In 1971 the United Nations General Assembly  declared  24th Oct as " United Nations Day ". This day is devoted to making known to people  of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations Organization. UN  Day is part of United Nations Week, which runs from 20th  to 26th  October. The purpose of the United Nations is to promote and sustain global cooperation on every level, whether it is military, humanitarian  or environmental.

I have been very fortunate to get hands on experience of How UN works by getting chance to participate in Model UN conference (MUN)  this year as well. The purpose and benefits of a Model UN conference can be generally classified into two strands: first, personal development (the skills gained or developed through participation,) second, the instilling of a cosmopolitan ethic in its participants.

Delegates who get opportunity to participate in MUN get  deep understanding of the United Nations (System), its work, and of contemporary issues in world politics. MUN improves  public speaking, rhetoric, negotiation and reasoning/analytic skills. It provides  training in creativity, problem-solving and the finding of compromise.

Model UN has an essential message to convey: all men, women and children, regardless of where they live or where they come from, are deserving of equal concern and respect all human beings, anywhere and everywhere, form part of one single grand community, indivisible. 

 

Like last year , this year too after  rounds of auditions in our school , I was one of the 9 students selected from our school for MUN(Model United Nations) at Chennai called SISH-MUN.  Country allotted to me as the UK.  Regarding Committee allocation last year I was in EC(Environment Committee). This year I was given 2 options either to be in ICJ(International Court of Justice) or specialised Environment Agency of UN called United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) . Obviously , I chose to be in UNEP . We went to Chennai (India) in beginning of Oct and returned with amazing experience and knowledge. I was holding this report as I wanted to post it on UN day i.e. today 24th Oct .

UNEP is an extremely important body in the UN. The mission of UNEP is ?to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and people  to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations?. This year UNEP Board  ensured that every delegate of every nation plays a part in the ?bigger picture? of solving climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, environmental governance, harmful substances and resource efficiency.

As a delegate of UNEP and representing the UK , I did thorough  research of environmental issues UK is facing , various laws and regulations prevailing in UK , unsolved issues , environmental challenges in UK and environment best practices UK is following.

We were given 2 Agenda as follows:

AGENDA 1:  ENVIRONMENTALLY  SOUND  MANAGEMENT OF TOXIC  CHEMICALS  INCLUDING PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING OF TOXIC AND DANGEROUS PRODUCTS

?/span> A substantial use of chemicals is essential to meet the social and economic goals of the world community and today's best practice demonstrates that they can be used widely in a cost-effective manner and with a high degree of safety. However, a great deal remains to be done to ensure the environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, within the principles of sustainable development and improved quality of life for humankind. Two of the major problems, particularly in developing countries, are ?/span> (a) Lack of sufficient scientific information for the assessment of risks entailed by the use of a great number of chemicals, and ?/span> (b) Lack of resources for assessment of chemicals for which data are at hand. ?/span> Gross chemical contamination, with grave damage to human health, genetic structures and reproductive outcomes, and the environment, has in recent times been continuing within some of the world's most important industrial areas. Restoration will require major investment and development of new techniques. The long-range effects of pollution, extending even to the fundamental chemical and physical processes of the Earth's atmosphere and climate, are becoming understood only recently and the importance of those effects is becoming recognized only recently as well.

?/span> A considerable number of international bodies are involved in work on chemical safety. In many countries work programmes for the promotion of chemical safety are in place. Such work has international implications, as chemical risks do not respect national boundaries. However, a significant strengthening of both national and international efforts achieves an environmentally sound management of chemicals. •Six programmes discussed were :

 (a) Expanding and accelerating international assessment of chemical risks

 (b) Harmonization of classification and labelling of chemicals

(c) Information exchange on toxic chemicals and chemical risks

d) Establishment of risk reduction programmes

(e) Strengthening of national capabilities and capacities for manageement of chemicals

 (f) Prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products.

?/span> Collaboration on chemical safety between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International LabourOrganisation (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) may serve to be the nucleus for international cooperation on environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals. All efforts may be made to strengthen this programme

 

AGENDA 2:  COMBATING  LAND  DEGRADATION  THROUGH  INTENSIFIED  SOIL CONSERVATION , AFFORESTATION  AND  REFORESTATION  ACTIVITIES.

Background :

?span style="font-stretch: normal font-size: 7pt font-family: 'Times New Roman'">  Fragile Ecosystems are important ecosystems, with unique features & resources. Fragile ecosystems include deserts , semi-arid lands , mountains  , wetlands , small islands and certain coastal areas. Most of these ecosystems are regional in scope, as they transcend boundaries.

 

?span style="font-stretch: normal font-size: 7pt font-family: 'Times New Roman'">  The priority in combating desertification is important and may serve to be the implementation of preventive measures for lands that are not yet degraded, or which are only slightly degraded.  In combating desertification and drought , the participation of local communities , rural organisations , national Governments , non-governmental  organisations and international and regional organisations is essential.

The programme areas which were discussed were :

>  Strengthening the knowledge base and developing information and monitoring systems for regions prone to desertification and drought , including the economic and social aspects of these ecosystems

 

>  Combating land degradation through , inter alia , intensified soil conservation , afforestation and reforestation activities

 

>  Developing and strengthening integrated development programmes for the eradication of poverty and promotion of alternative livelihood systems in areas prone to desertification

 

 

>  Developing  comprehensive anti-desertification programmes and integrating them into national development plans and national environmental planning.

 

>  Encouraging and promoting popular participation and environmental education , focusing on desertification control and management of the effects of drought.

 

Govts. , with the support of international and regional organisations , to look into establishing a system of stand-by capacities in terms of foodstock , logistical support.

The first session of UNEP (having 40 delegates) began with a roll call . The agenda for the day was environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals and the prohibition of illegal trafficking of toxic chemicals. The Delegate of Burkina Faso started the session  followed by the Delegates of United Kingdom(i.e. me Arushi) , Sudan and Afghanistan.

The Delegate of Afghanistan?s illuminating address, openly labeling itself as a ?notorious? country, convicted the NATO of leaving behind military waste. The Delegate of Central Africa was rather alarmed at Afghanistan?s lack of ?diplomacy?. The General Speakers? List was followed by a Moderated Caucus on ?a globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of toxic wastes?. UNEP decided to classify ?toxic wastes? as nuclear waste, E-waste, surgical, industrial waste, illegal drugs, medical waste, elemental waste, thermoplastics, biological waste and persistent organic pollutants.

 

The second session of UNEP began with the presentation of resolutions on toxic waste management. The first resolution to be put forth was named ?Samara?, after the charming Chair.  The Samara resolution urged countries to engage in regional, multilateral or

bilateral cooperation schemes, development and investment in waste disposal and management, awareness programs and rallies and the specific qualification of waste management authorities in all nations via a UN course. Votes were taken and the Resolution was passed. This was followed by next topic ?Combating Land Degradation?.

The  motion to pass was ?mining and its negative impacts on soil?. This was followed with a Moderated Caucus on the ?Need to Develop Renewable Resources of Energy?.

 

My this year experience was much better than last year?s as this year during MUN conferences , there were simulated situations of emergencies given to us as case study and all committees were supposed to discuss and come up with solutions to handle simulated emergency. 

 

 UNEP was the first committee to pass an emergency resolution for the day and was yet again the most successful.

 

Around 40 delegates representing 40 different countries presented  document officially known  as FPS (Foreign Policy Statement) comprising of  stance of their countries , conventions and treaties signed by their countries and the various steps taken to combat the issues under agenda. I am glad to share with all of you that my FPS  was awarded as THE BEST FPS in UNEP Committee.  I was also appreciated and recognized in the top 5 delegates of UNEP and hence received verbal mention for the best delegate award.  I was  happy that my hard work , all the hours I had put in researching and preparing-paid off with this award.

 

Our delegation (means our school comprising of 9 delegates) got the BEST OUTSTATION  DELEGATION award as well. Our school Principal was thrilled to know and we were honoured in our school assembly for such a stupendous performance.

Sorry I don't have good pics as photography was not allowed during sessions as UN or MUN being extremely formal forum. I have few pics of social day when we were supposed to wear our traditional/national dressattached here.