THIMUN 2007 Deals With Povertywww.munity-online.netMonday, 22 January 2007 Volume 15, Pre-Conference Issue

Yearafteryear,theprimaryobjectiveoftheTHIMUNfoundationremainsclearandunchanged,andthatistoprovidean organized forum in which the leaders of tomorrow maydebatethetopicsbeingdiscussedbytheleadersoftoday.Seeingthat most of these ‘hot-button’ issues are subject to change,every year, the THIMUNBoard of Directors selects oneof particular interest to be thecentralthemeoftheconference.This theme represents acurrent global struggle, andis chosen based on its overallinternational relevance andinfluence. Hence, no matter what the topic, it is normallyone thatworks in tandemwithmany of the issues debatedin the individual committees.

To set the tone forthis year’s conference theBoardhaschosen the themeof“Eradicationofextremepovertyandhunger.”Theyhavechosento keep using the MillenniumDevelopment Goals as a basisfor the conference themes, apattern started in THIMUN2006withthetheme“Promotionofgenderequality.”THIMUN2007 Secretary GeneralThomas Hälsig believes thatthis pattern will most likelycontinueinfutureconferences.“As for the last two years the THIMUN themes are similarto some of the MDGs, and as far as I have information theywill continue this pattern, since the MDGs resemble mostof the world problems in short definition and achievements.”

Though the annual theme may be considered by

many to be the heart of the conference, some delegates mayfind themselves more involved with it than others. Such delegates may include those in the Economic and SocialCouncil (ECOSOC) and Special Conference, committeeswhose themes are centered primarily on the same MDGs.

Delegates from other committees will not be lefttotally isolated from the conference theme, although theymay debate it in less detail. Various other activities have

undoubtedlybeenintheworkstogettheaveragedelegatemoreinvolvedwiththisyear’stheme.More information about suchactivities will be announcedas the conference unfolds.

Theconferencethemeitself means nothing delegatesunderstand and appreciate itssignificance. So what do students really think about this year’stheme? “I believe that this isanexcellentthemeconsideringthe current situation in Africaand other lesser developednationsandaroundtheworld,”says delegate Mathias Gelbof the International School ofPanama. “There are a lot ofproblemsinthisworld;howevernone are as devastating aspoverty and hunger, and oneof the best ways to attackthem is through awareness.”

Hälsigsharesasimilarview, stating that, “this year’sthemeisthestrongestwehavehadsofar,sinceitclearlyaffects

so many people and is a solution for so many world issues.”Only time will tell what affect this year’s

theme has on THIMUN 2007 and how it might makethis conference different from previous years; but withexpectations running high, the prospects look promising.

By Jared Staha

Welcome To THIMUN 2007!

General Debate Begins.THIMUN ARCHIVES