Asia-Pacific Model UN Conference
The University of Queensland
Newsletter # 2 – Friday 15 May
Diplomat for a week
Leader for a lifetime
Towards Global Civilisation
Initiated in September 2006, the „Alliance
of Civilisations‟ (AoC) is a key cultural
bridge-building institution within the United
Nations. This project reflects the
importance of inter-cultural exchange
and engagement as a means of
overcoming the most challenging issues
facing the future of global multilateralism
– a core ambition of the recent 2020
summit on Australia‟s engagement with
the world.
In his address to the AoC, former
Secretary General Kofi Anan pointed to
“the need for a committed effort by
the international community – both at
the institutional and civil society levels
– to bridge divides and overcome
prejudice, misconceptions and
polarization”
This initiative is composed of four key
elements: media, migration, education
and most importantly, youth participation.
As AMUNC begins to truly realise its Asia
Pacific potential, the future leaders of our
region will have the opportunity to
participate in cross cultural dialogue and
develop lifelong friendships. By focusing
Page 1
12 – 17 July 2009
In this issue…
Towards Global Civilisation 1
Speaker announcements! 2
Opening Ceremony
Message Board 2
Committee in Focus 3
Pacific Islands Forum
Director Profile 4
Meet the Secretariat 4
Social Events Feature 5
Committee diners and
Dance Fiesta
on the common threads of humanity, Sponsors 5
our conference will be a catalyst for
unity and understanding within the
Asia Pacific region and beyond.
Our theme „towards global civilisation’
reflects the fundamental underpinning
of the UN; despite all of our Mark your diaries!
differences, our future is dependent
on realising our common humanity. 16 May 100 new positions
Diversity, inter-cultural respect and released.
breaking down misinformation are
essential to overcoming the major 19 May Round 2 International
challenges that we face today. Scholarship applications due
Poverty, global hunger, climate
change and terrorism are clearly 26 May Round 3 International
problems that cannot be solved by Scholarship applications due
acting alone.
1 June Last Date to Register!
Throughout our conference, our
12 June Last date to withdraw
theme will be the driving force behind
and get a full refund
every committee session, guest
speaking opportunity, discussion
11 July Director training day
panel, workshop and even our social
events. In this regard we are working
12 July Delegate training day
with the AoC Office in New York to
(compulsory)
integrate the principles and purposes
of the AoC initiative into the
13 – 17 July AMUNC 2009!
conference.
We want our delegates to feel that
they have participated in creating
change through regional
engagement
AMUNC Delegate Newsletter – Issue 2 – Friday 15 May 2009
New Speaker Announcements
We are delighted to announce the following keynote
speaker at the Opening Ceremony on Monday 13 July
Prof Ramesh
Thakur
Director, Balsillie
School of
International Affairs
Former Vice-Rector
of the United Nations
University
Appointed September 1, 2008, Ramesh
Thakur is the inaugural Director of the
Balsillie School of International Affairs. Dr.
Thakur is also a Distinguished Fellow at
the Centre for International Governance
Innovation (CIGI) and Professor of
Political Science at the University of
Waterloo, Canada. Previously, Prof.
Thakur was Vice Rector and Senior Vice
Rector of the United Nations University
(and Assistant Secretary-General of the
United Nations) from 1998-2007.
More speaker announcements to follow… Watch this space!
Registration FAQ
Can I change my country/committee after I’ve registered?
Yes, subject to the availability of your
preferred alternative country, you will be
able to request a change to your
country and committee.
Information on how to request a
change to your position will be available
on the Registration FAQs page:
http://www.facebook.com/l/;http://am
unc.net/Participate/RegistrationFAQs.as
px
Two documents will come online at
midday Saturday 16 May: (1) an
updated country matrix, showing ALL of
the positions at the conference,
whether filled or not, and (2) a
spreadsheet showing all of the positions
CURRENTLY TAKEN. From these two
documents you should be able to
ascertain which positions are still
available.
Page 2
Educated in India and Canada, he
was a Professor of International
Relations at the University of Otago
in New Zealand and Professor and
Head of the Peace Research Centre
at the Australian National University,
during which time he was also a
consultant/adviser to the Australian
and New Zealand governments on
arms control, disarmament and
international security issues.
Prof. Thakur was a Commissioner and
one of the principal authors of The
Responsibility to Protect (2001), and
Senior Adviser on Reforms and
Principal Writer of the United Nations
Secretary-General's second reform
report (2002). The author and editor
of over thirty books and 300 articles
and book chapters, he also writes
regularly for quality national and
international newspapers around the
world.
You will need to send us an email (to
registration@amunc.net) with the
following:
1. Your full name (that you
entered into the registration
system)
2. The email you signed up with
3. Your current country and
committee
4. Your top three preferred
alternative countries and
committees
Changes must be processed
manually and may take some time,
please be patient!
Any other queries, please email us
at info@amunc.net
AMUNC Delegate Newsletter – Issue 2 – Friday 15 May 2009
Message Board
100 new places will be
released online on Saturday
16 May at midday (AEST)
Represent an NGO at
AMUNC 2009!
Flexible and affordable
registration options
available. Represent a
choice of 3000 different
NGOs including Oxfam,
Amnesty, Red Cross
Pay your registration and
accommodation fees now!
Due to the high demand for
places, unpaid registrants
will be reset each Friday at
8am (AEST). If you have
special circumstances
please notify us by email:
registration@amunc.net
Second round of
International Scholarships
available!
Successful applicants will be
notified each Tuesday until
the scholarship fund runs out
http://amunc.net/Participate/Fina
ncialSupport/Scholarships.aspx
Tell your friends about AMUNC
Know anyone who might be
interested or just want to
introduce your friends to the
wonderful world of MUN?
Download ePosters and
promo ideas from
http://amunc.net/Interact/Tellyourf
riendsaboutAMUNC!.aspx
Committee in Focus: Pacific Islands Forum
What makes the Pacific Islands
Forum special?
“The Pacific Island‟s forum is
totally different from other
committees – it‟s based on group
consensus not majority,” Michelle,
Under-Secretary General for
Committees noted.
“It‟s more of a diplomatic
challenge because you have get
all of the different committee
members on board,” she noted.
“The PIF is important as a forum for
regional cooperation and to assist
in empowering smaller countries.”
With only 16 members, it is also a
small and intimate committee,
which allows delegates maximum
opportunities to participate.
Want a piece of the action?
Check out our website for more information on this exciting committee:
http://amunc.net/Committees/ PacificIslandsForum.aspx
Page 3
The Pacific Islands Forum in the
news
The Pacific Island Forum has been
in the news lately.
Fiji has been suspended from the
Forum for refusing to return to a
democratic government "in an
acceptable time frame" said the
body‟s chairman (ABC News).
AMUNC Delegate Newsletter – Issue 2 – Friday 15 May 2009
In Brief
 An exciting new innovation at
AMUNC 2009
 The main political and economic
policy organization of the Pacific
region
 Made up of 16 independent and
self-governing states in the Pacific,
whose heads of state meet
annually to develop collective
responses to regional issues
Topics
A. On the question of the right to
asylum of climate refugees
B. The question of implementing the
Vava'u Declaration on Pacific
Fisheries Resources
Register Now
 More delegate position are being
released this Saturday 16 May!
Now there are MORE opportunities
to engage at AMUNC 2009
Get into the global debate
militarization of space – nuclear disarmament - world
hunger – the Global Financial Crisis – the rights of
climate refugees – fighting climate change –
humanitarian intervention – Millennium Development
Goals
Meet the Secretariat Committees
We sat down and had
a chat with Michelle
Livock, USG
(Committees), to
discuss what she likes
best about Model UN.
Q1. What is it about the Committees
portfolio that attracted you?
The committee sessions are the reason
AMUNC exists. I love that I get to play
such a big role in bringing about
engaging committee experiences for
delegates, and help to give university
students a chance to excel.
Q2. What is your favourite committee
topic, and why?
My favourite topic is 'The question of
the right to asylum of climate refugees'
on the Pacific Island Forum.
As one of the largest power in the
Page 4
Images courtesy of IRIN News
Pacific region, I think this is an issue
that is especially pertinent to
Australians. What responsibilities do
we have to our neighbours now that
climate change is upon us?
Q3. What’s been your favourite MUN
experience?
The river cruise at AMUNC 07 was
pretty awesome.
Q4. What are you most looking
forward to of the social events?
The Finale Ball, for sure. Although I
think our cruise will be better than
07. But then again, we do have
circus performers at our Tuesday
night event, so it's a tough call. I'll
get back to you.
AMUNC Delegate Newsletter – Issue 2 – Friday 15 May 2009
Director Profile
A memo from Co-Director of the Human
Rights Council, Stuart La Brooy
Hi everyone and especially the honourable
delegates of the Human Right Council! My
name is Stu and I am a co-director on the
HRC for the topic of human trafficking. I study
a double degree in Arts and Business,
majoring in French and International Logistics,
at QUT in Brisbane.
After attending my first AMUNC in 2006
(Sydney), I became a huge fan and led my
university as head delegate to AMUNC 07 in
Auckland and most recently to Harvard
WorldMUN in The Hague in March.
The idea of bringing like-minded students
from all over Australia and the world is what
continues to impress me about MUN and I
am glad to share this experience with you all
this year, at what I think will be the best
AMUNC yet!
Curriculum Vitae
Michelle Livock
Under-Secretary General
(Committees)
Currently Studying
Bachelor of Psychological Sciences
Previous MUNs
As a Delegate: AMUNC 2007 (Canada,
HRC), AMUNC 2008 (USA, 1st GA)
As a Director: BrizMUN 2008 (Security
Council)
Responsibilities as USG Committees
With the help of the Committees, team,
Michelle is involved in:
 Selecting topics, coordinating
preliminary research
 Recruiting, selecting and supporting
directors
 Selecting special committee
delegates
 Drafting the Rules of Procedure
 Compiling delegate preparation
guides
 Socials Feature Monday Dinners & Dance Fiesta

Monday Dinners

Monday Night! You‟ve survived your first full day in the committee
rooms and now it‟s time to let your hair down and get to know your
fellow delegates around the dinner table or on the dance floor. With
the help of our Host team guides, delegates will catch a bus and
Nothing breaks the ice in a train to end up at the vibrant Fortitude Valley (known to locals just as
committee quite like 'the Valley'), where we‟ll wine and dine and dance the night away.
challenging the honourable Dinner is on us; so join us for a culinary feast you‟re sure to love!
delegate for Saudi Arabia to a
crazy dance-off
Dance Fiesta
When: Monday 13th July
The Fringe Bar nightclub is the where the party is at, for a huge post
Time: 7pm- 9pm - Committee-Dinner celebration. We‟ve booked the place out for our
Committee Dinners AMUNC revellers, so go ahead and make the most of it!
The music will be pumping and we‟ll have the friendly student
9pm till late – instructors from UQ Dance on hand to lead anyone who‟s keen
Dance Fiesta through jive, salsa, swing and more.
Location: Fortitude Valley
For those who just want to chill out feel free to socialise while relaxing
Dress: Smart casual on one of their comfy couches.

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Page 5 AMUNC Delegate Newsletter – Issue 2 – Friday 15 May 2009