The topic of the Human Rights Committee (HRC), Climate refugees - dealing with a new kind of migration, has to be recognized by all nations as more regions are struck by climate change, especially the less developed ones.

We think that the following websites give you an adequate introduction to the issue. Please read them carefully and try to consider in particular the immigration policy of the country you represent.

We are also trying to obtain a copy of the new documentary film “Climate Refugees” by Michael Nash.

http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/activities/by-theme/migration-climate-change-environmental-degradation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_migrant

http://science.howstuffworks.com/climate-refugee.htm/printable

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2006/12/climate_refugees.html

http://www.glogov.org/?pageid=80

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/03/global-warming-climate-refugees

 

Dear delegates,

It is my honor to serve as one of the chairs of our committee. I am 19 years old and currently attending the 12 grade at the Primo-Levi Gymnasium Berlin.

Within the last two years, I got addicted to MUNs and took pleasure in serving as a delegate at several conferences like BerMUN. Even though it appears to be unproductive and unmotivated at all, the point I loved most at MUNs is the socializing with other delegates. MUN provides a great opportunity of meeting new friendly students from all over the world and to get to know others points of view from different cultures.

As a result of this addiction, I managed to create a Berlin-wide conference at my school last year and we are currently planning the second conference which will be in January. Nevertheless, I had never the opportunity to chair a committee and really look forward to BALMUN 2010.

Apart from MUN I take pleasure in photography and discussions on politics, which I want to study after my Abitur.

However I am also doing things anybody does at my age and Berlin affords a lot of interesting opportunities, concerning culture, music and of course nightlife.

I hope for a fruitful debate in a warm atmosphere, which makes us as productive as possible and I promise to help as much as I can to make our committee succeed.

Hope for seeing you in June.

Marian Willuhn

Dear delegates,

Welcome to the Human Rights Committee of BALMUN 2010. During the conference, this committee will discuss the issue of Climate refugees – dealing with a new kind of migration. 

I will serve as one of the chairs of the HRC. My name is Eline Severijnen, I am eighteen years old and I am in my final year of the Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden, The Netherlands. BALMUN will be my twentieth conference and apart from being chair, I will also be the President of the General Assembly. In my MUN-career, I have had the honour to serve, among others, as Deputy Secretary-General, as chair of regular GA committees, as President of the G20 and as President of the Security Council. 

Apart from MUN, I have also participated in foreign student exchange programmes with schools from Poland, Sweden and Hungary. Other hobbies of mine are travelling, playing softball, going to the gym and meeting up with friends.

I hope that BALMUN 2010 will be an amazing conference and a great experience for all those attending. I know I will do everything I can, to make sure that the HRC will succeed!

See you in June!

Eline Severijnen