Model United Nations
What is MUN?
Model United Nations is a highly diversified activity, following the pattern of the United Nations and making us face up to the ongoing problems in today's world.
Delegates at an MUN Conference take on the role of representatives of UN member states in various Committees, debating current global issues from their country's viewpoint. There are many MUN conferences.
MUN is a hugely varied and enjoyable activity, and attending an MUN Conference gives Delegates first-hand experience of many coveted learning situations. MUN combines first line research, summarising of information, succinct writing of Resolutions, negotiation, debate, political and background knowledge of country-based and world affairs, confidence building, public speaking, social and diplomatic skills, empathising with others' viewpoint and defending of the Delegate's own. Being a Conference Delegate is a chance to meet new people, to voice closely-held opinions and hear those of others and to extend personal knowledge of the unfair nesses of today's world and seek a negotiated solution to them. A lot of serious preparation is needed, but that commitment rewards the enthusiastic MUNer with a great sense of satisfaction: of investigating world issues from another, often very different angle; of finding out 'what is really important to me' in today's world; and most important of all, of helping you to see why other people are different from you – but not wrong.
MUN Report
This year pupils from years 10-14 took part in two Model United Nations Conferences. This year we were glad to welcome many new pupils to MUN and were glad to expand the society throughout more year groups in Friends'.
We were disappointed that the Wesley College Dublin MUN was not held this year and therefore only one International competition was attended.
On the 10th-12th March, 12 pupils travelled to Edinburgh to represent North Korea in the annual George Watsons' College Model United Nations Conference. This is a huge international conference with over 600 pupils competing from a range of international schools, such as Florida and Iran.
Pupils were assigned to individual committees where they debated a variety of issues ranging from child soldiers in Disarmament, to the regulation of the press in Media.
On the Saturday night the pupils enjoyed a Scottish Ceilidh and Disco hosted by Watsons'
Patrick Geddis was awarded Best Delegate this year. We also gained 2 Highly Commended and two Commended Awards in a newly structured conference to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of MUN at Watsons.
Everyone involved in MUN at Friends' would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mrs Bradfield ,Mrs Waring and Mr Artt for continuing to keep MUN alive and thriving at school.
