By: Maggie Li, Student Reporter*

In the GA First Conference on Sunday, Member States divided into several blocks, most of them differing in whether to ban biological experiments. Representative Sophia Bruce of Russia takes a stand for scientific innovation, highlighting the education of research possibilities. They said “We choose to work against biological weapons, but insist that we shouldn’t stop scientific innovation. This would be especially helpful for Member States which are struggling with food and medical innovations. In the same way that understanding how viruses work is the way scientists created vaccines, so too, is this the case with biological research…All in all, even though the line of biological experiments is very thin, that doesn’t mean that we should stop doing research.” In agreement, Representative of Brazil Chloe Westrate said, “As a South American country, economic development is of the utmost importance to us… [prioritizing] peaceful use of biotechnology, specifically with an eye towards sustainable development…used for so much good on biofuels, bioremediation and that sort of thing, which can improve economic development.”    

Even so, there remain differing opinions in GA First, which expect to stop any use of biological weapons. The Representative of Belgium Evan Smezal said, “Although technologies can be used to enhance the livelihoods of humans across the globe, national security is one of the key issues as well as contention in this debate, biological technologies and weapons still jeopardize the world.” Representative of Spain EJ Shannon shares the same perspective of banning biological research said, “We hope for the best resolution of course, but as a state, we wish for the limit of them and hopefully the full elimination of them as our ultimate goal.”

_{The views and opinions expressed in this article were part of a simulation of the United Nations held from 18 to 21 November 2023 and do not reflect the views and opinions of the American Model United Nations Conference, American Model United Nations International, LLC., *Maggie Li, National Chengchi University or the governing bodies of the states mentioned in the article.}