National Geographic Magazine - NGM.com

Our Dwindling Food Variety

As we've come to depend on a handful of commercial varieties of fruits and vegetables, thousands of heirloom varieties have disappeared. It's hard to know exactly how many have been lost over the past century, but a study conducted in 1983 by the Rural Advancement Foundation International gave a clue to the scope of the problem. It compared USDA listings of seed varieties sold by commercial U.S. seed houses in 1903 with those in the U.S. National Seed Storage Laboratory in 1983. The survey, which included 66 crops, found that about 93 percent of the varieties had gone extinct. More up-to-date studies are needed.

National Geographic Magazine - NGM.com

Drug Trafficking, Violence and Mexico's Economic Future - Knowledge@Wharton

Drug Trafficking, Violence and Mexico's Economic Future - Knowledge@Wharton

Russia's Drug Epidemic

This drug is called “krokodil”, or crocodile, and it is related to morphine. The active ingredient, codeine, can be found in over-the-counter medicines in Russia and is easily obtained.
Russia's Drug Epidemic

The General Assembly Third Committee (GA3rd) began its sixty-fifth session on September 14, 2011

1 GA Third Committee. Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural, 2011
2 GA Third Committee. Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural, 2011.
3 International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, 2011.
4 International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, 2011.
5 General Assembly. Third Committee Approves Text to Ensure Human Rights Protected in Anti-Terrorism
Efforts, Another Stating ‘No Religion Should be Equated with Terrorism’, 2011.
6 General Assembly. Third Committee Approves Text to Ensure Human Rights Protected in Anti-Terrorism
Efforts, Another Stating ‘No Religion Should be Equated with Terrorism’, 2011.

General Assembly Third Committee

General Committee Items

The General Assembly Third Committee (GA3rd) began its sixty-fifth session on September 14, 2011, discussing an agenda that seeks to achieve better international recognition of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Topics being discussed include the promotion and protection of the rights of children; indigenous issues; the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance; the right of peoples to selfdetermination;
Chinese agricultural land degradation and its negative impact on rural settlers’ right to food; and implementation of human rights instruments.1 The committee has worked diligently and has made a number of proposals to the General Assembly Plenary, including strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations; emergency and reconstruction efforts in Haiti; and assistance to the Palestinian people.2 Each of these contributes to the committee’s vision of promoting basic rights, necessities, and fundamental freedoms for all people.

The General Assembly Third Committee has recently discussed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, a landmark United Nations declaration outlining the rights of the world’s estimated 370 million indigenous peoples.3 The Declaration is a non-binding text that defines the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as the rights held by indigenous populations to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education, and other issues.4 The General Assembly Third Committee is also discussing and is making advancements in the condemnation of widespread attacks on religious minorities.

Finally, in November 2010 the committee held discussions about the questionable correlation between religion and terrorism, and issued a draft resolution urging the international committee to not equate terrorism with religion.5 The draft resolution would emphasize that “no religion should be equated with terrorism, as this may have adverse consequences on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief of all members of the religious communities concerned.”6 During the 2010 session, other major topics on the GA Third Committee’s agenda were social development, achieving greater political rights for women, the protection and promotion of children’s rights, and fighting for greater entitlement of human rights to indigenous populations.

Each of these topics, particularly the recent developments in winning greater recognition of all human rights for indigenous populations and women, are especially relevant to the issues being discussed by the Third Committee during NMUN 2011.



Annotated Bibliography

General Committee Items

General Assembly. (2011). United Nations News Stories. Retrieved January 10, 2011 from http://www.un.org/en/ga/news/

This site outlines recent news developments in all committees of the UN General Assembly, including the Third Committee. Therefore, delegates can use the site to gain a general understanding of UN events and topics being discussed by the General Assembly generally, browse the updates to find those that pertain specifically to issues discussed by the Third Committee. New developments in committee news are updated periodically, so delegates should check back often.

General Assembly Third Committee. (2011). Documents of the 65th Session. Retrieved January 8, 2011 from
http://www.un.org/en/ga/third/65/documentation.shtml


This page includes a full listing of Third Committee agenda items, a calendar of meetings for the Third Committee, a listing of documents per agenda item, and several links pertaining to draft proposals, their status, and Member State statements on those draft proposals. This site may serve as a central hub for the delegate interested in learning about what specifically is being discussed at the Third Committee in its 65th session. Links listed on the page can take delegates to text displays of actual draft resolutions currently under consideration.

Russia's gross distortions of the truth about methadone at the UN (again) facilitated by the UN (again) | Harm Reduction International

Date: 24 June 2011

Yesterday saw the launch of the world drug report at UN headquarters in New York. The world drug report is the UN’s flagship statistical analysis of the ‘world drug problem’. Many were more than disheartened to see the Russian drug tsar, Viktor Ivanov again being given such high prominence by the UN given the country’s disastrous and neglectful drug policies.

Russia's gross distortions of the truth about methadone at the UN (again) facilitated by the UN (again) | Harm Reduction International

WTO | News - Speech - DG Pascal Lamy - Trade restrictions on the rise — Lamy

WTO | News - Speech - DG Pascal Lamy - Trade restrictions on the rise — Lamy

AUGUST 2010 -2011 " Our year, our voice "

YOUth and Youth-focused Organizations are encouraged to initiate and participate in activities in celebration of the Year and its theme.


WHAT'S HAPPENING?

The Year, from 12 August 2010 to 11 August 2011, begins with launch events at UN Headquarters in New York and around the world showcasing youth contributions to development and promoting the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth.

The UN Conference on Youth will be a highlight of the International Year of Youth.
Many other events are scheduled throughout the world to celebrate the
Year. Please visit the official Calendar of Events for more information at:
http://social.un.org/youthyear.

YEAR OF YOUTH

The International Year of Youth is being celebrated
from 12 August 2010 to 11 August 2011 and everyone
has a role to play!

Why an international year of youth?


In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 64/134 proclaiming the Year, signifying the importance the international community places on integrating youth-related issues into global, regional, and national development agendas. Under the theme Dialogue and Mutual Understanding, the Year aims to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions and civilizations.
The world is facing many, often overlapping, crises including financial, security, environmental and other socio-economic challenges hindering the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals. Investing in and partnering with youth is key to addressing these challenges in a sustainable manner.


WHY YOUTH?

The UN defines youth as those between the ages of 15 to 24. Today, youth represent 18% of the global population or 1.2 billion people. 87% of youth live in developing countries facing challenges brought about by limited access to resources, healthcare, education, training, employment and economic opportunities.

Member States of the United Nations recognize that young people in all countries are a major human resource for development, positive social change and
technological innovation. Their ideals, energy and vision are essential for the continuing development of their societies.
Young people are not merely passive beneficiaries but effective agents of change. Dedicated, enthusiastic and creative, youth have been contributing to development
by addressing society’s most challenging issues.

Young people’s efforts have contributed to combating poverty and hunger in their communities, stemming the HIV/AIDS pandemic through peer education and championing the protection of the environment.

Youth have also been pioneers in encouraging dialogue, understanding and respect among people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.

Youth often lead by example, such as by practicing green and healthy lifestyles, promoting innovative uses of new technologies including utilizing mobile devices and
online social networks and by bridging gaps to foster the development of inclusive societies. Their contributions to community, national, regional and global development must be recognized and encouraged.
Member States of the United Nations proclaimed the International Year bearing this in mind and with the knowledge that how these challenges are addressed and how youth’s potential is harnessed directly impacts current social and economic conditions.

YOUTH AND THE UNITED NATIONS

In 1985, the UN celebrated the first International Year of Youth. On its 10th
anniversary, the General Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action for Youth, setting a policy framework and guidelines for national
action and international support to improve the situation of young people.

Today, the World Programme of Action for Youth plays a prominent
role in youth development. It focuses on measures to strengthen national capacities in the field of youth and to increase the quality and quantity of opportunities available to young people for full, effective and constructive participation in society.


15 Priority Areas of the world programme of action for youth
-Education
-Employment
-Hunger and poverty
-Health
-Environment
-Drug abuse
-Juvenile delinquency
-Leisure-time activities
-Girls and young women
-Participation
-Globalization
-Information and communication technologies
-HIV/AIDS
-Youth and conflict
-Intergenerational relations

The United Nations Programme on Youth serves as the focal point on youth at the UN.

It undertakes a range of activities to promote youth development including supporting intergovernmental policy-making,conducting analytical research and increasing the effectiveness of the UN’s work in youth development by strengthening collaboration and exchange among UN entities through the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development.


WHAT'S YOUR ROLE IN CElEBRATING THE YEAR?
Everyone is invited to promote the ideals of peace, freedom, progress and solidarity towards the promotion of youth development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Member States of the United Nations are encouraged to hold national events in celebration of the Year and to raise public awareness about the important contributions of youth to their country’s development.

Member States are also encouraged to review their national youth development policies and programmes to fully implement the World Programme of Action for Youth.