The Olive Branch Issue III

8/10/2019 The Olive Branch Issue III

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h live BranchTHE THIRD ISSUE | 11 10 14

U QS MUN 4 Retreat Surrender

Cover by Paras Arora and Aman Srivastava


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In Conversation with Ms PoonamTrikhaTte--Tte with the woman behind MUNQSMUN 2014

Q. What according to you is the significance of theconcept of Model United Nations for school students?A. More than ever I would say. The United Nations isundoubtedly the most important intendoubtedly the most important international organisationin the world today. In addition to familiarising schoolstudents with the workings of this crucial global organModel United Nations conferences enrich them about theworkings of the world and its affairs. As much as we mayresist it it is an indelible fact that we are living in aglobalised world. In such a scenario it has becomeimportant - momportant - more than ever - to be in sync with globalrealities. Not only do students learn crucial nuances ofdiplomacy MUN conferences make them fine orators - askill whose importance cannot be stressed enough in thecompetitive world of today. I would go as far as to call this

concept the best political education a student can get andI can certainly see future global leaders from this diaspora.

Q. As the person in cha. As the person in charge of a conference of this staturehow has your experience organising MUNQSMUN 2014been?A. As the person in cha. As the person in charge of the conference providing ourparticipants with a conducive environment has been ourprimary goal. I believe we have been fairly successful in thatpursuit. Surprisingly moreover MUNQSMUN 2014 hasbeen a learning experience for me. I hope it has been so foreveryone else too.

Q. What would your message to the participants of thisconfeonference be?A. I have always believed that one must never stoplearning especially when the world today presents us withso many opportunities to acquire assimilate and useknowledge in productive ways. My message thereforewould be never to stop learning in any and every sphere oflife. This is one quality that goes beyond academiaextracurricular activities and even vocations. I commend allxtracurricular activities and even vocations. I commend allparticipants for embracing this fine pursuit of knowledgeand taking active interest in the affairs of the world theyinhabit and I would further encourage all to be the bestthey can be.


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h live BranchTo Self Govern or NotBy Radhika Joshi and Banipreet Kaur

The second days slow start, converted intobetter debate set by the delegate of Spainsspeech which continued to rise steadilythehereafter. Points of order and information flowedin, as if fish navigating through muddy water. Thecommittee then suspended the formal debateto move into an umoderated caucus in whichthe delegates were the yelling sights, raising

uite the furore. The committee went on to dissect and brainstorm solutions pertaining to the Western Sahara. The delegates exhibitedeir emphatic demand for peace by suggesting incredible solutions such as referendums even promising to fund this operation asas offered by the representative of Indonesia. This particular aspect of debate proved to be somewhat fruitful, as each and everyelegate put forward their stance and policy.verall, the committee came up with numerous constructive elucidations giving the committee a promise of a budding day ahead.

Negotiations with the DevilBy Pritika Sharma

On the second day, the Security Council could acquire frequent glimpses of adauntless and tenacious debate. The delegates willingly took refuge in logicalhinking, thus providing substantial and rational points.The discussion that deliberated on the accountability of the Private MilitaryCompanies (PMCs) veompanies (PMCs) very smoothly paved the way for a healthy debate.ust like two sides of a coin, there are two sides of PMCs. Each facet found supportn some part of the delegations in the committee. While the delegation of CzechRepublic consistently condemned the PMCs for violating the rights of detainees andnot ensuring witness protection, the representatives of the United States supportedPMCs by elucidating on the primary (armed conflicts) as well as the secondaryonflicts (natural disasters), in which the PMCs successfully provided aid to theirespective host nations. The Russian delegation, on the other hand, took a neutraltance by terming PMCs as a necessary evil.

The lobby discussions productively unveiled the peculiar and moot aspects ofPMCs and Diplomatic Immunity. The issue of prosecution of persons withdiplomatic immunity obtained momentum when the delegation of France explainedhe term persona grata.Thehe ratio of the boons and banes of PMCs tends to remain constant, thus makinghe advantages immensely difficult to ignore. While they continue to be an

ndispensable part of a nation, the betterment and uniformity of PMCs is highlynticipated.


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Unsolved QuandariesBy Rhea Datta and Devyani Mahajan

A potion of abrupt progression was showered over the delegates on the second day of committee. Amidst the reports of prisoners in Guantanamo Baybeing treated in an abominable manner the Human Rights Council picked out a related topic to kick start the committee. The delegate of Austria turned thetables of the argument by refusing to qualify the prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay as Prisoners of War but as stating them as detainees by the United Statesto safeguard the national security. However the deprivation of the fundamental rights of these Al-Queda and Taliban prisoners being used for theafoforementioned was taken into consideration by the delegate of Pakistan.As the committee was bombarded with a plethora of points of order which surprisingly proved useful rather than just being points to minor inaccuracies acrisis set its inception amongst the countries highlighting the abduction of the leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade by the ISIS militants. While the delegatethe DPRK alleged the entire crisis was a plot by a biased organization and the United States of America the delegate of the USA proclaimed to offer a helpinhand rather than disrupting the issue.The road seemed to be bidding an adieu to the fog of the previous day.

Drafting DifferencesBy Urvi Sikri and Aayushi Mehrish

The Insurance Core Principles are as important as cheese is to a burger the burger is fine without it but who in their right mind would buy it? Thesupervisor of Canada reminded the International Association of Insurance Supervisors.As debas debate moved forward the supervisors discussed reforms in capital adequacy and solvency systems. Varying stances emerged in the committee assome supported a globally consistent regulation system while some were in favour of a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction approach. The supervisor of USA declarethe idea of an international solvency regime impossible Since we are all a part of different financial systems our guidance material should be regionspecific. The Polish supervisor disagreed saying that is not impossible to have uniform policies in an interlinked insurance industry.The supehe supervisor of Spain proposed the adoption and implementation of a framework on three guiding pillars quantitative elements revision and control and

market discipline. The Russian Supervisor called for the formation of a legal entity for internal assessments and audits. The supervisor of Belgium questionethis suggestion by pointing out Russias own partially observed status in the assessment sector.To achieve their mission of globally consistent supervision the supervisors must resolve their differences and draft solutions that systematically aid themaintenance of safe and stable insurance markets.


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ddressing tomicityBy Palak Singhal and Shantam ShorewalaThe bubble of global peace floating on the sea of fissile perilsYet emerges through chaos unscathed. Although the second day of the Unilthough the second day of the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (UNAEC) promised intense debate, the vice president conceded himself thatthe committee was heading nowhere after a strenuous but fruitless first session.The nuclear spectrum of technology to facilitate safe nuclear waste disposal was ornately explored. From proposals of use of CCTV to combat the threat ofnuclear weapons to the demand of warning signs urging the mass to stay away from radioactive materials and storing nuclear weapons in air-tight, stainlesscontainers, the committee had its fair share of irrelevant and under thought solutions. Futuristic technologies like hydraulics and radioactive renovation traced their existence prudently in the committee as well. The delegate of the Union of Sovi

Socialist Republic did not evade any opportunity to raise accusatory fingers at the United States of America regarding the latters unsolicited involvement in thformulation of the Baruch Plan. The delegate of Afghanistan, an innocent victim of obsessive compulsive disorder, was subjected to innumerable requests toslow down despite which he continued to deliver his well-paced speech.The quinhe quintessence of the agenda seemed to fizzle away among the directionless deliberations. The committee was swift enough to cease indecision andbegan oscillating on the hinges of the agendas nucleus.

-pproaching Definition

y Vidushi Rijuta Harsh Sinha

he endeavours of the day were inaugurated by speeches to set the tones of theebate. The committee went on to discuss roles of Non-State Actors involvement.

he delegation of China accused India of indirectly providing nuclear arms torrorist groups, later ridiculed by the Czech delegation, who reiterated theccusation against China investing 2 billion in arms development inccusation against China investing 2 billion in arms development in Pakistan.

oing on a tangent, the argument turned to whether Non-State Actors of sortshould be provided a Prisoner of War status. The delegation of Czech Republicsagreed as they didnt meet the required criteria.

he technicalities of the debate apparently got to some delegates, pushing theelegate of Sweden to the brink of slumber.

While the delegation of Iraq talked about the dispute in their country not being annnternational armed conflict, but an internationalized one, the delegation of Serbiaemed to be having an internal conflict within itself; one delegate responded to theB verbally, even as the other proceeded to respond in writing.

he Belgian delegate wrongly claimed that Osama Bin Laden was killed in a dronetack, constituting one of the lighter moments of the committee, which returned toeliberating the crucial topics at hand.


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The Ideal Delegate

Key to labelling:

1. A look of sheer determination2. A keen sense of hearing3. A gifted nose used to sniff out errors of all magnitudes4. An overactive mouth5..A spotless suit6. A perfect knot7. Mass produces chits faster than a Mcdonalds gives outburgers8. Untouched boxes of refreshments9. Overused placard10. Unmatched posture that screams IM NOT HERE TOSURRENDERURRENDER.

-Tanya Dutta

Treacherous Ground-Vidushi Rijuta

One thing delegates probably dont realize is that our committee articles dontcontain half of what we see in the committee.

For instance we would never dare to remark upon how evident it is that you aresneaking a look at the next guys research. Our diplomacy prevents us frommentioning the times you aentioning the times you are discussing your sports preferences or that guy in theblue during an unmoderated caucus. It would be scandalous for us to point out thesheer number of people staring intently and diligently at their iPad screens wherethey attempt their absolute best to reach new heights of success in Temple Run.

But we let go of these petty issues. After all the debate is intense; we have a lot ofcontent to work with. Youve all worked so unimaginably hard. At least most of you.The minor detail that a couple of people have seven sche minor detail that a couple of people have seven screenshots in their phone astheir display of the extent of their research or that someones single sheet ofresearch has been printed in haste last night is of course absolutely irrelevant.

These are all just trivialities. The main point of course is the debate - the intensediscussion of the agendas. And the fact that those laptops are rapidly running out ofcharge and there is not a free plug-point in sight.

But we are beyond these inconsequential details. We are diligent in our work.Diplomacy and objectively come natuiplomacy and objectively come naturally to us.We would never think about actually writing about these things.


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h live BranchUh Oh

#Oops Moments In An MUNBy Pritika Sharma

We, as the International Press, perspicaciously scrutinise your actions and dole out our observation in this segment of the newsletter. Theendless jocular talks, and the nail-biting anxious experiences of preventing hair-brained comments that the International Press could publish,make bloopers like this grippingly chuckle some.1) It is said that 'P) It is said that 'Pressure makes diamonds.' However, the delegation choose graphite over diamond by introducing themselves as therepresentatives of another country or by using heavy Latin words for showing off their unmatchable intellectuality, leaving almost half of thecommittee in utter oblivion. Our advice? Calm down, don't stress and be simple.2) Some delegates just can't resist their urge to use catch phrases that they love unconditionally. It's disheartening to see.. , Understandingthis..Understanding that, were some of them. In the course of the speech, the other delegates might miss points but they will never forget the

number of times the catchphrase was used.Delegates, we aelegates, we are humbly persuading you to break up with your respective catchphrases and engage in newfangled affairs with other words.3) The people in the International Press are primarily journalists, but do take up the work of the Grammar Police as their second job. Ambiguitiesin spoken grammar result in the biggest 'oops' moments. Delegates often screw up in articles (like 'a ethnic'), nouns and number (like 'moneyare'), verbs (and the list continues...)Delegates, please brush up your grammar before coming to an MUN, or else we'll all die laughing which would be utterly horrendous.4) Lastl) Lastly, we describe the 'oops' moment 4, where delegates are caught taking selfies, surfing the net, or in some cases texting by either theirexecutive board or the IP, while the committee is going on. That very moment for the poor delegate adds another piece to his/her quota ofembarrassing moments. As for the IP, we capture them and share it here, just like now. Our advice? Focus, delegate.What so ever be the buzz in an MUN, we'll always be ready to share it with you all for incessant amusement. Enjoy.

The MunbharataBy Urvi Sikri

The characters from the famous epic of Mahabharata have defined the childhood of every Indian kid, and theyperhaps define our MUN as well, for we discover how these beloved characters are actually quite similar to us

delegatesThe cunning Shakunis , the pure evil Duryodhans - MUNs have them all.Krishnarishna - He is the Executive Board that substantively intervenes, and helps lead the stagnant debate.The delegate who knows how to enter debate, but doesnt know how to get out of it, is our Abhimanyu of theChakryavyuh.The Arjuna whose words hit like arrows.Bhishma , the know-it-all. This delegate is the patriarch of the committee, he leads the debate, is feared and respect-ed.The female delegate in the committee, who is often underestimated, is of course our gritty Draupadi. Vidura is our wise old delegate. Unfortunately, no one pays much attention to him.

Dhritrashtra is the blind member of the committee, who goes on talking, ignorant of what is happening right in front ofhis eyes.The really strong delegate who can pack in a punch is our Bhima.And where does the International Press come in? Why, we are Sanjay , the charioteer of Dhritrashtra and Gandhari. We are gifted with the ability to see things clearly, we possess a divine vision. We give you a blow-by-blow,word-by-word account of the conference.


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The Olive Branch Issue III

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