As a country containing 50 states that covers more than three million square miles, America can sometimes be absorbed in its own problems and ignore issues taking place in other parts of the world. “I don’t watch the news,” said junior James Mason.
However, not all Americans are unaware of international conflict and news.
Model UN, a national club designed to mimic the United Nations, is geared toward young Americans interested in foreign affairs.
“Model UN is a program where students go and participate in a mock United Nations simulation. They represent a country and debate current international issues,” said Mr. Hoyle, Bob Jones’ Model UN sponsor.
With the first Model UN conference coming up on February 21st at the University of Alabama, Bob Jones’ Model UN coincidentally picked an eventful time in world politics to begin practicing diplomacy.
Since November, the Ukraine has experienced growing tensions between the government and demonstrators protesting the Ukrainian president’s withdrawal of a European Union trade pact, meant to open borders and promote modernization and inclusion with Europe, according to CNN.
Demonstrations protesting the President’s actions remained peaceful until the Ukrainian government declared a new law banning protests that went into effect Wednesday, the 22nd.
Outraged at the government’s stance to take away free speech and prevent progression, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko issued a statement to the President, “If you won’t hear the people, they will do everything to make you hear them…Tomorrow, if the president won’t listen to us we will go into the attack. There is no other way.”
While the President of the Ukraine met with opposition leaders to negotiate Wednesday, violence has already consumed the capital city of Kiev, with at least 300 people injured and 4 protesters dead.
According to BBC News, the president of the Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, offered concessions, including top government jobs to opposition leaders, to form a peace agreement on Saturday. Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko refused these offerings and called for a presidential election this year.
While the protests continue, Pavel Lebedev, Ukrainian Defense Minister, said that military action would not be taken.
“The army will abide strictly by the constitution and laws of Ukraine that set clearly its role, functions and tasks, including use of armed forces,” said Pavel Lebedev, in an interview with a Russian news agency.
While the world watches a major moment in Ukrainian history unfold, the Bob Jones’ Model UN is using this sequence of international events to develop their own opinions on politics and diplomacy.
“The government is for the people and so obviously when the government is just blatantly disregarding the people’s desires and needs they have a right to be upset and protest,” said Amir Ahmed, a senior and Model UN member.
