Description: UN Resolution #149: The Right to Form Unions (Category: Human Rights; Strength: Significant) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

Argument: The United Nations,

ADMIRING the intentions of the original resolution as honorable and defensible;

ACKNOWLEDGING the importance of Unions in certain economic and governmental structures;

NOTING that the benefits of a union can only be truly realized in a society where workers have the option to contractually surrender their union rights;

NOTING the tendency of natural regulation that occurs in capitalist markets to ensure Unions are preserved;

NOTING the absence of necessity for Unions in controlled markets (given the nature of a government run by the workers);

CONCERNED with the restrictions an overarching, international protection of Unions places on some forms of government;

CONCERNED with certain practical errors present in the resolution;

OBSERVING ideological shortcomings of the resolution, namely that it:

-undermines some forms of government, such as socialism and communism, that do not operate under a free-market system.

-undermines many forms of economic policy, such as a strictly free-market system, by mandating government intervention via requiring arbitration and enforcement to be supplied.

-undermines individual governments by prohibiting said governments from temporarily suspending Union rights, regardless of natural disaster, medical emergency or war.

-undermines and cripples start-up small businesses by allowing employees of any size business to Unionize and strike, regardless of their motivation or contractual obligations; and additionally undermines small businesses by removing the ability to avoid (as a method of self-preservation) hiring employees with such rights by guaranteeing these rights to all members of the workforce.

-undermines the privacy of employer-employee negotiations by publicly mandating certain unavoidable contract laws; and that the resolution provides no method for employers to guarantee employees will not fully invoke these rights with no provocation, regardless of the need for such a guarantee.

-undermines employers in free-market systems, by allowing the employee a perfectly legal route to indefinitely preserve their job, regardless of any reason, no matter how viable (including information dissemination and violation of business practicum), for their dismissal from their place of work.

AND OBSERVING practical shortcomings of the resolution, namely that it:

-fails to even define 'Union', effectively enabling any single individual to possess the rights "reserved" to a fully operable Union, or allowing a nation to set such strict requirements on the definition as to prevent a Union from actually existing.

-fails to give recourse to the possibility of failed 'independent arbitration', effectively giving every Union, regardless of industry (including military and medical) the ability to strike, regardless of the harm to the public good.

-fails to differentiate different groups of employees and associates, effectively preserving the right of every group - including CEOs and owners - to Unionize, creating an atmosphere of warring Unions between levels rather than open dialogue between associates.

-is self-contradictory in Clause #8 by giving no hierarchy; effectively, there is no line drawn between what laws restrict Union activity and what laws Unions must abide by, guaranteeing massive legal battles to determine these lines.

Hereby REPEALS U.N. resolution #149, 'The Right to Form Unions'.

Votes For: 6,233
Votes Against: 4,670

Implemented: Fri Jun 29 2007

Description: The United Nations,

Recognizing the cruelty and inhumane treatment to which a great number of animals are continuously and unnecessarily subject to;

Acknowledging animals’ basic freedom from needless torture and abuse;

Horrified by the widespread practice of so-called ‘blood sports’, such as bullfighting or dog fighting, in a legal manner;

Disgusted at how certain individuals and organizations make an economic profit from the affliction, agony, and death of animals as a public spectacle,

Not considering cultural significance as a valid argument defending the torture of animals for the purpose of entertainment or recreation, and;

In an attempt to eradicate the dispensable suffering of other living beings;

1. Defines, for the purpose of this resolution:
a) The term ''animal'' as every non-sapient, non-botanical living being except fungi and microorganisms.
b) The term ''legal biomedical research'' as the scientific tests, experiments, or investigations conducted by any individual, institution or organization which has been given permission to perform such activities by competent authorities in accordance with standing UN legislation.
c) The term ''proper shelter'' as (i) area with sufficient space to allow the animal to easily stand, sit, lie, turn about, and make all other normal body movements in a comfortable, normal position for the animal and (ii) dwelling place which is safe and protects the animal from injury, physical suffering, and impairment of health.
d) The term ''proper veterinary care'' as any veterinary treatment needed to prevent suffering or impairment of health.

2. Mandates that:
a) The following shall be strictly prohibited:
- Torturing, cruelly beating, overdriving, overloading, causing substantial bodily harm or tormenting any animal.
- Maliciously, deliberately or recklessly injuring, wounding, poisoning, maiming, disfiguring, mutilating or killing any animal.
- Knowingly and willfully depriving any animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink.
- Force-feeding any animal by any method.
- Willfully depriving any animal of proper shelter or proper veterinary care.
- Knowingly and willfully causing or procuring any of the aforementioned.

b) All public or social activities displaying, exhibiting or involving the substantial bodily suffering of, the intentional infliction of significant physical pain on or the death of any animal shall be prevented and banned.

c) The following shall be exempted from all the above clauses:
- Activities conducted for the primary purpose of and strictly required for providing food for human or animal consumption.
- Activities conducted for purposes of legal biomedical research.
- Professional veterinary practices performed in the interests of an animal's health or welfare.
- The destruction of any animal for the purposes of protecting the public, other animals, property, or the public health.
- The humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a method that involves instantaneous unconsciousness and immediate death.

d) All forms of organized animal combat, where participating animals are forced, instigated or in any way encouraged to fight between each other, shall be prevented and banned.

3. Urges members to increase the awareness of animal cruelty and continue to instill respect for animals through education, and;

4. Further encourages the adoption of policies and regulations to preserve the basic dignity of all animals.

Votes For: 6,311
Votes Against: 3,951

Implemented: Wed Jul 4 2007

Description: The United Nations,

AWARE of the importance of historical sites for the international community and future generations;

NOTING that history isn't only a national subject, but of international concern;

BELIEVING that keeping history alive therefore is without doubt worth being handled by the United Nations;

DECIDES to protect historical sites of importance

Therefore:

§1 DEFINES a 'historical site' as

a. building (including fountains, aqueducts and structures to similar purpose)
b. remains
c. excavation
d. grave/tomb or
e. cult site

with historical means to a specific nation or folk as well as to the international community.

§2 ESTABLISHES the 'List of UN-protected Historical Sites' containing all historical sites, that are of supraregional importance, because they are/were

a. a masterpiece of human creation
b. a major watershed in architecture, technology, urban development or landscaping
c. a unique or at least rare evidence of a contemporary or lost civilization
d. an outstanding example of an architectural, technical or scenic type, that emblematize one or more important episode(s) in history of humanity
e. an outstanding example of traditional human housing schemes or land/sea utilization, which is typical for one or more cultures or
f. connected directly or at least distinguishable with events, traditional ways of life, ideas, credos, artistic or literary acts of exceptional universal meaning.

§3 ESTABLISHES the 'United Nations Committee for Protection of Historical Sites' (UNCPH) as board of twelve independent members, elected by UN.

§4 MANDATES the UNCPH to keep the 'List of UN-protected Historical Sites' (see §2) updated ex officio and publish it in print and online via database. Each member state per application as well as 10% of the population of a member state per petition can request a change (admission or deletion) of the list. The UN hereby forbids any other change of the list.

§5 ENACTS that every item of the 'List of UN-protected Historical Sites' (see §2) must not be destroyed or changed in substance, except for restoration or faithful reproduction above remains, if they maintain the originality and meaning of the item. Primarily the reason for being on the list (see §2) must be conserved.

§6 ALLOWS member nations to diverge from §5 in times of war, if a opposing belligerent has taken position within or near an item on the 'List of UN-protected Historical Sites' (see §2) and maintaining the item would be of strategic disadvantage, as long as they minimize damage to the item as far as possible. Any damage will be reviewed by UNCPH after the conflict has ended and possible sanctions will be determined.

§7 RECOMMENDS member nations to maintain other national historical sites as well in order to keep the memory of regional and supraregional history alive.

Authored by Damned PoPer

Votes For: 6,845
Votes Against: 2,949

Implemented: Mon Jul 9 2007

Description: The United Nations,

Aware that many of the most critical issues of daily life involve resource management and the maintenance of a harmonious balance with the natural world, and that meaningful action on them requires a full and developed knowledge of the underlying environmental science,

Recognising that environmental science can lead to the formulation of community and governmental policies, and personal and business strategies, to recognise and mitigate problems of environmental degradation while promoting sustainable development, thereby promoting ‘bottom-up’ solutions to environmental problems, allowing individuals to make rational choices rather than depending on stringent government oversight,

Considering the establishment of an impartial body capable of coordinating and conducting research free of political and private influence to be one useful means of promoting such goals through an international body:

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution, 'environmental science' as the pursuit of understanding of the natural environment through the scientific process, and especially that concerning the interaction of natural and artificial components, the effect of economic activities upon the environment, the development of solutions to problems within these relationships, and the search for sustainable modes of development;

2. Promotes the study of environmental science throughout all UN member nations, emphasises support for projects bringing understanding of the value and importance of environmental science to a wider audience, and encourages member nations to fund relevant research projects and courses of study;

3. Declares that persons in member nations may apply for funding for such from the UNEAF, subject to the approval of the nation in which the study or research is being undertaken, and providing such work abides by environmental regulations and academic best practice;

4. Establishes, as a neutral council capable of conducting independent research, the United Nations Environmental Agency (UNEA);

5. Declares that the UNEA shall:
- liaise with similar local, national and regional bodies, particularly through assisting with the establishment of such programs as advanced by this resolution,
- liaise with existing UN environmental and other relevant committees, while hopefully mitigating the need for further proliferation of such,
- conduct environmental science research, including work towards solving problems of environmental degradation, and make freely available their findings and recommendations,
- abide by academic best practice in all their endeavours;

6. Further declares that the UNEA shall:
- conduct, on a annual basis, surveys of the state of the natural environment, identify existing and potential problems of environmental degradation, and research towards solutions to such problems and mitigating measures against further,
- make freely available such findings in an International Environmental Audit Yearbook,
- conduct, where requested by the authority with jurisdiction over the particular area, further environmental surveys directed at more specific details,
- conduct, on a regular basis, such surveys over areas under UN jurisdiction or identified as international or non-national territory;

7. Prohibits the UNEA from accepting donations from private parties such as businesses, charities or NGOs, so as to prevent its research being skewed in favour of specific interest groups.

Votes For: 6,393
Votes Against: 2,813

Implemented: Fri Jul 20 2007

Description: Believing that the ability to form and join labor unions is often an important factor in assuring proper compensation and adequate working conditions;

Recognizing that industrial actions are important -- sometimes the only -- means available for workers to successfully influence management decisions,

But also believing that the welfare of the general public must be of paramount concern in weighing the right of workers to engage in such actions,

The United Nations;

1. RESOLVES that all UN member states must recognize and ensure the fundamental right of everyone to form or join unions of their choice for the purpose of collective representation of workers, and the right of those unions to establish and join federations and confederations of labor organizations, both nationally and internationally.

2. ESTABLISHES the right of all workers in all UN member nations to engage in strikes and other industrial actions, including, but not limited to, work slowdowns, overtime refusal, work-to-rule and general strikes, provided that those actions do not cause physical harm to persons or property;
a. Employers are not required to pay wages of workers while they are on strike.
b. Workers may not be terminated from employment for participating in a legally authorized strike or industrial action.

3. DECLARES that national governments may exempt from the rights granted in clause 2:
a. Strikes or other industrial actions not authorized by a union.
b. Strikes or other industrial actions which significantly endanger the health or welfare of the public, such as, but not limited to strikes by medical and police personnel.

4. RESERVES to the respective member nations the right to determine the extent to which the provisions of this resolution shall apply to:
a. Members of the armed forces,
b. Law enforcement personnel,
c. Providers of emergency services, and
d. Government employees providing essential public services.

5. MANDATES that labor disputes involving workers lacking the right to strike under articles 3.b. and 4 of this resolution be settled through binding arbitration administered by an independent and unbiased third party.

6. DECLARES that national governments may require unions to supply fair notice to employers and relevant government agencies in advance of industrial action.

7. AFFIRMS the right of Unions and their national and international organisations to be free to draw up their own constitutions and rules, organize their own administration and activities, and formulate their own programs.

8. FORBIDS discrimination based on Union membership where employment is concerned. Union members and non-members must be afforded equal treatment in hiring, work assignment, compensation, promotion, training and education, and disciplinary actions.

9. DECLARES that Unions must abide by national law, and that national laws shall not be made to impair the guarantees provided for in this resolution.

Co-author: Ausserland.

Votes For: 5,110
Votes Against: 3,934

Implemented: Sun Jul 29 2007