Revising Your Position Paper in 5 Steps

Position Paper Basics Purpose of the position paper is to express your country’s view on the given issues for your committee Write a half page for each of the topics You can win awards for your position paper, will serve as your opening speech at the conference Required in order to participate in conference

Revising Your Paper Step 1: Take a strong position Look at your first sentence. Does it make a definite, aggressive stance? If not, fix it We want powerful words, more than just “this is an important issue” but rather “this is something that we need to take action on ASAP” Within the first 2 sentences, should state not just how you feel, but what you want to do PLEASE DO NOT START WITH A DRAMATIC BACKGROUND SENTENCE ABOUT HUMANITY OR SOMETHING UNRELATED

Revising Your Paper Step 2: Evidence Every statement you make about how your country feels MUST be backed by specific evidence Evidence builds your country’s credibility and shows a track record Any statement about what your country feels MUST be supported by a specific action your country has taken, or a specific endorsement/statement made by a national leader Also, random stats don’t cut it. Your evidence should clearly demonstrate what actions and stance your country takes on the issue Try to include 1 reference to a real UN resolution…Also, quotes are a last resort for evidence and should only be used if there is nothing else I CANNOT STRESS HOW IMPORTANT EVIDENCE IS

Revising Your Paper Step 3: Kill the Fluff Any sentence that is not direct and does not strongly demonstrate your stance needs to be cut out Your whole paper should be filled with powerful, aggressive action words rather than wimpy and vague words Do not spend to much time describing how bad the issue is, focus on what has been done and what needs to be done

Revising Your Paper Step 4: Clear Proposed Solutions Proposing a solution is the most important part of the paper It cannot just be one sentence you sneak in at the end Your proposal needs to be specific. You cannot just say “calling upon international community for assistance” or “we need international cooperation to solve this issue”. What specific assistance, from what kinds of countries? How will this assistance stop your problem Give a specific strategy, and outline specific goals

Revising Your Paper Step 5: Cut it to 250 words max Remember, anything that is weak, vague, passive needs to be cut out WE WANT AGGRESSIVE, FOCUSED, ACTION-ORIENTED PAPERS Cut out any sentences or extra statistics that do not add to this Also, cut out long quotes and replace them with better evidence or paraphrased statements.

Let’s try it out… For centuries, the environment and sustainability have been inextricably linked to the culture of Japan. Continuing this heritage into the 21st Century, the people of Japan have made sustainable development a top priority in order to combat unprecedented global climate change. In 2013, Japan ranked 16th worldwide in the Global Sustainability Index, and met six percent of its energy demands through renewable energy. Sports and sports facilities have been one of the focuses of Japan’s environmental initiatives as a way to spread awareness and promote a culture of sustainability. Over the past decade we have made several progressive efforts to become a leader in integration of sustainability into sports, and are committed to continuing these efforts as the host of the 2020 Olympics.

Revised The State of Japan upholds its firm commitment to sustainable development in the sports industry. In accordance with the objectives of the UNEP Sport and Environment initiative, Japan calls for an international sports campaign to promote environmentally- responsible athletic facilities and cultivate a global culture of sustainability.

Let’s try it out… Japan has utilized technologically innovative sports facilities and strong communication campaigns to create a sustainable sports environment and promote a societal environmental awareness. For example, in 2010, the Japanese government renovated the popular Hanshin Koshein baseball stadium to include a solar power generation system that meets its year-round nighttime lighting demands and significantly reduces the stadium’s carbon footprint. In addition, vegetation was incorporated throughout the stadium to make it a more natural sports environment for athletes and spectators. Currently under construction, the new venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will have an innovative sustainable design that includes solar power generators, natural lighting and ventilation systems, and water reclamation. These sustainable facilities have served as a critical vehicle for Japan’s environmental campaigns. For instance, our comprehensive 3R recycling program has spurred a national movement of recycling in sports arenas and other public facilities. These campaigns have successfully cultivated a sustainable culture in Japan, which was evident in the 2014 FIFA World Cup when hundreds of Japanese fans gathered to collect trash and litter in Brazil’s stadiums.

Let’s try it out… Sports have been a critical focus of Japan’s strong commitment to sustainable development. Using environmentally friendly sports facilities and national communication campaigns, Japan has successfully fostered a national awareness of sustainability. Looking forward to the 2020 Olympics, Japan is excited to collaborate with other developed nations to promote international environmental awareness in the world of sports.

Now it’s your turn! POSITION PAPERS WILL BE ABSOLUTELY DUE TO US BY FEBRUARY 5TH, 2017!!!!!! EMAIL THEM TO sdohsmun@gmail.com!