Debates and Discussions
Three Panel Debates
An expert panel respond to student questions at Shared Planet 2006
Tom Allen
Free To Move: is a world without borders feasible and desirable?
- Afshin Azizian, human rights advocate and asylum seeker www.justiceforafshin.org.uk
- Martin Ralph, Campaigner, No One Is Illegal www.noii.org.uk
- Richard Exell, Senior Policy Officer, Trades Union Congress (TUC) www.tuc.org.uk
Are borders a necessary or natural part of governing our society, controlling corporations and environmental pollution, and maintaining the welfare state? Or do they perpetuate injustice and economic inequality, repressing rather than protecting refugees, and oppressively causing an unnatural divide between people? Come to discuss and question panellists on the idea of a world without borders.
Gap Year “Voluntourism”: Who really benefits?
- Tricia Barnett, Director, Tourism Concern www.tourismconcern.org.uk
- Marion O’Donnell, Programme Manager, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) www.vso.org.uk
- Andy Woods-Ballard, UK Director, Global Vision International www.gvi.co.uk
Is Gap Year volunteering a wonderful way to explore new countries, meet people, gain cross-cultural understandings, and acquire perspectives on global issues? Or is “volunteer tourism” environmentally, culturally and economically destructive? Are Gap Year volunteers really of benefit to the local ecosystems and communities that they purport to “help”? If you are planning a gap year, or went on one, come to share your perspectives with these expert panellists.
How can we build irresistible public pressure to stop climate chaos?
- Ashok Sinha, Director, Stop Climate Chaos www.stopclimatechaos.org.uk
- Benedict Southworth, Director, World Development Movement www.wdm.org.uk
- Robbie Gillett, Plane Stupid www.planestupid.com
Globally, we have less than 10 years to take the action needed to avoid runaway climate change. The Stop Climate Chaos coalition is choosing a new focus for its campaigning to ratchet up the pressure on government. This panel discussion will give you the opportunity to hear about the different directions the coalition could choose, and to voice your opinions on what would be most effective.
Six Fringe Discussions
Charlie Harvey
Engage Or Challenge Power? What kind of social change do we need?
- Facilitated by Ben Aylott (P&P Regional Rep) & Graham Craig (P&P intern)
Should we be trying to engage with, or trying to challenge power? Come and explore the benefits of working within existing power relations (for governmental solutions), versus working for grass-roots alternatives. Bring your thoughts and comments to a lively debate!
Is there a clash of civilisations?
- Facilitated by Ayah Al Zayat & Adam Ramsay (P&P Regional Reps)
East versus West? Islam versus secularism? Are ideas of European enlightenment and civilization under threat from religious fundamentalists? With the rise of terrorism, is cultural conflict real or inevitable?
Student Activism — alive and kicking?
- Facilitated by Harry Day (P&P Regional Rep) & Ric Lander (P&P Management Committee)
To quote Polly Toynbee (Guardian, August 2007): “Why so little anger, about war or climate change? Political activism seems moribund — students voting on cheap beer in their union bars. A gentle camp-out in a field near Heathrow offers signs of life, but looking back on the anti-Vietnam movement, where is the real passion now?”
(How) Is religion a force for activism?
- Facilitated by David Amos & Joe Bardwell (P&P Regional Reps)
William Wilberforce, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Desmond Tutu were all compelled by their religious beliefs to fight injustice. In 2007, are our activists still motivated by faith, and how does religion drive social change? Bring your ideas and faith and non-faith perspectives to share.
Ethical Consumerism or Anti-Consumerism?
- Facilitated by Rhiannon Horsley & Jane Stratton (P&P Campaign Advocates)
Is consumerism ever truly ethical? From organics to Fairtrade, ethical shopping is worth £30bn in the UK. Does using our power as shoppers have a place in activism? Or should we be trying to consume less by escaping consumer-capitalism altogether? Come to discuss.
Terrorist Or Freedom Fighter: Can force ever be justified?
- Facilitated by Pete Speller & Joe Greenwood (P&P interns)
From South African apartheid to Zapatista or Burmese uprising, are some situations so terrible, so inhumane, that violence is a justified tactic in achieving freedom? Can military intervention ever be the right thing to do? A safe space to explore these difficult issues.