STUDENTS GAIN NEW WORLD VIEW

The mood inside the Security Council was understandably serious.

Delegates from 15 countries were in heated talks about a resolution
on reducing the export and import of illegal narcotics.

If it passed, the resolution might help impoverished countries in
their fight against powerful drug cartels.

The member from China, unhappy with the fourth clause that supported
the creation of safe-injection sites in all countries, glared at the
delegate from France seated across the table.

"The Peoples Republic of China does not support in any way the use of
illegal drugs," he said.

The room fell silent.

The French delegate did not look pleased.

"How can you not support helping people addicted to drugs?" he demanded.

"Do you want this whole thing to fail?" the Chinese delegate challenged.

"No, I want the whole thing to pass," said the French delegate,
waving a single finger in the air defiantly.

A chorus of muffled giggles rippled through the room.

"Order," the secretary general said.

"Members will proceed with discussion."

After further debate -- and despite an eventual veto by China on the
fourth clause -- Resolution SC001 passed.

If only it were that easy.

That exchange, one of many throughout the day, highlighted
resolutions that were discussed, debated and passed by the Kingston
Model UN at Kingston Collegiate.

The three-day event, which ended yesterday, brought together 105
students from eight area high schools for a glimpse into the inner
workings of the real United Nations in New York.

Students held mock committee sessions in three councils -- the
General Assembly, Human Rights Council and Security Council. Each was
organized and run like an actual UN meeting. Before the event
students researched the country they were representing and adopted
that country's stance on international issues.

"The model UN is a good exercise because it involves public speaking,
research, learning about different opinions and using those opinions
during a session," said Dan Fruhling, teacher and supervisor for the event.

The event, which has been running at KC for 17 years, is organized
entirely by students. In addition to preparing the opening ceremony,
banquet and committee topics, students had to find a guest speaker.

This year Maj. Philip Drew, who has worked gathering intelligence in
Cambodia and Rwanda for the UN, talked to the students about rules of
engagement during peacekeeping operations.

Fruhling said while students learn to be firm and back up their
position, they also need to learn about working with others in order
to resolve issues. Remarkably, there is very little bullying and
students do find ways -- mostly through secret deals and agreements
made outside of the session -- to reach a compromise.

"They also learn about the importance of backroom politics," he joked.

Grade 12 student Chris Tomalty, who held the position of secretary
general, has participated in model UNs in Beijing and Cairo. He said
the event is a great illustration of how competing interests vie to
solve collective problems.

"There is a lot of scheming going on behind the scenes with alliances
being created," Tomalty said, referring to a union of Latin American
countries that was formed earlier in the morning.

"You also learn how to debate and develop a watertight argument so
there will be no loopholes for others to exploit," he said.

During the 2008 model UN in Beijing Tomalty represented Romania. He
had to argue in favour of restricting access to public schools for
the Roma, an ethnic group in the country. While he thought it was
unfair and even slightly prejudiced, he came up with the argument
that since the Roma do not pay taxes they should be restricted from
public institutions.

"It's about being able to see other sides of an issue you may not
have considered before," he said.

Seeing another side of an issue was evident in one General Assembly
session involving efforts to reform the UN. In a display of
uncharacteristic generosity, representatives from the United States,
France and United Kingdom rose and made passionate speeches about
eliminating their right to a veto.

The auditorium erupted in cheers and nods of approval from all the
member countries.

If only it were that easy.