Patrick+O'Cain+DISEC

Name: Patrick O’Cain Country: Argentina Committee: DISEC High School: Arundel High School

Regulation of Militarization of Outer Space DISEC or Disarmament and International Security Committee, is a committee that focuses on article 26 of the UN charter, “to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world’s human economic resources.” Argentina is the second largest Latin American country (first is Brazil) and they joined the United Nations on October 24, 1945. In this day and age, the possibilities are tremendous, and like many countries, Argentina seeks a safe and prosperous future without the usage of military in outer space. The military was created to protect countries land boundaries and now that space exploration has occurred the usage of the military to protect space boundaries has become a great threat. ICBM’s or Intercontinental Ballistic Missile is the first weapon to enter the space environment. The civilian technology that has joined a dual role with ICBM’s is called GPS (or Global Positioning Satellite). As the missile travels through space to get to its target the civilian GPS guides the missile to its target. “ Outer space is a public area available for every country to use. Due to this, the preservation of outer space as a weapons-free zone is imperative for the se­curity of every nation. The Disarmament and Interna­tional Security Committee of the United Nations has a particular interest in preserving the safety of space for all nations to enjoy in a peaceful way. As a committee, DISEC can pass a resolution that makes a positive step toward the absolute prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, as well as stricter regulations on dual-use items.” Argentina is for the peaceful use of outer space. Argentina seeks to join other countries in the outer space community, but looks to the UN to keep it military free. To do this Argentina created the, National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE). The organization coordinates all activities connected to the peaceful use of outer space in their own country. In 1958, the United Nations took their first step toward outer space management with the creation of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). The purpose is "to review the scope of international cooperation in peaceful uses of [|outer space] , to devise programs in this field to be undertaken under [|United Nations]  auspices, to encourage continued research and the dissemination of information on outer space matters, and to study legal problems arising from the [|exploration of outer space] ." Argentina is just one of the seventy countries on this committee. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The ability to keep weapons out of space is like the ability to end crime or being able to achieve world peace. As long as the common man lacks the access to space, the usage of weapons in space can be controlled and limited by the United Nations; as long as the countries adhere to the same rules. Weapons in space should be developed and researched but not allowed in confrontational situations. Even though this may upset countries that wish to pursue space technology and research, the research behind weapons in space can lead to civilian related advances/discoveries. Society pushes forward and with the possibility of living in space and planet traveling the need to protect space boundaries will be required.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Name: Patrick O’Cain <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Country: Argentina <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Committee: DISEC <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">High School: Arundel High School

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Regulation of Small Arms Trade <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">DISEC or Disarmament and International Security Committee, is a committee that focuses on article 26 of the UN charter, “to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world’s human economic resources.” Argentina is the second largest Latin American country (first is Brazil) and they joined the United Nations on October 24, 1945. The small arms trade is an important business in many small undeveloped countries, but the need to regulate the weapons traded in those countries has become an issue of great concern. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Countries all over the world have illegal businesses the sell small arms to countries in Africa and South America. The majority of these weapons are used by the drug cartels or the gangs that inhabit the area. The United Nations reported after a survey that 535,000 arms were exported yearly (many left over from cold war) and most of them were later used in illegal activities. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Argentina is a country in Latin America that is full of drug cartels. These cartels are responsible for most of the small arms trade in the country. Unlike many fire arms, small arms and light weapons aren’t subjected to regulations from their governments. Argentina seeks to change that by teaming up with other members of the UN. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The United Nations needs to find a way to limit, trace, and reduce the number of small arms that are exported. One solution the UN could attempt is to prevent the exportation of small arms by adding a major consequence to any country that knows about it and is found allowing it. Countries should try to destroy/recycle the guns so they can turn from tools of destruction into tools of progress for the country.