Hufsah

Date : October 27, 2009 11:56

Hi,

I'm emailing on behalf of Debatewise.com, a leading debating web site. We have, in conjunction with the British Council and the International Debate Education Association, come up with a way of engaging young people in a global debate on issues around the Copenhagen summit that I thought you might be interested in.

We are in the process of forming a 1,000 strong panel of young people from around the world. As the conference goes on we'll assign this panel debates based on the issues that arise, proposals put forward or decisions made. Some members will create the debates, others will vote on the arguments so created. In this way we aim to provide a sense of what young people around the world think of what's happening in Copenhagen.

After the conference is over we'll divide members of the panel into their respective countries and get them to debate how they will be impacted by the decisions the conference comes to. This takes what happened there, makes it personal and real and gives it a context I believe no-one else is providing. What does Cambodia think about deforestation restrictions? How do they justify their call for exemption when the rest of the world argues they should suffer for the greater good?

Our organisation of the World Online Debating Championships and general good standing in the international debating community, as well as our partnership with the British Council and IDEA has given us access to a broad range of people who will make up the panel. However, we always need more people and I was wondering if you would let your members know what we are doing in case they wanted to take part?

We can offer young people a chance to participate in Copenhagen without them needing to leave home. All they need is a computer, an internet connection, reasonable English skills and a passion for the environment. We'll take what they say to the press and to people at the conference and will make sure their voice is heard. We think this is something they may well be interested in.

In return, we'd be delighted to run any debates you want on Debatewise, we could put debates you suggest to our panel and would be happy if you wanted to use our widget to let your visitors know the latest voting totals for the debates that take place when Copenhagen is on.

I would be delighted to answer any questions you may have about us or our plans. If you would like us to send a couple of paragraphs about this project for you to forward please me know. People can sign-up here: www.debatewise.info/cop15

I look forward to hearing from you,

Regards,

Hufsah Khan



About us
Debatewise
Debatewise (www.debatewise.com) is a not for profit online debating site which aims to become the Wikipedia of debate. Anyone can start a debate on any subject they like and anyone can edit and strengthen that debate. This ensures that over time the strongest and most definitive arguments emerge and so provide a highly valuable resource for anyone looking to make up their mind. Debatewise was founded in 2008 and is based in the London internet hub of Hoxton, East London. Patrons include Michael Crick, Gabby Logan and Chris Heaton Harris

The International Debate Education Association:
The International Debate Education Association (www.idebate.org) was created in 1999 and acts as an independent membership organization of national debate clubs, associations, programs, and individuals who share a common purpose: to promote mutual understanding and democracy globally by supporting discussion and active citizenship locally.

The British Council
The British Council are the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. As well as education, they run programmes in the arts, science, sport, governance and English language. They believe that the future for the UK in this crowded, dangerous, beautiful world depends on people of all cultures living and working together on foundations of education, mutual understanding, respect and trust.

About the debaters
Our panel of debaters will include current and ex World Champions, chief adjudicators of world events and debaters from debating clubs and universities in all four corners of the globe.

For more information about the World Online Debating Championship please see here: www.debatewise.com/wodc and here: www.debatewise.com/wodc-debates
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