A Nice Day? What’s that?

By: Quinn Riordan

Weather Report:

Snowing with a chance of death

- 63.4 degrees  

Hail (around the size of a bowling ball)

Ice (creating a glorified skating rink on campus)

Wind (strong enough to power the entire universe)

A nice day? In Ann Arbor? That doesn’t happen. The conference has been filled with walking a total of 500 miles in temperatures as cold and evil Jack Frost (or Nolan), all while wearing heels and tights. As our legs turn into icicles on the un-ending walk to Palmer Commons, we all contemplate the existence of the sun at all. As the snow accumulates to be taller than the buildings, the delegates slip and slide all about. As MUNUM continues, I can hardly remember what the sun looks like. I watch delegates walk into their committee sessions from the dark outside, dripping from the hail-rain mix with snow on their feet, and wonder how the outside used to be. The green on the trees and the grass, the animals running about, a blue sky. It all fades so quickly. Now, I can only see the white of the snow and feel the cold wind on my neck. The summer seems to be a dream but winter is here, and with it, possibly a new Game of Thrones finale, but most likely just the cold and tears.

MUNUM Raises Funds for United World Schools

By: Quinn Riordan

For the second year, MUNUM is raising donations for the United World Schools. The United World Schools is an organization that works with communities in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Nepal to give children who are not in school access to education, jobs in the community, and work to overall benefit the community. They provide education in reading, writing, and mathematics. Additionally, they build accessible bathrooms and provide sources of clean water. 

“Model UN is certainly in the realm of education, so picking something that has to do with education seemed natural,” Ryan Jansen said. “United World Schools is especially important dealing with out of school children, their impact is wider. It is a more holistic approach. It’s not just about the kids, which is very important, but it’s also about the entire community; integrating them into their societies at large, bringing people into the teaching profession and giving them a steady job. It’s just really important.” 

Last year, MUNUM donated over $1,900 to United World Schools, and as of today MUNUM XXXIII has raised close to $700 and is on track to beat last year’s amount. 

To raise the donations, MUNUM is selling candy grams and hosting a dinner fundraiser today, Jan. 18. For the dinner fundraiser, MUNUM has partnered with Panera, Pizza House and the Original Cottage Inn, and a  large portion of the proceeds go towards this cause. At Panera, delegates must show a flyer. At Pizza House and the Original Cottage Inn delegate can just tell their server that they are with MUNUM. 

“It's a great way to you know, socialize and relax while still doing good. Everyone should take advantage of it,” Jansen said. 

The candy grams will continue to be sold today and tomorrow. 

“They are a fun way to make the modern community smaller,” Jansen said. “There's a lot of people, we all come here to be able to have the same interests, the same passion, and the candy grams are a way of trying to bring the community together. It is just a small way to show appreciation.”

A Game for the Throne: The Goryeo Dynasty

By: Quinn Riordan

As the Jin Dynasty retreated and the Goryeo court was forced to deal with the destruction and anger of their people due to the war, the King died due to injuries from battle. The throne is now empty and the people are questioning who will become their new divine ruler, Kim Busik said. 

After hearing this news, the court took little time to mourn, and members immediately began campaigning for their election to the throne. Members such as Yi/Lee Jagyeom, who married into power, Im Wonjun, Prince Po, the former King’s brother, and other court members followed. 

“The members threatened assassinations as a way to eliminate competitors and gain power, showing the green and corruption of the court,” Princess Yeondeok said.

This corruption has led to the public’s resentment, and an uprising resulted.  The anger has pushed some members of the court to call for elections to try to gain the support of the people. Specifically, Princess Yeondeok has called for the creation of a popular election which would allow the citizens to decide the fate of the ruler of the Goryeo Dynasty. 

“The Goryeo Court is taking a progressive leap allowing women, monks, and different religions to run for the throne and hold an election within the court. Why should we not extend this democracy and power to the people, and show that the great Goryeo Dynasty is for people too,” Princess Yeondeok said. 

However, many members disagree with this plan and believe that the throne should be given to members within the court or part of royal blood. They believe that “the court is made up of those made to be in power, the smartest and strongest, and they would be the best rulers for the people,” Prince Po said. 

The conflict between the court members will certainly grow as the election campaigns further develop. As the people’s levels of unhappiness increases, the members of the court will do anything in their power to ensure a win, no matter how unethical.

A Marriage into War

By: Quinn Riordan

Princess Yeondeok married the Emperor Tiazmo of the Jin Dynasty, or the Jurchen people, leading the Goryeo into a war. As the Princess held a bouquet and walked down the aisle with her dad and husband to join together the two dynasties through the marriage, the court grew further divided and conflict seemed imminent.

“The marriage was formed with good intentions, with the hope to unify the two dynasties and create one strong dynasty with the Jurchen people,” Princess Yeondeok said. 

Princess Yeondeok planned the marriage in order to gain access to the Jurchen officials and utilize espionage to gain tactical and military knowledge. However, she worked as a double agent she exchanged information with her new husband and the court. As lies spread, the court became warier of its other members and the multiple assassination attempts were made on Princess Yeondeok. 

As tensions rose, the Goryeo court received an announcement stating “the Jin Dynasty was marching to the border, after they were told about the false peace talks the court planned with the Jurchen.” The Jurchen were well aware of this attack and killed the fake Generals that the Goryeo placed in the meeting. They prevented the horseshoe plan that would move them towards the sea where the Goryeo navy was waiting. Because of this unexpected action, the Goryeo faced heavy losses, and the Jurchen stood undefeated and continued their march to the border. 

Previously, the Jin Dynasty had proposed that the Goryeo Dynasty joined the Jin, with the stipulation that they had to pay them silver and give up land, to create the ultimate dynasty. Princess Yeondeok read these demands to the court, promising to use her position to put court members in high positions on the Jurchen court, allowing them greater power and control. These demands were not accepted by the Goryeo court, and with the Jurchen marching on to the border, the sense of alarm and urgency in the room was palpable.

Directives were hastily made and passed to form an alliance with the Song Dynasty and Japan, to set the border on fire to prevent invasion, draft troops, and move the army to fight. The battle commenced, but the border fires prevented the Jurchen from entering Goryeo land which left the land ravaged with destruction. Many  Goryeon troops died as the Jurchen remained away from the sea routes. The Jurchen withdrew from the front, leaving the Goryeo Dynasty plagued with an uprising, unhappy citizens, destroyed lands, and tensions within the court.

A Bipartisan Solution in a Partisan Parliament

By: Quinn Riordan

The 1945 British House of Commons is bitterly divided between the Laborists and the Conservatives, but came together to form a National Healthcare Bill. The Parliament spent the entirety of the morning in conflict - debating and questioning each other's positions. The Laborists focuses more on naturalization, advocating worker’s rights while the Conservationists believe in less government intervention. 

The Parliament is convening after World War II, and a weary Britain is faced with a multitude of problems: a drained economy, fearful population, unemployment, and a damaged empire. These issues impact the nation as a whole and its population, however the diversity leads to conflict due to the differing opinions and solutions to the problems. 

The National Healthcare Bill was drafted by the Labor Party, but throughout its multiple readings has gained support from both the Liberal and Conservative parties.

 “The bill focuses on outlining a universal national healthcare system. That will be done with the increase of infastructure by building hospitals and clinics, reducing discrimination and malpractice, and aiding those hurt during and after the war. The bill at its whole addresses the overview of the healthcare system within the United Kingdom overhauling it to better serve the citizens,” the President of the Board of Trade Stafford Cripps said. 

The main question brought up by the Conservative Party surrounded the idea of funding, and where the funds would come from. The Labor Party therefore introduced a funding bill, outlining the acquisition and distribution of the funding for the healthcare plan. 

“The Labor Party hopes to pass those two bills together to provide an in-depth approach and cover all the possible faults to provide the best solution,” Laborist Barbara Castle said. 

As the British House of Commons neared the end of its committee session, the bill gained support of the majority of the body after hours of debate. The unity within the Parliament lead to the production of a healthcare bill that hopes to aid and protect the health and lives of the citizens, and bring the United Kingdom back to its pre-war state. 

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Proposes New Plastic Removal Technology

By: Quinn Riordan

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) furthered the discussion on the reduction of plastic, and eventually the eradication of plastic materials in the oceans and seas. According to the delegate of Malaysia, a new technology was proposed that would “completely eliminate” microplastics and plastic in the oceans using algae. 

In the past decade, microplastics and plastic have outnumbered fish in the ocean,  indefinitely altering Earth’s ecosystem. According to a study led by biological oceanographer Jennifer Brandon of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, “the abundance of microplastics is closer to 8.3 million pieces per cubic meter.” 

The new technology proposed by the delegate of Malaysia claims that algae can breakdown and absorb plastic, transforming it into biofuel that can then be sold for profit. This technology is a spring-shaped nitrogen-coated carbon nanotube that functions to crumple microplastics and allows magnets to be used to attract and then eliminate plastics in the oceans. 

“Being able to turn the plastic into a profit can be beneficial to nations around the world and provide an incentive to fund the reduction of plastic,” the delegate of Malaysia said. 

This new technology is proposed in a Working Paper article, Plastic to Profit, but has raised questions over the ability to apply the technology worldwide, as well as the effects of it on the preexisting ecosystem, the delegate of Ecuador said. 

These questions have lead to different approaches, with hopes to provide a comprehensive and multi-faceted perspective in eliminating plastic in the seas. The delegates have proposed solutions ranging from research, new technology, plastic bans, private sector certifications, social media campaigns, and national holidays, the delegate of Kenya said. 

“Providing a comprehensive solution is key through private sector certification, campaigns, research, and new technology. If we can cover all the areas of society, we can reduce and end plastic in the ocean, creating a better world for the marine life and humans,” the delegate of Ecuador said. 

Goryeo Dynasty declares war, receives surprise visits

By: Quinn Riordan

The Goryeo Dynasty received a surprise visit from the Jurchens, as they began their discussions on Jan. 17, instantly forming a divide within the court. The Jurchens declared themselves the “Jin Dynasty,” while taking part of the Goryeo Dynasty’s land and enacting necessary demands, Princess Yeondeok said. Moreover, the Jurchens called the court and nation, “little brother”, which lead to an uproar within the court over the course of action and severity. 

“The court issued declarations of war and false alliances, passing a ploy integration within the Jurchen military to issue a surprise military attack on their leaders, increase trade, and send bad fruit to weaken their people, all to increase the likelihood of the Goryeo’s success in battle. The Goryeo will prosper, gain back our lands, ensuring security and stability for our dynasty,” Queen Seonpyeong said.

These announcements were heavily debated, tensions were rising throughout the court, as they factioned off into two separate groups - one mostly Confusious and the other Buddhist. The Jurchen people have been flippant throughout the history of the dynasty, manipulating the Goryeo and Liao Dynasty with their knowledge of the tensions between the two. These fears surrounding the new Jin Dynasty, have been fueled by years of mistrust to justify the calls for war. 

“The discussion has been centered around proposing an alliance with the Jin dynasty, to ensure security, stability, and prosperity for the grand Goryeo Dynasty and its people,” Kim Busik said. 

As the court debated war or an alliance, the Song Dynasty arrived bringing them gifts of music and asking for an alliance to “eradicate” the Jurchen people, the representative from the Song Dynasty said. However, their proposal for an alliance was viewed as questionable by many royals in the court, doubting the motives and stipulations that would be required. 

“The Song Dynasty were previously aligned with the Jurchen people and certain members of the court have expressed fears over the incentives of the Song and whether they will remain loyal within and alliance,” Princess Yeondeok said. 

As conflict ensues and with the new declarations of war against the Jurchens, without agreement to the Song’s proposal it is unclear the outcome for the Goryeo Dynasty. The goal of the Goryeo court is to weaken the Jurchen and stalling, while consequently building and strengthening their military. Similarly, staging a false alliance with the Jin Dynasty to gain trust and then attack without the threat of premeditated retaliation. 

“The court feels strongly that these proposals will ensure the security and peace for the Goryeo people and the dynasty as a whole,” Princess Yeondeok said.