Model UN Conference 2023

Committee: JCC Russian Civil War Red
Chair: Nico Bezzerides
Co-Chair:

Near the end of the Great War, and amidst suffering great military losses, Russian revolutionaries in Petrograd began a litany of workers’ strikes, forcing the entire industrial backbone of Petrograd to halt and provoking the fall of the centuries-old tsarist regime. Now you, as members of the Bolshevik Party and Communist Party sympathizers, must chart a path forward for your fledgling government and work to prevent the White Army from defeating communism and instituting their Western regime. Plan military strategy, manage fragile supply chains, and contend with flagging support from troops. Lead on, and create the legacy that your new nation will stand upon.

1. How will the Bolshevik and Communist Party deal with pro-Tsarist forces?
2. If infighting arises, will you attempt to reach an agreement or try to overpower the opposing side?
3. Will you endorse conflict, seek to stop it, or broker a deal to bring both sides together?

Committee: JCC Russian Civil War White
Chair: Jack Reardon
Co-Chair: James Conley
During WW1 while Russians were fighting the Germans on the frontlines, anti-russian communists took the capital. They have seized control of the industrial heartland, and now they are moving to institute their anti-monarchist regime. You must unite your loyal forces fighting on the front, and the monarchists in the empire to retake control. Your Allies in the Great War will send help, but you must keep fighting in the war to keep it. It is up to you to decide the fate of Russia, and the course of history.

1. How to keep the Germans away from Russia during this war?
2. Will you create an  international coalition to unify the Whites and oust the Reds?
3. Should Tsar Nicholas II stay in power?

Committee: The Good Friday Agreement
Chair: Daniel Linnehan
Co-Chair: Atharva Niak
The Good Friday Agreement focuses on ending the conflict between Protestants and Catholics in the six northernmost counties in Ireland. This conflict goes back centuries, but over the past 30 years, large-scale protests by Catholics against British control and violent terrorist attacks perpetrated by both sides have resulted in a bloody conflict. Your goal is to end the conflict while achieving your own goals about the political future of Ireland.

1. What is the future of interned suspected terrorists of both sides?
2. What will be the political future of the six northern counties (Unify with Ireland/Remained Partitioned/Another Solution)?
3. Future relationships between the North and South of the island?

Boston Busing Desegregation
Chair: Griffin Mozinski ’24
Co-Chair: Christopher Affonso ’24

In 1972 the Boston Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a class action lawsuit on the behalf of a number of parents and students. The lawsuit said that school budget resources allocated by the Boston School Committee favored people from white neighborhood schools.  Simultaneously, the lawsuit accused the Boston School Committee of  reducing the amount of budget resources for people from black neighborhood schools. Essentially, two school systems of separate and unequal quality existed in the City of Boston.

After two years the Federal Court order issued by Judge W. Arthur Garrity ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.  Judge Garrity ordered a plan to desegregate the schools using two basic methods: redistricting the busing system and replacing the old school feeder system of junior and middle schools with a single unified one. This plan caused anger and, in  some cases violent protests from parents in South Boston, because  children were bused across the City of Boston away from their local neighborhood schools.

Our focus today will be the first of the two methods: the redistricting of school buses in Boston.

Questions:

1. What are the demographics and socioeconomic figures for each part of Boston?
2.  How will you change, or not change, the ways in which students are distributed among school systems?
3. How should the city respond to parents pulling their children out of school, moving out of Boston, and anti-busing sentiments?

Committee: Balkan’s War Crisis
Chair: Aaron Fernandes ’24
Co-Chair: Bryan Rosa ’24

With a rise of nationalism in the Balkan region-states, Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria declare war on the Ottoman Empire. As the Ottomans enter an increasingly unstable phase in their history they attempt to hold back against the Balkan states. As the Ottomans face internal fractures from oppressed Christian populations and weakening from the Albanian Revolts and Italo-Ottoman War, the newly formed Balkan League may take advantage of this predicament. With the launch of coordinated attacks from the Balkan League against the Ottomans, each leader will have to make decisions for the protection and betterment of their own nation.

Questions to Consider:

• How can all nations/nation-states prevent excessive bloodshed in the field of battle and come to a mutually beneficial treaty?
• What role does national sovereignty play in this war and what importance does it play for one’s own country?
• How does war affect the common people of one’s own nation and other nations?

Committee: U.S. Senate: Patriot Act
Chair: Khush Patel ’23
Co Chair: Michael Carr ’24

Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States Congress passed the Patriot Act, intending to deter and punish terrorists in the United States and around the world through the use of investigatory tools and other means. The government was given much more power and capabilities to track potential terrorists for the safety of the country, but how much power is too much power? Your task is to revisit, as the modern U.S. Senate, the Patriot act and discuss its effectiveness and whether or not it should still be enacted. Some questions to consider:

1. Is the power granted to the government via the Patriot act necessary in today’s society?
2. When and how have the government abused the power given to them in the Patriot act and how can this be limited?

Committee: Iranian Parliament
Chair: Charlie Donovan
Co-Chair: Matthew Hunt
In its current state, the Iranian Parliament is facing internal and external protests regarding women’s rights. In 2022, the Iranian government voted to execute 15,000 protestors who protested in favor of women’s rights. These protests, once centered around women’s rights, have transformed into a call for more freedoms. This discussion should cover the complexities in these social justice battles and thoughtfully create a bipartisan solution easing tensions between the Parliament and the people of Iran.

Questions to consider:

1. What other rights have surfaced in search for freedom?
2. What proper repercussions are necessary for the betterment of the relationship between the Iranian Parliament and the Iranian people?
3. How can tensions be eased and changes be made in order to improve representation?

Committee: European Super League

Chair: Danny Moylan

Co Chair: Nolan Seeback

In April of 2021 twelve of the richest and largest clubs in European soccer established a new competition in which they would have permanent participation. This was denounced by many, including the governing body of European Soccer (UEFA), as a cartel forming a monopoly of what would now become the premier soccer competition. Fans across the globe denounced it as an act of pure greed ruining the great heritage of European soccer. However, others look on with anticipation of seeing games against the best teams in the world every week.

1. Should the European Super League be implemented in any form?
2. Should European soccer be reformed to solve the complaints of owners, fans and governing officials?
3. Are there lessons from the formation of LIV Golf that the European Super League might embrace?

Committee: Security Council: 100 Seconds ‘til Midnight
Chair: Lucky Patel ’23
Co Chair: Simon Trejo ’25

In 1947, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created the Doomsday Clock, a representation of, according to the Bulletin, “how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making?” Last January 2022 the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the Doomsday Clock at 100 seconds to midnight. At that time, nuclear scientists called out Ukraine as a potential flashpoint in an increasingly tense international security landscape. For many years, others have warned that the most likely way nuclear weapons might be used is through an unwanted or unintended escalation from a conventional conflict. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought this nightmare scenario to life, with Russian President Vladimir Putin threatening to elevate nuclear alert levels and even first use of nuclear weapons if NATO steps in to help Ukraine. This is what 100 seconds to midnight looks like. This is what the world looks like, as it inches closer to full nuclear war.

• Will the world move closer to nuclear war?
• How can your country stop this creeping countdown towards nuclear conflict?
• What are the alternatives that an international coalition might consider to avoid this?

Committee: United Fruit Company
Chair: Matt Hurley ’23
Co-chair: Madoc Robinson

The United Fruit Company, now Chiquita, held a political and economic stronghold on countries dependent on fruit exports. The so-called “Banana Republics” were ruled by and exploited by private companies as a result of their natural resources, poor populations, and political instability. The United Fruit Company held a relative monopoly on Central American nations, especially Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala. As a result of the instability, several communist/socialist revolutionaries rose to prominence in Central America.

1. Does the Banana Republic give Central American nations a platform in the world?
2. Discuss workers right, free trade, slavery, child workers, etc
3. How significant is corruption, bribery, and political strife?
4. Is communism/socialism a solution?

Committee: African Union: Somaliland
Chair: Will Hartford
Co chair:  Max Gravalese ’24

Somaliland is a self-governed state in northern Somalia. Despite not being recognized as a sovereign state, it has maintained a level of independence within Somalia and a greater stability than the rest of the country. It has held successful democratic elections since 2003 and has requested international recognition as a sovereign state since 1991.

1. Should self-governance continue in Somaliland?
2. Should a UN peacekeeping force be sent to Somaliland to preserve independence?
3. Does the Somalia government have the right to govern its own homeland?
4. Who determines whether a group of separatists have the right to self-govern?

Committee: Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic (N)
Chair: Sam Schuhwerk ’23
Co-Chair: John Ictech ’23

The Ministry of Magic (M.o.M.) is the primary governing body representative of the magical community in Harry Potter. Their main goal is the preservation of law regarding magic. Furthermore, the Ministry of Magic attempts to keep Muggles from finding out about the culture of magical folk. Essentially, the Ministry is a complicated and highly inefficient bureaucracy. Their headquarters are in London and are made up of various Departments. Boards, Committees, and Offices, all of whom enforce the regulations and rules of laws.

Questions to Consider?
1. What is the best way to recreate and rebrand the Ministry of Magic?

2. How can your character use the tools and equipment available to best address this issue?

3. What is your character’s stance on the topic? How best can the delegate implement their character’s point of view in their resolution?

4. To what extent did corruption affect the organization and management of the M.o.M?

5. What specific areas should the delegate address to improve the M.o.M?

6. Which characters are more inclined to work together to approach this situation?

7. Who are some of the best characters to be placed in a power position regarding decision-making for the M.o.M? Why so?

Committee: The State of Israel and Claims by Palestine: A Constant Conflict
Chair: Charlie Bushley
Co-Chair: Patrick Cincotti

In 1947, the United Nations adopted Resolution 181, known as the Partition Plan. Palestine would be divided into 2 states, an Arab state and Jewish state. On May 14th, 1948, the State of Israel was created recognized by the United Nations. The creation of the State of Israel led to the First Arab vs. Israeli War. The first Arab vs. Israeli War ended in 1949 with 750,000 Palestinians displaced. The territory was divided into 3 parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank (of the Jordan River), and the Gaza Strip. There are ongoing tensions between Israel and the surrounding countries. Rising in Palestine is Hamas whose objective is to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation and transform the country into an Islamic state. The State of Israel claims historic ties to the same land.

After Israel’s invasion of the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria signed mutual defense pacts in case of potential mobilization of Israeli troops. The future peace of this region lies in your hands, seize this opportunity.

1. Is a two-state solution the only way to resolve this on-going dispute?

2. Are the differences between the Israelis and Palestinians religious, political, economic, ethnic or some combination of these?

3. Should the UN intervene to help resolve this conflict that span thousands of years?

MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Conference of Parties 28 (aka COP)
Chair: Joachim Arokiaraj
Co-Chair: Sheadon O’Leary

On March 28, 1995, COP1 met in Berlin to discuss the growing concern over the planet’s climate. On November 18th, 190 Nations of the world Left Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt decided to organize a loss and damage fund. With this information in mind, COP 28, scheduled for November 4-6, 2023 in the UAE, will have to move forward with the fight against climate change.

1. How much fossil fuel does your country use and how much does it contribute to the World air quality index?
2. What would be the most equitable steps for your country to move forward and cut its fossil fuel usage?
3. How would you apply your country’s ideas for reduction to a global stage and make a fair course of action for the world?