GOCASK Government Cabinet of the Seven Kingdoms Topic: “The True Heir of the Seven Kingdoms Dear delegate: I have the pleasure of welcoming you to ULSACUNMUN 2020. My name is Kaory Rios and I am honored of being the president and creator of this year´s new committee GOCASK (government Cabinet of the Seven Kingdoms) based on The Game of Thrones series. I'm eager to get to know you, and make the best out of this Model of the United Nations. First of all I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I´m 18 years old and also a senior in highschool. I enjoy hanging out with my friends, taking pictures, learning new languages, travelling, watching movies, among many other things. My plan is to study film in Puebla and become a director. This is my 5th MUN conference and my third as part of the chair. If there is something I know for sure is that MUN has helped me grow as a person by giving me leadership skills, and the opportunity of having a word that actually matters in world wide problems in order to find the best solution. This topic is more than exciting for me, and hopefully you´ll find the same way. I expect your utmost performance and for you to give your nonpareil effort that is needed for this committee. Remember to be confident with what you say, if you prepared well there is no reason to be nervous. I wish you the best of lucks and I hope this conference to be a remarkable experience for everyone. If you have any doubts, please do not hesitate to contact me, but remember… winter is coming. Yours sincerely, Kaory Rios Ceballos Government Cabinet of the Seven Kingdoms (GOCASK) Committee Description The Government Cabinet of the Seven Kingdoms (GOCASK) is a simulation of a government in which the real executive power rests with a cabinet of ministers who are individually and collectively responsible of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. It is earthshaking for all ministers to withstand their own religion. Nevertheless, the chair will not respond to or have a preference to any religion when reading through each bill given by the ministers previously. As delegates, each one will be impersonating a character which will be a minister no matter what their actual title is (lords, Knights, farmers, publicans) and they will all be treated equally. Unlike other committees of the ULSACUNMUN, the fictional committee of GOCASK has an aim to extend the vision and the debating opportunities of the delegates by empowering them to act as if in a different universe with a unique history, religion, beliefs and rules. Although this fiction introduces a different level of fun to the classic concept of MUN debating, it is not entirely independent of the formal style and decorum of the debate. Delegates will represent the presented fictional characters with given backgrounds but they will remain true to the values that the United Nations has offer to us as much as possible while writing their position papers. The committee will characterize a gathering of ministers of Westeros to decide on the wisest and most beneficial course of action to be taken to ease the tensions that arose the right to be King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. In a few words, in the Iron Throne. Topic: “The true heir of the Seven Kingdoms” Introduction The committee will characterize a gathering of ministers of Westeros to decide on the wisest and most beneficial course of action to be taken to ease the tensions that arose the right to be King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. In a few words, in the Iron Throne. If there is something clear in The Game of Thrones is that the biggest fault of every character is their concern of reigning supreme over the seven kingdoms rather than their impending doom. Power is a corrupting force, the Iron Throne will not save the day. The true heir, is not the one that survived, or the most famous one, is up to you to see through all the distractions in order to come to a conclusion. GOT is far much more than a fight for power, the people of Westeros are fighting their individual battles over status and wealth, and those are so distracting them that they are ignoring the threat of “winter is coming”, which has the potential to destroy their world. Historical Background Season 1 Season 1 spans a period of several months on a world where the seasons last for years at a time. The action begins in the unified Seven Kingdoms of Westeros as the long summer ends ​ ​ and winter draws near. Lord Eddard Stark is asked by his old friend, King Robert Baratheon, ​ ​ ​ to serve as the Hand of the King following the death of the previous incumbent, Eddard's ​ mentor Jon Arryn. Eddard is reluctant but receives intelligence suggesting that Jon was ​ ​ murdered. Eddard accepts Robert's offer, planning to use his position and authority to investigate the alleged murder. Meanwhile, on the eastern continent of Essos, the exiled children of House Targaryen, which ​ ​ ​ ​ Robert destroyed to claim the throne, are plotting to return to Westeros and unseat the 'usurper'. To this end, Viserys Targaryen arranges the marriage of his sister Daenerys to Khal ​ ​ ​ Drogo, the leader of 40,000 Dothraki warriors, in return for the use of his warriors in ​ ​ invading Westeros. For her part, Daenerys just wants to find a safe refuge far away from King Robert's assassins and her brother's scheming ambition. Finally, on the northern-most border of the Seven Kingdoms the sworn brothers of the Night's ​ Watch guard the Wall, a 300-mile-long colossal fortification of ice which has stood for ​ ​ thousands of years. The Watch defends the Wall against the depredations of the lawless wildlings who live beyond, but rumor speaks of a new threat arising in the lands of perpetual ​ winter. Season 2 The Seven Kingdoms are at war, with the King in the North, Robb Stark, fighting to win ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ independence for his people and those of the Riverlands. Robb decides that he must win the ​ ​ allegiance of the fiercely independent ironborn to his cause, and sends his best friend Theon ​ ​ Greyjoy to treat with his father, who is hatching plans of his own. Meanwhile, Joffrey ​ ​ ​ Baratheon holds the Iron Throne with the backing of the powerful House Lannister, but his ​ ​ ​ uncle Renly has also claimed the throne with the support of House Tyrell, whose armies are ​ ​ ​ much larger. As they struggle for the throne, Tyrion Lannister arrives in King's Landing to ​ ​ take matters in hand, only to face opposition from his scheming sister, Cersei, now the Queen ​ ​ Regent. However, there is another faction entering the picture. Stannis Baratheon, Robert's younger ​ ​ brother and Renly's older brother, has also claimed the Iron Throne. A proven battle commander and veteran of several wars, Stannis is known to be utterly without mercy to his ​ ​ ​ enemies and will do what is right even if it destroys him. Advising him is Melisandre, an ​ ​ enigmatic priestess from the east, who believes Stannis is meant for a greater destiny, and Ser ​ ​ ​ Davos Seaworth, an honest and honorable man uneasy with the shifts in power at Stannis' ​ court. Far to the east, Daenerys Targaryen has hatched the only three dragons in the world. ​ ​ Eventually they will grow into terrifying monsters capable of destroying cities at her command, but for now they are still hatchlings and vulnerable. With her khalasar gone, ​ Daenerys and her small band of followers must find a way across a forbidding wasteland and ​ find new allies to support her claim to the Iron Throne. In the distant north, the Night's Watch has mounted an expedition beyond the Wall, searching ​ ​ ​ for missing rangers and investigating rumors of wildlings gathering in the mountains. For Jon ​ ​ Snow this will be a rite of passage as he is asked to make difficult choices, for the realm and for himself. Season 3 Autumn has fallen across the world, with winter not far behind. The people should be preparing for years of snow and ice, but the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros instead remain ​ ​ gripped by civil war. Would-be king Renly Baratheon has been assassinated, altering the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ alliances in the war. The cruel boy-king Joffrey Baratheon has won a great victory by ​ securing an alliance with House Tyrell, with his supporters defeating his uncle Stannis in an ​ ​ ​ epic battle. Joffrey now commands the largest armies in the realm and his triumph appears ​ inevitable. King Robb Stark remains in the field, however his homeland, the North, is partially under ​ ​ ​ ironborn occupation. Robb needs to decide on a course of action to win an overall victory. He must also win back the allegiance of House Frey, whom he has offended by breaking his ​ ​ marriage pact with them. King Robb has won every battle he has fought, but as with old King Robert, the Starks will have to see if good soldiers make good kings. ​ Stannis Baratheon may be defeated and most of his army destroyed or scattered, but he is not out of the fight yet. Having retreated to his headquarters on Dragonstone island with his ​ handful of surviving soldiers, Stannis' status as the last legitimate heir to his older brother Robert still casts a shadow over Joffrey's claim to the throne. With the priestess Melisandre at ​ ​ his side, Stannis can still influence the course of the war by striking where least expected.