NationStates Jolt Archive

Off an idea sparked by Frisbeeteria

Taking the UN Virtual
A resolution to increase democratic freedoms.
Category: The Furtherment of Democracy
Strength: Mild

(2nd edit, to be edited as commentary made)

NOTING WITH REGRET the cost of travel and lodging, and the unbalanced burden this places on the smaller, less economically stalwart members of the UN;

EXPECTING that if the thousands of member nations do not have to physically send representatives to UN HQ, that there will be a drop in pollution caused by transportation (especially air travel), which will help nations fulfil their environmental obligations as set out in previous resolutions,

NOTING WITH REGRET an increase in acts of violence between UN members, particularly during strong, emotional debate;

FULLY AWARE of the question of funding a UN building and all it's requirements (staff, rent, utilities);

HAVING EXAMINED the availability of global communications technology and it's relative inexpensive nature as opposed to the above costs;

NOTING the nature of the UN to make unfunded mandates which member nations then implement at their own cost;

Therefore, the UN hereby

SUPPORTS those nations which give economic assistance to industries which deal in Information Technology and make such technology available to the greater public, particularly the less economically gifted members of the United Nations

AUTHORIZES that the nature of the UN be altered from a "face-to-face" venture to meetings within cyberspace, on UN protected websites and within UN chatrooms.

PROCLAIMS that through the usage of webcams and equivalent technology, all delegates from all "virtually attending" member nations may have an equal presence within the UN for purposes of quorum and all other facets requireing attendance.

REQUESTS that the UN shall transcribe and archive all proceedings on these chatrooms and make them available to the public

RECOMMENDS the employment of state-of-the-art electronic security systems by the UN to prevent the successful use of viruses, hacking, and other malicious computer programs and activities against the virtual UN and its voting and debating systems.

FURTHER REQUESTS that the UN shall allow any and all media outlets from all member states to observe and record proceedings in the UN - both "live" and virtual - which are not closed for security reasons, the better to make the proceedings of the UN available to a greater proportion of its constituent public.

A good start. Glad you ran with the idea.

First thing I'd look for would be some way to make certain that this actually furthers democracy. Perhaps a way to link UN webspace with national educational and governmental institutions would do it, as a way to let the public at large see the process.

Volunteer support for IT infrastructure enhancements for newer and poorer nations, maybe. Or maybe a way to prevent nations from interfering with other nations' access to information.

Let's brainstorm a bit and get some creative juices flowing.

How about a requirement either for the UN to transcribe and archive all proceedings on these chatrooms (or whatever) and make them available to the public, or - a rather less cumbersome solution - to allow any and all media outlets from all member states to observe and record proceedings in the Virtual UN? Openness is good, we like openness.

How about a requirement either for the UN to transcribe and archive all proceedings on these chatrooms (or whatever) and make them available to the public.
Gawrsh, we could even set it up in a searchable Forum, for all to peruse! [/duh] *

The trick with this one is to make it appear that it actually does something, without actually doing anything. I know it's possible, 'cause I've done it once. We just need a little more meat first.



* Oh, quitcherbitchin, EH. You made that one too easy not to knock down. :grin:

Bitching, moi? I'm really more of a whinger.

Anyway, a hideous thought has just occurred to me. What's to become of the Strangers' Bar?

Somehow, I don't think a virtual Stranger's Bar would have quite the same pull to it. And Lord knows we'd be replacing a lot of computer equipment when people got too drunk to remember you can't pass someone a beer through the Internet.

Generally, though, I like the idea of putting the same brain in a different body. Aside from the fiscal issue, we'd also see a marked decrease in acts of violence between delegates. I imagine putting this kind of network up is going to require bouncing some hefty signals off dozens of satellites, and everyone knows how the people of Sophista feel about satellites.

Aside from the fiscal issue, we'd also see a marked decrease in acts of violence between delegates.

Are there really that many acts of violence between delegates?

Well spoken, sir! *tries to pass Sophista a beer through the internet, breaks his monitor*

There's still the knotty question of how to use this to improve IT standards in developing countries. Naturally, we'd suggest having the rich nations fund the poorer ones, but then we're part of an Evil Communist Plot and all. Any suggestions?

Are there really that many acts of violence between delegates?

Perhaps not enough to make this a significant plan advantage, but that could change if things in certain threads keep heading in the direction they're heading. And now, instead of people hurling insults back and forth and having to sound profound, they can boil down to the lowest common denominator:

OMFG ur pruposl iz so gay!!!!1111!!!!

Perhaps not enough to make this a significant plan advantage, but that could change if things in certain threads keep heading in the direction they're heading. And now, instead of people hurling insults back and forth and having to sound profound, they can boil down to the lowest common denominator:

OMFG ur pruposl iz so gay!!!!1111!!!!

Are you saying this will be the case in the proposed UN or in what we currently have? Because frankly, the number of "UR so gay" comments (though they actually take the form of attacks like "You liberal communist moron you" have been increasing. I think places like the Strangers bar discourage this lowest common denominator behavior.

Are you saying this will be the case in the proposed UN or in what we currently have? Because frankly, the number of "UR so gay" comments (though they actually take the form of attacks like "You liberal communist moron you" have been increasing. I think places like the Strangers bar discourage this lowest common denominator behavior.

I was more making a cheap shot at the morons that populate the Internet. With this crowd, I'd say we're pretty safe. Aside from the tremendous amounts of energy required to keep that many servers up all the time, I can't see any real disadvantages. I just took the fun route.

Actually, from what I see, they spell "gay" as "ghey" ... decadent stupidity I guess, ;)

On another note, this certainly has promise.

Good, except you need to make a clause saying that we'll invest in state-of-the-art security systems to stop hackers and viruses tampering with the votes etc.

Two other things:

How about mentioning that since there will be far less use of planes by UN diplomats, this will help us in some small way fulfil our obligations to reduce carbon emissions?

Maybe the old UN buildings could become some kind of museum?

Alright, Myopia, how would you word the clauses, and wouldn't that change the strength of the resolution?

Are you saying this will be the case in the proposed UN or in what we currently have? Because frankly, the number of "UR so gay" comments (though they actually take the form of attacks like "You liberal communist moron you" have been increasing. I think places like the Strangers bar discourage this lowest common denominator behavior.It's tempting to combat this trend of idiocy by the simple expedient of adjourning the UN for a summer recess. I've been hearing an awful lot of complaining about a precipitous drop in maturity since June, right about when grade schools let out. Coincidence?

Maybe the old UN buildings could become some kind of museum?

Or perhaps we can turn the old UN buildings and housing complexes into a casino, allowing the UN to generate its own revenue. :cool:

Well, those are interesting ideas.

So is the UN generating an income somehow. Besides Taxation. But realistically, this proposal is intended to lessen costs not increase income. It is also intended to increase democracy by making the UN more accessable to more people.

Alright, Myopia, how would you word the clauses, and wouldn't that change the strength of the resolution?

Additional preambulatory clause:
EXPECTING that if the thousands of member nations do not have to physically send representatives to UN HQ, that there will be a drop in pollution caused by transportation (especially air travel), which will help nations fulfil their environmental obligations as set out in previous resolutions,

I don't know if that's really worth it, it was just a thought.

Additional operative clause:

Resolves to employ state-of-the-art electronic security systems to prevent the successful use of viruses, hacking, and other malicious computer programmes and activities against the virtual UN and its voting and debating systems.

The museum idea was a not-very-serious notion that popped into my mind, I don't really think that it should be included.

I don't think this would change the strength, because it isn't furthering democracy any more, it's merely protecting the furtherment the rest of the resolution does.

Or perhaps we can turn the old UN buildings and housing complexes into a casino, allowing the UN to generate its own revenue. :cool:
The owner of the UN Building hasn't been paid in two years, since there have never been dues with which to pay him. I don't believe it's the UN's to dispose of.

Now, if we could get some sort of Funding proposal passed ...

OOC:
Ladies and Gents, whilst I don’t disagree with idea of the UN being ‘virtual’, after all its virtual from a RL perspective, I must admit for me it may take some fun out of it. Personally I like idea of a building with diplomats veering in and out, if only for RP purposes. It has a sense of ‘life’ that I don’t feel the virtual UN proposed would have. The demise of the Strangers Bar I feel would also be a sad day indeed. It must by now be the longest running RP thread in NS history, surely!

Besides I feel it’s more or less ‘virtual’ anyway. Yes there is building, but where is it? To my knowledge no one has defined a location for it and that’s the great thing about the UN building. It’s an extension of the game in that respect, it has a virtual existence because exists only in the mind of the people who work in it.

IC:
Unfortunately the Telidian government would not be able to lend its support for an endeavour to make the UN ‘virtual’. We believe that resolving conflicts in a face-to-face manner is far more preferable than doing so by video conferencing, the Internet or other virtual means. We also feel that whilst on the face of it this project may seem economically sound it may turn out not to be when considering the costs of developing and maintaining a global and above all secure IT network of this scope and size.

Respectfully
Lydia Cornwall, UN Ambassador
Office of UN Relations
HM Government of Telidia.

I am afraid that I must join Ms Cornwall in opposing this plan - well-intentioned though it is - for the same reasons that she has outlined.

Varia Yefremova
Speaker to the UN

OOC: plus I echo Telidia's OOC comments.

Just for the sake of arguement, what would you propose as an option?

To be honest, it's not an issue that I'm inclined to address.

In that case, I shall have to persist.

Though I am awaiting an opinion on whether this would go to a "Significant" document if it created more change.

2nd edit posted, will leave it "Mild" for the moment as it still conforms to further openness only.

Should there be a clause added to the effect that this in no way superceeds the face to face activities of the UN, and is intended as a conjunction to promote greater participation not as a replacement for current UN gatherings?