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Procedure and Committee Flow

  Hi Delegates! I wanted to check in with you to provide some more insight to how our committee is going to work at BMUN 72. SPECPOL will be using BMUN Procedure.  Our committee will begin by opening a running Speaker’s List (standard speaking time is 1 minute, 30 seconds) and those speeches will be followed by 2 30-second comments by other delegates. This is the default timing for the Speaker’s List and can be amended if agreed upon by the committee. The Speaker’s List can also be interrupted by Moderated Caucuses and Informal Caucuses that give delegates the opportunity to exchange opinions on policy, solutions, and more specific aspects of the topics at hand. In our committee, our dais plans on leaving the flow of committee up to you delegates, so we suggest you come prepared with specific subtopics and policies you hope to discuss! During Informal Caucus time, delegates are expected to draft and write Resolutions which will then be presented to the committee during a Formal Caucus
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Updates On Topic A

Hey, delegates!  I was reading a little bit more about Topic A (Combating Foreign Aid Dependency Post COVID-19) and stumbled upon this article I think you would find interesting ( The EU Towards the Global South During the COVID-19 Pandemic ). It is long but it is full of valuable information. Feel free to give it a quick read but I’ll also summarize some of the main points below that stuck out to me: COVID-19 turned out to be a crisis that required efficient and multifaceted responses to the challenges it caused in areas such as political stability in countries already susceptible to disturbances in their political system. The pandemic resulted in needing to allocate new funds to neutralize the negative effects of the virus on already struggling economic stabilities of countries. The pandemic put a hold on an important year for the relations regarding aid between the EU and Sub-Saharan Africa. One of the biggest ways the COVID-19 pandemic has affected political stability was its negat
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Updates on Topic B

Hello, delegates! As we approach conference weekend, the dais of SPECPOL would like to provide an update regarding Topic B: Political Status of Non-Self Governing Territories.  The newly elected Argentina President, Javier Milei, has stated that Argentina has "non-negotiable sovereignty" over the Falkland Islands (known as the "Malvinas" in Argentina). As many of you know, the Falkland Islands is an NSGT of the United Kingdom, and in 2013, 99.8% of the islands’ population voted to remain a territory of the UK. The UK’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has indicated that the Falkland Islands will remain a UK territory as per the wishes of its population. Armed conflict in the Falkland Islands has not occurred since 1982, and it remains unlikely for conflict to arise again. Despite Milei’s claims of sovereignty over the islands, he plans to recover the islands exclusively through diplomatic means. For more information, please see: Francis, Sam. “Falkland Islands sovereign
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Welcome Post & Expectations

  Hi delegates!  We are so excited to welcome you to BMUN 72 and the SPECPOL committee. In this committee, you will be fostering collaboration, research, and public speaking skills, through discussing the various nuances within our topics and conlcuding committee with the presentation of your bloc’s resolution paper. . Our first topic addresses Combatting Foreign-Aid Dependency Post COVID-19. Our second topic addresses Political Status of Non-Self Governing Territories. This blog will act as our committee’s more informal avenue for discussion and communication before the conference– and we’d love to see you interact with it! The purpose of this blog is to (1) allow you to actively engage with the content of this committee and (2) give you all the opportunity to learn about other countries’ policies before the debate actually starts. You can post comments on posts that we make and write about literally anything relevant to the topics at hand! For example, if you’ve found follow-up conte
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Public Speaking Tips

Hi delegates!  As we continue counting down the days to BMUN 72, I wanted to provide some advice on speeches and speaking in general.  First, and most importantly, breathe and have fun with it! I understand how scary it can be to speak in front of others, but we're all here to learn together. Your speech doesn't have to be the most perfectly polished to be good---we're looking for meaningful research that relates to and aligns with your countries' stances on the topics at hand. Use that knowledge and apply it to new solutions. Just try to be confident and remember to practice, practice, practice!  When you're speaking, remember to project your voice and enunciate clearly so you are understandable to everyone in the audience. Try not to be monotone and speak with varied intonation. Don't be afraid to be creative! We love well-researched speeches, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. Try out different hooks and endings to your speeches to be engaging. Re
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Head Chair Introduction: Jaina Doshi

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  Hello everyone!      W elcome to BMUN 72!! My name is Jaina Doshi (she/her) and I am so incredibly honored to serve as your Head Chair for the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) this year!           I am currently a second-year student at UC Berkeley on the pre-medical track majoring in Public Health and Psychology. I am passionate about the intersection of healthcare, health advocacy, and the roles institutions play in ensuring equitable resources. This is my second year in BMUN, and 8th year being involved in the Model UN program. Joining MUN has been the best decision I made for myself, and has allowed me to not only become a more educated and involved individual, but also meet some of the most genuine and intelligent people Berkeley has to offer. BMUN has allowed me to explore my interests in international relations and help promote global advocacy through educating communities around us. Outside of BMUN, I am also involved in the ASUC Mental Health Commissi
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Vice Chair Introduction: Iman Judge

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Hello everyone, my name is Iman (she/her) and I am one of your vice chairs for SPECPOL! I’m a first-year student here at UC Berkeley and an Environmental Science major. This is my first year as a member of BMUN (although I participated in Model UN all through high school)  and I am so excited for BMUN 72. Other than being a vice chair, I am also a member of the media and alumni relations staff, where we document the year and conference through photos, as well as connect with alumni of BMUN. Topics I’m interested in include climate change, human rights, and education.  Outside of BMUN, I’m interested in reading, writing, music, and hiking. I’m also interested in film and television, and I work for a business affairs company that focuses on the film industry. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful work you do and all the great debates and discussions you have, as well as the speeches you make, during conference! Best wishes, Iman
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