A national debating competition for school students across the UK is now open for entries. Hosted by Eton College and sponsored by Blackwell’s, Oxford’s prestigious bookseller the Jabuji Debates competition is open to all 16 – 18 year olds. The Jabuji Debates are based on geo-political, environmental and social justice themes in the story of Jabujicaba. Jabujicaba is an eco-thriller set in Brazil: the country is on the verge of bankruptcy and the President is auctioning off the Amazon forest. The novel is a creative exploration of how we protect our natural world – from the value of tropical forests to mankind, to the status of indigenous peoples and their rights. The debates are an exciting way for students to hone public speaking and argumentation skills, to explore geo-political and environmental issues and to learn about Brazil and its tropical rainforests. The national competition follows a successful pilot which was held between Eton and nearby Burnham Grammar School earlier this year. To enter students choose one of three statements to explain through a short piece of creative writing or video: Why is the rainforest:
1 'A living laboratory’? 2 'A magic place’? 3 'The heart of Brazil’?
Students submit a 1-2 minute video or creative piece of prose, poetry or drama (500 words max.). The shortlist will be announced in January 2016, ahead of the competition in March. Find out more and register on the Jabujicaba website here.
