Dear Delegates,

I would like to welcome all of you to CESIMS Fall 2025! This conference has been carefully planned to ensure all of you have a great conference. Whether you are a brand new delegate or an experienced one, CESIMS will no doubt offer you a challenging and fun Model UN experience.

This committee is about the Emu War in Australia in 1932, and it begins three days into the military operation (please read further in the background guide for more information on this). This war was very unique for a few reasons. First, when we typically think of wars it is between two human forces, but this war was man vs bird.

Second, the Australian “army” in this case consisted of 3 soldiers. Third, this war was waged by the Australian government and Australian farmers against their own wildlife that is unique to their land. Overall, this war revealed that humankind cannot simply dominate nature through sheer force of will, because nature will fight back.

This committee will be run as a JCC, with one cabinet being made up of Australian government officials and farmers, while the other cabinet will be made up of the emus. For this reason, the character descriptions that are a part of this background guide will serve as your main resource. The emu characters are entirely made up, as in real life they did not have actual names or individually known personalities, so you may extrapolate on your character as much as you wish, as long as you include the persona given to you in the description. The same goes for those who receive non-emu characters, as some of them had to be made up due to limited information about individual characters during the Emu War.

As this is not a General Assembly, you will not be writing working papers. Instead, delegates will be tasked with writing private and public directives in response to issues that arise. These directives should all help advance your crisis arc–your goal is to place your character in the most favorable position by the end of the war. We will have several crisis updates that will keep the committee moving along. Keep in mind, crises typically adhere to a quicker pace than that of general assemblies. Additionally, there is no speakers list in crisis committees. We will start committee with a round-robin that will give each delegate a chance to speak, so please come prepared with an opening statement.

I hope you enjoy diving into the world of the emus during this committee. If you have any questions, or would like to talk about the material, feel free to reach out to me at sdd2142@barnard.edu. Good luck, and may you win the war!

Best,

Haila Desai

P.S. As a general rule, if there is a source attached to your character’s description,

they are not made up and you may do additional research on the character. These

descriptions are most likely shorter than the ones for the made up characters.

Code of Conduct

All delegates will be held to a high standard of behavior and will be expected to treat each other and the topics of debate with respect. No harassment or bullying of any kind will be tolerated. Sensitive discussion of topics is expected to be conducted respectfully and intelligently. The Secretary-General of CESIMS reserves the right to remove a delegate from the conference at any point in time.

Attire

All delegates will be expected to wear Western Business Attire.

Language

The working and official language of the committee shall be English.

Parliamentary Procedure

Points

There are four types of points that a delegate may raise.

Point of Order

A Point of Order may not interrupt a speaker and can be raised when the delegate believes the rules of procedure have been violated. The chair will stop the proceedings of the committee and ask the delegate to provide warranted arguments as to which rules of procedure have been violated.

Point of Personal Privilege

A Point of Personal Privilege may be raised when a delegate’s ability to participate in debate is impaired for any physical or logistical reason (for instance, if the speaker is not audible). This point may interrupt a speech, and the dais will immediately try to resolve the difficulty.

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry

This point may be raised by a delegate who wishes to clarify any rule of procedure with the Chair. It may not interrupt a speaker, and a delegate rising to this point may not make any substantive statements or arguments.

Point of Information

As the name suggests, this point may be raised by a delegate to bring substantive information to the notice. It may not interrupt a speaker and must contain only a statement of some new fact that may have relevance to debate. Arguments and analyses may not be made by delegates rising to this point. A point of information may also be used to ask questions of a speaker on the general speakers list.

Motions

Motions control the flow of debate. A delegate may raise a motion when the chair opens the floor for points or motions. Motions require a vote to pass. Procedural motions, unless mentioned otherwise, require a simple majority to pass.

Motion for Moderated Caucus

This motion begins a moderated caucus and must specify the topic, the time per speaker, and the total time for the proposed caucus.

Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus

This motion moves the committee into unmoderated caucus, during which lobbying and drafting of resolutions may take place. It must specify the duration of the caucus.

Motion to Suspend Debate

This motion suspends debate for a stipulated amount of time.

Motion to Adjourn

This motion brings the committee’s deliberation to an end, and it is only admissible when suggested by the Chair.

Motion to Introduce Documents

A successful motion to introduce essentially puts the document on the floor to be debated by the committee. The sponsor of the document will be asked to read the document and then, if deemed appropriate, the Chair will entertain a moderated caucus on the topic.

Motion to Divide the Question

This motion may be moved by a delegate to split a document into its component clauses for the purpose of voting. This may be done when a delegate feels that there is significant support for some clauses of the document, but not for the complete document.

Motion for a Roll Call Vote

A delegate may move to have the vote conducted in alphabetical order.

Motion for Speakers For and Against

If it would help the proceedings of the committee, a delegate may motion for speakers for and against a document.

Documents

Committee Documents represent the product of the committee’s deliberations and their collective decisions.

Directives

Directives are similar to resolutions in traditional committees, with the notable exception that they do not include preambulatory clauses and are much shorter and more concise. Directives are generally written in response to a specific crisis update, and can be as short as two or three clauses. All direct actions by the committee as a whole require a directive.

Communiqués

Communiqués are formal communications (private by default) directed from the committee to other governments, individuals, or organizations. Committee communiqués pass by simple majority.

Press Release

Press releases express the sentiments of the committee (NOT individuals) on any issue. They require a simple majority to pass.

Amendments

After the first draft of a committee document has been introduced, delegates may move to amend clauses of the draft. If the amendment is supported by all the sponsors of the documents, it passes as a friendly amendment.

Communication During Committee

Communication during committee may take place through handwritten notes:

Notes Between Delegates

Delegates should feel free to write personal notes to their fellow committee members. We ask that these notes pertain to the business of the committee.

Notes to the Dais

Delegates may also write to the Chair with questions regarding procedural issues of the committee, as well as a wide range of personal inquiries. Delegates should feel free to write to the Chair on any issue that would improve the committee experience. This could range from a clarification of procedural issues to substantive matters.

Crisis Notes

Crisis notes are notes written in character to fictional confidants. Backroom staffers will respond to these notes in character. The success of your notes depends on how well the notes are written and researched, and how reasonable the request is.

Australia

Australia is the only country that is also deemed a continent in and of itself. It is a country that is known for its isolation from the rest of the world, its especially dry land, and for only having slight changes in elevation.1 These geographic features have fostered the development of a great wildlife population, including the emus. The wildlife of Australia is generally unique to the country because of its geographic isolation. The Australian government is broken up into two forms: national government and state governments. Each of the state governments has developed its own constitution, and has a reasonable amount of freedom to rule over their designated territory. However, they are still subject to the general oversight of the national government.

Emus

Emus are large flightless birds that are native to Australia and have a typical life expectancy of 5 to 10 years. They are found primarily in open plains, but also in snowfields, forests, and savannah woodlands.5 Overall, they like to reside in less populated areas. Emus are a part of a patriarchal society where the female bird helps create the nest and lays the eggs, but then goes on to breed again whereas the male emu cares for the young.6 Female emus can lay 5-15 eggs, and then the male birds protect the hatchlings and teach them to get food.7 After 18 months, the female hatchlings are ready to reproduce. Their scientific name, dromaius novaehollandia, is derived from the Greek word meaning “racer,” signifying their great speed. They are fast and agile creatures that stand roughly 6 feet tall and have a stride of about 3 feet long. Their powerful legs allow them to run up to 55mph and walk up to 15 miles per day. In fact, they are the only birds that have a calf muscle. Emus are extremely important for the environment, because as they travel across vast distances, they disperse seeds and therefore ensure the continuation of crop growth across Australia. Despite their physical power, their short wings mean they are unable to fly. Additionally, they have great eyesight and hearing abilities, which makes them hard to capture.

The main threats to emus’ existence are habitat loss, fragmentation, vehicle collision, and hunting. The main predators of emus are dingoes and wedge-tailed eagles, however, emu eggs are often eaten by feral dogs, pigs, eagles, foxes, snakes, and goannas. When emus are attacked from above, they run in a zig zag pattern, and when they are attacked on the ground, they hiss, bulk up their feathers, and sometimes kick their predator with their powerful legs. Finally, a major threat to emus are the fences surrounding farms and homes. Emus consistently try to trample through them but sometimes groups of them can get trapped and crushed by the fences.

While emus used to populate Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, and King Island, they have gone extinct in these regions. Emus are often killed for food, but also because their fat can be used for oil, their bones can be structured into knives, and their tendons can be made into strings. Emus are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animal meat, so when they find unattended crops, they typically consume them.

Emus also have great cultural significance in Australia.They symbolize strength, resilience, and a deep connection to the land. Some popular folktales in Australia deem emus as creator spirits guiding the natural world, while others see them as “celestial figures in the Milky Way.” The birds can be seen on the Australian coat of arms, the 50 cent coin, and some sports team logos. This is important in discussing the Emu War, because while emus had become a hindrance to Australian farmers’ ways of life in the 1930s, the history of emus on the continent goes back much further. In fact, after the Emu War, the birds’ received a new social status as being the embodiment of “survival and adaptability” in Australia.

The Emu War

After World War I, the Australian government offered incentives for Australian citizens to move west and develop the land. This led to thousands of so-called “soldier settlers” migrating west. They were then followed by thousands of emus who were seeking out the crops being planted on the new farms. Furthermore, in 1932 there was an extreme drought in Australia that killed many crops and forced the emus west in search of food. For years, emus were deemed a protected species in Australia, however, in 1922 the Australian government relabeled them as vermin due to the damage the birds were causing to essential Australian crops, especially wheat. Due to their size and strength, emus tend to break into farmers’ properties, and eat or trample their crops. They also break the fences surrounding the farms, allowing other animals to infest the property. This is economically harmful and also limits the amount of food farmers have to consume. So, to solve this problem the Australian government sent three soldiers to kill over 20,000 emus in 1932. This mission was supposed to be quick and easy, however, it turned out to be almost impossible. The soldiers and government officials had failed to account for the speed and agility of the emus. For three days, the soldiers killed only 30 birds. They had expected the emus to stay together, but instead the birds scattered. The emus appeared to create strategies to evade the soldiers, even forming what people described as “units” and lookouts for the soldiers. Another problem was the machinery that the soldiers were using. One day, a soldier had tracked down a ton of emus, but their machine guns stopped working and they were unable to kill any. Additionally, government officials expected the birds to be no match for the relatively heavy weaponry the soldiers were using, but when the bullets just grazed the emus, the birds appeared to be unharmed. It is important to know that the soldiers were using Lewis automatic machine guns and had 10,000 rounds of ammunition. Members of the Australian government will be able to decide whether they want to change the type of equipment the soldiers have, given the results after the first three days of fighting. After 45 days of the Emu War, soldiers had killed just about 2,500 emus out of the 20,000 they set out to eliminate.34 Because this number was relatively insignificant, it did not solve the farmers’ problem–emus were still interfering with their crop production. That being said, the mission did not continue. The Emu War revealed how resilient and cunning emus are, leading to a massive swell of support for the birds’ existence in Australia. In 1999, emus were officially placed under protection by the Australian government through an Environmental Law. The emu population in Australia now totals about 600,000 wild emus. Remember, our committee starts after the first three days of the Emu War, so this outcome may be changed in our committee.

This information is only to serve as extra background information to guide your research and solution making.

1. Where does my characters’ allegiance lie?

2. What are the economic impacts of my proposed solution?

3. How will my solution impact the environment?

4. Is the government more responsible for the emus’ lives or the farmers’

   prosperity?

5. Is there a solution beyond killing the emus?

6. Should more soldiers be sent out to kill the emus?

7. What are the farmers’ roles in this war?

8. What does the war look like to the general public?

9. How can my character control the narrative of the war?

10. When this war ends, what do I want my social position to be?

Emu Cabinet:

1. Emperor Featherplume – Supreme Leader of the Flock: As the oldest surviving emu in rural Western Australia, Featherplume is revered for leading migrations for decades. He is wise but ruthless, and carries authority among all emus. His goal is to totally eradicate fences and wheat farms, which he sees as symbols of human oppression. A charismatic, unifying leader, Featherplume commands loyalty—even to the point of suppressing opposition. Given his age, Featherplume is often stuck in his ways, which creates conflict with younger members of the flock.

2. General Beakbreaker – Minister of Defense: Beakbreaker has fought her fair share of conflicts with farmers’ weapons, as shown by the large scar across her face. She is fierce, hot-headed, and thrives on direct confrontation—qualities that shape her war strategy. Her favored method of war is open-field charges. While risky, she finds them exhilarating and has a special talent for remaining safe from bullets. Beakbreaker can be a loose cannon, and while she is a great leader, her physical strength, mental prowess, and ambition threaten other members of the flock who hold power.

3. Comrade Talonclaw – Minister for Agriculture: Talonclaw has a talent for organizing quick, efficient crop raids in Western Australia. He is a practical, hardworking bird who hates humans for believing they are superior beings. He finds ruining their farms and stealing their crops to be just, as humans have always treated emus as second-class citizens. His loyalty is to his flock, and his goal is to ensure every emu has enough wheat and barley to survive—even if that means breaking into humans’ farms. His organization skills allow him to manage resource distribution among flocks, giving him intimate knowledge of each individual bird which will prove useful during the war.

4. High Priest Longstride – Minister for Religion and Tradition: Like humans, emus have their own religions and traditions. Longstride’s job is keeper of ancient emu migration stories. He is mysterious, poetic, and believes in the great beyond. While he witnesses the deaths of many flock members during the war, he sees their physical demise on Earth as the beginning of their lives elsewhere. This perspective makes him one of the most optimistic birds in the flock, which is vital during the trying days of the war. His goal in the conflict, which he frames as a holy struggle, is to preserve sacred roaming lands.

Reminder: This committee starts 3 days into the Emu War. The soldiers have only killed 30 birds, and their goal is 20,000.37 Additionally, these are not the only topics you can or should debate. This section is meant to help you jumpstart your research.

1. Farmers’ Rights vs Emus’ Rights: Depending on what cabinet you are in, your character will either support the farmers’ rights or emus’ rights more. However, it is important to remember that both groups have their rights in Australia, and while the classification of emus changed to vermin in 1922, that does not mean it cannot be changed back. Delegates should stick to their characters’ positions, defending either the right of the farmers to grow their crops unimpeded by the birds or the right of the birds to exist in their natural habitat, but should also be open to compromise. There are various solutions to this problem.

2. Environmental impacts: Delegates should be thinking about the environmental impacts of killing the emus, and the loss of farmers’ crops. It is important to recognize that there is environmental damage occurring on both sides, and delegates should prioritize seeking sustainable solutions.

3. Economic impacts: The loss of farmers’ crops is bad for the economy, but so is a costly war. While delegates in the Emu Cabinet will not have to worry about money, delegates that are playing humans should. Think about the cost of equipment, manpower, rebuilding of fences, replanting of crops, etc. While you may be preoccupied with the emus, many of you will be playing members of the Australian government, meaning you still have a country to run.

4. Government responsibility: Delegates must think about who the government is most responsible for–the emus or the farmers. The emus are a species unique to Australia, and the government has a responsibility to protect its wildlife. On the other hand, the government incentivized farmers to move out west and develop the land, making them also greatly responsible for what is happening on the rural farms. Delegates should come ready to discuss how to navigate these seemingly contradictory responsibilities, and create a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solution.