Another Article

Hey Guys,

Here is an article about Canada and the "Battle for the Arctic" that provides a decent overview of the situation: http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2009/battleforthearctic/

In other news today a group of men from Papua New Guinea have been rescued after more than two months adrift in the Pacific Ocean. This has nothing to do with our topics but it's crazy so it made the post.

Update

Here is an old, but still relevent article concerning efforts to strengthen the NPT regime and limit production of weapons-grade Uranium and Plutonium.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/24/AR2009092401721.html

Another, somewhat antiquated, but nonetheless relevent article on the situation that Canada faces in the Arctic, and some information regarding plans by other states to protect what they feel is theirs.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/08/16/matt-gurney-promises-aren-t-enough-to-protect-the-arctic.aspx

Welcome

Greetings!

The powers that be have decided to enforce a stricter internet-based pedagogy this year, so these blogs will (ideally) become a more useful tool. With that in mind, the DISEC committee is hoping that delegates will be dilligent about keeping up to date on relevent world events that pertain to the topics at hand.

Aside from regular sources of news, the International Atomic Energy Association (IEAE) keeps an excellent record of important events related to nuclear material, diplomacy and world events. The 'News Center' and 'Daily Press Review' are both excellent sections to find up to date information on this topic. They can be found at http://www.iaea.org/

The Arctic Militarization topic will also likely find its way into local news, but don't hesitate to look at less conventional sources. This article from GlobalResearch provides an introductory insight to some of the main issues and key players. It is a good starting point for further research http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6586

More to come, so please check in periodically.

Cheers,

The DISEC team.

Private Military Contractors

The Private Military Contractors Background Paper is now up. In addition to the paper, you might want to consult the following sources in preparation for the conference:

An Investigation into Private Military Companies: their ascendancy, their benefits, their limitations, etc.

The Strategic Contractor- Insight into Iraq, Blackwater, and Private Military Companies.

United Kingdom House of Commons Foreign Affairs Report on private military companies. This source is extremely (read: EXTREMELY) valuable in that it provides necessary background (the Growth of the private military sector since the end of the Cold War, The changing nature of the private military sector, Weak states and the threat of international terrorism, British Government engagement of private military and security companies), current legislation regarding these groups in different countries, the legitimate/illegitimate activities of these companies, and the larger debates over accountability, sovereignty, and human rights.

Do terrorists have rights?

Are terrorists entitled to the same legal rights as you and I? Or by engaging in this activity do individuals wave the legal protection awarded to other prisoners of war?

This academic paper from the University of California provides some excellent insight into the changes in the way the world handle terrorists. Terrorism is a act of war and this paper explores in detail how terrorist groups do not comply with the conditions of lawful combat and therefore are not entitled to the legal status of prisoners of war laid out under the Geneva Convention.

Erin Reddekopp - DISEC Columnist

Use of Private Military Firms

This article presents a indepth look into the role of private military firms (PMFs) and answers the question do PMFs actually bring greater stablity in the long term or do they cause more damage than good? It evaluates PMFs effect on domestic peace and security and looks at situations where PMFs can be a mediator or a stability provider.

- Erin Reddekopp: 2009 DISEC Columnist

Hey guys. My name is Haitham Kharrat and I am the Chair for GAI:DISEC for HSMUN 2009. I am a Biological-Sciences major and a Psychology minor with aspirations of going into med school. This is my fifth year that I will be a part of DISEC, my first two years as a delegate, and my last two years as Dais. I hope everyone is as excited about the conference as I am!