GA (Middle School) | CDSIMUN 2021

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

TOPIC 1: OIL DRILLING IN ANTARTICA

Climate change has been described as "the single greatest threat to a sustainable future" by Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary General of the United Nations. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most serious issues facing humanity, and today's global response will shape the impending struggle of future generations. More specifically, major weather changes, rises in sea-levels and melting glaciers are among some of the most catastrophic, yet common modern-day consequences of climate change in the world. Global warming has caused resources, such as oils and minerals to become more widely available in the Arctic. It is abundantly clear that this is a grave situation, as increasingly more nations with convoluted geopolitical claims to the land, are attempting to explore and exploit Arctic territories. Bearing in mind these ongoing threats to the environment, the global community needs to come together immediately to agree on realistic and feasible solutions towards protecting the region's resources and Indigenous groups, as well as to alleviate political tensions arising from the ongoing dispute. The General Assembly must take action in order to prevent violence and exploitation towards one of the most wildlife and resource rich territories in the world.

STUDY GUIDE

TOPIC 2: UYGHUR MUSLIMS IN CHINA

The Uighur and China conflict began in the mid-1900s and has progressively escalated over the last century. The Uighurs, a religious minority, based in the Xinjiang zone of China, have been the victims of prosecution, non-consensual surveillance, incarceration without trial, abduction, rape, and other forms of violence mandated by the Chinese government. Although the dispute between the two parties began long ago, and the migration of the Han Chinese to Xinjiang diminished the influence of the Uighurs, the government has taken it upon itself to support “re-education camps”. These training camps have so-called correction programs that have effectively lowered the Uighur population each year. Recently, terrorist attacks have become common, and the severity of this religious persecution has been ignored by the international population. Although the People’s Republic of China has denied their involvement in the internment camps or the frequent attacks on the ethnic population, it is clear that nations across the world must take action to protect the Uighur religious community.