Background, Environment committee

Committee Members:

Emma Davies (Netherlands)
Joon Kim (Venezuela)
Jahira Martins (Ghana)

In addition to researching your country assignments and understanding the position of your country for each of the four questions, read the following links as a start to research:

1. Determining territorial claims to the Arctic: The issue here will be future oil and fresh water exploitation. It is typically regarded as international, but some countries do claim rights. Russia is one of them and Venezuela would probably support their claim. You need to consider global warming in this as it is allowing for the Arctic to open up.

The UN has ruled on this already, so be sure you are familiar with the ruling!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_claims_in_the_Arctic

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4354036.stm

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070810.warctic0810/BNStory/National

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/2045924/UN-to-rule-on-Arctic-seabed-ownership.html

2. Implementing mesures to regulate the exploitation of natural resources by Multinational Corporations (MNCs): This, in part, is linked to Venezuela's claim to own more of their own natural resources. MNCs are necessary to extract wealth, but at what level of involvment? There is also a role of exploitation of minerals with warfare and child soldiers, particularly in Africa.

http://www.un.org/children/conflict/english/exploitation.html

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/natres/docsindex.htm

3. Addressing the global food crisis by balancing the need for both biofuel and food production. Again, Venezuela is caught in this as they are major oil producers and food importers.

http://www.globalissues.org/article/758/global-food-crisis-2008

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/7432583.stm

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/361634_biodiesel03.html

4. International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. This will probably not be a huge discussion, but still be familiar with it.

http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/index.html The UN actually has an office of outer space affairs!