MUNITY East 2019 Pre-Conference Issue: Two Sides of The Same Coin

MUNITY EAST
THIMUN XV
Pre-conference Nov. 18th 2019
Two Sides
Of The
Same Coin

1

FORUM: THIMUN Singapore XV
QUESTION OF: The empowerment and support of journalists and media
SUBMITTED BY: MUNITY EAST
MUNITY
E A ST
Dear Readers,
We are MUNITY East, THIMUN Singapore’s press
team. Our team of 23 talented journalists focus on keeping
you up to speed with all that goes on during the conference.
However, we also produce articles that cover the issues you
debate upon. In those articles, we strive to mirror the ideal
THIMUN conferences are built upon: to introduce participants
to a healthy balance of opposing opinions and perspectives.
We included three articles in this issue in an to
achieve our goal. On page 6, you would be able to read about
how opinion pieces are
in contributing to positive
social changes, but could also act as “echo chambers” and
radicalize readers’ opinions to dangerous extremes. Or, to
pages 15 and 16, which are dedicated to answering the question:
should free speech be left unregulated, or should censorship
of
rhetoric— which could have disastrous
consequences in the real world— be allowed? Or, consider
jumping to the last page of this issue, which features a positivity
page to highlight the fact that, while the international community
faces many great challenges, there is also a great deal
of positive changes being made.
We will continue our to achieve our goal for the
rest of the week, so please be sure to read our issues to come
on MUNITY online! On the website, you will a PDF form of
each day’s issues in addition to posts of short features, candid
snapshots of the day, and carefully curated videos that document
your THIMUN experience. We hope that you will have
fun discovering surprising gems in the feature articles,
your face in a sea of photographs, or time traveling through
the videos.
Your editors-in-chief,
Ray Chen and Xuan Lin Tan
EDITORS IN CHIEF
Xuan Lin Tan
Ray Chen
TEXT EDITORS
Priyanka Krishna
Hyoree Kim
Aastha Gokani
LAYOUT & ARTISTS
Ryan Hsiao
Angel Yang
Jessica Hsu
Jessie Liao
Ishwarya Krishna
REPORTERS
Ella Hirmato
Isabella Wood
Jade Henry
Joey Lin
Ping Tsai
Matias Camacho
Joshua Tang
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Zara Yap
Dorian Chen
Jerry Lin
Matias Camacho
Joshua Tang
VIDEOGRAPHERS
Jerry Lin
Nicolas Paccaud
Tijn Van Der Dikkenberg
Contacts
Snapchat:
munityeast2019
Instagram:
munityeast2019
Email:
eastmunity2019@gmail.com
X V
2

At the Top of the Mountain:
Interview with
the Secretariat Team
Written by: Priyanka Krishna
Edited by: Hyoree Kim
Layout by: Angel Yang
Photographs by:
Sourced by Reporter
Leadership; a significant attribute
of our society, helping us and
large groups operate efficiently
and smoothly. In fact, every organisation
has a form of leadership
ensuring its success. The
United Nations is no different.
The student leaders of THIMUN
conferences, the Secretariat
team, guarantee the events flow
smoothly by connecting students,
directors, and officers and sorting
out a wide range of issues. This
year, THIMUN Singapore’s Secretariat
Team consists of Omar
Kausar as the Secretary-General,
Shaivi Rajesh as the Deputy
Secretary-General, and President
of the General Assembly (PGA),
Evan Chiang. The three were
very busy with tasks such as editing
the administrative handbook
and splitting the overseeing of
the range of committees months
before the conference itself.
With the journey each Secretariat
member has experienced
through MUN, they all have
gained a wide range of skills and
advice, which they hope to pass
on to this year’s participants.
Omar Kausar - International
School of Manila - Secretary
General
This year’s Secretary-General,
hailing from the International
School of Manila, Omar Kausar
described his five-year involvement
in Model United Nations, as
“one of the best decisions of… [his]
life.” Starting as a Security Council
delegate in a local Philippines
conference in 2016, Kausar, “immediately
fell in love with MUN,
[having] enjoyed the concept
of stepping into other people’s
shoes and going against… [his]
personal views on world issues.”
Since then, Kausar has attended
a total of four MUN conferences,
with THIMUN Singapore XV marking
his fifth and final year in MUN.
With his many years participating
in MUN, Kausar is not short of
great advice for this year’s delegates.
He stated, “it is indeed scary
if it is your first conference as a
delegate, however, always remember
to give it your all… never let
fear hold you back in aiming high.”
To him, stepping out of your comfort
zone is highly recommended.
When asked about what he would
like to accomplish in his leading
role, Kausar conveyed that
he wanted to retain a high level
of diplomacy and professionalism,
as well as act as a bridge between
the Student Officers and
Directors. Kausar added that he is
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“looking forward to witnessing the
high-quality debates [and to get to]
better know the Student Officers”.
Shaivi Rajesh - United World
College of South East Asia
(UWCSEA) - Deputy Secretary
General
Our Deputy Secretary-General,
Shaivi Rajesh, attends her second
official THIMUN conference this
year after participating in THIMUN
affiliated conferences for the last
5 years. Since then, Rajesh described,
“ I’ve never really faced
a quiet moment in MUN… [it has]
just been one crazy growth, and
it’s had such an impact on me ”.
Rajesh hopes for involvement in
every individual’s comfortable
manner. As she stated, “THIMUN is
great how you can find something
you like because the entire experience
encompasses a lot more than
just the resolutions being made.
There’s a lot to come away with,
and so take what you will from it.”
“I’m excited to see how everything
will play out after careful
planning… and I love how international
the entire conference is,”
expressed Rajesh. Additionally,
“THIMUN conferences are easily
some of the best conferences I
have been to, and I want to bring
that same feeling to everyone
who attends.” In fact, to Rajesh,
it is much preferred to allow everyone
to achieve a strong sense
of accomplishment and satisfaction,
rather than making a large
distinct mark on the conference.
Evan Chiang - Pacific Ameri
can School (PAS) - President of
the General Assembly
This year’s PGA, Evan Chiang’s
first-ever THIMUN Singapore conference
was in 2017. As Chiang
described, he only joined MUN
in Middle school because he had
to take a mandatory introductory
class to MUN. Over time, however,
Chiang came to realise how fasci-
nating and even fun debate can be.
“On a superficial level, the two
things people often say they get
from MUN [are] ‘better public
speaking skills’ and ‘new friends’,
often overlooking the actual politics
and world issues learned
in the debate.” Whilst Chiang
is passionate about global understanding
achieved from the
conference, he also widely encourages
the engagement of all
delegates. As his director once
said, “... not participating in the debate
is like watching paint dry…”.
With the conference upcoming in
November, The President of the
General Assembly, is most excited
about the THIMUN admin
meme account, working with the
admins from Hwa Chong, as well
as seeing all the passionate debaters
he saw in Singapore when
he was a delegate and student officer.
Most of all, however, with the
responsibility of overseeing 3 GA
committees, Chiang hopes that
people will find him approachable.
Overall, the secretariat team wishes
that this year’s conference will
offer a memorable experience
to the many participants. As the
conference edges nearer, it is
hoped that the conference will
provide each and everyone an
enriching, and enjoyable journey
through THIMUN Singapore XV.
4

Farewell Mr. Stern,
Say Hello to
Dr. Soublet!
Written by: Hyoree Kim
Edited by: Priyanka Krishna
Layout by: Jessie Liao
Photograph by: Sourced by Reporter
Welcome to this year’s THIMUN conference! One
significant change that the conference has made is the
replacement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
with the International Criminal Court (ICC). Typically, the
ICJ would delve into issues of legal disputes between
member nations. The ICJ’s role is to settle, in accordance
with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by
states and to give advisory opinions on legal questions
referred to it by authorized United Nations organs
and specialized agencies. Instead of focusing on the
settlement of legal disputes submitted by states and the
provision of advisory opinions on legal questions, the
ICC will generally examine cases involving international
crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war
crimes, and crimes of aggression. The case of THIMUN
Singapore’s ICC concerns war crimes committed by
jihadist Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, most notably the
deliberate destruction of religious and historical sites
in west Africa. While the actual case has been closed in
2016— Al Mahdi pleaded guilty and was sentenced to
nine years of imprisonment— THIMUN Singapore has
reopened the case to put participants’ argumentative
skills and legal knowledge to the test.
conversations. Last year, discussions were led by Robert
Stern, MUN director from The American International
School in England (TASIS). He will be missed by the
students because of his crucial role as a supervisor
and expert. Dr. Soublet has expressed her wish that
“the students who participate in the Model ICC at
THIMUN Singapore find the experience engaging
and educational.” Additionally, she hopes that“the
participants will think about and discuss the importance
of protecting cultural sites” seeing as the cases that
they will be presenting involve the issues of destruction
of religious/cultural sites. She is excited to see “the
students interact with each other as they try something
new.”MUNITY EAST welcomes all new members of the
THIMUN conference and hopes to have yet another
successful year.
THIMUN also welcomes Dr. Erika Soublet, an MUN
director from the Taipei American School (TAS), to
take over the role of the director of the ICC. Prior to
becoming a teacher, she was a prosecutor in both
Oregon and Washington until 2013. She “handled every
aspect of criminal prosecution, for everything from
simple shoplifting cases to aggravated murder cases, at
the trial court level from charging to sentencing.”
Her experience will give delegates the opportunity
to dive deeper into more realistic debates and
Dr. Soublet
5

Role of
OpinionPieces
In Modern-Day
Media
Written by: Isabella Wood
Edited by: Aastha Gokani
Layout by: Jessie Liao
Modern-day media is evolving every day.
Thanks to the internet, the world is more
closely linked together than ever before. Forces
such as the media only push civilisation closer
together. Much of what the media publish
are opinion pieces, which share the authors’
standpoints on particular topics. Opinion
pieces have changed drastically since they
first came about. What was once a platform to
voice an author's views on a topic and educate
others about a matter has begun to morph into
something bigger than itself. Opinion pieces
now influence not only our ideologies but also
our actions.
Opinion pieces have influenced citizens
to become more socially aware and openminded
on certain topics such as the LGBTQ+
community. Opinion pieces have also been
able to inspire activist groups and movements
such as the March For Our Lives demonstration
and the #MeToo movement. These movements
are often fuelled by moral outrage; a feeling of
outrage towards an injustice usually involving
a moral judgement. However, opinion pieces
have also achieved the opposite. Opinion
pieces that act as echo chambers— secluded
environments that intensify readers’ belief in
controversial ideologies— have also surged
in popularity in the 21st century. Such echo
chambers have led to a rise in extremist
movements, such as the alt-right and other
forms of white supremacy.
These actions are fuelled by hatred and
prejudice towards a particular group of people.
Unfortunately, more often than not, opinion
pieces serve as echo chambers and help
extremist movements prevail. In the UN
Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech
repor t , U N S e c retar y - G e n e ral A n tónio
Guterres speaks on opinion pieces that “are
being exploited as platforms for bigotry.” This
presents the argument that opinion pieces are
not just about persuading the reader, but are
being used as a catalyst for people to bring
‘justice’ into their own hands. The hatred that
some opinion pieces may fuel can polarize
readers. In the face of such an argument, we
must remember what the real point of opinion
pieces is: to simply educate us about all the
perspectives used to view a topic and help
inspire more positive actions.
Modern-Day Media
6

THE TRUTH BEHIND
PLASTIC
ALTERNATIVES
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Written by: Isabella Wood
Edited by: Aastha Gokani
Layout by: Jessie Liao
Photography by: Zara Yap
The invention of plastic has revolutionised the world
and has made modern life possible. We have depended
on it, but now we’re drowning in it. The introduction
and rapid growth of single-use plastic usage have
detrimentally altered the ecosystem, causing
biophysical bodies to be permanently damaged.
With reports flooding the media on the limited time
humanity has until Earth reaches a point of no return
in global warming damage, the spotlight has begun
to shine on the issue. Since 2018, there has been an
increased demand for plant-based and other material
alternatives for plastic products. But are they as friendly
as we’re led to believe?
The Danish EPA published a study this year that hit
the press with a shocking headline: when compared
to plastic alternatives, plastic bags have the lowest
environmental impact! Materials commonly used as
substitution for plastic these days are biopolymers,
bamboo, and cotton. Through the review of life cycle
assessments conducted by various companies, it is
supported that there are environmental tradeoffs
in the production of biopolymers as compared
to petrochemical polymers. It is affirmed that the
production of these organic materials imposes a
negative environmental effect, as land is cleared
to create space for farming, which contributes to
acidification and eutrophication, the harvesting and
transportation process produces a high amount of
greenhouse gases, the processing plant requires a
large number of fossil fuels to generate energy, and all
of these processes result in high levels of ecotoxicity.
However, it is essential to note that all these reports and
findings do not take into account the accumulation and
the leaching of plastics into the environment.
For the eco-conscious consumers market, brands
have latched onto the idea of being sustainable,
and merchants have replaced plastic bags with
biodegradable, oxo - degradable, compostable,
biobased bags. However, the multitude of labels has
created consumer confusion, and most of the times
these products are not disposed of in the right oxygen,
temperature, and soil conditions for degradation.
Additionally, the plastic alternative movement is
beginning to be perceived as a trend. Consumers buy
metal straws and drink bottles such as the Hydroflask
in order to seem like the picture perfect eco-conscious
citizen. But hey, if I leave that fancy metal straw at
home I can still grab a straw right? The consumers’ iffy
approach causes further environmental implications.
If plastic alternatives aren’t any better than singleuse
plastic, then what can we do? We cannot solely
rely on these supposedly safe alternatives to stop the
degradation of the environment. Encouraging the
use of plastic alternatives shouldn’t be the only thing
pushed to stop the problem of plastic use. Instead, we
should also be pushing for legislation to be put in place
to help nations lower their environmental impact and
carbon footprint. It is also important that we better
educate ourselves on what plastic alternatives are doing
the same damage as single-use plastic are, and how
these damages can be managed. Proper use of
plastic alternatives can help not only prevent
further damage to the environment
but also save us money
in the long run.
8

A Local’s Guide to
The Best of Singapore
Written by: Matías Camacho
Edited by: Aastha Gokani
Layout by: Angel Yang
Photograph by: Matías Camacho
If you’re looking for places to go and
things to do after a long day at the
conference, this article is specifically
made to help you stray away from a
frantic google search on your way back
to your hotel and to give you a few options
you might want to look into. Singapore
is indeed a perfect amalgamation
of heritage and innovation, which
can be seen through its state of the art
infrastructure, delightful culinary experiences
and burgeoning nightlife.
From humble street food carts to Michelin-starred
fine dining, Singaporean food
is gastronomically gratifying. In Singapore,
it’s essential that you drop your inhibitions,
and ‘die die must try’ the local
specialties such as durian, chicken rice,
or laksa. Hawker centres have a strong
presence in the local population’s everyday
life, as they are cheap and easily accessible.
If you’re hungry right after the
conference, go to the Bukit Timah Food
Court which is often frequented by the
Hwa Chong Institution students. Or head
on to the Lau Pa Sat food court, which
was gazetted as a national monument
in Singapore. For a special treat, visit after
7:00 pm for the nightly event where
they close off the surrounding streets,
set up picnic tables, and serve grilled
satay and fried rice. Whichever food
court you visit, be sure to explore all options
before you settle for one, though!
People joke that Singapore’s national
sport is shopping, and it’s true. Go test out
your shopping stamina on Orchard Road
for a more high-end, intense shopping
experience right in the center of the city.
Or for a more intimate discovery of Singapore’s
shopping scene, hop to Kampong
Glam where there’s a multitude of vibrant
relics, beautiful instagramable murals,
and an eclectic collection of stores.
9

conference, go to the Bukit Timah Food
Court which is often frequented by the
Hwa Chong Institution students. Or head
on to the Lau Pa Sat food court, which
was gazetted as a national monument
in Singapore. For a special treat, visit after
7:00 pm for the nightly event where
they close off the surrounding streets,
set up picnic tables, and serve grilled
satay and fried rice. Whichever food
court you visit, be sure to explore all options
before you settle for one, though!
People joke that Singapore’s national
sport is shopping, and it’s true. Go test out
your shopping stamina on Orchard Road
for a more high-end, intense shopping
experience right in the center of the city.
Or for a more intimate discovery of Singapore’s
shopping scene, hop to Kampong
Glam where there’s a multitude of vibrant
relics, beautiful instagramable murals,
and an eclectic collection of stores.
Singapore is no different from any other
country. It has quite a number of attractions
that are made for tourists to visit. If
you’re a nature-lover, Gardens by the Bay
gives you the perfect opportunity to go
check out the horticultural masterpiece
Singapore has created. The ArtScience
Museum offers different exhibitions all
the time, allowing you to see whatever
piques your interest. These “virtual-reality”-type
exhibitions reveal a whole new
side to museums but keep traditional
art and history fanatics hooked as well.
Don’t forget to take that obligatory Singaporean
tourist snap at the Merlion
- just a 15 minute walk across the river.
For all the culture vultures, head on
towards the Esplanade where there’s
often a multitude of programmes and
events you can catch during your visit
- whether it be a concert by a local
band or a world renowned play.
Once you reach the airport at the end
of your stay, you might have time for
one last tourist attraction. Singapore’s
Changi Airport is famous for many
things, but one of these particularly
stands out : The Jewel Changi. The 40
meter tall Rain Vortex is the main attraction
in the renovated airport. Buy your
last-minute gifts and souvenirs to bring
back to your family in your country.
Delegates, I hope you enjoy your stay!
10

Anti-Vax
Not Just A Meme
Written by: Joey Lin
Edited by: Hyoree Kim
Photographs Sourced by: Dorian Chen
Layout & Artwork by: Ishwarya Krishna
For people who followed the Internet
closely this year, “anti-vax”
should already be a familiar word.
The word “anti-vax” is tossed
around as a subject of criticism
and is often used satirically in memes
as the embodiment of stupidity
or bad parenting. Behind the
memes, however, dwells a long and
dark history of vaccine hesitancy.
Vaccine hesitancy originated from
doubts about attempts to cure
smallpox in the 1700s. Opposition
came from both religious and scientific
communities, who believed
that vaccinations were immoral,
unsafe, and ineffective. The mistrust
regarding vaccines resulted
in 400,000 deaths each year in the
1700s in Europe alone. Nowadays,
the damage of vaccine hesitancy
isn’t as dramatic or fatal as that in
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the days of yore. Still, due to modern
vaccine hesitancy, the World
Health Organization (WHO) has
measured an alarming 30% increase
in measles cases globally,
and countries that were close to
the eradication of the disease, like
the USA, have seen a resurgence.
WHO pointed out two reasons
underlying vaccine hesitancy are
complacency (the belief that one
doesn’t need vaccines) and lack of
confidence about vaccines’ safety.
Complacency and lack of confidence
are fuelled by discredited
doctors like British doctor Andrew
Wakefield. In 1998, Wakefield published
a paper claiming a link between
the measles-mumps-rubella
(MMR) vaccine and autism. The paper
was retracted in 2010. Doctors
Jeffrey Gerber and Paul Offit listed
the “victims” of claims against vaccines:
the MMR vaccine, thimerosal
- a chemical contained in many
vaccines, and the 16 vaccines
American children are commended
to take, which anti-vaxxers regard
as “too many vaccines,” and thus
harmful to the immune system.
However, the US National Institute
of Health (NIH) listed 20 studies utilizing
four different methods which
all failed to prove any association
between MMR and thimerosal vaccines
with autism. In addition, since
autism is not an immune-mediated
disease, the “too many vaccines un
dermine the immune system” claim
fundamentally makes no sense.
However, anti-vax sentiments still
linger due to unreliable public figures,
the most prominent of whom
currently is American actress Jenny
McCarthy. In 2007, McCarthy
claimed that her son Evan Asher

was diagnosed with autism after
a measles vaccination, and she
Vhas since led rallies and written
books against vaccines, proclaiming
that they cause autism. Mc-
Carthy told Frontline about how
anti-vax became her “life’s purpose”:
“The moment that I went
online and researched about autism
and saw and learned about
a vaccine connection, I felt this
kind of jolt, honestly, physically
throughout my whole body.”As a
celebrity, she has attracted thousands
of followers to the anti-vax
cause and formed an organization
called Generation Rescue. Anti-vaxxers
like McCarthy use certain
tactics to spread their cause,
such as appealing to anti-government
sentiments, targeting religious
communities, and citing
discredited doctors like Wakefield.
To counter the deleterious effects
of anti-vaccination movements,
users of the Internet have created
memes to make fools out of
anti-vaxxers. Anti-vax memes primarily
poke fun at the notion that
unvaccinated children are highly
vulnerable to mild diseases, such
as the common cold, while also circulating
counter-arguments to anti-vaccination
claims. Among these
memes arose the stereotype of the
“anti-vax mother”, a middle-aged
woman who refuses to let her kids
be vaccinated due to influence
from a few articles she read on the
Internet. A running gag is that her
children generally do not live past
three. Nevertheless, Paul Ward,
professor and head of public health
at Flinders University, points out
that labeling anti-vaxxers as bad
parents may contribute to “further
polari[z]ation and distrust.” Instead,
Ward recommends changing
health education and government
policy. He also suggests finding
out the cultural, social, and economic
causes for vaccine hesitancy,
and eliminating such problems
first. He argues that only then can
people start to convert anti-vaxxers,
preferably through factual data.
In regards to the facts Ward mentioned,
countless research, academic
papers, and real-life trials,
vaccines have been proven to be
safe, efficient, and life-saving. In
1977, vaccines eradicated smallpox,
a disease that has haunted
humanity since the times of Ancient
Egypt and claimed the lives
of 500 million in the 20th century
alone. The National Center for Biotechnology
Information (NCBI) reports
that in 2016, measles fatality
was 99% less than its average in
the 20th century. WHO documented
that vaccines save two to three
million lives per year. An additional
1.5 million lives could also be
rescued if universal coverage of
vaccinations improved. Accepting
vaccinations also helps achieve
herd immunity - when more people
are immune to a disease, fewer
germs are spread, and thus fewer
people will contract the disease.
Despite that all empirical evidence
proves vaccines to be safe
and effective, the anti-vaccination
movement is still alive and kicking.
The delegates of Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC) at
THIMUN Singapore this year will
be discussing vaccine hesitancy
and its detrimental effects, as well
as coming up with ways to end
the anti-vaccination movement.
12

Tackling The Marginalization of the LGBTQ+:
PRIDE
&
At the end of a joyous date, two women, Melania and
Chris, were beaten on a night bus in London after refusing
four teenagers’ demand to kiss one another.
Photos of them covered in blood spread like wildfire
all over the internet. However, incidents like this are
not news to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQ+) community.
The reason is simple: the marginalization of
the LGBTQ+ community continues to be the norm.
In its extreme, marginalization gives rise to heartless
assaults, which causes people like Melania and
Chris to live in constant fear.
Through the global fight for equal rights by the
LGBTQ+ community and their allies, governments
and other individuals have come to recognize the
need for both cultural and federal reforms to tackle
marginalization on the basis of sexuality.
Pride parades, which garner the majority of their supporters
online, are pivotal to fostering social acceptance:
they enable individuals of the LGBTQ+ community
to march for their convictions, whether about
issues such as same-sex marriage legalization, discrimination
in housing, or denial of family rights, and
then press for, namely, the passage of effective protection
legislation against discrimination. To be clear,
Pride events have long carried a number of political
and social implications; though the root of Pride parades
was less of celebratory nature, modern Pride
parades have evolved into convivial congregations
for both LGBTQ+ and heterosexual persons, who
13
unyieldingly support the illegalization of discrimination.
Withal warranting the condemnation of social
marginalization on a legal level, Pride parades defy
heterosexism and boost confidence in the LGBTQ+
community. To this end, Pride parades embolden
LGBTQ+ proponents to dress in flamboyant costumes
and proudly display their rainbow flags, acts
that bespeak fearlessness. Naturally, such a display
of social activism warrants society to tackle sexuality-based
relegation, whether it be through increasing
public awareness or enforcing laws.
Likewise, popular media play an equally imperative
role in exposing social marginalization. With social
media platforms, people are given the opportunity
to generate content that promotes the integration of
the LGBTQ+, utilizing hashtags such as #loveislove
and #lgbtpride. As popular media bridges the gap
between people of distinct cultural backgrounds, celebrities
are also able to transmit messages of equality
to their international supporters; whilst some may
take part in Pride parades, others may wage online
campaigns or speak at political forums. Chiefly with
social media and music platforms, prominent celebrities
can increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ people
and provoke more discussions about LGBTQ+ rights
in society. An example of popular icon would be Lady
Gaga, who composed songs widely regarded as “gay
pride anthems.” By way of infusing Pride beliefs into
citizens’ day-to-day activities— in some cases, with
music — pride celebrities bring marginalization is-

Prejudice
sues to public notice and call for society to normalize
queer identity.
Yet, even though the world is a step closer to universal
equality, there is still room for improvement:
besides empowering the LGBTQ+ community, more
could be done to rectify marginalization.
To close the gap between our current situation and
a world where the LGBTQ+ community is completely
integrated into society, governments can increase
federal protections against discrimination. The sexuality
pay gap study done by the German Institute
for Economic Research indicated that, in Germany,
homosexual men earn, on average, 2.14 euros per
hour less than heterosexual men. Governments can
increase federal protections against employment
and wage discrimination, which may curtail the occurrence
of such unfair practices. In a similar fashion,
governments can pass non-discrimination acts
to address bullying based on sexual orientation in
school settings, demanding school faculties to keep
an eye on student interactions.
The creation of a violence-free environment is also
fundamentally integral. A major obstacle for identifying
and punishing sexual orientation hate crime
perpetrators is that many LGBTQ+ victims are afraid
to speak out against such assaults. To reverse this
trend, police departments may engage community
members in individual consulting services in hopes
of building a more trustful relationship between the
police and the LGBTQ+ community.
During this conference, the delegates of the Human
Rights Council (HRC) will tackle social marginalization
in their own way, utilizing the power of communication
to negotiate and compose their own solutions.
Some crucial aspects to be focused on are
undoubtedly publicizing the issue of societal relegation,
as well as extending protection measures to
LGBTQ+ victims of violence. Anyhow, it is only with
constructive discussions led by the delegates of
tthe HRC that the issue of social marginalization will
be pragmatically coped with.
Written by: Ping Tsai
Edited by: Priyanka Krishna
Layout by: Jessica Hsu
Photograph by: Jerry Lin
14

The Case
Against
Freedom of
Expression
Written by: Jade Henry
Edited by: Aastha Gokani
Layout by: Ryan Hsiao
According to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, having the right to express
oneself and share ideas without the fear of
censorship, punishment or legal sanctions is the
freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is
a universal human right and the cornerstone democracy
rests on.
Most—but not all—attempts to censor opinions
are immoral and unethical. The reason is that
censorship would mean a government could
and will prosecute an individual if he or she said
anything that it doesn’t approve of. In addition,
when governments gain the power to limit free
speech, people would not be able to voice concerns
about the actions of their government; in
turn, democracy would be toppled.
However, in some cases, freedom of expression,
instead of censorship, is the one abused for immoral
and condemnable causes. For instance,
extremists exercise their freedom of expression
by spreading inflammatory rhetoric, or words
that arouse violence or strong emotions, on social
media platforms for the reason that it’s the
cheapest and safest method, as it doesn’t cost
anything and it’s very easy to hide identities by using
VPNs, cloaking apps to hide and cover tracks.
Such rhetoric could help recruit members, indoctrinate
followers, find donors, or encourage terror
attacks, thus endangering national security while
still being able to communicate freely. Al-Qaeda
and most recently ISIS have been the most prominent
terror groups that have exploited social media
and the internet for spreading inflammatory
rhetoric. This begs the question: should we sacrifice
these terrorists’ freedom of expression when
national security is at stake?
15

Yes, we should sacrifice these terrorists’
freedom of expression.
Many may be worried: is limiting freedom of
expression in accordance with international
law? The International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, Article 19 (3), has the
answer. The article states that limitations on
the right to freedom of expression are permitted
when limitations are “necessary for
respect of the rights or reputations of others,
for the protection of national security,
public order, or public health or morals.” The
concern about the legality of limiting the
freedom of expression of terrorists could
then be dispelled.
Others may still have caveats: what if governments
and social media platforms abuse
their power to censor as mentioned before?
Suppose governments and social media
platforms do abuse their power to censor
and threatens democracy. It is undeniable
that such a possibility is awful. However, we
should note that inflammatory rhetoric could
sometimes amount to real-life terror attacks,
which threaten the lives of millions of people
that live around the world. In comparison, it
is clear that the possibility of governments
and social media companies abusing their
power to limit terrorists’ freedom of expression
appears to be a lesser evil. Hence, we
should allow governments and social media
companies to limit terrorists’ freedom and
accept the risk of abuse of power.
placed again on other niche platforms or the
dark web, where the posts would be even
harder for the government to manage? This
mentality, essentially suggesting that it’s
within reason to leave inflammatory rhetoric
on social media platforms because they’ll
just get displaced, is unacceptable. The reason
is simple: younger generations who are
already on social media platforms may not
fully understand the meaning of terrorist-related
posts and may end up accidentally
sharing such posts.
Fortunately, some countries have already
started adopting measures to limit terrorists’
freedom of expression. Recently, the
E.U. has said that they want to censor inflammatory
content online; on top of that, many
online service providers like Facebook and
Twitter are obligated to censor any information
that incites terrorism, or promotes terrorist
groups. If unable to comply within the
hour, service provides may face severe fines.
For example, since the attacks on mosques
in New Zealand in March, the government
is considering “far-reaching criminal sanctions”
to social media platforms,” according
to Access Now, a non-profit human rights
organization.
It’s now only a matter of time before the rest
of the world catches up.
Still, skeptics may argue: what if the removal
of posts with inflammatory rhetoric on certain
platforms only means that they can be
16

Debt Trap
THE CHINESE
STRA
Some experts suggest that recently, China has taken
its place around the monopoly board and has played
its turn with one goal- to gain economic and political
recognition across the Asia-Pacific region and the
world. This recognition could be in the form of ascendancy.
In order to achieve this, China is splashing
out billions of dollars across the globe on concessional
loans to developing countries for infrastructure
projects.
The concessional loans are part of President Xi Jinping’s
flagship economic policy, the ‘One Belt, One
Road’ initiative. The initiative was unveiled by the
President in September and October 2013 during
his visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Xi set up a
US$40 billion Silk Road infrastructure fund to kickstart
the project. It covers 65 countries over three
continents. The strategy was first viewed as China’s
Marshall Plan to aid development in Central Asian
countries and build relations with its neighbours in
exchange for the natural resources needed for China’s
growing economy.
However, according to ‘Global Risk Insights’, experts
warn that the loans Beijing is offering are
entrapments to gain influence of power over the
world. How exactly do they argue it works? Poorer
countries are often enticed by China’s offers of
cheap loans for transformative infrastructure projects.
When these countries are unable to keep up
17

Diplomacy:
MONOPOLY
TEGY?
with their repayments, Beijing is able to demand concessions
or other advantages in exchange for debt
relief. This is known as debt-trap diplomacy.
The Centre for Global Development highlights 8
countries that are at risk of being unable to repay
their loans, and amongst them, Montenegro arguably
has it the worst. China loaned the state more than a
billion dollars in 2015 in order to complete a key highway
linking Montenegro’s Port of Bar to landlocked
Serbia. Now, debt levels are at 80% of the country’s
GDP. Montenegro now faces the prospect of either
having to abandon the half-completed project or
negotiate for more money from China, which could
push it deeper into Beijing’s sphere of influence.
For now, many countries are enjoying
the investment injection- new highways, airports,
and promises of economic development, but it may
only be a matter of time until they too are drowning in
a vast sea of debt. Still, diplomats propose questions.
Can these debt-crippled countries ever recover?
And will China ever make changes to its debt-trap
diplomacy?
Written by: Ella Hirmasto
Edited by: Hyoree Kim
Layout by: Jessica Hsu
Artwork source by: Jessica Hsu
Photograph by: Dorian Chen
Another example to be aware of is Sri Lanka. Protests
erupted in 2017 when Sri Lanka was forced to hand
over control of the failed Hambantota Harbour project
to China after, finding itself neck-deep in billions
of dollars worth of debt to China. China now has control
of this key port that is conveniently neighboring
one of China’s regional rivals, India, and a strategic
foothold to key commercial and military waterways.
Experts also point to African countries, in which
China has invested substantially.. China is financing
major projects across the continent and Beijing’s
level of investment is gathering at a rapid pace. In
2017 alone, the value of Chinese projects in Africa
was $105bn, and the value of Chinese loans to Africa
has tripled since 2012. In Zambia, for example,
the signs of Chinese investment are
everywhere. Schools, surgeries and
construction projects bear Chinese
symbols, and a vast new network of
roads is being built.
18

RACE
FOR
15th Century
The Senkaku Islands were first documented
in Chinese articles “joint” ownership of islands
between Taiwan and the mainland
THE SDD
Written by: Joshua Tang
Edited by: Priyanka Krishna
Layout by: Angel Yang
Photograph by: Joshua Tang
In the Pacific Ocean, Northeast
of Taiwan, lies the core of one of
the most highly disputed regions
in East Asia: the Senkaku Diaoyu
Dao (SDD) Islands. What are the
Senkaku Islands? Why are the islands
so highly coveted? Who really
owns them? The epic battle
of tug of war will have you on the
edge of your seat as you dive into
the heart of the dispute.
The Senkaku Islands (also known
to the Chinese as the Diaoyu Islands)
are a group of five islets
and three barren rocks, covering
7 square kilometers. A long-standing
contention over the ownership
of these islands had convulsed
relations among its surrounding
nations, most notably Japan and
China.
The Senkaku Islands, according
to the United Nations Economic
Commission for Asia and the Far
East’s article in 1969, appear to
possibly have the “richest seabed
with oil and hydrocarbon deposits”
and “have great promise as a
future oil province of the world”.
This report ignited China’s and
19
Taiwan’s desperation for the islands
and caused them to begin
to battle for Senkaku. In addition,
the islands are near many prominent
shipping lanes. The islands
are also rich in fishing resources,
with many high-quality species of
fish such as the Bonito fish and
the Bluefin tuna. Having the legal
rights to the islands would allow
fishermen to fish legally, contributing
to the relevant country’s
economy. Lastly, the islands could
serve as a military advantage, providing
more storage for fighter
jets, military equipment and could,
if needed, be used as a testing
ground.
However, the heart of the issue
isn’t really about its oil, fish, and
geostrategic location - after all,
why would the world’s second and
third largest economies be bothered
to pick up the ends of their
ropes for this tug of war over 7
square kilometers of islands? This
is because each neighboring nation
has a unique and rich history
in regards to the islands.
Japan has gained and lost claims
over the islands over the past
200 years. In 1884, the Japanese
claimed that the islands were terra
nullius, and thus annexed the islands
in 1895. The incorporation of
the Senkaku Islands into Japanese
territory happened in the same
year when Taiwan was granted to
Japan as part of the Sino-Japanese
War spoils. Afterward, the islands
were passed on to the Americans
in the Treaty Of San Francisco. In
1972, the American occupation
ended, and the Japanese once
again gained control of the islands
via the Okinawa Reversion Deal.
Although the Japanese terra nullius
claim may be less relevant now,
their claim based on their continuous
possession of the islands in
the last century abides by the international
law of acquisitive prescription.
Most of China’s claims rest on historical
evidence such as records
and maps dating back to the 15th
century. For the People’s Republic
of China, the Senkaku Islands
have been a part of their territory
since ancient times and was previously
owned/used by the Taiwanese.
However, in 1985, Taiwan was
passed on to Japan in the Treaty of
Shimonoseki after the Sino-Japanese
war. Taiwan was eventually
returned to China in the Treaty of
San Francisco, and China states
that the Japanese should’ve returned
the islands as well in the
process.

19th Century 1895 1945
The islands were surveyed by the
Japanese to check for civilisations
January 14th: The Japanese government officially
took control over the Senkaku Islands
September 2nd: After Japan surrendered
during the second world war, the
Senkaku Islands came under the US federal
government’s control as part of the
Ryukyu Islands.
1978
August 12: China and Japan
signed the Japan-China Peace and
Friendship Treaty
1971
June 17 : An agreement between the Americans
and the Japanese was signed, and the Senkaku
Islands were returned to the Japanese. Sparked
first anti-Japanese protest in Taiwan.
Essentially, the islands are seen
as symbols of nationalism. To the
Chinese, the Diaoyu Islands are
the first part of China’s territory
that Japan took over in 1895 and
the only place that’s still under
Japanese ownership. But to the
Japanese, the Senkaku Islands are
the first piece of Japanese land
that China’s empire had tried to
take over, using it as a platform to
show superiority.
Recent transactions and changes
in the distribution and ownership
of the islands have further fueled
the dispute. In 2012, the Japanese
government bought back 3 of the
islands from a family of Japanese
entrepreneurs. China saw this as
provocation and sent vessels and
aircraft to challenge Japan’s control
of the islands. In 2013, China
created an air defence identification
zone over the East China Sea,
which overlapped with Japan’s
identification zone. In 2015, Japan
demanded that “China is to revoke
any measures that go against the
principle of the freedom of overflight
over the high seas”. This
shows Japan and China’s willingness
to fight for the islands, and
the extent to which they will go to
take control of the islands, which
could lead to a very dangerous
outcome.
There have been three broad options
proposed in order to resolve
the SDD dispute. The first option
is an intervention by international
arbitration, (e.g the International
Court of Justice). The second option
is to declare the region as an
international marine park, which
would ban the exploitation of seabed
resources. The third option is
the revival of the stalled 2008 China-Japan
consensus of resource
developments. None of these options
were palatable for the countries
involved, hence a different
resolution needs to be suggested.
If Japan and China could reach an
agreement on sharing sovereign-
ty, it would be ideal but would take
lots of time.
In conclusion, the Senkaku
Islands dispute covers one of the
most desirable pieces of territory
in the Asia Pacific region due to
the historical, legal, and ethical
connections. It always leaves
people questioning - what will
the future hold for the Senkaku
Islands?
20

A Brighter Future:
The Battles We Have Won So Far
Written by: Aastha Gokani
Edited by: Hyoree Kim
Layout & Artwork by: Ishwarya Krishna
At MUN conferences, delegates
generally discuss distressing
events about which humanity
should take action. Hence, it
is easy to dive into negativity
and fail to remember the little
victories. This article looks to
draw the delegates’ attention to
the little victories that should
be celebrated and to
remind delegates about
the good in the world.
Regarding sustainable
development, there are
two notable events that
occurred this year. One of
them concerns Veganuary, an
association that encourages
people to try veganism in
January. A record-breaking
250,000 people tried Veganuary
this year for environmental,
ethical, or health reasons. This
record-breaking number has
increased the variety of vegan
options offered in restaurants
and food shops. This could
lead to a decrease in meat
production, which would limit
greenhouse gas emissions and
reduce excessive use of water
for this production. Furthermore,
according to NASA, the earth is
getting greener. Over the last
two decades, the earth has
become 5% greener, which is
the equivalent of the Amazon
rainforest. The impressive figure
goes to show that reforestation
is possible. In particular,
following the loss of vegetation
in tropical countries such as
Brazil or Indonesia, NASA aims
to encourage such actions.
While the environment has
been a big concern in recent
years, so have chronic illnesses.
Fortunately, medical research
has found treatments to tackle the
symptoms of a myriad of illnesses.
Recently, US scientists made a
major breakthrough in treating
type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune
disease. Patients who suffer from
this disease have pancreases
that are unable to produce
insulin to control sugar levels,
which causes complications
such as heart disease, blindness,
and more. Fortunately, scientists
have been able to turn human
stem cells into beta-cells
(insulin-producing cells), which
could then be used for patients.
“This is a critical step towards
our goal of creating cells that
could be transplanted into
patients with diabetes,” said
Matthias Hebrok, director of
the UCSF Diabetes Center.
Although it is easy to get lost in
all of the battles the world has
to conquer environmentally,
socially, and economically,
those battles shouldn’t take
over our hope for a better future.
Affirming that the world is a
dark place and we can’t fix it will
make it more true. A positive
mindset, which this article
attempts to help delegates
adopt, can bring us hope and
determination to make changes
that help make a better world.
21

Programme of Events 2019
MONDAY, 18​ th​ NOVEMBER 2019
13:00 – 17:00 Registration (SALT Centre Front Foyer)
09:00 – 17:00 Student Officer Workshop (​mandatory​) (Training Activity Room, SALT Centre)
12:30 – 17:00 Briefing MUNITY Press (Block B, room B 203)
TUESDAY, 19​ th​ NOVEMBER 2019
08:30 – 11:00 Late Registration (SALT Centre Front Foyer)
09:00 – 17:00 ICC and SC in Session
09:00 – 10:30 Preparatory meetings (mandatory) (see room assignments, page 7)
10:30 – 15:30 Lobbying, merging and informal meetings for GA committees, HRC and
ECOSOC
10:30 – 12:00 MUN Director’s introductory meeting +Reception (Foyer gr. floor SALT Centre)
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch available (Canteen)
14:00 Approval Panel opens (Tech Centre, Computer Lab 4)
16:00 – 17:00 Formal Opening Ceremonies (Cheng Yi Auditorium)
WEDNESDAY, 20​ th​ NOVEMBER 2019
09:00 – 17:00 ICC, SC, HRC and ECOSOC in Session
09:00 – 11:00 Extended lobbying for GA Committees
09:00 – 17:00 Approval Panel open (Tech Centre, Computer Lab 4)
09:30 – 16:30 Best Delegate Workshop for MUN-Directors (upon registration only) (LT 3)
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch available (Canteen)
11:00 – 17:00 GA Committees in Session
THURSDAY, 21​ st​ NOVEMBER 2019
09:00 – 17:00 ICC, SC, HRC, ECOSOC and GA Committees in Session
09:00 – 17:00 Approval Panel open (Tech Centre, Computer Lab 4)
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch available (Canteen)
19:00 – 22:00 Dinner (Orchid Country Club)
FRIDAY, 22​ nd​ NOVEMBER 2019
09:00 – 15:30 ICC, SC, HRC, ECOSOC and GA Committees in Session
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch available (Canteen)
13:00 – 14:00 MUN Director's debrief meeting (LT 3)
16:00 Closing Ceremonies (Cheng Yi Auditorium)
22

THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE HAGUE
INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS
SINGAPORE
*Tech Centre
HS Auditorium
General Assembly 1
Lecture Theatre 4
General Assembly 3
Drama Centre
General Assembly 2
Lecture Theatre 3
MUN Directors’ Workshop
Canteen
Lunch Area
*SALT CENTRE (LEVEL 2)
Conference Management
MUN Directors’ Lounge MUN Directors’ Lounge
Prayer Room
*SALT CENTRE (LEVEL 3)
General Assembly 6
Economic & Social Council
International Criminal Court
Legend
Tan Kah Kee MRT Station
Bus Stops
School Gate
Toilet
Cheng Yi Auditorium
Opening & Closing
Ceremony
Clocktower
*Block A
*Block B
*SALT Centre
*BLOCK A *BLOCK B
*TECH CENTRE
Gate 4
*Note:
Entrance to
ALL Delegates
Note: Registration /
Admin Team Headquarters/
Student Officer training room
Human Rights
Council
Computer Lab 1
Computer Room 1
Computer Lab 2
Computer Room 2
A102
A103
A104
A105
Luggage
Room
A106
B202
Director
Lounge
B203
Press
Room
B204 – B205
Security
Council
B105
Secretariat
LT 2
General
Assembly 4
Computer Lab 3
Computer Lab 4
Approval Panel
The Space