SOCHUM+-+AUSTRALI

Oliver Santos-Hamer Australia SOCHUM Arundel HS 1/30/14

Topic 1: Birth Control and Contraception

Although the United Nations have agreed with the idea of universal family planning as well as universal access to contraceptives, millions are still unable to reach such services. Women worldwide can benefit from proper use of up-to-date contraceptives and the ability to plan the number of children they have and when. This has been demonstrated in many developed countries, but in developing countries in areas like the Middle East or Africa, infant mortality rates and deaths in childbirth are still high. The people of Australia, being staunch supporters of contraception, have had little conflict with the idea of birth control. Since the problem is most prevalent in developing countries, first educative services to the people would need to be issued, before handing the situation to the country itself.

There are many issues that can be resolved, or at least weakened, through worldwide contraceptive and family-planning services. These issues are as follows. Women's Rights and safety, as women are often put at risk through excessive births with little time between, which can be dangerous to the mother, and may result in death. Disease, with sexually-transmitted diseases(STDs), ever present since the beginning of humanity, running rampant in developing and in some cases developed countries. Child safety, since many children without a mother, or with too many siblings for the family to support have lower chances for survival. Lastly, population control; families that cannot sustain their numbers, preventable with both or either birth control and planning, often put strain the economic improvement of developing countries. Most developing countries can't handle the rapid population growth on top of their current lack of resources. Africa comes as a great challenge for such issues, as the general poverty of its countries has stemmed the process of providing contraception to the people. Since Africa has some of the highest STD rates, most notably cases of HIV infections, many programs were introduced in order to educate the populace, in hopes of increasing awareness. However, the mass distribution of condoms in varied effectiveness has eliminated the concern in much of Africa's residents, a major setback. Asia and America are interesting cases, since both are following legal controversies in their respective pursuits of population control and women's rights. China, after experiencing mass famine, a result of increased population growth during its "Great Leap Forward" initiated by its former leader Mao Zedong, has returned to its infamous use of the "one child policy." It has been seen as a major violation of women's privacy and rights.The US is also following such controversy, as birth control is a current and heavily debated topic. In the cases of religion intertwining with birth control, Latin america and the Middle East come to mind. Both countries are highly conservative, and so there has been little progress in providing contraception, as it conflicts with the majority Muslim (ME) and Catholic (LA) traditions.

As it was mentioned before, Australia hasn't been in much conflict with birth control. In fact, around 30% of Australian men have undergone a vasectomy, a male-sterilization surgery, in addition to the already provided contraceptive and family planning services provided to Australian women. However, Australia hasn't taken much of an assertive stance on the topic elsewhere in the world. The general progression through the introduction to birth control underwent at the same pace as the rest of the western world. Australia is in close proximity to many developing Asian countries, so a small population immigrates, but birth rates have never been a problem. Obviously, as Australia is a western country without intensely conservative religious beliefs, they more willing access to such provisions.

As a delegate representing Australia, I wish to cooperate with the rest of the developed world in solving this international problem. I believe that the spearhead should be driven by the developed world, but that ultimately the responsibility of managing birth control and family planning must be left to the country. The lack of access to such health services often runs hand in hand with economic instability, so if the countries themselves are unable to regulate the problem with distributions, they, working with the western world, should seek to raise awareness among their people, and educate them about the dangers present. In addition, the distribution of condoms is not a viable solution, as it alleviates worry in the populace with a temporary and not fully functional solution. Sterilization by vasectomies are currently unavailable to these countries, but would be the best course of action, as the good people of Australia have demonstrated. There also lies the problem of religiously conservative countries, such as those in the middle east governed under Sharia law. There is hope, although, since even though under sharia sterilization is prohibited, there are no restrictions to family planning or the use of temporary contraceptives, unless further debated by the Islamic clergy. The challenge may come when contradicting the goals of former leaders, such as Iran's former leader Ahmajinedad, who took down family planning methods and asked for an increase in population inn hopes that it would give their country an edge over the west in the recession; the most likely result would be a famine due to populatory strain onn already scarce resources, as it happened in Iran when revolutionary Khomeini called for population growth. I have taken interest in this particular topic because of the heavy risk involved in much of the world, and the fact that it could be resolved so quickly with the correct methods and cooperation. Children and women are also put at risk in this situation, something that doesn't settle well with me. I'm eager to discuss possible solutions and hear the opinion of my fellow delegates. Topic 2: Eminent domain

In the case of eminent domain, there have been many situations where citizens of countries, alien or not, have been unfairly evicted by their governments. The most common abuse by such a government would be planning for a mega-event, such as the Olympics, recently demonstrated in Beijing, China, Sochi, Russia, and, if further measure is not taken, likely future Brazil, in its hosting the World Cup. There has been a set standard that all people are granted a right of protection from forced evictions, but the policy is vague enough that there have still been abuses by governments themselves. The world needs a universal standard that identifies a compensation and valuation procedures standard.

Events like the Olympics offer hosting countries an oppurtinity to flex their governing muscles, if you will, for the rest of the world to acknowledge them asa a world power. Therefor, they may take harsh action to provide a spectacle for competitors to see, regardless of the impact it may have on its citizens. Millions were displaced in China and more recently in Russia for development of Olympics sites, most unable to acquire new living space. Also, even if it may not be to the same magnitude, hundreds each year are forcibly evicted for development projects. True, these projects may hold the oppurtunity to raise an underdeveloped area up from poverty, but the citizens currently livinng in such an area must be considered. The first effective legislation for the appropraite methods concerning compulsory purchase were passed in the years following World War 2, when massive decolonization and forced evictions were enacted. However national legislations, such as the NAFTA trade agreement, set specifics for compensation that may be insufficient to provide for an evicted citizen. Australia has had its infamous history as a colonial govenment and the forced eviction and eventual assimilation of the Aborigines, the indegenous Australians. However, much legislation, begining in the 70s, was taken to alleviate the prejudice against he natives,and movements for rights have led the Abrogines to a, even if its not total, substantial and sufficient comprensation. The governments seeks no further prejudice to them. In the case of its non-native citizens, it is stated in the Australian constitution, Chapter 1, section 51(xxxi), that the Parliament as the power of "The acquisition of property on just terms from any State or person for any purpose in respect of which the Parliament has power to make laws." As such, Australia and its citizens seek fairness in the compensation for compulsary acquisitions.

For fairness to be recognized and followed worldwide, there must be an international standard set for the world to follow. That being said, there cannot be insufficient compenstaion, as the disposessed will have no way to return to their previous state. Compensation mustn't be the market value of the home at the time, since the market rises and falls. A house that may have cost 60,000 units of a currency may cost 80,000 in some amount of time, or lessen to 40,000 units. This is particularly a problem for poorer areas, since the property value may be less than what may be avaliable at the time. Therefor, I suggest a compensation of 200 percent of the original value the homeowner paid for said property, as the accrued value over time will indefinetely be more than the original. To the arguement that such a compensation is unpurchaseable by governments, than said government shouldn't have considered building in the first place, were it not ready to compensate the residents.