DebatingNews on Twitter brings together news from around the globe

Looking for the most recent debate news all in one place? Look no further! IDEA has launched a new twitter account, called DebatingNews, that pulls together new information from several debate websites. It not only sends updates about IDEA events, but also from other global debate events. It's your one-stop shop for keeping updated on what's happening in the debate world! Check it out now!

Application deadline for IDEA Youth Forum trainers was postponed to December 22nd.

Trainers’ Profile – requirements:
To perform this job successfully, the YF trainer must be able to perform satisfactorily in each of the below mentioned categories:

• relevant experience in debate education (debate coach, debate trainer or debate teacher)
• necessary skills and experience relevant to designing debate curriculum, preparation of educational materials (lesson plans, debate exercises and handouts) and researching materials
• adequate computer skills (comfortable with navigating through www, operating with newsgroups, search engines, chats, blogs, etc)
• reliable access to a computer with good internet connection
• self-disciplined and motivated individuals, who are willing to learn
• fluent in English, and able to conduct content sessions in English for an international student and adult audience
• ability to devote at least 1 hr a week for preparation for the Forum during the period of February – July

Selection Procedure:
All prospective trainers are requested to submit their application form via email, which can be downloaded from the Youth Forum website (www.idebate.org/ideaforum). Trainers that have already applied in previous years and would not like to add any new information are encouraged to use the short application form. If you have any questions please contact Veronika, the Forum Director (vvlckova@idebate.org).

Application forms:
Standard Application Form
Short Application Form (for returning trainers)
The deadline for applications is December 22, 2009!

The Curriculum Committee will be selecting 21 trainers that will be given the opportunity to become IDEA YF 2008 trainer. The trainers will also be selected specifically for the given track at the time of selection. The Committee will be also selecting up to 5 trainers that will be placed on the waiting list. These trainers will be not called to duty unless a selected trainer would fall out or additional trainers would be needed due to unexpected increase in the number of participants.

All candidates will be notified of their status by February 15th, 2009. Please make sure to follow the Youth Forum Website (www.idebate.org/ideaforum) or sign up for the Youth Forum E-newsletter, to be informed about more details and updates on the Forum. To make sure you receive all the relevant information and also if you have additional questions, please contact the Forum Director.

Hope to hear from you soon!
Veronika Vlckova
Forum Director
vvlckova@idebate.org
For more information please visit Global Call for Trainers page.

Large turn-out for the 2009 IDEA-BFSU tournament

This past weekend, on December 11th-13th, IDEA and the Beijing Foreign Studies University held their annual tournament at the university in the heart of China's capital city. The official format of the tournament was a four-team worlds-style parliamentary debate. This tournament featured divisions in both English and Mandarin, in which 150 English teams and 32 Mandarin teams entered. Twenty teams participated in the Moot Court division, which was a new addition to this year's tournament.

Before the tournament began, IDEA international accredited trainers offered training sessions for both judges and debaters. This was not only a great opportunity for participants to prepare for the tournament, but was also an event where qualified adjudicators could obtain IDEA training accreditation. Other great opportunities at the tournament included site-seeing of historic and modern landmarks of Beijing, including the Forbidden Palace, the Great Wall of China, and Tiananmen Square.

For more information on the IDEA-BFSU-Tournament, click here.

And the winners of the Global Debates IDEA Challenge are...

Congratulations to team Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar of Malaysia, winner of the Fall 2009 IDEA Challenge! The team has won fee waivers for the 2010 International Tournament of Champions in Salem, Oregon, USA (or a $1,000 scholarship to attend a tournament in their area) and 500 Global Debates points. And for their exceptional submissions, the following finalists have earned 500 points toward The People Speak Global Debates competition:

Alief Kerr High School, Texas, U.S.
Prometeu-Prim Lyceum, Moldova
Brother Rice High School, Illinois, U.S.
Santee, California, U.S.
North Allegheny Senior High School, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Baba Tonka, Bulgaria

The Fall 2009 Global Debates took place throughout October and November, where students held local debates and organized other activities to earn points. For information about how you might participate in the Spring 2010 People Speak Global Debates, visit thepeoplespeak.org.

Global Youth Panel creates buzz during last week of the Copenhagen Conference

Since December 7th, young debaters from all over the world have gathered on Debatewise.com to discuss the issues being raised at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Such an effort has not gone unnoticed to the world. Thom Yorke of Radiohead commented on Radiohead.com, "Some debating will be done in Copenhagen by those who, whether they admit it or not, hope not to see the full consequences. The youth are the ones who will inherit what happens now. [This] is a site where a 1000 kids from 100 different countries are debating the issues. Some fresh minds with fresh ideas and no baggage would be nice no?"

With pros and cons to each, some of the topics discussed focus on carbon taxes, country representatives, protesters, the Kyoto agreement, and limiting temperature increases. After the conference ends on December 18th, the panel will be divided into their respective countries, and will discuss how the decisions made by our leaders will impact their own lives. The Global Youth Panel is sponsored by Debatewise, IDEA, and the British Council. For more information, click here.

The UYNGO Debate Academy wins "All-Ukrainian Youth NGO 2009" award

At the Ukraine "Youth Rating of the Year 2009" grand awards ceremony on December 2nd held at the Disco Radio Hall Club, the winners were announced among youth leaders from around Ukraine. After a month of voting for over 200 candidates, the results turned out five nominations for the following members and divisions of the Ukrainian Youth Non-Government Organization Debate Academy:

Lesya Orobets (Debate Academy Board of Trustees member)- "The Young People's Deputy 2009"

Anton Shtefan (member of Presidium of Debate Academy's Kharkiv Department)- "The Young Deputy of Country Council 2009"

Rhetoric Club "Maister Slova" (project of Debate Academy's Kyiv Department)- "Local Training Youth Project 2009"

Newsletter "Debaty po-Kyivsky" (project of Debate Academy's Kyiv Department)- "Youth Journal 2009"

And most of all- UYNGO Debate Academy- "All-Ukrainian Youth NGO 2009"

The president of the UYNGO Debate Academy, Olexandra Matviichuk, stated that this award is "the advance that we will have to prove by active civil work. Meanwhile, it is really important that debaters of Ukraine voted for UYNGO Debate Academy. This is our main victory-support and unity. This is the conclusive proof of the development of the debate movement in Ukraine."

Debate returns to Kosovo high schools with help from the Speak Up movement

Recently, the Speak Up movement in Kosovo has been actively working to return Karl Popper debate to high schools of the region. On December 15th, a debate was organized between the American School of Kosovo (affirmative) and the debate team from the Ferizaj municipality (opposition). High school students from both teams debated on the topic of compulsory voting, and many expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to join a debate club. In addition to organizing high school debates, the organization will begin training debate judges and coaches in January 2010, and is also planning a National Debate Tournament set for May 2010.

To promote debate in the region, the Speak Up movement is working together with the Balkan Investigatory Reporting Network (BIRN), the local NGO's Initiative for Progress from the Ferizaj municipality, and Eye of the Vision from the Peja municipality. In addition, the organization has received a grant from the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society to work on the debate program. The Speak Up movement and its partners appreciate the support of IDEA in this process.

~Ramadan Ilazi, Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo

Exchange presenters share social media successes and ideas

At the 4th annual IDEA Exchange, held this weekend in London, young people from more than 20 countries gathered to learn from each other’s successes in the use of social media and new technologies. Young people from Myanmar explained how social media helped them rebuild villages after a cyclone devastated part of their country. Belarusians are creating groundbreaking interactive magazines that give local youth a big voice. Debate experts shared how they hope new online tools will aid discussion.

In May 2008, a cyclone ripped through the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar, killing more than 100,000 people. The survivors of the storm were left homeless. An Exchange presenter from Myanmar quit his job after the storm to visit the delta and begin rebuilding.

A "Budget Hut," built by funds raised through a blog.

In a country where the Internet is heavily censored and bloggers can be jailed for reporting news from Myanmar, he bravely began a blog. He used the blog to tell survivors’ stories, chronicle his volunteers’ rebuilding efforts, and to fundraise. His group collected $50,000, with which he and his volunteers built 200 “Budget Huts.”

Presenter Christina Karchevskaya works for 34mag.net, an innovative, interactive magazine with an underground-style distribution model. The magazine is written for and by the youth of Belarus, and designed to encourage young people to think, then make a choice.

Because many Belarusians don’t have fast Internet connections, 34mag is distributed on compact disc. Each issue is free, and promoted by word of mouth. The magazine’s staff of Flash experts, multilingual writers and web developers load each issue with clever and timely animation, articles, podcasts, slideshows, comics and video. Some issues are available at 34mag.net.

Neill Harvey-Smith, WUDC Chief Adjudicator and judge for the 2009 World Online Debate Championships, has a great idea to help debate teams all over the world gain expert opinions and advice. Smith wants to create an online tool that would allow any team to submit a debate video for adjudication by an expert. After submitting your video, an expert judge would review your video and type comments and suggestions, attaching them to various points in the debate. Next, your team would be able to go through the video and read feedback.

Help support Harvey-Smith’s idea. Simply reply to this News Flash with "I like Harvey-Smith's idea."

Debatewise’s David Crane raved about Google Wave, which he hopes will allow for live debates. The application is still in beta, but is expected to become the new mode of live online social interaction. Crane has implemented Wave for the Global Youth Panel, which was organized to give debaters an opportunity to have their say on what happens at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

Members will debate online about issues as they arise, and other members will vote on the points that have been made. The results will be released to the press as an indication of what young people around the world think of decisions made at the conference.

For more information on other Exchange presentations, visit the Exchange site. Videos will be posted shortly.

The IDEA Exchange, hosted by IDEA-Netherlands in a different country each year, is a form of educational conference focusing on debate, debate and civic education, youth projects and innovative teaching and participation methodologies. IDEA organized its first Exchange in November 2006 in Prague, November 2007 in Kaunas, December 2008 in Amsterdam.

The Exchange takes the Unconference/Barcamp approach, which in essence means there’s no schedule set beforehand. Instead, attendees arrive and write their name and presentation details on a whiteboard indicating the time and the room they’ll be presenting in. The idea is one of letting the conference be formed by everyone who attends rather than by the organizers themselves.

Lord Norton of Louth formally commences IDEA Exchange at opening ceremony

In a momentous occasion in the history of the IDEA Exchange, Lord Norton of Louth graciously hosted the grand opening ceremony of the 2009 Exchange on the evening of December 10th. The ceremony took place at the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster, where participants of this year's event were cordially invited to gather in the prestigious River Room of the palace.

After the ceremony, Lord Norton expressed in his blog how the event made an impression on his daily activities, saying, "This week, I have been dashing from meeting to meeting. I will be doing one or two posts about some of the meetings, not least the one I hosted this evening for Debatewise and the International Debate Education Association (IDEA), drawing students from about twenty countries, primarily new democracies and some non-democratic countries, to encourage debate and dialogue. Some of the students are bloggers, including in countries where free exchange is not encouraged." To learn more about Lord Norton of Louth, click here.

The IDEA Exchange will begin December 12th, and will focus on the theme, "The Web and Social Change." To catch frequent updates on the event, be sure to tune into the Exchange channel on livestream.com or visit the Exchange Twub. For more information on this event, visit the Exchange website.

The People Speak Global Debates nears deadline for fall competition

The clock is ticking for The People Speak Global Debates! The last day to submit debates, as well as all other activity points, is Tuesday December 15th. To submit your team's points and activities, click here.

Remember, the top ten schools (five U.S. and five International) win amazing prizes. The grand prize is a trip to the 2010 IDEA Youth Forum in the Netherlands, and the runner-up teams receive UN Foundation grants of $2,000 each. Not participating yet? Find out more about this event and how your team can take part in the Spring 2010 People Speak Global Debates beginning in March.

Experience the 2009 IDEA Exchange with live video of the event

Couldn't make it to this year's IDEA Exchange? No problem. The whole event will be covered via live broadcast. Simply go to the Exchange website or the Exchange channel on livestream.com to view events at the conference. The broadcast begins with the conference on December 11th! You can also keep up with the events through the Exchange Twub and Facebook.

Hosted by IDEA, Debatewise, and Goldsmiths University, the Exchange will take place December 11th-13th and will focus on the theme, "The Web and Social Change." Participants will have the opportunity to explore a variety of topics related to the use of the Internet and digital technologies in order to engage others in the process of communication, debate and dialogue. To add to this discussion, many participants have submitted presentations, such as "Using Debate and the Internet for Community Organizing," or "Using YouTube for Discussion to Reveal the Civic Position of Youth." For more information on the IDEA Exchange, and to read about other presentations, click here.

Global Youth Panel members begin debating on Copenhagen Conference

Since the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen began on December 7th, 1,000 young debaters from over 130 different countries have come together to form the Global Youth Panel. The panel is utilizing Google's revolutionary new collaboration software, Google Wave, to debate the issues arising from the conference. These panelists are not only speaking to voice their own opinions, but have also pledged to speak for the concerns of their families, friends, and their generation.

Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the IPPC and Nobel Peace Prize winner, expressed his support saying, “I commend the Global Youth Panel for thinking outside the box to provide a platform for the most important stakeholders in climate change; the youth to make their voices heard... I am particularly impressed with the global outreach of the panel and the large number of participants from across 100 nations. This promises to be an effective forum for spreading awareness and serving as a catalyst for energizing our society.”

The panel contains various voices, from those who have survived solely by picking a living out of mountains of rubbish, to those who live in comfortable homes in lofty suburbs. Panelists come from Israel and Palestine, North Korea and South Korea, USA and Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. Nevertheless, these young debaters have left their differences aside to come together to discuss one of the major challenges facing all of us.

Until the the end of the conference on December 18th, panelists will go to GYP section of Debatewise to respond to motions posed by the issues being discussed at the conference. After the conference, the panel will be divided into their respective countries, and will discuss how the decisions made by our leaders will impact their own lives. The Global Youth Panel is sponsored by Debatewise, IDEA, and the British Council. For more information, click here.

Debate association in the Czech Republic recognized for their efforts

The Debate Club Association in the Czech Republic (Asociace debatních klubů, ADK) was recently nominated for the Gypsy Spirit 2009 Award in the category of extracurricular education activities that focus on Roma youth. Since it began in 2006, young Roma debaters have met on a regular basis to prepare and engage in weekend debate tournaments where they discuss issues from their everyday lives in a specially tailored debate format, “Parliamentary 2x2.” Although the association only encompasses five clubs right now, the debaters hope that the media attention from the Gypsy Spirit Awards will help improve the clubs’ publicity and attract more members.

The Gypsy Spirit project focuses on supporting active efforts of all those who contribute to improving the situation pertaining to Roma in the Czech Republic. The awards ceremony was held on December 1, 2009 at the Prague Crossroads at St. Anna’s Church in Prague. It was held this year under the auspices of former Czech Republic president, Václav Havel, and the Euro-commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities, Vladimír Špidla. The ceremony was covered live by the Czech Radio 2 station in Prague, and was also recorded by Czech TV, which is available online viewing here.


Pictured: Debaters prepare for a Parliamentary 2x2 event at one of the weekend tournaments organized by the Debate Club Association.



The Debate Club Association in the Czech Republic is sponsored by the Open Society Institute and the Ministry of Education,Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.

Story submitted by Katechka Hanzelkova, Picture by Vlastimil Waic

IDEA opens position for Southeast Asia Program Coordinator

The following contains updated information regarding the opening for the Southeast Asia program coordinator previously announced in early November.

The International Debate Education Association (IDEA) announces an open call for applicants for the position of Southeast Asia Program Coordinator. The position begins in March 2010. The contract period is for six months with a possibility of renewal.

IDEA develops, organizes, and promotes debate and debate-related activities in communities throughout the world. IDEA's mission is to promote mutual understanding and democracy globally by supporting discussion and active citizenship locally.

The program coordinator for this office will be based in Chiang Mai, Thailand and will be supervised by Robert Trapp in the in the IDEA offices in Salem, Oregon.

Essential Functions
1. Manage a regional debate program.
2. Manage a Youth Action Fund that gives small grants to youth-driven projects.
3. Makes site visits to establish local infrastructures for programs.
4. Coordinates debate workshops.
5. Supervises the development and translation of debate education materials into local languages.
6. Communicates with other IDEA offices and staff.
7. Networks and establishes relationships with local and regional partners.
8. Assists with additional events when needed.

Qualification Standards
1. Must have the legal right to live and work in Thailand.
2. Must speak and write fluently in Thai.
3. Must speak and write fluently in English.
4. Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
5. Debate training experience or a keen interest to learn about debate.
6. Flexibility and willingness to travel on short notice.
7. Excellent communication skills.
8. Self-motivation and efficiency.
9. Willing to be based in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Application Procedures
Interested parties should send a cover letter, resume and contact information for at least three references to Robert Trapp (trapp@willamette.edu), Lin Lu (llu@idebate.org), and Alisa Keetanitinun (akeetanitinun@idebate.org). We will begin considering application on January 1, 2010 and will continue until the position is filled.

IDEA training in Beijing a success; register for the next training by December 5th!

In November, IDEA conducted a moot court training in Beijing for the first time for students at the Chinese University of Political Science and Law. Based on students' feedback, the training was extremely successful. One moot team from the training went on to win the Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition later in the month. For the training, IDEA invited a debate trainer from Korea and a lawyer from the Human Rights Institute at the International Bar Association in London. The participants had a great time and the trainers are still receiving emails with further interest and many thanks.

IDEA will also be holding another moot court training at the IDEA-BFSU tournament in Beijing December 11-13, 2009. Hurry, registration closes December 5th. The tournament will also feature English and Mandarin divisions in a four-team worlds-style parliamentary debate format. In addition to providing training to judges and debaters before the tournament, qualified adjudicators can become accredited trainers through these sessions. The tournament also offers sightseeing of historic and modern sites of Beijing.

For more information, contact tournament host Xi Li (pearlilysweet@gmail.com), or Robert Trapp (trapp@willamette.edu). To register, click here. Come join us for the training or the competition!

IDEA's Debate in the Neighborhood project increases dialogue in communities

This fall, IDEA-Netherlands has organized several debate-centered events in the cities of Zeeland, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. All part of the Debate in the Neighborhood (DIN) project, these activities seek to promote debate and discussion among youth and their communities.

Doutsen Langhout, the head of Dutch projects in the Netherlands, recently organized a series of meetings with the local youth and police force of Crooswijk, a mixed neighborhood in Rotterdam where relations between the two groups are tense. On November 9th, IDEA organized a second meeting, where six policemen and more than twenty youth were present, as well as some city guards and civil servants. The evening began with both sides expressing their problems and offering solutions. The youth felt discriminated and provoked by police. The police thought the youth caused annoyance in the neighborhood and felt provoked and insulted by the youth. In the end, both parties expressed hope of improving their relationship, and agreed that the dialogue was a very valuable experience. Each side better understood the other perspective, and realized possibilities of avoiding future conflicts.

On Monday, December 7th, debaters in Zeeland will take part in a discussion about parenting issues. Scoop, IDEA's partner in the DIN project as well as the 2010 Youth Forum, helped organize this event to give new debaters their first chance to test their skills in a formal debate setting. The debate will be opened by Professor René Diekstra from the Roosevelt Academy, and Ron Lubbersen will then moderate the discussion between the public and debaters.

Learn more about Debate in the Neighborhood, and visit the websites of IDEA-NL or IDEA-Zeeland for more information.

Pictured: DIN in action! The Youth Council in Tholen, Zeeland sharpen their debate skills at a training session on October 31st.

The My Debate Festival in Rotterdam gives voice to local youth

On Saturday November 28th, ten young debaters from Rotterdam, Netherlands will participate in the My Debate Festival in Rotterdam. Trained by Doutsen Langhout of IDEA-Netherlands, they will debate with other youth, police, adults and representatives from schools and local government. The debate themes will focus on topics like security and role of police, free time of youth, bureaucracy and sexuality in today's youth. This event will attract further hype and attention with performances of local youth and famous artists Winne and the Groove Kings. The festival was organized within the activities of the project Your World-Rotterdam Youth Capital 2009.

Submit your pictures to the Youth Forum Photo contest

As a month long contest throughout December, IDEA will be collecting pictures from past IDEA Youth Forums. The winning photos will be announced in the first YF e-newsletter in 2010. They will also be displayed on our websites, in the next Idebate Magazine and will also be used in the promotional materials of IDEA and the Youth Forum. The photos will also be presented in the venues of the upcoming 2010 Youth Forum in Zeeland, Netherlands!

Here are the award categories:
1. Oldest picture- comes from the oldest Youth Forum 2. Greatest number of the Youth Forum pictures- from the highest number of different IDEA Youth Forums
3. Most original picture- most original in thought, composition
4. Most diverse picture- portrays the diversity as the core characteristic of the event
5. Most funny picture- silly and fun in nature

All photos must come from the IDEA Youth Forum (please check the events' history here). Use of Photoshop and other design altering software is not allowed. Also, please make sure you have the right to use and publicize the picture before submitting it.

So send us your photos by December 31st! Submit your photos in the format of jpeg, gif, or tiff, and email them to Veronika, the Youth Forum Director. The committee that will be considering these pictures is made up of Crystal Jeffers (Communication Director of IDEA) and Veronika Vlckova (Forum Director).

Teaching Opportunity for US and Canadian Citizens

IDEA is recruiting for a new debate trainer position in South Korea with the Korea Poly School (KPS). KPS is seeking Canadian or US citizens to teach debate to elementary and/or middle school students for at least one academic year at one of four campuses (Pyeongchon, Ilsan, Mokdong, or Bundang). You can learn more about KPS here.

Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree and be willing to work in Korea for one academic year. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in an international educational environment and will have some experience doing so. Candidates must be ready to leave for Korea in late February of 2010.

While IDEA is assisting KPS in recruiting trainers, as well as providing technical support to them, the instructors will be KPS employees. IDEA will, however, provide pre-departure orientation as well as teaching and curriculum materials.

The Debate Instructor shall perform the following duties:

1. Plan and conduct debate and argumentation classes in levels assigned by Employer;
2. Conduct a small number of classes in subjects outside of debate with provided teaching materials;
3.Assist with and participate in activities related to the instructional programs of Employer, including, but not limited to, departmental meetings, general faculty meetings, and special presentations and events;
4.Assist Employer in organizing debate clubs at KPS schools;
5.Assist Employer in facilitating KPS debate events
6.Assist Employer with out-of-classroom activities related to the regular curriculum of Employer, including, but not limited to, field trips and school-wide assemblies, as well as other extracurricular activities;
7.Assist with the development of teaching materials, supplementary materials, tests, evaluations, and other programs related to English language teaching;
8.Assist or conduct teacher training in debate for new DIs under the direction of Employer;
9.Assist, monitor, and supervise DIs in their teaching methodology and implementation, and classroom conduct under the direction of Employer;
10.Perform other duties as designated by Employer;

Compensation and Benefits:
1.Free furnished single housing (rent is paid for, but utilities and maintenance fees will be the trainers' responsibilities)
2.Free roundtrip airfare.
3.Contract completion bonus (severance pay) after one year.
4.50% of national health insurance paid for by the school
5.50% of national pension premiums paid for by the school (They will also be eligible to petition for their pension refund from the Korean pension board before departing the country)
6.Monthly Salary - 3.1 million Korean Won (roughly $3,000)

Applications should include a current CV, a cover letter, and the contact information of 2 references. Please send applications to Lin Lu, llu@idebate.org. The application deadline for this position is December 31st, 2009. Selection is dependent on applicant's ability to qualify for Korean-issued work visa.

Croatia holds international debate tournament in December

On Friday December 18th, debaters from Croatia, Romania, Moldova, Slovenia, Bosnia, and Montenegro will gather to compete in an international debate tournament, which will be held in Zagreb, Croatia. The tournament has filled its registration with 24 teams, who will debate in Karl Popper format and discuss the motion, "Multiculturalism is a threat for cultural identity."

The tournament is part of the "Have your say! Young Europeans shape their future!" project of the Academy of Central European Schools (ACES), which is also coordinated by the Intercultural Center from Vienna and UNESCO. As part of this project, the debate tournament has received many donations, and much attention from the media and individual institutions.

As the Croatia Debate Society was present at the 2009 IDEA Youth Forum, IDEA has been warmly invited to experience this exciting tournament. If all goes well, the Croatia Debate Society and ACES hope to make this into an annual event.

IDEA Exchange Grand Opening to be held in the House of Lords

The 2009 IDEA Exchange will commence on Thursday, December 10, 2009 with a grand opening ceremony at the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster at six o'clock in the evening. The ceremony will be hosted by the honorable Lord Norton of Louth and will take place in the magnificent River Room of the palace. All participants of the Exchange are cordially invited to attend. Reservations are to be confirmed with Marcin Zaleski (mzaleski@idebate.org) no later than November 27th, in order to receive a personal invitation as clearance entry to the House of Lords.

Hosted by IDEA, Debatewise, and Goldsmiths University, the Exchange will take place December 12th-13th, with the IDEA General Assembly on December 11th. This year's event will focus on the theme, "The Web and Social Change." Participants will have the opportunity to explore a variety of topics related to the use of the Internet and digital technologies in order to engage others in the process of communication, debate and dialogue. For more information on this event, visit the Exchange website.

IDEA-BFSU tournament registration ending soon

The annual IDEA-BFSU tournament is quickly approaching, and so is the registration deadline. Register by December 5th to ensure your spot at this exciting event in Beijing, China. The International Debate Education Association and Beijing Foreign Studies University will host this tournament on December 11-13, 2009, at BFSU in the heart of China's capital city.

The event will feature English and Mandarin divisions in a four-team worlds-style parliamentary debate format, as well as a division in International Moot Court. Training sessions will also be provided for judges and debaters before the tournament, through which qualified adjudicators can become accredited trainers. The tournament also offers sightseeing of historic and modern sites of Beijing.

There are no registration fees. Students may enter in teams or as individuals. Each university is limited to two English team entries, but can add an additional English team for each Mandarin team they enter. For more information, contact tournament host Xi Li (pearlilysweet@gmail.com), or Robert Trapp (trapp@willamette.edu). Click here to register.

The People Speak Global Debates nears deadline to hold debate

The clock is ticking for The People Speak Global Debates! The deadline for teams to complete their public debates is November 30th. The last day to submit those debates, as well as all other activity points, is December 15th. To submit your TPS Global Debates activities, click here.

Remember, the top ten schools (five U.S. and five International) win amazing prizes. The grand prize is a trip to the 2010 IDEA Youth Forum in the Netherlands, and the runner-up teams receive UN Foundation grants of $2,000 each. Not participating yet? Find out more about this event and how your team can take part in the Spring 2010 People Speak Global Debates beginning in March.

National Junior Forensic League Tournament to take place in June

Attention all middle school debate teams! The 2010 National Junior Forensic League tournament will be held June 24th-27th, 2010, in Iowa City, Iowa. Hosted by IDEA in cooperation with the National Forensic League, the NJFL tournament prepares middle school debaters for competition on the national level.

Participants are offered several choices of debate competition styles, such as policy debate, public forum, Lincoln-Douglas, congress legislation, storytelling, or extemporaneous speaking. For more information and details about this event, visit the NJFL website or contact Elizabeth Carson-Garland at ecarson@idebate.org.

Global Youth Panel reaches goal of 1,000 members

The Global Youth Panel has reached its target goal of 1,000 members. The group consists of 500 panelists, and approximately 100 country coordinators with five panelists each. Debatewise, IDEA, and the British Council have organized this panel to give young debaters an opportunity to voice their opinions on the issues being raised at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen December 7-18, 2009.

During the conference, panelists will go to Debatewise to respond to motions posed by the issues being discussed at the conference. After the conference, the panel will be divided into their respective countries, and will discuss how the decisions made at the conference will impact them. So this December, visit Debatewise to read opinions from youth around the world. For more information on the Global Youth Panel, click here.

IDEA program coordinators provide small business training to youth in Burma

Recently, IDEA program coordinators of Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, Lin Lu and Alisa Keetanitinun, traveled to Yangon, Burma to help out with a small business training series for the interfaith youth group of the Shalom Foundation. Their trainings took place November 6th-10th, 2009, and were part of the Shalom Foundation’s ongoing Interfaith Youth Small Business project, which encourages youth from different faith backgrounds to work together to write, propose, and implement small business plans. The IDEA training sessions taught participants presentation and public speaking skills, as well as financial management advice.

Having already visited the project in Burma in September, Lin and Alisa had already identified the challenges that needed to be met in the November trainings. The IDEA sessions had set specific goals for the participants both prior to and during the trainings. Lin led the first training segment which taught participants how to organize and deliver a presentation in a persuasive and compelling manner. Alisa led the second training in which participants were introduced to financial statements, and then taught how to produce their own income statements and use them to make managerial decisions based on efficiency and profitability. Each training segment was spread out over two days, giving participants the opportunity to meet the goals set for them by IDEA trainers.

Former IDEA trainer shares his inspiring story of debate

Thomas McCloskey, a former IDEA trainer, has always known the powerful effect debate can have in society. But when he joined the Peace Corps, he experienced first-hand how debate can make a difference in more ways than one. He shares his account of debate in a classroom of young Ukrainian students.

The trick was to get them to debate about their pets. I had been teaching English in Ochakiv, a small Ukrainian town for over a month, and none of my 5th graders had said anything more to me than their name and to ask me for the bathroom key--in Russian. When I joined the Peace Corps, they told me that I might run in to this type of stone-walling from students who were not used to dealing with foreigners, with their strange accents and intense desire to discuss things not in the text book. Still, playing "Simon Says" hadn't worked, and neither had me bringing in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (which they hated), and I was getting frustrated. As usual, debate saved the day.

Out of a combination of desperation and exhaustion, I asked Nadia, a blond girl with a blank but alert expression in the front row, if she preferred dogs or cats. Here eyes lit up and she smiled. "I have a dog. He is 'Boomer.' He is two years old, and he is better than any cat in the world" It turned out that debating about animals is a universal passion for 10 year olds, and everyone chimed in. With the ice finally broken, I learned that Dima had a cat named Max who he argued was fiercer than any dog he had ever seen, and that Sasha thought that fish were better because they were easy to feed (he gave his fish bits of vereniki before school). Debate was a hit with my students, so I started teaching them parliamentary debate--in English.

One day towards the end of the year, during a heated debate between Dima and Roddick about whether or not Ukraine should join NATO, the Vice-Director opened the door with alarm, thinking the students had revolted. Yuri politely explained, “Fso normana, mbi havarim!" (Everything's fine, we're speaking!). Students who months before were unable to tell me the time in English were having intense discussions about important political issues that affected their lives.

My students were only a generation removed from living in the Soviet Union. Their parents did not have the right to express their opinions in public much less have debates in which they could express their views honestly. I asked another English teacher in my school about debate in the Soviet Union, and even though there were no KGB officers or recording devices in the walls anymore, she was still reluctant to talk about it. For me, this highlighted the importance of debate and discussion clubs in Eastern European schools. Only by encouraging and teaching debate can people move beyond their fear of open expression. If this begins with the debates about dogs and cats, so be it.

Thomas McCloskey, past IDEA trainer

Mark your calendars for the 2010 International Tournament of Champions

The annual International Tournament of Champions is set to take place on May 21-23, 2010 on the campus of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, US. This year's tournament will gather debaters from around the globe for worlds-style competition, as well as friendship-building activities. The first day of the tournament will feature a debate workshop hosted by IDEA and the Willamette University Debate Union, to which all participants are invited.

Registration for the 2010 ITOC will begin in early 2010. For more information, visit the click here or contact Robert Trapp at idea@willamette.edu.

Supporting IDEA never looked so good!

That's right! You can support the International Debate Education Association, and look stylish in the process.

Whenever you purchase IDEA clothing or accessories from the IDEA CafePress online store, you also support IDEA. So, help IDEA achieve its mission, and purchase a cool t-shirt, mug, and more!

Registration for Budva Open 2009 nearing deadline

Hurry! Registration for the Budva Open 2009 ends on November 17th. On November 20-22, 2009, the Logos Center for Creative Communication will be hosting its third annual international debate tournament in Budva, Montenegro. The Budva Open 2009 invites all debaters, coaches and international judges to participate. While guests enjoy their stay in this Mediterranean city, the tournament will also commemorate the Budva Municipality Day celebration.

The tournament will be held in English, and will be debated in Karl Popper and World Schools formats. Both debates will discuss the resolution, "The state should do more on the issue of Roma rights." Participation fees are 30 Euros per person, which include food, accommodation and activities. To register for this event, send team information (names, preferred debate, and arrival time) to logosbudva@gmail.com.

Debate in the Neighborhood update

Last week's issue of the Big IDEA brought you a story about how IDEA's "Debate in the Neighborhood Project" was working to increase dialogue between youth and local police in the Netherlands city of Rotterdam. Here is an update on that event:

On November 9th, local youth in the neighborhood of Crooswijk, Rotterdam met with local police to suggest solutions for the growing tension between them. Doutsen Langhout, the head of Dutch projects in the Netherlands, recently organized a series of meetings with local youth and police force members in Crooswijk to help them resolve issues.

The event attracted a lot of attention, many youths attended, as well as local police and law enforcement officials. Although the discussion was very heated, in the end, both sides clarified their standpoints. The police explained their reasoning behind their actions toward the youth; while on the other hand, the youth expressed how they felt about being labeled and stigmatized. Although no specific action plan was developed, this meeting was a step forward to an understanding and cohabitation between the two groups.

To find out more about "Debate in the Neighborhood," click here, or visit the IDEA-Netherlands website.

Join CAI participant in the Asia-Pacific Climate Change Video Contest

A new competition has arisen in preparation for the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Sponsored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), "My View: The Asia-Pacific Climate Change Video Contest" is promoting awareness of climate change, stimulating debate, and encouraging climate change solutions in the lead-up to Copenhagen. Over $10,000 worth of prizes are being offered in three categories for the best videos about climate change in Asia and Pacific. This contest will be judged by international film critics and award-winning directors and writers.

Like many other past climate change awareness events, Climate Advocacy Institute participants are continuing their service by entering this competition. The institute, hosted by 350.org, Bloomfield College, and IDEA, encouraged participants to stay active in their efforts to fight global climate change. Past CAI participant, Nick Silvestri will be entering his video, "It's Our Future," to the contest. To learn more about this video contest, click here.

Climate Advocacy Institute partners promote the Coal River Mountain Petition

The same organizations who co-hosted the Climate Advocacy Institute, IDEA, 350.org, and Bloomfield College, are once again advocating for climate change awareness by spreading the Coal River Mountain Petition. This petition asks the Obama Administration to intervene at Coal River Mountain, where blasting has begun on this Appalachian mountaintop for coal mining purposes. The Coal River Mountain is iconic, because it represents a situation in which wind energy could be harnessed, but instead is being used to pollute the environment.

The petition was brought to light at Bloomfield College's Harvest Festival, and since then, 350.org and the Green Hearts movement has been helping to spread the word. So, join IDEA's Climate Advocacy Institute partners in supporting a cause that is at the center of the institute's purpose. Visit www.350.org/coal to show your support.

Global Debaters: IDEA Challenge deadline fast approaching

On your way to the Global Debates grand prize, don’t miss out on the IDEA Challenge, a special contest this fall 2009. You could win participation fees for your team to attend the 2010 IDEA International Tournament of Champions at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, U.S., plus 500 points toward your Global Debates! Simply submit 2 essays summarizing the best arguments and evidence you gathered for your public debate. Essay #1 argues in favor of the resolution; Essay #2 argues against. Essays are due November 16th. Find out more here.

Macedonia Open 2009 holds seventh annual international debate tournament

The Macedonia Open is an international debate tournament which takes place annually in Skopje, Macedonia. The seventh annual open will be hosted by the Youth Educational Forum from December 18-20, 2009, during which the organization will be celebrating its ten year jubilee.

The Macedonia Open offers an opportunity for guests to experience the culture and social life of the capital city, Skopje and the rich traditions of Macedonia. Held in English, the tournament will be conducted in Karl Popper debate format. The final debate is traditionally held at the Parliament building in Macedonia, where debaters are joined by high profile ambassadors, Parliament members, and other public officials. This year's resolution is "Intellectual Property Rights should be abolished." Last year, the tournament hosted more than 120 participants, from Macedonia, the surrounding countries, and from across Europe.

All interested debaters and coaches should apply no later than November 20th. To register, email either Petar Dimitrov (petar_dimitrov@mof.org.mk) or Sanja Stefanovik (sanjastefanovik@gmail.com). Participation fees of 25 Euros per person cover food and accommodations in Skopje. Visit the Macedonia Open 2009 Facebook page for more information.

IDEA-Netherlands "Debate in the Neighborhood" program increases dialogue with youth

From September-December 2009, several activities focusing on debate have been planned in the Netherlands. All part of the "Debate in the Neighborhood" program organized by IDEA-Netherlands, these activities take place in the cities of Zeeland, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Recently, the program has worked in the community of Tholen to increase youth knowledge in policy-making. In addition, IDEA has worked to increase dialogue between youth and local police in Rotterdam.

On October 30th, Doutsen Langhout, the head of Dutch projects in the Netherlands, gave a training to the local Youth Council on how to organize public debates for youth. Additionally, the council was given instructions and tools, like games and exercises, on how to develop debate and public speaking skills in students. The Youth Council will use this training to organize a Debate Battle competition for eighth graders and a Debate Festival in March for high school students. In March 2010, the Youth Council will also organize shadow elections for the youth on youth policy.

On November 9th, local youth in the neighborhood of Crooswijk, Rotterdam will meet with local police to suggest solutions for the growing tension between them. Doutsen recently organized a series of meetings with local youth and police force members in Crooswijk to help them resolve issues. Tension has been growing between the two groups for some time now. These youth, particularly a group of 16-25 year olds, are referred to as "Hangiongeren, which has a bad connotation that people associate with loitering and criminal mischief. While the youth do admit to committing some crimes, the police use their authority to fine and incarcerate the youth, so as to keep the neighborhood quiet — even in some cases where they would be overlooked in normal circumstances. Thanks to the "Debate in the Neighborhood" program, these two groups have agreed to adress this situation, in a cooperative debate.

Tournament in Minsk joins debaters from far and wide

On October 24th and 25th, debaters gathered from various regions to participate in the recent tournament held in Minsk, Belarus. Participants came from as near as Minsk, and from as far away as Grodno and Baranovichi, and other cities. A team from Yakutsk, Russia traveled 9,000 kilometers, not only to debate, but to also share some of their cultural traditions. At the tournament's opening ceremony, the team prepared a presentation of some of their national traditions, such as the Yakut dance, cultural songs, and their national instrument, the "Hamus."

The tournament itself discussed problematic issues of modern society, as participants discovered new ways of communicating across cultures. The debates were held in the Minsk Gymnasia #7, and discussed the motion, "Genetically modified foods are in the public interest." The finalists included a team from Minsk and another team from Borisov, Bulgaria. In the end, local participants, Kirill Burko and Irina Fedorova, from Minsk won the final debate. However, the enriching cultural exchanges at the tournament gave all debaters a winning experience.

IDEA Youth Forum opens registration for 2010 trainers, and invites bidders for 2011

This summer, from July 22-August 4th, 2010, IDEA will host 200 young people from over 30 countries at its 16th annual IDEA Youth Forum, this time in the Province of Zeeland. The forum is a team debate event for high-school students which includes three debate competitions, along with a week of debate instruction and social activities!IDEA is looking for 21 trainers, who would be interested in teaching at the forum. Apart from having fun, and gaining hundreds of new friends, being a YF trainer offers the opportunity to develop training skills and employ them in a face-to-face week long debate instruction within an international setting. Download the application, and submit it to the forum director, Veronika (vvlckova@idebate.org) no later than December 15th.

IDEA would also like to invite organizations to co-host the 2011 Youth Forum. Apart from impacting youth from around the world, hosting the forum provides an opportunity to promote communication, debate and youth involvement among a greater number of people in your organization (debate) network, community, and country. This year's Forum is co-organized by the International Debate Education Association (IDEA) and Zeeland's Institute for Social and Cultural Development (Scoop), in cooperation with the municipalities of Middelburg and Vlissingen, the Hogeschool Zeeland and the Roosevelt Academy. For more information, please contact the forum director (vvlckova@idebate.org).

BFSU and IDEA to host international debate tournament next month

The annual IDEA-BFSU tournament is quickly approaching, and so is the registration deadline! Registration ends on December 5th. The tournament will be held on December 11- 13, 2009 at the Beijing Foreign Studies University in the heart of China's capital city. This exciting tournament will feature English and Mandarin divisions in a four-team worlds-style parliamentary debate format, as well as a division of International Moot Court. Training sessions will also be provided for judges and debaters before the tournament, through which qualified adjudicators can become accredited trainers. The tournament also offers site-seeing of historic and modern sites of Beijing.

For more information, contact the tournament host Xi Li (pearlilysweet@gmail.com) or Robert Trapp (trapp@willamette.edu). Registration is free at IDEA's website. Students do not need to register as a team; they may register as individuals and IDEA will help find partners. The tournament will accept 120 teams. Each university is limited to two team entries, but can add additional English team for each Mandarin team they enter.

Registration now open for the International Debate Budva Open 2009

On November 20-22, 2009, the Logos Center for Creative Communication will be hosting its third annual international debate tournament in Budva, Montenegro. The Budva Open 2009 invites all debaters, coaches and international judges to participate. While guests enjoy their stay in this Mediterranean city, the tournament will also be held to help commemorate the Budva Municipality Day celebration.

The tournament will be held in English, and will be debated in Karl Popper and World Schools formats. Both debates will discuss the resolution, "The state should do more on the issue of Roma rights." Participation fees are 30 euros per person, which include food, acommodation and activities. To register for this event, send team information (names, preferred debate, and arrival time) to logosbudva@gmail.com. Hurry! Registration ends on November 17th.

“Road to Copenhagen” campaign deadline

As part of the “Road to Copenhagen” campaign, Clean Energy Nepal (CEN) and Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) are carrying out a “Basecamp to Copenhagen” campaign in which ten youths will trek to Everest Basecamp. This campaign team will carry out awareness to school students and local communities on climate change and its impacts on the Himalayas, in the mountain ecosystems and livelihoods. In addition, this campaign team will collect signatures, make a documentary, and take photographs that relate to climate change issues. The outputs of this trek will be displayed at the COP 15 in Copenhagen this December.

Participants should commit the first week of November to December 12th (Global Day of Action on Climate Change). Those who have a passion for and skills in photography and videography are highly encouraged to apply. Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the campaign’s organizers. However, those who would like to fund themselves, fully or partially, are most welcome.

Please send a letter of interest no later than November 4, 2009 to theprashanta4us@gmail.com or nyca.np@gmail.com. The letter should highlight your campaigning experiences, skills in youth and climate change, your trekking experiences (optional), your age, gender, education, and available commitment time for the involvement in this campaign.

Paper submission deadline for eLearning Africa conference

The fifth International Conference, ICT, for development, education and training will be hosted by eLearning Africa from May 26-28, 2010 in Lusaka, Zambia. It is the continent's largest annual assembly of e-learning and education professionals from Africa and beyond. The deadline for submitting papers is December 14th.

ELearning Africa continues to build and expand a worldwide network for people involved in all aspects of technology-enhanced education and training in Africa, including management and policy-making. The conference will once again be conducted in English and French.

For more information on the conference and details on paper submissions, visit their website at www.elearning-africa.com.

IDEA seeks Southeast Asia Program Coordinator

The International Debate Education Association announces an open call for applicants for the position of Southeast Asia Program Coordinator. The position begins in January 2010. The contract period is for six months with a possibility of renewal.

The Program Coordinator for this office will be based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Program Coordinator is supervised by Robert Trapp in the IDEA offices in Salem, Oregon.


ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Manage a regional debate program.
2. Manage a Youth Action Fund that gives small grants to youth-driven projects.
3. Make site visits to establish local infrastructures for programs.
4. Coordinate debate workshops.
5. Supervise the development and translation of debate education materials into local languages.
6. Communicate with other IDEA offices and staff.
7. Network and establish relationships with local and regional partners.
8. Assist with additional events when needed.

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

1. Must have the legal right to live and work in Thailand.
2. Must speak and write fluently in Thai.
3. Must speak and write fluently in English.
4. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
5. Debate training experience.
6. Flexibility and willingness to travel on short notice.
7. Excellent communication skills.
8. Self-motivation and efficiency.
9. Willing to be based in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Interested parties should send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least 3 references to Robert Trapp at trapp@willamette.edu, Lin Lu at llu@idebate.org, and Alisa Keetanitinun at akeetanitinun@idebate.org. We will begin considering applications on 30 November 2009, and will continue until the position is filled.

Global Youth Panel filling up quickly- reserve your spot today!

With nearly 300 members already signed up, The Global Youth Panel is quickly reaching its goal of 1,000 members. Panelists have joined from over 70 countries, and from every continent except Antarctica. Membership is already closed for those who live in the UK, Bangladesh and Indonesia. However, the panel still needs more participants from other countries! Visit Debatewise to register.

The Global Youth Panel is also seeking country coordinators, who will represent their country and get ten friends to participate in this event. There will an extra benefit for these coordinators as well!

Debatewise, IDEA, and the British Council have organized this panel to give debaters an opportunity to have their say on what happens at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. Members will debate online about issues as they arise, and other members will vote on the points that have been made. The results will be released to the press as an indication of what young people around the world think of decisions made at the conference. For more information, click here.

Debate in the Neighborhood project trains debate mentors

The Debate in the Neighborhood program (DIN), organized by IDEA-Netherlands, is well underway. In the cities of Zeeland, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam, this program seeks to train youth workers, teachers, and volunteers to be debate mentors for students.

In Zeeland, more debate mentors successfully completed a four-day training on October 23rd. DIN now moves into its second phase, where the debate mentors will teach students how to debate and present themselves in the public arena. Approximately 50 students will then be given the responsibility of organizing local debates and festivals around the Province of Zeeland. These events will engage discussions with their peers, parents, teachers, school administrators, politicians, and local government officials on the topic of their choice.

For more information on the Debate in the Neighborhood program, visit the IDEA-NL website or the events page on idebate.org.

Curriculum committee and chief adjudicator selected for Youth Forum 2010

The new members of the curriculum committee for this year’s Youth Forum were recently selected by the Curriculum Director, Professor Dr. Robert Trapp, who is also the director of the Mixed Team Track curriculum and trainers. The chosen candidates will prepare the curriculum for the other tracks at the Youth Forum. The members of the 2010 Youth Forum curriculum committee are Joe Zompetti (International New Debaters Track), Sharon Porter (Coaches and Judges Track), Logan Balavijendran (British Parliamentary Track), and Elizabeth Humphrey (English as Foreign Language Track).

For the second year in a row, the chief adjudicator is Andrej Schulz. He was known at last year’s Youth Forum for his morning announcements and for holding the time paddles at the Grand Finals.

The IDEA Youth Forum is a team debate event, for high-school students, that includes three debate competitions, with a week of debate instruction and many social activities. This year, the forum will be held from July 22nd - August 4th in the Province of Zeeland, Netherlands. To receive updates on the Youth Forum be sure to sign up for the e-newsletters! To learn more about the Youth Forum, check out information, pictures and videos from last year’s event on the YF website.

Fall 2009 publication of Controversia has arrived!

The fall 2009 Controversia, Volume 6 Issue 2, is now available for purchase! Controversia is a refereed, interdisciplinary journal that explores the nexus of communication and politics and seeks to stimulate reflection on the role of dialogue and debate in fostering participatory governance in both emerging and established democracies.

In this issue, topics include the impact of historic speeches, racism in political campaign materials, gender issues, and more. Find this book, more issues of Controversia, and other publications at our online store.

350 Day of Action in Nepal

The Climate Advocacy Institute, held in July by IDEA, Bloomfield College and 350.org, has encouraged its graduates to stay involved in the 350 movement. This past Saturday, October 24th, was the highly-anticipated 350.org Climate Change Day of Action. With over 5,200 events in 181 countries, and 19,000 pictures submitted to 350.org, the Day of Action was considered a huge success!

Buhwan, a past participant in the Climate Advocacy Institute, partnered with the 350 Nepal team to coordinate events across their region, including a march in Kathmandu, a lighting of butter lamps at Swambhu, and a cycle rally. In addition, Buhwan played a significant role in circulating an international petition to a network of organizations and individuals working on the climate change issue. The Nepal petition spoke on behalf of Nepal, one of the ten most vulnerable countries to climate change. It was delivered to the US, China, Japan, India, and EU embassies in Nepal on October 24th. Check out more photos of all the action in Nepal on October 24th.

Click here to read about how other IDEA participants contributed to the 350 Day of Action.

350 Day of Action

IDEA participants take leadership skills beyond debate

This past Saturday, October 24th, was the highly-anticipated 350.org Climate Change Day of Action. With over 5,200 events in 181 countries, and 15,200 pictures submitted to 350.org, the Day of Action was considered a huge success! Participants involved with IDEA also played a significant role in the Day of Action. Students from IDEA’s Bosnia and Herzegovina Youth Leadership Program submitted their own photo to the movement.

Irena Pejic, Belma Sarajlic, Emir Duric, Andrea Tesanovic, Amer Suljendic, Nadja Jahic joined friends in Bosnia and Herzegovina in support of the Day of Action.

The Climate Advocacy Institute, held in July by IDEA, Bloomfield College and 350.org, has encouraged its graduates to stay involved in the 350 movement. Franco in Panama helped raise awareness in local schools and universities by giving presentations. Nadim in Lebanon worked with 350 and IndyAct to involve youth from his region in the Day of Action. Here are some more reports on the involvement of CAI participants in Saturday’s events:

Samer organized a chain of events that took place across Lebanon, through his involvement with Rotaract Clubs in different cities. With his help thirteen clubs, from Beirut to Tripoli Mina, all participated in the Day of Action.

One Rotaract Club that Samer helped, took their 350 photo at the Sea Castle of Saida.

Dani from Kosovo got involved with the Speak Up movement that organized a symbolic event on Saturday, named “Grieving Planet Earth,” in which a globe was placed on the National Theater stairs above the number 350 decorated with flowers. Two national TV news stations reported on the event; and Dani’s own editorial about the event was published the next day in the country’s most popular newspaper, the Koha Ditore.

One TV reporter interviewing a member of Dani's organization "Speak Up"

Bhuwan from Nepal circulated an international petition to a network of organizations and individuals working on the climate change issue. The Nepal petition spoke on behalf of Nepal, one of the ten most vulnerable countries to climate change. It was delivered to the US, China, Japan, India, and EU embassies in Nepal on October 24th.

Vesna and Simona organized an event in Skopje, Macedonia. They invited citizens to put their painted handprints on a 350 banner, which was hung in the capital city’s Skopje square.

Citizen hand-printing Vesna and Simona's 350 banner to be hung in the Skopje square

With the help of IDEA participants, 350.org’s Day of Action sparked international interest to the movement’s mission- to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis, to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet.

IDEA staffer makes the front page with his 350 involvement

Mite, an IDEA staff member from Macedonia, wrote a photo story about the event that Vesna and Simona organized in Skopje. That story was published on the front page of demotix.com. Read Mite's full photo story here.