Hi Team, community, members, and fellow colleagues
Hope you all are doing well
We are truly grateful and positively shocked by the resounding success of our NEAR Model United Nations 2022. We called NEARMUN Q1 as we decided to continue performing and executing the project throughout the year. Why? Simple —> Success.
Committees 
Type: General Assembly of the United Nations
Topic: Blockchain technology as a method of strengthening global governance
Modality: On-site
Language: Spanish
Committee: Academic Universitarian
Proposals: Would be available coming soon.
DAO: GA-UN within NEARMUN
Summary: The inability of the international governance system to provide a global
and coordinated response to the current crisis, along with the adoption of ad-hoc
national policies often regarded as either ineffective or excessively restrictive have
led to a progressive erosion of public trust in institutions, both at the national and
international level.
Blockchain technology has the potential to restore trust in governance processes and institutions. Various experiments across several industries (finance, supply chain, corporate governance, etc.) have already demonstrated its ability to record data in a secure, immutable, and distributed manner as well as to automate and certify certain processes with self-executing smart contracts. As such, the technology could help increase confidence between parties without the risks and costs of centralization in terms of control, privacy and security.
As national governments are engaging in “deglobalizing” efforts, blockchain technology could help build a more resilient and trustworthy international governance system through a distributed coordination infrastructure, allowing for a multiplicity of stakeholders (governments, corporations, NGOs,s and civil society organizations) to collaborate in order to solve some of the most pressing global challenges of an increasingly interdependent world.
This would facilitate the emergence of a polycentric governance model, harnessing the potential of blockchain technology in terms of ex-ante execution and ex-post verifiability in order to establish a more voluntary and consensual “global social contract” where every participating member, public or private, would abide by a set of commonly agreed-upon rules.
The author recommends that public and private institutions adopt some of the technological guarantees provided by blockchain technology to increase public confidence and trust. Governments can play a leading role in that regard, using regulation to promote the use of blockchain-based for regulatory compliance, and encourage the adoption of common global standards and shared international blockchain-based infrastructures for public services.
Type: European Union Economic and Financial Affairs Council
Topic: Integration of Multi DAO mechanisms for the management of the Defi Structure in countries with developed economies
Modality: On-site
Language: English
Committee: Academic Universitarian
Proposals: Would be available coming soon.
DAO: EFAC-EU within NEARMUN
Summary: Decentralized autonomous organizations as a new form of online governance are collections of smart contracts deployed on a blockchain platform that intercede groups of people. A growing number of Decentralized Autonomous Organization Platforms, such as AstroDAO, have been introduced in the market to facilitate the development process of such organizations. Selecting the best fitting platform is challenging for the organizations, as a significant number of decision criteria, such as popularity, developer availability, governance issues, and consistent documentation of such platforms, should be considered. Additionally, decision-makers at the organizations are not experts in every domain, so they must continuously acquire volatile knowledge regarding such platforms and keep themselves updated. Accordingly, a decision model is required to analyze the decision criteria using systematic identification and evaluation of potential alternative solutions for a development project
DeFi is a collective term for financial products and services that are accessible to anyone who can use NEAR– anyone with an internet connection. With DeFi, the markets are always open and there are no centralized authorities who can block payments or deny you access to anything. Services that were previously slow and at risk of human error are automatic and safer now that they’re handled by code that anyone can inspect and scrutinize.
It sounds a bit contradictory that one part is decentralized and the other seeks to centralize decentralization, but it really means that within decentralized global finances they can maintain an organized, democratic, and transparent structure, the application, linkage, and execution within Decentralized Autonomous Organizations. They also share the same general characteristics:
- Own possession of the money.
- Control and surveillance where the money goes and how it’s spent.
- Transaction immediacy.
- Personal data protection
- Defi and DAOS are open to anyone.
- Applied markets are always open.
- Built on transparency
European Commission adopted the Defi in the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) proposal. The aim is to improve harmonization and legitimization of how tokens are being regulated generally and the supervision of issuers as well as firms that qualify as CryptoAsset Service Providers (CASPs). MiCA would set clear rules for the crypto assets throughout the European Economic Area (EEA) establishing a common framework by avoiding any potential inconsistencies. MiCA would consider - at the moment - the implementation of a DAO in their own structure
MiCA aims to provide greater legal certainty, support innovation, ensure appropriate levels of consumer and investor protection, promote market integrity and financial stability and thus transform the EU’s current fragmented crypto-asset legislation and regulatory framework into a more uniform approach. MiCA will apply to persons engaged in the issuance of crypto-assets and to CASPs within the EU-27. MiCA itself may be implemented between mid-2021 and early 2022 with the ultimate aim to be fully operational by 2024. So, will definitely they will adapt and integrate the DAOs into their financial structures.
Type: World Trade Organization
Topic: Regularization of Cryptocurrencies as a means of transaction in international trade.
Modality: Online
Language: Spanish
Committee: Academic Preelementary
Proposals: Would be available coming soon.
DAO: WTO within NEARMUN
Here are 5 reasons why cryptocurrencies need to be regulated according to our committee:
1) Prevent market manipulation and protect investors: Market manipulation and price volatility are common in cryptocurrencies. Take, for example, Bitcoin, the world’s oldest and most popular cryptocurrency, which rose to all-time highs at the beginning of 2021, before plummeting and losing a huge amount of its value. So, the lack of authorized information on these digital assets and the technological complexities associated with them makes it imperative to put regulations in place for safeguarding investors.
2) Allow select cryptocurrencies: Thousands of cryptocurrencies exist around the world. Most investors, however, are only familiar with a few of those, such as Bitcoin, Ether, Ripple, and Dogecoin among others. They hardly have any knowledge about the thousands of other virtual assets. So, to protect customers, a regulatory authority clearing cryptocurrency is required, which can disclose all information about the performance of the digital assets, their risks, and potential.
3) Understanding risks associated with technology: Technology is advancing at a breakneck pace. This carries a significant danger, as such changes have the potential to render technology, including blockchain, outdated in the future. Given the rapid rate of technological change, information infrastructure and professional financial advisors skilled in cryptocurrency are required. That way, investors can understand the technological risks of cryptocurrencies and make informed decisions.
4) Online fraud and cyber security risks: Investing in cryptocurrencies comes with another risk — online fraud. Hacking is a major threat worldwide, and cyber-attacks have become common. One cyber-attack could result in losses for investors who have put their savings in cryptocurrencies. Through regulations, the authorities can implement measures to help cryptocurrency investors protect their assets. Also, investors can address concerns or reclaim their investments in case they lose them.
5) Money laundering: Any unregulated system has the ability to fund criminal acts. As a result, a client due diligence process akin to that of a bank is required. This can help in keeping track of investors’ real identities and verifying their locations when they are buying or selling cryptocurrencies. Any infringement of such norms should be met with severe sanctions.
Just a couple of proposals that were held and developed on the committee.
Type: World Intellectual Property Organization
Topic: Intellectual property protection mechanisms through the new NFT tools.
Modality: On-site
Language: Spanish
Committee: Academic Universitarian
Proposals: Would be available coming soon.
DAO: WIPO within NEARMUN
2021 was a monumental year for the NFT market. Despite price volatility, NFTs grew in popularity and moved into the mainstream spectrum. Artists and developers alike are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with NFTs as an art medium. The efforts being made to conceptualize and build the metaverse with NFTs is a foundational element that has gained traction and seems to be the main application for NFTs in the future. In each of these areas a significant amount of money has been exchanged and interest, measured in principal, grew by magnitude levels in 2021.
What does this mean for the future of NFTs?
From a skeptic’s point of view, the long-term and more conventional applications of NFTs are still completely unexplored and their usefulness in the real world has not been proven. NFTs have definitely broken through and gained a foothold in the art market, but whether they can reach and add value to an even larger audience is still unknown, just as the advantages of NFTs over other forms of digital art are still unknown. Too soon to say they’re proven and NFTs are going to completely displace other ways of distributing and monetizing digital art. NFT values remain volatile and prices remain correlated to Ethereum, a relatively risky and unregulated cryptocurrency. On the other hand, there is a lot of room to grow in this industry. Only a small fraction of potential consumers have purchased NFTs, and big companies like Twitter, Taco Bell, and Nike are just beginning to explore the possibilities that NFTs can provide to consumers and their own brands. There is also a growing interest in the metaverse which gives developers and artists a lot of motivation to innovate.
Also, it was discussed the following:
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- As NFTs have not been addressed by legislation or case law in many countries, the relationship between NFTs and IP rights falls to be determined by the fundamental principles of the relevant IP and contract laws in countries that are part of the WIPO. Applying these principles, acquiring ownership of an NFT representing an underlying asset does not necessarily grant the new owner of the NFT IP rights in respect of the asset. The rights obtained by the owner of the NFT depend on the terms of the underlying contract facilitating the transfer of the NFT.
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- This conclusion is premised on the fact that NFTs are conceptually distinct from the underlying asset it represents. As NFTs merely represent a unique copy of the asset, rather than the underlying asset itself, the purchase of an NFT without more does not grant the purchaser ownership of all rights (including IP rights) in the asset. An analogy thus may be drawn with the purchase of a replica of an artwork: such purchase, without more, does not grant the purchaser all intellectual property rights in the original artwork.
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- This position, however, can be varied by contract. As intellectual property rights (i.e., trademarks, patents, and copyright) are treated as a species of personal or movable property, they can be subsequently assigned or transferred to another party 1. Intellectual property can also be licensed to third parties.
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- IP assignment or licensing can be effected either by the smart contracts which govern the transaction of NFTs, or by conventional means like text contracts, website terms of use, or deeds of assignment. An example of such licensing arrangements can be found in the Terms of Use for the popular “CryptoKitties” NFTs, which are created by Dapper Labs as part of a blockchain game that allows players to purchase, collect, breed, and sell virtual cats 2. Under those terms, the intellectual property rights subsisting in any “art, design, and drawings” associated with a “CryptoKitty” are owned by Dapper Labs 3. However, the owner of a “CryptoKitty” NFT is entitled to a “worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free license to use, copy, and display” the underlying “CryptoKitty” art for limited purposes, to be counted as an example.
And much more…
Type: United Nations Development Programme
Topic: Use of blockchain technology as a tool to combat climate change.
Modality: On-site
Language: Spanish
Committee: Academic Preelementary
Proposals: Would be available coming soon.
DAO: UNDP within NEARMUN
“As countries, regions, cities, and businesses work to rapidly implement the Paris Climate Change Agreement, they need to make use of all innovative and cutting-edge technologies available. Blockchain could contribute to greater stakeholder involvement, transparency, and engagement and help bring trust and further innovative solutions in the fight against climate change, leading to enhanced climate actions” main idea said by delegates, stated the following:
- Improved carbon emission trading
- Facilitated clean energy trading
- Enhanced climate finance flows
- Better tracking and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and avoidance of double counting
NEAR MUN held its committees asynchronously in different cultural-academic spaces to respect the fundamental principles of the United Nations Models. So also taking advantage of the opportunity, to be a differentiating effect in its meeting format. 
On this occasion, the UNGA, committee was held at the Los Palos Grandes Library in Chacao with the support of @alcaldiachacao and high-level academic and administrative staff. 
For the record, you can check the following:
- General Assembly - United Nations Committee
- World Trade Organization
- Word Intellectual Property Organization
- United Nations Development Programme
Meetups - Introductory - Courses - Programs
1 - Santa Maria University
2- Audioplace Academy
3 - Audiovisual University
4- Washington Academy
5- Chacao Municipality
6- Romulos Gallegos Entertainment and Cultural Center
7- Library “Palos Grandes”
8- Santo Tomás de Villanueva School
9- Parque Miranda Auditorium
10- Colegio Padilla in Peru, DR and Mexico (with the support and sponsor of @laabogadorosa in Peru)
MEDIA AND MARKETING REPORT
We added two reports (in Spanish due to our agreement with the Advertising company) regarding the content, results, and activities of the social media and our marketing actions:
First Report:
Second Report:
Access to these two reports:
- Accounts Reached: 241 more counts reached.
- Audience Reached by Cities: Caracas-Venezuela (34%), Santiago - Chile (2,5%), Valencia- Venezuela (2,3%) and Maracaibo-Venezuela (2,3%)
- Followers and non-followers: 107 new followers + 134 non-followers. This means the interaction of the people that indeed felt interested in our content but doesn’t finish following us.
- Content Scope: 345 followers interested in our post and publications. 85 followers interested in the content of our stories.
- Main Posts: Check it here
- Impressions: 1.197 views and engagement, more than %24.6
- Main Countries by our Audience Reached: Venezuela (52.1%), Spain (6.9%), USA (5.7.%), and Colombia (3.4%)
- Main Age Rates by our Audience Reached: A mix of people from 25 to 34 (37.7%) to 18-24 (33.7%)
- Main Genders reached: More men than women but still balanced
- Metrics of Twitter: @NearMun
- Mentorship program: We have included part of the mentees of the mentorship program leaded by Luis Aponte:
@ame9986: She will develop a blog and website from scratch to have visibility and management of the digital marketing, content created, registration, e-commerce, etc
@Jonathanfranco99: He will elevate along with @medicenmariale all the proposals that we will upload soon into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela (main organ of Venezuelan International Relations) and all the respective organisms/institutions/organizations.
@MrCrowley: Michael will join us to create new content and proposals blockchain-based into the UK, EU, Africa, and Asia.
RESULTS
- More than 500 Persons/Students/Delegates reached and were involved in the project
- More than 3k persons were reached through social media and digital marketing.
- More than 5 committees run out within the project.
- More than 45-50 proposals were created and originated in the committees as academic solutions.
- More than 25-35 companies in the private sector reached out and were involved in the project.
- More than 10 organizational and public institutions are involved in the project.
- More than 30-35 teachers and masters are involved in the project.
- More than 15 physical places and spots are available to continue working on the project.
- More than 85-95 wallets opened and registered (we will discuss this with the regulatory core members if we have to add it publicly).
- More than 30 people are registered and are part currently of the ecosystem.
- More than 100 certificates were sent to the students and teachers that were part of the 1st NEAR MODEL OF UNITED NATIONS with the support and sponsor of NEAR principally and the rest of the companies, institutions, organizations and more (take a look)
WHAT IS NEXT?
- We want to NEARMUN start asap to become an independent guild.
- We want to run 2 more Models of United Nations (as we know that organizing a Model of United Nations is not often and easy and needs previous organization, that is why we recommend 3 MUNs for the year)
- We will advise any program, DAO, community, ecosystem, and project within NEAR regarding this type of action
- We will create and dictate more workshops, gatherings, bull sessions, and meetups for everyone interested.
- We will add more people to join the project.
- We want to expand our approach of action and scope of to-do activities to other countries (online or onsite)
- We want to be a Reference Institution in the educational area within the blockchain ecosystem and NEAR community.
- We want to open gateways for new members and contributors in order to help them to achieve their goals inside of the projects launched in the NEAR protocol.
- We want to coordinate and become bridges of action between the private and public sectors.
- We want to expand our community within the NEAR ecosystem.
- We want to continue working along with NF, DAOS, Projects and Guild that could help us to be bigger and stronger
Notice:
For now on, and for personal achievements, effective immediately, @Nicolasp2 will be the new CEO and leader of the project and NEARMUN organization, so NEARMUN will be out of Near Venezuela in order to expand his scope of actions, to become independent to the guild and find new horizons, so we will support 100%.
Without anything more to add. Thanks in advance for the support and we will keep you posted in order to give them more news about it @David_NEAR @jlwaugh
Best Regards
Luis Aponte 
Contact
@Nicolasp2
@medicenmariale
Highlighting the importance of academic models and activities with students is one of the values that NEAR must continue to explore, since education in Blockchain technology will make the difference between a trend and the permanence of the following generations. I congratulate you, forward NEAR MUN! 
