Annual Student Peace Debate looks to history for inspiration
5 November 2024
The annual Rotary Club of Jersey Colin Powell Student Peace Debate will be taking place in the States Chamber on Friday November 8. Representatives from seven schools will be debating the Roman maxim: 'If you seek peace, prepare for war' or 'Si vis pacem, para bellum.' This year's debate marks ten years since the start of the event.
The debate will be presided over by the Deputy Bailiff, Robert MacRae and there will be a keynote speech from His Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd CBE. Members of the public are welcome to watch the debate from the public gallery and it will also be live streamed.
Rotarian Tony Allchurch who is organising the debate, said: 'At a time in history when so many areas of the globe are engaged in conflict, discussing peace has never been more important. Peace is defined as "the state of absence of war", but we hope that the Student Assembly will consider if "active peace" through mutual respect and tolerance and goodwill between nations will provide a more secure future for the global population. Or is the observation by a Roman historian in the 4th century still guiding our thinking today?'
Students from years 10-13 will take part in the debate from the following schools:
- Victoria College
- Jersey College for Girls
- Hautlieu School
- De La Salle College
- Beaulieu Secondary Convent School
- Les Quennevais School
- Grainville School
The school which gives the best presentation and performance will be awarded the Colin Powell trophy. This will be judged by a panel including the President of Rotary Madeleine De La Cour, and His Excellency, Vice Admiral Jeremy Kyd.
The Student Peace Debate is dedicated to the memory of Rotarian Colin Powell, a man of peace and a great humanitarian. He was instrumental in establishing this event as an important contribution to the Rotary Peace Programme, which recognised Jersey as a Rotary Peace Community in 2015.
The debate takes place 10am-12pm, Friday November 8 in the States Chamber.
