Model United Nations

Grade 6 Simulation
 Topic of focus:
Nuclear Weapon Proliferation

What should be done to stop the multiplication of

nuclear weapons?
 Nuclear Weapons
A weapon, such as a bomb or missile that uses
nuclear energy to create a destructive explosion.
 THE UNITED NATIONS

• Established October 24, 1945

• Has 189 members

• Each member sends a representative or

delegate to speak on their behalf
Background to the development
of Nuclear Weapons

Sources: WWII stories shared on Mississippi Public Broadcasting World War II WritersOct. 4
http://www.etv.state.ms.us/images/press%20release%20photo/071002-WWII_Writers.gif. Oct. 4, 2009
Reference Information Paper 70. http://www.archives.gov/publications/images/world-war-2-airplane-on-carrier.gif. Oct. 4,
2009.
World War 2.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.diggerhistory.info/images/asstd3/ww2-newspaper.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.diggerhistory
 WORLD WAR II
• Due to World War II - a race developed
between the Allies and the Axis to
develop a super powerful weapon.

• The Allies developed the first nuclear

weapon: the atomic bomb, in the United
States in 1945.
Alliances during the Second World War, April 1942. Based on GNU image.
██ Western Allies (independent countries)
██ Western Allies (colonies or occupied)
██ Eastern Allies
██ Axis (countries)
██ Axis (colonies or occupied, including Vichy France)
██ neutral

Source: Wikipedia: World War II 1945

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:World_War_II_1942_04.png Sept. 30, 2009
• The only nuclear weapons that have ever
been used were dropped by the United
States onto the cities of Hiroshima (Aug. 6, 1945)
and Nagasaki (Aug. 9, 1945) in Japan.

• The death toll just from the explosions has

been estimated to be around 180,000 deaths.

• Many more people died from radiation

sickness as a result of the radiation left
behind by the bomb, on their skins, in the air,
and in the water.
 THE COLD WAR
After World War II ended, the only superpowers left
were the United States and the Soviet Union (Russia).

Because both struggled to become the

dominant superpower in the world.

They began to multiply (proliferate) their

supplies of nuclear weapons.
 Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
• Idea proposed by Ireland in 1958
• Became active in 1968 (first signed by Finland)

Three Main Principles

1. Non proliferation (not multiplying nuclear weapons)

2. Disarmament (taking apart existing nuclear weapons and

making them harmless)

3. Right to peacefully use nuclear technology (use

nuclear power in energy plants or for medical use)
Map of Nuclear weapons countries of the world.

NPT Nuclear Weapon States (China, France, Russia, UK, US)

Non-NPT Nuclear Weapon States (India, North Korea, Pakistan)
Undeclared Nuclear Weapons States (Israel)
States accused of having nuclear weapons programs (Iran, Syria)
NATO weapons sharing weapons recipients Source: Wikipedia: Nuclear weapons states.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuclear_weapons_states.svg.
States formerly possessing nuclear weapons
Sept. 30, 2009
Map of Nuclear Free Zones

Nuclear Free Zone (part of an international agreement to be nuclear weapon free)

Nuclear weapons state (have nuclear weapons)

Nuclear sharing state (kept nuclear weapons for other countries)

None of the above – but is participant of NPT Source: Nuclear Weapons Free Zone: Nwfz.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nwfz.svg. Sept. 30, 2009
Map of Participation in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as of July 2008
  
Signed and ratified (committed to it)
   Acceded or succeeded (agree to it)
   Abiding by treaty though outside (agree, but haven’t signed it)
   Withdrawn (signed, then took their signature away)
   Non-signatory (have not signed it)
Source: Wikipedia: NPT Participation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NPT_Participation.svg. Sept. 30, 2009
 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
• Proposed by Ireland at UN in 1968

• To date, signed by 189 countries of the world.

• Only India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea

haven’t signed
 Your Opinion:

Apart from the countries that have publicly admitted

to having nuclear weapons, should additional
countries be allowed to develop nuclear weapons?
 Your Opinion:

Why do you think some countries are able to have

nuclear weapons?

Why do you think some countries should not be

able have nuclear weapons?
 THE UN’S OBJECTIVES
1. Keep peace throughout the world

2. Develop friendly relations between nations

3. Work together to help poor people live better lives,

conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy; and to
encourage respect for each other’s rights &
freedoms.

4. Be a centre for helping nations achieve these goals.

 Goal of Our Simulation
• For you to be representatives of different countries.

• For you to express that country’s point of view on

the issue of nuclear weapons.

• For you to experience what Model United Nations is

all about - in preparation for applying for the course
next year.

• For you to write a position paper, following the

instructions, outlining your country’s perspective.