Berlin Model United Nations

Berlin Model United NationsNovember 19 - 22, 2008

BERMUN - ICJ - YA - Press - Forum

Environment Committee

Welcome to the BERMUN 2008 Environment Committee!

We, Niklas Dreiskaemper from the German School Den Haag and Leah Wiedenmann from the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin, have been given the honor of serving as the chairs for this year’s Environment Committee. In order to aid you in further preparations for the Conference, we would like to briefly elaborate on this year’s topics and propose several research suggestions.
Please research both topics thoroughly so that you will be able to actively participate in the debates. This will make the conference a better experience for all. Every delegate is obliged to write a draft resolution for one topic and at least five clauses for the other. However, we would highly appreciate that you prepare a draft resolution for both topics since we would like our debate to be as productive, controversial, and interesting as possible. We speak from experience when we say that a debate is only fun when you genuinely take part.
Since we have both attended numerous MUN conferences, we understand the great commitment and hard work which is required. Please do not hesitate to send us an e-mail if you are having trouble or if you have any questions (ec[at]bermun.de). Another great place to exchange information, ask questions, and start debating is our BERMUN forum (http://forum3.bermun.de/). Not only does this Forum include a special section for the EC, but it also helps you meet your co-delegates before the actual conference. Below, you will find a brief summary of our topics and a list of links that should help you jump right into your research for November.

Points to consider:

How can current initiatives be improved?
What are some ideas that you have that have not been tried yet?
What would be the best way to motivate your friends to become engaged in environmental concerns?
While we need to be realistic about what can be done, BERMUN does not deal with monetary issues.
You cannot single out individual Member States in your resolutions, meaning you can not say: Urges Burkina Faso to give females land ownership rights.

Good Luck with you research!
See you in November,
Leah Wiedenmann & Niklas Dreiskaemper
Your Chairs of the 2008 BERMUN Environment Committee

The Impact of Tourism on Natural and Cultural Sites

Every year, more than 900 million tourists travel the world and the number keeps growing. Compared to 2006, in 2007 tourism receipts increased by 5.6% bringing the amount to US $ 856 billion (euro 625 billion). The receipts from international passenger transport are estimated at US $ 165 bringing the total of international tourism receipts to over US$ 1 trillion (equalling almost US$ 3 billion a day).
These numbers illustrate the economic importance of tourism. But it also shows a sight of how big the impact on the environment is. Enormous gas emissions from airplanes, cars, etc. boost CO2 emissions as well as emissions in general. Many national parks and reserves are struggling in order to keep their parks clean and protect the wildlife. Wherever they go, many humans leave a trail of trash, destruction and ignorance behind. But at the same time they are a big part in funding the finances for those parks and reserves. Tourism is an important financial pillar for many cities, regions and countries. Even when only slightly restricted and constrained, certain economies could collapse under a lack of income through tourism receipts.
In fact, tourism is present in nearly every country of the world and consists of a complex supply chain, involving a variety of different home and host countries. In three steps a tourist gets from booking a trip via travelling to staying. A range of industries are either directly or indirectly involved in tourism: oil industry, local famers, hotel and restaurant industry, airlines, airlines manufacturers, service suppliers, etc. Millions of jobs worldwide depend directly or indirectly on tourism.
It is therefore vital to find the appropriate equilibrium between economic advantages and environmental impact. Decisions need to be made carefully and should not have big, immediate impacts on international (as well as national) tourism as consequences can be severe. The Travel and Tourism industry is comparably risky, depending on natural disasters, terrorist attacks, etc. as the tsunami of 2004 or the September 11th attacks have shown. Tourists react delicately, yet unpredictably to such events.

General Research Links:

The Advancement of Women in Environmental Protection and in the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

When referring to the environment, one does not automatically think of its relationship to women. It is difficult to describe where environmental issues start and end for females around the globe, especially for those living in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs). However, the changes in agriculture, forestry, and water and waste management all greatly affect women living in LEDCs, especially those living in rural areas. The “male monopoly in the management of environmental resources”² leaves women with limited access to education and training in an area that equally affects all living beings. This research report will outline how women’s lives are affected by environmental degradation and also show how women can achieve greater responsibility in order to control issues that strongly influence their daily lives.

There are three main issues that must be combated in order for women to take a larger role in the management and protection of the environment. First off, women currently own only 2% of land in the world giving females minimal authority in the management of agriculture. Women’s lack of property ownership contributes to their vulnerability towards poverty and further accents their low status in many cultures. It is only through positions of authority and equal responsibility that women can realize their economic potential. Many women do not have binding land and housing rights or access to credit and technical information.

Secondly, women are not involved in resource allocation decisions and are therefore not given access to these resources. In rural areas of LEDCs, women are “invisible” water managers because they are responsible not only for supplying their families with water, but also for domestic animals and sometimes even family agriculture. The matriarch of each family must find potable supplies and carry water over long distances thus affecting her health and the community’s social development. Despite all of the above, women are excluded from the planning, implementation, and maintenance of water supplies.

The third main point is that women lack access to information and training. Education is crucial for all types of sustainable development and women must learn to make independent choices in order to manage their lives efficiently. “Education is an essential tool for achieving sustainable development” (source: esdtoolkit.org). In many societies women are responsible for the majority of food production and taking care of their families. Nonetheless, these women are excluded from decision making and have little or no chance of receiving their rightfully earned income. Consequently, educational planning must be reformed by introducing new material development, pedagogical processes, and infrastructure planning.

General Research Links:

News:

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2008-10-15:

Student Officer Team
Committee Letters