Young People Around the World Speak Up On Climate Change

Unique contest challenges students to research, debate and combat climate change

SALEM, OR, October 31, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- High school students around the world are voicing their perspectives on climate change to an international audience. The People Speak Global Debates, a contest held by the United Nations Foundation and the International Education Association, challenges young people to speak up and change the world.

Each fall and spring, youth participants from more than 90 countries hone their leadership skills by participating in The Global Debates. Students begin by researching a topic. This fall the topic is, "When it cannot do both, the United Nations should prioritize poverty reduction over combating climate change." After developing well-reasoned arguments for and against the topic, students organize and hold a public debate, inviting their local leaders to attend.

Student teams further develop their Global Debates project by creating video PSAs, completing service projects and writing essays that complement their debate. Project submissions are published at ThePeopleSpeak.org.

Young people are motivated by this project because it gives them a global audience, because it's fun and because it makes a difference, but the winners receive incredible prizes as well. Top winners receive all-expenses-paid trips to the 2010 IDEA Youth Forum, a three-week cross-cultural debate event happening in The Netherlands. Other prizes include scholarships and significant Youth Forum discounts.

A related essay contest, the IDEA Challenge, asks student teams to submit essays for and against the debate topic. The essays are judged independently, and the grand prize is tournament fees for IDEA's International Tournament of Champions.

"The Global Debates is an incredible, inclusive medium for self expression," says an IDEA staffer. "These students' perspectives are heard around the world, from anywhere in the world. Participation doesn't require travel, and the contest is free. There aren't any boundaries."

To start a Global Debate in your school, visit ThePeopleSpeak.org.

The International Debate Education Association inspires young people to claim a role in the democratic process. Through debate, young people develop the tools of civic involvement: leadership, advocacy and a command of complex and controversial issues. IDEA targets countries with histories of genocide, war or oppression. IDEA works in the former Yugoslavia, Uganda, China and more than 50 other countries around the world.

IDEA's website, idebate.org, provides a treasury of free educational materials to students and teachers around the world. Idebate Press publishes a semi-annual magazine, an academic journal and books on teaching and learning debate. Proceeds from the press support IDEA's work.