ECOSOC Chair Letter

ECOSOC will be run Harvard style. This means that resolutions must not be written until the day of the conference. Every delegate must write a position paper on at least one topic in order to be considered for an award. Position papers are also a very helpful way to organize your countrys view on the subjects, so you are highly encouraged to write position papers for all the topics. However, you will not be eligible for awards and your position paper will not be accepted if it has bullet points or numbered lists. The success of the UN Economic and Social Council relies on innovation and viable solutions to solve complex socioeconomic issues. Delegates are expected to come to committee with in-depth research on all of the topics. It is imperative to have an understanding of your countrys actions or decisions on each topic, as well as your countrys overall foreign and domestic policies including their allies. Claire Siegrist clairesiegrist121@gmail.com Hello delegates! My name is Claire Siegrist. I am a senior at Brighton High School. This is my fourth year in Model UN and my fourth time chairing. Along with MUN, I am on the Brighton Varsity Crew team, I play Ultimate Frisbee, and I participate in DECA, as well as other school clubs. As scary as it may seem, do not hesitate to email us with any questions. Happy researching! Austin Clyde aclyde11@gmail.com Hello, my name is Austin Clyde and I am a junior at Bishop Kearney. This is my third year in Model UN and my first time chairing! Besides MUN, I am a debater on the Speech and Debate Team and I compete with my schools Science Olympiad Team. When I am not running around trying to finish my school work, I am either playing piano or reading a book on economics/political science. Encouraging Historic Preservation As we progress through the 21st-century, global organizations have been focusing on movements towards building new infrastructure. However, existing structures are often neglected and demolished, wasting useful materials and money. While many buildings and homes are demolished for safety concerns, the maintenance of these structures will lengthen their life spans and make the region more economically efficient. Not only are there numerous financial benefits to historic preservation, but also social benefits. Preserving architecture conserves a region's heritage and culture. The key to efficiency is not always completely rebuilding a new construction, but rather efficiently using what is already in place. The UN Economic and Social Council can encourage historic preservations globally to work towards a more resourceful world.

What is the incentive for nations to participate in historic preservation? What international guidelines can be set for proper advisory on preservation? What kind of aid can be offered by the UN, and how will aid be allocated? Picture: http://www.nps.gov/tps/tax-incentives/incentives/images/essentials_1.JPG Why Historic Preservation Is Smart Growth Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Achieving Sustainable Development and Promoting Development Cooperation Debt and Inflation in the Developing World Many developing countries and billions of people are suffering under the burden of debt and trade policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Bank and World Trade Organization (WTO). The failure to cancel debts leaves the poorest countries in the world with nothing to spend on basic needs and much needed infrastructure, leaving millions in poverty and destitution. Total debt continues to rise, despite ever-increasing payments, while aid is falling. The developing world now spends $13 on debt repayment for every $1 it receives in grants. For the 60 poorest countries, $550 billion has been paid in both loan repayment and interest over the last three decades, on $540 billion of loans, and yet there is still a $523 billion dollar debt burden. Approximately 11 million children die annually around the world due to conditions of poverty and debt. The Heavily In-debt Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative established in 1996 by wealthier nations through the IMF and World Bank calls for the reduction of external debt for the poorest countries through write-offs by official donors. The IMF and World Bank have actually admitted that the HIPC initiative is backfiring in some cases and confirm warnings that debt-relief advocates were making even before the scheme was launched. Difficult, and sometimes unfair conditions, are often associated with the initiative. Seeing that this issue affects countries and their citizens socially and economically, it is vital that ECOSOC address the rising problem. How can developed countries collaborate to combat this issue? What time of aid would be most effective- lower interest rates, monetary funding, other? What guidelines should be established to help countries manage their debt? Picture: http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/323326WorldbankDESIGNESSAMALIK-1326864816-182-640x480.jpg World Bank- International Debt Statistics 2013 UK Department for International Development IMF- Debt Relief for the Poorest Countries Coordinating Humanitarian Aid

The need to strengthen coordination of humanitarian aid is becoming more apparent in the current world because humanitarian aid is often needed in more than one place at one time. Normally the media fixates on one event at a time. This leaves all the other events occurring at that time practically unknown. This shovels aid to only towards the media's fixation. For example, during the major tropical storm that struck the east coast of the United States, dubbed "Superstorm Sandy, media coverage and assistance was focused towards the United States east coast while Haiti, who is still recovering from its earthquake that killed 230,000 people, suffered a cholera outbreak which caused a need for aid in the area just as much as Superstorm Sandy did. The United Nations must begin to coordinate social and economic aid in a way that has an objective method to suggest the focus of aid. Aid is precious and saves lives. Therefore somthing that powerful should be coordinated for maximum use. Frequently the media does not choose a problem to cover because it is the most severe but instead because it can create the best story. The UN must seek a method to assist all. What can the UN do to promote equal aid? How can the UN keep aid flowing where it is needed? What dictates a need for aid? How can the UN help private aid from going to a unneeded place? What type of humanitarian aid is best for a situation? Picture: http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/OPINION/02/28/stark.chile.quake.haiti/t1larg.stark.haiti.quake. damage.gi.jpg OCHA - Coordination ATHA - Humanitarian Coordination SC - Report of the Secretary-General Drug Trafficking in India India is located between two major opium growing areas, Southwest and Southeast Asia, and serves as a transit zone between the two and the rest of the world. Drug trafficking in India not only causes complications with spreading drugs internationally, but also with making drugs more accessible to Indias 1.2 billion people.Internationally India is exporting US$21 billion in pharmaceuticals each year. Due to massive amount of these pharmaceutical facilities, production of synthetic drugs has risen 11 times since 2007. Because the Andhra Pradesh government recently lifted a 6-year-old ban on bulk-drug plants, synthetic drug production facilities are going to be available for more criminals to take advantage of. In 2012, 31% of drug trafficking cases were from parcel transport at international airports. It is important to note that this type of trade takes internal involvement. Only 236 foreigners were involved in India's 18,368 arrests for drug trafficking in 2011. This internal drug culture is causing great social distress on the younger population. For example, 80% of heroin addicts in India are between the age of 15 and 25.

According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) India is a destination for opium, heroin, ganja and cannabis, and it is a manufacturing and transit point for psychotropic drugs due to lax drug production regulations and escalating demand in western and East Asian countries. This situation must change to protect the 61.2 billion people in India and the rest of the international community. What can the UN do the stop synthetic drug production in an area of high legal and illegal drug production? How can legal drug production be screened out of illegal without infringing on the rights of production companies and national sovereignty? What can be done to stop the rising amount of young people falling into a life of drug use? How can more illicit drugs be confiscated and criminals captured? Picture: http://www.bustler.net/images/uploads/bfc_09_finalists_01x.jpg India Today - The New Drug Trafficking Hub India Spend - Indias Drug Traffickers Say Just Courier It Deutsche Welle's - India Introduces New Policy To Curb Drug Trafficking