The Hague Model United Nations 2007

On Saturday 27th January a delegation of Carthusians returned from another hugely successful week at The Model UN Conference in The Hague.  This has always been a prestigious trip, with seven hand-picked First Year Specialists chosen to represent a ‘small delegation country’.  This year we were Samoa and, as usual, punched well above our weight in the General Assembly and various commissions.  While the aim of the week is for commissions to work together to formulate and pass resolutions on, for example, detainees at Guantanamo Bay or the question of water supply in developing countries, delegates jostle for the prestige of ‘main submitting’ or ‘co-submitting’ a resolution.  Inevitably, Machiavellian tactics are much in evidence as groups within committees attempt to promote and pass their resolution at the expense of others.

The delegation was lead in style by our ambassador, David Brennan (G), whose own resolution on Guantanamo Bay detainees was passed not only in his sub-commission, but also in the plenary session of the General Assembly – the ultimate accolade.  Nick Kemp (H) also successfully ‘main submitted’ his resolution in the Special Conference on the Eradication of Extreme Hunger and Poverty.  Henry Don (R), Raph Hetherington (L) and Nick Rowland (W) each co-submitted resolutions all of which were passed in their respective commissions.  Sofia Bombieri (W) spoke eloquently as ‘seconder’ in her General Assembly committee, but was unable to overcome the hostility shown towards her Australian ally.  Poor Angus Berger (B), after such a positive start, fell foul of some dastardly scheming from the Americans.  Perhaps this is a lesson well learnt!

Without doubt the trip will remain a highpoint of their time at Charterhouse for those involved.  The atmosphere generated by 3,000 students from around the globe, thrown together for a week in an effort to resolve the world’s problems, is difficult to describe.  Perhaps more than anything else, it is the numerous friendships made – however brief - and the sense of empowerment all delegates feel that make the event so rewarding.

NC Mills