CSULB delegation makes case for morality

A delegation of Cal State Long Beach students, learning the ropes of international politics, have succesfully argued that the United Nations should accord morality the same priority it gives environmental programs.

The students, members of the campus Model United Nations, spent the day re-focusing debates on the environment at the recently concluded meeting of the national body, Model United Nations of the Far West, held in San Francisco.

The 35-member delegation advocated cases for seven countries - Bolivia, Mynamar, Holy See, Oman, Poland, Spain, SaudiArabia and Zaire.

Political science major Jeffrey Butler, delegate representing the Holy See, in his speech insisted that global warming should not be the only focus of debates.

"Global warming is only part of the problem, the real problem is the moral crisis," he said. "In the eyes of the church, unless moral crisis is addressed, global warming doesn't have a prayer."

Butler then announced that he was no longer going to participate in the meeting if the body was not willing to take a stand on moral issues.

He was joined by both Edward Herro and Gaurav Datta, both CSULB students, representing Poland at the conference.

Herro in his speech said many of the world's environmental problems could be attributed to the decline of moral and ethical attitudes of the nations of the world.

Datta condemned lukewarm attitudes to moral problems in the world and said the issue required immediate attention.

After a threatened walkout of the summit by the CSULB delegates, the body adopted their resolution requiring that morality issues be considered along with environmental issues.

Delegate leader and Model United Nations President Yehia Dajani said the performance of CSULB students at the conference earned them a mention as, "the best prepared delegation."

He said the organization seeks to introduce students to viewpoints from other countries through participation in such conferences.

"We try to acquaint our students with problems of the international community in order for them to understand issues better," Dajani said

He said the organization started on campus in 1980, was inactive for some years and became rejuvenated in 1983 with 13 members which has now increased to 35.

Dajani added that as Model United Nations matures on campus, it will be seeking more members and reach out to similar bodies on the East Coast and other parts of the world.

He said any interested student could be a member of the organization and also participate in its activities as part of course requirements for Political Science 378.