WorldMUN Vancouver is liveblogged by Larissa Taciuk, a Vancouver native who did MUN at McGill University and staffed at UNA-USA MUN with us
The WorldMUN Spirit still lives on even with WorldMUN 2012 having been concluded for over a week. Especially due to the fact that the conference ended with such a bang! Immediately after Closing Ceremonies, delegates, staff, and all attendees were ushered just outside of the Vancouver Convention Centre to witness the Olympic Flame being lit. It was a fitting end to the conference, and at the risk of being too clichéd, the symbolism of the lighting of a flame seemed to mirror the mood of the end of the conference. The friendships, the lessons, the WorldMUN Spirit, the entire experience lives on in all of those who participated in Vancouver WorldMUN 2012.
The College of William and Mary loved the Global Village, particularly the opportunity to meet people before committee session started. Delegates from the European Business School in Oestrich enjoyed the spirit of all the delegates. Swiss delegates from the University of St Gallen felt right at home in the mountains. Ladies from the UAE University enjoyed the diversity of committees and delegations.
I particularly enjoyed all the extra opportunities for learning and debate that were provided. I had the pleasure of attending a workshop about the Euro Zone Crisis and its Implication for International Monetary Regime. I learned a lot, both from the fascinating and well-informed speakers and delegates’ informed questions. I also visited The Resolution Project, an amazing organization committed to empowering socially responsible young leaders. The opportunity to meet George Tsiatis, one of the owners, and chat with him about some of the things achieved by Resolution Fellows was inspiring. It was very exciting to hear the winners of The Resolution Project at the end of the Closing Ceremonies.
Winners of The Resolution Project. Learn more at http://www.resolutionproject.org/
The Closing Ceremonies, with keynote speaker Stephen Toope, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia, were an excellent conclusion and summation of some important lessons from the conference. Mr. Toope reminded us that our minds and our ideas are not static, but that they expand as we invite ideas in (even if we don’t agree with them). That curiosity, diplomacy and respect will get one far. And that the antidote to fear and ignorance is friendship. With these lessons taken to heart, and through new friendships we forged and old friendships which grew stronger, WorldMUN has helped to make us, in Mr. Toope’s words, “the kind of citizens that our world needs.”
Diplomacy Awards
WorldMUN gives out Diplomacy awards to delegates in each committee plus two delegation awards. Here are notable teams that received Diplomacy awards and the country they are originally from:
Best Large Delegation: Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela)
Best Small Delegation: Claremont McKenna College (United States)
Universidad Catolica Andres Bello led the way in terms of number of Diplomacy awards and took home the Best Large Delegation. Last year’s Best Large Delegation winner, MUN Society Belgium (Belgium), was right behind them by one award according to our unofficial tally. The University of North Carolina – Charlotte (United States) and the College of William & Mary (United States) also contended for a large delegation award.
Claremont McKenna College received the Best Small Delegation award. According to our unofficial tally, other teams performing around this level included Universidad Central de Venezuela (Venezuela), the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Pakistan), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), Universidad del Rosario (Colombia), and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (United States).
Other teams with multiple Diplomacy awards included American University in Beirut (Lebanon), George Washington University (United States), Ghent University (Belgium), Universität Heidelberg (Germany), Marianopolis College (Canada), Queensland University of Technology (Australia), Santa Fe College (United States), Universität St. Gallen (Switzerland), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), and Universidad Simon Bolivar (Venezuela).
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is proud of their accomplishments at WorldMUN Vancouver
George Washington University celebrates its diplomatic success at WorldMUN Vancouver
The United States Military Academy at West Point poses in front of the Olympic cauldron at WorldMUN Vancouver
Congrats to all the staff and delegates for keeping diplomacy and the WorldMUN spirit alive!
**
Check out our other two liveblog articles:
See more photos of WorldMUN Vancouver at their Facebook page!
