Blog

On February 5^th the delegations of Tübingen, Stuttgart and Heidelberg, as well as single delegates from Freiburg and Lörrach met in the Neue Aula to participate in their final simulation before New York. The preliminary agenda included the following three topics:

• Strengthening the Capacity of Refugee Host Countries
• Human Rights and Climate Change
• Efforts to Control Weapons of Mass Destruction

After a brief discussion and several motions to set the agenda, the committee voted to deal with Strengthening the Capacity of Refugee Host Countries as the first topic. Various working groups emerged debating on issues such as improving financial support and education, the implementation of a shared database, the development of quick response mechanisms and long term strategies. Main controversies became evident along the question of national sovereignty, financing and international responsibility. At the end of the day and after fruitful discussions there were four draft resolutions on the floor of which two were adopted and became GA 1^st resolutions.

We thank the TMUN department for organising the whole event and also would like to express our gratitude to Bettina, Eunji and Miriam for their guidance as the dias during the simulation.

Last weekend, our delegation spent a day at the Hohenheim Castle MUN just south of Stuttgart. Together with the delegations of the University of Hohenheim and the University of Heidelberg, which will also join us to the NMUN in New York, we simulated a General Assembly sitting discussing the highly relevant topic „Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts“.

After hours of hard work within several working groups and lots of outstanding speeches delivered by our delegates to promote their working papers, six draft resolutions were passed. Since this was the first time for many of our delegates to attend a MUN simulation outside of Tübingen, together with delegates they did not know beforehand, it was a great opportunity to practice our diplomatic skills and to make new friends.

The finale of the day was marked by a wine tasting event organized by the Club of Hohenheim, which gave us the opportunity to enjoy delicious local food and drinks in the company of our fellow student-diplomates.

Last week, our delegation braved the cold and spent their days counting and surveying the visitors of this year’s Tübinger Schokomarkt. Each of our delegates managed to dedicate 13-14 hours of their time over the six days – a great effort considering that our Landmark Documents are due today.

We would like to thank our delegates for their time and dedication this past week and encourage them to keep up the good work – the money we raised will help to pay for our trip to New York in March – so we think it was worth it.

On that note we would like to kindly ask anyone interested in sponsoring us to contact our delegation using the details below. Of course your help will not go unnoticed – we will add you to the sponsors page on our website and add a link to your business on our blog – and if you need a counting or surveying team we are willing to put our newly acquired skills to use!

Website & Blog

www.nmun-tuebingen.de

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/nmuntue14

Via Mail:

nmun@ifp.uni-tuebingen.de

On Tuesday, our delegates came into class not sure of what to expect. Sitting around the room were new delegates from countries none of this year’s team were representing in our practise classes, but soon it became clear why these new delegates were there: To test our knowledge of the Rules of Procedure. Together with the Dias, the three representatives wrecked havoc on our simulation; among other things they made phone calls, changed the Speaker’s list and used the Right of Reply incorrectly giving the 2016 delegation ample reason to make a Point of Order or even appeal the Chair.

All in all, the mischevious newcomers, who later turned out to be delegates from previous years, helped everyone to realise where there is still room for improvement and which Rules of Procedure need to be refreshed. They also made it very difficult to maintain Decorum – this year’s delegation will have to practise their pokers faces!  For their invaluable advice at the end of the session, as well as the unexpected test of our knowledge, the 2016 delegation would like to thank the past delegates for their help.

On the 14th and 15th of November, our newly selected delegation faced the exciting challenge of their first simulation of UN procedures.

Discussing the urgent important topic of „Women’s Empowerment and the Link to Sustainable Development“, the Tübingen Delegation’s members each took on the role of a different country and, in smaller working groups, drafted three resolutions which proposed concrete steps the global community should take in order to intensify their contributions on this issue.  In view of the hard work every delegate put into convincing their fellow members of their standpoints and negotiating common ground, it was all the more rewarding to see all three draft resolutions pass with marked majorities.

At the end the simulation, it became obvious just how much progress our delegation had made in terms of free speaking and understanding the often complex rules of procedure. After such a sucessful first attempt, we are excited to push forward in our preparation for the big NMUN in New York City, especially through our upcoming participation in the Hohenheim Castle MUN in January and the Tübingen Model United Nations (TMUN) in February 2016!

 

As the new semester has been underway for some weeks already, we are excited to anounce that 18 students have been chosen to make up the NMUN Tübingen Delegation 2016!

This academic year, we have the honor to represent the Republic of Chile and to thus take on the challenge of building on the successful tradition of past Tübingen Delegations.

Follow und support us on our eventful and laborious way to the National Model United Nations 2016, taking place from the 20th to the 24th of March in New York City.

Our website will keep you posted with regular updates and coverage of our practice simulations, our position papers, greetings from our supporters und much more!

We are looking forward to the new semester and a new NMUN Tübingen Delegation!

Interested Students are still welcome to apply for the NMUN workshop and the UN System seminar via the Campus system. Be part of the NMUN experience and become a diplomat for (at least) one semester!

We did it!

Our delegation at the UN Headquarters in New York, where the Closing Ceremony took place.

After a week of debates and negotiations, we are very happy that in all our committees we worked on resolutions that passed – you can take a look at their drafts: https://sites.google.com/site/2015nyb/.

It was a long semester for us, but now that the Closing Ceremony of NMUN 2015 is over, it all seems to have begun yesterday. We are very proud to announce that our delegation has been awarded the Distinguished Delegation award and also, more importantly, that we will be leaving New York with the feeling of a job well-done, as well as some very inspiring experiences and an infinite number of priceless memories.

We thank our Head Delegates Berith and Martin for the great preparation and absolutely reliable support, and, most of all, our Faculty Advisor Bettina Ahrens, who dedicated invaluable time, efforts, and patience in order to enable us to make NMUN such a brilliant experience. Thank you!

The Iraqi flag at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Our Position Papers have been uploaded on the NMUN homepage! You find them here: https://sites.google.com/site/nybpps2015/home. If you would like to have a look at the basis of our negotiations in New York, go to the respective committee’s page and view Iraq’s Position Paper.