It's not too late to register for the International Public Policy Forum

Time is running out to participate in this year's International Public Policy Forum (IPPF), the only contest that gives high school students the opportunity to participate in written and oral debates on public policy. Hurry! The registration deadline is October 14th.

Registration is free! To enter, simply submit a 2800 word qualifying essay (affirmative or negative) on this year's topic: "Resolved: The United Nations should substantially increase humanitarian assistance for persons living in poverty."

Prizes include an all-expense-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City (April 16-18, 2010), and more than $30,000 in prize money (including a $10,000 grand prize).

It's a one of-a-kind universal debate competition! The IPPF welcomes debaters from around the world — and from a wide spectrum of debate and forensic events. Every debater is invited to participate in the IPPF.

Register your team today! Click here for more information on the 2009-2010 IPPF.

Debate in the Neighborhood

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 will take place in the cities of Zeeland, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.

In Zeeland, teachers, youth workers, and volunteers are being trained on how to teach debate to students. These skills will be used help students in secondary schools and youth centers participate in local public debates.

A debate masterclass will also be hosted in Zeeland on October 2nd. The class will be held for the winners of a debate festival held in June and for those who participated in the Debate in the Neighborhood programs last year.

In Rotterdam, IDEA-NL is helping organize a debate festival on November 28th at the Youth Centre in the Crooswijk-Kralingen neighborhood. IDEA will help prepare students from the secondary school in Crooswijk-Kralingen in October for the festival. The debates will center around friendship, security, and local government and will add to the campaign, "Your World Activities of Rotterdam, European Youth Capitol 2009." Quintis, a famous Dutch television actor, along with several local artists, will help present the festival.

In the same neighborhood, local police and youth will engage in a debate-style dialogue to address problems between the two groups. IDEA will moderate this debate, and will help both the police and youth train for the event in November.

Also in Rotterdam, Traverse, a project supported by local government and private companies, has started a project that provides youth with training that will help them integrate into society. IDEA-NL has been asked to train two groups, and organize a debate with the government and local employers to discuss what is necessary for integration.

In neighborhood of Hoogvliet, Rotterdam, IDEA will train a group of young leaders who are in charge of organizing public debates for local youth. The Department of Youth and Education in Hoogvliet will sponsor the training and debates.

This October in Amsterdam, teachers, youth workers, and volunteers will be trained to prepare for several public debates throughout the region. A representative from the Youth Advisory Board of the Dutch Broadcasting Corporation will also be present, as the board is sponsoring some of the volunteers.

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

World Online Debate Championship reaches final round

The first annual WODC has finally reached its climax this week. Congratulations to the teams from England and Lithuania, who are advancing to the final round. The tournament began on August 10, 2009 with twenty-five teams from all over the world. Just four teams competed in last week's semi-finals round. Estonia (proposition) and England (opposition) debated over the topic, "The EU should impose a special Europe-wide tax on meat consumption to help save the planet." Lithuania (proposition) and South Korea (opposition) debated whether, "All evidence gathered by intelligence agencies should be admissible in courts of law."

Now, England and Lithuania are to face off during the championship final this week. With Lithuania on the defending side and England on the opposing side, the two teams will debate on their last topic: "We should prize freedom over security and abolish anti-terrorism legislation." The results will be determined by six judges, who include former world and European debate champions.

Hosted by Debatewise.com, in association with IDEA, the competition invites national teams from every corner of the globe to debate against each other about big issues facing the world today. As long as there is an internet connection, there's also an opportunity to connect with different perspectives. "There can be little doubt that in these times of unpopular wars and financial meltdown the need for debate is as strong as it will ever be. The WODC provides a much-needed and valuable platform for such debate," says Neil Harvey-Smith, former head of the World Universities Debating Council.

The feedback from participants has been highly positive. Nikita from Latvia said, "I think that WODC is a great experience. I feel that this tournament has improved my debating skills greatly." A sentiment echoed by USA team captain Kory Pace, "The tournament was intellectually engaging and brought some interesting perspectives."

All in all, the competition has been a great success so far, and the standard of the debates has been extremely high as was expected by organizers. "Countries who are miles apart geographically, culturally, and politically and some of whom may be under represented on the world stage are able to battle it out face to face, or in this case keyboard to keyboard, on the level playing field of the internet," says Debatewise.com founder David Crane.

For more information on the World Online Debate Championship, visit the website or their Facebook page. To register your interest to participate in the World Online Debating Championships 2010, send an email to wodc@debatewise.com.

Good luck to both teams competing in the final round this week! Look for the results in The Big IDEA newsletter, or the WODC website.

The People Speak Global Debates- Fall 2009

Get started now!
The People Speak Global Debates is a climate change dialogue that's taking place in high schools all over the world. You debate, speak for your community by writing letters to local representatives, and improve your community by completing a service project.

These are things you might do anyway, only the Global Debates is a competition with great prizes for the winners. If you win, your team will receive a trip to The Netherlands next summer for the IDEA Youth Forum — an awesome two-week debate event that brings together students from over 30 countries — and other incredible prizes!

It's easy to participate:
1. Register your high school team at www.ThePeopleSpeak.org/register
2. Hold a debate in a public setting during October or November on the topic: "When it cannot do both, the United Nations should prioritize poverty reduction over combating climate change."
3. Earn extra points by creating video PSAs, getting the participation of elected leaders, making a difference in your community, and more!
4. Submit your debate
5. Compete again in Spring 2010!

Special opportunity for new teams
If you haven’t participated in previous Global Debates, we have a prize just for you! After you submit your debate and points activities by November 30th, you’ll be entered to win six iPod Shuffles, enough for your teammates and coach!

Improve the Global Debates! If you haven’t participated before, let us know what we can do to help your team debate and submit points activities. Please tell us your thoughts with this quick survey.

Get ahead of the game
On your way to the Global Debates grand prize, don’t miss out on the IDEA Challenge, a special contest this fall. Challenge yourself by writing two compelling essays; one supporting the Global Debates topic, and one against the topic. Winners receive tournament fees for the 2010 IDEA International Tournament of Champions and 500 Global Debates points!

Additional Resources
To plan your debate and learn more about extra points, download the Fall 2009 toolkit. Take advantage of Debatepedia’s Global Poverty Portal, a comprehensive collection of evidence for and against this fall’s topic. You can also follow the Global Debates on The People Speak Website, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

It's not too late to register for the International Public Policy Forum

Time is running out to participate in this year's International Public Policy Forum (IPPF), the only contest that gives high school students the opportunity to participate in written and oral debates on public policy. Hurry! The registration deadline is October 14th.

Registration is free! To enter, simply submit a 2800 word qualifying essay (affirmative or negative) on this year's topic: "Resolved: The United Nations should substantially increase humanitarian assistance for persons living in poverty." Prizes include an all-expense-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City (April 16-18, 2010), and more than $30,000 in prize money (including a $10,000 grand prize).

It's a one of-a-kind universal debate competition! The IPPF welcomes debaters from around the world — and from a wide spectrum of debate and forensic events. Every debater is invited to participate in the IPPF.

Register your team today! Click here for more information on the 2009-2010 IPPF.

IDEA Exchange opening ceremony to be held at the House of Lords at Westminster Palace

The IDEA Exchange will commence with a grand opening on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster. This opening ceremony and reception will take place in the magnificent River Room of the palace. The exact time of the ceremony and the names of the guest speakers will be announced soon. Anyone participating in the Exchange are invited to this event.

This year's IDEA Exchange is taking place at Goldsmiths University in London on December 12th- 13th. This event is perfect university students and professors, debate activists, youth workers, and educators who work with debate. Hosted by IDEA, Goldsmiths University, and Debatewise, this annual event allows participants to exchange ideas and experiences, and work together in developing and learning about projects.

Reserve your spot today! To apply for this year's IDEA Exchange, please visit the website. For information on the application process or financial aid, contact Marcin Zaleski at mzaleski@idebate.org.

ARDOR launches first Romanian online debate championship

The Romanian Association of Debate Oratory and Rhetoric is proud to announce the YouSpeak Debate Championship, a three-round tournament held on the new online debating environment, YouSpeak. The tournament will be held from October to December, and will focus on three controversial issues in the Romanian society: blood donation, the voting process, and Internet safety. This project is supported by three Romanian NGOs, who all campaign in the areas of the debated topics.

The YouSpeak tournament is open for young Romanians between 15 and 25 years old, regardless of their previous debating experience. The tournament debate kit can be found on the website, which contains the debate format description, judging rules, a demo debate and argumentation theory.

YouSpeak participants will also have an opportunity to participate in the YouthSpeak Camp in December, where they will learn more about how to speak in public, how to support an idea or cause, and how to be persuasive, creative and ethical in speech delivery. The camp will be supported by ARDOR, partner NGOs' trainers, and special guests from the local area. In addition, participants are offered internships at ARDOR and other partner organizations.

YouSpeak is financed through a grant from the Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe.

Climate Advocacy Institute participants spread the message

As the 350 movement gains momentum, CAI participants are taking part in the many events and activities that are helping to achieve the 350.org goal. On September 21st, thousands of people from around the world took part in the Global Wake-Up Call; an alarm to world leaders to show the demand for a climate treaty this December in Cophenhagen. October 24th marks 350.org's Day of Action, an international effort to reach world leaders, in which activists are organizing events in their own communities. Here's how some of the CAI participants have been helping out with these and other events:

Begum, in Budapest, participated in the Wake-Up Call at Mu School (CEU) and also in Godo Square, one of most crowded and well-known places in Budapest. He is also helping plan an event for the October 24th day of action.

Participants gather at Wake-Call event in Budapest

Farah, in Lebanon, helped with a Wake-Up Call event in the Ein El-Mreiseh square, where a Climate Change Countdown Clock is to be erected. They called on Arab Heads of State to engage in the climate negotiations. Activists sounded their cell phones, honked their horns, played musical instruments, and held banners to get attention.

Bhuwan, in Nepal, is helping to organize the global premiere of "The Age of Stupid," a documentary on climate change. In addition, he helped with the South Asian Youth Summit on climate change earlier this month in Nepal.

Will, in Turkey, has been busy planning an October 24th Day of Action event there. He also helped out with the South Asian Youth Summit.

South Asian Youth summit shows support for 350 movement

Sarah, in Egypt, is collecting short film submissions on climate change for a music/film screening on October 24th. She is also participating in the World Wide Views Day on Global Warming in Egypt on September 26th, where citizens can vote on climate change issues and share their opinions with world leaders.

For more information on these events, and how you can participate in the 350 movement, check out the 350.org or the Climate Advocacy Institute website.

Online Youth Network Partners with PBS NewsHour With to bring Youth Perspectives to National & World News Coverage

iEARN-USA announced the first ever collaboration between a major news organization and a global educational network. iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) is the world’s largest online K-12 educational network that daily connects over two million students and 35,000 teachers in 130 countries.

Youth voices are seldom heard on national and international news broadcasts in the US. Through an innovative partnership between a premier news program and a global network of youth and young journalists, those voices will become clearer. iEARN-USA and the PBS NewsHour on PBS have signed an MOU, noting that they share common interests to enhance journalism skills among young people and provide quality information and opinions to the US public in order to enhance global awareness and understanding of issues facing young people around the world.

iEARN, through its organizations, structures and member schools worldwide will invite young people in its network to submit articles on specific topics of news interest identified by the NewsHour. These articles can be used in further story development, interviews and reporting on the NewsHour. Further, students who have been certified as PEARL Reporters through the PEARL World Youth News will be invited to submit stories for possible use by News Hour segments. The PEARL program is a partnership between iEARN-USA and the Daniel Pearl Foundation. (http://pearl.iearn.org)

"Never has there been a more vital need for a free flow of viewpoints voiced by the youth of the world. This exciting partnership will enable young journalists around the country and throughout the world to share perspectives and local stories that otherwise would not be heard in the news media,” said Ed Gragert, Executive Director of iEARN-USA.

“Working with iEARN will enable the NewsHour to solicit quality stories and perspectives on issues we are covering internationally,” noted Quinn Bowman, Assistant Editor for the Online NewsHour.

The program is open to individual students aged 14-19 and students in high school journalism classes who become certified PEARL Reporters. Students participate in a self-directed rigorous online Certification Course, during which they are mentored by journalism students at Columbia and NYU and other top journalism schools. The Certification Course, developed by iEARN-USA in collaboration with the New York Times and Columbia University’s School of Journalism, enables students to explore professional ethics and practices in both print and broadcast journalism. Certified PEARL Reporters then contribute stories, features, videos and photographs to the PEARL World Youth News website. To date, hundreds of students from 22 countries have become certified PEARL Reporters. They now have the possibility of having their perspectives on a major US news program.

About iEARN

iEARN was launched in 1988 as a pilot project between the US and former USSR to demonstrate that students could use emerging new technologies to work together on meaningful educational projects that enhance the quality of life on the planet. It is iEARN’s vision that if students start working together globally from the earliest ages (5-19), they will learn to communicate more effectively through direct online dialogs with peers in other countries and learn how the world’s issues can be solved through collaborative solutions. iEARN has grown to become the world’s largest educational network for project-based learning, with programs in more than 125 countries. iEARN-USA was awarded the 2003 Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education and is a 2004 Tech Museum Laureate winner for “technology benefiting humanity.” Please visit www.iearn.org and www.us.iearn.org. iEARN-USA is based in New York City.

About the PBS NewsHour

For 30 years, millions of Americans and citizens of the world have turned to MacNeil/Lehrer Productions for the solid, reliable reporting that has made the PBS NewsHour one of the most trusted news programs in television. The PBS NewsHour is seen five nights a week on more than 315 PBS stations across the country and is also available online, via public radio in select markets and via podcast. Please visit http://www.pbs.org/newshour/

About the Daniel Pearl Foundation

The Daniel Pearl Foundation was formed in memory of journalist Daniel Pearl to further the ideals that inspired Daniel's life and work. The foundation's mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music, and innovative communications. Visit: http://danielpearl.org

Compete to win a team trip to the 2010 Youth Forum

What are your plans this October and November? Our Global Debates competition challenges you to speak up and change the world. Debate, take action, and compete to win incredible prizes. The winners of the fall and spring Global Debates earn all-expenses-paid trips to the 2010 Youth Forum! Begin by registering. Then download the toolkit, and get started!

This fall’s topic is:
"When it cannot do both, the United Nations should prioritize poverty reduction over combating climate change.”

Prepare for your Global Debate with Debatepedia’s Climate Change and Poverty Portal, a comprehensive collection of evidence for and against this fall’s topic. Check it out here.
Attention new teams! If you haven’t participated in previous Global Debates, we have a prize just for you! After you submit your debate and points activities by November 30th, you’ll be entered to win six iPod Shuffles, enough for your teammates and coach!

Campaign to Stop Dangerous Climate Change Seeks Volunteers

The international grassroots movement 350.org, an Open Society Institute grantee, is running a global campaign focused on stopping dangerous climate change. The goal is to pressure world leaders to negotiate an agreement bringing carbon dioxide levels back to the safe level of 350 parts per million (ppm).

On October 24, thousands of communities around the world will host events linked together by a common visual—the number 350—which will be displayed at every action. Already, 350s have popped up all over the world, but 350.org needs more. They are inviting individuals to take on an important part of this campaign, called Project Mobilize: 350txt.

Project Mobilize

Project Mobilize is a text message (SMS) campaign to support the October 24 day of climate action.

The project seeks volunteers to facilitate two-way conversations via SMS globally. 350.org will send volunteers a t-shirt, an SMS modem, and a small list of domestic supporter mobile numbers, and help pay for the SIM card and SMS credit vouchers over the next few months. In return, Project Mobilize asks the following from node hosts:

• Keep your computer on, have FrontlineSMS open, and be connected to the internet 24 hours/day, 7 days/week (it can be an old computer you leave in the corner of a room or garage)


• Follow the instructions in the Project Mobilize guide carefully to ensure your node is set up correctly. Email 350txt@350.org with any questions.


• Find out which Telco in your country provides the cheapest SMS rates in-country, and purchase a SIM card (350.org can help pay)


• Monitor the credit. Before the credit runs out, you will need to purchase more credit, so the node is always functioning (350.org can help pay.)


• Advertise the SMS number and keywords associated with your node online and at events leading up to October 24.

Become a Host

If you're interested in hosting a 350txt node in your country, please fill out the following questionnaire: http://bit.ly/prjctmobilize.

Never participated in The People Speak Global Debates? Win iPod Shuffles!

Join high school students from around the world this October in The People Speak Global Debates, and your team could win a trip to the 2010 IDEA Youth Forum in the Netherlands! Last year, students from more than 80 countries participated in this international dialogue about climate change.

If your team hasn't participated in previous Global Debates, your team could win six iPod Shuffles. You must participate in order to qualify for this prize, so start planning!

This year’s topic is “When it cannot do both, the United Nations should prioritize poverty reduction over combating climate change.” Find more information on how to register, organize your debate, and plan activities on the website. Stay tuned and look for this fall's toolkit that will be posted early next week!

How to participate:
1. Register your team at www.ThePeopleSpeak.org/register
2. Hold a debate in a public setting during the months of October or November on the topic: "When it cannot do both, the United Nations should prioritize poverty reduction over combating climate change."
3. Earn extra points by creating video PSAs, writing letters to your local representatives, making a difference in your community, and more!
4. Submit your debate
5. Compete again in Spring 2010!

It's easy to get started...Speak up and get involved today!

The People Speak Global Debates is an initiative of the United Nations Foundation and the International Debate Education Association.

Debate public policy for scholarships, and a trip to New York City!

Looking to test your debate skills against the world’s best? The International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) is the only contest that gives high school students the opportunity to participate in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. This contest is open to schools across the world free of charge.

High school teams from all over the globe are invited to participate, with the top eight teams winning an all-expense-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City, April 16-18, 2010! More than $30,000 in prize money is available — including a $10,000 Grand Prize. Register your team today!

It's a one of-a-kind universal debate competition! The IPPF welcomes debaters from around the world — and from a wide spectrum of debate and forensic events. Every debater is invited to participate in the IPPF.

The 2009-10 topic is, “Resolved: The United Nations should substantially increase humanitarian assistance for persons living in poverty.”

To participate, schools must submit a 2,800 word qualifying essay (affirmative or negative) on the topic. The top 32 teams advance. The registration deadline is October 14th. Click here for more information on the 2009-2010 IPPF.

Debate heats up as the WODC moves into the quarter-finals

The second round results are in, and pressure mounts for those teams moving on in the World Online Debate Championships, hosted by IDEA and Debatewise. Out of the 25 teams initially in this tournament, eight teams remain. Congratulations to the winning teams who overtook their opponents in the second round: Mexico, Estonia, Latvia, South Korea, England, Venezuela, South Africa, and Lithuania. The closest debate in this round was between Pakistan and Estonia, tallying a 50-50 vote total on the issue, “Leaders of countries that use extra-territorial rendition should be tried for war crimes.”

The quarter finals began on Thursday September 10th and will last until Sunday, September 13th. The semi-final rounds will be held on September 21st – 22nd, and the final round will be held Monday, September 28th. Here is the line-up for the quarter-finals:

Thursday September 10th
(Proposition) Mexico v Estonia (Opposition)
Friday September 11th
(P) Latvia v South Korea (O)
Saturday September 12th
(P) England v Venezuela (O)
Sunday September 13th
(P) South Africa v Lithuania (O)

This debate championship is taking debate to a new level, utilizing new technology as forms of connecting debaters from around the world to discuss today’s controversial issues. Each team is given 24 hours after their topic is announced to deliver their argument, which provides enough time for participants to perfect their debates- which in turn leads to difficult judging.

For more information on the World Online Debate Championship, visit the website or their Facebook page.

Look out! Here comes the IDEA Exchange 2009!

This year’s Exchange will be held on December 12-13th at Goldsmiths University in London, with IDEA’s General Assembly preceding it on December 11th. This event invites university students and professors, debate activists, youth workers, and educators who work with debate. Hosted by IDEA, Goldsmiths University, and Debatewise, this annual event allows participants to exchange ideas and experiences, and work together in developing and learning about projects.

This Exchange is also counting towards the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (2009), which is raising awareness of the importance of creativity and innovation for personal, social and economic development. Specifically, the Exchange itself is focusing on how new media can promote debate and dialogue, participation and social change. We encourage teachers and educators interested in new media, young promoters of online debates and communication, social entrepreneurs and activists, bloggers, journalists, video makers and website developers to apply.

To explore this topic, participants will gather to share and learn through discussions, demonstrations, and interaction with one another. Participants are encouraged to bring a presentation or workshop that will further the exploration of new media. This may include making individual or team presentations, organizing and participating in a panel discussion, showcasing a lesson, or offering workshop training.

The deadline for presentation/workshop proposals and registration is October 1st. For more information about this event, please visit the website.

WORLD ONLINE DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIP!

SECOND ROUND RESULTS:

Starting on Wednesday the 26th:

(Proposing)USA v South Africa; (Opposing)
South Africa win by Adjudication

(P) England v India (O)
England win by Adjudication

Thu 27th:
(P) Bulgaria v Latvia; (O)
Latvia win by Adjudication

(P) S Korea v Bangladesh (O)
South Korea win by Adjudication

Fri 28th:
(P)Pakistan v Estonia; (O)
Estonia win by Adjudication

(P)Lithuania v Canada (O)
Lithuania win by Adjudication

Sat 29th:
(P) Indonesia v Mexico; (O)
Mexico win by adjudication

(P)Scotland v Venezuela (O)
Venezuela win by adjudication

LINE UP FOR QUARTER FINALS

Thursday 10th September
1. Mexico v Estonia

Friday 11th September
2. Latvia v South Korea

Saturday 12th September
3. England v Venezuela

Sunday 13th September
4. South Africa v Lithuania

The semi final will consist of the winners of 1 v 3 and 2 v 4 - proposition and opposition to be decided by flip of a coin nearer the date

UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR REMAINING MATCHES

Semi Final 1 - Monday 21st Sep

Semi Final 2 - Tuesday 22nd Sep

Final - Monday 28th Sept

For more information please visit the World Online Debating Championship website:

http://www.debatewise.com/wodc-debates

or become a member of our facebook group:

http://tinyurl.com/wodc-fb

For the first time in its history IDEA will host its biggest single event in the Netherlands!

For sixteenth time in row IDEA will host 200 young people from over 30 countries of the world at its annual summer event - the IDEA Youth Forum. The next year’s Forum will be organized in the Province of Zeeland from July 22 to August 4, 2010. This event will be co-organized by 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 visit: http://www.idebate.org/ideaforum/node/106/

Don't forget to register your team for The People Speak Global Debates

Debate climate change and win a trip to the 2010 Youth Forum in the Netherlands, along with other great prizes! Join high school students from around the world this October in The People Speak Global Debates, sponsored by IDEA and the UN Foundation. Last year, students from more than 80 countries participated in this international dialogue about climate change.

This year’s topic is “When it cannot do both, the United Nations should prioritize poverty reduction over combating climate change.” Find toolkits and more helpful information on the website, along with how to register, how to organize the debate, and how to plan more activities! It’s easy to get started!

How to participate:
1. Register your team at www.ThePeopleSpeak.org/register
2. Hold a debate in a public setting between October 1st and 31st, 2009 on the topic: "When it cannot do both, the United Nations should prioritize poverty reduction over combating climate change."
3. Earn extra points by creating video PSAs, writing letters to your local representatives, making a difference in your community, and more!
4. Submit your debate
5. Compete again in Spring 2010!

Raise your voice! Speak up and get involved today!

The People Speak Global Debates is an initiative of the United Nations Foundation and the International Debate Education Association.

Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) Action Week

Application Deadline- September 7, 2009

The FARE network, Football Against Racism in Europe, coordinates action against racism in and around football stadiums across Europe. Every year FARE, in partnership with the Union of European Football Associations, organize an action week where football fans, ethnic minorities and football clubs will stand united against discrimination. This year it will take place from October 15- 27th.

The wide range of activities supported will include the printing of banners, fanzines, leaflets and posters, the production of fan choreographies and banners, as well as the organization of stadium action and community days. There will also be specific anti-discrimination events such as matches, tournaments, and debates.

The emphasis of the FARE Action Week is to gain greater participation of ethnic minorities and migrants, inclusion of women and girls, and action against homophobia in the game. The network also aims to encourage more groups in Southern Europe to participate in the FARE Action Week. For practical ideas and hints, look at the suggestions in the application form.

The activity must:
• Take place between October 15 and 27th.
• Be related to anti-discrimination and football
• Involve migrants, ethnic minorities, or other targeted groups (fan groups, NGOs, asylum seekers, religious minorities).
• Include a partnership and involvement with a grass-root organization (fan groups, NGOs, schools, amateur teams).

In order to apply, you need to:
• Describe briefly the planned activities or events during the FARE Action Week.
• Provide details of the person/organization who will receive the grant in the financial sheet (The financial contribution will not exceed EUR 400 including taxes)
• Support action in as many European countries as possible, even if all activities in a single country may not be supported.

FARE provides small-scale funding for local initiatives during the Euopean-wide Week of Action from fan clubs, ethnic minority and migrant organizations, refugees and asylum seekers, amateur football clubs, anti-discrimination groups, schools and youth teams.

Win this debate and also win $10,000!

Looking to test your debate skills against the world’s best? The International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) is the only contest that gives high school students the opportunity to participate in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. This contest is open to schools across the world free of charge.

High school teams from all over the globe are invited to participate, with the top eight teams winning an all-expense-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City, April 16-18, 2010! More than $30,000 in prize money is available—including a $10,000 Grand Prize. Register your team today!

It's a one of a kind universal debate competition! The IPPF welcomes debaters from around the world – and from a wide spectrum of debate and forensic events. Every debater is invited to participate in the IPPF. The 2009-10 topic is, “Resolved: The United Nations should substantially increase humanitarian assistance for persons living in poverty.”

To participate, schools must submit a 2,800 word qualifying essay (affirmative or negative) on the topic. The top 32 teams advance. The registration deadline is October 14th. Click here for more information on the 2009-2010 IPPF.

World Online Debate Championship rounding second

Since the WODC commenced on August 10th, debaters from all around the world have been deliberating and arguing their points about international topics. With the preliminary round and the first round settled, teams focused their attention last week on their new debate topics in the next round. Only sixteen teams moved on to compete in the second round; and there have been some close debates. The closest that stands is a tie between Scotland and Venezuela, whose topic is “All forms of gambling should be banned.” After the second rounds, qualifying teams will move on to the quarter finals. The finals will then be held until September 21st, when the championship comes to a close.

This debate championship is taking debate to a new level, utilizing new technology as forms of connecting debaters from around the world to discuss today’s controversial issues. Korey Pace, the team captain from the USA compared this tournament to others saying that it “calls not only for persuasiveness but also an ample amount of research,” and that “the information and feedback we have been receiving has simply just been unmatched to any other tournament we have competed in.” Each team is given 24 hours after their topic is announced to deliver their argument, which provides enough time for participants to perfect their debates- which in turn leads to difficult judging.

Congratulations to the following teams who won their debates in the first round: Estonia, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Mexico, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Scotland, Bosnia, Lithuania, Canada, England and South Korea (bye). The winners of the second round will be announced soon, as well as the teams who will be moving onto the quarter finals!

For more information on the World Online Debate Championship, visit the website or their Facebook page.

The countdown is on for IDEA Exchange 2009!

This year’s Exchange will be held on December 12-13th at Goldsmiths University in London, with IDEA’s General Assembly preceding it on December 11th. This event invites university students and professors, debate activists, youth workers, and educators who work with debate. Hosted by IDEA, Goldsmiths University, and Debatewise, this annual event allows participants to exchange ideas and experiences, and work together in developing and learning about projects.

This year, the Exchange is also counting towards the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (2009), which is raising awareness of the importance of creativity and innovation for personal, social and economic development. Specifically, the Exchange itself is focusing on how new media can promote debate and dialogue, participation and social change. We encourage teachers and educators interested in new media, young promoters of online debates and communication, social entrepreneurs and activists, bloggers, journalists, video makers and website developers to apply.

To explore this topic, participants will gather to share and learn through discussions, demonstrations, and interaction with one another. Participants are encouraged to bring a presentation or workshop that will further the exploration of new media. This may include making individual or team presentations, organizing and participating in a panel discussion, showcasing a lesson, or offering workshop training.

The deadline for presentation/workshop proposals and registration is October 1st. For more information about this event, please visit the website.

Get your IDEA Twibbon!

Do you like tweeting on Twitter? Well, now you can show your support for IDEA everytime you tweet, because IDEA just got its very own twibbon! You can go to iDebate's very own page on Twibbon to start representing our organization!

Twibbon is a new feature for Twitter, which lets users promote organizations and causes they support by putting an icon on their profile picture. All you have to do is choose iDebate for your twibbon, and IDEA's icon will overlay your Twitter avatar. For more how-to information, click here.

More good news for the 350 movement!

On August 25th, the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendera Pachauri, endorsed 350 parts per million as the new target number for the level of CO2 in the earth's atmosphere. In an interview he stated, "What is happening and what is likely to happen, convinces me that the world must be really ambitious and very determined at moving toward a 350 target." Read the full article here.

This backing from one of the top UN climate scientists comes as excellent momentum for the 350 movement. Before the chairman's statement, 450 parts per million had been the goal, set by a 2007 report given by the IPCC. This number has since been reduced, due to many factors- such as the Arctic melting, the decay of Greenland's ice sheet, and proof of methane release from permafrost.

This is great news for the international youth climate movement, showing that progress is indeed being made with some of the top scientists and leaders of the world. It comes just in time for the anticipation of October 24th- a "Day of Action" set for events around the globe set to spread the message of 350.

Check out what the Climate Advocacy Institute graduates are doing!

Participants at the Climate Advocacy Institute this past July used their creativity to share their ideas and create projects to spread environmental awareness. Now, these students are branching out into their own communities, using their ingenuity to promote sustainability and green living!

Some Institute alumni are now participating in a global competition called “Imagine,” hosted by GlobalFOCUS. This organization focuses on ways to influence policies and investments toward greener possibilities for the future. The “Imagine” competition is collecting positive visions for a bright sustainable future, where people live rich and fruitful lives without harming the planet. The best visions will be collected and presented to policymakers and stakeholders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. This is an opportunity for participants to take what they learned at the Institute and implement it into global policies that will affect how we all live.

Climate Advocacy Institute graduates are creating original projects that helped spread the message of the 350 movement, which focuses on ways to lower the CO2 level to 350 parts per million. Many students have taken on leadership roles with that movement, and this competition is giving the students the same opportunity.

Good luck to all the participants and thank you for promoting a better future for our planet!

Climate Advocacy Institute participants taking action for the 350 movement!

The Climate Advocacy Institute has equipped its young leaders with the advocacy skills they need to make an impact. Together with the Climate Advocacy Institute partner 350.org, these activists are preparing for a true movement!

This past July, IDEA, Bloomfield College, and 350.org hosted the Climate Advocacy Institute in Turkey. This three-week Institute hosted students from around the globe. This year, it focused on the 350 movement — an international campaign inspiring people everywhere to help lower our atmosphere’s CO2 level to 350 parts per million. And October 24th marks a milestone in the campaign, as the organization has been planning for a Day of Action around the world. Some students from the Institute are not only becoming active in the campaign, but they're also becoming spokespersons for the movement. They're taking action in their own communities on October 24th.

In Panama, Franco Fong is helping raise awareness about the campaign by giving presentations at local schools and universities. He’s also helping plan a group hike at the Metropolitan Natural Park at the end of September. Nadim Haidar, in Lebanon, is organizing an event that includes “a large amount of people lining up on the sea shore, carrying a 350 banner, possibly followed by a short march.” He’s working not only with 350, but also with IndyAct, to get the youth from his region involved on the Day of Action. Vesna Velevska and Simona Jandrevska from Macedonia are going to “group human 350 on the city square,” and “form 350 from canoes on one of Skopje artificial lakes.” They’re working in collaboration with a local organization, the Youth Educational Forum, to host the event.

Students from Bloomfield College are also getting involved by forming the "Green Hearts Environmental Movement". This new organization is hosting events for 350.org, and is raising awareness by becoming official spokespersons for New Jersey. They're planning a Day of Action event called "On the Green at Bloomfield College", and they're spreading the word at other events such as Open Mic Night, various fundraisers, and Bloomfield's Harvest Fest in October.

Find out more about the movement and what you can do to spread the message in your community at 350.org. And to simply find out how you can take part in the 350 movement, check out this guide on how to live greener. You can also watch the new Discovery channel — Planet Green!

The eagerly anticipated Pan-African Universities Debating Championship is back for its second season!

The (PAUDC) Organizing Committee is once again very proud to organize the second annual Pan- African Universities Debating Championships to be held at the University of Botswana main campus in Gaborone from December 12th to 18th, 2009. With more than 15 countries representing the continent of Africa, the competition will offer diversity of thought while building solidarity between near neighbors and distant friends.

Sponsored by the Youth Initiative of the Open Society Institute, the tournament will feature six rounds of debating, including a grand finale. Speaker and coach training workshops will be offered as well as adjucation tests. Accommodations include seven-day lodging, meals, and events. Events include the Opening and Break night parties, Cultural Expo night, the Championship dinner, and a visit to the Mokolodi nature reserve to experience Africa's Big Five!

Early registration takes place from August 15th to October 15th, which is set at approximately $90/person. Late registration lasts from October 20th until November 20th at $110/person. To ensure geographic diversity, countries have been allocated registration slots of four teams per university, and each African country may only enter up to seven universities. However, there is no limit for observers!

For more information, visit the website, or email debatemasters@yahoo.com.

Koboko District Debate Championship initiates debate into the region

Koboko witnessed the first ever District Debate Championship, organized by Koboko Youth Development as part of the Youth Empowerment through Debate project. The five-day event proved to be the climax of the debate project, as it attracted over 60 debaters and 15 debate patrons from 12 secondary schools in Koboko and the Mvara SS from the Arua District.

The main motion of the championship was “This house should abolish tobacco growing in the Koboko District.” Since the topic was familiar as a local issue, the students were able to gather facts and evidence for the debate rounds. The Koboko St. Charles Lwanga College took first at the championship for the ordinary level; and Day Star SS won at the advanced level. Each team took home medals and trophies for their outstanding performances.

All of the participants’ levels of debate were impressive, as most students only had one month of debate training from their schools. Dedication from the debate patrons and trainers from the Youth Debate League Uganda, as well as the enthusiasm from students, helped make this championship a success.

The honorable Ambassador James Baba, the minister of the Vice President’s office, was the guest of honor at the closing of the championship. He emphasized the importance of debate in shaping the lives of youth, and he was so impressed by the debate that he made a generous contribution towards the continuation of the debate initiative. Other guests included the District Chairman, the Assistant District Education Officer, the District Female Youth Councilor, and others.

The success of this event marks a new horizon for debate in this region!

WODC update on Day three

August 12 — Wednesday marked the third day of the World Online Debate Championships, a partnership between IDEA and Debatewise, which has teams from around the world debating from their homes.

Congratulations to USA’s STJ — New Kids on the Opp — who won their preliminary round in what was the toughest and strongest field of the three preliminary matches. They managed to both win their debate and get selected over their other three rivals as the best team out of two debates.

Their victory got a positive reaction from Korey Pace the team captain: "This tournament has already been a great learning experience for us because the format calls not only for persuasiveness but also an ample amount of research to back it up. We are looking forward to competing as long as we can in this tournament as the information and feedback we have been receiving has simply just been unmatched to any other tournament we have competed in."

Our other preliminary debate winners in China are, in their own words, "excited" to be competing in the WODC alongside Frances Chou, who is more experienced, and the team captain. They're a bit nervous to be competing against Scotland as, "I'm guessing they are somewhat experienced and we might be out-manned if they have a bigger team than we do. However, we will do our best and look forward to the challenge."

Gear up for Global Debates!

Ready to debate climate change and enter to win great prizes? Join high school students around the world this October in the UN Foundation and IDEA Global Debates! Last year, students in more than 80 countries did, and the winning 16 high schools attended the second annual Youth Leadership Summit in New York City.

Take the first step by registering your team, and receive the latest news that’ll prepare you for your Global Debates.

How to participate:
1. Register your team at www.ThePeopleSpeak.org/register
2. Hold a debate in a public setting between October 1st and 31st, 2009
3. Earn extra points by creating blogs, video PSAs, websites, photo essays, and more
4. Submit your debate
5. Compete again in Spring 2010!

Raise your voice! Speak up and get involved today! The People Speak Global Debates is an initiative of the United Nations Foundation and the International Debate Education Association.

Youth Empowerment through Debate launches first District Debate Championship in Koboko!

Koboko Youth in Development (KOYID) is organizing the first ever District Debate Championship. This event will be the climax of the Youth Empowerment through Debate project funded by OSI and will take place on August 14-18, at St. Charles Lwanga College in Uganda. The debate will include approximately 100 participants, comprising of students and debate patrons from 18 secondary schools in the Koboko District, selected members of KOYID, and trainers from the Youth Debate League Uganda team, and others.

This championship marks another milestone in the region, following the training of debate trainers in Koboko in June 2009. This event will also serve as a follow-up activity to get nearby schools involved in the debate scene. May the best debater win!

Debate opens your mind!

Shamir Cervantes lives in Salem Oregon, though he is from Mexico, where he visits every summer. He started debating this past April during IDEA’s Youth Leadership Project, hosted at Willamette Academy, Shamir’s high school.

iDebate: You’ve just entered the debate world. What have been your impressions?

Shamir: I've been surprised by debate; it opens your mind a lot.

iDebate: And what about at the Youth Forum in particular?

Shamir: In the USA, there's this whole clash of cultures, but here it's cool because everybody clashes in debates, but not as friends. It's a really great chance to get to know people from all of these different places, without the tension that we have in the US.

iDebate: What did you think of the themes of climate change and juvenile justice?

Shamir: "I liked the environmental topics. It was easy to find evidence, but hard to debate about them, because the issues were really complicated. This one [A just society prioritizes rehabilitation over retribution in its juvenile justice system] is reversed. Now it's about constructing a case."

iDebate: Is there anything you would like to add?

Shamir: "I think it's cool that I'm the first ever Mexican citizen to participate in the youth forum. As Robert Trapp said, with me here, we complete North America."

I want to make a debate club

For Milos Dimitrijevic, this year’s Youth Forum was a home event. But he wasn’t waiting his whole life for the Youth Forum to come to Bosnia. In fact, he had only been debating for four days beforehand.

iDebate: How long have you been debating?

Milos: I've been debating competitively 4 days in April and here [at the Youth Forum]."

iDebate: How did you start?

Milos: I traveled to Salem, Oregon, for IDEA’s Youth Leadership Project. The project was about developing ideas for improving the community. I want to make a debate club, with help from IDEA, my school, sponsors, and the American embassy in Sarajevo.

iDebate: What has been your favorite part of the Forum?

Milos: I liked the Finals of the KPDC in the parliament and the free day in Sarajevo. In Sarajevo it was really easy and nice to show people around.

iDebate: Do you have anything to add?

Milos: All of my other debates were better than the ones that were filmed!

Door to better research

Frank Hardee teaches at Cranleigh, a boarding school in Surrey, England. Frank convinced his school to allow him to fulfill his coaching duties with academic competition. And so he has become the debate coach of Sam Barrett and Zeno Agnew-Davies, bringing them to their first Youth Forum.

iDebate: How long have you been debating?
Sam: I'd done one debate in my life before coming here.
Zeno: Two years
Frank: I've been coaching for 2 years

iDebate: What do you think of the Mixed Teams Track motion [A just society prioritizes rehabilitation over retribution in its juvenile justice system]?
Sam: I think it's brilliant. It's really interesting to learn about. I've learned loads.

iDebate: What's been your biggest surprise coming to the Forum?
Frank: I'm learning better how to coach for a prepared motion. We were a little under-prepared for KPDC.
Sam: To say the least.
Zeno: We had no idea what we were doing with the preparation.
Frank: Next year we'd think about things like definitions and criteria more clearly, and then that opens the door to better research.

Youth Leadership Summit brings young climate change leaders together in New York

The United Nations Foundation, in partnership with IDEA, held the second annual Youth Leadership Summit from July 16th to 18th in New York city. The UN Youth Leadership Summit is the culmination of the year-long Global Debates. Young people from all over the world hold debates on the same topic and then complete other projects, such as creating climate change websites, press releases, and service projects, to earn points. The top 6 foreign schools and top 10 U.S. schools won trips to New York City for three full days of knowledge exchange, skill-building, and community action training and service.

This year’s Youth Leadership Summit brought together high school students and teachers from Michigan, Texas, California, Mississippi, Utah, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Moldova, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Korea, and Malaysia.

On the first day of the Summit, students and teachers convened together in the UN’s Trusteeship Council Room, where they were addressed by Gillian Sorensen and Janos Pazstor. Gillian Sorensen, Senior Advisor for the United Nations Foundation, gave the welcome address and discussed the structure of the United Nations. After a great question and answer session, Director of the Secretary-General's Climate Change Support Team Janos Pazstor talked about the United Nations' actions in combating climate change. Following the lectures, students gathered together to display their service projects and conduct a networking session with each other as well as United Nations officials. The day ended with group tours of the United Nations building.

On July 17th, students and teachers got up bright and early for separate action-based workshops. Students headed to the Ford Foundation where they met with representatives from 350.org, who conducted large and small group workshops on grassroots activism, campaigning strategies and online outreach. Meanwhile, teachers gathered at UNICEF for a workshop with United Nations Association representatives to discuss ways to bring global issues to the classroom.

Youth leaders work to improve Highbridge Park during the 2009 Youth Leadership Summit.

On the final day of the Youth Leadership Summit, participants went to Highbridge Park and mulched, weeded and painted for a few hours, while learning about the history and importance of urban park spaces. Later that night, everyone enjoyed a harbor cruise and was recognized during the awards ceremony. The 2009 Youth Leadership was a terrific success! The UN Foundation and IDEA are both looking forward to providing another beneficial experience to students and teachers from across the globe in 2010!
To register for the fall 2009 and spring 2010 Global Debates, visit thepeoplespeak.org.

Youth Forum 2009: A first-time perspective

Participants of the Youth Leadership Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina enjoy breakfast with students from Oregon, US

Jahorina Mountain, Bosnia and Herzegovina -- It's difficult to know what to expect from the Youth Forum when you a) know there isn't a gathering quite like it; b) are new to debate; and c) don't meet kids from around the world every day.

It helped that I accompanied the enthusiastic team from Willamette Academy, which is a college access program at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, US (also home to IDEA-US). These bright students were well aware that an incredible experience lay ahead of them as we arrived at the airport for our first leg of the journey.

Andrea Alaniz said "I'm so excited!" once an hour. Her teammates Devon Cardoza and Shamir Cervantes insisted they were calm and collected, though Devon blogged from every airport hotspot along the way. From the San Francisco airport: “I would say that I can't believe this happening, but I can, seeing as I have made it this far.”All three kids marveled at the size of the plane we would take from San Francisco to Munich. It would be Devon's first time on a plane.

As soon as we arrived at the Hotel Bistrica on Jahorina Mountain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Andrea befriended everyone and Shamir and Devon found the pool table. Our three flights and 32 hours of travel hadn't slowed them down.

On the following day, bright and early, the team prepared for their tournament while I learned to judge the Karl Popper format, an excellent format for a beginner like myself; applying the basic rules and common sense allows even a novice to judge effectively. But shadow judging over the next few days proved that it is another thing to explain your decision and provide helpful feedback, a difficulty Bosnian teacher and debate newbie Vanja Kuruzovic seconded.

The Forum is a small world in itself. Vanja was part of the month-long 2009 IDEA Youth Leadership and Professional Development Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina (learn more), which brought 18 young leaders and three teachers to Oregon, US, to learn about debate, active citizenship and American democracy. 10 of the 18 students also joined Vanja here at the Youth Forum. In fact, student Zvjezdana Markovic won the Mixed Team Tournament along with her teammates, whom she'd just met (congratulations!). Andrea, Devon and Shamir had met the three teachers and 18 students during their visit to Oregon, and in Bosnia they picked up where they left off, gathering for meals and breaks.

The British delegation encouraged visitors to try the "love it or hate it" Marmite. I didn't love it.

I spent my last night of the Youth Forum at the Cultural Expo. All participants were asked to bring interesting items to share at their national table. Many brought food. To name a few, the brave sampled Kazakhstani horse meat, Twinkies from the US, Mexican spicy chicken-shaped candies, and British Marmite (a pungent, condensed vegetable spread).

The evening evolved into a dance party, the music shifting genres from Middle Eastern to American country. I was moved by the mingling of 30 distinctly diverse cultures before my eyes.

My final event at the Youth Forum was the Karl Popper Debate Championship. All 300 of us students, coaches and trainers climbed into buses for the trip from Jahorina Mountain to the parliament building in Sarajevo. IDEA's Forum partner this year was the Center for Cultivating Dialogue, which has a large presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina with its own televised debate competitions and news broadcasts. The televised championship began with a speech by the president of Bosnia and Herzegovina, random dancing, and impressive fanfare.

Team USA Unicorns, Karl Popper Debate champions (from left) coach Jesse Towsen, Cara Eckholm, Isable Patkowski, and Toader Mateoc

What an incredible championship debate! Both teams were excellent, though the winner was clear. USA team "Unicorns" had team Korea running in circles in cross. Watch video here. It couldn't have been a better example of the mechanics of the format.

I left the Youth Forum reluctantly, knowing I would miss a week and a half of workshops, tournaments and festivals, which would continue to bring participants closer together by way of varying — and surprisingly similar — perspectives and experiences.

The IDEA Youth Forum is a two-week summer event aimed at bringing 200 high school students and their teachers together to attend debate training sessions and to engage in discussions on current issues. The 2010 Forum will happen in the Netherlands. To find out more, visit the site.
Crystal Jeffers, Communication Director, IDEA at Willamette University-US

Training of Trainers in Macedonia

Veronika Vlckova and Matej Kurian will lead the Training of Trainers in Macedonia from August 14-17, 2009. The individuals identified to play a key role in training for the Youth Education Forum, our Macedonian member NGO, will receive additional workshops in training and debate instruction. At the Summer Camp that follows the training, the trainers will then design and facilitate workshops in which to practice their newly acquired skills. The best of these individuals will be awarded national trainer accreditation.

Youth Forum closing ceremony announces the big winners!

The Youth Forum closing ceremony took place on August 4, 2009. Those awarded at the final ceremony were not only those who won debate tournaments, but individuals who showed spirit and enthusiasm were also recognized. Here are the results from the 2009 Youth Forum:

Coach Spirit Award: Enas Al-Said (Jordan)

Special Recognition Award: Frank Hardee (United Kingdom)
For enthusiasm and contributions to the Coaches and Judges Track

Special Recognition Award: Adam Chrupczak (Poland)
For enthusiasm and contributions to the International New Debaters Track

Special Recognition Award: Valeryia Yussupova (Kazakhstan)
For enthusiasm and effort in the English as a Foreign Language Track

British Parliamentary Track Winners: Sten Andreas Ehrlich and Paul-Matis Tampuu (Estonia)
Top 3 Speakers:
Jan Buza (Slovakia)
Sten Andreas Ehrlich (Estonia)
Paul-Matis Tampuu (Estonia)

Mixed Team Finals Winners: Isabel Patkowski (USA), Zvjezdana Markovic (Bosnia) and Assel Baimukhametova (Kazakhstan)
Top 3 Speakers:
Isabel Patkowski (USA)
Toader Mateoc (USA
Cara Eckholm (USA)

Mixed Team Tournament winners announced, Youth Forum wraps up

Team “UBC” won the Youth Forum's Mixed Team Tournament today in a 6 to 1 decision. The motion was, “A just society prioritizes rehabilitation over retribution in its juvenile justice system.”


“UBC” team, negative, champions: Isabel Patkowski, Zvijezdana Markovic, Assel Baimukhametova




“Hamburger Eating Horse” team, affirmative, runners up: Nauryzbay Auezov, Vlad Bocioca, Cara Eckholm

Congratulations to this year’s MTT champions, and many thanks to every debater in the tournament!

Right now, Forum participants are enjoying the Final Countdown Party, the culminating event.
For videos, updates and feeds, visit the Youth Forum website.

See you next year at IDEA Youth Forum 2010 in Netherlands!

Climate advocates make their presence on Google Earth

The participants of the 2009 Climate Advocacy Institute, today’s youth advocates against climate change, shared their photos and stories on Google Earth as part of their final project in the New Media track of the Institute.

Learn more about these amazing youth leaders by visiting Google Earth and searching for “Climate Advocacy Institute.”

This year’s institute focused on spreading the message of global climate change. To learn more about this issue, students participated in one of these three core tracks: British Parliamentary Debate and Argumentation, Journalism and New Media for Advocacy, and Performance and Art Advocacy.

The Climate Advocacy Institute is an initiative of the International Debate Education Association, the Open Society Institute, 350.org and Bloomfield College in partnership with IndyAct and Tactical Tech. The three-week Institute takes place every late June/early July, and gathers high school and college students and teachers in an effort to equip future leaders with the advocacy skills necessary to combat climate change in their communities.

For more information about the 2009 Institute, please go to http://workserver.idebate.org/advocacyinstitute/

Debate and win $10 000 Grand Prize. Register your team today!

Looking to test your debate skills against the world’s best?

The International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) is the only contest that gives high school students the opportunity to participate in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. This contest is open to schools across the world free of charge.

High school teams from all over the globe are invited to participate, with the top eight teams winning an all-expense-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City, April 16-18, 2010! More than $30,000 in prize money is available—including a $10,000 Grand Prize. Register your team today!

For more information on the 2009-2010 IPPF, visit: www.bickelbrewer.com/debate

A Universal Debate Competition
The IPPF welcomes debaters from around the world – and from a wide spectrum of debate and forensic events. Every debater is invited to participate in the IPPF. The 2009-10 topic is, “Resolved: The United Nations should substantially increase humanitarian assistance for persons living in poverty.”
To participate, schools must submit a 2,800 word qualifying essay (affirmative or negative) on the topic. The top 32 teams advance. For more information on the 2009-2010 IPPF, visit: www.bickelbrewer.com/debate

IDEA Exchange 2009 now accepting applications!

We are pleased to announce that IDEA Exchange 2009 will be hosted in London between December 12th and 13th at Goldsmiths University. Like previous years, the IDEA General Assembly will take place before the Exchange on December 11th. IDEA, along with Goldsmiths University and Debatewise, will host the annual event in order to provide an opportunity for an exchange of experiences, learning, and development of joint projects. The Exchange will be one of the many events organized in EU in relation to the European year of Creativity and Innovation (2009), which stresses the development of personal, social, and economic creativity and innovation. The Exchange will also be partially funded by the Europe for Citizens Program of the European Commission.

The IDEA Exchange 2009 will focus on the role of new media in debate and dialogue, participation and social change. This topic will provide an opportunity for young people to engage with various topics related to the internet and digital technologies. Participants will also explore different segments including the process of communication, debate and dialogue, participation, and action for change. Here are some possible topics for discussion, presentation, and show casing:
-Engaging youth in online debates and discussions
-Using wiki tools for debate research and communication
-Websites as tools for promotion, information and communication
-Blogging and civic engagement and participation
-Citizen journalism and youth media programs
-Social sites and networking sites
-Building online libraries and resource materials
-Online training and distance education
-New media as a tool for social change, mobilization and democratization

To shed some light on this focus, a diverse group of participants will be invited, such as teachers and educators interested in new media, young promoters of online debates and communication, social entrepreneurs and activists, bloggers, journalists, video makers, and website developers.

The Exchange will have a format similar to that of a YouthCamp, in which a group shares and learns in an open environment through discussions, demonstrations, and interaction. Presenters and workshop leaders are encouraged to sign up in advance! The structure will encourage active participation, provide flexibility and facilitate exchange. Participants may:
-Make individual or team presentations (30-45 minutes long)showcasing a methodology,project, publication, event, etc.
-Organize and participate in a panel discussion (participants are welcome to propose their own panels together with other presenters)
-Showcase a lesson, training sessions, educational exercise, etc.
-Offer training or a workshop

All participants will be asked to submit a short description of their proposed presentations/workshops and register with the event by October 1st. IDEA will offer limited scholarships to participants from the EU countries.

For further information, visit www.idebate.org.

IDEA FORUM 2010 to be hosted in the Netherlands!

We are excited to inform you that next year's IDEA International Youth Forum will take place in Zeeland Province in the Netherlands. While the Youth Forum will be supported by the Province of Zeeland, IDEA will organize it in collaboration with its partner organization, Scoop.

IDEA and Scoop have been implementing the Debate in the Neighborhood Project (DIN) since 2008, and the forum will build on the energy and excitement that the DIN project has generated. Debate in the Neighborhood aims to provide youth in disadvantaged neighborhoods with skills and knowledge necessary to understand the democratic participation, and have the means to participate in decision making processes.

We will be updating you about the progress of the preparations, exact dates, location and venue in the coming weeks.