Jéssica Matos & Alice Prado
MUN- Americas
Brazil
I. Topic: Nuclear Power Plant
A) History of country
B) Economy
C) Political issues
II. Consuming energy
A) World’s 10- largest consumer of energy according to the U.S Department of Energy
B) Third largest consumer in the Western Hemispheres
C) Behind only the U.S and Canada
III. Two operational Nuclear Power Plants
A) Location:
1. Angra I and Angra II : Central Nuclear Almirante Álvaro Alberto (CNAAA) on Itaoma Beach (Angra dos Reis, RJ)
B) Angra I
1. 1985
2. Purchased from Westinghouse of the USA
3. Not include transfer of sensitive reactor technology
C) Angra II
1. German technology
2. Part of a comprehensive nuclear agreement between Brazil and West Germany signed by President Ernesto Geisel in 1975.
D) Angra III
1. Purchased in 1995
2. In storage
3. Consuming 50 million dollars a year in maintenance costs
IV. President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva
A) Intention to build Angra III and complete the project
B) Unlikely that this will happen before 2013
1. Negative effects of Angra
C) Meet electricity needs
V. Electricity
A) Supply about 3% of the nation’s electricity
B) According to the International Atomic Energy Agency
VI. Electronuclear
A) Government authorized to go back to work on the third one
B) Leonam Guimarães
1. "Things have changed a lot, and today it's clearer to everyone that nuclear energy has a role to play in the Brazilian electrical system, just like the other forms of producing electricity, which can't be dismissed," said Leonam Guimaraes, an Electronuclear spokesman.
C) Supply about half the electrical power used in the state of RJ
D) Plans to begin construction
E) Hopes it will generate electricity by 2014
VII. Other countries that use nuclear power to generate electricity
A) Mexico: generates 5%
B) Argentina: 7%
C) Canada: 16%
D) United States: 19%
E) France: 78%
F) Lithuania: 72%
G) Slovakia: 57%
H) Belgium: 54%
VIII. Issues
A) Environmental activists
1. Worries about release of radiation
2. Affect environment
The delegate which will be choose to represent Brazil must take his position towards this issue. Above includes some information about the Nuclear Power Plant. The person that will be taking this position must see if he or she wants to build this nuclear power plant or not. This person must see the effects of the nuclear power plant, and if it will be useful in Brazil. If the delegate doesn’t want this as a source of energy, then he or she must find a better form of energy for a country. Its mission if to find a solution for a better country. Therefore it must search a lot, about the pacts Brazil has already made, and the effects of the nuclear power plant issue, and the way how it causes problems or benefits to the country, the counter-arguments, and the way to defend its country. Now it is your time to search and rock this MUN. Also, search more about those words which are bolded. Good luck! =)
Some sites for information:
*** http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00180.htm
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=73452
http://mathaba.net/news/?x=603176
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20080812114753186C526082
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aKO.UC1qrJv8&refer=latin_america
against: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/NEWS15/808100384
MUN- Americas
Cuba
I. Topic: Embargo
A) History of Country
B) History of U.S
C) Economy
D) Political issues
II. History
A) Spanish-American War (1898)
B) Cuban Revolution (1950s)
C) Cuban missile crisis (1962)
D) Opposition to Fidel Castro
III. Past relations
A) Cuba was Spanish colony for 400 years
B) Developed links with U.S in 19th century
C) 1898: Spain ceded control of Cuba to U.S following its defeat in the Spanish-American War
IV. United States
A) By 1926 U.S companies owned:
1. 60% of the Cuban sugar industry
2. Imported 95% of the total Cuban crops
V. Fidel Castro
A) Agrarian Reform Law
1. Expropriation of land properties
2. Largely of Americans
B) 1960: relations between Cuba and U.S
1. Tensions
2. Escalated into economic warfare
C) Results
1. Prohibition of all exports to Cuba on October 19, 1960.
2. Kennedy imposed travel restrictions on February 8, 1963
3. Multilateral sanctions were imposed by the Organization of American States (OAS) on July 26, 1964 but were abandoned in 1975
VI. Soviet Union
A) During cold war: tied relations with Cuba
VII. Embargo
A) Imposed on Castro government
B) February 7, 1962
C) Limits American business from with Cuba
D) Codified into law: 1992
1. Purpose: Bring “democracy to Cuba”
2. Cuban Democracy Act
VIII. Reasons
A) Castro expropriated the properties of U.S citizens
B) And Corporations that belonged to the United Fruit Company and the ITT.
IX. Helms-Burton Act
A) Passed by Congress in 1996
B) Restricted U.S citizens from doing business in or with Cuba
X. Present
A) Most enduring trade embargo
B) U.S: 7th largest exporter to Cuba
C) 4.3 % of Cuba’s imports are from the U.S
This is a brief explanation about Cuba’s situation. Now the delegate must take his position towards this topic, and find it counter-arguments. It has the basic history of the country, about the Embargo issue, and its relation with the U.S. It is the delegate’s turn now to research more about its country, and the other countries which involves it. Below it has some sites in which the delegate may find more information about this topic.
http://leler.com/cuba/embargo.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/globalNews/idUSN1447847620080814 (Trading Partner)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/sports/soccer/02soccer.html?ref=sports
http://www.alternatives.ca/article876.html
http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/embargo.htm (Timeline)
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/25/bush.cuba/index.html
Alice Prado
Colombia
Issue: Farc
The issue regarding Farc not only involves Colombia, but also the USA and Venezuela. Farc is a terrorist group which is also responsible for the traffic of drugs in Latin America. The Colombian government has been worried with the increase of attacks in its country, but most importantly, with the constant debate it has with the Farc terrorists. Throughout the years, there have been rumors that Venezuela’s president has been financing terrorism in Colombia and that the USA has tried to initiate talks with the terrorist to end such actions.
· Colombia is one of the USA closest allies in Latin America, therefore most of its trading and goods come from the US support.
· The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as Farc, is on the list under foreign terrorist organization.
· This organization fights against the Right Wing Paramilitary organization for years together with the Nation Liberation Army(ELM).
· Creation of the group- 1965. Communist and peasents were the people involved in this rebel group.
· Best equipped force and one of its largest’s rebel groups.
· It usually operates in the jungle.
· The colombian government has constantly tried to achieve peace by giving huge amounts of land to the terrorists.
· In return, many colombian innocents have been murdered and are until today in danger.
· The USA have playes significant role because it was responsible for the death of some members of the group.
· The shocking point of the conflict was when in 2008, a Colombian incursion into Ecuador, Raul Reyes, the chief’s spokeman was killed.
· It is estimated that annualy Farc receibe a budget of $ 200/$ 300 milion. From the 110 operation zones in which Farc posses, 65 of these units are involved with somekind of drug traffic.
· FARC supplies more than 50 percent of the world’s cocaine.
· Farc is responsible for the kidnappes of tourists, wealthy landowners and international and domestic oficials.
· Border countries issues with colombia and involvement with Farc:
· Venezuela and Equador have been nominated the two major countries that help financing terrorism in Colombia.
· These nations are known to have direct contact with Farc because of the trafic of drugs.
· It has been said that Venezualas president, aided Farc with $ 300 milion.
· Hugo Chavez denies every contact with the terrorist and says that the money was used to pay for the release of innocent hostages.
· Achieving peace: peacetalks between Farc and the Colombian government has been held since 1980’s but not much has been accomplished.
· http://www.cfr.org/publication/9272/
· http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1746777.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/12/colombia.france
Mexico
Issue: Ilegal Immigration
Introduction: The issue regarding Mexico’s illegal immigration conflict has been going on over years now. Due to Mexico’s life conditions, people tend to cross to the American border creating constant conflicts among nations. The main point is that due to the horrible conditions in which Mexicans live in their own country, they choose to illegally immigrate in the USA. Not only that, but Mexico also complains of the low class jobs they receive in the foreign country. The American president, George W. Bush seems reluctant in terms of immigration and not focuses so much in the issue, but instead, helps construct a good economy and trade business with Mexico.
· Mexico represents the largest source of immigration to the United States. Of the 32.5 million foreign in March 2002 , 9.8 million or 30 percent were from Mexico
· Since 1990 the number of illegal immigrants has grown extensively.
· The immigrants look for jobs and better life conditions
· One of the most famous reasons for people crossing to the USA is to achieve the so famous “American dream.”
· These people are put in horrible conditions because they are constantly running from the police and acquire low jobs.
· In order to go to the USA they pass through great danger, since they go by feet.
· http://usliberals.about.com/od/immigration/a/IllegalImmi.htm
· About 75% of the immigrants arrive across the US southern border with Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Colombia.
· The number of illegal immigrants increased during the Bush Administration, with the US gaining 3 million additional illegal immigrant residents in 2004.
· President Bush changes the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) after being used for over 100 years.
· After the September 11, 2001 tragedy, the Bush Administration complained that the INS was insufficiently focused on deporting and expelling illegal immigrants, and thus asked that it be transferred to Homeland Security.
· Conversations between both governments have been held for many years, but in 2005 Bush increased the number of border patrols in the USA.
· Immigration laws have been forgotten and left apart by the American president.
· 24% of Mexico's population live in extreme poverty.
· Millions live in extreme poverty,and children are compelled to work on the streets in order to help provide food for their families.
· Unemployment in Mexico is realistically estimated near 40%.
· During 2002, reform proposals have been discussed to establish the rights that Mexicans had in the USA.
· This included better treatment, driver’s license and better wages. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/opinion/01castaneda.html
Further Research:
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/01/31/illegal.immigration/
http://www.azstarnet.com/opinion/125360.php
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/8/6/143102.shtml
(*) http://www.doublebarreledopinions.com/11.htm
(*) (speech against Bush and his idea of immigration). |
