BMUN LXIX AL

  Sunni-Shia split: What it is and why it’s important The Sunni-Shia split is an important religious divide that shapes and colors several conflicts in Western Asia, including the crisis in Yemen. Following the death of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims split into two different sects -- the Sunni , who believed Abu Bakr should succeed as the next caliphate, and the Shia , who believed Ali was the rightful successor to lead the Islamic faith. This division has been sustained through to the modern day, fostering animosity and playing into various conflicts. A map from the synopsis has been attached below to give you an idea of how this division plays out within a broader geological context. In the context of the Yemen crisis, the Sunni-Shia divide has been particularly prominent. Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi , the second President of the Republic of Yemen, led a Sunni-majority government, which has since been destabilized by the actions of the Houthi Rebel Group , a Shia Muslim group. This has...

  Hey everyone! In this blog post, we will be taking a dive into Topic A, the Crisis in Yemen. Since the Yemen Crisis is an extremely dynamic and constantly evolving issue, this post will include some updates on the topic since the summer, when the topic synopsis was written. In addition, this post will provide some interesting perspectives and nuance to critical aspects of the topic and also clarify some foundational things about the topic that may be a little confusing, but are essential to have a strong understanding before committee this weekend! The role of some major players in the conflict have gone through major changes. Specifically, after the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January 2021, the United States has taken a stance to end the war in Yemen. Under the Biden Administration, some changes to foreign policy were made, such as a significant increase in the number of refugees accepted into the United States. In addition, the Biden administration has put a halt on ...

  Sonika Vuyyuru Hi everyone! My name is Sonika Vuyyuru and I will be serving as a vice chair of Arab League at BMUN this year. I am a freshman at Berkeley interested in studying Neurobiology and Computer Science. I did MUN in high school and loved it so much, but this is my first time at BMUN! Outside of MUN, you can find me listening to lots of different types of music, playing tennis, and trying to beat my friends in tetris :)) BMUN is going to be an absolute blast this year and I can’t wait to meet you all in committee!

  Lauren Harvey Hello, my name is Lauren Harvey, and I will be serving as a vice chair for Arab League at BMUN. I participated in MUN all throughout high school, and this is my first time chairing a conference with BMUN. I’m currently studying English at Berkeley, and I love reading anything written by the Bronte sisters. In my free time, I like to do yoga, listen to dad music, and write! BMUN was by far one of my favorite conferences as a high schooler, and I hope you can have incredible experiences as well, even if they are virtual. See you in committee!

  Billy Lin My name is Billy Lin and I will be a vice chair for Arab League at BMUN this year. I have recently discovered that Chipotle is offering cauliflower rice! I am studying Computer Science at Cal and enjoy playing the occasional video game, learning a cool fact, and listening to all sorts of music. BMUN has been such a positive influence on my life for the past four years and I will do my best to make BMUN a positive influence for all of you also. See you there :)) 

  Hey Everyone! Welcome to Arab League. My name is Zoe Bloomfield and I will be serving as the head chair of Arab League at BMUN this year. This is my 8th year doing MUN and my first year ever in Arab League! I am currently a Senior at UC Berkeley majoring in Political Science. Outside of school I love to listen to music, hike, and spend time with my dog, Nicky. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me anytime with questions about our committee, BMUN in general, UC Berkeley, or anything else. Can’t wait to see you all on Zoom at conference!