Boston University International Affairs Association

Iran is a member of the IAEA and is committed to the NPT. Why then are there objections to our legally recognized rights? Some [states] have abused nuclear technology for non-peaceful ends…and some even have a bleak record of using [bombs] against humanity…the abuse of the Security Council is indeed a source of grave concern.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, Speaking at the UN in 2006

A lot has happened involving Iran over the past week – Speeches at the UN, disclosures of hidden nuclear enrichment sites, and tests of long-range missiles. Can you keep track of it all? Could anything worse happen? Come join us on Wednesday at 7:30PM in SMG 304 as we simulate the United Nations Security Council, a key organization in this dilemma as member states try to find a compromise on whether and to what degree new sanctions should be placed on Iran.

BarMUN II is this weekend, October 1-4, 2009, but it’s still not too late to sign up to be a crisis staff member! Check out the BarMUN conference website for exciting information about committees or submit the application form to become a crisis staffer today!

Also, don’t forget about the opportunity to participate as a delegate in other schools’ conferences:

• Applications for Columbia University’s conference, CMUNNY are now open; please apply if you’re interested in going, or email the IAA account at iaa@bu.edu if you filled out a “senior application” earlier this year.

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‘The unrelenting global troubles confronting Barack Obama are about to converge on him all at once, providing a stern test of leadership for a first-year president who has pledged to “change the world.’”

-Ben Feller, Associated Press

President Obama will finally take a break from healthcare this week to look at Israel and Palestine, global warming the world economy, nuclear non-proliferation and everything in between.  Who says Presidents don’t know how to have fun?  His speeches before the UN on tuesday, wednesday and thursday could mark the beginning of a hopetastic new era in US Foreign policy, or they could be standard diplomatic boilerplate. Join us on Wednesday, September 23 at 7:30 pm in SMG 304 to discuss Obama’s speeches to the United Nations

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First Weekly Meeting
The first topic of the semester will be an open discussion on the Scottish government’s release of Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, which has been a topic of hot debate these past month. The only person convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21, 1988, al-Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds: medical evidence showed he would die within 3 months from terminal cancer. On December 21, 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 was destoyed by a terrorist bomb killing all 243 passengers, the 16 crew members including 11 Scottish citizens. In 2001, al-Mehgrahi was convicted for the bombing and received a life sentence. He was welcomed home in Libya as a hero–sparking angry sentiments in the western world.

What do you think?
Should al-Megrahi have been released? Is this a violation of justice? Should the victims’ families have had a say in this? What about the Libyan’s reaction to his release? Join us for an exciting discussion at 7:30 pm at SMG 304 on Wednesday, September 16th to discuss your reaction and reactions of leaders around the world.

Background on Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103 was a transatlantic flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to New York’s JFK Airport on Wednesday, 21 December 1988.  The aircraft, a Boeing 747, was destroyed by a bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members.  Eleven people in Lockerbie, southern Scotland, were killed as large sections of the plane fell in and around the town, bringing total fatalities to 270.
To read more about Pan Am 103, click here to visit the Wikipedia page.

Like Trivia Nights? Love the BU Pub? Want to see the inside of the pub before your 21st birthday?

Join us this Saturday April 18th at 6:30PM for the 2nd Annual BU Pub Quiz Night!

Tickets are on sale at the GSU 2nd floor window for $3 before the event, or $5 at the door. 

This is the ONLY opportunity for BU students under the age of 21 to enter and enjoy the BU Pub. The bar will be open to those of age – you need to be 21 to drink – but there will be free snack food for all. Come with friends and enjoy a night at the pub, or be placed on a team and meet some new people!

What: BU Pub Quiz Night
When:  Saturday April 18th, 6:30-9:00pm
Where: BU Pub, in the basement of The Castle
Who: BU students of any age
Tickets: $3 at the GSU 2nd floor, $5 at the door

Congratulations to the new 2009-2010 BU Model UN Executive Board are in order! The elected members of the E-Board will be:

President: Frank Pobutkiewicz
Vice President: Raphaella Zerey
Secretary: Jessica Merrell
Treaurer: Timothy Singer
Marketing Director: Vieshnavi Rattehalli

They will be joined by the SGs of BarMUN II and BosMUN IX, Rania Baker and Megan Griffith.

Thank you to those who nominated someone or ran in the election. Your dedication to Model UN makes the club better for everyone!

It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. The two are intertwined.

- Lee R. Raymond, former CEO of ExxonMobil

As the developed world continues to expand its consumerism and raises the minimum wage, multinational corporations (MNCs) have begun to move to the developing world. The implications of these corporations taking advantage of vague labor laws and weak states are still unclear. While the international community typically considers the economic effects of MNCs, it will be the job of the Human Rights Council to examine the differences in worker’s rights in different countries and how to combat this controversy. Join us this Wednesday 18 February at 7PM in CAS 326 as we take on this problem.

A few other updates:

BosMUN VIII, our high school conference, will be next weekend (Feb. 27-Mar. 1) at the Boston Park Plaza. If you’re not yet a staff member, it’s not too late! Just email us at bosmun.committees@gmail.com and we’ll tell you how you can get involved. If you want to know more about the conference itself, check out http://www.bosmun.org

Thanks to those of you who came to the social at Hojo on Sunday; charades was fun! Also, congratulations to those who went to McGill for the McMUN Conference in January! Our travel team had a great time in Montreal and even earned some awards.

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