Posts

Topic B: Diving Deeper with an Outside Source

Image
 Article: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1111612 The International Court of Justice is the highest court in the United Nations. Last Wednesday the court ruled that Uganda must pay the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) $325 million in reparations for the armed conflict that left the DRC in ruins from 1998 to 2003. What's important to note is that a fifth of the budget is being used as a way to satisfy the damages to natural resources; specifically the mining of gold, diamonds, and deforestation of trees in the area.  Question: Is this money enough to fix the environmental damage caused in the DRC? This comes nearly twenty years later and the DRC has been suffering for close to three decades. The environment in this area is thoroughly degraded. What could the United Nations have enforced instead? - Sameer
Post a Comment
Read more

Diving Deeper into Key Terms & Ideas

Image
  Environmental Peacebuilding is especially important in areas where war has degraded the land due to exploitation by hostile parties. It is important to keep in mind solutions that are able to cater to developing nations that have a history of relapses to conflict and are easily influenced by radical groups. In order to do this effectively so that all parties are content with the solution, one must find a common interest in protecting the land for both groups so that the solution is appealing. Environmental solutions during armed conflict are often overlooked because other motivators are in play but it is key to think about incentivization when trying to solve issues with conflicting sides.  Environmental Remediation is described as the process of removing contaminants from different environmental ecologies but it is important to note that after removing them, the affected ecosystem needs to be treated in order to return to its original state. This requires high levels of fu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Introduction: Kevin Tuok

Image
 Hello Delegates! I'll be your head chair for UNEP this year for BMUN 70. We're super excited to host you this upcoming March and tackle some complex and fascinating topics.  I'm originally from Philadelphia, PA, and have been doing MUN for about 8 years now. I'm a fourth-year at Cal majoring in Molecular & Cellular Biology with a minor in Data Science. Outside of BMUN, I enjoy binge-watching TV shows—I just finished The Expanse and am watching The Witcher right now. Otherwise, I also love hiking, cooking, and gaming. I'm the UC Global Food Initiative Fellow at the Berkeley Food Institute, a public policy research institute at Cal that does work in sustainability, public health, and food justice. I've been with BFI for 2 years now.  I'm so excited to see everyone and what incredible stuff you all are capable of this March! Please feel free to talk to me at conference, or email me at ktuok@bmun.org about anything at all. Also, keep an eye on our blog for ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Research Papers Due February 5th for Research Award eligibility

 Hello Delegates, This is a friendly reminder that position papers are due February 5th in order to be eligible for research awards.  Otherwise, all delegates must submit a paper by February 12th in order to be eligible for ANY committee award.  Best of luck in writing and please reach out to us at unepbmunlxx@bmun.org if you have any questions or concerns.   Kevin 
Post a Comment
Read more

Introduction: Lydia Qu

Image
Hello! My name is Lydia Qu and I am a senior at UC Berkeley studying Psychology and Linguistics. I   was raised   in Northern California and completed high school in Beijing. Outside of   BMUN , I love to binge watch the same shows, cook, and paint. This is my second year with  BMUN , and I am extremely excited for the topics for  UNEP  this year. I have always been passionate about environmental awareness, and the issue of the ecological impact of armed conflict is rarely discussed. It is also incredibly multi-faceted, involving inter/intrastate relations, science,  and more. I think it is incredibly important to recognize that sustainability and environmental restoration does not exist in a  vacuum . I look forward to productive discussions and creative solutions  regarding  this overlooked problem this year!
Post a Comment
Read more

Introduction: Sameer Ameen

Image
Hello! My name is Sameer Ameen and I'm one of your vice-chairs. I'm a first-year intending to do a simultaneous degree in Society & Environment and Rhetoric. I founded the MUN club at my school in the middle of the pandemic and am very excited to be a part of BMUN and its community. I was born in Los Angeles to two immigrant parents from Bangladesh and have traveled to many countries around the world, witnessing firsthand the different cultures and political spheres discussed in MUN conferences. Outside of BMUN, I spend most of my time listening to music, going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and finding good food here in the Bay area.  UNEP is a special committee because it discusses the most prevalent issue in our global community today. The health of the environment decides the fate of our only habitable planet. I am excited to hear all the solutions you come up with to combat environmental degradation and create sustainable global infrastructure. 
Post a Comment
Read more