Friday in Economic committee started off like any other day at MCBMUN. Some delegates didn’t show up, some delegates argued, and every delegate looked alarmed at the brightness of press’s tights. Little did we know, however, that by the end of the day, we would have witnessed something practically unheard of in MCBMUN history. Not one, not two, but ALL THREE resolutions were passed. Thanks should be given to our three magnificent chairs, who held their own, despite their relative inexperience of chairing. Our first resolution was on Provision of Medicines to Developing Countries, which came from the UK. I feel it’s my obligation as a journalist to inform you all that the UK and New Zealand didn’t stop passing notes for the entire day- there was definitely romance brewing. But back to the resolution. During time against, we got our first real taste of Israel, who let us all know that he doesn’t give a monkey’s about LEDCs. He’s concerned with number 1. Which is nice of him. During this debate we got to witness our chair, Dermot Glynn, trying his very best to control the committee. Sadly, he made the occasional error of judgement, one of which culminated in Turkey moving to eject the chair “for being a bit useless.” Rather cruel, but ah well.

 

The second resolution was on Tax Havens, submitted by USA, who loved quoting Obama so much that it was banned. He saw some vehement opposition from Costa Rica who, despite being a top class delegate, had a little trouble with the definition of a tax haven. Some timing trouble meant that we didn’t see a conclusion to this debate until after we got back from lunch, so frankly I think most people had forgotten all about it anyway. But, just like the first, this resolution passed, and all was well with the world.

 

To inspire the delegates before their final debate of the day, we had a talk from Pat McGregor, a lecturer at the University of Ulster, on ‘Climate Change Policy – a Lot of Hot Air?’ which, as the title may suggest, detailed his scepticism of current and past policies. Everyone appreciated Dr McGregor’s speech, as it provoked a much more informed debate on the Effect of Climate Change on the world economy. Our beautiful novice chair Miss Morgan MacIntyre did will, despite some confrontation with Israel. Anyway, to cut a long story short, there was only one vote in it, but our final resolution of the day passed, probably a first in MUN history according to Edward, the font of all knowledge.

 

Rose McNeill