Secondary school students debate on ocean protection |06 July 2018

The Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) International Schools Debate for secondary schools was held on Wednesday at the Savoy Hotel at Beau Vallon, gathering students aged 11-17.

After their individual speeches on the topic ‘My plan to protect and manage our oceans, seas and marine resources’, the secondary school students worked together in groups which were announced on the day  to prepare their joint arguments, either pro or con, on the motion, ‘This house believes that the targets of UN Sustainable development Goal number 14 are achievable’.

Each group then delivered their main arguments, followed by brief rebuttals from responses to the other groups.

Group C, made up of Alicia Mary Iscandarian, Jade Akkawi, Katrina Jreidini, Natalie Ashkar, (Lebanon), Ryna Azemia, Tanisha Elizabeth, Ellery Fock-Youn, Stana Mousbe (Seychelles), Katrina Putri (Indonesia), Izuchukwu Egbuku (Nigeria) and Darren Tan (Malaysia) were the winners in the category.

Natalie Ashkar was the best individual debater, while Jack Tetley of New Zealand, Michel Sadek of Lebanon and Stana Mousbe of Seychelles received the Judges Commendation.

The winners received their prizes from principal secretary for environment in the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Alain de Comarmond and chairperson of the 2018 Debates Steering Committee Ambassador Marie-Pierre Lloyd.