The Special Conference
Borders are boxes. Civilization thrives off of classification, and ever since the beginning of time, humanity has been…
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Refugees Shelters in Brazil
The United Nations mission statement is to “maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, deliver humanitarian aid…
Editor in Chief
Tony Oldani
Co-Editor in Chief
Aimee Choi
Reporters
Luzie Brune
Mia Robertson
Wynne Chu
Lea Lu
Lylah Shah
Moksha Mueller
Alice Papon
Trisha Karmakar
Naviya Gupta
Manuela Padilha
Text Editors
Kyungyoon Suh
Sian Morgan
Charles Grimes
Micheal Carnogursky
Ben Zangas
Layout Editors
Eunice Rhee
Yuzine Yi
Katherine Shelton
Zoe Browne
Sila Khan
Billy Williams
Alexandra Dornfeld
Photographers Pranaaya Jhaveri Katherine Uy Van Weinmann Sahana Madala Eunice Rhee
The Special Conference
Borders are boxes. Civilization thrives off of classification, and ever since the beginning of time, humanity has been trying to separate itself into groups and subgroups: continents, nations, states, cities. THIMUN 2023 has chosen to ask one of the most pertinent questions pressing down on the modern world: what is the future of our borders?…
Chairs…
During lunch, we asked 138 delegates from different committees the same question: “Do you think the chairs are doing a good job?” Here are the responses: As we can infer from the pie chart, more than half of the delegates were dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied with how the chairs ran their committees. With the…
Refugees Shelters in Brazil
The United Nations mission statement is to “maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, deliver humanitarian aid and to support sustainable development and climate action,” The organisation has stayed true to their mission by supporting 14 different refugee shelters in Brazil. The UNHCR supports 14 shelters in Roraima, hosting more than 4,600 refugees and…
Pockets & Patriarchy
It has been a decade-long debate to include pockets into women’s clothes including blazers, pants of all types, dresses, etc. The demand for pockets goes a long way to the point where if a dress has pockets, it is considered extraordinary. To inquire further on the pocket problem, THIMUN participants were asked about their opinion…
TikTok Crossing Borders
How do social media platforms connect people despite them living in different parts of the world? When you walked into the World Forum, what is one similarity you noticed among all participants? I noticed that everyone had a phone in hand. People were either scrolling on their phones, taking selfies on their phones, or filming…
Countries Playing Tug-of-War with Cultural Artifacts
Each year, thousands of tourists pay 12 euros to visit the Neues Museum located in Berlin, Germany, in order to view works such as the 3,500 year old bust of Nefertiti. This work was originally discovered in 1912, when a German archaeological team led by Ludwig Borchardt found it at the Middle Egyptian site of…
A Deep Dive into the Explosive Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict
The neighbouring states of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been engaged in armed conflict over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh since the beginning of May 2021. While the conflict initially began over two decades ago, recent renewals of violence have further escalated the conflict to what it has become today. Following Armenia’s declaration of independence from Azerbaijan…
Sustainable Development Commission: the Two Most Important Words? Effectiveness and Inclusivity
This year’s Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) requires delegates to come up with innovative ways of building effective and inclusive institutions at all levels, with the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in mind. There are multiple interconnected aspects in regards to this topic. Effective and inclusive institutions at all levels are…
How is THIMUN Handling the Energy Crisis?
Europe’s energy system is facing a crisis due to the devastating conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Russia is using its gas supplies as a war weapon, since the EU’s internal market has a direct need of gas supplies. With electricity and gas prices increasing by up to 15 times since 2021, the countries within the…
Boundaries vs Borders
Considering that the conference theme of THIMUN 2023 is “the Future of Borders,” one must define what a border even is to begin with. By definition, a border is “an outer part or edge,” while a boundary is “something that indicates or fixes a limit or extent.” The two seem to be synonyms, but are…
Putin Dances with Death
Civilian targets bombed; hospitals destroyed. Agreements flouted; borders armed. The residents of Europe’s breadbasket deprived of food and water. Behind the terrifying Russo-Ukrainian conflict is a three-decade-long history of brotherhood and bloodshed. A millennium of shared cultural, and linguistic identity changed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 1991, as communist hard-liners lost the…
The Erasure of Indigenous Borders
Indigenous people represent 6.2 percent of the world’s global population, and many of them are struggling with different problems, such as displacement due to mining or deforestation, increased vulnerability to climate change-related natural disasters, financial struggles, and military conflict in their territories. In the Philippines, many indigenous peoples live across the borders of the country.…
The Secretary General of THIMUN 2023
I had the opportunity to interview the Secretary General of THIMUN 2023 during the end of the second day of the conference. Now a senior at ACS Singapore, Secretary General Saw Yone Shou @ Khin Lin Htet, was born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar. She shares the stories of her Model United Nations journeys and…
The Experience of THIMUN Delegates
The life of a THIMUN delegate can be very stressful. Getting ready, making sure you look the best that you can, lobbying, debating, and so much more. Each individual has a different start to the day before they all join together at the World Forum and begin their journey as THIMUN delegates. To further explore,…
Delegates on Colonialism
Colonialism, defined by Oxford Languages as “the use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures to control or influence other countries, especially former dependencies,” has initiated various significant events that affected a multitude of countries. Some examples of colonialism include the British century-long occupation of India, the century-long Spanish conquest of Latin America, and the…
Open Borders: A Debate that Divides Nations
Economists have time and time again agreed that open borders and free immigration policies will significantly benefit a nation’s economy. Opening borders, in the eyes of many experts, would be an extremely effective solution in limiting inequalities among countries and eventually alleviating severe global poverty. In today’s society, many countries face a variety of unjust…
Dr. Walter Peterson’s MUN Experience
THIMUN welcomed Dr. Walter Peterson to lead a workshop for the various Directors that have brought their students to The Hague from around the world. He is an avid supporter of the Model United Nations (MUN) and founded the BERMUN (Berlin Model United Nations) conference with two students from the John F. Kennedy School (JFKS)…
From Delegate to Board Member: THIMUN Foundation Co-Chair Eric Adler
Mr. Eric Adler started participating at THIMUN in 1976. Now, with a family and living in The Hague, he leads the THIMUN Foundation along with Co-Chair Alain Meidinger. I was able to interview Mr. Adler despite his busy schedule during the past few days. Wynne: It’s the second day of THIMUN, the first in person…
Opening Ceremony: Face to Face Once Again
The doors to the World Forum auditorium swung open, revealing rows upon rows of excited THIMUN delegates, teachers, and admin staff. The curtains drew open and students holding flags from across the globe made their way across the auditorium while the song ‘Waving Flag’ resonated both in the auditorium and within the hearts of the…
Refugee Support Systems
In the speech given to the General Assembly yesterday, the theme of this year’s conference was announced: Future Without Borders. Borders have long been a social construct that has been used to constrict the flow of humans globally. Perhaps no other population feels the full ramifications of the negative effects more than refugees. Crossing across…
5 Things To Do in Den Haag
A shrine of European politics and peace, The Hague houses relics of history, art and culture. Walking through the quaint city streets, you will soon realize that there is much to explore. Though the title of this city was originally derived from the term, “Des Graven Hage” meaning, “The Count’s Hedge”, The Hague offers more…
Conflict and Journalism: Human Rights Commission
United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19, states. “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Freedom of speech, being one of the fundamental thirty human…
Security Council: the Plight of Ethiopia
Famine, displacement, and sexual violence ravage Tigray, the northmost region of Ethiopia. The Civil War between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian Federal Government divided Tigray ethnically and culturally, resulting in six hundred thousand deaths, 2.75 million internally displaced people, 900 thousand refugees, and over 1200 cases of sexual violence cases reported…
The Secretariat of THIMUN 2023
The Secretariat of THIMUN has worked diligently for countless weeks to make this conference possible. Let’s get to know some of this year’s Deputy Secretary Generals and what this whole process is like for them. The Executive Team: Secretary General (not interviewed): Saw Yone Shou @ Khin Lin Htet: ACS Singapore Senior …
The Return of THIMUN
THIMUN has returned for its 55th annual four-day conference, after over two years of isolated, online debates. Naturally, the atmosphere across the World Forum—where over 2,500 students will be for the next four days—is hectic, yet lively and full of excitement for the upcoming debates and events. Having spoken to some experienced THIMUN delegates,…
Environmental Commission: The Alarming Consequences of Wildfires
At this year’s THIMUN conference, the Environmental Sub-Commission 1 (EVC1) discussed the issue of forest fires and the measures necessary to prevent them in the near future. While some fires are caused by natural factors, such as lightning or extreme drought, it is estimated that 75 percent of national wildfires are caused by human activity…
ECOSOC: Equality for Refugees
A “refugee” is someone who has been forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. This description differs from that of a “migrant”, someone who moves from one place to another in search of better living conditions. The refugee crisis is a pressing topic in the Economic and Social Council…
Diminishing Chances of Taiwanese Sovereignty & Security
Taiwan’s sovereignty remains questionable and threatened by a global power. China argues that Taiwan has always been a part of China, justifying its constant military aggression in Taiwanese skies and seas, in particular the strait between Taiwan and China.
Picture This.
Picture this. You’ve been a minority your whole life. Since childhood, you ached for representation in the media, you ached for the accommodations that you were promised and that could help you live a better life. You feel as though there is only one globally accepted culture and you’re not part of it. You feel…
Transient Borders: Risky Business?
Welcome to the Game of Risk. With each gameplay we delve into India’s turbulent yet fascinating history with borders. 2 continents, 3 players. The game-board is set, the cards are drawn. Troops and infantry man the borders and the players are poised for conquest and conflict. They’re playing for world domination. Let the games begin.…
Jammu and Kashmir
As a person with an Indian-Hindu background who grew up internationally, I was never truly educated on the history of India or the country’s issues. I had a large group of multicultural friends from various ethnicities and religions, including Pakistan, which was why I was shocked to learn about the Jammu and Kashmir conflict. Jammu…
EU’s Frontex: Protection or Threat?
Frontex, an agency also referred to as the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, works to enforce the European Union’s border regime, after its establishment in 2004. The organisation works alongside the European Union and aims to limit the number of migrants and refugees entering EU states, for the so-called ‘protection’ of European citizens. Despite…
Hong Kong’s Uncertain Future
Growing up in an international environment, I have been constantly asked the question: “Which country are you from?” When I was younger, the answer was obvious to me. I would answer Canada, as I am Canadian by nationality. As I got older, this question became more difficult to answer. Having never lived in Canada before, I did not feel a cultural attachment…
Porous Borders: The Cost of Peace
A truck hurtles down a tarred road, its wheels stirring up clouds of dust as the unforgiving Indian sun beats down on the hamlet of Dawki. It clunks to a clumsy halt near a stone archway as officials inspect goods and requisite documents. Then, almost gracefully, the boom barrier lifts and the vehicle resumes its…
Germany’s Borders
During this year’s THIMUN conference, participants from all over the world come together to debate “the Future of Borders”. To effectively discuss this theme, delegates must keep the past of every country in mind to avoid repeating mistakes, solve problems, and reduce conflicts between countries. Whether geographical, political, or figurative borders, the world has faced…