t h e o f f i c i a l n e w s p a p e r o f t h e b e r l i n m o d e l u n i t e d n a t i o n s

BERMUN TIMESThursday Pre-Edition Februrary 19, 2015

Luisa HemmerlingReporter

communally find a detailed definition of EDPs. That way we would be a step ahead of the actual UN.”

“Personally I hope to achieve a good balance between a professional and fun atmosphere,” Pentaleri asserts in anticipation of the conference. “I think that’s something all chairs aspire to perfect: creating a committee environment that works efficiently and at an informed and high level, while still keeping things light and fun.”

Oranienplatz, the scene of a major refugee gathering of a few hundred people during the summer of 2014, is located not far from the Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, the location of the 2015 BERMUN2 conference. Whether it be the “Oranienplatz-Flüchtlinge”, as they are commonly referred to, or the squatters of the “Gerhard-Hauptmann-Schule”, refugees continue to find a formidably safe environment

in Berlin, a cradle of cultural and ethnic turmoil. Berlin attracts a tremendous amount of refugees fleeing from politically and economically challenged countries each year.

In light of these recent events, these circumstances make the ECOSOC’s topic of Environmentally Displaced Persons (EDPs) even more relevant and prevailing.

Chair Lisa Pentaleri would like to go beyond the UN’s current position in regard to EDPs. She states, “Concerning the topic, I hope that the delegates can

A Shared Haven Immigrants looking for freedom in Berlin

Searching for Social Justice in Syria p.2

WHO’s Improving Global Health p.3

Battleground Bosnia p.2

The Evolution of Drones p.3

UNICEF: A Never Ending Cycle p.3

There is No “I” in Team p.4

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BERMUN TIMES2

BERMUN PRESS STAFF

Disclaimer:The opinions and views expressed in the BERMUN TIMES Newspaper do not necessarily reflect the opinion of BERMUN or its advertisers.

John F. Kennedy SchoolTeltower Damm 87-9314167 Berlin (Zehlendorf) Germany(+49) 030 90299 5785e-mail: bermunpress@jfksberlin.orgweb: www.facebook.com/BermunPress

Editor-in-Chief:Isaac Dye

Advisor/Editor:Mr. William Robertson

Senior Head of Layout:Vivo von Streit

Heads of Photography:Fritz PukallAntony Roczek

Text Editors:Eleanor KellyRebekka SchoellClara Frick

Reporters: Naledi TilmannLuisa HemmerlingAlexandra BesteEmilia McGrealAbigail DyeJaco MaulMadeleine KellyEric RohrbacherRobert Miller

Layout Artists:Elisabeth WidmaierAntionia Bördgen

Photographers:Celine ThümlerVictoria StützAnna-Sophie Gramm

Video:Deia MimusThea VoylesJakob Flint

Searching for Social Justice

At this year’s BERMUN2 confer-ence the Security Council (SC) will discuss the conflict in Syria, debate how to stop ISIS, and aim to reduce the alarmingly high Syrian refugee count. The amount of civil-ian lives lost in this war has devastated the country, with over 200, 000 fatalities and millions left homeless, providing one of the main reasons for illegal immigration in Eu-rope in recent months.

SC Chair Mari Bothner states “the resulting destabilization of the coun-

try is very crucial right now” characterizing the Syrian conflict as a perfect example of situations spiraling out of control. The SC desires this to be dealt with quickly and effectively to avoid further conflict. In re-flection to this year’s banner theme “Dignity and Social Justice for a Sustainable Future”, Mari Bothner believes “it is very important for us to consider [the conference topic] as we look into this great humanitarian crisis.”

The SC looks forward to discuss-ing possible solutions to this extremely rele-vant issue in which Syria is lead to a peace-ful future with minimal violence along the way.

Battleground Bosnia

During this year’s BERMUN 2 Conference, the Historical Security Council (HSC) will be discussing the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1995.

In 1992, the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina in former Yugoslavia was made up of three ethnic groups, existing in great tension. Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) accounted for 31% of the population, Orthodox Serbs 31% and Catholic Croats 17%.

When, on April 5, 1992, Bosnia declared its independence from Yugoslavia, huge tension arose between Bosniaks and Serbs. The Serbs were unhappy that the new

ReporterMadeleine Kelly

nation would have a Bosniak majority. They commenced a military campaign to secure strongly desired territory, and to “ethnically cleanse” Bosnia of its Muslim Bosniak population. During the subsequent civil war, between 1992-1995, an estimated 100,000 people were killed, 80% of whom were Bosniaks. This was followed by the largest massacre in EU history since the Holocaust, when 8,000 Bosnians were slaughtered by Bosnian Serbs in the town of Srebrenica.

“Differences can tear people apart,” says Caroline Fogarasi, Chair of the HSC, “and the situation involving the territorial conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina is no different. I look forward to chairing a debate which attempts to resolve these deep-seated differences.”

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Naledi TilmannReporter

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Sign in the city of Srebrentica

Saturday, November 22, 2014 3

Abigail DyeReporter

WHO’s Improving Global Health

This year during BERMUN2, the delegates of the World Health Organization (WHO) will discuss the pressing issue of using technology to improve global public health.

Advancing technology comes with countless benefits including the progress of health products and has become increasingly complex and convenient. Basic health needs can now be met with the WHO’s assistance.

By the year 2050, it is anticipated that two billion people will be in need of Assistive

Health Technology. The WHO will aim to make responsible and liable judgements on whose need is most dire for common Assistive Health Products, and how to best use the resources that have become more accessible due to technology.

Chair Juliet Reichert states that, “in our committee we’re hoping for only positive developments concerning technology. But of course there is always the possibility of this technology landing in the wrong hands; of people who may abuse the technology.”

Eric Rohrbacher Robert MillerReporters

The Evolution of Drones

During this year’s BERMUN2 Conference, the Human Rights Committee (HRC) will debate the positive and negative aspects in the usages of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s/Drones).

Since World War II, drones have developed a new level of importance. During the second half of the 20th century they were primarily used for

surveillance purposes by various militaries. Over time, their usage expanded to include search and rescue, communications systems relay, suppression of hostile air defense and direct attacks against selected targets.

When asked about the main issue of the debate, Hannah Gross, a chair of this year’s HRC states, “one must take measures to protect human rights, but at the same time embrace, even aid, change. How to ensure that both requirements are met, is one of the most controversial issues faced during the debate.”

Keeping this in mind,

Child marriage is this year’s UNICEF’s main topic in the upcoming BERMUN2 conference. The delegates of the UNICEF committee will be discussing how to solve the ethical and cultural problems of child marriage and will attempt to find a solution for this complex topic.

Moritz Baumgarten, one of the three student officers, points out that child marriage is a serious worldwide issue.”Definitely, it does affect us, however we don’t really see it.” Later on he revealed one problem of child marriage.

“Child marriage is like an never ending cycle because you can’t get the children out of poverty when they are married.” Netra Veetil, another student officer stated that, “educating the children in general is definitely a very vital step in solving child marriage. Showing them that they are capable of refusing (...) and that there is a better way of solving cultural issues.”

Another aspect that needs to be considered is that “the poor have to sell their children in order to sustain themselves”, Johanna Diederichs, a UNICEF chair, explained.

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Marriage of a young couple

the delegates will discuss the technological progress of drones from simple surveillance to interaction

UNICEF: A Never Ending Cycle

Jaco MaulReporter

Military Drone

and even destruction of the target, focusing on the moral and philosophical aspects.

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Alexandra Beste Emilia McGrealReporters

“Since my very first BERMUN conference, my biggest goal was to be one of the people who sit in front and lead the opening ceremony together.” After three years, Secretary General Lisa Thiergart has successfully accomplished her goal. Alongside fellow BERMUN veterans Lena Riecke, President of the

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Lisa Thiergart, Jonas Nelle, Lena Riecke and Jasper Kamradt

There is No “I” in Team

General Assembly, and Deputy Secretary Generals, Jasper Kamradt and Jonas Nelle, Thiergart will take her seat in the Secretariat at BERMUN2.

The team hopes to witness critical debates on the conference theme “Dignity and Social Justice for a Sustainable Future”. The challenge for the delegates will be to define and apply the theme in relation to their country’s cultural and political background. As Riecke states, “Perseverance, passion and

patience are the keys to finding solutions - that and an open mind.”

In this spirit, BERMUN2 is bound to bear prolific results, comparable to the Secretariat’s progress and synergy. When asked about any disparities between one another, Thiergart laughingly responds, “Not yet, no… but I do hope that [won’t] be the case.” Now all that’s left to do is wait for their opening words to commence the conference.

t h e o f f i c i a l n e w s p a p e r o f t h e b e r l i n m o d e l u n i t e d n a t i o n s

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