xp_logs | Hope and Maddie: Model UN (Backdated)

Maddie and Hope plan strategy for the Model UN.

In this world of increasing uncertainty, what with the political upheaval in the Ukraine, Venezuela, missing jet planes, snowfall after snowfall, and what have you, there were two things Maddie knew:

1. Bhutan was a small country in South Asia and
2. "GMOs" stood for Genetically modified organisms.

Oh, and it was her task to somehow link the two. Well really to figure out Bhutan's stance when it came to Sustainable Diets and GMOs. How oh how had she allowed herself to be talked into this, she asked herself as she looked at the books she had pulled from the library shelves. Anything that had to do with Bhutan and agriculture or environmentalism. She probably should had asked Tabitha for help in finding research material instead of undertaking it herself. But this was a challenge, and there were few things Maddie loved more than a good challenge. Except this one was totally different from anything she had ever done before.

"Are there even any books left on the shelves?" Hope stared at the pile rather incredulously, her eyes moving back and forth between said pile and the determined girl besides her. She knew a little about Bhutan, courtesy of Wikipedia, but the topic of GMO's was fairly new for her and at the moment, practically abracadabra. Still, she pulled out a fresh notebook, a pen and her laptop and took a seat. Raising an eyebrow, she looked up at Maddie. "Ready for some digging?"

Maddie giggled, looking up at her classmate. But then it hit her that Hope probably didn't see the pun, and Maddie was instead sharing in her own private joke. Still. It was pretty funny to her. Okay. Now she was probably seeming a little strange; Maddie figured she should let Hope in on her fun so her classmate didn't think that the redhead was laughing at her. "I'm on Food and Agriculture. And you said 'digging'. It's funny," she said. "So what committee did you get assigned to?"

"Wah..." Hope dropped her head as realized what she had just said."I walked right in to that one, didn't I?" Shaking her head ruefully, she continued: "Actually, I got assigned to the same committee as you did. Apparently Food and Agriculture is not quite the place to be within Model United Nations. And since I got in late..."

"Yeah. Not exactly the hippest of committees." Maddie wrinkled her nose and gave her books a rueful glance, regretting, for not the first time, that she had not signed on to something a little more sexy. Like talking about drones, or child marriage. Still, at least she wasn't on the International Monetary Fund's big debt committee. She shuddered at the thought. Now <i>that</i> sounded like a total snooze fest.

"At least we'll get some chances to really get involved in the debate process?" She shrugged. "I blame Mr. H. He's the one who got me into the whole mess to begin with. I made the mistake of sitting in on his class. Long story, but basically my art teacher was out and I was done with my project so I went and sat in with my friends in class cause they were going on about how totally gorgeous their history teacher is. Which, you know, he totally is. But he said something about how Nixon's trip to China was the first time the two countries ever talked and I was like 'No. Their ambassadors to Poland and Pakistan were meeting long before that.' Not his fault that history text books only focus on Nixon, but still. Then after class he pretty much made me join Model U.N."

"Oh no Maddie..." Hope shook her head, a small grin on her face. "Anyone who knows you even a little, knows it's quite difficult just to make you 'do' something when you really do not wish to do it. Am I right or not?"

"But I have to agree..." She continued a few moments later. "It will be nice to really do something and not just be present as window dressing so to speak. And I actually will get to put my public speaking class to use. Strange Mr. Killian never really mentioned it, though. Or that he is not involved in it."

The redhead shrugged. True it wasn't like when Mr. Guthrie informed her of the fact that she was taking AP U.S. History and wouldn't let her say no. It was more a suggestion that their group could use more people, and it'd be fun, and some other stuff. Plus it was going to be at the Grand Hyatt New York. Which was like really really nice. And the whole idea did sound pretty cool. Well, at least until they got their country assignment.

"Yeah. You're right," Maddie said as she glanced at the pile of books. "I kinda let myself get talked into it. First step on the road to world domination." She shrugged. "And as for Mr. Killian, it sounded like there is this total lack of communication. Mock trial, debate, all of them. Which I guess was part of the reason why U.N. needed more people; some other stuff is scheduled for the same weekend."

"Anyways, I'm glad I don't have to do all this by myself. Should we divide and conquer? One researches the history and culture and politics of Bhutan and the other looks at G.M.O.s, then we put our heads together to figure out how we want to tackle this issue in committee? Maybe write a short resolution for practice so when we get there we're ready to kick ass and take names? What do you think?"

"Practicing writing the resolution I would like a lot. At least so that we can used to the type of language and the form. It looked a little intimidating when I read about it. I had assumed we would cover it in some type of meeting, but not really it seems."

Hope pulled over some of the books, quickly glancing through them. "And divide and conquer is a good idea, though I think we should mark the essential parts for each other to read of our area's. So we both know the basics of every terrain and can follow along. How is your science? I think I did cover some material on GMO's in my genetics class, so that might be helpful."

"Perfect!" There was no attempt made by Maddie to contain her overwhelming relief. She really hadn't been looking forward to wade through all the scientific arguments for and against GMOs. Sue and Clint probably would have helped her understand all the stuff on genetic manipulation, but it wasn't like she would have been able to call them mid-session to ask them a question. A large stack of books, the furthest from the redhead, slid across the tabletop until it came to rest right before Hope.

"You take GMOs, I'll look at all the history and politics."

Hope gave Maddie a droll look as the books slid in place in front of her. "Thanks. I look forward to it. Though we might have to call in reinforcements if we have to get down to really scientific nitty gritty type of things." She pulled the first book of the stacks and grabbed the various pages out the handbook for their committee.

Scanning it briefly, she frowned: "Maddie, when you do your research, can you also look for what the daily diet is and the situation of their agriculture? Both in what they grow and how big a part it is of their economy. I can then look for genetic modification in those specific crops and what the situation is for those."

Maddie smiled widely and tapped the side of her nose. "Good thinking, partner. Good thinking." She quickly scribbled down the note in her notebook before turning her attention back to the other girl.

"All right, Hope. Let's get this party started."