Virtual GSMUN 2020

Over 1.03 million COVID 19 deaths worldwide and counting, the police in the United States have killed 164 African Americans in the first 8 months of 2020, 80 percent of Indian online users claimed to have experienced cyber crime, the number of people below the poverty line in 2019 was 33.98 million people and most importantly, we are in an unprecedented situation - the Covid-19 pandemic, which is revealing the inequities, the unpreparedness of governments around the world and the problems that arise from these two, to the world. 

Good morning to all present here ,

I know that wasn’t a pleasant way to begin a speech but this is our world and there is no point in sugar coating it as this is where we live , in a world full of turmoil, tragedy , problems , violence, injustice, hunger, poverty , child labor, global warming, and now, pandemic-caused stress.

But we can do something about these problems.

The issues we face are much bigger than just one country or one nation, but this is the time where we can put our differences aside and come together to make the world a better place. Creating and maintaining peace is a long and exhausting process but worth the trouble as Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the first female  president of the United Nations  General Assembly once said, “The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war” 

This years Good Shepherd Model United Nations is going virtual with  7 committees addressing varied issues such as eradicating xenophobia and racism, preventing a cyber war ,handling the global financial crisis, preventing the youth from being indoctrinated into terrorist activities, preventing an increase in trafficking of falsified medical products in rural and urban areas, and many more such pressing issues.

Over the past four years of being in different MUN conferences, I have learnt that mistakes happen especially when you are new to the process or the subject area, not every resolution will pass, not every point made will sway a committee, but what matters is the effort and hard work you put into it as well as the ideas and lessons you take from it. 

These two days are going to be all about broadening your research, thinking critically, debating, understanding different viewpoints and coming to conclusions having heard everyone. This is your chance to  speak up for those who cannot, hear the unheard, help the helpless, make the unnoticed seen,  think the unthinkable, learn the unknown, make the impossible possible.

The world may not not know what we discussed here today or tomorrow, it doesn't mean you didn't have an impact on it  because  someday when each of you go out in the world to contribute your part, your ideas to create peace will definitely come to the fore and slowly and together we can make the world a better place, one step at a time.

To quote Dag Hammarskjold, the second Secretary General of the United Nations 

“The UN wasn’t created to take mankind into paradise, but rather, to save humanity from hell”

Delegates all the best for the sessions ahead for this is the motion to commence debate!

Thank you.