What to do next...
You've become an Middle East expert and added an entry from your stakeholder's perspective on the group report blog page. Now it's time for the physical conference. CAN YOU HAMMER OUT AN AGREEMENT?
IF POSSIBLE, a compromise position should be reached with the group recommendations reported to a group session of the United Nations (an assembly of students and teachers). This will not be simple because each country's delegate will each feel they have found the solution based upon what is most important for their country. However, problems arise: what's good for Israel may not be good for the USA. What is good for Britain is probably not good for Hezbollah. What's good for Palestinians may not be good for Iran. How can your group resolve these competing interests? Your report should address how these issues have been resolved.
IF AGREEMENT IS IMPOSSIBLE there should be a majority report and a minority report of the committee. Both of these reports should be reported to a group session of the United Nations (an assembly of students and teachers). If there has been ANY agreement, this should be reported, but areas where agreement cannot be reached need also be addressed.
GOING TO WAR IS NOT AN OPTION. A negotiated peace is the only way out.
It would also be a good idea to have the conference filmed so you can review your group's performances afterward.
A few things to consider as your team attempts to solve the problems of the world:
IF POSSIBLE, a compromise position should be reached with the group recommendations reported to a group session of the United Nations (an assembly of students and teachers). This will not be simple because each country's delegate will each feel they have found the solution based upon what is most important for their country. However, problems arise: what's good for Israel may not be good for the USA. What is good for Britain is probably not good for Hezbollah. What's good for Palestinians may not be good for Iran. How can your group resolve these competing interests? Your report should address how these issues have been resolved.
IF AGREEMENT IS IMPOSSIBLE there should be a majority report and a minority report of the committee. Both of these reports should be reported to a group session of the United Nations (an assembly of students and teachers). If there has been ANY agreement, this should be reported, but areas where agreement cannot be reached need also be addressed.
GOING TO WAR IS NOT AN OPTION. A negotiated peace is the only way out.
It would also be a good idea to have the conference filmed so you can review your group's performances afterward.
A few things to consider as your team attempts to solve the problems of the world:
- Persistence is the key to problem solving, so don't give up easily. If you're at an impasse, sometimes that's just the beginning of a solution. Keep trying.
- You'll be working with the current reality (the way things really are right now) to create solutions that will make your goals a new reality. That means you'll be using your understanding of the present to shape the future.
- People who know a lot about a subject are generally better problem-solvers. This means the groups where teammates really learned about their roles will be in better shape than groups where people just went through the motions.
good luck, delegates!
BUT WAIT, there's more...
FEEDBACK from the REAL WORLD
Suggesting the best actions for the Middle East Peace was tough. But until you test your model in the real world, you've only been playing a game. Send a copy of your group report via email to the American, Israeli, Iranian, and British consulates and ask for feedback.
Suggesting the best actions for the Middle East Peace was tough. But until you test your model in the real world, you've only been playing a game. Send a copy of your group report via email to the American, Israeli, Iranian, and British consulates and ask for feedback.
- Write an introduction to your e-mail message that gives background on why you are writing to this particular person and that you'd like to get feedback on your ideas for Middle East Peace.
- Search online to find the email addresses for the consulates.
- Send the report to all the consulates. If you are doing the Middle East WebQuest at school, find out your school's policy regarding such email before sending.
- Wait for a reply!