Sagesse High School Model United Nations Issue #2, November 2020 SHSMUN NEWSLETTER

Independence Day Content Independence Day Supporting Lebanese Brands Generations Interviews 2 Days observed during the month of November 5 Gandour: Online MUN 8 Gandour is one of the ’s oldest food brands, MUN@Home 9 founded in 1857 in . Today, it is among the most beloved candy manufacturers internationally! The company is famous for always promoting their Lebanese roots in their products, including the Tarboush and Dabke, which are prominent symbol of Lebanese traditions. The company started off by producing hard-boiled candies and marzipan but currently produces biscuits, cakes, chocolates, gum, snack, candies and more of your favorite ! Gandour’s products marked most of our childhoods in Lebanon. For who can remember a school day without a Unica bar? Or a family lunch without Tarboush as dessert? This brand’s success lives on all around the world and will continue to define Lebanon’s major symbols and pride.

Regie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombacs (RLTT) Regie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombacs is the first Lebanese tobacco brand which cultivates and distributes tobacco all over Lebanon. Established in 1935, RLTT are leaders in the tobacco industry in the MENA region. The brand is widely respected and known for being the first public institution in the country that has developed a Sustainable Development Strategy.

Both brands were founded before the Lebanese Independence Day and have remained successful throughout all the ups and downs! -Joy Nasr

Sagesse High School Model United Nations Issue #2, November 2020

What does Independence Day mean to you?

(Through the eyes of several generations) Generation 2000+ I think that Independence Day is the day where the French people left Lebanon after being in control of it for several years. Now, this makes our nation, Lebanon, a free country with its own government that can make its own decisions. This also has made our lives safer.

-Sophie (2007) We celebrate Lebanese Independence Day on the 22nd of November. It is a day that represents Lebanon’s birth as a free nation. Independence day is when we can live freely, not controlled by social evils. -Nicholas (2005)

Generation 1970s-1980s

Mother: Hello, my name is Zeina. Lebanese Independence is very important. But right now, in these circumstances it doesn’t really mean anything, Lebanon is right now in a crisis that would probably take so long to be solved. Lebanon had gained its independence from France. France really helped Lebanon, for instance, by making Lebanon on the map bigger and wider. It had helped us gain the independence of our country. But this year 2020, it doesn’t really matter because almost all Lebanese people left their home and their country. When the French were here, independence really was very important and rich in a person’s heart, all the Lebanese people really felt that their country is strong and perfectly fine. This year I personally think that the Lebanese Independence Day is hidden. The country is facing many crises among a financial one. Lebanon is crashing to the ground. However, until everything Independence Day remains close to all Lebanese people’s hearts.

Father: “Hi, my name is George. There is no independence for Lebanon this year on November 22nd, there is nothing. It is as if my country doesn’t have independence. France really is a close friend to Lebanon; it helped it a lot, most importantly by gaining independence. I feel like my country doesn’t have independence anymore. The country is gone because of everything that is happening in it. Independence to me is not really important or not very precious to my heart because I don’t feel like my home has freedom, no independence. Picture from Nayla Raad Everything has just disappeared in an instant, without even feeling that we really have to come to this fatal position. Therefore, the independence of Lebanon is not really going to happen this year. Lebanon will not grow again and stand again if we will stay in such a fatal circumstance. -Christelle

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Generation 1930-1940 “Independence, this word has great meaning to me. It is our pride, our national dignity. Back in the old days, the 22nd of November was a very special day. Everybody would be waiting to watch the Independence military parade on TV. All jobs and schools would be closed. Everyone would be prepared ahead of time; houses were being decorated with the Lebanese flag… This was all to celebrate the Independence Day. As for the government, some of the Independence makers were still taking part in it. Also, every politician’s goal back then was to keep Lebanon safe and prosperous. That was why all the Lebanese citizens Picture by Nayla Raad had trust in their leaders and in the implementation of the laws. Everyone felt safe and protected. Also, the Lebanese army was cherished. We lived a golden era in Lebanon back in the 50s, we witnessed the construction of the Harbor and the Airport as well as the Casino du Liban and the EDL. I like to remember those days. It brings joy to my heart. I really hope that Lebanese people and leaders today are able to treasure their country like it used to be treasured. And if I had one wish in this world, it would be to bring back Lebanon in the 1950s, the beautiful peaceful Lebanon”. -Naim Sakr, Grandfather of Joya Mouannes

My great grandmother’s name is Jeanne-D’arc Zard. She is 90 years old. My grandmother has been through Independence Day, therefore, I decided to interview her. “To be affiliated to your own country is very important. After all, it is what makes you a strong and loyal citizen. Independence Day is one of the most special days for me especially that I have been through it. It is a resemblance of the freedom for all the Lebanese people. All of the Lebanese citizens should be proud of their independence. After all, no matter what happens, we, the Lebanese citizens, make up Lebanon! We will always stand up for what is right and rebuild the nation that we are proud of! Independence Day is a reminder to all the Lebanese citizens that not only were we freed on November 22nd, 1943, but we were also freed as souls. It is our nation and we should protect our independence since it should be a part of our souls.” Picture by Nayla Raad - Sarah

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United We Stay

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World Day of Remembrance for Road Victims

Road deaths and injuries are violent, traumatic, and sometimes unpredictable. In low-income countries, the road death rate is three times higher than the rate in high-income countries. The major risk factors for crash deaths are: the speeding, the drunk driving, and the negligence of seat belt. The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims occurs on the third Sunday of November every year to remember the people injured and died from road crashes, to thank the emergency services, to remind the international community of their responsibilities to make roads safer, to support the victims and their families, and to promote actions to prevent further road deaths and injuries. The remembrance day activities include: Media campaigns, websites dedicated for the day, posters and fliers, advocacy messages, seminars, marches, moments of silence, etc.… Pellentesque: There are steps to do to stay safe on road: • Use a seat belt • Make sure Children are always buckled • Wear a helmet when riding motorcycles, motorbikes, or bicycles • Ride in taxis that have seat belts • Ride only in marked taxis • Avoid riding in overcrowded buses • Check the association for safe international road travel (ASIRT) website for driving hazards and road safety risks by country. • Do not text/use your phone Do not drive and drink • Pictures from Nayla Raad • Be alert when crossing the roads

This year with the COVID -19 pandemic; this day will be remembered differently from previous years. Together, we can contribute for better future. –Anthony Badran

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World Television Day

Television is a telecommunication medium used to transmit moving images in monochrome, color, and even in two and three dimensions and sound. Some other uses of television are advertisement, entertainment, news, ad sports. The first electronic television was invented in 1927 by a 21-year-old named Philo Taylor Frantsworth. As a child, his life at home wasn’t quite the best as he didn’t live with electricity until he was 14. In high school, he started to think of a mechanism that would be able to capture moving images. Frantsworth was miles ahead any television system invented to date. National Television Day is held on November 21. The first ever celebration occurred in 1996, and the United Nations General Picture by Rosa-Maria Mazraani Assembly chose this day to raise awareness about how important television has become in terms of communication and globalization. Various people meet together to promote World Television Day including journalists, writers, bloggers who spread and share their views regarding the role of television through print media, broadcast media and also through social media. Television provides its audience with an abundance of information and culture faster and more efficiently than any other platform. Viewers could enjoy a simple documentary for example or catch up with the latest news on their favorite sports teams. Television could be also considered a great source of entertainment. There are an unlimited amount of shows for both adults and kids to enjoy and crack a laugh. In conclusion, television plays an important role in our society and on November 21 we celebrate this day in tribute to televisions. But many people ask why is television so important? Imagine for a moment that, as of tomorrow, your television set stopped working. What would you miss? Your favorite TV show or the news? Maybe. But TV’s importance in society goes deeper than that. Television is a medium that improves the world, triggers the imagination, raises curiosity, encourages education and gathers millions around common interests. –Christopher Achkar

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World Children’s Day

Worlds Children's Day takes place on the 20th of November to celebrate children's rights. On November 20th, Landmark buildings around the world light up in blue to show support for children's rights. You could also show your support for Worlds Children’s day by wearing blue on the 20th of November! World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare. November 20th is an important date as it is the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted it. Since 1990, World Children's Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on children's rights. Mothers and fathers, teachers, nurses and doctors, government leaders and civil society activists, religious and community elders, corporate moguls and media professionals, as well as young people and children themselves, can play an important part in making World Children's Day relevant for their societies, communities and nations. World Children’s Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children's rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children. This year, the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a child rights crisis. The costs of the pandemic for children are immediate and, if unaddressed, may last a lifetime. It’s time for generations to come together to reimagine the type of world we want to create. On 20 November, kids will reimagine a better world. What will you do? -Mina Hafedh

Source: https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-childrens-day

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Online MUN

About SDG: The sustainable development goals are a group of 17 goals meant to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The SDGs were set by the United Nations general assembly in the year 2015 and are to be achieved by 2030. There are 17 goals and the chosen one for the OMUN conference was Reduced Inequalities. Goal number 10 is to reduce inequality within and among countries. Among these inequalities are age, race, gender, ethnicity, origin, religion, and economic status within a country. The goal also is set to address the inequalities among different countries, which includes those related to migration, representation and development assistance. Poor people have limited access to food, shelter and insured future life. Women continue to be treated differently than men, especially in Arab countries. Different countries continue to have needs, such as insufficient water, not enough food for everyone, high prices on everything, electricity shortage. That is why reducing inequality is very important to our countries and us.

–Donna Vanessa Youssef Interviews: Q1- How was the online conference different from onsite ones?

Online conferences are very different from conferences on site. The whole procedure is different, online; there are only opening speeches and then time allocated for amendments for a resolution that the chairs already created. Hence, it removes all the exciting parts of the MUN experience, such as lobbying and merging, and head to head debates. Frankly, online MUN conferences do not reflect the true MUN experience and are completely different. –Joseph Choefati Q2- What do you know about SDG?

I have always heard of the Sustainable Development Goals, but never really cared what they were about. With time, my interest grew and for me they are more than just a group of 17 interlinked goals, they are what we will be hearing about for the next 20 years, until 2030. The first time I heard about them, I directly questioned how hard it would be to manage to attain all of them in such a short period of time. This MUN conference was a perfect example that the youth in particular cares about achieving them, in the most efficient way possible, and the soonest. – Serge Raphael

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MUN@HOME

Saturday, November the 7th, 2020, the first Mentorship Session of the November Round, “Meet your Mentors and introduction to Country Research” took place. As our MUNers began to approach their first assignment, their mentors had put together a strong session to help them with their first assignment and provide all the guidance and support!

This was a chance to start this exciting MUN learning experience!

Here are some of their reflections about the program.

“Firstly, when I knew about MUN@home I was actually very interested and curious to know what it is about. I really wanted to take this opportunity and improve my MUN skills for the coming conferences. The first online MUN@home session I was not really surprised because I knew that I would be meeting people from different places that have different traditions. I really enjoyed the way the While we, the MUNers, were all uncertain about mentors explained the flow of MUN@home. I was able to the way of continuing our MUN activities understand everything flawlessly and perfectly!!! This during this pandemic, we were so excited when week’s assignment was about the country research. Each we were introduced to MUN@Home and stoked delegate had to do a research about his or her country. The to be a part of it. For what I have research should include all the basic information, such as: experienced so far with MUN@Home, it has history, economy, politics, location and geography, etc. and been way better than what I expected it to be. most importantly relating the country to the SDG which is The mentors were very professional; they took ‘Substantially reducing bribery and corruption’. I found the project very seriously but made it fun for this assignment very easy because our mentors have delegates at the same time. We have been given shared with us credible links that help us with any an assignment for the end of this week where information we want or need. Another reason why it was we research about our country. In our research, easy, is because, the mentors have also used a very nice we should include general information, how is strategy of explaining to us how we are supposed to do the our country related to the topic and which SDG research; a fact which I thank them a lot for!!!I would be is most implemented there. Although it is more than excited to participate in MUN@home next year online, a different way to approach MUN, it is a for sure!! I am more than grateful to be having such an very fruitful and fun experience. amazing opportunity for my future and it also makes me Regards.” more knowledgeable and open-minded to the world more. -Joya Mouannes G8 Thank you!! Sincerely appreciated! “ - Christellle Boutros

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The first session for the MUN @ home program was a very interesting and The MUN@Home has been a very enjoyable and productive wonderful session! program. I have been benefiting a lot from it, especially in the Zoom As I had expected, it turned out to be a session held. We learned tips about researching our countries’ very well organized session filled with a policies and many ways to enhance our MUN researches and works lot of new information! In addition, we overall. This program has also showed me that even throughout were also assigned to do a country these uncertain times, in quarantine during Covid-19, we can still research. Had it not been for the enjoy the MUN life we had at school and all the preparations for organization of the program, it would have conferences. All in all, I would like to thank everyone who definitely been nearly impossible to get so organized MUN@Home and also thank my school, especially the much done in such a little amount of time. head of the MUN Department (Ms. Dolla Kanaan), for giving us the The program definitely met my chance to participate in such an amazing program that has taught expectations! us so much. Thank you. -Sarah Moubarak G8 Sophie Zakkak G8

Editor in Chief: Joy Nasr Writers: Anthony Badran, Christopher Achkar, Mina Hafedh, and Donna Vanessa Youssef

Photographers: Nayla Raad, Rosa Maria Mazraani The Newsletter team values all students’ contribution and apologizes in advance for any mistakes occurring despite its best efforts.

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