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A Bloc is a group of countries that form together to work toward a common goal, whether economic, political, or otherwise. Most countries are in more than one bloc. Depending on current politics, some countries may drop out or abstain from participating in some blocs, while other countries simply remain as observers.

Blocs are unstructured and are allowed to form and grow on their own. This may be a frustrating process. A country must always keep its political stands and goals in its negotiations with other countries as it participates in bloc decisions. The view of a particular nation must always take precedence over a bloc’s views, unless the country feels it will receive some benefit from its continued adherence to a bloc’s views.

BLOC’s develop resolutions based on their respective committees purpose and shall remain together for the duration of the conference. The resolutions developed in these committees may be specific or broad in nature. BLOC’s operate under the Parliamentary Procedure Guidelines provided in the manual.

The conference has the following BLOC’s:
European Union (EU)
South East Asian Trade Organization (SEATO)
Organization of American States (OAS)
African Union (AU)
Arab League (AL)

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Topic 1: Border Disputes

In the area of the SEATO block, an area of overpopulation and diminishing resources, competition for land and resources is at its highest. Almost all nations in Southeast Asia have some sort of territorial dispute with a neighboring nation. Although fueled for different reasons these disputes often end in dire situations because solutions can not be found quickly. The number and amplitude of these disputes becomes larger every year due to increasing populations and over usage of natural materials. These disputes are becoming a hindrance to trade and peace talks in the area. Various issues affecting the borders in the SEATO region can be helped by the committee. The maritime political map of Southeast Asia is profoundly incomplete, with only about 39 percent of potential maritime boundaries even partially resolved. This is largely the consequence of the relatively recent, and significant, advance in national claims to jurisdiction offshore. The quest to attain Marine territory that may contain precious oil reserves has driven many nations into heated competition for offshore possession. Many of these altercations are a result of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) concept as drawn up in the 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC). This concept gives nations with land holdings a 200 nautical mile range of exclusive property. This exclusive border may also be stretched to the edge of the continental shelf, even if it is outside of the 200 nautical mile range. The EEZ severely hinders talks concerning border disputes in Southeast Asia.

Kashmir is also an area of hostile relations between several nations. India, Pakistan, and
China all are deeply involved in this dispute and it may come to engross other surrounding nations. Although the initial conflict is assumed to be between India Pakistan, China plays a big role in the issues also. India still refuses to recognize Pakistan’s ceding of the historic Kashmir lands to China that occurred in 1964. China also has multiple oil and offshore problems. China, as well as other nations, receives most of its oil from the Middle East. With the every growing tension there, China has quickly made claims and asserted its power in the South China Sea. These acts are a threat to the Philippines and other surrounding countries.

Questions:

• How can the EEZ concept be worked upon to allow for peaceful land/ocean negotiations, and what is your countries position and involvement in the EEZ?
• In what ways can these land/maritime disputes be settled? What is your countries stance on land/maritime disputes? What maritime territory does your country possess?
• What is your nation willing to do to solve the problem? How can the India, Pakistan, and China conflicts be settled and what role does your country play? What side do you take in the debate?

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Topic 2: Third World Economies

Many countries in the SEATO bloc are plagued with poor economies and labeled with third world statues among the nations of the UN. Focus needs to be placed on these nations and building up their infrastructure, not only can we just shell out monetary aid and donations, but the countries of SEATO need to implement changes that will help in the long run and not just fix the short terms problems.

Infrastructure reform and development is crucial in the focus on these poorer countries. With the resources and help to bring technology, communications and public works up to par so that they can intern give back to the aid giving countries. SEATO countries have tried to fix this problem and continue to try to increase communication and technology. During the Southeast Asia Telecommunication and ICT Conference in April 2005, USTDA hosted a major regional conference on telecommunications and ICT infrastructure in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme Southeast Asia Connections. The conference included participation by senior U.S. Government and regional officials from Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The conference highlighted potential partnership and procurement opportunities totaling over $2 billion and included sessions that profiled technology solutions for next generation networks, broadband wireless, e-government and e-commerce applications, and voice-over-internet protocol. These talks need to increase and more UN involvement is needed to help these countries develop technology and infrastructure for the long run.

The countries of SEATO need to further examine the topic of commercialization. Because of the location that SEATO countries are in, in the world, it is imperative that these countries start taking advantage of what they have. With the increase of global trade into and out of Southeast Asia culture barriers as well as cultural influence has entered the area. The increased global trade influenced indigenous Southeast Asian traders in two ways, they were attracted to new religious forms that were not tied to specific places; and they were impressed by the wealth and apparent materialistic power and talents of foreign traders. With tourism and trade increasing in the area, boundaries need to be set on the commercialization so that the country is benefiting from such things. Trade Regulations need to be put in place as well as ideas for financing and the religious issues coming forth with increased tourism and trade.

Questions:

• What is your countries status among the world nations and in what shape is your economy compared to the way your county is viewed?
• How can infrastructure are increased in the less fortunate countries, and how has your country planned to help or already started to help those countries?
• What trade regulations does your country have? What is the status of your tourism industry, if there is any?
• How commercialized is your country and in what way is your country looking to further this?

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Topic 3: Natural Disasters

The nations of SEATO have often thought of natural disaster relief as a pressing issue.
Because of the status that most countries in the bloc face, a natural disaster has much larger consequences and results that last much longer than those effects felt in countries that have disaster relief and prevention programs. With the results of the tsunami still evident and crippling it is evident the need for prevention and protection from the next natural disaster is great.

The Early Warning Conference, hosted by the UN international Strategy for disaster reduction held in Bon Germany included participants from government’s civil society and private sectors. Participants used the forum to discuss the status of early warning systems worldwide, identify gaps in funding or technology and highlight good practices in an effort to stimulate concrete action towards the establishment of a global early warning system for all hazards. The need for such a system was highlighted by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in January 2005, in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami. One of the key lessons of the Indian Ocean tsunami is that early warning saves lives.

Thousands of lives and millions of dollars could have been saved had an adequate early warning system been in place in the region prior to the disaster. The SEATO bloc needs to follow the world leaders lead and put forth ideas of their own about prevention. A major thought brought up at the Early Warning Conference was the idea of information sharing and the partnerships between neighboring countries. While some countries are unable to implement full blown prevention programs due to financial struggles, more advanced countries should form partnerships and programs of information sharing so that both countries can benefit off of the others resources.

In the case of disaster as seen in the recent tsunamis, countries need to have partnerships and institutions of immediate disaster relief so that the initial effects of the disaster can be addressed. With early planning of these programs the effects of a natural disaster can be dealt with immediately rather than having to wait until other countries come to the aid of the suffering nation. Further more with a predetermined plan of action and idea, the effects can be reduced if a natural disaster may come about and the individual countries can deal with their own issues within their nation not just relying on the aid of other countries.

Questions:

• What’s was your countries involvement in the Early Warning conference? Was anything new decided in your country towards early warning systems?
• What relationship and information sharing programs does your country have in neighboring countries or with other SEATO nations?
• Are there any preconceived plans of action in your country if a natural disaster may occur? What can be done to spread these plans with other SEATO nations and perhaps create a network of aid?