Quote: International Measurements Act
A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.


Category: Free Trade
Strength: Significant
Proposed by: Cobdenia

Description: The United Nations,

REALISING that lack of weight and measurement standardisation is a major concern for importers and exporters,

FURTHER REALISING that such a lack of standisation can impede the flow of scientific research,

BELIEVING, therefore, that a standard for weights and measurements is required,

UNDERSTANDING, however, that one system of measurement, whilst appropriate in some circumstances, may be inappropriate and otherwise unusable in other circumstances,

FURTHER UNDERSTANDING that other measurement systems may be of cultural signifigance for certain member states,

The United Nations, hereby:

1) ESTABLISHES the Bureau of Measurements and Weights (BMW),

2) COMMISIONS the BMW to create a standard for all weights and measurements, and warrants the BMW to decide which unit is to be used under what circumstances. This will include, but is not limited to:
a) Metric weights and measures for use on consumer products, scientific calculations (where appropriate), and roadway signage;
b) The Parsec and related measures for astrophysical calculations (where appropriate);
c) The Nautical Mile and related measures for aerial and nautical navigational (where appropriate)
d) Bits, octets, bytes and related units for electrical information storage
e) Other measurements systems for other circumstances as deemed appropriate by the BMW

3) MANDATES that all labelling, roadsigns, scientific papers, navigation charts, and other items requiring notation of this ilk, display the unit system as deemed appropriate for said item by the BMW clearly. This does not preclude the use of alternative measurements on such items as long as the BMW sanctioned unit is also displayed,

4) FURTHER ENCOURAGES that the measurement system(s) as authorised by the BMW be used primarily in educational instruction to encourage familiarity, but not precluding the teaching of other systems should a nation deem it necessary


[/quote]

For today's proposal we have this, so tell me what you think folks.


Quote: UN Access to Literacy Project
A resolution to promote funding and the development of education and the arts.


Category: Education and Creativity
Area of Effect: Educational
Proposed by: Quintessence of Dust

Description: The United Nations,

Applauding its previous Resolution #79, "Reformed Literacy Initiative", for making literacy "the critical priority" for national educational systems,

Recognising that access to a wide range of suitable reading materials is central to the realization of that goal,

Considering that the relative cost of redistributing surplus reading materials compares favourably in economic and environmental terms with that of mass reprinting,

Pleased that the existence of the UNEAF precludes the necessity of creating additional bureaucracy for the administration of the Project:

1. Inaugurates the "UN Access to Literacy Project", to be run as a voluntary and not-for-profit initiative to include all member nations;

2. Invites all nations to collect surplus reading materials and make them available to the Project for redistribution to those in need;

3. Designates "surplus reading materials" as including donated, unwanted, used, second hand or remaindered books, magazines, journals and other written sources, including print rejects that are still usable but that cannot be sold;

4. Stipulates that materials may be used but must be of a reasonable quality, or capable of being returned to a reasonable quality at minimal cost, particularly with regard to their utility in literacy projects;

5. Grants nations reasonable discretion in organizing collection of the materials, including in the degree of centralisation: the collections could, for example, be organized within educational institutions, as part of waste collection, or through charity events;

6. Permits agencies and authorities involved in literacy programmes to petition the UNEAF for assistance in supplying a range of reading materials;

7. Authorises the UNEAF to:
- take inventory of collected materials;
- allocate the materials, and otherwise acquired through additional UNEAF initiatives, to petitioners;
- make contributors aware of particularly dire needs;
- grant small rewards to institutions that prove particularly responsive and helpful in collecting surplus reading materials;
- advise nations on strategies to improve their collections;

8. Declares that the UNEAF may make judgments on the reading materials, in consultation with petitioners for assistance, based on how appropriate and relevant they will prove, but that it will refrain from indulging in or abetting political censorship.
[/quote]

'Metric System' has been repealed. This was a resolution dear to me, so I think a draft a proposal for it's replacement, you think?

Quote: Repeal "Metric System "
A proposal to repeal a previously passed resolution


Category: Repeal
Resolution: #24
Proposed by: The Dourian Embassy

Description: UN Resolution #24: Metric System (Category: Free Trade; Strength: Strong) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

Argument: Understanding that "Metric System" seeks to standardize weights and measurements, specifically, converting all nations to the metric system,

Regretting, however, that the resolution fails to require any standardized weights and measurements, or provide any details for their implementation, defeating its central purpose,

Seeking the opportunity to pass more detailed and comprehensive international weights and measurements standardization,

Noting that this ineffective piece of legislation bars such an act from passage,

The United Nations hereby repeals "Metric System".

Votes For: 1,479

Votes Against: 1,200

[Delegate Votes]

Voting Ends: Tue Mar 11 2008
[/quote]

Hello? Is anyone out there? Its so quiet around here I can hear an echo.

Quote: Repeal "Fair trial"
A proposal to repeal a previously passed resolution


Category: Repeal
Resolution: #21
Proposed by: Jey

Description: UN Resolution #21: Fair trial (Category: Human Rights; Strength: Mild) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

Argument: The General Assembly of the United Nations,

APPLAUDING the attempts of Resolution #21: "Fair trial" to bring about fair rights of the accused within the various judicial systems of member nations;

HOWEVER CONSIDERING Resolution #21's complete lack of any details concerning the concept of a fair trial, including relevant definitions and ingredients that traditionally constitute a fair trial, usually including: juror and/or judge impartiality, competency and neutrality, right to fair representation, right against intimidation, and right to counsel;

REGRETTING that without these understood characteristics of a fair trial in the text of the resolution, the term becomes ambiguous, defeating the overall purpose Resolution #21;

REPEALS Resolution #21: "Fair trial".


[/quote]

I think I'm starting to get the hang of this whole thing...

Quote: Repeal "Humanitarian Intervention"
A proposal to repeal a previously passed resolution


Category: Repeal
Resolution: #92
Proposed by: Omigodtheykilledkenny

Description: UN Resolution #92: Humanitarian Intervention (Category: Human Rights; Strength: Strong) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

Argument: This Assembly, having convened to reconsider its adoption of UN Resolution #92: Humanitarian Intervention, observes the following:

1. The United Nations through past legislation condemns in the strongest possible terms egregious human-rights violations such as genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity;

2. The United Nations is committed to enforcing relevant legislation expressly forbidding such offenses by member states;

3. The United Nations is not necessarily opposed to international interventions with a humanitarian purpose, but does fear that UN involvement in military operations as stipulated by Resolution #92 is inappropriate;

4. The United Nations expresses strong concerns over the serious flaws evident in the remit of Humanitarian Intervention, specifically:

- that it permits the United Nations to authorize offensive actions against member states, in contradiction of the UN's long-held tradition of strict neutrality in international theaters of conflict;

- that it subjects the territorial sovereignty and integrity of member states to a vote by a panel of unaccountable UN diplomats, allowing the United Nations to disregard member states' said sovereignty at the request of two or more nations;

- that it allows the United Nations to authorize interventions in non-member states, who are decidedly outside UN jurisdiction and are under no obligation to uphold UN mandates, however beneficial or well-intentioned;

- that it grants the overseeing panel unlimited powers to meddle in the planning and execution of intervention operations, greatly impeding their effectiveness and likelihood of success.

Whereas:

This Assembly considers the above-cited flaws to constitute a serious overreach of the mandate of the United Nations to protect international human rights;

This Assembly in particular strongly condemns this act's attempt to enforce UN dictates on non-member states;

This Assembly reassures its members that the enforcement of UN proscriptions against human-rights violations by member states will continue, even in the absence of an intervention accord;

This Assembly is convinced that nations finding cause to intervene in cases of grave human-rights abuses committed in other countries will do so, with or without a UN permission slip:

Be it therefore resolved:

1. UN Resolution #92: Humanitarian Intervention is hereby repealed        [/quote]

Yes this usually Antrium's job but I thought I'd go ahead and put it in since I had nothing else to do right now and it needed to be done.

Quote: Category: Repeal
Resolution: #91
Proposed by: SilentScope Embassy

Description: UN Resolution #91: The Sex Industry Worker Act (Category: Free Trade; Strength: Significant) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

Argument: UNDERSTANDING the goal behind the Sex Industry Worker Act which is to allow for "an happier, more content and more productive society" by legalizing prostitution,

NOTING however that the right for someone to choose to be a prostitute is already duplicated by Resolution #53 (Universal Freedom of Choice), as people has the freedom to choose to sell their own body, without "unreasonable interference",

FURTHER NOTING Resolution #192 (Sexual Privacy Act) which prohibits the criminalization of "any form of sexual activity", including prostitution, if it is done by consenting adults and done in private,

STATING that the rest of the resolution is worded with clauses that merely 'encourages' nations to change their behavior, but does nothing else,

CONCLUDING this resolution therefore to be nothing more than a duplicate of much more well-written resolutions that already protect prostitution,

DESIRING to remove useless resolutions to streamline bureaucracy,

The United Nations:
1) REPEALS Sex Industry Worker Act[/quote]

And here's the original:
Quote: Category: Free Trade
Strength: Significant
Proposed by: Groot Gouda

Description: The NationStates UN,

RECALLING resolution #46 "Legalize Prostitution" and the repeal of that resolution,

ALSO RECALLING Resolution #7 (Sexual Freedom), and Resolution #53 (Universal Freedom of Choice), which make sex a private issue, instead of a government issue, and stating "a populace granted the freedom to make choices in life is a happier, more content and more productive society"

AFFIRMING in accordance with the above mentioned resolution that each person has the right to decide over their own body, and has the right to sell ther body if they decide to, without government interference,

ASSUMING an increase in Sexually Transmitted Diseases, as well as an increase in crime, and higher pressure on police, in a situation where prostitution is illegal,

ACKNOWLEDGING that health risks exist, even with legal prostitution,

1. DECLARES prostitution legal throughout the UN: any person who is mature ,and capable of making their own decisions may become a prosititute,

2. EMPHASIZES that legalizing prostitution must coincide with regulation from the government, such as health and safety and other employment legislation, just like any other profession,

3. RECOMMENDS nations that want to limit prostitution to tackle the issue by its roots and create education and social programs that will give more choice to people who might want to become a prostitute,

4. REQUESTS all nations to stimulate a clean and attractive working environment for prostitutes, and advises cooperation with the sex industry to renovate old "illegal" prostitution areas in towns and cities,

5. CONDEMNS child abuse and slavery in accordance with earlier UN resolutions (End slavery, Child Labor, Outlaw Pedophilia, The Child Protection Act, Ban Trafficking in Persons, etc) and advises strong punishments against people involved with these despicable crimes that explicitly are not covered by legal prostitution.[/quote]

As an IDU resolution, I will be the first to say I am opposed to the repeal.

There's finally a proposal to vote on. Unfortunately, it's up tomorrow. So vote fast and I'll try to vote before it closes. I'm not guaranteeing anything though, because time zones are confusing and I'll probably screw that up. It will probably pass.

Quote: Description: The General Assembly of the United Nations;

Recognizing that orphans and homeless children are some of the most vulnerable of all persons in any society and are often ignored or abused;

Recognizing that violence, drugs, war, famine, social chaos, disease and prejudice in many nations have resulted in an unprecedented number of children who are abandoned as orphans or who have become homeless;

Recognizing that the rights of orphans and homeless children are often ignored;

Deploring the terrible conditions that these children suffer in;

Alarmed that these children are exposed to the possibility of being raped, murdered or sold into prostitution and noting that some of these children are extremely young;

Finding this situation to be unacceptable, enacts the following:

1. Member nations are encouraged in the strongest possible terms to fund the construction and staffing of orphanages and shelters for homeless children as the situation in their nation merits.

2. Member nations are further strongly encouraged to establish appropriate child welfare agencies to oversee the well-being of these children and to manage the distribution of aid. Additionally, these agencies are strongly urged to share information to facilitate intranational and international adoptions.

3. The United Nations Child Placement Authority is hereby established to do the following:
(i) Compile a database of all known homeless or orphaned children currently residing in UN nations who are awaiting placement in adoptive homes. The governments of UN member nations shall submit bi-annually a report detailing the number of homeless or orphaned children living within their nation who are awaiting placement in adoptive homes, either within, or outside their nation. The report shall include the child's age, sex, name (if known), pertinent medical information as allowed by UN law and any other details considered relevent to the child's case.
(ii) Act as a clearinghouse for coordinating the efforts of accredited adoption agencies and child-advocacy groups in UN nations and to assist in the effort to place these children in permanent, stable homes.

4. Member nations are reminded that many homeless children, particularly runaways, may be reluctant to accept aid and assistance from government agencies or recognized charities due to fears that they will be forced into an unacceptable situation, e.g., returned to an abusive home. Therefore, it is suggested that aid and assistance be provided in a no-threat environment with assured confidentiality for all clients, but with the goal of eventually placing these children in an officially recognized shelter, orphanage or foster home, or if possible, returning them to their parents or an acceptable guardian.[/quote]

Gordon Brown has just given McDonald's, Flybe(a discount airline) and Network Rail power to give out degrees and diplomas like a university. This is the first new idea that has sparked me, and I don't think anyone else has done this, so I wrote an issue on it.

A skills agency in @@NAME@@ has brought up the idea of several large companies being able to award academic qualifications.

[option] ?This is a great idea!? says middle-level manager, @@RANDOMNAME@@. "We have so many skilled people about, but we can only mark it with training certificates and low-level awards. If we could award them diplomas, degrees and doctorates, it would really mark their skills and would show them for what they are. The educational spectrum shall become less divided!"
[effect] fast-food managers are being awarded degrees at world benchmark rate
[stats] major industry grows

[option] ?This won?t work!? says academic, @@RANDOMNAME@@. ?These people will be trapped in those companies; other employers may not recognise such qualifications. What?s more, this would cheapen qualifications, contributing to ?dumbing down?. Keep important study to independent bodies.?
[effect] universities have hit new power
[stats] economy strengthens

[option] ?Don?t give in to snobs!? yells communist Tony Baugh, as he jumps into your office with a gun. ?We must cut out all divides in our society! Abolish all universities and qualifications! Now the people shall be truly free from these delusional smarty-pants.?
[effect] all people have been stripped of merit in the name of ?equality?
[stats] economy weakens a lot

What do you think?