A reminder...

Hola,

If you are still confused about how to cite sources, just remember that this website is available for you 24/7 thanks to the wonders of the internet. Feel free to follow the link if you get confused.

http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/workshop/citmla.htm

Jia you!

Mr. Gibson

Taiwan President Vows to Help Tuvalu Combat Rising Seas‏

Here's an article about Ma Ying-Jeou's trip to Tuvalu...

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou promised to continue to assist the south Pacific nation of Tuvalu combat the threat of rising sea levels and global warming during a brief visit Tuesday. Ma arrived at Funafuti International Airport at 11 am local time (7 am Taiwan time) with 36 members of his entourage, including over 20 journalists, on a chartered Air Vanuatu ATR-72 500 turboprop passenger aircraft.

The Taiwan president was greeted by Acting Governor General Kamuta Latasi, who is also speaker of the Tuvalu Parliament, at the parliament building next to the airport. After the introductory remarks, the community of Nukufetau, one of the nine coral atolls that make up Tuvalu, performed for the guests. Besides apologizing for the late arrival due to a delayed takeoff from Kiribati, Ma described the atoll as a necklace of shells floating on the sea and said he was grateful to be invited to visit this paradise.

During his four hour visit, Ma gave volleyballs and soccer balls to students of the Nauti Primary School, heard a briefing on the impact of rising sea levels and climatic change on the island state by the Tuvalu environmental minister, issued invitations to 15 Tuvalu citizens to attend a training course in Taiwan to be regional fishing observers, held discussions with Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia and was feted at a state banquet in the covered patio in which the parliament meets.

In the bilateral discussion, the Tuvalu prime minister expressed gratitude to Taiwan`s assistance on fishery, agriculture, education and other fields since establishing ties in 1979 and also told the Taiwan president that the impact of greenhouse gases crisis is extremely great in Tuvalu. In turn, Ma said Taiwan was grateful for Tuvalu`s support for its efforts to enter international organizations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change and Tuvalu`s contribution of US$210,000 to Taiwan in the wake of the ``August 8`` flood disaster after Typhoon Morakot.

Ma said Tuvalu`s contribution of the equivalent of one percent of its gross domestic product was world breaking. During an address to the parliamentarians, Ma stated that ``we all know Tuvalu is threatened by rising sea levels`` and promised that Taiwan "is willing to participate in implementing projects to respond to rising sea levels to help ensure the security of life." Ma related that he had just learned that both Japan and Australia are carrying out research into methods to improve the living environment of local residents and avoid further worsening of erosion due to rising seas, including "floating residence" and other creative urban planning methods and said Taiwan was willing to participate in such research.

After the state banquet, the parliamentarians and other guests were entertained by a performance of Taiwan indigenous peoples dance by the Formosa Aboriginal Song and Dance Troupe and rousing performance of the traditional Fatele by a community dance and chorus group from Nukufetau island. Ma ended the visit in high spirits by joining in the dance, surrounded by two lines of women in red blouses and grass skirts and two lines of men in grass skirts, to the cheers of the Tuvalu audience, together with Foreign Minister Timothy Yang and other officials.

Ma and his delegation departed Tuvalu at nearly 3 pm (11 am Taiwan time) on the Air Vanuata ATR-172 and arrived at Nauru International Airport shortly after 6 pm where the Taiwan president was met by Nauru President Marcus Stephen.

From: Request News

India and RUssia Sign Arms and Nuclear Power Deals

Do you remember what we discussed in World History Class about the importance of having a navy? This article will explain to you what's happening. Also, think about how this article affects the NPT and Nuclear Disarmament.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-russia-india13-2010mar13,0,7959861.story

- Mr. Gibson

World MUN URL

http://worldmun2010.blogspot.com/

Mr. gibson's Interview with Delegate Ashley Powdar

Name: Ashley Powdar
University: Pace University (New York City)
Nationality: American
Age: 21
Major: Modern Languages/Political Science

Mr. Gibson: How long have you been interested in Model United Nations?
Ashley Powdar: I have been interested in Model United Nations ever since my senior year of high school. I received a scholarship from my rotary club that allowed me to study abroad in Spain. The experience of studying abroad and meeting people from a different place with different views made me want to get involved with Model UN and diplomacy. I chose Pace University specifically because they had a strong International Diplomacy program and MUN Club.

Mr. Gibson: What do you do in Model UN Club in university?
Ashley Powdar: We focus first on our country profile. For that we use CIA World Factbook, BBC Timeline, and any other sort of reference. Then, we get into research and position papers. We use the UN Charter, UN documents, Intergovernmental Panel reports, past resolutions, and quotes from world leaders. Other than that, we have instructors who prepare us for conferences.

Mr. Gibson: Do you know all the procedures and formal vocabulary?
Ashley Powdar: Not exactly. We do use “cheat sheets.” It’s allowed at conference, but after a while you get used to it. We have a cheat sheet for motions, and one for rules and procedures.

Mr. Gibson: Do you have any advice for our students?
Ashley Powdar: Yes. Make all of your speeches short and sweet. Many times, delegates talk for too long and get cut off by the chair.

In conference, you won’t know everything about your topic, but if you’re confident, people will follow you.

Use simple language in your speeches. Use more technical language in unmoderated caucus. Save your complicated and language for the resolutions. This is especially important for ESL students. Many times I’ve noticed that ESL students try to make up for their lower level of English by trying to use big words that often times don’t make any sense.

Always be diplomatic and professional

As for building arguments, try this technique that our professors teach us.

1.) have a fact based upon your research
2.) build off that fact to make a larger point about the problem
3.) propose a solution
4.) end with a quote

Mr. Gibson: Future Goals
Ashley Powdar: I want to work in the State Department of the United States as an ambassador or diplomat.

Mr. Gibson: Has there been any one person or event that inspired you?
Ashley Powdar: There hasn’t been one person, mentor or teacher. It was mainly because of my experience living abroad.

Trip to World MUN

I arrived in Taipei about 9:00 am on Monday. Unfortunately, the directions were a little off and I ended up wandering around the Taipei 101 neighborhood for a while. Eventually, I found my way. I was a bit late, but Ami Nash, the Secretary-General of the World MUN Conference helped me find my way inside the conference center. She was even nice to give me a pass that let everyone know I was a "VIP." This helped later on.

    I was able to watch a large chunk of the WTO Committee on Trade and Climate Change. I arrived right after roll was taken so I didn't miss too much substantiative debate. When I arrived, the delegates were in the middle of their Opening Remarks. Next came a round of Moderated Caucus on the topic of "Specific ways in which climate change effects trade." The delegates threw out a lot of examples, but little in the way of specific plans. After this came a round of Unmoderated Caucus (what we have been referring to as "Informal Caucus"). During the Unmoderated Caucus, I was allowed to walk around, take pictures, record some short clips for the MUN students, and listen. By this time I had a good idea of who the leading delegates were, so I kind of followed them around and listened. It gave me a good idea of where the committee would head later on. Another Moderated Caucus followed. This one was on the topic of "How to provide technology transfer (technology that would allow developing countries to not leave such a big carbon footprint as they develop) from industrialized countries to developing ones." After this caucus, the committee recessed and went for lunch.

During lunch, I went to the "Special Projects Room." This room contained projects developed by university students to help with development, reduction of pollution, water rights issues, etc. There were delegations from Taiwan, India, The United States and The U.K. One dealt with raising water levels in Bangalore, India. One dealt with improving access to medical care for women in Uganda. Another was about HIV/Sex Education in Trinidad and Tobago. The Taiwanese delegation had a plan for improving the MRT in Kaohsiung .At the end of it, we all voted for our favourite. I voted for the raising of water levels in Bangalore. Also during lunch, I wandered around and took a look at what delegates were doing. I noticed that, even during recess, many were meeting with each other and discussing their issue. I listened in on a group of students planning a strategy for engaging Iran in a discussion on Nuclear Disarmament.

After lunch, we went back into the committee room. Roll call took about 30 minutes, which was all the time I had left, so I listened to it and met a journalist from CTA. He asked if he could interview, which I gladly did, and today we are cited in his article on the World MUN conference (See this attachment: ). Once they had reconvened, I took off.

March 16th, 2010

Ni hao,

Today, we will continue with the research and I will tell you all about the World MUN Conference. follow the link below and you will

http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201003150030

Also, thanks to the help of some of the delegates and chairs, they have been kind enough to help us out on the research end of the conference. Try finding some more information in one of the following blogs, youtube channels, websites, or reports.

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9ob9WdbXx0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPIo7lteCZk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVGGgncVq-4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ttjOqpv8zs
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/eviroed/Carbon%20Footprint%20Curriculum.pdf
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/eviroed/Fall%202009%20Curriculum%20Updated%20090901.pdf
http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/curriculum/item5944.html\
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/curriculum/curriculum.htm

Jia you,

Mr. Gibson

PS: We are also going to look at pictures today!

Grading Rubric for Climate Change Presentation

Ni hao all, here is the grading Rubric for your presentation. I strongly suggest that you finish all of your research in between now and Tuesday so that during class we can focus on smoothing stuff out and making the PowerPoint. Please print this out on the day of the presentation.

 

• Research is accurate (30 points)
  
• Research is thorough (20 points)
  
• Research shows both sides of any debate (10 points)
  
• Research is presented clearly and concisely…
  
  • visually (5 points)
    
  • audibly (5 points)
    
  • kinaesthetically (5 points)
    
• The group works well together (5 points).
  
• Each group member pulled his or her weight (10 points).
  
  • Anne
    
  • Annie
    
  • Eric
    
  • Sabrina
    
  • Tina
    

Jia you,

 

Mr. Gibson

"Taiwan" Submits Second UN Bid

I know it's a little of subject, but you might find this interesting.

http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/site/Tj/ct.asp?xItem=24529&ctNode=122

Group Homework Project

Ni hao,

Here is today's agenda...

1.) I will check to see what sort of progress you've made on your research.

2.) You are hereby assigned a group homework project. All five of you need to work together in order to create an audio (speeches from you guys, youtube clips, etc.) visual (PowerPoint, posterboard, etc) and kinisthetic (something that enables people to do their own investigation by using their own hands) presentation on the climate change problem.

*.) In this project, you need to present both sides of the argument that is taking place.
*.) Your presentation must be long enough to take up one entire class period
*.) Your presentation is due next week to me during Model UN class.

PS...Check out Breathingearth.net

• An interactive map that gives you lots of information about population increases and C02 emissions.
  
• http://www.breathingearth.net/

Publish Post

Jia you,

Mr. Gibson