NationStates Jolt Archive

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

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 its 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 to the less economically gifted members of the United Nations;

AUTHORIZES that the nature of the UN be altered from only a "face-to-face" venture, to include meetings within cyberspace, on UN protected websites and within UN chat rooms;

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 requiring attendance;

DECLARES ACCORDINGLY that through the use of real-time security identification technologies available to the UN, each member's “virtual presence” will be confirmed and verified to the limits of the technology available;

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

FURTHER REQUESTS that all transcriptions be made fully searchable by the most modern means available;

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 RECOMMENDS that the UN shall allow any and all media outlets from all member states to observe and record proceedings in the UN - "live", virtual, and those involving both aspects - 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;

NOTES this does not remove the presence of face-to-face meetings at the UN, but rather seeks to increase the scope of "valid" meetings and "valid" presences at UN gatherings and the amount of information freely available to the citizens of all member states.

I think this is a very good proposal. Thumbs up :)

Thank you :)

The process of writing the draft was a learning experience in and of itself; my hope is that this does eventually make quorum.

At the very least, it's been an experience in diplomacy and compromise. Though I will admit to wanting more input on the various points.

Submission is planned for Thursday if nothing major appears wrong with it.

I think it should explicitly say that face-to-face diplomacy at the UN will continue, this would simply make it one of 2 options. As long as that's clear, then ok.

... adds last paragraph...

How does that work for you, Myopia?

Excellent :)

Congratulations to the Vastivan delegation for their work. When it comes time to bounce your communications signals around the world, there are several companies within our country who would be more than happy to provide you with deeply discounted satellite technology.

I’d like to begin by firstly congratulating the honorable member of Vastiva on a well-written proposal, thank you. Since the scope of this proposal has now changed and does not seek to replace face to face meetings with member nations, but rather tries to take advantage of technology to aid the workings of the UN, the government of Telidia does now feel more inclined to look upon this proposal more favorably. However, we still have concerns regarding the cost of initial deployment and the costs of the ongoing maintenance and how this burden will be distributed amongst member states. Furthermore, whilst the draft does include a clause regarding employment of state of the art technology, it does fail to state how this will cohesively function.

If left to member states individually I fear progress will be hampered because member states will all have different views about deployment, security and under what IT protocols the system will operate. Furthermore once that is decided there will inevitably be a burden to some states whose systems may not be up to scratch or run under different protocols and will either have to be replaced or made compliant. How do we propose these nations are helped in their conversion process, both in terms of knowledge sharing and actual financial assistance?

I feel many of these issues can addressed if the network is essentially based in the UN building and run by UN staff as part of the UN budget. I also feel that the project should be spear headed by a newly formed UN body so that a singular project is instituted and all member nations need to worry about is compliance, subject to my earlier statements of course.

Lastly I also feel that the level of participation should voluntary.

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

I’d like to begin by firstly congratulating the honorable member of Vastiva on a well-written proposal, thank you. Since the scope of this proposal has now changed and does not seek to replace face to face meetings with member nations, but rather tries to take advantage of technology to aid the workings of the UN, the government of Telidia does now feel more inclined to look upon this proposal more favorably.

*bows* Our thanks.


However, we still have concerns regarding the cost of initial deployment and the costs of the ongoing maintenance and how this burden will be distributed amongst member states. Furthermore, whilst the draft does include a clause regarding employment of state of the art technology, it does fail to state how this will cohesively function.

I refuse to go into technical details as the technologies present in NS would instantly cause this to become a nightmare. Consider the UN population of everything from elves to penguins to Space Marines to orcs to horned rats to...

This isn't a tech manual, it's a proposal. And I don't want to work out how "subspace communications" work in order to pass it.



If left to member states individually I fear progress will be hampered because member states will all have different views about deployment, security and under what IT protocols the system will operate.

See above. See also:


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

Further, it's an optional system, not a required one. This is an invitation, not a "forcing technology down your throat" proposal.



Furthermore once that is decided there will inevitably be a burden to some states whose systems may not be up to scratch or run under different protocols and will either have to be replaced or made compliant. How do we propose these nations are helped in their conversion process, both in terms of knowledge sharing and actual financial assistance?

See above "SUPPORTS" quote, see also "Internet".



I feel many of these issues can addressed if the network is essentially based in the UN building and run by UN staff as part of the UN budget. I also feel that the project should be spear headed by a newly formed UN body so that a singular project is instituted and all member nations need to worry about is compliance, subject to my earlier statements of course.

I disagree. I refuse to put any burden on the UN budget until a means of finance is incorporated. As that is not presently there, your addition would not help in the least.

Secondly, I bring up again the matter of the widely diverse technologies present in the nations which make up the UN. This becomes a technical matter, which nations are better able to handle for themselves. Again, the proposition states support for those which aid Information Technology industries, not funding.

In short, this is "Get here, and you're in, even if you only get here virtually". Increase in Democracy. That is the full scope of the proposal.



Lastly I also feel that the level of participation should voluntary.

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

Do explain your concern here.

First, there is :


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

Note that that does not say anything about excluding the former.
There is also:


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;

...and...


NOTES this does not remove the presence of face-to-face meetings at the UN, but rather seeks to increase the scope of "valid" meetings and "valid" presences at UN gatherings and the amount of information freely available to the citizens of all member states.

These appear to answer your concern.

Last chance for commentary

I thank the honourable member from Vastiva for taking the time to reply to our comments.

With regard to our comments on how the technology will operate I completely understand the honourable member’s reluctance to turn this proposal in to a technical manual and that is not our intention. However, from our point of view how the technology will eventually function and be maintained does have diplomatic and security consequences, allow me a moment to explain.

From a security perspective to ensure, for example there is no vote tampering, somewhere someone will have to decide on one piece of software that will monitor this function. This will have to be housed on a server somewhere and because all member nations will have to either use the same software or perhaps link to one server that contains the software, it raises ethical questions:

If this security system is housed in a member state they will be charged with its security, but by definition may inadvertently be given the power to control votes. This then becomes a major security issue. By hosting this server at the UN building that possibility is removed because impartial staff will be maintaining it. I also don’t feel it is ethical for individual members to have vote verification systems in their own systems, because that only exasperates the problem as detailed earlier. Nor do I believe member states should each be charged with ensuring security or developing software for it. There is an inherent conflict of interest here.

Indeed you rightly point out that member states have vastly differing technologies, but that is my point. Unless one body takes the lead in a project of this scale, nothing will ever get done, there will be constant in fighting. The only way to remove this is for an independent body to both handle deployment, maintenance, support and security and the only body that can do that effectively, is the UN.

Lastly, with regard to your comment on UN finance. I believe as it stands when a new UN body is formed there is the assumption that funds are given to that commission or agency. Therefore the tax burden you propose to place on member states with this proposal should be spent on funding this body and developing infrastructure to make the system work, both in the UN and domestically.

I therefore urge the honourable member to consider these implications carefully and request they think about forming a UN body to spear head and handle this project.

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

Having listened to the debate over the about to be submitted proposal, the Protectorate of Legalese would like to comment:

First, I commend the Vastivan delegation for considering a proposal that will help move the United Nations in the 21st century. There is wonderful technology out there, and it is only to the advantage of the world that we use it.

That said, I must echo the concerns raised by the honorable member from Telidia. For such a proposal to be successful, a UN body should be formed to handle any issues concerning compatibility, security, and the like.

Additionally, I am concerned by the wording in the proposal, which fails to require, at the minimum, a visual confirmation of the member's presence (whether it be real or virtual). Regardless of the security measures taken, I submit that a failure to confirm the visual presence could lead to serious problems, such as a rebellious group attempting to cause international conflict, by hacking into the system, and impersonating a delegation.

With these concerns in mind, the Protectorate of Legalese is not confident that they can offer their support to this proposal, without consideration of the mentioned concerns to the proposal.

Respectfully submitted,

Scot J. Hafhron
International Legal Commissioner
UN Ambassador
Protectorate of Legalese

As my esteemed colleagues have had a most wonderful time pointing what they perceive as flaws, perhaps they would channel some perceptivity suggesting additional or altered passages which would address such? Far more useful that would be then long treatises.

As my esteemed colleagues have had a most wonderful time pointing what they perceive as flaws, perhaps they would channel some perceptivity suggesting additional or altered passages which would address such? Far more useful that would be then long treatises.

My apologies. To specify, I propose amending the proposal so that this passage:
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;

Now reads:
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, provided that visual confirmation of the appropriate representatives of the member is made by the Secretary General;

I hope this is of assistance to you.

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, provided that visual confirmation of the appropriate representatives of the member is made by the Secretary General;
No such animal as a Secretary General, Legalese. Gonna have to try another way.

I've always assumed that, as UN resolutions are hampered by character limits, there are numerous 'off-screen' appendices that fill in the gaps. I've used this sassumption in the past for Sydia's child soldiers proposal and I'm prepared to do it again here unless anyone persuades me otherwise. So, I approve.

No such animal as a Secretary General, Legalese. Gonna have to try another way.

OOC: In that case, is there an organizational structure for the NS UN? The idea is for there to be approved visual confirmation of a member who "virtually attends" a session, with the judgement made by the (hopefully) impartial UN leadership. So, if there is a structure, I'm more than willing to adjust my amendment proposal to Vastiva's proposal.

If there is no organizational structure established, then I will follow Ecopoeia's lead, and assume that a Secretariat would exist in the NSUN, hence requiring a secretary general.

My apologies. To specify, I propose amending the proposal so that this passage:

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, provided that visual confirmation of the appropriate representatives of the member is made by the Secretary General;

I hope this is of assistance to you.

None. There isn't a "Secretary General" or any other sort of General of the UN. There's no organizational structure to the UN. There's nothing of the sort to look at or express to.

Now, as that's sorted out, are your quibblings done?

None. There isn't a "Secretary General" or any other sort of General of the UN. There's no organizational structure to the UN. There's nothing of the sort to look at or express to.

Now, as that's sorted out, are your quibblings done?

Yes. My point of the amendment proposal is that there needs to be something requiring a visual confirmation of the member's "virtual presence." Without such a requirement, the system you propose has, what I feel, is too great of a security concern, no matter what measures are taken to run the most secure system possible. If anything, this is the only thing currently holding me back from supporting this proposal, when it reaches that stage.

Otherwise, I continue to extend my commendation on such a proposal.

Additional paragraph (see page 1)


DECLARES ACCORDINGLY that through the use of real-time security identification technologies available to the UN, each members “virtual presence” will be confirmed and verified to the limits of the technology available;


How about that?

You need an apostrophe in "members" to make it "member's", but otherwise that's good.

I like it... You have my support

Thank you all, I believe I shall move forward with submitting this one.