X MUN 2020- Online

UNITY AN INITIATIVE OF INTERNATIONAL PRESS ISSUE NO. O1     •    JUNE 2020     •     X-MUN ONLINE UNFCCC COMMITTEE X EDITORIAL Observations of the debate Reports of the deliberations From the Director of along with facts and figures and interviews of delegates International Press

UNFCCC An Encounter With The Minds That Promise Change -Sana Mariya The proceedings of this simulation of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held by Santhom begin with the executive board explaining the rules of procedure that will be followed in committee. This was duly followed by the delegates discussing about the impact of climate change. This slowly paved way for deliberation on various legislation which fell short on providing a comprehensive mechanism to protect its citizens, ecosystem and wildlife from the devastating climate change. Discussion was mainly focused on how to reduce pollution and other emissions that are hazardous to the fragile ecosystem and wildlife. Though the council missed direction during the first half of the session, the delegates got back on track and started discussing about the steps taken by each country to reduce greenhouse emission. The delegate of People's Republic of China stated that China is a large producer of carbon emission and also stated that china have taken numerous alternatives like solar energy, green bags etc to reduce its impact on ecosystem. However, the delegate of chain are also mentioned that there is not much change in the reduction of pollution, even after being in effect of the green tax system for the past 40 years. The delegate of Bhutan claimed that Bhutan is providing clean renewable sources of energy to member states. Later, a framework of solutions to compact further endangerment of species was proposed by the delegate of United Kingdom. The delegate of the Republic of Maldives suggested for donations to be given to organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which contribute to the protection of wildlife. However, the delegate of Japan suggested to provide stronger and stringing punishments for illegal trade of animals. The delegate also suggested to compact habitat laws by preserving natural resources. The conference was forced to end. 1

Collective Responsibility -Sana Mariya Climate is an important environmental influence on ecosystems. Hence, climate change is the most significant and far-reaching environmental threat facing humanity today. Humans and wild animals face new challenges for survival because of climate change. More frequent and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live, and wreak havoc on peoples livelihoods and communities. Environmentally unsustainable anthropogenic activities have resulted in a significant increase in the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases which has substantially increased the global average ambient and sea surface temperature. This situation has caused changes in the natural climatic regimes on the global scale. Climate change not only affects ecosystems and species directly, it also interacts with other human stressors such as development. Although some stressors cause only minor impacts when acting alone, their cumulative impact may lead to dramatic ecological changes. For instance, climate change may exacerbate the stress that land development places on fragile coastal areas. Additionally, recently logged forested areas may become vulnerable to erosion if climate change leads to increases in heavy rain storms. To avoid the worst effects of climate change, we need to dramatically reduce global carbon emissions. But we must also be prepared for the significant and unavoidable consequences of carbon emissions such as increasing temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, ocean acidification, sea level rise and the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. Climate change is mostly caused by humans. Scientists have concluded that most of the observed warming is very likely due to the burning of coal, oil, and gas. The atmospheric greenhouse effect naturally keeps our planet warm enough to be livable. Sunlight passes through the atmosphere. Light-colored surfaces, such as clouds or ice caps, radiate some heat back into space. But most of the incoming heat warms the planet's surface. The earth then radiates some heat back into the atmosphere. Some of that heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide. Higher average temperatures and changes in rain and snow patterns will enable some invasive plant species to move into new areas. Insect pest infestations will be more severe as pests such as mountain pine beetles are able to take advantage of drought-weakened plants. Pathogens and their hosts that thrive in higher temperatures will spread to new areas. 2

Day One at UNFCCC- An Overview -Sahajveer Singh The definition for the first day of MUN is simple, It was power packed and on a whole enjoyable day. But during most of time in committee, there was confusion among delegates over the main functions and rules of UNFCCC. Debates where the highlight of today, with serious discussions to pointless arguments, the delegates always ended with amicable solutions. The Electoral Board was so eager to keep committee on toes, whether it is point of entertainment or a serious discussion. The delegates were well prepared and well into discussion that took place. Throughout this mayhem the delegates of Madagascar and Maldives were least one to speak. The delegate of Madagascar was facing some type of network issue. The Delegate of Netherlands was not clear about difference between UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, this confusion was rectified by the Chair. The Electoral Board had clarifications from delegates of China, Netherlands and Germany. Then the delegates of Canada and Germany passed motion to suspend formal session to enter into Moderated caucus. Motion raised by delegate of Canada passed. The Delegates discussed more about solutions Instead of problems. During the Speech of Delegate of Bhutan, the delegate made mistake on the statement speaking about the percentage of Land covered in forest: 70 % OF LAND IN BHUTAN IS COVERED IN FOREST' Chair rectified and quoted: '71 % OF LAND IN BHUTAN IS COVERED IN FOREST' The committee had another moderated caucus and ended with raising motion to end today’s committee. On Climate by Sahajveer Singh It begins with the basic, but often misunderstood, distinction between weather (the state of the atmosphere at any particular moment) and climate (weather conditions averaged over many years). Confusion about that difference can lead to confusion about climate change, with people wondering, for instance, how the planet can be experiencing a warming trend (climate) when we’ve just experienced an especially cold winter (weather). “One of the most important things a climate scientist can do is to help the general public understand the science of climate change.” - Michael Rawlins 3

COMMITTEE X Opinions Clouded The Mind’s Of Delegates For A Hurricane -Nirmal Jeemon Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, a committee of high standards and decorum was held on the virtual platform called committee X. Committee X was a 2-day committee and the agenda of the committee was deciphering the relationship between religion and the development of the nations. As the agenda was highly controversial and of great importance, the model united nation organized a platform to look into the topic and find a solution if necessary. As the second day of the committee continued, the delegates were pumped for their committee and press conference. The delegates were more energetic than before and continued their discussion from prevision day on the agenda “relation between religion and the development of nations”. After sometime the delegate lost track and the discussion was wandering from one point to another aimlessly. It all ended with blaming the media as a source of promoting terrorism and the non-state actors. Due to the jumping of the axis, the chair announced a special debate for the delegate to SPEAK for and against the doings of the BJP. After a very tiring session, the press conference paved a way for a little productive dialogue between the members of the press and the committee delegates. Both the delegates and press members were anxious for the press conference and the press members were a bit disappointed as few delegates were simply bluffing. Some delegates stated or comments on mere assumption and personal opinions and the facts were not straightened before the press. Some flea away with an excuse of presenting the facts and never returned. They completely vanished and ignored the existence of IP. After the press conference, the session continued until it was time for the committee to be disbanded. The committee ended and the delegates dispersed with the hope of having another chapter of the XMUN committee X shortly. 4

Can God Change A Nation? - Bhavik B R Nair The majority of the delegates from the Committee X certainly do. From the times when great scientists like Isaac Newton believed in feats of God to the finest diplomats upholding God and religion to the evolution of Mankind, the Homo sapiens have definitely developed quality measures to lead an elegant life. Be it from solving simple worries to building a nation for a better tomorrow, our leaders did trust in the succor of the almighty.The delegates were put into an intense dilemma when they moved into a discussion about the role of religion in a nation’s development. An indirect statement by a delegate, Sreenandan stating that God is the pedestal to all religions but humanity is the pedestal to all Gods, was also recorded during the committee. His statements had numerous oppositions raised by delegates who stated that if not for the presence of almighty power, people would have never evolved. It is true to the fact, since if it was not for God, then we humans would have been in despair from the dawn of time. Glory poured through many after centuries, nations formed from wealth and others advanced from hardships. People took up religions to uphold the God they believed in and it is this act that shaped great men of different genres. Religion and God gave them hope for a better tomorrow. The ones who worked with God certainly did a good job for they let us learn the significance of believing in the existence of God.However, this is where the other side of the coin is projected. Just like how the delegates raised, those men who believed only in God never saw the light of glory. That is just equivalent to despair, for God is one who is born from the minds of Mankind and not a maid to follow our wishes. God works with persistence and definitely not with indolence. The words from another delegate, Gautam Lakshman is fine and true in this context, ”God is a scientific tool that connects mathematic explanations, the physical world and science ”. To Sreenandan: “Pseudo preaching is like a business. They do it for money. They could be psychopaths. Instead of seeing pseudo preachers as liars, we can see them as businessmen.”Delegate do you acknowledge this statement made by you during committee?Then why are Sant Rampal, Asaram Bapu, Swami Nityananda, Chandraswami, Swami Sadachari, Swami Premananda, and Shreemurath Dwivedi behind bars in your country today? Weren’t they also doing your so-called “BUSINESS”? Reply: He stated that it was just an opinion of his without valid proof. He also failed to name at least one pseudo preacher. 5

Press Conference at Committee X by Bhavik B R Nair & Nirmal Jeemon To Sreenandan: Delegate, are you a citizen of India or a Citizen of the United States of America? Would you prefer the development of your country or would you feed the further development of the USA? Then to what context did you make the statement, “All Indians want to go to USA. We are safeguarding the USA for our children. ”Does this mean you want your children to grow in the USA and thereby aren’t you indirectly meaning that India not a pleasant place for your children, hence putting down your own home nation in a Forum like this, where you are supposed to ventilate about the development of your home nation? Reply: He initially stammered to the question of which countries development he wishes. Later, he replied stating he had said it as a joke, failing to remember the fact that he made a joke in an Intrenational Forum. To Navneeth: How is the delegate suggesting a universal way to portrait religious beliefs? Reply: The delegate said that it is subjective and people can follow their own religious beliefs and no one religion is mentioned. To Navaneeth: Delegate are you aware of the Champaran Movement that took place in India years back? Are you also aware of the protests that took place due to Red Sunday, dating back to 22 January 1905 in Russia?Delegate, the protests due to the Red Sunday if you remember was more pressing because it was a massacre that involved innocent lives.Which protest do give first preference delegate? Quote: Delegate made the following statement, “It is all about how much pressing an event is and not where an event is.” Reply: He was confused at first. He stated that he needed time to research, so to decide which is pressing which indirectly emphasizes that if an international event is more pressing he will ignore the protest inside his home nation. He kept focusing this point throughout. 6

From the Director of the International Press X MUN 2020 (Online Edition) Personal experiences and opinions are based on an individual's perspective where the exposure to something could be bare minimal or limited. Based on that if one has to discuss something to achieve progressive growth or a productive discussion, aren’t we being subjective? The scope of having a bigger picture and an over-view is missed somewhere in between in the lines. If we look at religion, it is a philosophy. Many understand religion as a way of life; more so on a philosophical note. Religion is understood based on the interpretation of a text by an individual. The debate and deliberations in Committee X were mere speculations and opinions which were not backed by any data; hence it was a tedious task to understand the direction in which the committee happened take itself. Any opinion is formed based on certain data, and the delegates were unaware of what they were delivering in the committee. This shear stunt by the delegates only paved a pay to see how unprepared they were and how multi-dimensional the committee was. Lack of direction to stabilize the deliberation was very keen. Discussing God, religion, practices of a different kind, and relating human existence along with the human psyche is very complex and complicated. These areas can be discussed and pondered upon only when formal research is done with serious intent. The conference was a fruitful one as a lot of learning took place in both the committees. Above all, in an endeavor of this kind, learning is what matters the most. In terms of International Press, I enjoyed working with the team because they have focused and not a pain. Kalyan Srinivas Raygalla Director of International Press Sheetal Ashok Deepthy Deputy- Director Reporters Sahajveer Singh | Sana Mariya | Bhavik B R Nair | Nirmal Jeemon TEAM INTERNATIONAL PRESS