WTO

Hi delegates,

You all did a great job in opening up debate today. I heard some quality speeches and comments, and saw some strong participation in caucus.

We still have the majority of committee ahead of us and two important topics to address. Please continue to put in the effort that you’ve been putting in, and we’ll continue to have the high quality debate we’ve been seeing. We’re hoping to finish up the topic of food safety by lunchtime tomorrow and go right into IPRs.

Research awards will be given out on Sunday.

- Stephanie

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So guys, we’re over the three hour hump. Those first few hours are ruthless, people are tired, you don’t know anyone, and you’re simply bored out of your mind (I understand). But these next few days are about the world, not you, so suck it up. Anyway, if none of this applies to you, then i’m pretty happy. This means that we don’t suck that much.

From what i’ve seen today, you guys are doing great! At this point, i really don’t have anything to add, except that please come to committee with an open mind and smile, because tomorrow, we we will make food safe for everyone (hopefully). And we might have enough time to protect those who come with those crazy inventions (like me! I have this idea right, where the toilet seat weighs you every time you sit on the toilet and tells you how much weight you’ve lost in that session. I don’t want anyone jacking my idea. It’s golden)

Love to my mad homies (delegations),
Sohail

Hey all,

I’ve received an email from Colombia regarding a website they built for this conference: http://bmun.madfusiononline.com/

Included are some of their policies and solutions to the issues for this debate.  Feel free to go check it out and start talking to each other about your ideas, if you haven’t already.

Props to Michael and Jessica for all their hard work!

Have a nice day.  See you in three days!

- Cindy

Hey all,

Many people have asked me about how the resolutions will be presented in committee. We should be getting a projector, but just in case, try and bring an extra flash drive to save your resolutions on.

I hope that answers your question.

A few links on the latest news regarding food safety:
“China: Food Poisoning Deaths Up in 2007” - think about this in relation to the Olympics:

“How to Ensure Food Safety”
Good luck researching!

- Cindy

Hey Delegates,

Here’s another thought to ponder: as food safety issues are on the rise, it is easy to automatically assume that all nations would want more stringent rules. However, it is not as simple as that, since placing more rules would mean higher costs in hiring workers to perform these checks, as well as difficulties in training workers. This also brings further problems in who will fund and oversee the rules. In addition, more rules also means greater barriers to free trade and potential political conflicts.

Try to think about the big picture – how can nations address all these issues and come to a diplomatic agreement?

Five more days until the conference! You guys have put in a lot of effort. Keep it up! I’m looking forward to an exciting quality debate.

Again, feel free to comment or email any of us if you have any questions or concerns.

- Cindy

Hey delegates,

Sohail here again. Just wanted to see how everyone was and how everyone was feeling about the conference. I hope everyone is pretty pumped. Anyway, just wanted to link you to this website that the delegate of South Africa suggested regarding food saftey and such: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/index_en.jsp

If you have any questions about anything feel free to comment and we’ll probably get back to you within a couple days. Also, feel free to link your fellow delegates to any websites which you think are particularly useful.

9 days,
Sohail