CCBMUN
Press
Economic and Social Council
Created with the goal of promoting dialogue to develop recommendations and solutions on economic, social and environmental issues, while implementing internationally agreed development goals. As a commission, ECOSOC is tasked with promoting
The CCBMUN will be covering two topics, 'Universal Basic Income, its benefits and repercussions' and 'Effects of artificial intellligence on employment '
higher standard of living, full employment, and economic and social progress
Topics
Model
Topic 1: Universal Basic Income, its benefits and repercussions
Topic 2: Effects of artificial intellligence on employment
Presidents
President: Lucas Hernández
School: Colegio Colombo Británico
President: Isabela Duque
School: Colegio Colombo Británico
Contact: ecosoc@ccbcali.edu.co
The Economic and Social Council is part of the six principal organs of the United Nations. It focuses on the direction and organization of the economic, social, humanitarian, and cultural activities the UN does. Additionally, it conducts studies, creates resolutions, and prepares recommendations, among other things. This council was established in 1945, and it was later expanded to include 54 members, rather than 18, all of which are elected by the General Assembly. ECOSOC members advocate for economic and social progress through forums and discussions.
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CCBMUNXVIII
Day 1
Universal Basic Income, its benefits, and repercussions
By: Isabel Cadavid
In today’s debate, the topic of Universal Basic Income (UBI) will be discussed. This is a very present subject nowadays since many countries are experimenting with it, and there are different positions. Nations such as Finland, Switzerland, Canada, have experimented with UBI, also a presidential candidate for the United States in the democratic party supports UBI.
Canada is the most participating delegation in this debate, this delegation proposed a project that is very similar to UBI, but it is not UBI, they stated that the UBI is a system that requires a lot of money just to work. The delegation of the United States is completely against UBI and it doesn’t understand why other delegations want to change their economic systems for UBI. Since the delegate of the United States was inactive, the chair assumed the role of Donald Trump for a certain moment in the debate. The president of the US is strictly against Canada’s proposal since he thinks it is a “socialist” idea, he is also completely against UBI.
The delegation of Norway, as well as the delegation of India, are in favor of UBI, Norway pointed out that UBI should be implemented immediately in third world countries that are living in extreme poverty. Even though the delegation of India is in favor of UBI, this delegation is concerned because of the possible corruption that could be presented in this project is implemented in third world countries.
Day 2
Universal Basic Income, its benefits, and repercussions
By: Isabel Cadavid
Today, the ECOSOC commission continues discussing the first topic, which is Universal Basic Income, its benefits, and repercussions. The delegation of Canada proposed the IMAP program for unemployment and people who are suffering from many things. It is a program that is very similar to UBI, but not totally the same, this delegation also mentioned that countries will sustain UBI with some monetary resources from the world bank
The chair assumed the role of Paul Krugman in the debate, and this role was controversial, since Krugman does not support UBI, to the contrary of many delegations in the commission. Paul Krugman believes that the economy needs to be free and he states that UBI can cause an economic crash, instead of UBI, a free economy is better to recuperate from the 2020 crises. The delegation of India partially agrees with Canada and with Krugman, this delegation said that the freer the economy, the freer the people, but in extreme situations, programs such as IMAP need to be implemented to improve the situation.
Finally, the commission was divided into two blocks, the big block was formed by Canada, France, Germany, Finland, India, Norway, and China, these delegations did a working paper with the IMAP proposal made by the delegation of Canada. The other block was only formed by the delegation of the United States, so the delegation did a press release and it was against IMAP and UBI. The chair proceeded to vote, and every delegation voted in favor of the big block’s working paper with the delegation of Canada’s proposal, except for the delegation of the United States and the delegation of Germany. After this, topic #1 was closed and the chair opened the second topic, Effects of artificial intelligence on employment.
Day 2
Universal Basic Income, its benefits, and repercussions
By: Isabel Cadavid
Today, the commission is finishing the second debate topic, which is The effects of Artificial Intelligence on employment and education. This topic discusses the fourth industrial revolution, which consists of the implementation of artificial intelligence and automation. The process of automation reduces the need for having many employees in a factory because some machines can do this work. AI (artificial intelligence) is rising at a rapid rate, and it can leave fewer jobs for some people in certain areas. It is predicted that the fourth industrial revolution will bring twice as many jobs, but it is unknown what will these jobs consist of, also, if AI is implemented the wrong way, it can bring more serious repercussions.
The commission formed a single block and they all did a single draft resolution. The draft resolution 2.1.1 was done by Canada, the Republic of India, Norway, The United States, China, The Republic of Finland, and Italy. This draft resolution focuses on education in order to prevent people to be unemployed from AI and to create benefits for unemployed people. They are concerned because of the possible crisis if AI is implemented the wrong way, they consider that innovating the educational system in the long term solution, and they are also aware that the fourth industrial revolution is inevitable. As this was the only draft resolution in the commission, it passed.
CCBMUNXVII
Simulation Day
Is There a Fix for Transport Chaos?
By: Carolina Agudelo
Today ECOSOC’s debate debated for the common cause for the improvement of the Sub-Saharan African public transportation systems. This particular African region’s population is quickly increasing but is developing at a stunted rate. Transportation in these countries is becoming chaotic, and so the goal of this debate is to find a solution. The debate started with a statement from the delegation of France stating that is economic ties with african countries stands and has for a long time.
The delegation of Malaysia states that its country supports all of the innovative ideas. The delegation of Germany says that lots of these ideas are not sustainable and it should be taken into consideration. The debate became slow and something unexpected happened when one of the presidents decided to become a delegate for a short amount of time in order to get the debate moving. In his intervention he accused the delegate of the United Kingdom for the lack of economic support it is providing to the delegation of Ethiopia (his own brief delegation). On another note, the delegation of Indonesia claims that the current public transport system have severe security risks for its users, and so this conflict should be approached in time.
Multiple delegations are proposing solutions and a conflict has started between the delegations of Germany and India. A motion to extend the informal debate time by the delegation of Germany. In these five minutes, Germany mentions a solution that failed and instead of helping it is worsening situations. The delegation of Indonesia responds by saying that monetary resources should not become the primary solution for this conflict.
Day 1
Interest vs Benefit
By: Carolina Agudelo
The first day of the CCBMUN in ECOSOC talks about the project “One Belt One Road” which is an initiative mentioned by the Chinese President Xi Jinping during 2013. It consists of developing innovative approaches and ideas to reestablish the ancient Silk Road. The objective for The Silk Road was made as a network of trade routes that helped China develop their economy, as well as their trade. Countries such as Russia and China are in favor of this project, on the contrary, the United States, Germany and Australia are against this. However, the delegations that are against the project, are fully developed countries who wouldn’t benefit from this project moving forward. The delegation of Russia makes various points during multiple interventions stating that this project won’t have a necessarily negative impact on the countries that are opposing and would help developing countries to raise their economy and trade.
The delegate of USA ended up having multiple points of information with the delegation of Russia heating up the debate fighting about how China would have a higher gain than the United States and Russia is quick to respond about healthy competition and about how that is how economy works. Multiple delegations have a perspective on the initiative Kenya is asking delegations such as US why it is opposing to a motion that will not harm them but will help developing countries. Germany mentions Russia’s extensive use of the floor for meaningless comments on taxes and topics that are not the point of the debate in hand. South Africa mensions what impacts could be present after the project both good and bad in order for other delegates to take into account.
The debate becomes heated up as different delegates want to get their way and nothing else. The chair stated that the strongest points have been given by Germany, Russia and China. At one point of the debate, Sudan mentioned making the form of payment be made by dues. Germany then intervenes the debate stating that cons present is that there are multiple, “Risks involved with major infrastructure projects.” President Lucas made a good point stating that with the One Belt One Road project, the only country truly gaining something is China and making an indirect point at Russia mentioning, “Pointless monologues about taxes and nonsense,” posing as the delegation of Sri Lanka. The debate is still uncertain and there is no solution yet.
Day 3
The “One Belt, One Road” Project and its Repercussions
By: Maria Fernanda Romano
Today in the second day of the Colegio Colombo Británico’s United Nations Model on the Economic and Social commission, ECOSOC, the main subject that was discussed was the polemic towards the proposal made by China’s president known as the One Belt, One Road Initiative which has as a result to reestablish the strong trading between 65 countries and facilitate the same. This project was planned to be worth anywhere from 3 trillion to 8 trillion dollars, and to contribute a big amount of earnings to a great number of developing countries. On the other side, many studies have shown concern about the possible debt risks, environmental, social and governance risks.
As it was expected in the debate, many opinions were presented, like for example, delegations such as the United States, India, and Australia are highly against this proposition due to interest in their own economies that would be affected if this project would go through over the years. On the other hand, many strong countries that have a great influence in the world’s economy have proven to be strongly in favor of this project such as obviously countries like China, Russia, among others. Also, it is important to add that many delegations had the initiative to propose novel solutions that had the whole commission reflecting on the best possible outcomes for this concerning problematic.