Grey Coat Issue 25: November 2012


of democracy and human rights in Southern and Eastern Europe". The Opposition noted these past achievements and is glad that Germany has managed not to invade France in the past 60 years. Team Op however would rather have used the Peace Prize to relieve the suffering of victims of conflict in Sri Lanka or in the Niger Delta. Team Prop also felt greater good had been effected by NATO in preventing war between Greece and Turkey. Though welcoming peacemakers from any source, Team Op wondered how it was that the Nobel Peace had never been granted to Mahatma Gandhi. After pertinent points had been raised by the floor, the motion was defeated.


On Monday, 5 November, there was further illumination of the work undertaken by the UN when 6 other members of the GCH MUNGA squad described in detail the work undertaken by their different meetings. At QAS, Hannah Robinson had, for the Environment Committee, represented Japanese interest in reducing the effects of climate change. Also recounting their contribution to the work of the Environment Committee were Bethany Lees who had considered problems in a growing population and the impact on resources from a Mexican perspective whilst Tara West described her growing knowledge of desertification as she researched this subject on behalf of Morocco. Other contributions came from Emefa Ansah whose role had been to explain the U.K.'s interest in promoting democracy for the Rule of Law Committee and Rosie Stewart (Mexico) who explained the procedure at the General Assembly. Particularly apt was the information on the Human Rights Committee which had discussed torture and the death penalty. This contribution was delivered by Charis Richards (Japan) and linked to the career of the Guest Speaker, Amie Patel, who spoke of her work as a lawyer with prisoners on America's Death Row. Ms McMellan


Debating news


On the afternoon of Friday, 9 November, Westminster students experienced an enjoyable afternoon of debating activity at GCH. Whilst four members of the GCH Sixth form Debating Society delivered brief speeches to introduce the topics, both debates were as intended, dominated by the floor participation from St Augustine’s, Quinton Kynaston and Pimlico Academy.


The session began with Vicky Norton proposing and Sofia Harman opposing the motion that ‘This House would not go to university’. Thirty minutes of lively debate ensued with Tejell Leonel (Pimlico) pointing out that the culture of many families in the UK was in favour of early marriage for females. This prompted Ubah Mbarak (Pimlico) to highlight the fact that going to university prevented female subjugation and isolation in the home. Jessica Collins (Pimlico) then added that university gave girls a chance to develop through meeting other people and joining various societies.


Next Holly Barrett proposed and Ben Sanbrook-Davies opposed the motion, ‘This House believes the government is right to abolish GCSEs’. This issue was hotly debated for 45 minutes with full-scale participation from the students present. Whilst Holly argued that a discredited system should be ditched in favour of raising standards and ensuring differentiation, Ben maintained abolition was a “ ludicrous suggestion”. Mohammed Hayle (Quintin Kynaston) declared that, instead of scrapping everything, Mr Gove should be consulting teachers to determine which specific aspects should be altered. Syed Ahmed (St Augustine’s) thought that teaching methods should be changed as he could not understand “how some teachers had been given jobs”.


It was a pleasure to learn that visiting students would welcome future debating events. Ms McMellan


11


The Grey Coat Hospital presents


A Midsummer Night's Dream


The Great Hall, St Andrew's


Thursday 6th & Friday 7th December Tickets £6


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