First for 3 students from Thessaloniki in a pan-European rhetoric competition

Panagiotis Fanoulis, Savvas Daniilidis and Diamanto Kafentzi are students of the third high school from the 1st GEL Evosmos and it is difficult for anyone to “stand” in any discussion with them since their arguments, despite their young age, are unwavering. After all, who could enter into a verbal confrontation with the three young students who excelled in a rhetoric contest in Brussels?

The three children, as part of Environment Week, were among the 113 students from 13 EU countries who used their best dialectical tactics for climate change, migration and the economy, with the winning team having … an aroma Of Greece.

The students unfolded their talent in rhetoric in the competitions that took place within the framework of the “Climate of Change” program, which is implemented in Greece by ActionAid and proved that they are worthy of their ancient ancestors.

“Rhetoric struggles are like a debate, a mental game where we are given an issue that we need to support in the best possible way, with facts and arguments. The debate teaches us to think the opposite point of view, to disagree and finally to learn all the participants from the process “, explains, speaking to the radio station of the Athenian / Macedonian News Agency” Agency 104.9 FM “the 17-year-old Panagiotis Fanoulis, who was leader of a six-member team consisting of students from different countries.

As he explains, the national teams split in Brussels and formed 26 mixed European groups of young people from different nationalities that started the two-day competition, which was held in four rounds: two qualifiers and one final.

The jury consisted of six international experts and educators, who, after hearing the arguments of the young people, selected the two best groups of teenagers and four university groups.

The issue in the rhetorical battle of Panagiotis’s team with the opposing team was whether international protection should be established for people who are migrating due to climate change.

“It must”, said the team of opponents and Panagiotis’ golden six argued in “should not”, with basic rhetoric that such a measure is temporary, does not solve the real problem and, on the contrary, disorients us.

“Protecting refugees stops the rising tide of migrants, but despite the rapid pace of global climate change, it will lead to us all becoming refugees,” he said. “You are proposing a permanent temporary solution, but at some point, however, there will be no room for temporary solutions,” the team stressed and somehow got the ten from the judges.

The winners were declared “champions of a human economy” and awarded a diploma, while the prize is a trip to one of the countries most affected by climate change, to become new ambassadors and advocates for a #ClimateOfC .

The team of young Thessaloniki started to deal with rhetoric from high school, at the urging of a teacher and already has three medals of rhetoric in its assets, while it is already preparing for the next argumentation contest.