Middle-East Crisis (again...)

"Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz told IDF troops that the fighting in the north may go on for an extended period of time. In his first missive since the start of the recent conflict with Hezbollah, Halutz stated that, 'We are responsible for defending our independence and the integrity of our country.'"

...Haarezt.com

These weeks the world has been watching the new war in Middle-East after Israel's strike back against Hezbollah. Six years have passed after Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon according to UN Security Council Resolution 425 of 1978 and now it comes again to put an end in Hezbollah's violence in israeli territory.

Nevertheless, the israeli forces have been causing serious damage in lebanese territory, specially in the Souht and in Beirut (Lebanon's capital) where Hezbollah groups are supposed to be headquartered. The numbers of refugees, wounded and killed are increasing each day.

Deeply concerned about the situation in Lebanon, the Arab League will have its Second Special Meeting in order to design some strategies to solve the lebanese question. So, its time to YOU to have a role in this crisis! Pick your country and let's debate

*Egypt
*Iraq
*Jordan
*Lebanon
*Saudi Arabia
*Somalia
*Syria
*Yemen
*Lybia
*Algeria
*Morocco
*Comoros
*Djibouti
*Sudan
*Tunisia
*Kuwait
*United Arab Emirates
*Bahrain
*Qatar
*Oman
*Mauritania
*Somalia
*Palestinian Territories
*Eritrea (observer)

The meeting begins at 10 am.

Nepal's hidden tragedy: Children caught in the conflict

Caught in the violence that has plagued the country for over 10 years, Nepal's children have become the often-overlooked victims of the ongoing strife, their plight exacerbated by poverty and abuse.

Nepal today has a shot at ending the 10-year old armed insurgency of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and achieving durable peace. Towards the end of April 2006, after almost three-weeks of a general strike and street protests around the nation against direct royal rule, King Gyanendra gave up executive powers of state, which he had assumed in February 2005, restored the last Parliament and allowed the formation of a government composed of the Parliamentary parties.

According to a UN human rights monitoring mission established in Nepal, breaches of international humanitarian law by the Maoists include continued use of children within the People's Liberation Army, despite denials by the Maoists that they were recruiting children under 18. While children have been arrested and tortured on suspicion of being linked to the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), numerous juveniles are currently in detention under anti-terrorist legislation by the state authorities. Meanwhile, there is also evidence of children being used by the Royal Nepalese Army as informants or spies.

Come, lets debate this in the New Human Rights Commission. Pick your country

*Algeria
*Brazil
*Azerbaijan
*Bangladesh
*Canada
*China
*Cuba
*India
*Jordan
*Japan
*United Kingdom
*Romania
*France
*Cuba

EU Parliament

This Saturday (8/07), CSOI will simulate the European Parliament Strasbourg Plenary, the topic of discussion will be the "CIA enquiry".

What is the European Parliament? While the Council of Ministers represents governments, this organ represents the European people, therefore positions should be taken by parties not by governments. Together, They work as components of bicameral legislature. Although, neither of them can propose law themselves, this role is reserved to the Commission. Generally, a law or directive initiated by the Comission needs the aproval of both the Council and the Parliament to be implemented.

Context of discussion: It was alleged that European Countries has been used for the transportation and illegal detention of prisioners by the CIA. Members of European Parliament (MEPs) may discuss the interim report where CIA is accused of violations of international law such as "illegal , removal, abduction and detention of terrorist suspects on the territory of Member States, acession and candidate countries". Member-states also have been criticised by the MEPs of neglecting this actions.

For a possible simulation, you must represent a party's position. Available parties are those in bold:

European People's Party (EPP)
European Democrats (ED) Party of European Socialists (PES)
European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR)
European Democratic Party (EDP) European Green Party (EGP)
European Free Alliance (EFA) Party of the European Left (no acronym available)
Nordic Green Left Alliance (NGLA)Alliance for Europe of the Nations (AEN)
Alliance of Independent Democrats in Europe (no acronym available)
EU Democrats (no acronym available)