evidence instead of the premeditated expectedness on some evidence,” said Hyunseong Kim, advocate of Italy. “Massacres committed by Germany must be met with more accountability and responsibility. We should not feel guilty for seeking proper compensation and prioritizing jurisdictional immunity over lost human lives.” To evaluate the issue at hand, judges examined each argu-
ment presented by the advocates and considered the outcomes of each possible ruling. Based on the credibility of each evidence set forth by both Germany and Italy, each judge determined his or her own stance regarding the case. “The severity of Germany’s past crimes should overrule
the amount of state immunity that Germany is guaranteed against Italy”, said May Lee, Judge. “Germany presents us with credible document such as the European Convention on State Immunity, but Italy’s emphasis on the protection of human rights far exceeds that of Germany’s and should therefore be supported.” SL
photo by leo lee Layout alice rhim
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ALAN’S NEW LANGUAGE alien alan is trying to talk to you. try to figure out the words he’s saying.
1. plus
plus 1.
2. MINUS
plus 2.
3. plus
plus 3.
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plus
plus 4.
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minus
plus 5.
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Joonhee’s country trivia 1.
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ACROSS 5. Country with the highest ratio of millionaires 8. most belligerent nation in the world 11. first place in the world to allow women to vote 3. european country that borders nine other countries 14. UN agency that aims to protect children’s rights and young people 15. Largest exporter of frog legs 16. country with Most overweight individuals
DOWN 1. Covers the greatest number of timezones 2. England’s first great industry 3. Australia’s original name 4. origin of paper 6. Most diverse country 7. Country that is also a continent 9. Country that consumes the most Coca Cola per capita 10. First capital of the US 12. First state to became part of the US in 1900
Free food coupon
finish the two activities on page 14 and 15 for free food. come to room 301A to receive your reward. Layout alan huh
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etiluoes