The First Meeting of HSINMUN 2006 Convenes

By Marlene Chow, 12A

      In order to prepare for the 2006 HSINMUN conference of October 21st, the Hsinchu Model United Nations (HSINMUN) participants gathered together on September 30th for a pre-conference meeting. While most HSINMUN delegates are students from the National Experimental High School (NEHS), about a fourth of them are interested students from other schools, including the Hsinchu Girls’ Senior High School, the Shu Guang Girls’ Senior High School, the Chien-Kung Senior High School, and the Tainan First Senior High School. Although NEHS students are generally more familiar with MUN protocol, the pre-conference meeting proved to be a successful learning experience for all students new to MUN from NEHS and guest schools alike.

The rigorous tone was set early on at nine thirty in the morning with inspiring and warm welcoming words from Principal Wu, Dean Huang, and Ms. Wang, the HSINMUN coordinator. The principal reminded everyone enthusiastically that the formation of HSINMUN at NEHS had made history last year. He then applauded the opportunity that HSINMUN provided to teach students to think critically. Dean Huang introduced the participating schools and teachers, while Ms. Wang proudly remarked that the school had been preparing for HSINMUN for the past four months.

The first course of action was to split delegates into ECOSOC and Security Council committees. ECOSOC Chair Tiffany Kuo and Security Council Chair Calvin Liou walked their committees through MUN procedures. Among the matters mentioned were the strict formality of language and dress, the necessity of thorough research, and the logic, purpose, and skill behind lobbying as well as writing, debating about, and voting on resolutions. Calvin advised the delegates on lobbying. “You only want to talk with people of a common cause. For example, the U.S. should not lobby with North Korea.” He emphasized the importance of the main submitter, who “needs to know issues inside out,” prepare for questions, and “come up with a very powerful speech talking about why the resolution is strong and persuading people to vote for it.” Finally, he provided a few crafty suggestions that the delegates may not have thought of by themselves. “Recess,” he said, “is a great time for further lobbying and preparation.”   

After the general lecture on procedure, both sides held two hands-on workshops each (one crisis simulation and one regular issue) to practice lobbying, writing resolutions, and debating. In the Security Council, the issue was, “Do people have a right not to receive an education?” Three resolutions took shape quickly. Main submitter Joshua Huang argued for the first resolution, requiring mandatory education until high school, because middle school was enough to “establish sufficient communication skills and basic survival skills in society.” Mark Chen, main submitter of the second resolution, strongly urged compulsory education until the end of high school, but encouraged higher education after high school. The group took into consideration “the costs and difficulties of higher education” and so defined high school education as the adequate amount of exposure to subjects to allow specialization. Middle school, he argued, was simply not enough for maturity and depth. Finally, main submitter Benjamin Hsu required high school education as the “minimum for one’s future benefit” in the third resolution. Only the third resolution passed. At this point, the chairs called for a lunch break,

Throughout the busy schedule, participants took two breaks and one long lunch break. The refreshments (sandwiches, snacks, lunches, and drinks) were delicious, thanks to the thoughtful preparation of Ms. Wang, Ms. Yin, and other MUN coordinating teachers. Ms. Wang explained that the government contributed to the creation and running of HSINMUN. Last year, the government provided a two-year grant for the ESL learning project. The funds went towards the refreshments, books, name tags, printed materials, and reference materials. Unfortunately, there will be no more funding for next year’s HSINMUN, which means that if HSINMUN continues next year, participants may expect to pay a small fee.

After the lunch break, Secretary General Katie Chang announced the crisis: Mainland China has sent out land and air forces to Taiwan without authorization. Most countries, such as Korea, the United States, Mexico, Egypt, Australia, Germany, and Canada, condemned China’s actions as a threat to world stability, but a few countries sided with China. Russia suggested no retribution or punishment to China, while the North Korea went so far as to express strong support and approval of China’s actions. Both North Korea and Russia defined Taiwan as part of China and therefore classified the act as an internal affair in which other countries should refrain from intervening in.

The overwhelming opinion was expressed fluently by Canada and Australia.Canada interpreted the incident as an “act of aggression,” and Australia denounced the “direct detrimental damage” shattering the “delicate peace,” and called for “immediate withdrawal” of the Chinese while asking involved countries to support Taiwan militarily. Mexico and the United States agreed and added that peaceful negotiations must take place between China and Taiwan. In the end, strangely enough, Mexico’s resolution failed, but the United States’ resolution, which was extremely similar to Mexico’s, passed without opposition. The crisis simulation was cut short unexpectedly, and so the rest of the resolutions were not voted on.

Meanwhile during the day, the ECOSOC Committee discussed human settlements and handled an earthquake crisis. The discussion centered on how to respond to an 8.5 scaled earthquake that had hit Asia and the Middle East. More than one million homes were destroyed, two million people died, and five million were left homeless. Finally, Panama’s resolution was passed. The resolution called on neighboring countries and countries affected to provide first-hand relief by providing supplies, medical assistance, construction material, and aid. Panama also asked for the fixing of crucial roads, the establishment of fund-raising programs to provide financial aid, the postponement of debts of affected nations, and the implementation of the media to educate people on the conditions in the affected nations.

       At four in the afternoon, the productive day came to a satisfying conclusion. Security Council Chair Calvin Liou commended the quality of lobbying and debate, which he believed prepared delegates for the actual conference and “mirrored the real Model UN.” Secretary General Katie Chang wrapped up the conference by acknowledging everyone’s contributions. “Having been to five conferences, I know with confidence how much work goes into every each. I appreciate everyone’s hard work. Thank you.” The pre-conference meeting was finished. The delegates walked out the door with a deep sense of accomplishment and excitement for the real HSINMUN conference to come.