Newsletter of November 22, 2005

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Middle School Workshop for Students & Teachers Major Success !

Our third annual Fall Middle School Model United Nations program was a rousing success on Wednesday, November 16. The event took place in the Khorassan Room in the (Chase-Park Plaza Hotel at Lindell & Kingshighway Blvds in the city's Central West End).

The agenda for the morning included a short video on the Civitas model U.N., an interactive PowerPoint presentation on the United Nations and our Model UN program, a resolution simulation (on snack and vending machines in middle schools), and a performance by drummers and dancers from Cote d'Ivoire. Students asked excellent questions about the "real" U.N, the model U.N., and a variety of global issues.

Thanks to all of the teachers who brought their students to the workshop. We also appreciate the work of parents who accompanied them in some cases.

Lisa is in the process of finalizing the class visit schedule beginning in January. Should any teacher have any questions, he or she can contact the Civitas office at (314) 367-6480 or [email protected] or Lisa at (314) 865-4704 or [email protected].

By the way, Lisa and new daughter Alice are doing quite well!
Middle School Country Selections for 2005-2006

High School MUN Session Last Saturday!

As we stated last week, every Civitas Fall Model U.N. affords us an opportunity to assess "the state of the world" in comparison to the previous year. The media tends to inform us more of the negative news, and no doubt positive actions are being taken in Africa to control HIV/AIDS, in parts of India to further enter the "hi-tech" world, in China to continue a slow process of extending a few basic human rights. However, 2005 has been a year in which the costs of the world's strongest power launching a "preemptive war" have become even more apparent. As more people from the "global south" move to the north, the type of ethnic strife that we have recently seen in France may just be a foreshadowing of ongoing global conflict in future years. Population continues to increase unabated in those regions that can least afford it. Women and children struggle against cultural norms to achieve a basic modicum of human rights.

These topics and more were considered by Civitas students last Saturday at our Fall Model U.N at the (Chase-Park Plaza). We had twenty-six resolutions for the Security Council and two committees of the General Assembly (the Economic & Social Committee and the Human Rights Committee).

Eleven of the fifteen nations on the Security Council were present (China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, and United States; as well as Brazil, Denmark, Greece, Japan, Philippines, and Romania). They dealt with a variety of issues and debate was often intense. Countries tended to act in a cautionary fashion and no resolutions were passed. However, there was sufficient cooperation that no vetoes were cast.

The Human Rights Committee passed two resolutions, one on international trafficking and on recruiting child soldiers. The Economic and Social Committee passed restrictions on weapons trade and measures towards earthquake relief.

Students in the Security Council considered the possibility of continuing the session in an on-line fashion over the next several months. Delegates who are interested in doing so should e-mail us at [email protected] or call us at (314) 367-6480.

You can check out the disposition of all resolutions under consideration last Saturday by clicking on the first link below.
Resolution Status Following November 19, 2005 High School Model U.N.

General Assembly Rosters for 2005-2006

Next High School Discussion on Saturday, December 17!

Our next Civitas discussion group (and final one of calendar year 2005) will be on Saturday,
December 17, at Crossroads School from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (link to map and directions are located at the bottom of this article). On the heels of the vibrant debate at last Saturday's high school model U.N. session, we expect to have some interesting topics to discuss. Additionally, we have nearly a month for the world to throw a whole new set of interesting issues our way. If you would like to suggest any topics to us, please e-mail us or call us at (314) 367-6480.

Links to photos and video from previous discussions as well as model U.N. sessions are located below.

Map and Directions to Crossroads School

Photos!

Streaming Video!

Today is the 42nd Anniversary of ......

.....the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This may be something that you want to think about as we face the challenges of today's world.

Link to John F. Kennedy Library

Survey on Whether There Is Any Point In Calling Someone "a Patriot"

Recently, Vice-President Dick Cheney called Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha a "patriot." Some people were left scratching their heads when Cheney, who had received five deferments to not be drafted during the Vietnam War, made this statement about Murtha, who had served in the military for thirty-nine years including a tour of duty in Vietnam in which he won two purple hearts.

Cheney made his remark several days after Murtha had advocated the U.S. pulling its troops out of Iraq within the next six months.

Do you think that Vice-President Cheney's remarks reflect a certain absurdity in one person calling another "a patriot" and it would be better if we all refrained from such comments?
Survey on Whether There Is Any Point in Calling Someone "a Patriot"

Previous Survey Results!

Last newsletter's question was:

Survey on Building a New Stadium or Repairing "Broken" Schools

Recently, the following letter from Ms. Sue Fischlowitz of Clayton was printed in the Post-Dispatch:

I was struck once again by the juxtaposition of city news on Page 1 - "Busch has date with wrecking ball" - and Page A12 - "St. Louis schools getting worse" - on Nov. 5. Imagine if we had leaders who recognized the difference between what we do need to fix and what can well be left alone.

If we believed "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," we'd still have our elegant stadium, which definitely was not broken, and our schools, which definitely are in need of major overhaul, would get the attention they deserve and the resources to fix them.

If we keep burying the news about our schools on page 12, how can we blame people for not understanding the magnitude of the problem? And if we keep the "news" about the demolition of Busch Stadium on Page 1, we don't look at the real issues in which true civic commitment is needed to improve the things that really can have an impact on the future of our city and our region: the good schools that our children deserve.

Cartoon courtesy of [email protected] in conjuction with the St. Louis Journalism Review.

What do you think St. Louis needs more: a new baseball stadium or repairs to it schools?

Responses:

1. Yes 1 (25%)

2. No 3 (75%)

3. Not Sure 0 (0%)

COMMENTS ON THE ISSUE

Comments on Building a New Stadium or Repairing "Broken" Schools

Abigail Henderson; Fox, 2010

Well obviously I think repairs to schools are more important, and so does probably everyone else reading this poll. And you know why? Because that question was very biasly worded. It was told from the point of view of someone who obviously cares more about the schools. But is there a quote in there from the people who made the decision to tear down the stadium? No. Is there even a single sentence in there from a sports fan? No. Of course not.

Additional Links

Photo Gallery
Streaming Video [Real Media]
Civitas Calendar
Civitas Intranets Site
Civitas Home Page
Maps & Directions
Previous Newsletters
Resolutions (High School U.N.) for 2004-2005
Checklist for Writing a Model U.N. Resolution
General Assembly Countries
Security Counci Countries