United Downs - An Arda-Wide Forum for Change

[Laurinquë]

I participate in the Model United Nations association at my school and one day during a long and boring discussion of UN debt I decided to amuse myself by inventing the United Downs. The United Downs is an Arda-wide forum for change where people of all races and species can congregate to discuss issues affecting their world. This community meets regularly in the Barrow-Downs (hence the name--United Downs) and delegates can offer resolutions to solve perceived problems in their areas.

The examples I have provided below didn't take very long to write following the Model United Nations resolution format so if anyone else would care to draft up something I would love it. TheGreatElvenWarrior is in the same class so she may submit something as well; I am certainly planning on making a few more!

Without further ado here are a few examples from the delegates of The Democratic People's Republic of Mordor and the Fangorn Co-operative*:



And . . .




*I apologise for any spelling and grammar mistakes, I tried to correct them but Photobucket mixed everything up. Oh well.

[Morthoron]

Quite impressive, Laurinquë. Fortunately, Middle-earth did not have a United Nations, or else Mordor would have veto power as one of the permanent members of the Security Council. Mordor would have also demanded that the One Ring be returned as a priceless cultural artifact of the Mordorion people.

[Thinlómien]

Laurinquë... I had to participate in a similar UN model on the last grade of our lower secondary, so when I was 15, so that brings back some memories... maybe I should do one just to remember the jolly (er...?) good times...

[Laurinquë]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Quite impressive, Laurinquë. Fortunately, Middle-earth did not have a United Nations, or else Mordor would have veto power as one of the permanent members of the Security Council. Mordor would have also demanded that the One Ring be returned as a priceless cultural artifact of the Mordorion people.

That's why the United Downs was formed after the war of the ring, to try to prevent such catastrophes from happening in the future by keeping the lines of communication between nations open.

Originally Posted by Lommy

Laurinquë... I had to participate in a similar UN model on the last grade of our lower secondary, so when I was 15, so that brings back some memories... maybe I should do one just to remember the jolly (er...?) good times...

This is my second year doing MUN, most of the time I like it but discussions can be looong. That's where United Downs comes in.

[Loslote]

Awesome idea! I do Model UN with my school, too. I'll do one as soon as I get a chance!

[Laurinquë]

Originally Posted by Loslote

Awesome idea! I do Model UN with my school, too. I'll do one as soon as I get a chance!

That would be great! I'm working on my next one, it's a bit addictive.

But wait a minute, I thought you were home schooled. Will you be coming to the MUN conference at UAA?

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

That would be great! I'm working on my next one, it's a bit addictive.

But wait a minute, I thought you were home schooled. Will you be coming to the MUN conference at UAA?

It's complicated. I go to a charter school that's mostly homeschool with classes (mostly electives) one day a week. One of those electives is Model UN. Actually, TBCS is one of the only Valley schools to send a team. We have people from all the big high schools whose schools were too lame to put together a team who just lumped into ours. I'm going to the UAA confrence. I went last year, too - I was Russia.

I did have a lovely idea, but I can't figure out how to make it an image. Help?

[Laurinquë]

Originally Posted by Loslote

It's complicated. I go to a charter school that's mostly homeschool with classes (mostly electives) one day a week. One of those electives is Model UN. Actually, TBCS is one of the only Valley schools to send a team. We have people from all the big high schools whose schools were too lame to put together a team who just lumped into ours. I'm going to the UAA confrence. I went last year, too - I was Russia.

I did have a lovely idea, but I can't figure out how to make it an image. Help?

That's crazy. I've probably met you. I was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland last year and this year I'm Kenya (UNDP) and TGEW is Russia (also UNDP).

It's not very easy, I'd just copy and paste it as a reply. But if you want to know, I wrote it in Word, copied it into Photoshop, uploaded the image onto Photobucket, and then put on the Barrow-Downs.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

It's not very easy, I'd just copy and paste it as a reply. But if you want to know, I wrote it in Word, copied it into Photoshop, uploaded the image onto Photobucket, and then put on the Barrow-Downs.

Or you could copy and paste it into Powerpoint, change the page to portrait and then save it as an image. If you have Publisher this also works.

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

That's crazy. I've probably met you. I was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland last year and this year I'm Kenya (UNDP) and TGEW is Russia (also UNDP).

It's not very easy, I'd just copy and paste it as a reply. But if you want to know, I wrote it in Word, copied it into Photoshop, uploaded the image onto Photobucket, and then put on the Barrow-Downs.

I'm Brazil this year. I'm either in UNITAR or UNCTAD, I don't remember which...this is probably a problem. I was UNESCO last year.

I'm working on one of those; should have it pretty soon.

EDIT: Ha! I did it:

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Quite impressive, Laurinquë. Fortunately, Middle-earth did not have a United Nations, or else Mordor would have veto power as one of the permanent members of the Security Council. Mordor would have also demanded that the One Ring be returned as a priceless cultural artifact of the Mordorion people.

That could be a problem, but then again the council would probably be ignored by The Self-righteous Territories of Gondor and any action countered with a preemptive war.

[Morsul the Dark]

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

That could be a problem, but then again the council would probably be ignored by The Self-righteous Territories of Gondor and any action countered with a preemptive war.

Of course (The analogy quite noted) the Gondorians would be right. The UD would simply tell Sauron to stop he'd say "Ok" continue doing what he does. They say "We said stop" and he'd Still Continue.

Sir, Despots like Sauron only understand power and strength they care nothing for 'Dialogue'

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

As chairman of The Peoples Bitching Party of Angmar (and self appointed king) I must object to the generalisations made about despots!

We really can be rather nice and enjoy a good conversation.

[Laurinquë]

Originally Posted by Loslote

EDIT: Ha! I did it:

Yes! It's wonderful. The delegate from the Evil Totalitarian Regime of Moria accepts your request for assistance. We would be glad to help so long as we get to eat 10% of the Elves in Rivendell.

EDIT: More fun!

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

Yes! It's wonderful. The delegate from the Evil Totalitarian Regime of Moria accepts your request for assistance. We would be glad to help so long as we get to eat 10% of the Elves in Rivendell.

The delegate from The City-State of Rivendell says make it 5% and you've got a deal.

The delegate from The Democratic Republic of Lothlorien adds that they get to choose which 5%, though.

[Laurinquë]

Originally Posted by Loslote

The delegate from The City-State of Rivendell says make it 5% and you've got a deal.

The delegate from The Democratic Republic of Lothlorien adds that they get to choose which 5%, though.

The delegate from The Evil Totalitarian Regime of Moria accepts the amendment offered by The City-State of Rivendell and The Democratic Republic of Lothlorien. We think you're all tasty! The speaker's list is now open.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

When I first read the beginning of the above resolution, I thought it referred to the security issues we've been having on this website. So the spammers that invade our Downs are stepping in Tom Bombadil's footsteps?! Scary!!

Noting with interest the above-mentioned rights, this Wight demands that box of chocolate which was promised!

Thanks to the Alaskan delegation for a fun thread idea!

[Loslote]

The Hobbits Association of the Shire notes the concerns expressed by the Estian delegation and proposed an ammendment:

5. Authorizes all wights to participate in a monthly Spammer Hunt for prizes such as: Socks; Cookies; And Tomatoes.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Barrow-Wights for the Eating of Tasty Hobbits also proposes an amendment.

6. Insists that Tom Bombadil return all persons, things, and objects to the Barrow-Downs that he unlawfully and unrightfully stole.

[Loslote]

The Hobbits Association of the Shire suggest substituting "their rightful owners" for "the Barrow-Downs", as certain individuals may take that too literally.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Loslote

The Hobbits Association of the Shire suggest substituting "their rightful owners" for "the Barrow-Downs", as certain individuals may take that too literally.

RIGHT OF REPLY!!

That insults the dignity of the Barrow-Downs.

[Loslote]

The Hobbits Association of the Shire applogizes. Offense was, admittedly, implied. The Hobbits Association of the Shire proposes an amendment to the earlier amendment: scratch everything after "the Barrow-Downs".

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Loslote

The Hobbits Association of the Shire applogizes. Offense was, admittedly, implied. The Hobbits Association of the Shire proposes an amendment to the earlier amendment: scratch everything after "the Barrow-Downs".

*grumbles* The Barrow-Wights for the Eating of Tasty Hobbits takes that as a friendly amendment.

[Laurinquë]

POINT OF ORDER!

The resolution in question is still under control of The Great Socialist People's Republic of the Barrow-Downs, therefore any amendments made to it must be approved by this delegate before they are accepted as friendly. Now, The Great Socialist People's Republic of the Barrow-Downs likes the amendment put forward by the Barrow-Wights for the Eating of Tasty Hobbits stating "6. Insists that Tom Bombadil return all persons, things, and objects to the Barrow-Downs that he unlawfully and unrightfully stole.". We believe it is a good summery of the situation and is not of an insulting or derogatory nature. I would like to accept this as it is without any alteration, and since I was unlawfully uninformed before this was edited I will take the liberty of accepting it as friendly and adding it to the resolution.

Oh, just noticed your amendment Loslote. Hmm... I suppose spammers count. But this was more about the actual Barrow-Downs rather than the virtual one we have to make do with.

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

Oh, just noticed your amendment Loslote. Hmm... I suppose spammers count. But this was more about the actual Barrow-Downs rather than the virtual one we have to make do with.

The Hobbits Association of the Shire would like to clarify: the spammers in question refer both to the invasion of the virtual Barrow Downs and the unruly teenagers who throw spam at the real Barrow Wight's barrows.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Loslote

The Hobbits Association of the Shire would like to clarify: the spammers in question refer both to the invasion of the virtual Barrow Downs and the unruly teenagers who throw spam at the real Barrow Wight's barrows.

Point of Information.
The Socialist Republic of Khazad-Dum, Otherwise Known as Moria would like to know from where these teenagers are coming from.

(I think that this is a Point of Information.)

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

Point of Information.
The Socialist Republic of Khazad-Dum, Otherwise Known as Moria would like to know from where these teenagers are coming from.

(I think that this is a Point of Information.)

They hail from a place known as...

The Real World.

It is a mysterious country that shuns the United Downs. We do not have dealing with it.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

The United States of Eriador would like to know where the Hobbits Association of the Shire got this information on this "Real World".

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

The United States of Eriador would like to know where the Hobbits Association of the Shire got this information on this "Real World".

The Hobbits Association of the Shire would like to remind the United States of Eriador of the recent development of technology useful in reasearching: Widen International Kindness In Participating Emerging or Developing Insurgencies Already (WIKIPEDIA).

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Loslote

The Hobbits Association of the Shire would like to remind the United States of Eriador of the recent development of technology useful in reasearching: Widen International Kindness In Participating Emerging or Developing Insurgencies Already (WIKIPEDIA).

The United States of Eriador has had access to this kind of technology before, it was not used by the delegate, however. Communication with the outside world is a bad thing.

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

The United States of Eriador has had access to this kind of technology before, it was not used by the delegate, however. Communication with the outside world is a bad thing.

The Hobbits Association of the Shire would like to suggest to the United States of Eriador that communication with the outside world is only a bad thing if you allow your citizens access to the technology. If only the national authority figures are allowed to contact the outside world, everything goes quite swimmingly.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

The United States of Eriador forbids swimming.

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

The United States of Eriador forbids swimming.

The Hobbits Association of the Shire seconds this, and asks that it be taken to the Valar Security Council for official sanctioning.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

The Barrow-Wights for the Eating of Tasty Hobbits would like to know where exactly we are in this resolution. If we are done discussing this, I motion to close debate.