Student to join Big Apple event

Student to join Big Apple event

9 January 2013

DOWNPATRICK student Patrick Brown is heading for New York in March to join with 5,000 of his contemporaries from across the globe.

Patrick (20), who is studying politics at Sheffield University, is one of just 50 students from the UK chosen to participate in the prestigious Model United Nations conference in Manhattan.

The five-day event is being held in the UN’s iconic headquarters which is one of several buildings which dominates the New York skyline.

Patrick, who stood as an Alliance Party candidate in the 2011 local government elections, is looking forward to participating in the prestigious UN event.

In the past, the conference has attracted a host of top speakers including current US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, current UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and his predecessor, Kofi Annan.

Patrick lives at Bells Hill and is a former student at Shimna College in Newcastle. He is a member of the Model United Nations Society through Sheffield University.

“We meet once a week and get together for casual debate and there are thousands of others just like us across the globe. United Nations conferences can occur over a weekend or a week where a range of issues are debated,” he explained.

“Myself and seven others from Sheffield University are among a group of 50 from the UK selected to go to the UN’s headquarters for the conference in March and it’s something I’m really looking forward to.”

He continued: “You get a lot of valuable skills out of the Model United Nations conference. There is a very strict debating procedure and you have to conform to the rules of the UN.

“All of the speeches are timed, with the conference all about using techniques to convince people to think your way or to do what you want them to do through diplomacy and public speaking. The conference also presents a really good opportunity to network, while the social aspect of the event is also really good.”

Sheffield University has been asked to speak about Nepal during the conference, but Patrick does not yet know what particular aspect he will focus on.

“I am currently researching Nepal’s foreign policy, its internal politics and economic situation in preparation,” he explained. “At other conferences in the past I have spoken on poverty eradication in Africa and nuclearisation in North Korea.

“In New York I will be joined by my peers from across the globe where 5,000 delegates will be representing 100 countries. I have only recently got involved with the Model United Nations and am getting to grips with all the procedural stuff for the conferences. It really is a case of learning on your feet,” he added.

The Alliance Party has congratulated Patrick on being chosen to go to New York.

The party’s Newcastle councillor, Patrick Clarke said he was delighted his running mate at the 2011 elections “was now developing his political skills on the international scene.”

Patrick is hoping to secure sponsorship to offset the costs involved. He has already secured support from the Trackers Nursing Agency and hopes more financial support will be forthcoming. Anyone wishing to provide Patrick with sponsorship can contact him at paddyb1321@yahoo.com.