Zurich sponsors debate to encourage critical thinking and communication skills
LONDON, 12 March 2002 - Cardiff Castle is a fitting location for the international finals of the 2002 John Smith Memorial Mace on 16 March. With strong contenders from Lincoln's Inn, England, the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Swansea University in Wales and Irish debaters from Trinity College, Dublin, this is sure to be a hard fought battle and an outstanding final.
The four teams, each a winner of their own regional final, will be squaring up against each other to debate the motion 'This house would remove the right to strike from public service workers', which will be chaired by Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas.
This is the first year that Wales have had their own regional mace - previously, England and Wales combined as one region, so it will be particularly poignant if the team from Swansea score a 'home win' in the international final. Baroness Smith, wife of the late Chancellor John Smith, will present the winning team with a mace crafted from solid silver and engraved with the names of all winners since 1952, together with a trophy from the sponsors, Zurich.
Marc Whitmore, Head of the Centre for Speech and Debate at the English Speaking Union, promises an eventful evening. He comments: "Our finalists are of particularly high calibre this year. The teams include debaters who reached the finals of the World Debating Championships and the World Schools Debating Championships last year, two winners of the International Schools Mace and members of the Irish and Welsh Schools team.
"Britain consistently provides some of the finest speakers in the world and I believe that some of the best examples of our homegrown talent will be debating at Cardiff on Saturday".
The competition provides an international benchmark for students involved in persuasive speaking and current affairs and exemplifies the best of university debating. Preparing for a debate requires research, strategic planning, a creative style of thinking, well-organised writing and verbal proficiency and helps students develop skills they need for the challenges they will face in life and the workplace. However, debate is not just for the academically gifted - it's for anyone who wants to learn better ways to communicate and above all, it should be fun.
This is the first year Zurich has sponsored the Mace. Sandy Leitch, CEO of Zurich in the UK, said, "Zurich has invested in the education of young people for many years and is now delighted to provide support to the English-Speaking Union in the sponsorship of the John Smith Memorial Mace. We have brought some exciting innovations to the competition, such as national and international prizes, debating workshops and support for regional debating efforts."
"Debating is a life skill that teaches not only critical thinking, but also allows students of any discipline to engage with current affairs, improve their communication skills and hone their analysis. We place high value on such skills in our world today, and Zurich is proud to play a part in this."
Previous international winners include such dignitaries as Charles Kennedy MP, the Rt Hon Donald Dewar MP, the Lord Hunt of Wirral, Professor Anthony Clare, and of course, the late John Smith.
ENDS
Notes to Editors :
Hosted by the English-Speaking Union, the John Smith Memorial Mace is the premier debating competition for university students in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Mace was founded by author, journalist and Chairman of the Guardian/Observer Group, Kenneth Harris in 1952 - and was re-named in 1994 as the John Smith Memorial Mace after the late leader of the Labour Party, a vice-president of the English-Speaking Union and winner of the Mace for Glasgow in 1962.
The English-Speaking Union, which is the prominent force behind public speaking and debating in the UK, is an international, charitable, membership organisation which works through exchanges, scholarships, speaking competitions, conferences and English language programmes worldwide.
The Zurich Financial Services Group (www.zurich.com) is a global leader in the financial services industry, providing its customers with integrated and web-enabled solutions in the area of financial protection and asset accumulation. The Group concentrates its activities in five business segments: non-life and life insurance, reinsurance, Farmers Management Services, and asset management. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the Group's world-wide presence builds on strong positions in its three key markets - the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. It has offices in more than 60 countries serving 35 million customers and employing approximately 70,000 people.
Zurich Financial Services, (UKISA) is part of the Zurich Financial Services Group and comprises the Group's operations in the UK, Ireland and International Businesses. Zurich is the UK's fourth-largest general insurer and is one of the UK's largest life insurers.
For further information about debating please contact:
Marc Whitmore, Head, Centre for Speech and Debate, ESU, on 0207 529 1550
Kitty Barran, Zurich Financial Services, on 0207 317 3840
