Model United Nation Minor in Geography

“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; an argument an exchange of ignorance.” Quote by- Robert Quillen

Tuesday the 22nd March 2016 was one of the most exciting day in Grade 7. It was the first MUN which was held under subject Geography.  Students have discussed about Industrialization Versus Environment according to the economy and status of the country they have represented.

For my class, I have divided students into five groups of 3 and 4. Two groups each had to represent a underdeveloped country and developing country where one group had to represent a developed country.

            The country was selected by  the group members to represent. Developed country chosen was Singapore, developing countries were India and Indonesia where as Zimbabwe and Madagascar were the underdeveloped countries chosen. From last week only there were many Free hand preparations for this exciting event coming up. Each group had to write a position paper as a reference.

                                  Finally the day arrived. Delegates of Singapore, India and Madagascar had decided to support environment, whereas Zimbabwe and Indonesia had planned to promote industrialization but not at the cost of pollution.Each and every country had amazing policies. With an action plan called PUB  Singapore had many water conservation plans near future. India's prime minister Mr. Narendra Modi has started a plan called 'swachha bharat' where the citizens clean up their country. Zimbabwe's plan on PAAP and ESAP are working really well too. All Madagascar's policies can be centered toward WSUP which means water and sanitation for the urban poor. Indonesia's policy is to punish those who do not pay the taxes and organize the donation fund.

                    After this educational discussion students had a very interesting debate and at last voting was done in support of policy of Indonesia.. Here all countries would question each other's policies. later in the end the voting was really amazing. Indonesia's policies were considered the best. This is because the policies of Indonesia did not change the way people were adapted to live in, Indonesia's policy is to punish those who do not pay the taxes and organize the donation fund. but it just made people to do what they were suppose to do.Overall it was a wonderful day for Grade 7where along with enjoyment students have learnt so many things. It made them aware of how different countries have their own problems but still we all are living in the same world with common sky above our heads. This activity has made the students open minded, thinker and knowledgeable.

lecture by Ornithologists of Indonesia and Program Manager of Wetland Organization Pak Yus Rusila Noor ..

On 15th of march the lecture was given by  Foremost Ornithologists of Indonesia and Program Manager of Wetland Organization Pak Yus  Rusila Noor in GMIS Jakarta. Meeting and listening to him was very informative to know about the wetlands management. , Mr. Yus Rusila Noor came to GMIS, and given a lecture on wetlands, an connected it with his past experiences that mesmerized us!

He briefed  on his past experiences in Wetlands International, the global and prestigious organisation that he works for. He talked about the pros and cons of traveling that kept us glued to his lecture. He had shared many more about the protection of wetland and most important replanting mangroves in different parts of Indonesia.

Pak Yus then elaborated on wetlands, explaining about wetland’s importance, use and destruction which was extremely eye-opening! Its was a honors of me to a part of this lecture as an audience.

Earthquake Resistant building

The lesson was started with planning the location of infrastructure in earthquake area. Then discussion was started about the reasons for the collapse of infrastructure is poor design.To avoid such situation earthquake resistant buildings are added to new infrastructure.

To be earthquake proof, buildings, structures and their foundations need to be built to be resistant to sideways loads. The lighter the building is, the less the loads. This is particularly so when the weight is higher up. Where possible the roof should be of light-weight material. If there are floors and walls and partitions, the lighter these are the better, too. If the sideways resistance is to be obtained from walls, these walls must go equally in both directions. They must be strong enough to take the loads. They must be tied in to any framing, and reinforced to take load in their weakest direction. They must not fall apart and must remain in place after the worst shock waves so as to retain strength for the after shocks.

Explaination  about new infrastructure designs make use of latest technology to help structures with stands the force of an earthquake was done. Students were explained about about the steel bars are used to strengthen new infrastructure so that they are better equipped to withstand earthquake, In addition, shock absorbers are used in the foundation to help absorb the tremors of earthquake Shear walls the concrete walls with steel bars in them act as  support walls to strengthen the building and help to reduce the rocking movements caused by an earthquake.

Although this it is expensive to construct such kind of infrastructure, but some countries are coming up with this construction to avoid number of deaths because of poor infrastructure. examples  San Francisco has used it on Transamerica pyramid.

Conserve Natural vegetation.........Class activity Debate

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.”

Quote from― Chris Maser, Forest Primeval: The Natural History of an Ancient Forest

Saving Environment is the need of today, the way we are destroying environment will lead to the destruction of  life from this earth. Therefore, it’s necessary that we should Save Environment and everyone should contribute and should do something to save Environment.

Natural vegetation is an important part of our environment, yet approximately 100 000 square kilometer of rainforests are destroyed each year-the equivalent of more than 100 times the area of Singapore! Nevertheless,

although some people want to protect the rainforests, others find it more important to use the natural resources that are available in them.

As one of the class students were divided into five group, The Government, A logging Company, Conservationists, An Indigenous tribe and Farmers. They have done a debate, that what to do with the forest if your group will be given control of it and why?

In this activity students have given a excellent presentation, with facts, figures, advantages and disadvantages in support of their argument. The main objective of this whole exercise was to make student s to develop empathy, sensitiveness and responsible towards their  mother earth.