The Model UN crew has thinned down considerably - I suppose a lot of people are either networking, signing up for things, or being interviewed for UN Radio.

Argentina suggests writing a resolution to solve corruption going through the grassroots level - if they don’t get the appropriate resources, they won’t be able to help as much as they can. Greece points out that different countries are poor for different reasons, so we need a committee to do extensive research to find specific ways of helping. Guatemala suggests focusing on national debt and on anti-corruption. Germany reiterates their stand on fighting poverty through aid, education, investments, and trade, as well as ensuring corruption is battled. Kuwait wanted to set a motion for unmoderated caucaus, but they can’t just yet until the moderated caucaus is over. Ireland agrees with Germany, and South Africa places importance on partnerships. Thailand agrees with Greece on looking on more than one solution, and The Netherlands (me) brings up the concept of sphere sovereignty, where every part of society works together and one isn’t better or worse than the other.

We’ve just come from two unmoderated caucuses, where we discussed with different countries about our own ideas on eradicating poverty. Saudi Arabia suggests volunteerism and promoting free press - interesting, considering that Saudi Arabia isn’t known for their free press! (That’s probably the only point of debate on this whole simulation…we need more debate.) France is willing to fund projects that help people help themselves. Italy pointed out that race hasn’t been brought up, and suggests that citizens need to face the issue with racism since a lot of issues with poverty relate to that. Mali liked France’s point about sending money, but the problem isn’t the money - it’s what you could do with it. South Africa suggests exchanging as a way to help solve some of the issues raised. Kuwait believes that the biggest problem with poverty is the class system while China brought up the health system. Thailand, on behalf of many other countries, resolves that one solution would not be enough, so subcommittees should be set up to do research. Guinea and some other countries encourages global partnerships to solve poverty.

The first working paper comes from Saudi Arabia. It consists of defining poverty, define a cause of poverty, and using projects with volunteerism, free press, corporate governance, setting up infrastructure to protect resource-rich countries from exploitation, and outlining MNCs to invest in developing nations.

We need to wrap up, but we’ll start tomorrow with the working papers and debate on them. Workshop next!