Model Organization of American States

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Model Organization of American States

• A Brief Overview

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Model Organization of American States

• June 1-3, 2008

• SUNY Plattsburgh

• 13 schools from northern New York and Vermont
  represent 25 different countries from the Western
  Hemisphere at the Model

• This year, MWCS will represent Haiti and The
  United States of America!!!

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Goals of the Model
Class members will
--participate in general discussion on the
history of Latin America with an emphasis and
focus on Haiti and the United States.
--research political, social, and economic
characteristics of Haiti and the United States
using a variety of textual and digital resources
--study fundamental structure, organization and
purpose of the Organization of American States
and its hemispheric and global roles.
--identify and discuss current hemispheric issues
from a variety of textual and digital resources.
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Goals of the Model (contd)
--develop reading, writing, speaking and
listening skills, specifically in terms of oral
and written analysis and questioning of specific
issues affecting Haiti and the United States and
the western hemisphere.

--develop oral and written argument and debate
skills in terms of defending or refuting policy
and resolutions to be presented at the Model
Assembly.
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The course will consist of five phases--
Phase 1 Country background. Research and
discover the social, political, economic,
historic and judicial elements of Haiti and the
United States.
Phase 2 The Organization of American States.
Discover the history and structure of the
Organization of American States. Identify how
the OAS is organized what the legacy of the OAS
is and more importantly, determine what the OAS
role in the hemisphere is.
Phase 3 Questioning and Argument. Learn the
art of questioning and argumentation. What is
the purpose of questioning, and what methods
elicit specific responses? How does one go about
defending a specific position?
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Phase 4 Procedure and Practice for the Model
Assembly. Learn procedure within committees at
the Model Assembly. Begin development of
resolution by applying knowledge of Haitian and
American policy to a variety of issues within the
hemisphere. Practice presentation of resolution
and questioning of additional resolutions within
committee.
Phase 5 Participation in the Model Assembly of
the Organization of American States. Put into
final practice what has been learned caucusing
presentation and defense of resolutions within
committee questioning merit of resolutions
presented by other delegations in committee
amending resolutions following procedure and
voting on resolutions.
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The structure of the model
The Model OAS consists of five committees, each
of which corresponds to working bodies within the
real OAS. Each committee has one delegate and
one alternate representing both Haiti and the
United States at the Model Assembly.
General Committee Broad Political Matters
--preserving and strengthening democracy
--peaceful resolution of conflict
--combating corruption in the hemisphere
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First Committee Juridical and Political Issues
--Strengthening of human rights in the hemisphere
--Inclusion of women in politics
--Rights of indigenous populations
--Administration of justice in the Americas
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Second Committee Economic and Social Issues
--Trade liberalization and integration in the
hemisphere
--Geography and economic development
--Strategies to eradicate poverty in the
hemisphere
--The preservation of the environment and
economic development
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Third Committee Education, Scientific and
Cultural Issues
--Trafficking of women and children in the
Americas
--Education and economic development developing
human resources
--Strategies for the exchange of science and
technology in the Americas
--Health in the Americas a. The eradication
of tropical diseases b. The promotion of
affordable medicine throughout the hemisphere
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Fourth Committee Budget and Administration
--Sanctions for non-payment of quotas
--Financing natural disaster relief for the
Americas
--Revising the OAS scale of assessments a.
Establishment of a floor for quota payments b.
Calculation for a capacity to pay model
--OAS cooperation with the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB)
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Public Information Officer(s)
The public information officers responsibilities
are to
a. write press releases for activities prior to
and during the Model Assembly
b. handle all external contacts with embassies
in Ottawa and Washington, DC
c. organize and edit all resolutions produced
prior to and during the Model Assembly
d. assist delegates with preparation of
preambles and introductory speeches
e. produce The Delegate, the MWCS delegations
newsletter.
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Where do we go from here?
Research Options on the Net
US State Department
Organization of American States
SUNY Plattsburgh
CNN
National Drug Strategy Network
Latin American Studies
OAS Charter
Latin American Network Information Center
Latin American Weekly Report
Embassies and Missions in Ottawa
Miami Herald
Foreign Embassies in the United States
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(No Transcript)
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ChinatownWashington, DC
OAS Headquarters
Washington, DC
The Grand BallroomOAS Headquarters
Costa Rican Minister-Counselor Rodrigo Sotela
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Haiti and the United States