On 26 June 1945, President Harry Truman addressed 900 delegates at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco: Out of all the arguments and disputes, and different points of view, a way was found to agree. Here is the spotlight of full publicity, in the tradition … Continue readingTHE UN CHARTER AT 75 | IS IT TIME FOR MAJOR REFORM?
Trump’s political campaigns and Presidency have been riddled with brazen, bizarre and outrageous comments and threats. It is no surprise then that his most recent is a threat to halt voluntary payments to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The justification being its apparent China-favoured stance … Continue readingTRUMPS CUT TO WHO A SCAPEGOAT TACTIC
With the release of the second special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change studying climate change and the repercussions on our land, the evidence continues to mount further that we are living in extraordinary times and our efforts to do better by our … Continue readingRENEWABLE ENERGY AND ELECTRIC CARS ARE NOT ENOUGH
Iran and the US have butted heads once again, this time it’s over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route. On Thursday the 13th June 2 oil tankers were attacked within the Strait of Hormuz, the body of water that lies between Iran … Continue readingATTACKS IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
After the realisation of the true devastation World War II had caused, 51 member states joined forces to form what is known as the ‘United Nations’. An internationally neutral organisation aimed at stopping future wars and promoting peace, this organisation provides global stability by ensuring … Continue readingIS IT TIME TO RETHINK THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL?
Make a list of everything that happened in international politics or made the world section of the news in the last two weeks. Now look over it. Was Poland there? Katowice? Clean coal? What about even just the word climate? Don’t be surprised if two, … Continue readingC.O.P. WHAT? A RUNDOWN OF THE CLIMATE CONFERENCE AS THE WORLD DESCENDS INTO MORE CHAOS
By Michelle Lim and Harrini Ratnanesan – If we were to define it strictly, Model United Nations, or MUN as it is affectionately called, is geopolitical roleplay – a simulation of the various bodies and organs of the UN. More often than not however, MUN … Continue readingBELIEVE IN DIPLOMACY – MODEL UN & THE NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS
Since the first organised expedition into the Arctic in the late 16th century, the region, alongside the Antarctic, has been the frontier that countries haven chosen not to wage war over. In a world where it seems countries have forgotten the environmental value of their … Continue readingTHE GREAT ARCTIC WARMING – THE MELTING OF ICE AND POLITICS IN THE HIGH NORTH
As global tributes continue to commemorate the death of Kofi Annan, seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, we reflect on the legacy that he left behind. During his ten years as Secretary-General (1997-2006), various conflicts and challenges to the world persisted. But so too did … Continue readingVALE KOFI ATTA ANNAN: A TRIBUTE TO THE 7TH SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Trump has pulled out of the Paris Agreement, the Iran deal, even his own nuclear summit before backtracking, and he has now finally pulled out of the UN Human Rights Council. He seems to think that pulling out is the ultimate power move in international … Continue readingUS WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: IS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CORRECT?