Professional Documents
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Pre Edition 2012
Pre Edition 2012
BEARMUN
When a film production degrading Islam goes viral, the outrage mounts.
Melina Knabe Jan McGreal Reporters
Todays world pulses incessantly and rapidly. Information is coded, reviewed, processed, submitted and released at high speed. Living in a society of instant gratification of news and opinions, it is only fitting that this years 21st annual Berlin Model United Nations conference topic reads: Media Without Boundaries: Creating or Solving Problems? These disparate opinions of medias influence on global issues remain highly discussed within the last few months. The conflict inflamed anew with the emergence of a controversial YouTube video named The Innocence of Muslims that went viral beginning September 2012, shortly before the 11th anniversary of 9/11. During a period of national grief and religious sensitivity, the California-based production satirizes Islam and its sacred religious figure - the prophet Muhammad. The film excerpt, which cannot be accessed via YouTube and has had the video-sharing website blocked by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in several Middle Eastern countries, portrays degrading and discriminating images of the pious personality of Muhammad, according to the U.S. foreign ministry. Responding to the film, the Freedom and Justice Party of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt called for uprisings against the racist crime according to The Tribune, and a series of demonstrations before the U.S. embassy in Cairo resulted. The killing of the U.S. Ambassador and three embassy officials on
Wednesday, September 12th in Benghazi, Libya shocked the entire world, prompting a further wave of aroused sentiments linking back to the original video. This event also provoked sharp criticism from the Muslim community, showing the world that the killing should not be interpreted as the general reaction towards the film but as a singular radical and unjustifiable occurrence. Now Sam Bacile, the producer of Innocence of Muslims, whose identity remains questionable, prompted an uproar of violence in the Middle East, where individuals are now guilty of the murder of four U.S. embassy staff members. Yet Baciles own innocence is disputable. Yet the question remains, whether the media and YouTubes controversial upload can take the blame, or whether governments must face intrinsic, unresolved religious and cultural animosities instead.
Education of the future: does technology create problems? more on page 2 Are media devices as safe as you think? see page 3
Learn about the problems caused by the increasing numbers of refugees. check page 3 BerMUNs host city and its connections to media. full coverage on page 4
war has left deep scars. Even after the longawaited secession of Southern Sudan just last year, potential for conflict remains. In the words of the PC research report: The South has accused the North of [...] attempting to sabotage the Souths economy. This year, the committee will convene in an effort to find a compromise amenable to both sides. The Arab-Israeli Conflict, on the other hand, spans over 60 years of internecine quarrel sparked by the proclamation or the worlds only Jewish state, Israel, in 1948. Israels claim over what was once a land populated by 94% Christians and Muslims remains a core issue, according to the report. The recent uprisings popularly known as the Arab Spring, however, have lent perspective to the rapidly developing nature of conflicts in the region: the involvement of modern technology as a means of empowering Arab youth. In the words of an analyst cited by Natividad and von Gizycki, [...] technology may do for Islam, what the printing press did for Christianity; usher in a great era of change. The Political Committee certainly hopes so.
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in the BEARMUN Newspaper, do not necessarily reflect the opinion of BerMUN or its advertisers. John F. Kennedy School Teltower Damm 87-93 14167 Berlin (Zehlendorf) Germany (+49) 030 90299 5785 e-mail: bermunpress@jfksberlin.org web: bermunmedia.blogspot.com
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The numbers of forcibly displaced refugees is at its highest since the mid 1990s, with over 42 Million refugees worldwide. According to the refugee council RCOA, almost 80 % percent of the refugees find asylum in developing countries like Pakistan and Iran. Hardly any asylum camps are stationed in economically developed countries such as the USA and France, thus hindering the developing countries from rising in economical standard. Refugees flee their homes due to racism, discrimination, violation of human rights, and lengthy political conflicts, as shown by the high number of refugees from Palestine and Afghanistan. To help the refugees, the UN Refugee Agency, an organization founded in 1949 to support and protect refugees, is increasing refugee camps all over the world, supplying the refugees with the needed medical care and making sure their rights arent being violated. UN Refugee Commissioner Antonio Gutteres states, Although we try to protect all refugees coming to us, it is still an increasing number and unfortunately we cant help every individual. Gutters also comments that there will be, no decrease in the number of refugees if countries like Iraq and Afghanistan keep up the political conflicts and discrimination. Human Rights Committee Deputy Chair, Lilli Pukall, whose committee will discuss the status of refugees in a globalized world, claims, The most obvious step to secure more refugees is to increase refugee camps all over the world, and not only in developing countries.
The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. As most delegates will sojourn in the area of Zehlendorf, some recommendable cafes are Coffee Cabana, Starbucks and Walters Coffee. Lastly, a rather famous finger food in Berlin is the Dner. It consists of sliced lamb or chicken served in a pita with salad and sauce- it is a must-try for all of the delegates! Conclusively, with its exciting night life, culinary, historical and architectural aspects, Berlin is one of the most versatile cities in the world. It has considerable national and international recognition. If any questions arise concerning the city, the Berlin BERMUN delegates are happy to provide further help and information.
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