Helllo Everyone,

First of all, sorry if I posted this in the wrong place, this is my first time to the South African Forum.

In my school, I am participating in the MUN (Model United Nations), every two weeks I have a topic to debate. I am the South African Ambassador in this MUN.

I have a topic due tomorrow, its about "The Development of strategies to promote sustainable economics in the world trade agreements."

Can anyone help me with SA's stance on this, their involvement in the WTO (World Trade Oraganisation), and any other realted discussions.

Tips, advice, links, articles are greatly appreciated.

In the future, every time I receive a topic, I will post it in this thread so you kind people can give me a hand :)

Thanks in advance,
egypt69 :cheers:

Helllo Everyone,

First of all, sorry if I posted this in the wrong place, this is my first time to the South African Forum.

In my school, I am participating in the MUN (Model United Nations), every two weeks I have a topic to debate. I am the South African Ambassador in this MUN.

I have a topic due tomorrow, its about "The Development of strategies to promote sustainable economics in the world trade agreements."

Can anyone help me with SA's stance on this, their involvement in the WTO (World Trade Oraganisation), and any other realted discussions.

Tips, advice, links, articles are greatly appreciated.

In the future, every time I receive a topic, I will post it in this thread so you kind people can give me a hand :)

Thanks in advance,
egypt69 :cheers:

Here are some links where you can gather some information

http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/south_africa_e.htm
http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/casestudies_e/case38_e.htm
http://www.mbendi.com/import/sa/wto.htm
http://www.tips.org.za/node/246
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Africa/SAfrica_WTO_Globalization.html

^^

:master: Thanks sooo soo much man, I really appreciate it :cheers:

Ok thankyou, I am done with my speech for this week :banana:

Here it is:

Honourable Chair, fellow delegates
South Africa attaches great importance in this issue, especially regarding the welfare of developing nations. South Africa was a founding member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Our delegation considers the Doha Development Round of world trade talks to be essential for accelerating development and increasing the scope of the key issues of the developing world. If all trade barriers in agriculture, services, and manufactures were reduced by 33% as a result of the Doha Development Agenda, there would be an increase in global welfare of $574.0 billion. Though South Africa’s priority is global trade liberalization, South Africa is generally open to a bilateral approach in order to achieve the same basic principle of opening up markets.
South Africa would like to clarify however, that it is not considering further lowering their import tariffs until developed countries, particularly the US and EU, committed to significantly lowering their subsidies of domestic agriculture production and export. South Africa is eager to see the export of agricultural and food products to developed countries facilitated by the lowering of tariff and non-tariff barriers, the elimination of export subsidies, and the maximum possible reduction in trade-distorting domestic support. These subsidies are dumping millions of surplus commodities (like sugar) on world markets, destroying opportunities for farmers in developing and poor countries, especially in Africa. For example, the EU is currently spending €3.30 in subsidies to export sugar worth €1.

I yield the floor back to the chair.

So this topic is over, I will update you all when the next topic is issued for any possible assistance :)

:cheers:

xxxxxxxxxxx

^^

:master: Thanks sooo soo much man, I really appreciate it :cheers:

You're welcome. As you're the South African Ambassador in this MUN, I hope that you manage to promote our country within your collegues so that they also come visit this magnificent country that is South Africa.:lol::lol:

^^

Thanks both of you :)

Don’t worry my friends, its an honour being South African Ambassador. Representing such a great country that is a regional leader and heavyweight, really gives you confidence when debating. If I was some other country with many problems, it really limits your capabilities, because, you can’t point fingers with dirty hands, can’t you? Thank god in my MUN history, I’ve had all good countries. I’ve had Ireland and Turkey before. I received an honourable mention when I was in a conference in Doha, Qatar whilst representing Turkey. (Only 10 out of 350 delegates got this). I got to meet the REAL Turkish ambassador as well as many others!

I’m hoping to take up a career in diplomacy if the situation in my country gets better, I really, really am prepared to sacrifice a lot, to take Egypt higher. I have a vision for Egypt. My dream is to make Egypt a country where people look up to instead of down, where Egyptians can walk confidently knowing that they cannot be criticized, because they have nothing against them. Oh man do I have plans. :|

Absolutely, I will definitely visit South Africa in the future, possibly in the World Cup! And if not then I definitely will. I have a few South African friends, my maths teacher is also South African. They are really proud of their country, and why not? They deserve to be. :)

Have any of you guys been/thought of going to Egypt? If you need any tips or advice, don’t hesitate to contact me.

I was in Egypt with my wife, but we went to Sharm El Sheik that big resort town in the Sinai on the Red Sea. That was a mega construction. WOW! I was really impressed. Unfortunately my wife was treated like meat in 5 star plus resorts and the customs people were very threatening. They actually pointed their guns at the people waiting to have their passports stamped. I had my passport slamed down on the counter with such force and a look a pure hate from the customs official. The red sea is really great, but we were very disappointed by the pollution, animal welfare and the disrespect towards Westerners. Lovely country, but never again. Tunisia, Turkey, Israel, Cyprus or Malta are our summer get aways just now.

Next topic:

"Promoting Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women"

Any help?

:cheers:

Just like to mention - hope you are watching Egypt in the Confederations Cup - kick off in about a week! It is going to be awesome.

On your topic, I dont have any real input, but it would be worth looking at the make-up of South Africa's govt - we have loads of women of all racial backrounds in positions of power now - and doing very well.

The fact that black african women are now govt ministers is, quite frankly, astounding, given the history of SA, and the status quo just 15 years ago...

Just like to mention - hope you are watching Egypt in the Confederations Cup - kick off in about a week! It is going to be awesome.

On your topic, I dont have any real input, but it would be worth looking at the make-up of South Africa's govt - we have loads of women of all racial backrounds in positions of power now - and doing very well.

The fact that black african women are now govt ministers is, quite frankly, astounding, given the history of SA, and the status quo just 15 years ago...


Thanks for the info :cheers:

And yes, I'll definitely be watching it, all the way through :)

Next topic:

"Promoting Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women"

Any help?

:cheers:

Please let us see what you going to write about this subject. Egyptian men can really do with a lesson in this. I am yet to meet a western female here in Europe who has anything good to say about this problem.

Please let us see what you going to write about this subject. Egyptian men can really do with a lesson in this. I am yet to meet a western female here in Europe who has anything good to say about this problem.

Wow, you're pretty good in generalising aren't you? :ohno:

Anyway here is what I wrote:

Honourable Chair, Fellow Delegates,
Women’s Rights have greatly improved in South Africa, and has been placed as one of our governments priorities. In South Africa women have equal rights under family law and property law with regard to inheritance, divorce, and custody of children, and equal legal rights under the judicial system. The government operated 61 sexual offenses courts throughout the country that included designated waiting rooms and counseling for victims, the government also financed 25 shelters for abused women. Also, all members of the South African police forces receive annual training in gender sensitivity. There is no better example of South Africa’s efforts to promote gender equality, than the fact that 45% of the South African parliament are female, and that many females of all types of racial backgrounds are now in many high governmental positions, such as government ministers.
I yield the floor back to the Chair.

Unfortunately my wife was treated like meat in 5 star plus resorts and the customs people were very threatening. They actually pointed their guns at the people waiting to have their passports stamped. I had my passport slamed down on the counter with such force and a look a pure hate from the customs official.

I am sorry, I cannnot beleive that at all, I have been to sharm el shiekh airport, this does not happen. They will not point guns at all whatsoever unless you are being arrested.

but we were very disappointed by the pollution, animal welfare and the disrespect towards Westerners

Pollution? What pollution, Sharm EL Shikeh is spotless!! Pluse the air is so clean, its going to be the second carbon neutral city in the world soon! I would agree with you if you were talking about Cairo.

Yes, i would agree Animal welfare is an issue.

DISRESPECT TO WESTERNERS!!! :bash: Are you sure you were in egypt?? Westerners are treated like kings!! Egyptians go out of their way to make you guys feel at home, Ive seen it many times, and Ive done it myself!!! there was an egyptian farmer, who payed 100 LE (half his monthly income), to pay for a tourists medical care. I am sorry but I CANNOT agree with ou on this point.

Did You know this about Egypt?
bAtliZGsySA

^^

Oh yes I know it. I know it because you went around posting it in unrelated threads! :bash:

Look, Egypt definitely has many issues and I acknowledge that, and South Africa also has many issues too, and hopefully we will overcome these issues soon. But to go around and rub it in peoples faces is unacceptable, do you have a grudge against us or something?

I did not post it ... I used it as my signature you silly sausage. I only posted it in a rather odd post about woman in Egypt and here ... just for you. I know that no one in Egypt can truely make an issue out of things like this or make a fool of your president without running the risk of being put into prison ... you should be thanking me for bringing this to the attention of a few people ... it is not a personal attack on you. If it makes you feel any better ... my president looks like a toad and the premier of the Western Cape is a walking mouthpiece from hell ... but they have both been elected democratically and not inherited the position. I must let them do their jobs and bitch about the things I don't like.

I did not post it ... I used it as my signature you silly sausage. I only posted it in a rather odd post about woman in Egypt and here ... just for you. I know that no one in Egypt can truely make an issue out of things like this or make a fool of your president without running the risk of being put into prison ... you should be thanking me for bringing this to the attention of a few people ... it is not a personal attack on you. If it makes you feel any better ... my president looks like a toad and the premier of the Western Cape is a walking mouthpiece from hell ... but they have both been elected democratically and not inherited the position. I must let them do their jobs and bitch about the things I don't like.

Woah woah waoh, wait a minute, I said in previous post that I acknowledge we have issues, about the video you posted, its definitely true, and we have even worse problems! Hopefully we can overcome these.

you should be thanking me for bringing this to the attention of a few people

IT IS IN OUR ATTENTION, and besides I think adressng issues online is a great way to seek public attention, what annoed me is you posted it in the wrong threads. the Egpytian Girls thread was not about adressing womens rights, It was about posting pics of Egyptian models and celebrities

know that no one in Egypt can truely make an issue out of things like this or make a fool of your president without running the risk of being put into prison

Who said I support the government? I hate their guts!! I hate Hosni Mubarak! I come from a family of reformists, my grand father already got banned from writing in the press, and when i grow up, I don't care if I have to spend jail time, whilst trying to change my country.

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv4/ben-ami/people.jpg
Oh then you can come live with us in Cape Town ... prison is just such a party killer I think and rather boring ... and such a waste of time.

Aaaanyway, how did things go with MUN egypt? I think one of my friends just went to the US to represent some other country. Two friends represented India last year lol.

Aaaanyway, how did things go with MUN egypt? I think one of my friends just went to the US to represent some other country. Two friends represented India last year lol.

Hey :) It all went good. Managed to put forward a South African resolution on Women's rights, and it was passed!! :banana: So yeah. I don't think I'll be having MUN anytime soon, i'm on summer vacation and besides I left my school, and Im going to another one, and I'm not sure if that school has MUN.

So thankyou all for your help, really appreciated it :cheers:

Ah awesome, good job :)