Historical Resolutions Archive

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #49
Rights and Duties of UN States

A resolution to restrict political freedoms in the interest of law and order.


Category: Political Stability


Strength: Significant


Proposed by: Frisbeeteria

Description: :
UN membership in NationStates is a choice, not a requirement. Those of us who chose to participate have certain responsibilities to ourselves, each other, and the entire NationStates community. At the same time, we as NationStates have certain rights and responsibilities that we do not willingly give up when we chose to join the UN. It is therefore vital to clearly delineate what constitutes sovereign law versus UN sanctioned international law. This document will attempt to enumerate those most basic of rights, as they exist within and as defined by the United Nations of NationStates.

A Declaration on Rights and Duties of UN States:

Section I: The Principle of National Sovereignty:

Article 1
§ Every UN Member State has the right to independence and hence to exercise freely, without dictation by any other NationState, all its legal powers, including the choice of its own form of government.

Article 2
§ Every UN Member State has the right to exercise jurisdiction over its territory and over all persons and things therein, subject to the immunities recognized by international law.

Article 3
§ Every UN Member State has the duty to refrain from unrequested intervention in the internal or external economic, political, religious, and social affairs of any other NationState, subject to the immunities recognized by international law.

Section II: The Art of War:

Article 4
§ Every UN Member State has the right of individual or collective self-defense against armed attack.

Article 5
§ War in the World of NationStates is defined as a consensual act between two or more NationStates. Any and all NationStates may, at their discretion, respond to declarations of war on NationStates who wish to avoid war. The recommended method is a barrage of I.G.N.O.R.E. Cannons.

Article 6
§ Every UN Member State has the duty to refrain from fomenting civil strife in the territory of another NationState, and to prevent the organization within its territory of activities calculated to foment such civil strife.

Article 7
§ Every UN Member State has the duty to refrain from giving assistance to any NationState which is acting in violation of Article 5, or against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action.

Article 8
§ Every UN Member State has the duty to refrain from recognizing any territorial acquisition by another NationState acting in violation of Article 5.

Section III: The Role of the United Nations:

Article 9
§ Every UN Member State has the right to equality in law with every other UN Member State.

Article 10
§ Every UN Member State has the duty to carry out in good faith its obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law, and it may not invoke provisions in its constitution or its laws as an excuse for failure to perform this duty.

Article 11
§ Every UN Member State has the duty to conduct its relations with other NationStates in accordance with international law and with the principle that the sovereignty of each UN Member State is subject to the supremacy of international law.

Votes For 15,083 (82%)
Votes Against 3,395 (18%)

Implemented Tue Feb 24 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #50
UN Space Consortium

A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.


Category: Free Trade


Strength: Significant


Proposed by: Rixtex

Description: Whereas the nations of the world wish to unify their efforts at space exploration, and

Whereas, no nation can claim title to the Moon,

Let it be resolved, that an agency to be named the United Nations Space Consortium (hereafter referred to as “U.N.S.C.”) is hereby created. The purpose of the U.N.S.C. shall be to establish a permanent Lunar Base capable of furthering the exploration of space for knowledge and resources.

The U.N.S.C. shall be incorporated under the charter of the United Nations and entirely funded through the sale of stock to any desiring nation, regardless of their affiliation to the United Nations. Non-participating nations are free to pursue their own space objectives, but would not reap the rewards of the investors. No taxing authority shall be created by the passage of this resolution.

A Provisional Board of Directors (“Provisional Board”) shall be composed of a representative from each nation participating in the U.N.S.C. immediately following the passage of this resolution. The Provisional Board will then proceed to elect a permanent Board of Directors (“Board”). No sale of stock shall occur before the seating of the Board.

Full operational control, design, development, priorities, and administration will be assigned to the Board whose service will remain subject to the will of the stockholders, as provided for in the Articles of Incorporation.

Let the nations of the world move forward together to a new frontier.

Votes For 13,191 (71%)
Votes Against 5,426 (29%)

Implemented Sun Feb 29 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #51
Children in War

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights


Strength: Strong


Proposed by: Sydia

Description: The NationStates United Nations,

Noting with regret that thousands of children continue to be abducted to serve as soldiers, spies, messengers, servants and sexual slaves with armed forces and groups,

Realizing that poverty, propaganda and ideology also continue to drive the involvement of children in many conflict areas,

Deeply disturbed by the idea that children make obedient and cheap soldiers capable of instilling terror in civilians and opposing forces alike,

Observing that many of these children are generally poor, illiterate, and from rural regions,

Bearing in mind that many nations have a difficult time in protecting these children,

Convinced that the social and economic viability of the future of all nations lies in the humane treatment of children in general,

1. Bans the practise of conscripting or placing children under 16 years of age into national armed services;
2. Insists nations address the causes of child abduction by non-governmental organizations;
3. Emphasizes the need for nations to prevent cross-border abduction and human trafficking;
4. All parties in armed conflict must adopt special measures to protect children from rape and sexual abuse and gender based violence;
5. Expects nations to take into account the special needs of children throughout the duration of the armed conflict and its aftermath;
6. All UN nations must ensure that international measures be taken to take care of child refugees displaced by conflict;
7. Condemns and bans attacks of any sort on places that have a significant presence of children, such as schools, hospitals, and day care facilities;
8. Deplores and bans the practice of using children as human shields by integrating child care facilities, such as those listed above, with military facilities, and prohibits this practise; and
9. Acknowledges the right of nations to set up military academies and to teach children basic survival and defense skills.

Votes For: 15,753 (86%)
Votes Against: 2,582 (14%)

Implemented: Mon Mar 8 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #52
Ballast Water

A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.


Category: Environmental


Industry Affected: All Businesses


Proposed by: Jamalya

Description: Ballast water is a major vector for invasive marine species. By mandatory cycling of ballast water member nations waters we will reduce the introduction and spead of weedy invasive species such as zebra mussel and northern pacific sea star with minimum disruption to industry.

The NationStates United Nations,

OBSERVING that it is common practice for international cargo ships to release ballast water upon arriving at their destination ports or in waters near these ports,

REALIZING that it is necessary for these ships to use ballast material during long voyages across international waters, and that ballast material is extremely useful in allowing ships to remain level while loading and unloading cargo while in port,

AWARE that ballast water is a primary source of the introduction of nonindigenous or alien species into fragile aquatic ecosystems,

CONCERNED that nonindigenous species frequently have no natural predators in the new ecosystems they are introduced into,

NOTING that often these species compete with or threaten and prey upon native species, including many endangered species,

NOTING FURTHER that protecting biodiversity is of interest to both local and international interests, in that losses in biodiversity have resulted in damages and losses in the stock of commercial fisheries,

1. RECOMMENDS that international cargo ships using ballast water exchange or cycle this water while in ocean waters exceeding 1,600 meters in depth;
2. FURTHER RECOMENDS that independant nations pass legislation to mandate the installation of nitrogen deoxification equiptment or UV steralizers on all international cargo ships;
3. CALLS UPON nations to adopt similar standards for domestic cargo ships that travel through international waters;
4. SUGGESTS that the uptake of ballast water should be minimized when propellers may stir up sediments and bottom dwelling organisms, or in periods of darkness, when the quality of the ballast water can not be easily accessed;
5. FURTHER RECOMMENDS that cargo ships, when possible, develop and put into practice routine schedules to clean out the ballast tanks either mid-ocean or in dry docks, in order to minimize the risks of introducing harmful aquatic organisms; and
6. REQUESTS governments work with the shipping industries based in their countries to assess additional methods of minimizing the risks of introducing harmful aquatic organisms.

Votes For: 13,485 (79%)
Votes Against: 3,505 (21%)

Implemented: Sun Mar 14 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #53
Universal Freedom of Choice

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights


Strength: Significant


Proposed by: Tactical grace

Description: Aware that sometimes, all choices we face are an illusion, but nonetheless strongly believing that as humans, we are entitled to make them ourselves,

Reiterating that freedom of choice is a defining element of our very humanity and the inalienable right of all humanity,

Alarmed that there are those among us who seek to limit our ability to choose, including but not limited to political, educational and consumer choice,

Further alarmed that individuals can be influenced and their ability to decide limited through cultural conditioning,

Deeply disturbed that the practice of subliminal advertising appears to erode the fundamental human trait of free will,

Noting with concern that in the wider world, the populations of entire nations repeat non sequitors issued by the State and remain in profound ignorance of the world around them,

Recalling the Resolution "Universal Bill of Rights" and Articles 1, 2 and 3 in particular,

Approving of past Resolutions restricting personal freedoms in the interests of moral decency,

Stressing that humanity has an innate curiosity about the world, and welcoming all efforts to permit this curiosity to reach its full potential,

1) Urges all members of the United Nations to recognise that a populace granted the freedom to make choices in life is a happier, more content and more productive society;

2) Strongly encourages leaders to imagine how different the world could be, if from an early age, people were free to exercise genuine choice in what they read, watched and learnt;

3) Recognises that the most basic human characteristic is that of curiosity - the ability to wonder, ask questions, and seek answers, and affirms its belief that no State should limit its people's freedom to do this;

4) Expresses its conviction that individuals should not be judged by society for the decisions they make, provided these decisions meet the condition set in Clause 5a of this document;

5) Declares and enshrines in law the freedom of all people to make choices according to their own conscience, particularly with regard to their philosophy of life, social/cultural development and awareness of the world, without unreasonable interference from the State, subject to the following limitations:

a) The decisions taken do not directly inflict physical harm on the individual making them or physical or psychological harm on others; where this is the case, normal criminal law of the country in question applies,

b) The legal guardian of any minor or physically or mentally incapable individual, the latter as defined in the Resolution "Fair Treatment of Mentally-Ill", remains responsible to make informed choices and decisions on their behalf, in accordance with any applicable rights and health and safety legislation laid down by the State,

c) The right to choose with regard to services only extends to existing services, and does not mandate the creation of private health and education sectors in nations where provision of public services is a State monopoly, while the right of the State to later deregulate nationalised services, or choose not to do so, remains unaffected;

6) Declares a moratorium on the use of subliminal advertising pending independent internationally-coordinated research into its effects on the capacity of individuals and wider society to make rational decisions.

Votes For: 9,314 (53%)
Votes Against: 8,213 (47%)

Implemented: Fri Mar 26 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #54
* REPEALED *
UN Educational Committee

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights


Strength: Strong


Proposed by: Hersfold

Description: NOTICING, that the condition of many educational facilities worldwide lack the ability to properly teach thier children, in that:

Classrooms are falling into disrepair;
Teachers are unable to properly educate their students due to poor training:
And, schools do not have sufficent funds to purchase better equipment to replace old, broken and/or out-of-date materials;

SEEING that a student's mental welfare and self-esteem can be greatly improved through extra-curricular activities, which many schools can not afford or do not fund sufficently;

FINDING that the food served in many school cafeterias is not healthy, and tastes revolting besides;

SHOCKED by the fact that many school systems lack sufficent security systems to keep their students safe from dangerous trespassers and, in some cases, themselves;

HEARING that many countries cut the budget for education before anything else to aid funding for other programs;

HAVING PASSED the resolution "Free Education" on August 19th of the year 2003;

AND REALIZING that today's children are tommorrow's future, and without proper education of these children, our future will fail;

THE NATIONSTATES UNITED NATIONS shall form the United Nations Educational Committee, or UNEC, which shall resolve all of these problems in our nation's educational systems by providing funding to these systems, so they may repair unsafe schools, purchase security systems to protect our students from harm, provide extra-curricular activities to help our children's mental and physical state of being, provide them with healthier school lunches, provide a better learning environment for our children by training teachers and purchasing more up-to-date materials for the students, and overall ensuring our world's future to be a prosperous one.

Votes For: 11,237 (61%)
Votes Against: 7,167 (39%)

Implemented: Fri Apr 9 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #55
World Blood Bank

A resolution to reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare.


Category: Social Justice


Strength: Mild


Proposed by: Malagassia

Description: Whereas it has been observed that some nations are experiencing repeated or seasonal shortages of blood,

Whereas it has been observed that most nations are experiencing acute shortages in donor organs,

Whereas it has been observed that organs compatible to the victim of the body are often hard to find,

Whereas it has been observed that only 1 in 200,000 people have compatible marrow types,

Whereas it has been observed that marrow donors are rare,

Whereas it has been observed that every nation is susceptible to acute blood and organ shortages in the case of calamities,

Whereas national blood reserves are largely left idle most of the times as fresh blood expires in a matter of days,

Whereas regional or worldwide redistribution would provide an assurance against acute shortage and could level national shortages/surplusses,

A World Blood Bank is proposed in which all nation's donations would be included and redistributed on a regional scale meeting local needs.

UN nations would need to open up their reserves to the World Blood Bank and partake in the funding of a centralized body that would coordinate the efforts of gathering, archiving and redistributing.

These efforts are deemed compatible with the role of the Red Cross/Red Crescent and could/should be done in concordance with that organisation.

In order to safeguard quality and well-being of donors and receivers, blood, marrow and organ donations should meet the requirements put forward by the Red Cross/Red Crescent.

Votes For: 11,364 (66%)
Votes Against: 5,912 (34%)

Implemented: Wed Apr 14 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #56
BioRights Declaration

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights


Strength: Significant


Proposed by: The free carolinas

Description: The United Nations and its member states shall hereby recognize and henceforth regard the inherent rights of cloned and genetically engineered persons as being the equal of those of naturally born and unmodified persons.

Votes For: 12,135 (72%)
Votes Against: 4,726 (28%)

Implemented: Thu May 6 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #57
Reduce Black Market Arms Sales

A resolution to improve world security by boosting police and military budgets.


Category: International Security


Strength: Significant


Proposed by: Galdago

Description: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

CONSIDERING that the illicit traffic in small arms impedes development, constitutes a threat to populations and security, and contributes to the destabilization of States;

RECOGNIZING the suffering caused by illicit trafficking in small arms and that States bear the obligation to bolster their efforts in developing practical ways of addressing the problem;

REAFFIRMING the right to individual or collective self-defense recognized within United Nations implying that States have the right to acquire arms for defense;

REITERATING the importance of the right of self-determination of all peoples, especially under alien domination or foreign occupation;

CONVINCED of the need for a thorough approach to control and reduce small arms and light weapons in a balanced manner to ensure international peace and security;

1. ADOPTS the following recommendations for the curbing of illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons with respect to the definitions of this weaponry articulated in the annex of this resolution;

2. REQUESTS an independent council be formed to continue to consider the matter and report to it at its subsequent sessions on the implementation of this resolution and to seek and consider the views of all Member States on the objective, scope, agenda, dates and venue of an international conference on the illicit arms trade;

3. DECIDES to convene an international conference on all aspects of the illicit arms trade no later than 2005;

4. WELCOMES the offer by the Government of Mikitivity to host in Miervatia, no later than 2005, an international conference on all aspects of the illicit arms trade;

5. ENCOURAGES the establishment of national programmes to combat the illicit transfer of small arms and ensure the collection thereof within the suggested parameters of paragraph 6 and invites the international community to render technical and financial support to strengthen the ability of States to take these actions;

6. RECOMMENDS that participating States should implement programmes of action which would:

a) employ regulations to control the production of small arms and light weapons within their jurisdiction, and over the export, import, transit or retransfer of such weapons;

b) generate agencies responsible for policy guidance of efforts to prevent illicit trade, including aspects of illicit manufacture, control, trafficking, circulation, brokering, trade, as well as tracing, finance, collection and destruction of small arms;

c) ensure responsibility for all small arms held and issued by the state and create measures for tracing such weapons;

d) and enact, where possible, effective disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, including effective collection, control, storage and destruction of small arms, particularly in post-conflict zones, as well as address the special needs of children affected by armed conflict.

ANNEX

DEFINITIONS
In the present resolution and its aspects:

a) “Small arms” means man-portable firearms and their ammunition primarily designed for individual use by military forces as lethal weapons; the term shall be used interchangeably to also denote the aggregate of small arms and light weapons;

b) “Light weapons” means some man-portable firearms and their ammunition, light artillery guns and rockets, and guided missiles for use against armored vehicles, aircraft, or fortifications.

Votes For: 11,239 (72%)
Votes Against: 4,287 (28%)

Implemented: Wed May 12 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #58
* REPEALED *
SPCC Regulation Act

A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.


Category: Environmental


Industry Affected: All Businesses


Proposed by: 12 days till midnight

Description: SPCC (Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasures)

Oil leaks; from out of date pipelines or huge storage tanks/refineries can cause enormous environmental damage. The cost to taxpayers and future generations of the world due to a mass spill on land or at sea could be catastrophic. Millions of barrels of crude oil are lost to the oil-hungry nations of the world each year. We must unite to endorse the use of double-hulled pipelines and storage/transport vehicles worldwide. This would prevent environmental disasters like the one caused by the train wreck in North Korea in 2004, that killed 3000 civilians, or the underground pipeline leak outside San Francisco, where 15 Million gallons of crude oil leaked into the Pacific Ocean affecting between 300 and 600 acres of marshland near Suisun Bay.

Oil storage tanks occasionally leak. The risk of leakage increases as the oil tank ages. If the oil storage tank is underground, a small oil leak may go undetected for a long period of time. When an oil leak occurs, it often contaminates the surrounding soil. In an area such as Long Island, this contamination eventually gets into the underground aquifer that is the sole source of Long Island’s drinking water. Therefore, oil spills in areas such as Long Island and other large cities are considered very serious. In other areas, oil spills are also serious, but may not contaminate the ground water to as great an extent. Oil spill cleanup steps are mandated by regulatory agencies and can be very expensive.

This resolution would be a huge cost the Oil Industry at first, but in the long run ~ would help lower the cost of fuel and lower the cost of environmental clean ups ~ which as we know, are sooner or later passed on to the consumers of the world. This SPCC Regulation Act would benefit the fishing, tourism, shipbuilding industries, and trucking/transport industries.

"Ban Single-Hulled Tankers" was an earlier resolution, passed by the United Nations back on April 25th, 2003 and was implemented on April 28th, 2003.
That resolution had, Votes For: 16664 & Votes Against: 2670

This proposal, is an updated extention of that resolution.

Votes For: 10,207 (66%)
Votes Against: 5,371 (34%)

Implemented: Mon May 17 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #59
* REPEALED *
The 40 Hour Workweek

A resolution to reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare.


Category: Social Justice


Strength: Significant


Proposed by: Free soviets

Description: 1. The maximum standard full-time workweek shall be set at 40 hours. Nations shall remain free to set their workweeks lower than this.

2. No one may be contractually obligated to work more than 40 hours per week, except for the following exemptions,
a ) military personnel
b ) civil defense forces
c ) civilian emergency response personnel
Excepting military personnel, these exemptions shall only apply during emergency situations.

3. No one may be contractually obligated to remain on the worksite without pay.

4. On call hours shall count against the 40 hour limit.

5. Work exceeding 40 hours per week that is voluntarily undertaken shall not exceed a total of 80 hours per week, and shall be paid at a rate of at least time and a half or an equivalent pro-rata time off in lieu. Nations shall remain free to set their allowable overtime hours lower and their overtime pay rates higher than specified in this proposal.

6. The 40 hour week shall be implemented in a manner that does not reduce the standard of living of the workers. Nations shall enact the laws needed to comply with the 40 hour week within 1 year of the passing of this resolution and they may phase in the changes over the course of up to 4 years. The necessary changes must be fully implemented within 5 years of the passing of this resolution.

7. In time of declared emergencies the national government may suspend this directive to any sector of the workforce it deems essential to the effective running of the country for the duration of that emergency.

Votes For: 8,637 (50%)
Votes Against: 8,526 (50%)

Implemented: Sun May 23 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #60
* REPEALED *
Public Domain

A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.


Category: Free Trade


Strength: Strong


Proposed by: Our own laziness

Description: UN nations resolve to establish a public domain. If something is "in the public domain" then anyone can copy it or use it in any way they wish. The author has none of the exclusive rights that apply to a copyrighted work.

Works pass into the public domain when:
(1) the term of copyright for the work has expired
(2) the author failed to satisfy statutory formalities to perfect the copyright
3) it is a work of a UN Government
4) it is deemed "freeware" or "shareware"

Votes For: 8,694 (56%)
Votes Against: 6,706 (44%)

Implemented: Mon May 31 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #61
* REPEALED *
Abortion Rights

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights


Strength: Significant


Proposed by: Vistadin

Description: Henceforth all women shall have the right to choose whether to have an abortion or not, no member nation will interfere with a woman's right to have an abortion.

Votes For: 9,368 (59%)
Votes Against: 6,549 (41%)

Implemented: Sat Jun 5 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #62
Female Genital Mutilation

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights


Strength: Strong


Proposed by: Safalra

Description: The General Assembly,

Observing that female genital mutilation (hereafter 'FGM') is performed ritually in some cultures,

Alarmed by the long-term effects of FGM, including prolonged pain and increased risk of death during childbirth,

Deeply disturbed that many women are subjected to FGM against their will,

Recognising that when dealing with other cultures, legislation leads to confrontation, whilst education leads to willing change,

1. Condemns the practice of FGM;

2. Calls upon States to fund programmes educating citizens about the dangers of FGM;

3. Urges States to avoid using the alternative phrase 'female circumcision', as this leads to comparison with the safe male circumcision.

Votes For: 14,778 (92%)
Votes Against: 1,360 (8%)

Implemented: Wed Jun 16 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #63
Freedom of Press

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights


Strength: Strong


Proposed by: Tuesday Heights

Description: CONVINCED that the freedom of press is a vital part of every nation's fundamental right of expression and a vital part of every human's right to the truth and knowledge of one's given country and one's perception of other countries. Freedom of press allows objective members of society to highlight the good and the bad of a given nation and to allow for members of that nation and members not of that nation to see an unbiased account of the current state of a given country.

DEEPLY DISTURBED by the quality of information on the state of the union in every member nation is widely disregarded to ignorance by the world because of lack of knowledge. Freedom of the press gives precedence to expanding the knowledge base of the current state of member and non-member nations alike.

CONDEMNING the misinformation of governments to the world that wish not to share the everyday occurrences in a given country through strict control of what can and cannot be reported by all forms of the press.

1. APPEALS to all member nations to enact legislature to allow immediate freedom of the press within their borders.

2. URGES all member nations to send the press to neighboring countries, far away countries, and even to areas of combat to bring back the full story to its citizens.

3. RECOMMENDS all members promote and expand the reaches of press within their given countries so that all citizens have some access to the news.

4. SUPPORTS all member nations in an effort to expand their news capabilities with needed funds, government assistance, and trade agreements to conform to the new standards of freedom of press.

Votes For: 12,882 (79%)
Votes Against: 3,446 (21%)

Implemented: Mon Jun 21 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #64
Tracking Near Earth Objects

A resolution to improve world security by boosting police and military budgets.


Category: International Security


Strength: Mild


Proposed by: Mikitivity

Description: The General Assembly,

AWARE that existing international, national, and non-governmental research in the space sciences are continuously identifying Near Earth Objects (NEOs) including many asteroids and comets which have the potential to one day collide with the Earth,

OBSERVING that some of these space sciences programs are not specifically charged with identification and characterization of the hazards posed by NEOs,

RECOGNIZING that the risk of a NEO impact is shared by all nations on Earth, and thus is of international concern,

TAKING NOTE of the "Report of the Task Force on potentially hazardous Near Earth Objects",

NOTHING WITH APPROVAL the Planetary Defense Conference, held February 23-26, 2004,

CONCERNED that the funding of current space sciences projects and conferences is fairly limited,

BEARING IN MIND that adequate warning time is a requirement for any space or terrestrial based response, ranging from mass evacuation to impact avoidance,

NOTING WITH CONCERN that few formal management plans for dealing with potential impacts exist,

APPROVING of the use of hazard assessment scales, such as the Torino Impact Scale, as a means of weighing the risk of impact with the consequences of an impact,

1. ENCOURAGES all nations, United Nations members and non-members, to share any information on the trajectories of any Near Earth Objects (NEOs);

2. FURTHER ENCOURAGES United Nations members to seek agreements with non-member states to share any information related to NEOs;

3. EXPRESSES ITS HOPE that nations will continue to identify and characterize the hazard associated with potential NEO impacts;

4. SOLEMNLY AFFIRMS the continuation of pre-existing international, national, and non-governmental research in the space sciences (which are considered to be included in military budgets for the purposes of NationStates); and

5. RECOMMENDS that international, national, and non-governmental space science research groups continue to research and develop possible contingency plans should an impact be likely.

Votes For: 12,351 (79%)
Votes Against: 3,273 (21%)

Implemented: Mon Jul 5 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #65
Refugee Protection Act

A resolution to reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare.


Category: Social Justice


Strength: Mild


Proposed by: Xtraordinary gentlemen

Description: The United Nations,

NOTING the unfortunate frequency of armed conflict in our world,

NOTING ALSO that the cost of such conflict is not limited to lives lost, but includes also the destruction of homes and property, resulting in frequent displacement of native populations,

DEPLORING the rapidly increasing number of humans living their lives in inadequate refugee camps,

RECOGNIZING the need of these displaced non-combatants to continue living their lives as they see fit,

RECOGNIZING ALSO the need for increased humanitarian aid in the above outlined situation,

ACTING in accordance with the United Nations Charter,

1. REMINDS all member nations of our leadership role in the world and our according responsibilities;

2. FULLY ACCEPTS responsibility for the well-being of non-combatant refugees displaced from their homes during time of war;

3. STRONGLY ENCOURAGES all member nations to allow these non-combatant refugees safe passage through the individual nation if requested by the non-combatant refugee(s), regardless of the refugee's race, ethnicity, nation of origin, or religion;

4. CALLS UPON all member nations to allow these non-combatant refugees citizenship rights, so long as the non-combatant refugee(s) are able to meet the immigration requirements otherwise called for by the individual member nation, if requested by the non-combatant refugee(s), regardless of the refugee's race, ethnicity, nation of origin, or religion.

Votes For: 10,174 (67%)
Votes Against: 5,009 (33%)

Implemented: Sat Jul 10 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #66
Illegal Logging

A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.


Category: Environmental


Industry Affected: All Businesses


Proposed by: Hashtonia

Description: Protected woodland is being destroyed by illegal loggers and this wood is being sold around the world for use by companies hoping to cut costs at the expense of the enviroment.

The following rules would help to stop illegal trade.

1. The formation of a World Woodland Protection Team, aka WWP.

2. A world reconised certificate of legal logging, given to companies approved by the WWP.

3. Annual and random checks on companies by the WWP, to check that companies are logging legally.

4. A world recongised stamp of approval on all products made using WWP certified wood.

5. Heavy fines and on any company using none WWP certified wood.

6. Revoking of trade licences for repeat offenders.

Votes For: 10,608 (68%)
Votes Against: 4,917 (32%)

Implemented: Sun Jul 18 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #67
Needle Sharing Prevention

A resolution to reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare.


Category: Social Justice


Strength: Mild


Proposed by: Mikitivity

Description: The NationStates United Nations,

OBSERVING the continued health risk posed by injecting drug use (IDU), as reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in its June 25, 2004 report titled, "World Drug Report 2004";

AWARE that it is common for injecting drug users to share their needles, in a practice that is commonly referred to as "needle sharing";

TAKING NOTE of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) report "2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic", dated July 6, 2004;

CALLING ATTENTION to the fact that the UNAIDS report states that the "HIV epidemic remains largely concentrated among injecting drug users, men who have sex with men, sex workers, clients of sex workers, and their immediate sexual partners";

BEARING IN MIND that the UNAIDS report also found that in many regions of the world that 60% of injecting drug users are infected with HIV;

ALSO AWARE that due to the illegal status of most injecting drugs in many nations, that injecting drug users, like many other people living with HIV/AIDS and high risk groups, are less able to participate in prevention and treatment programs;

CONCERNED by the UNAIDS estimate that "AIDS is intensifying chronic food shortages in many countries where large numbers of people are already undernourished" due in part to the fact that people living with HIV/AIDS account for large portions of the agricultural work force;

ACKNOWLEGDING that while the best prevention and treatment programs are tailor designed to the individual cultures and societies to which they seek to help, that the scope of the AIDS Epidemic is global in nature;

NOTING the success of reducing HIV/AIDS (as well as other diseases such as Hepatitis B and C) through domestic, local, and non-governmental based needle and syringe exchange programs; [1], [2]

OBSERVING reports that needle and syringe exchange programs do not increase IDU, but instead have resulted in decreases in the number of injections per day; [3]

1. AFFIRMS the basic human right for all people, including injection drug users, to equal access to HIV/AIDS based prevention and treatment programs;

2. ENCOURAGES all nations to review existing free needle and syringe exchange programs and to consider adopting trial or study level needle and syringe exchange programs tailor suited to the cultural and society in which the program will be applied;

3.STRESSES that for IDU HIV/AIDS prevention programs to be successful, that the individuals that organize or participate in these programs shall not be subject to arrest or harassment, nor shall participation in these programs imply drug use;

4. COMMENDS existing national, local, and non-governmental needle and syringe exchange programs; and

5. REQUESTS that existing needle sharing prevention programs share the findings of their studies with other national, local, and non-governmental organizations interested in developing their own needle and syringe exchange programs.

NOTES:

[1] Australian National Council on AIDS, Hepatitis C, and Related Diseases for a real-world example.

[2] "Seattle and King County Needle Exchange Program" is another real-world example that these programs are cost effective and save money and lives.

[3] 1998 University of California San Francisco study titled: "Does HIV Needle Exchange Work?"

Votes For: 11,654 (80%)
Votes Against: 2,876 (20%)

Implemented: Fri Jul 23 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #68
Ban Trafficking in Persons

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights


Strength: Significant


Proposed by: North koster

Description: It is becoming increasingly common that women are sold as sex slaves on the black market. Often the women, who come from less fortunate countries, are lured to more developed countries by people who promise them a better life there. Instead, upon the women's arrival to their new countries, these people deprive the them of their freedom and sell them as sex slaves. This is known as trafficking.

'Trafficking in persons' shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

I hereby urge the UN to take action. Decriminalize the women in prostitution but criminalize both the men who illegally buy women and children against their will, and anyone who promotes sexual exploitation, particularly pimps, procurers and traffickers.

Votes For: 12,501 (82%)
Votes Against: 2,785 (18%)

Implemented: Sun Aug 1 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #69
The Sexes Rights Law

A resolution to reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare.


Category: Social Justice


Strength: Significant


Proposed by: Komokom

Description: The United Nations notes with much sorrow the precedent in both distant and recent history, as well as contemporary times, where cultures dominated by one or more sexes infringe upon the rights of one or more other sexes. The following document is intended to both relieve and resolve much of these discriminative actions, not for one sex, but for all, acting in the interests of promoting equality in all society and eliminating gender bias from said society at large.
The United Nations :
Is Deeply Disturbed By : The possibility or action of the with-holding of citizenship and ethnicity-recognition based on the sex of a individual or collective of other-ethnic origins or of origin within the borders of a nation state.
Does Formally Recognise and Declare : That the rights of all sexes in society are equal, excepting only in the conditions below and that this equality must be preserved in the interests of the social and community rights of all citizens of Nation States United Nation member states.
Thus the Nation States United Nations :
Re-affirms and Re-states : Article 4 of The Universal Bill of Rights, implemented by the Nation States United Nations on Fri Aug 8 2003.
Re-affirms and Re-states : Gay Rights, implemented by the Nation States United Nations on Sat May 3 2003.
RESOLVES :
1. The Nation States United Nations does here-by greatly encourage each member state to establish a minimum of one centre for each sex in their borders, in which people of the sex of the respective designated centre could seek shelter, medical care, and counselling for both themselves and their children or other dependants if they should find themselves without a home or shelter or reasonable support or care, due to any sexually motivated violence or discrimination from the home or work-place, or from such violence or lack of care stemming from society at large. These centres must be sensitive and cater to the needs of intersex people.
2. The Nation States United Nations calls upon all employers within member-states to abide by the following regulations :
a) Equal wages for all sexes.
b) Equal benefits for all sexes.
The above conditions are recommendations applicable within reason in that they are open to interpretation by a member states legal system in regards to each individual case, under the condition that the legal system must act in an un-biased fashion in regard to these cases.
3. The Nation States United Nations does applaud and protect the actions of any charity based organisation that is dedicated to furthering the education of any and all sexes in countries where one or more sex may not given an equal chance at attaining an education in a society.
4. Said protection in clause 3 is to be considered symbolistic in nature, and this protection of said charity organisations is conditional in that they may only provide opportunity for equality, they may not raise one sex or sexes above another or others. Such would be contrary to the spirit of the legislation and is not encouraged.
5. The Nation States United Nations recognises that gender is not just a physical manifestation but also a mental manifestation, and recognises that people of self proclaimed gender are also equally protected by the regulations and recommendations bound here in.

Votes For: 10,604 (73%)
Votes Against: 3,942 (27%)

Implemented: Sun Aug 15 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #70
* REPEALED *
Banning whaling

A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.


Category: Environmental


Industry Affected: All Businesses


Proposed by: Konigreich der nacht

Description: Recognising that:

* Overfishing is a serious problem which is depleting the marine environment by upsetting its natural ecosystem.

* Whales are a highly-developed mammal with advanced social and communications systems.

* Whales already face many threats including entanglement in fishing nets, noise disturbance and pollution.

* Whaling has already driven the world's whale population to the brink of extinction before the present moratorium was put in place.

* The current motorised harpoon method of killing whales is barbarous, causing a slow and agonising death to the creature involved.

* There is little that can now be learned from 'scientific whaling'. Scientific enquiry can take place without the need for slaughtering its subjects.

* A voluntary moratorium on whaling is not working. Pro-whaling nations will simply subvert it for their own ends by vote-buying or by abusing so-called 'scientific whaling'.

Proposing that:

* Unlicenced scientific and all commercial whaling are outlawed in international law. Nations that flout this ban are subject to economic sanctions and whalers' boats can be impounded and destroyed.

* A commission is set up by the United Nations to study the effects of overfishing and on other human activities on the marine ecosystem, and to propose solutions. If it sees a genuine need for scientific whaling, then it is empowered to licence limited scientific whaling.

* Indigenous peoples who engage in 'aboriginal whaling' using traditional non-industrial methods and taking only a small number of whales each year, to be exempt from the ban. A register of such peoples to be set up by the UN.

Votes For: 12,385 (77%)
Votes Against: 3,684 (23%)

Implemented: Mon Aug 23 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #71
Sustainable Energy Sources

A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.


Category: Environmental


Industry Affected: All Businesses


Proposed by: Markodonia

Description: The General Assembly,

Deeply conscious of the gradual degradation of the
world’s biosphere,

Observing that a major cause of environmental pollution is the use of fossil fuels in power stations,

Further observing that 80% of the world’s energy is derived from fossil fuels,

Convinced that economic growth is not necessarily linked with a rise in levels of pollution,

Aware of opposition to wind farms due to environmental and aesthetic concerns,

Noting the mercurial effect of the petroleum trade on the world economy and interests of member states,

1. Calls upon all member states, particularly More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs), to fully address the issue of sustainable energy production; a minimum 2% increase in world usage over the next five years;

2. Recommends that a greater proportion of energy is derived from wind and wave power plants, including offshore wind platforms;

3. Calls upon governments to encourage the development of technology enabling the widespread use of solar power, in the form of affordable solar panels for individual dwellings and larger power plants in areas receiving high quantities of sunlight;

4. Endorses all current programs in member states increasing the percentage of energy derived from renewable sources;

5. Expresses its hope that other member states will be inspired by these examples;

6. Proclaims that steps towards a greater use of sustainable energy sources will be beneficial to the world’s environment and political relationships;

7. Requests a program of target reviews to be undertaken by this committee at the earliest opportunity.

Votes For: 12,730 (78%)
Votes Against: 3,611 (22%)

Implemented: Tue Aug 31 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #72
Reduction of greenhouse gases

A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.


Category: Environmental


Industry Affected: Automotive


Proposed by: Kritosia

Description: Acknowledging climate change and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind,

Concerned that human activities have been increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases due to fossil fuel use, that these increases enhance the natural greenhouse effect, and that this will result in an additional warming of the Earth's surface, adversely affecting natural ecosystems,

Acknowledging that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all nations in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions,

Recognizing that all Nations, especially developing nations, need access to resources required to achieve sustainable social and economic development and that, in order for developing countries to progress towards that goal, their energy consumption needs to grow,

Accordingly, delegates of the United nations have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1
1. The objective of this resolution is to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations by implementing a 10% decrease in fossil fuels over the next ten years,so that gradual adaptation is possible. This will ensure that food production and economic development is not threatened.

2. In their actions to achieve the objective of the United Nations and to implement its provisions, all Nations shall be guided by the following:

ARTICLE 2
1.All Nations should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities.

2.Nations should cooperate to promote an open international system that leads to sustainable economic growth and development in all Nations, particularly developing Nations.

ARTICLE 3
All Nations, taking into account their commonalities and differences,shall;

1. Promote and cooperate in the development, application and diffusion of technologies, practices and processes that control, reduce or prevent emissions of fossil fuels;

2.Promote and cooperate in the full exchange of information related to climate change.

Each of these Nations shall :

1.Review its own policies which encourage activities that lead to greater levels of fossil fuel emissions;

2.Developed Nations shall take all practicable steps to promote and finance the transfer of, or access to, environmentally sound technologies to other Nations, particularly developing Nations, to enable them to implement the provisions of the U.N.

ARTICLE 3
In carrying out their commitments under the previous articles, Nations shall:

1.Support world efforts to strengthen scientific capacities, particularly in developing countries, and to promote the exchange of data and analyses obtained from areas beyond national jurisdiction; and

2.Cooperate in the exchange of material on climate change, development of national institutions and the exchange of personnel to train experts in this field.

Votes For: 10,968 (73%)
Votes Against: 3,984 (27%)

Implemented: Sun Sep 5 2004

[The Dourian Embassy]

HISTORICAL RESOLUTION #73
Habeas Corpus

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights


Strength: Significant


Proposed by: Enn

Description: Habeas Corpus; by the passing of this resolution instituting the legal principle of Habeas Corpus by the voting members, Habeas Corpus will thus be affirmed by the United Nations as a set and irrefutable legal principle to which all member nations and all associated internal agencies are subject.

Recognising that Habeas Corpus is a founding principle of law in many nations, the UN formally adopts Habeas Corpus across all member states.

To clearly define Habeas Corpus:

Habeas Corpus is the legal principle that gives a person the right to not be held without charge. A charge must be filed with the judicial authorities of the country in which the suspected crime is committed within 48 hours of the person being held by police, or any other body charged with the upholding of the nation's laws. This period does not apply to any time when the judicial authorities are not active, such as weekends or national holidays. Habeas Corpus also declares accordingly that once a charge is filed, then the person should be treated as per the Definition of Fair Trial resolution.

Further noting,

If the captured or detained person is a prisoner of war or is captured or detained in an area of military conflict by forces of whom may be recognised as the opposition, then the previously recognised and enforced Wolfish Convention on PoWs and not Habeas Corpus shall apply to his or her treatment. Furthermore, be it hereby resolved that any person who is not detained as a prisoner of war is entitled to Habeas Corpus.

Votes For: 12,550 (79%)
Votes Against: 3,377 (21%)

Implemented: Fri Sep 10 2004