<p>Hey, so I just emailed my position paper to my committee chair last night. It's my first one, and I'm really not sure if I did it right at all. I'm a freshman. Could anyone read it and tell me what they think. Thanx a lot.</p>
<p>Well you might want to post it first, I don't live in your computer!</p>
<p>Lol silly silly freshmen... just kidding.</p>
<p>i was gonna pm it actually. but i guess ill post it....</p>
<pre><code> Belgium has been a member of the World Trade Organization since 1995. We were one of the founding members of the European Union. Three issues that have been prevalent as of late, are tariffs, the cultivation and consumption of rice, particularly regarding South Korea, and the accession of Russia to the World Trade Organization.
The issue of Tariff Wars is a complicated and multifaceted one. What may be beneficial for one nation can be detrimental to another. Belgium supports tariffs on imported good, and realizes that is essential to protect domestic industries. We are a small nation, and as such, it is imperative for our economy that tariffs are instated on foreign competitors exports, so we can be on a more level playing field with the domestic market and foreign consumers. In general, our government would like tariffs to be instated on goods like iron and steel, textiles, diamonds, petroleum products, etc. These are our main exports. If other nations are instated tariffs, the cost of production will be more costly, and their products would be more expensive
Obviously, many a nation are resisting the institution of tariffs. However, they are necessary. I propose that for larger, more prosperous countries, there be instituted a tariff for exported goods, because they can afford it. For smaller nations, tariffs on imported goods from affluent regions would help keep up with costs of production and stay competitive within the realm of trade. It is a fair and just compromise.
In regards to rice cultivation and consumption, this is a key issue right now. The Republic of South Koreas main staple crop is rice, and for the past ten years, the World Trade Organization has allowed them to limit their imports to 4%, which helps protect farmers from foreign competition. However, this period has now expired in 2005, and the current dispute is whether they should expand their import quota, which would mean more competition domestically, or the institute a tariff system, which would also be unfavorable for their government. Belgium would generally support either alternative, as both would be advantageous to our economy. In particular, the institution of a tariff system would be more favorable, mainly because rice is not a common import for Belgium, so it wouldnt be quite practical. For our government, the expiration of South Koreas grace period as is referred to, is a godsend economically and helps us competitively with trade.
It would appear to be most practical for all parties for the WTO to institute a tariff on South Koreas exported products. Expanding the import quota, while a viable option, is not favorable because many countries dont import rice in great quantities. South Korea has been fortunate enough to have not had to pay a tariff on exported goods. Now it is inevitable. This resolution will prove most effective to the masses, fiscally and otherwise.
A major issue as of now is Russian accession to the World Trade Organization. Belgium is very interested in Russia joining the organization, mainly because lowering their barriers economically and having them as trading partners would be beneficial for Belgiums economy. However, we are slightly apprehensive about their stability and Vladimir Putins leadership. Belgium is also worried that once Russian producers can export goods to Belgians they will essentially conquer certain sectors of EU markets because their goods are so inexpensive. In particular, our nation is concerned with the agricultural production and marketing which is fiercely competitive. Farming production is half subsidized, as of now, but when the trade is liberalized within the network of the WTO, subsidies will be removed and exports/domestic goods will in turn be twice as expensive. This will give the Republic of Russia an edge trade wise. Nonetheless, our relations are strengthening constantly and we are overall confident and optimistic about the accession of Russia, which will be the first step towards their eventual stability.
It would be favorable to most WTO member states to have Russian accession. It would open up a new market for exports. And the concerns regarding the nations stability would become less of an issue with their adherence to the policies and regulations of the organization.
</code></pre>
<p>Yeah sure I'll take a look at it.</p>
<p>i posted it instead. thank you.</p>
<p>There are some small nitpicky grammar errors but otherwise it looks pretty nice, especially for a freshman.</p>
<p>You can probably get a better opening sentence than, "Belgium has been a member..."</p>
<p>Some small typos and errors:
You can make your paper less choppy and awkward by combining simple sentences. For example, "In general, our government would like tariffs to be instated on goods like iron and steel, textiles, diamonds, petroleum products, etc. These are our main exports" can be combined into one sentence- In general, our government would like tariffs to be instated on our main exports, goods like..." </p>
<p>it is not "their" stability, you are talking about Russia, a singular thing, so you should use either it or her. If you said the Russian people, then you can use "their".</p>
<p>Many a nation ---> many nations</p>
<p>"In regards to rice cultivation and consumption, this is a key issue right now"---> A key issue right now is rice cultivation and consumption.</p>
<p>You could also probably have a better closing statement. </p>
<p>I don't know too much about Model UN so I can't help you that much but it looks good overall.</p>
<p>Yeah honestly I probably should've caught some of those grammatical errors but it was 2 hours before the deadline and i was tired..thanks for your help.</p>
<p>anyone else?</p>
<p>If you want to be more impressive, use official country names instead of common ones. Instead of US, say United States of America. Russia is Russian Federation. England is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (I think...I might have gotten a word or two off there, and it's technically Her Majesty's United Kindom, etc.). North Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. China is the People's Republic of China. Usually, this doesn't matter, but in the real UN, the delegate from Iran would walk out if you referred to the country simply as Iran. In committee, it's good to know them so you know who DPRK, DRCongo and others are (and DR Congo is different from the Congo....).</p>
<p>In general, it's good. It's pretty much your typical position paper.</p>
<p>One thing though - you used "I" a few times (end of first paragraph... "I propose"). A good rule of thumb is to NOT use the first person singular in MUN. You're representing a country, not yourself. This doesn't only apply to position papers - use it in debate as well. Always say "Belgium believes" or "We feel that", etc. </p>
<p>Good luck in MUN - it is SO much fun! </p>
<p>Oh, and just a tip unrelated to position papers - practice writing resolutions and you won't be caught in the dust. It helps get you noticed if you know what you're doing. A good thing to do is print out a list of the preambular and operative clause verbs ("reaffirming" "suggests" etc. in the right tenses).</p>
<p>wow guys thanks this is all great advice...haha i probably should have asked for advice before emailing my paper to the chair but this will be good for next time..</p>
<p>would anyone mind explaining what model UN is exactly?</p>
<p>students represent UN countries and debate about current issues at conferences. Basically its a simulation of the United Nations.</p>
<p>does the whole school represent one country or does each person in the club represent a different country?</p>
<p>Apart from the suggestions that others mentioned, it looks pretty good to me.</p>
<p>Blythe, generally, a school gets one or two countries, depending on the size of the team. Individual people serve on different committees (DISEC, WHO, UNDP, blah blah). There are also special crisis and historical committees, which arent UN-related, but are still common features at conferences.</p>
<p>I'm seconding the ban on all personal pronouns, just because it's such an important thing. I've heard of people being kicked out (or unrecognized) for using too many while speaking.</p>
<p>Blythe- (an example of my school's MUN assigned counties for this year)</p>
<p>For the most part, it is same country, different committee.</p>
<p>Rwanda (5 delegates - DISEC, WHO, SPECPOL, UNCHR, GLOBCON)
Australia (8 delegates - '' plus UNDP, SOCHUM, and UNCOPUOS)
Cuba (8 delegates - '')
Special Committees (4 delegates - 1984 Soviet Politburo, Cuban Council of Ministers, 1956 Egyptian Governing Council, 2008 Democrat Campaign Commitee)
Press Corps (1 delegate - 20 minutos, Spain) </p>
<p>I think we have awesome assignments this year.</p>
<p>What countries is everyone else this year (if you know yet and at any conference)? How about at previous MUNs? </p>
<p>I've been MSF (Doctors Without Borders - they have NGO positions at SSUNS), Bahrain, Sudan, the UK, and now Cuba.</p>
<p>Oh, and random funny MUN thoughts/stories.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Don't throw paper airplanes. They make you write an official letter of apology for launching airborne attacks on various countries. :P</p></li>
<li><p>Everyone will hate you if you suggest a role call vote by part. </p></li>
<li><p>Notes sent through the paging system regarding other delegates' hotel room numbers/phone numbers/"hotness" can be funny, but if the chair is serious they'll ignore you for the rest of the conference (and laugh about you after session with the other chairs). </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Wow I'm obsessed. I'll have been to the most MUN conferences of anybody at my school ever when I'm done grade 12. :)</p>
<p>Greenday, which MUN conference are you going to? I live in Mass too. Our school was waitlisted for the Harvard conf.</p>
<p>I am going to the Brown University Conference next weekend! The website is <a href="http://www.busun.net%5B/url%5D">www.busun.net</a></p>