Happy First Day of Classes!
We are off to a running start here at BUIAA, so welcome back veteran members, and those who have been abroad, and a big welcome to new members! Remember, if you’d like to keep updated on everything BUIAA, you can sign up for our mailing list on the right side of any page.
THIS WEEK
Our Weekly meeting will be held at the same time – Wednesday at 7:30pm at a NEW place- Photonics 211.
Nuclear Iran: Waiting to Explode
Recently, there has been an upsurge in tensions over Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has repeatedly denied that it is trying to develop nuclear weapons, claiming “its goal in developing a nuclear program is to generate electricity without dipping into the oil supply it prefers to sell abroad, and to provide fuel for medical reactors.” However, in November 2011 the International Atomic Energy Agency of the UN released a report asserting that Iran had been undergoing activities for the creation of a nuclear weapon. With over 1,000 pages of documents, the report “the harshest judgment that U.N. weapons inspectors had ever issued in their decade-long struggle to pierce the secrecy surrounding the Iranian program, rekindled a debate among the Western allies and Israel about whether increased diplomatic pressure, sanctions, sabotage or military action could stop Iran’s program.”
The United States and the European Union have taken measures to impose sanctions if Iran continues with their nuclear program, but Tehran has threatened with blocking the Straight of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital international waterways to transport oil. As of January 23, 2012, EU foreign ministers have adopted an oil embargo. Oil is essential to the Iranian economy; while the EU buys about 20% of Iran’s oil exports, the European Union has put significant pressure on Iran and has intensified the gravity of the issue. Most of Iran’s oil is bought from Asian markets and the U.S. has been trying to make Asia decrease its dependency on Iranian oil. Iran’s next steps will be followed especially closely in the coming days. How will the conflict pan out?
Source: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/iran/nuclear_program/index.html
Questions to Consider
-Will these new measures be successful?
-Why does Iran want nuclear weapons in the first place?
-Who are Iran’s allies and what is their relationship with the West?
-Mossad has been behind a number of assassination attempts–most recently the murder of Iranian nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan. How does Israel’s position (and participation) in the conflict affect the current escalation of tensions?
-Does Iran’s nuclear program violate international law? Yes or no?
Useful Sources
The Flawed Logic of Striking Iran—
The Case for Regime Change in Iran—
Q&A With Colin H. Kahl on Dealing with Iran—
Not Time to Attack Iran—
Time to Attack Iran—
Stop the Madness—
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/01/19/stop_the_madness
Iran’s Nuclear Program—
Israel’s Fears of a Nuclear Iran—
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16655995
This is going to be an exciting meeting, so bring your friends!
–Other News—
BosMUN XI is only 32 days away! There is a MANDATORY training session on February 4th from 11-230pm. This will be our substantive program training session. Staff will be divided up by position to be trained in their roles for committee sessions, paying specific attention to type of committee. Lunch will be served. If you haven’t yet, sign up to staff BosMUN HERE. (What have you been waiting for?? It’s a great way to get involved and learn the world of MUN
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The NEW Model UN Travel Team will be meeting weekly on Tuesdays at 8pm in CAS 222. See you there! If you have any questions, check out the Model UN Team tab or email travel@buiaa.org
Have a great week everyone!
