UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

Dear Delegates,

Hey future delegates! My name is Marc Steinberg and I am ecstatic to be directing the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (obviously the best committee!). I am a sophomore at Harvard College and am lucky enough to reside in the beautiful Winthrop House (former house of JFK…..enough said). I am currently concentrating (yes, that oddly enough is our term for majoring) in Economics with a secondary field in English. I was born and raised in Peabody, Massachusetts (about 30 minutes from Harvard) and certainly have the Boston accent to prove it! In addition to Model UN, I am an editor for the Harvard Crimson and a member of the Harvard Investment Association. In my spare time, I love playing intramural sports, lifting weights on a daily basis, and watching the ever-masculine TV shows of One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl.

I look forward to meeting you in February and in the meantime, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Marc Steinberg
Director, UN Commission on Narcotic Development
Harvard National Model United Nations 2010

Topic Area A: The Role of Drugs in Conflicts Involving Child Soldiers

As disheartening and upsetting as it is to witness violent wars, what has made violence even more perturbing in many parts of the world is the increased usage of child soldiers. There is perhaps nothing more disturbing than watching a child practice his skills with an AK-47 or a Machete. Furthermore, what has added to the repugnance associated with child soldiers as of late is the introduction of drugs for coercive purposes. Not only are such children being employed to fight in everyday combat, but they are being forced to do so against their own will. These teenagers are injected with a multitude of narcotic drugs, such as heroine, in order to keep them on the battlefield. Aside from being tools for keeping children in combat, drugs are also used to continue to fuel these civil conflicts that the children are fighting in. Rebels are using the money from selling drugs to continue to buy weapons. The drugs rebels are selling to other nations are not only causing permanent psychological damage to the youth of conflict-ridden countries, they are also perpetuating the battles that are breaking down the infrastructure and physical capital of these developing nations. We must take immediate action to protect the youth of this world from the harms of drugs, especially from those drugs that are fueling conflict.

Topic Area B: International Cocaine Trade

The “cocaine-triangle” involving Columbian drug barons, Israeli money launderers and Jewish Mafiosos has increased its breadth and power exponentially in recent years. With the Israeli mob greatly strengthening its presence in many countries across the globe, Columbian drug lords have been able to employ their close ties with the Jewish mob to greatly increase the amount of drugs transacted all throughout the world. Moreover, the Israeli mobsters have even won over support from some government organizations such as the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency which has in the past even engaged in the smuggling of such illicit drugs. Furthermore, approximately eighty percent of the world’s cocaine is distributed by the Columbian drug trade cartels. As profits continue to increase substantially and cocaine becomes far easier to produce, many major international crime organizations are attempting to tap into this dangerous yet highly lucrative market. Immediate action must be taken to stunt the growth of this drug proliferating cartel as it expands into all areas of the world.