NationStates Jolt Archive

[OOC: I don't have the required 2 endorsements to submit this, but if someone wants to (so to speak) "co-author" this by submitting it, please do.]
NOTE: Out of date: See edited proposal below.
This proposal,
IN SUPPORT of the United Nations and its processes,
IN HOPES that world knowledge of the UN is increased,
and APPALLED by the lack of information provided to individual citizens of UN member states wishes to
(1) provide free United Nations information to citizens in the form of a UN-funded satellite television station broadcasting internal debates, resolutions, and proposals.
(2) provide free United Nations information to citizens in the form of a UN-funded online database of proposed and active resolutions
(3) require that all United Nations member states allow the viewing of these forms of information in an unedited form.
- Ross Port Legislature
Reference Point City,
Democratic States of Ross Port
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/ross_port.jpg

This is a very interesting proposal indeed. Don't see original proposals much around here anymore.

HotRodian UN Representative
Accelerus Dioce

I'm not wild about the third provision. But I would be interested in a proposal that promotes giving out information about the UN. What category was this intended as?

This was intended as an "Education and Creativity -> Free Press" proposal.
- Ross Port Legislature

(As you folks are the only stepping stone I have: Feel free to remove the third proposal when submitting.)

this is interesting but needs more meat on its bones.

For example who will run this TV station and will radio users also be facilitated?

I'm also wondering what agenda a station like this would have and if it would be even handed?


Kaigan Miromuta
Kirisuban Ambassador to the UN

Hock: The submitters may add a radio clause if they wish. The network would, during most programming hours, broadcast live video from the UN floor. In prime-time hours, commentary and debate programs approved as neutral by an objective study would be aired.

EDIT: Here is an edited version of the proposal. Please feel free to submit this on my behalf as a 'co-author':
This proposal,
IN SUPPORT of the United Nations and its processes,
IN HOPES that world knowledge of the UN is increased,
and APPALLED by the lack of information provided to individual citizens of UN member states wishes to
(1) provide free United Nations information to citizens in the form of a UN-funded satellite television station broadcasting internal debates, resolutions, and proposals. The content of the station would be as follows:
(1a) When the UN is in session, live video will be shown from the UN floor.
(1b) At all other times, commentary and debate programs confirmed as neutral by an independant study will be aired.
(2) provide free United Nations information to citizens in the form of a UN-funded satellite radio station broadcasting the same content as the television station. Countries may provide additional FM or AM simulcasting stations without the permission of the United Nations.
(3) provide free United Nations information to citizens in the form of a UN-funded online database of proposed and active resolutions.

"The Commonwealth thinks this is a good idea, and supports the effort of such a Resolution."

Suggestion: Drop specific times and just use the criteria when the UN is in session the sessions will be broadcast and when not commentary will be aired.

I've edited the language to match your proposal, Tzorsland. Thanks for your support.
- Ross Port Legislature,
Reference Point Island,
Ross Port

If you post a message on The East Pacific's messageboard, "Can I have an endorsement or two, so I can submit a proposal?", I'd bet you'd have 10 within an hour.

[OOC: That feels like cheating, but if it's okay with you...
If anyone reading is from the East Pacific, I just need one endorsement! Sorry for asking in advance. (http://www.nationstates.net/ross_port)]

We agree that this is a very interesting idea and has the potential to be a fine proposal. However, we would plead with the representative of Ross Port to have a little patience and avoid rushing this to submission. Allow some time for members to comment and make suggestions here. As it stands, the draft has some significant technical problems. The way it reads now, the proposal simply "wishes" to do something. That's meaningless. Nowhere does it say that anyone is actually going to do anything.

The intent of the proposal is, we believe, excellent. We'd suggest the author sit back, take a deep breath, pay close attention to the comments and suggestions provided here, get a firm grip on what the proposal is trying to make happen, and then revise the draft to make it happen. We'll be happy to help if we can.

Lorelei M. Ahlmann
Ambassador-at-Large

I would strongly suggest adding specific language specifying that information on rights of citizens of UN nations be broadcasted clearly and often - perhaps even on a separate channel. This would be a way to encourage citizens to break free of oppressive governments - it's a lot easier to campaign for rights if you know the UN believes you [should] have those rights.

Enrique Lopez
Ambassador to the United Nations

(OOC: I keep typing "Untied" instead of "United"... :p )

I have attempted to clarify, and revise the proposal a bit. Here is my version. Please add your comments.


IN SUPPORT of the United Nations and its processes.

WORRIED that the information about the United Nations and its processes are currently not adequately available.

WISHING to increase awareness about the United Nations and it's actions.

WANTING to ensure that all countries are portrayed fairly.

BELIEVING that an internationally run media is the best way to accomplish this.

ALSO BELIEVING that it is the United Nations' duty to provide fair and complete coverage of it's actions.

(1) PROVIDING, free of cost, United Nations information to citizens in the form of a satellite television station, as well as radio and newspaper media. The content covered by these media would be as follows:
1. Live video and radio coverage of UN actions while it is in session.
2. Unbiased news coverage of UN activities, available at all times.
3. Content available in the languages of all countries as to maximize the availability of the information to all peoples.
(2) PROVIDING free information on the United Nations to citizens in the form of an online database of proposed and active resolutions.
(3) REQUIRING that the United Nations pay for these services through money collected from it's members in order to provide the service to all of the countries' citizens without cost.
(4) REQUIRING that there must be, at all times, a committee composed of the delegates from various regions whose purpose is oversee the work of the broadcasting, and ensure that the information is effectively and fairly portrayed.

Under current UN rules the committee's composition probably can't be that specific.
What about 'Past-Tech' nations?

[OOC: Thanks for your comments everyone. Also, what about past-tech nations? I'm not about to drop this because of them.]

The Allied States of Aria and Attica warmly welcomes this most promising proposal and offers it's full support. Should this proposal be passed as resolution the ASAA will be willing to provide all technical and financial assistance it is able to offer, in order to ensure that truthful and genuine poltical information be available to all, in the hope of greater involvement of regular citizens in the political process.

Heraclitus Yannas
UN Representative for the Allied States of Aria and Attica

I would strongly suggest adding specific language specifying that information on rights of citizens of UN nations be broadcasted clearly and often - perhaps even on a separate channel.

Rights and responsibilities, if you please...

Also, what about past-tech nations? I'm not about to drop this because of them.

Maybe you could include a clause about using alternative types of media in any cases where the nature of a nation makes receiving broadcast &/or online material impractical?

Rights and responsibilities, if you please...
I'm sure your government would only be too quick to tell you about what you had to do!

What about 'Past-Tech' nations?

There comes a point where the resolution becomes a moot issue for past-techn nations simply because there is no equivalent for rapid newsfeeds of this nature. I suppose one could use an audio feed for a radio broadcast but pre-radio era nations simply can't take advantage of this.

OK I think this is a relatively good proposal, and I do like it. But now we come to important questions, such as how are we (the UN) going to pay for all this? I mean it's not like you can set up broadcasting equipment, studios, etc for nothing.

The second question is more of a confirmation. Broadcasting the sessions of the UN makes the sessions of the UN open to the public. Are you sure you want to be seen? Are you sure you want to be seen with these ... people on your left and right? Are you sure your government won't immediately recall you when they realize you spend more time in the stranger's bar than on the debate floor? That so few people actually come in here for debates we moved the voting machines outside to the halls? Yea I'm sure, but I want you to be sure as well. Because if we do this, we have got to redecorate this hall, it's a mess!

this is interesting but needs more meat on its bones.

For example who will run this TV station and will radio users also be facilitated?


We also find this to be a very interesting proposal. As to the question of who would run said broadcasts, allow me to volunteer my assistant, Tarquin Fin-tim-lim-bim-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Ole-Biscuitbarrel.

http://www.montypython.art.pl/obrazki/lcmp19-15.jpg

Respectfully,
Sheik Nadnerb bin Cluich
Cluichstani Ambassador to the UN

I'm sure your government would only be too quick to tell you about what you had to do!

OOC: with regards to its own laws, very probably... but with regard to any UN Resolutions of which it might happen to disapprove?

The second question is more of a confirmation. Broadcasting the sessions of the UN makes the sessions of the UN open to the public. Are you sure you want to be seen? Are you sure you want to be seen with these ... people on your left and right? Are you sure your government won't immediately recall you when they realize you spend more time in the stranger's bar than on the debate floor? That so few people actually come in here for debates we moved the voting machines outside to the halls? Yea I'm sure, but I want you to be sure as well. Because if we do this, we have got to redecorate this hall, it's a mess!

And then there the fact that some nation's action in this hall (I'm looking at you OMGTKK) might violate some nation's decency standards.:D

Bob Flibble
UN Representative

We feel that it is precisely the fact that our actions at the UN will be open for all our people to see (and indeed all the world's people) will be an effective method to ensure higher standards from all national leaders and their reprisentatives, as well as bring benefits to open and honest debate of political issues and bring greater political involvement by the people at large.

Heraclitus Yannas
UN Rep. of the Allied States of Aria and Attica

As to the question of who would run said broadcasts, allow me to volunteer my assistant, Tarquin Fin-tim-lim-bim-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Ole-Biscuitbarrel.

I would like to suggest instead my former assistant (who only left because of that stupid repeal wording some time ago) Amber Red-Brown.

http://pic9.picturetrail.com/VOL291/1756382/5512569/173876309.jpg

She's smart and charismatic, and of course she can turn into a penguin.

And then there the fact that some nation's action in this hall (I'm looking at you OMGTKK) might violate some nation's decency standards.
Well quite. Everyone complains about my language - if they have such an aversion to it, they're probably not going to want it relayed round their country. But I suppose this doesn't stop the content being censored.

I am increasingly supportive of this proposal, although I have one reserve: it'll mean my mother will see I don't wear the jumpers she knits me every day.

~Rono Pyandran
Chief of Staff
Curer of Cancer
Killer of Puppies

Thank you for your support and suggestions! This is very much an open proposal, so feel free to ask about changes. Furthering "past-technology" nations, they simply will not be able to view or hear this data. There is already a daily paper version of the UN agenda, they may use that.
- Ross Port Legislature

Under current UN rules the committee's composition probably can't be that specific.
What about 'Past-Tech' nations?

I don't believe that there is anything specific about the composition of the comittee other than the fact that it contains representatives.

I don't believe that there is anything specific about the composition of the comittee other than the fact that it contains representatives.

Oops! Obviously I wasn't clear enough: the question about Past-tech nations was supposed to be separate from the remark about the committee, not about whether they should be represented thereon... The problem with the committee is that it's specified as composed of "the delegates from various regions" (with no indication given as to how these are to be selected...) but the UN's current rules basically require that all committees created by resolutions be staffed by anonymous UN personnel instead...

OOC: with regards to its own laws, very probably... but with regard to any UN Resolutions of which it might happen to disapprove?

Meh...I'll let the author decide on this one, we both have valid points.