Head Chair: Trent Nguyen Vice Chair: Morgan Huang Moderator:Isabella Plascencia
Position papers will be due on February 5st, 2021. The position paper format, and all other important conference documents, can be found on our conference website, http://lhhsconference.weebly.com/. Email all position papers to our committee email: [email protected]. Feel free to contact us via email if you have any questions or concerns!
Hello delegates! My name is Trent Nguyen and I will be your head chair. I am a senior at Laguna Hills High School which would make it my last year participating in MUN. I run in cross country and play tennis. I like to spend my time watching random movies, playing video games, and going to the beach. I am very excited and look forward to meeting everyone at our conference!
Hi delegates! My name is Morgan Huang and I will be your vice chair. I am a senior here at Laguna Hills High School, but I have been in the MUN program since 7th grade. I used to swim competitively, and was on the cheerleading team at school before covid hit. I love spending time with my family and friends, and watching movies during free time. I look forward to meeting all of you at our conference!
Hi delegates! My name is Isabella Plascencia and I am going to be your moderator for Novice Security council. I am in 10th grade at Laguna Hills High School and enjoy doing MUN. My hobbies include dance and piano. I am very excited to meet you all in committee.
Topic: Nuclear Disarmament
Background Nuclear weapons are weapons that use explosions which involve nuclear energy. Nuclear weapons use the reaction of fission to create a massive release of energy resulting in an immense explosion. The explosions from nuclear weapons emanated a shock wave, heat energy, as well as harmful radiation. Since the 1940s, nuclear weapons have been developed first in the USA then spread throughout the world. The only nuclear weapons ever used in war was during World War II where the US used two atomic bombs on two Japanese two cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two atomic bombs wounded and killed over 200,000 in some conservative estimates. Not only were hundreds of thousands of lives killed or severely injured, but many habitantes were displaced resulting in a slow recovery. These first use of nuclear weapons revealed to the world the tremendous power and damage nuclear weapons can inflict on others. Throughout the decades since their first use in war, nuclear weapons technology has increased in accuracy, efficiency, and damage. As a result of their deveasting potential, these weapons have even been further developed and used to threaten in a strategy called “nuclear strategy”. The amount of these weapons have been increased causing increased tension and concerns. To prevent the overtesting and use of nuclear weapons, many countries have participated in arms agreements. However, there is more that could be done due to the concerns raised about the amount of these weapons and who should have these weapons. Overall, nuclear weapons pose grave concerns due to their massive destructive potential and what should be done with them.
UN Involvement: Nuclear weapons, being the most destructive weapons on earth, calls for the need for disarmament. These weapons can wipe out entire cities and potentially kill millions, jeopardizing the flow of the natural environment and leaving the long-term effect of negatively affecting the lives of future generations, deeming it necessary for UN involvement. Although nuclear warfare has never been used in a full scale war, if it ever would happen, it would be catastrophic. Because of this issue, the UN has helped establish many multilateral treaties with the aim of preventing any new testing of these weapons. These treaties include the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT). Alongside the NPT is the PTBT which revokes nuclear testing in space, underwater, and atmosphere. To further elaborate, the UN has been trying to resolve this issue for many years dating back to 1996 with the (CTBT) treaty, up to modern day with the (TPNW) treaty.Furthermore, in 2016, the First Committee of the UN General assembly adopted resolution L.41 which stated the prohibition of nuclear weapons to their eventual elimination. In conjunction with these various measures, the UN has shown their commitment to nuclear disarmament in stating that they believed in, “securing a common goal and future: an agenda for disarmament”. Additionally, the council strives to prepare the world for a free nuclear weapons territory nations would have to be ready for a number of risks. Given that nuclear weapons increase tensions and concerns, nuclear disarmament is of the utmost importance.
Country Blocs: Western Bloc: A majority of western nations agree with nuclear disarmament. Some nations such as the US have signed treaties which directly correlate with the issue such as the NPT or the Non Proliferation Treaty. Many of the nuclear powers are from the western bloc including the United States, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom.
Latin Bloc: Since most nations in Latin America are developing countries, they lack the resources and funding to start nuclear programs or further their current ones. Therefore, more attention is focused on inhibiting these nations from establishing nuclear weapons. In Addition, in the Latin Bloc, they have adopted the Latin America Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty which is also known as the Treaty of Tlatelolco. The Treaty of Tlatelolco prohibits the possession of nuclear weapons from other states onto their own territory.
African Bloc: Similar to the Latin Bloc, the African nations also widely lack the necessary infrastructure and funding for nuclear programs and more focus should be placed upon preventing the development of nuclear weapons. Furthermore, in the Africa bloc, with a few exceptions, they have ratified the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty. Along with many things, this treaty prohibits the development and stockpiling of nuclear explosive devices.
Asian Bloc: In the Asian Bloc, they have nations that have developed or are developing their nuclear weapons. For example, the DPRK or North Korea has been developing their nuclear weapons. There have been numerous resolutions passed in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities which condemned and imposed sanctions on North Korea; however, despite some exceptions, most countries in the Asian Bloc support nuclear disarmament. In the Asian bloc, there are some nuclear powers that are North Korea, Pakistan, India, and China.
Questions to consider:
What are some reasons some developing nations want to develop their nuclear weapons?
What are some ways to influence nations who are developing or have developed nuclear weapons to participate in nuclear disarmament?
How can nations be persuaded to avoid developing or using nuclear weapons in turmoil or in times of war?
How would new solutions and new resolutions affect already established treaties and international standards?
What roles can NGOs and IGOs such as the UKs radioactive waste management branch play in influencing nuclear disarmament?