Lobbying! Lobbying! Lobbying!

By: Sally Yehya and Yumi Ochiai

Today has been a very busy day for the delegates:  they were busy interacting with each other to draft and merge their resolutions in order to have them passed by the Approval Panel. The Press Team has interviewed several delegates regarding the process of lobbying and resolution-making.

Two delegates, one from South Africa and the other from Denmark, both members of the ECOSOC committee, were questioned about the merging of their resolutions regarding a way to stop illegal trafficking drugs. Their resolution embodied the idea that drugs should be legalized. The co-submitters from South Africa and Denmark believe that theirs is a great solution. They believe that their resolution will pass because, as they say, “we are the best debaters of the world!”

Asked about the process of lobbying, they said that the second day was much better than the first. The delegate from Denmark, Martin A., said: “It’s an essential piece for the whole conference.”

Other delegates from the ECOSOC committee were also interviewed. The delegate from France has some great ideas regarding the question of facilitating access to HIV/AIDS and malaria vaccinations and treatment in developing countries in accordance to the relevant UN Millennium Development Goal. When the Press Team asked her who the co-submitters of her resolution were, she replied, “Everyone’s co-submitter.”

In the Environment committee, Yael H, a delegate from Chile, is the submitter, along with the delegates from Spain and Russia, of a great solution regarding the reduction of deforestation and the prevention of invasive species. She wants to improve the efficiency of the system of rotation which, in turn, will make the recovery of the ecosystem more rapid. When asked about her experience of lobbying, she answered, “It’s awesome!”