By Yoshita, student DP1
Stepping into International School of the Hague as the ambassador of Mexico's at the Model United Nations conference was like jumping into all sorts of of global conversations and diverse perspectives. The conference was a melting pot of ideas and discussions, with Day 1 setting the stage for what turned out to be an interesting learning experience.
Day 1 - Sustainable development trough AI integration
Through lobbying, our discussions on Day 1 revolved around the previously decided issues like sustainable development through AI integration. A guest speaker was invited to lecture about the constant development of AI including its benefits and risks. Representing the delegation of Mexico, I delved into understanding how AI could be ethically integrated into our daily lives. For Mexico and a lot of other countries, it wasn’t just about tech, it was about ethics and responsibility.
To prepare for this conference, I researched well into Mexico’s stance on the matter and their current and future plans for integration of AI. It was crucial to understand not only the technology but also its ethical implications. Networking and lobbying was very fun, allowing me to collaborate and share insights with fellow delegates.
Day 2 - Voting
Day 2 was kicked off with ambassadorial speeches. This was a chance to voice Mexico’s perspectives on AI integration and its ethical considerations. An opportunity to make yourself seen and heard.Then came more lobbying, signing resolutions, and engaging in debates. A lot of POIs, amendments, opening speeches, speeches in favour and against were made. The best part was the votes. The chair would command ‘Admins please suspend note passing and close all doors’ in the scariest voice and suddenly there was no exit and nowhere to run. During the voting procedure, you could see who was really on whose side. At first, some countries caught me by surprise.
By Giacomo, student DP1
That evening, we embarked on a mission to the Model United Nation party at Madurodam, and let me tell you, it was a rollercoaster of... boredom. Picture this: delegates discussing the most riveting topics like the gruesomeness of the debates, while the DJ played tunes that could put an insomniac to sleep. However, in the midst of this lifeless affair, our group decided to spice things up a bit. We scouted the venue to find a table so that we could turn the dullness into delight by gossiping about other delegates the whole time. So, while the MUN party might not have been the social event of the century, at least we managed to inject a bit of hilarity into the world of international relations.
Day 3 - Future pandemic prevention
On Day 3 of the conference, our debates delved into the nitty-gritty of pressing global issues, and I found myself knee-deep in discussions representing the delegation of Mexico. The topics ranged from the safety of journalists to the ethical dimensions of future pandemic prevention. As a delegate, I passionately presented Mexico's perspective, emphasising the importance of balancing policy creation with ethical considerations. Representing Mexico, I aimed to foster collaboration and advocate for an approach that prioritised both progress and ethical considerations in the ever-evolving landscape of journalist safety and future pandemic prevention. #JournalistSafetyMatters #MUNAdventures
'Thank you delegate for the wonderful speech'
The MUNISH conference wasn’t just about discussing the topics. It was about dressing formally. It was about wearing the most uncomfortable shoes. It was about refraining from using personal pronouns. It was about having the most eye-catching and impressive notepaper to make a subtle power move, to stand out. It was about having your own conversations from different sides of the room by sending notes in the middle of intense discussions. One of the best parts was to start your POI (point of information or question) with ‘Thank you delegate for the wonderful speech’ and then proceed to destroy them. Or even to answer a (silly) question with ‘The delegation of Mexico appreciates this interesting question’ and then repeat the same answer as you did in your speech.
These small moments, along with the serious discussions made an unforgettable 3 days. This experience taught me to be political. It taught me to foster diplomatic engagement and understand a variety of different global perspectives. These attributes, which I deem essential for building a more interconnected and harmonious world.