Historical Resolutions
From the rise of civilization (November 13, 2002) up until a particularly brutal collision with reality (April 1, 2008), nations toiled under the banner of the World Assembly's predecessor, an organization that now Cannot Be Named, but sounded a lot like "United Stations." Although this grand institution is no longer, its incomparable volume of law shall stand forever.
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Historical Resolution #116
Mitigation of Large Reservoirs
A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.
The NationStates United Nations,
RECOGNIZING that many large watersheds and river systems cross international boundaries, and thus represent a shared resource between riparian and coastal nations;
OBSERVING the international nature of the economic benefit to ocean and freshwater commercial fisheries of abundant and healthy anadromous fish populations, such as salmon;
AWARE that salmon represent an important source of Omega-3 fatty acids, though farmed salmon tend to have higher concentrations of dioxins and PCBs than wild salmon;
NOTING the desire to increase the maximum electrical output of existing hydroelectric plants by increasing the height of reservoirs or to design new hydroelectric power plants in order to meet growing electricity demands;
FURTHER NOTING that electrical power generation is often one of several uses of the water stored in multi-use reservoirs;
BEARING IN MIND that the operation of large-reservoirs alters the unimpaired (i.e. natural) flow, water temperature, nutrient availability, and sediment load in the water downstream of the reservoir, which has led to the decline in many native species' populations;
CONCERNED that methane emissions from decomposition in reservoirs could contribute substantially to global warming;
CONVINCED that in order for hydroelectric power to be of net beneficial use, that the environmental and commercial impacts of reservoir releases must be managed or mitigated in a sustainable way;
1. APPROVES of continued research into various large-scale reservoir mitigation measures including the design and operation of temperature control devices, construction of fish passage structures (such as fish ladders), use of pulse flows during migration and other critical periods, and maintenance and restoration of wetlands (which are important nutrient sources);
2. CALLS UPON nations to investigate and promote water supply and electrical demand reduction strategies, such encouraging energy efficient equipment, telecommuting and alternative work weeks, and operating large-scale industrial equipment during off-peak electrical demand periods;
3. SUGGESTS that adaptive management techniques such as timing reservoir releases to periods that are beneficial to both riparian wildlife and power users can minimize some of the impacts associated with large-scale reservoir releases;
4. RECOMMENDS the restoration of flood plains and seasonal wetland habitats, including designing flood bypass areas and seasonal agricultural easements;
5. FURTHER RECOMMENDS that these wetlands and flood bypasses be used to offset the need for dedicated flood storage in large multi-use reservoirs; and
6. EXPRESSES ITS HOPE that other alternative energy sources will be considered as supplements or alternatives to hydroelectric power generation, with the understanding that a sustainable power supply needs to be diverse and manageable in order to accommodate long-term economic stability.
Passed: |
For: | 8,949 | 65.1% |
Against: | 4,807 | 34.9% |
Historical Resolution #117
The Microcredit Bazaar
A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.
The United Nations,
REAFFIRMING the United Nations stance against poverty and suffering,
TAKING NOTE, via the impoverished throughout the world, of the cyclical nature of poverty across generations, and of the detrimental effect of poverty among a people to the surrounding peoples, nations, etc.,
OBSERVING previous success of so called microcredit at enhancing the lives of people or peoples currently trapped by deprivation, as well as the society surrounding them and future generations among them,
DETERMINING that citizens in UN nations, who have the ability to participate in microcredit but do not, might trade more regularly and freely via microcredit (which the UN believes to have greater effect than many forms of humanitarian aid) if they had information regarding microcredit and assurance of its financial security and honesty,
DETERMINING FURTHER that the distribution of such information would help free the trade of microcredit and make it more economically feasible for microcredit transactions to occur:
1.DEFINES microcredit as a financial transaction, or the trade of loans for relatively small sums of money for the purpose of sustaining life and employment, the repayment of which is supported by local communities alongside the individual(s) who received the loan;
2.ESTABLISHES The Microcredit Bazaar, which will set up chapters in all interested member nations for the purpose of educating citizens in said member nations on microcredit and of securing, presenting, and overseeing reputable organizations by which those citizens can trade microcredit with the impoverished;
3.CHARGES The Microcredit Bazaar with verifying reputable microcredit organizations, managing queries for a 'Bazaar' chapter, ensuring just and honest distribution of loaned money, ensuring repayment of loans, ensuring the reimbursement of unpaid loans, facilitating educational literature concerning microcredit to member nations, as well as the distribution of that literature as arranged with individual national governments;
4.EMPOWERS The Microcredit Bazaar with the authority to negotiate with national governments the location, length of stay, and extensiveness in presentation of 'Bazaar' chapters within member nations;
5.ENCOURAGES UN citizens everywhere to invest in the impoverished through microcredit, and, specifically, to attend local 'Bazaar' chapters;
6.EXPRESSES its utmost gratitude to any who contribute to the abolition of poverty, be it through microcredit, at one of The Microcredit Bazaar chapters, or otherwise.
Passed: |
For: | 7,474 | 60.5% |
Against: | 4,889 | 39.5% |
Historical Resolution #118
The Sex Education Act
A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.
The United Nations,
DEEPLY DISTURBED that in many Nations:
-A- Sexual education is lacking
-B- Education about female sexuality is often unheard of and no mention is made of the clitoris, the statistically most erogenous zone for women, which is not directly correlated with reproduction
-C- Lack of quality sex education can lead, many times, to unplanned teen pregnancies and unnecessary abortion
OBSERVING that:
-D- Sex has two important functions: reproduction and pleasure
-E- Sexual activity is a common activity, contributing to the happiness of many people, worldwide
URGES:
-1- All Nations to organize and secure some sexual education courses for all, before the age of 18-years; and
-2- All Nations to include in these courses, information about male sexuality, female sexuality, opposite-sex relationships, same-sex relationships, masturbation, birth control methods, abortion right, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases without any value judgment
Passed: |
For: | 10,048 | 71.9% |
Against: | 3,921 | 28.1% |
Historical Resolution #119
UNCoESB
A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.
Category: Environmental
Industry Affected: All Businesses - Strong
Proposed by: Venerable libertarians
In these times of Population growth expanding into environmentally sensitive areas of the NS world, with natural habitats being encroached. With over fishing and hunting of game running unchecked, a side effect is the ever greater numbers of animals on the brink of extinction. It is with these concerns we enact the United Nations Conservation of Endangered Species Bill, UNCoESB
Article 1:The Executive
On ratification by the General Assembly, the UN shall set up an executive body to monitor NS World wildlife numbers. The Executive shall decide what numbers apply to each level of animal population and what Species receive the title "Endangered" and the protections the title affords. The Executive shall control funding and see it is used where it is most required.
Article 2:Quotas.
International best practise should be adopted in forming quotas and heavy penalties should be applied if these quotas are broken. Imposition of quotas should ensure that total bans on fisheries or game hunting of a specific species should be a rare event.
Article 3:Education.
National governments are charged with educating local populations in the benefits of conservation of species that are heavily hunted within their national boundaries.
Article 4:Species of National Importance.
Where there are species regarded with a sense of national importance, National governments may apply conservation orders on that species within its own national boundaries and impose national restrictions to hunting of that species. These restrictions shall only apply within the National boundary and are not applicable to neighbouring Nations unless an agreement has been set by the neighbouring countries.
National Governments may set penalties for breaches of these national conservation orders.
Article 5:Monitoring
The UN in conjunction with National and Regional Governments, Non Governmental Organisations and Environmental agencies shall constantly monitor closely wildlife numbers in their area of concern. These numbers shall be tallied yearly so they may show increases or decreases in the numbers of wildlife. If considerable decrease or a recurring trend of decrease in population is noted local conservation attempts shall be instituted at a national level aided by local populations and national agencies.
Article 6: Capture and Breeding
If local populations decrease to a worrying level then local Zoological and Marine specialists shall step in to capture and breed, in an attempt to reverse the decrease in numbers. Also, if larger populations of the same animal exist in another part of the NS world steps should be taken to introduce new blood lines to the endangered species.
Local Bans shall be instituted on hunting of the endangered animal until such time as it is deemed safe to do so. Quotas shall then be applied to the hunting of the recovering species.
Article 7:Full Escalation.
Where a Species of animal has come dangerously close to world extinction levels, The UN shall impose a Full escalation of Protection to the species. All hunting of the species shall be expressly forbidden. Full funding shall be granted for the escalation of steps to conserve the species and to rebuild its population to an acceptable level for the species to recover. Criminal charges shall be brought against any individual or group in contravention to this.
We hereby enact the UNCoESB.
The Author wishes to thank the Nation of Yeldan UN Mission whose assistance has been invaluable.
Passed: |
For: | 9,396 | 67.6% |
Against: | 4,503 | 32.4% |
Historical Resolution #120
Repeal: “Ban Chemical Weapons”
A resolution to repeal previously passed legislation.
Historical Resolution #107 “Ban Chemical Weapons” (Category: Global Disarmament; Strength: Significant) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.
The United Nations,
UNDERSTANDING the sentiment against chemical weapons, which can cause large-scale destruction, present in "Ban Chemical Weapons",
NOTING, HOWEVER the precedent of the UN to allow citizens in member nations a reasonable level of self-protection, as well as the precedent for member nations to encourage the preservation of order and lawfulness within their boundaries,
RECOGNIZING that tear gas and smoke ordnance, which are chemical weapons used by some nations to justly enforce the law and preserve order, are banned by Ban Chemical Weapons,
RECOGNIZING that mace and pepper sprays, which are vital chemical mechanisms for innocent civilians in defending themselves from dangerous criminals (especially in cases of robbery, assault, and rape), are banned by Ban Chemical Weapons,
REALIZING "Ban Chemical Weapons" unfortunately makes no differentiation between war-time chemical weapons and peace-time chemical weapons, affecting them all,
GRIEVING the loss to police enforcement and persons in urban areas (especially women in urban areas) of these vital chemical tools for law enforcement and self-protection:
REPEALS "Ban Chemical Weapons".
Passed: |
For: | 7,681 | 51.4% |
Against: | 7,250 | 48.6% |