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 #126
Fossil Fuel Reduction Act
A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.
NOTING: that using fossil fuel as an energy source cannot continue indefinitely, because of damage to the environment and finite supply.
NOTING: that long-term energy sustainability requires drastic reduction of the use of fossil fuels as energy sources and the eventual reliance on clean, renewable energy sources.
NOTING: that the current level of energy generation may itself be unsustainable in the long term and that programs that promote conservation and increased energy efficiency, as well as reassessing what are energy needs and what are unnecessary luxuries, will be key parts.
NOTING: that environmental damage caused by burning fossil fuels is not localized to the country burning them but rather of global concern.
REALIZING: that the drastic reduction of the use of fossil fuels is a monumental task requiring the help, cooperation, and commitment of all UN nations.
DEFINITIONS
Fossil fuels: Hydrocarbon deposits, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel.
Clean, renewable energy sources: energy derived from sources that do not completely use up natural resources or do significant harm the environment in the long-term.
The UN hereby enacts the following:
ARTICLE I: Terms of the resolution
Section A: Each nation must calculate the average amount of fossil fuel consumed per year over the last 3 years, this is their "ceiling consumption rate." Each nation is required to reduce consumption by a minimum of 2% of the ceiling rate every year, until rates are at or under 10% of ceiling consumption rate. This means that, after one year, rates should be at 98% of the ceiling consumption rate; after two years, at 96% of the ceiling consumption rate; and so on.
Section B: Each nation must increase funding for research, development, and implementation of clean, renewable energy sources and increased energy efficiency and conservation programs by a minimum of 1% per year, until Section A has been satisfied.
Section C: Nations may use energy sources that are ultimately not sustainable, such as nuclear fission, to supplement power until they are able to use clean renewable energy sources only.
Section D: Nations' governments are strongly encouraged to give incentives to the private and nonprofit sectors to help it comply with the requirements set out in Sections A through C.
Section E: Nations that meet the requirements at least 5 years before the minimum required term of 45 years, implied in Section A, shall receive a 5% increase in any UN aid they are receiving, until said 45 year term.
ARTICLE II: Special Cases
Section A: If a nation is trying to comply with the resolution, but having trouble, it may apply for a time extension, but must demonstrate significant need. Legitimate significant needs are extensive damage to infrastructure or economy because of:
Natural disasters
War
Severe economic depression
If significant need is established, an appropriate time extension relative to need will be granted.
Section B: If a nation refuses to comply with the resolution, the UN grants the right to UN member nations to impose trade sanctions on the offending nation, except for sanctions previously banned by the UN, until the nation comes into compliance.
Passed: |
For: | 9,136 | 64.8% |
Against: | 4,965 | 35.2% |
REALISING that national law can restrict diplomatic and consular personnel (hereafter referred to as diplomats) from carrying out their assignment
NOTING that unrestricted diplomatic immunity is subject to abuse
FURTHER NOTING that a lack of diplomatic immunity can lead to the abuse of diplomats by national governments for political reasons and cause undue interference with their official duties
EMPHASISING that the decision to grant diplomatic immunity is the exclusive prerogative of the nation in which the diplomat is to be serving (hereafter referred to as the host nation), and that diplomatic immunity may be revoked by either the host nation or the nation that the person represents (hereafter referred to as the home nation)
PROCLAIMS that a person holding diplomatic immunity is immune from arrest and prosecution by the host nation. The person may be detained by host nation officials only when necessary to prevent death or injury of that person or others. In such case, the law enforcement officers shall immediately notify the mission to which the person is assigned. The person shall be promptly released to the custody of an authorised representative of that mission upon request.
FURTHER PROCLAIMS that diplomatic missions and other property declared extraterritorial by agreement between the home and host nations are inviolable from search by host nation officials. Such property may be entered by host nation officials only upon request by the mission involved. Nations may negotiate other circumstances in which such entry is permitted
PROCLAIMS that goods and documents in transit to or from to or from diplomatic missions and identified as diplomatic bags or pouches are inviolable from seizure or search by host nation officials, and exempt from customs and excise duties
AFFIRMS that, if the host nation revokes diplomatic immunity and there is probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime under the host nation's law, the person must be tried for said crime under the rules of judicial procedure of the home nation. Evidence and testimony from the host nation must be weighed if admissible under those rules. The trial shall be conducted within the home nation's mission in the host nation whenever feasible. If found guilty, the person shall be immediately returned to the home nation for appropriate punishment
AFFIRMS that if the host nation revokes immunity the diplomat remains immune for prosecution by the host nation for any crime committed whilst the person had immunity
URGES nations to prosecute diplomats charged with crimes whose immunity has been revoked for non-political reasons
AFFIRMS that, if the home nation revokes a person's diplomatic immunity, he or she may face prosecution by the host nation for a crime committed while the immunity was in effect under the host nations laws and judicial system
PROCLAIMS that no nation may wilfully send any diplomat with the express purpose of committing a crime in the host nation
RECOMMENDS that nations cooperate in providing diplomatic missions with appropriate security.
Co-authored by Ausserland
Passed: |
For: | 8,691 | 69.9% |
Against: | 3,746 | 30.1% |
The General Assembly of the United Nations
RECOGNIZING the diversity of individual nations peoples, cultures, political leanings, governmental systems, and economic situations, and the fundamental need for each person or group of people being able to express those unique characteristics,
SUPPORTING the view of many that democracy and its precepts (fair representation, and political license among them) can both address and categorize these disparate situations, attitudes, and lives more justly than any other system of government,
ASSERTING that substantially fairer representation and greater political license (prerequisites to democracy) accompanies local governance (that those most closely involved with and knowledgeable of an issue address it), except on issues in which overarching, external intervention is necessary,
BELIEVING as impossible for an individual citizen in a member nation to receive a fair form of representation in taxation legislation made on a UN level,
DETERMINING, in the interest of fair representation and greater democratic freedoms, that taxation of national, domestic activities and products is best dealt with, at highest, by national government:
1.FIRMLY ENCOURAGES member nations to allow citizens the highest degrees of representation regarding the taxes incurred upon them, SUGGESTING each member nation and citizens in that nation regularly and soberly scrutinize their respective taxation system, specifically to understand its effects on economic liberty and social equality, and its general service to nations peoples;
2.DECLARES and PROTECTS, as inviolable rights of nations:
(a) imposing or not imposing of taxes or fees on domestic activities, items, and businesses within their national boundaries, and
(b) the determination of rate, general type (progressive, flat, etc.) and specific application of such taxes (who/what is and is not taxed);
3.DEFINES taxes or fees on domestic activities, items, and businesses as including, but not limited to:
(a) fees for national postal service, copy fees for national documents, and admissions for national parks or natural recreation activities, as well as tolls for roads within a member nations borders,
(b) taxes imposed upon businesses which engage in strictly intra-national trade, and taxes imposed on items and services which are made and sold strictly within a member nation, and
(c) taxes placed upon (or tax credits awarded) farmers which sell their crops strictly within the nation and taxes placed upon (or tax credits awarded) government workers;
4.ALLOWS that member nations may voluntarily relinquish all or part of their rights to determining their taxation systems to local, region, and international groups (such as an international economic alliance) if a member nation so decides;
5.URGES that nations use this right to tax their peoples with responsibility, and, most importantly, with consent and approval from the people who are taxed, NOTING that unjust governments are often punished economically, politically, and militarily by other governments as well as by those whom they oppress.
Passed: |
For: | 7,024 | 54.0% |
Against: | 5,975 | 46.0% |
Historical Resolution #129
Repeal: “Protection of Dolphins Act”
A resolution to repeal previously passed legislation.
Historical Resolution #106 “Protection of Dolphins Act” (Category: Environmental; Industry Affected: All Businesses - Strong) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.
1): COMMENDING the goals of United Nations Resolution #106, Protection of Dolphins Act;
2): NOTING the passage of United Nations Resolution #119, UNCoESB;
3): FURTHER NOTING article 7 of UNCoESB which bans all hunting of endangered species, in addition to other provisions which ensure the survival of endangered species;
4): CONVINCED that Resolution #106 is rendered redundant by the protections provided in Resolution #119;
5): BELIEVING that the removal of unnecessary legislation is in the best interests of the member nations of the UN;
6): HEREBY repeals United Nations Resolution #106, Protection of Dolphins Act.
Passed: |
For: | 7,269 | 53.0% |
Against: | 6,454 | 47.0% |
Historical Resolution #130
Global Food Distribution Act
A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.
The General Assembly of the United Nations,
RECOGNIZING the role of proper nutrition in maintaining the physical and psychological well-being of all persons;
FURTHER RECOGNIZING the importance of proper nutrition in the growth and development of children;
NOTING the need of all peoples to have adequate supplies of good quality, healthy food;
DEFINES "food" as the appropriate and healthy substance(s) that a person uses or can use as a primary source of energy.
HEREBY
1. ENCOURAGES the sale and/or transfer of food products between UN nations;
2. ENCOURAGES all nations to institute health and nutritional education programs within their school systems;
3. REQUIRES the gradual reduction, in stages, of all protectionist mechanisms in the trade of food including, but not limited to, Tariffs, Duties, Farm Subsidies and Subventions. Exception will be made for protectionist mechanisms which are based upon legitimate Religious, Cultural, Medical, or Ecological concerns;
4. ESTABLISHES the following schedule for reducing protectionist mechanisms:
Years 1 thru 6: 36% cut over six years (6% per year)
Years 7 thru 11: 50% cut over five years (10% per year)
Year 12: 14% cut (total elimination of protectionist mechanisms)
5. EMPHASIZES that UN member nations reserve the right to employ retaliatory tariffs towards non-UN nations to prevent price dumping;
6. ESTABLISHES the United Nations Free Trade Commission (UNFTC) to arbitrate trade disputes and pass rulings on exceptions claimed under Article 3;
7. ENCOURAGES STRONGLY the removal of all sales taxes levied on food;
8. CALLS UPON UN member nations to, except in cases where private entities already conduct such research, advance research into new and improved methods of food production and distribution as a priority within their research budgets insofar as is necessary and possible given their circumstance(s).
Passed: |
For: | 9,207 | 64.0% |
Against: | 5,172 | 36.0% |