The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum composed of member states and observer states. Only nations with territory in the Arctic Circle can gain member status in this council. These states include Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. There are also many observer states, who want to gain access to the vast amount of resources in the arctic. The Arctic Council is strictly used for discussing territorial disputes, environmental protection, and the general cooperation, coordination, and interactions between the Arctic States. The committee session started off with the tragic disappearance of a dais member, creating a very solemn mood. This turned out to be an April Fools Day joke and evoked laughter among delegates when the dais revealed his “prank.”
After the laughter was over, delegates started discussing the lack of international representation in The Arctic Council. Clear blocs were already formed, countries that were already in the Arctic Circle opposed the idea of more international representation; while, countries, such as Germany and the UK were for it. UK, stated that the effects of global warming would have an impact on the whole world. It would be unfair to only give “membership” status to countries in the Arctic Circle because what happens in the Arctic would potentially affect everybody. Countries of the Arctic Circle kept insisting that they should have full control and denied other countries from being able to participate in the decisions made. Many delegates did not agree with Russia and America’s statements as they were excluding countries and taking away countries rights to be able to participate in this world issue.
The dais then criticized the committee for writing poor resolutions, and a unmoderated caucus was passed to revise these papers. During the unmoderated caucus most blocs were working on their resolution papers. At some point during the unmoderated caucus, the delegate of USA went around yelling “Where is Canada?!”
Canada was not present.
After the laughter was over, delegates started discussing the lack of international representation in The Arctic Council. Clear blocs were already formed, countries that were already in the Arctic Circle opposed the idea of more international representation; while, countries, such as Germany and the UK were for it. UK, stated that the effects of global warming would have an impact on the whole world. It would be unfair to only give “membership” status to countries in the Arctic Circle because what happens in the Arctic would potentially affect everybody. Countries of the Arctic Circle kept insisting that they should have full control and denied other countries from being able to participate in the decisions made. Many delegates did not agree with Russia and America’s statements as they were excluding countries and taking away countries rights to be able to participate in this world issue.
The dais then criticized the committee for writing poor resolutions, and a unmoderated caucus was passed to revise these papers. During the unmoderated caucus most blocs were working on their resolution papers. At some point during the unmoderated caucus, the delegate of USA went around yelling “Where is Canada?!”
Canada was not present.