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 #71
Sustainable Energy Sources
A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.
The General Assembly,
Deeply conscious of the gradual degradation of the
worlds biosphere,
Observing that a major cause of environmental pollution is the use of fossil fuels in power stations,
Further observing that 80% of the worlds energy is derived from fossil fuels,
Convinced that economic growth is not necessarily linked with a rise in levels of pollution,
Aware of opposition to wind farms due to environmental and aesthetic concerns,
Noting the mercurial effect of the petroleum trade on the world economy and interests of member states,
1. Calls upon all member states, particularly More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs), to fully address the issue of sustainable energy production; a minimum 2% increase in world usage over the next five years;
2. Recommends that a greater proportion of energy is derived from wind and wave power plants, including offshore wind platforms;
3. Calls upon governments to encourage the development of technology enabling the widespread use of solar power, in the form of affordable solar panels for individual dwellings and larger power plants in areas receiving high quantities of sunlight;
4. Endorses all current programs in member states increasing the percentage of energy derived from renewable sources;
5. Expresses its hope that other member states will be inspired by these examples;
6. Proclaims that steps towards a greater use of sustainable energy sources will be beneficial to the worlds environment and political relationships;
7. Requests a program of target reviews to be undertaken by this committee at the earliest opportunity.
Passed: |
For: | 12,730 | 77.9% |
Against: | 3,611 | 22.1% |
Historical Resolution #72
Reduction of greenhouse gases
A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.
Acknowledging climate change and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind,
Concerned that human activities have been increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases due to fossil fuel use, that these increases enhance the natural greenhouse effect, and that this will result in an additional warming of the Earth's surface, adversely affecting natural ecosystems,
Acknowledging that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all nations in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions,
Recognizing that all Nations, especially developing nations, need access to resources required to achieve sustainable social and economic development and that, in order for developing countries to progress towards that goal, their energy consumption needs to grow,
Accordingly, delegates of the United nations have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1
1. The objective of this resolution is to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations by implementing a 10% decrease in fossil fuels over the next ten years,so that gradual adaptation is possible. This will ensure that food production and economic development is not threatened.
2. In their actions to achieve the objective of the United Nations and to implement its provisions, all Nations shall be guided by the following:
ARTICLE 2
1.All Nations should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities.
2.Nations should cooperate to promote an open international system that leads to sustainable economic growth and development in all Nations, particularly developing Nations.
ARTICLE 3
All Nations, taking into account their commonalities and differences,shall;
1. Promote and cooperate in the development, application and diffusion of technologies, practices and processes that control, reduce or prevent emissions of fossil fuels;
2.Promote and cooperate in the full exchange of information related to climate change.
Each of these Nations shall :
1.Review its own policies which encourage activities that lead to greater levels of fossil fuel emissions;
2.Developed Nations shall take all practicable steps to promote and finance the transfer of, or access to, environmentally sound technologies to other Nations, particularly developing Nations, to enable them to implement the provisions of the U.N.
ARTICLE 3
In carrying out their commitments under the previous articles, Nations shall:
1.Support world efforts to strengthen scientific capacities, particularly in developing countries, and to promote the exchange of data and analyses obtained from areas beyond national jurisdiction; and
2.Cooperate in the exchange of material on climate change, development of national institutions and the exchange of personnel to train experts in this field.
Passed: |
For: | 10,968 | 73.4% |
Against: | 3,984 | 26.6% |
Habeas Corpus; by the passing of this resolution instituting the legal principle of Habeas Corpus by the voting members, Habeas Corpus will thus be affirmed by the United Nations as a set and irrefutable legal principle to which all member nations and all associated internal agencies are subject.
Recognising that Habeas Corpus is a founding principle of law in many nations, the UN formally adopts Habeas Corpus across all member states.
To clearly define Habeas Corpus:
Habeas Corpus is the legal principle that gives a person the right to not be held without charge. A charge must be filed with the judicial authorities of the country in which the suspected crime is committed within 48 hours of the person being held by police, or any other body charged with the upholding of the nation's laws. This period does not apply to any time when the judicial authorities are not active, such as weekends or national holidays. Habeas Corpus also declares accordingly that once a charge is filed, then the person should be treated as per the Definition of Fair Trial resolution.
Further noting,
If the captured or detained person is a prisoner of war or is captured or detained in an area of military conflict by forces of whom may be recognised as the opposition, then the previously recognised and enforced Wolfish Convention on PoWs and not Habeas Corpus shall apply to his or her treatment. Furthermore, be it hereby resolved that any person who is not detained as a prisoner of war is entitled to Habeas Corpus.
Passed: |
For: | 12,550 | 78.8% |
Against: | 3,377 | 21.2% |
Historical Resolution #74
The Law of the Sea
A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.
The United Nations,
RESOLVES:
1. That all areas of sea more than 20 kilometres from an internationally recognised settled landmass or scientific research station are described as international waters. The UN may permit archipelagos to have the 20 kilometre limit start from the outside islands and allow waters inside the archipelago to be claimed by the nation who owns it.
2. That all 'international waters' shall be outside the sovereignty of any member nation and that no nation can claim to have sovereignty over them.
3. That all nations shall have in or above international waters, unless in a Maritime Preservation Zone:
a) Freedom to fish in designated fishing areas, subject to UN quotas.
b) Freedom to fly
c) Freedom of navigation
d) Freedom to lay cables, pipelines and underwater installations, unless in a Maritime Preservation Zone
4. That a UN Commission be established to determine areas of outstanding marine beauty or high ecological sensitivity and designate them Maritime Preservation Zones.
5. An International Maritime Standards Bureau will be created to set international rules on navigation, working hours and other matters it deems appropriate to ensure safety at sea.
6. All states can have ships under their flag. Any state may establish a registry for ships permitted to fly their nations flag. These vessels must be duly owned and operated by citizens of the respective country to be allowed to register with said country. No state shall permit the establishment of a "flag of convenience". Any vessel receiving an "SOS" or distress call should render immediate assistance, no matter their country of origin or current war status.
7. All states shall ensure that vessels under their flag are built and kept to proper seaworthy standards, as defined by the International Maritime Standards Bureau.
8. Piracy is prohibited in international and territorial waters.
9. Piracy shall be defined as any illegal acts of violence, detention, theft or damage committed by a private vessel or aircraft, or its crew or passengers, against another vessel or aircraft, or the passengers, crew or property of the latter. "Illegal" will be defined by bilateral diplomacy, with the UN intervening if the two nations cannot agree.
10. That all nations will do their utmost to tackle piracy in international waters.
11. That no nation shall shelter pirates. Nations may only employ privateers (which are defined as pirates who work officially for a government) in a time of declared war.
12. That any flagged warship may board a ship if it has reasonable grounds to believe it is engaged in an international crime, such as but not limited to terrorism, piracy or smuggling. If the search finds nothing, the boarded ship shall be compensated by the warship's nation to a mutually agreeable value. A database of searches shall be kept by the UN to aid law enforcement. On boarding or attacking a vessel, the warship must immediately run up its national colours or the action will be considered an act of piracy.
13. That all nations shall strive to prevent pollution of international waters and harm to marine wildlife, except where the UN has permitted fishing.
14. All UN resolutions affecting member nations also apply to actions carried out by them or their citizens in international waters.
15. All nations with navigable waterways linking their coast and a landlocked country are encouraged to reach agreements on their use by vessels of the latter country.
Passed: | |
For: | 10,656 | 69.5% |
Against: | 4,684 | 30.5% |
Historical Resolution #75
The Nuclear Terrorism Act
A resolution to improve world security by boosting police and military budgets.
The General Assembly of the United Nations,
RECOGNIZING the danger of terrorists (or other malignant, independent organizations) acquiring nuclear weapons and technologies,
NOTING the responsibility of nations to monitor and manage their nuclear weapons and technologies,
AFFIRMING the UN's role as example to the world,
1. PROHIBITS the sale or transfer of nuclear arms, devices, or technologies to known or suspected terrorist organizations;
2. DISCOURAGES STRONGLY the sale or transfer of nuclear arms or technology to any extra-national organization;
3. CAUTIONS AGAINST the proliferation of arms or technologies to irresponsible nations;
4. CALLS UPON UN member nations to maintain adequate security over and records of nuclear arms and technology;
5. IDENTIFIES WITH and ENDORSES positive and responsible nuclear weapons practices everywhere.
Passed: |
For: | 12,555 | 79.0% |
Against: | 3,346 | 21.0% |