A press conference was held at NTU on March 12th. We have received blessings from NTU, the Taipei City Government, the Harvard Alumni Association of ROC, and our many sponsors.

Press Conference Remarks 
by Secretary-General, Ami Nash & President of Host Team, Jason Hou

Ami: Thanks to everyone for being here; we're extremely excited to be starting World Model United Nations' 19th annual conference here in Taipei in just a couple of  days, with the tremendous team of students from NTU as our hosts.


Jason: First of all, on behalf of the entire WorldMUN Team, we deliver our thanks to National Taiwan University, WorldMUN's generous sponsors and supporters, and hundreds of staffs and volunteers from the NTU Host Team & Harvard Team, along with the press representatives here with us today.

So how exactly does WorldMUN work? WorldMUN is a simulation or "model" of the United Nations and many international organizations in which college and university students step into the roles of foreign diplomats to debate and form new solutions on the world's most pressing issues. This year we have 22 committees led by Harvard, NTU students, and students from all over Taiwan.

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Every Saturday morning at 8:50 AM, 70 students show up at NTU’s classroom with their backpacks and some with their breakfasts. Two students checked the name list for each incoming student and hand them their badge. Four others are up on the stage, busy setting up the microphone, projector and the computer. A small group of students are in one corner of the room, making final changes to their PowerPoint slides, and reaffirming several things that they should say for the next couple of hours. For ten weeks, this scenery appears on campus. The students that have dedicated their weekends to participate in the training program are the Assistant Chairs (AC) of the WorldMUN 2010 conference. Eight “senior” Assistant Chairs are in charge of planning and directing the training, The senior ACs are experienced “MUNers,“ recruited from NTU and NCCU. They have been working on the program since July, 2009.

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 MUN-ing in Taiwan: "Taiwan MUN 2009" review

"Diplomatic" is how Venezuelan delegate, Betty, portrays the WorldMUN 2010 NTU Host Team. "Smart" is the word she uses to describe the delegates who participated in Taiwan MUN 2009 (TWMUN 09), a warm-up held by the NTU Host Team in Taipei.  

Last December, 8 Venezuelan delegates left the participating Taiwanese students in awe after the 2-day TWMUN 09 conference. Oustanding performances in WorldMUN year after year has earned them fair reputation. Any participant of the Taiwan MUN 2009 will tell you about the incredible Venezuelan students, and the spirit the WorldMUN Host Team endeavors to convey. 

Strained relations lead to the closure of the embassy of Taiwan in Venezuela last September (2009), leaving Betty and her schoolmates no simple way to acquire visa to come to Taipei. To ensure his students the chance to come to WorldMUN 2010 this March, the falcutly advisor of Universidad Central De Venezuela accompanied his eight prospective WorldMUN 2010 delegates to Taiwan, to make for visa aquisition and conveniently, attend TWMUN 09.  Quoted from Desiree, one of the Venezuelan delegates, their faculty advisor had studied in Taiwan before and greatly loved its land and people. He had also taught a course on Taiwan's Economy and Political Development, with a wish to share the special history of Taiwan with his students.

When asked what was most stunning of her stay in Taiwan, Betty said it was the remarkable communication and coordination skills of the local students - they can always manage to arrive at a solution, however complicated and diverse the issue and opinions. Also, she thinks students in Taiwan are pretty smart, not as well-trained and dominating, but articulate and willing to express their ideas.

Unlike past TWMUNs, TWMUN 09 invited WorldMUN 2010 Assistant Chairs and registered Taiwan delegates to attend, offering new MUNers in Taiwan a warm-up and for our trained Assistant Chairs, another chance to practice.One NTUMUN Society member told us that this experience was precious because his Society was holding a Try Out to become part of its delegation for WorldMUN 2010 the next day. He believes that the essence of MUN is the flow of conflicting interests, compromises, integration and finally, a consensus. For example, in the DISEC committee, at first the room was divided into three blocs: developed countries, developing countries and African countries. But as the conference developed, the developed and developing countries began to combine ideas, forming a working papaer that seemed satisfying but in truth satisfied no one. The Latin America-centered bloc proposed that peace troops should be approved by evaluation agencies before entry to war-zones and clung to the idea the violence is not the only way out. War-ravaged African countries, however, opposed the idea of external interference in their "domestic issue" and were only willling to accept food aid and care goods from the international community. It wasn't until the final session that compromises were fianlly made and consensus reached.

Speaking of "how to prepare," Cheng, a Taiwanese student who attended the WorldMUN 2010 Assistant Chair A++ Training Program, shared his ideas. He found the United Nations official website and endearvored in searching for relative pieces of news and UN Resolutions on all participating delegation countries - a strategic method to grab the basics and learn about the various viewpoints on the issue of concern.

A MUN veteran, Betty also shared her preparation tips. Her advice for new MUNers is to speak out bravely and don't let slip the precious chance to practice. You have to let go the fear of confronting conflict and failre, or you'll never move on and your efforts on preparation will prove worthless.

Though Betty and her schoolmates were highly praised by all participants, Cheng pointed out that the Venezuelan style is not the only winning strategy. Students can oustand others in MUN with many other strategies and styles.
In the field of MUN, experienced and well-prepared delegates usually have the uppderhand and are often expected to lead the forming of a Resolution paper. But to ensure that your country interests are well covered in the final Resolution, polite communication and brilliant cooperation with other country delegates are just as important.

Though an Assistant Chair, National Taipei College of Business student, Chiau, participated in TWMUN 09 as a delegate and better saw the significant role of an Assistant Chair on the dias. Chiau aslo expressed her thanks and respect to the Host Team for the sturdy ten-week Assistant Chair A++ Training Program, and especially to her peers who have made strides in MUN-ing.

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時嘉辰 (Caroline)

Officer of Public Relations

WorldMUN 2010, National Taiwan University Host Team

「MUN, my family.」- Andy

What makes a terrific team? Its size? Its impressive output? No, the best team is a group of people tightly connected to each other, always willing to support one another, as you would in a family. It's the impeccable family bond and trust that keeps the large web of working pals as one. This family factor takes most time and effort to build and sustain, yet is too often left forgotten.

I've been holding on to this belief ever since joining NTUMUN Society. To build "a large family of MUNers," where family members jointly grow and learn, share every tiny moments, either they be joy or sadness, with each other - that was where I was headed for. Over these years, NTUMUN has grown, and may I say, from generation to generation, to the huge family you see today. I believe none of this would have possibly happened without the the strong "family" bond.

And the best way to form this family bond is through organizing activities. Working on organizing an exciting event together, interaction among people intensifies. People mingle not only for serious discussions or tedious procedural errands, but also for heart-to-heart talks and quick shares of mood and thought. This network effect runs slow but deep. You can't quantify the impact, nor measure the significance, but it is easily felt. As long as one is willing to believe, willing to pick up the undone work, willing to clear the mess, your family is always there. And alway, it takes that one hand, and every pair of hands will join.

Hosting an event is the best way to present your family, your home. A good event leaves you in awe. We, the WorldMUN 2010 Divison of Special Projects (SP) are extremely excited and honored to be able to present our lovely home, Taiwan, to delegates from all around the world! Hopefully, you will be able to better understand Taiwan, and feel the equal share of passion and excitement as we Taiwanese do!


For my beloved MUN family members who have endeavored for WorldMUN 2010, for all that believe and dreams, and for you who read this in front of your computer,  let us display the beauty of Taipei, Taiwan throught WorldMUN 2010 to the world!


This is our home!
We are family!

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毛嵩傑 MAO, Sung-Chieh (Andy)

Deputy Director of Special Projects

WorldMUN 2010, National Taiwan University Host Team

Night 3:Cabaret
(click image to see large clearer view)

After our Host Team scheduled meeting, someone motioned for another item to be discussed.
This is when our Host Team President, Jason, sneaks in with a cake in hand.
Serious conference-faces melt into cheerful smiles.
Together, we sing happy birthday to Yolanda!
May her promising future be blessed with WorldMUN 2010!

WorldMUN 2010 NTU Host Team Director of Public Relations, Yolanda's 21st B-Day!

 

Night 2: Lunar New Year
(click image to see large clearer view)

Night 1: Global Village

黃彥捷　Huang, Yen-Chieh (Sam)

Deputy Director of Social Events

"The Best Social Events Ever!"- Host Team Division of SE

Yes, this is the reason we are here. To create the best WorldMUN social events ever! This dream cannot be possible without unshakeable faith and tremendous dedication. Now stepping into 2010, with the coming sales of our Social Events Tickets, we've fianlly marked a new page in history. We have the faith and will to move on, to create a phenomenal WorldMUN 2010!

"We're all in this together. Through thick and thin."- Sam

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Meet the Division of Design：This division is comprised of an Art Director, two Deputy Directors, one website manager and four staffs. A team small in size, yet brimmed with passion. Though each of us come from a different department at school, we share a common interest in art and design. Equipped with a peculiar passion and creativity, the Division of Design aims at creating a lively outfit for WorldMUN2010, Taipei.

I've been to the WorldMUN2008, Puebla(Mexico) and WorldMUN2009, The Hague(Netherlands). Their logos were impressive: The Mexico logo gives the impression of the rich Aztec culture

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What is WorldMUN? To most, what comes in mind is a scene painted with business attire, the air finely tuned with fluent English. Some think of the multi-culture exposure and enticing social events. Few notice the careful work of accommodation preparation.

After a long flight, once delegates land in Taiwan, the immediate next stop is the hotel. Though the conference hall and event locations attract all the spotlight, hotels account for a large part of their stay in Taiwan. The quality of the hotel services provided has a direct impact on the image of the Host City.

There is a list of elements crucial to a successul hotel.To name a few, fair price, decent upholstery, tidiness, comprehensive services, convenient trasportation, etc. What we, the Division of Accommodation, work on this summer is to ready ourselves and dish out the best collection of hotels. In keeping with this aim, we have been sifting through countless critical websites in town and abroad, weighing between the pros and cons of each and dashing through the hustel and bustle of Taipei.

During our investigation visits, we came to notice a rapidly growing industry. Taipei is now gathering momentum in the development of the MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions), a highly active industry abroad. The rapid pace of MICE development in Taiwan has moved up the value and advanced progress in the hotel industry. What we witness is a wave of renewed traditional hotels and the rising trend in Boutique Hotels. In addition, because of the increase in business traveler worldwide, hotels in Taipei are better aware and ready to serve international travelers.

With such readiness and experiences, we believe hotels in Taipei are more than capable of offering delegates a sense of home. The Division of Accommodation will see to it that delegates feel at home during their stay in this lovely city, Taipei!

Director of Accommodation and Health, Jason Jr.

http://www.ntu.edu.tw/english/

Proud no doubt, yet we must be cautious and constantly aware.

Be cautious, because the harvest we reap today was seeded, soiled and tended by numerous hands; be constantly aware of the unknown future, for danger lurks ahead.

Due caution and awareness can become a helpful ingredient.

I believe it is one thing to be mature and sophisticated at dealing with people and things, it is another to never lose heart and passion and be brave.

Yolanda

Director of Public Relations, WorldMUN2010 Host Team

To hold the WorldMUN2010 in Taiwan will be far more than a splendid firework event; it bears the expectations to plant and nurture a seed of global awareness and the United Nations spirit into Taiwan.

The growing seed will bloom and spread the idea of global citizenship into to youth of Taiwan. What Taiwan lacks now is a broader view and a more powerful will to take the lead. It is our deepest wish to bring forth a better Taiwan with the upcoming WorldMUN2010 in Taipei.

Jason

President, WorldMUN2010 Host Team