Rod Oram tackles young vs. old and local vs. global debates

Rod Oram tackles young vs. old and local vs. global debates at Unitec's Forum for the Future 2012

17 August 2012

Wednesday nights' local vs. global panel debate facilitated by business journalist Rod Oram was the second and final in Unitec's Forum for the Future 2012 series.

It followed on from last week's successful debate on young vs. old - whose world is it?

"Our Forums this year sought to shed light on two deep tensions defining our world," said Rod. "We had a lively time wrestling with those issues, thanks to our varied panellists and audiences both online and in the studio."

The first debate touched on inter-generational issues such as rising student debt , increasing house prices, changing communication styles and shifting demographics.

With journalist Bernard Hickey, Greypower Northern Director Bill Rayner and National President of the NZ Students Associations Pete Hodkinson, on the panel it was going to be a lively debate. They were joined by Unitec's Chief Executive Rick Ede, Avondale College Head boy Adeel Suremderan, and student and member of Young Labour, Soraiya Daud.

Film maker, Yamin Tun led off the second debate talking about film capturing local human emotions which are in fact 'global'. CEO of the Employers and Manufacturers Association, Kim Campbell talked about generation 'why' while Unitec Student President, Shannon Pennefeather talked about local and global identity. Rounding out the panel was Co-Chair of the Sustainable Business Network Jamie Sinclair, Transition Towns Mark Skelding and International Student Rep, Marina Beck.

They discussed issues such as sustainable business practices, communication in our inter-connected world, our local and global economic opportunities and the job market.

"This was our fourth year of the Forum for the Future and our best yet for integrating studio and online audiences into the discussion," said Rod. "We greatly look forward to developing this further with some other great issues in Forums to come."

"We didn't quite put the world to rights but we all learned a bit more about how to make the most of the ever-faster changing world."

-End-

© Scoop Media