- 1 year ago
What role does youth diplomacy play in today’s world of conflict, climate change, and displacement? Dr. Benjamin Barton & Kon Li Pei from Nottingham University Malaysia discuss how students are shaping global conversations through the Model UN Champions Cup.
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00:00Hello and welcome to It's About Youth. I'm your host, Fahna Shea.
00:10Now, today is a very special episode.
00:12We are at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
00:17for the Model UN Champions Cup.
00:21Now, today we're not just talking about competition,
00:23we're talking about diplomacy in action
00:25and how young people engage with real-world global challenges.
00:30And I'm excited to have with us today Dr. Benjamin Barton,
00:33Head of School and Associate Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations,
00:38as well as Con Li Pei, International Relations student and President of UN Youth.
00:43Thank you so much for joining us.
00:45Right, okay, talk to me about the event today.
00:47Let's start with that.
00:48What's the objective of the Model UN Champions Cup for students and also the broader goal?
00:54Let's go ahead, Li Pei.
00:55So, I think that this year's conference was a little bit special
00:58because we wanted it to be more than just a modern United Nations conference.
01:02I think oftentimes when students come to modern United Nations,
01:05we tend to think of it as a co-curricular activity.
01:07But this year, we really wanted to test the bounds of what Model UN could really be
01:11and to use it for a tool for change,
01:13which is why we picked this year's theme, A Shared Humanity.
01:16Right, what about you, Benjamin?
01:18What was the goal for this Model UN this year?
01:20Well, obviously, the aim for us is to allow students and also high school students
01:28the opportunity to practice diplomacy.
01:31So, this may be something that they are interested in,
01:34that's something they've heard about, something they've read about,
01:36but they don't always get the opportunity to actually act upon it.
01:39And therefore, the university is offering this year, with the support of the school,
01:44but also led by the students, the opportunity to do that in a setting which is safe,
01:50where they have the ability to express themselves on what is a really important topic.
01:55So, for us, I think there are a couple of things which really matter.
01:57So, one is learning about the United Nations, learning about its institutions, the processes.
02:04Two, also covering the topic, a topic which is of fundamental importance for the world as a whole,
02:12and one which I think is also quite sensitive.
02:15So, this space allows them to touch upon this topic in its environment.
02:20I mean, definitely, there's a lot going on, especially this time right now,
02:24you know, global trade tensions, geopolitical shifts, and, you know, the ever-changing landscape.
02:29And it's nice to take a step back, at least for students to sort of assess this, like you said, in a safe space, yeah?
02:35Right, this year's topic is a shared humanity as a team this year.
02:41So, how did you want delegates to engage with global issues, you know, differently through that particular lens?
02:48I think oftentimes when we do more United Nations, we come in at it from the lens of a country's foreign policy.
02:54So, when we do more United Nations, delegates are encouraged to critically think, to find solutions and debate
02:58based on their country's foreign policy and their understanding of international affairs
03:01and the context in which the event or topic is taking place in.
03:05So, this year, I think we wanted to slightly change the approach in which we view the topic.
03:10This year, we have a scheme conference, so every single council has to do with refugees.
03:14And I think the main thing that we want to encourage delegates this year is not just to be critically thinking
03:19when they provide the solutions, but to provide solutions that are empathetic, grounded in the grassroots,
03:25but also beyond that, just speak to what a world that they would want to see as well.
03:30Of course, they still would stay true to diplomacy, but I think that our question this year was,
03:34what if we had a world that was guided by peacemaking, guided by diplomacy as well?
03:38And how would the world look like if we all looked at each other and had a shared humanity?
03:43Right. I mean, is the team's shared humanity ever so important, ever so timely now,
03:50you know, compared to before? Dr. Benjamin?
03:53Well, I mean, this is an ongoing issue, I would say, right?
03:56That these, unfortunately, these kinds of incidents happen continuously in our world, right?
04:03And indeed, we have diplomacy, which is there to help solve these issues between states at the highest level.
04:10But on a micro scale, you know, of course we want young people to be intellectually empowered,
04:16to be able to not only ascertain and understand the complexities of these issues,
04:22but perhaps to think creatively about ways forward, if we can't solve them through traditional means of diplomacy.
04:28So RRM is, again, to provide the environment and, you know, kind of foster a nurturing environment
04:34whereby the students feel that they have that ability to take on what are really, really complex issues.
04:40Right. I mean, it's something that we definitely don't discuss, you know, during coffee or during, you know, a sit down.
04:46It's something that requires probably a platform like this to really understand the issues
04:51and to really dive deep into, you know, what's going on with the world and how we can fix it through diplomacy.
04:56So there's diplomacy, but there's also youth diplomacy, right?
05:02I think it's the same thing, but also different in a way that youths bring their own perspective into this.
05:09So with today's global crisis, we have conflict, climate, displacement.
05:15What role do you think youth diplomacy plays in shaping or imagining a better world, Dr. Benjamin?
05:20Well, I mean, after all, let's face it, you know, we are educating the next generation.
05:28You know, we are providing them with the tools that they need to think perhaps more creatively than actual generations
05:33who are in charge of dealing with some of these issues.
05:36And let's face it, you talk about, you know, climate change.
05:38It's a perfect example of an issue which has never actually been solved, although the tools are there.
05:45So that's why we need to, you know, provide them with that critical thinking, the creative thinking,
05:53to envisage what the world would be like differently within the confines of the status quo, right?
06:00Because that's the challenge that they face.
06:02It's not just it's their world to make, it's the world that already exists within certain structures.
06:07How can that be different?
06:09How can we, you know, bring solutions which were not tolerated by previous generations, for instance?
06:15So that's what these kind of Champions Cups are all about.
06:18Right, so getting rid of the dinosaurs and leadership, basically, right?
06:21I think that's what you're saying in a very diplomatic way, right?
06:25I mean, yeah, it is, that's what social science education is about.
06:32Yeah, you're not wrong, by the way.
06:35Li Pei, coming from, you know, President of UN Youth, what role do you think you,
06:40what kind of perspective or difference or, you know, innovation that you've bring when it comes to diplomacy
06:46and changing the world to be better?
06:48I think there's definitely a lot.
06:50I've had a lot of friends who are refugees.
06:52I had one friend who was conscripted at 18, and he wasn't able to finish his university education.
06:57But now he's in Malaysia, and he's a community coordinator for Dari Dapur's program.
07:02And I have another friend who's just two years older than me, Nang Hom.
07:04She's been in Malaysia for less than six months, but she's now a community leader as well.
07:08And I think that we have so many stories out there of these youth who've had their, in a sense,
07:13their youth stolen away from them.
07:14They weren't able to complete university education, and they're trying now as much as they can to complete it.
07:18But I think on a personal level, not to mention, I think that you just have a lot of things that we are able to do.
07:25I think one thing that we are encouraged to within classes and within the campus as well
07:29is that there's a very fertile environment for us to sort of express our own opinions.
07:33Oftentimes, especially in Dr. Varshan's class, we have a lot of debates, and we engage a lot with diplomacy.
07:38But I think it's very important to look at things from a newer lens as well,
07:41and to look at it from a lens that is contextual to what our own gaze is like.
07:45And I believe that for a lot of times, the main issue with youth is that we see it as this one big overarching problem
07:51that we just can't solve by ourselves.
07:53But however, there's a lot of collective power.
07:55So individually, when youths are able to band together, when they are able to take ownership of our world,
08:00the diplomacy and the context in which we live in, I believe that is what we can most contribute towards diplomacy.
08:05This topic is one which we often look from the outside looking in.
08:10And in this day and age, even more so with, yes, we have a greater flow of information through technology,
08:17but it makes us in a way even more distant from that particular reality.
08:21We only see it from afar.
08:23It's only information which is filtered to us.
08:26Of course, you can go and look for it.
08:27It's there.
08:28But that's why this topic is important, because otherwise, I think, as you mentioned,
08:32it's something that we can pretend like it's not there.
08:35So this is why, particularly with the younger cohort taking part in the Champions Cup,
08:40who are not yet perhaps at university, it's really exposing them to a topic which is vital
08:45and one which needs to be addressed.
08:47It's not one that we can continue to just pretend like it doesn't concern us.
08:52Yeah, I mean, because it's definitely something that concerns youth
08:55because they are going to inherit this world.
08:57And a lot of the challenges I feel these days are very much more imminent,
09:01very much more fast approaching, especially with the threats of technology and AI and all that.
09:07Everything is coming to you at your face.
09:10So having you to sort of sit down and talk about it at a space like this and debate about it,
09:15whether in classes or in platforms like Model UN, I think that's a very good way forward.
09:21Right, just my two cents.
09:23Right, okay, so let's talk about the Champions Cup.
09:26So how do events like Champions Cup complement or enhance formal education,
09:32either in international relations or political science or, you know, in general?
09:37Well, we obviously, you know, in the school, through the degree that we offer,
09:41provide a basis for the understanding of, you know, the theories
09:44which help explain the world in which we live in, in terms of international relations,
09:50but also how, in practice, organisations such as United Nations,
09:56which is fundamental to preserving global peace, how that functions,
10:01not the decision-making, the dynamics.
10:03And so this is, you know, the, what we want our students to experience is the practicality of that.
10:09How do you translate what you've read about in, you know, academic work
10:13or heard your lecturers talk about in class to actually how would this work in practice?
10:18Okay, it's true that we're not in New York, we're not actually doing it,
10:21but it's the empathy, I think, which students gain from being put in a position
10:27where perhaps they're not always comfortable with a topic they're not always comfortable with,
10:31you know, and hearing things which may go against their own biases,
10:34because indeed this is going to force some of the participants to, you know,
10:39take a position which is perhaps not theirs.
10:42So that's, I think, really the basis of what we're trying to achieve here.
10:45Right. And I think, you know, the topic is a shared humanity
10:50and it's about, you know, sort of national interest versus global good a little bit.
10:56Lipe, if the format mirrors the complexity of real world diplomacy,
11:00why is it important for students to wrestle with issues like this,
11:04you know, when it comes to, you know, we talk about UN a lot
11:07and we talk about, yes, the intricacies of it,
11:09but, you know, if we take a step back to the real world,
11:12a lot of people are just a bit disenfranchised by these institutions.
11:16A lot of people are a bit, you know, lose their confidence
11:19when it comes to world organisation like this.
11:22But, you know, we're talking about shared humanity here
11:24and we're talking about advancing global good.
11:26So why do you think it's important for us to discuss stuff like this?
11:29I think the primary perspective for me is that
11:31when there's an awareness of this topic,
11:33it's not something you can exactly unlearn.
11:35I think Dr. Ben mentioned earlier, right,
11:37it's so easy just to pretend that it doesn't exist
11:39because it doesn't directly affect us.
11:41In our everyday lives, we are not seeing people drowning on ships, right?
11:44So it seems very, very far away.
11:46But when we learn about these topics,
11:47when there is that awareness,
11:48it becomes something that you cannot ignore anymore.
11:51And I see how this is really linked into not just my academics,
11:55but also in the real world.
11:56I think that you gain this awareness, this cultural context
11:58of being able to interact with the world a little better,
12:01to see these issues and to be able to see
12:03how they actually manifest on the ground.
12:05For example, we see the Ukraine conflict gets ongoing now, right?
12:10And you might think it's really far away and divorced from us.
12:13However, what we don't notice and what we don't link perhaps
12:16is that when there is conflict in another part of the world,
12:18this directly affects us.
12:19When there is conflict in Ukraine,
12:21that means the price of rice goes up.
12:22There's less rice in Europe because Ukraine is a red basket.
12:25So what they do, they come to Asia for their rice.
12:27And that means our rice, our prices then go up.
12:30So in that very, very real way,
12:31these real world issues not only affect us directly,
12:34and it's very important to link that
12:36in order to be able to get involved
12:37and to take ownership of the world
12:38that we are going to inherit, that we are living in,
12:41and to make it better for our generation,
12:42the generation before and the previous generations.
12:45So I would say the most important thing is
12:47that awareness makes you take ownership.
12:49And that is why that we must continue to discuss this.
12:51We must continue to have debates, discuss,
12:53and find solutions so we can remain empathetic
12:55and remain and take ownership over what we have now.
12:58Yeah, and I mean, you know, I think you make a great point
13:01about the UN, right?
13:03The UN is a body which many people don't understand.
13:07It's, I think its own public diplomacy has often failed, right?
13:11Despite its intentions, despite what's written into its charter.
13:14But I mean, if you travel around the world,
13:16you know, there are associations which relate to the United Nations,
13:19which want engagement with the United Nations in Malaysia too, right?
13:23So, in a way, it's kind of beholden upon all of us
13:27to how can we re-envisage that,
13:30the relationship we have with that body.
13:32What can that body do differently than it has done in the past?
13:35If we don't engage with it whatsoever,
13:37then it's going to be left to others.
13:38And then, you know, as we're seeing now,
13:40there are incredible pressures being put on it.
13:43Some are actually pretending like it doesn't warrant an existence anymore,
13:47despite being at the heart of its very existence.
13:49So, you know, again, it's essential that we talk about this,
13:53we get young people to, you know, experience that,
13:57for them to develop their own understanding,
13:59their own opinion about it.
14:00Right.
14:01So, awareness and empathy and also reform.
14:06So, you know, these are all, I guess,
14:09keywords for you to take forward in their lives after this,
14:13you know, we'll probably be no longer here.
14:15But, you know, to shape the world into the world that they want,
14:18to shape the world into, you know,
14:21the sort of world that they want their kids to live in
14:22and the future generations to live in.
14:24Let's move to here a little bit, Malaysia.
14:42We're chairing the ASEAN this year, 2025.
14:45So, how do you view our national role in shaping regional cooperation?
14:49And especially with, you know, youth engagement in mind.
14:53Anyone can take this first.
14:55I would say ASEAN this year has been very, very exciting.
14:57I think a lot of my classmates and I were really excited over this year
14:59because I think it hits home,
15:01especially now that Malaysia is the one who is chairing the ASEAN conference this year.
15:04It just hits a little bit closer to home this year.
15:06And it becomes something that becomes achievable,
15:08becomes something that you can directly engage with.
15:11It might be things such as seeing the KLCC,
15:13they turned the colours a bit different for the ASEAN summit, right?
15:15But when you see that, it's a very, very tangible reminder that these global issues exist,
15:19that people are doing things about them, that these world leaders are discussing it.
15:22And to a certain extent, I think it provides some level of inspiration
15:25for ways that we can engage and ways that we could even use that, say, model UN,
15:29which teaches you critical thinking skills, your solution skills, diplomacy.
15:32How can we channel those skills into providing solutions?
15:35And I think that in that way, the ASEAN conference has sort of mobilized the youth
15:40from these regions as well to do something about it
15:42and to connect with one another in the very same way.
15:44Yeah.
15:44Right.
15:45And, yeah, I would just add that also there's an issue around identity.
15:50Yeah.
15:51Because I think ASEAN as a bloc is also somewhat like the UN in a way
15:55at a critical juncture of its history
15:57because there are many questions being asked about, you know,
15:59how is it going to grow?
16:01In which direction is it going to go?
16:04And I know that since I've been here at Nottingham,
16:06one question which has always come up is that relationship between young people and ASEAN.
16:10You know, do they see themselves in it?
16:11If so, how can they translate that into something meaningful, something tangible?
16:17And does that really matter to the organization as well?
16:20Now, you know, of course, if you look at what ASEAN has been doing,
16:25maybe sometimes it's perhaps lacking in this regard,
16:28but it's still important that young people feel that there's a need to discuss this.
16:32And, you know, we hope to provide, again, a safe environment in which they can, you know,
16:37contemplate what that actually means in terms of their own relationship with the regional organization such as ASEAN.
16:42So, talking about Model UN, Benjamin, what's a lesson you think from Model UN
16:48that all future policymakers should take seriously?
16:54Well, that's also a very loaded question.
16:56Kind of makes you think a little bit.
16:58Yeah, it does because there's so much at stake.
17:00My assessment would be that, you know, like in many walks of life,
17:07we won't ever get anywhere if we don't learn how to trust each other.
17:11But trust is also an incredibly fickle trait.
17:17And especially with people from all walks of life.
17:21So, I think that what the world is badly in need of right now is trust, more trust,
17:28trust in institutions, trust in the process, trust in the outcome.
17:32So, that's my hope that, you know, through these, what are fairly micro examples,
17:39that the aim and the greater takeaway would be that come the end of the exercise,
17:44the participants understand that without trust,
17:48international relations will always be a zero-sum game, effectively.
17:52Right. Trust. And I guess political will. That too, maybe.
17:56Well, that helps.
17:58That really helps.
18:00Yeah, what about you, Li Pei?
18:02I think the key word that I will point out here is representation.
18:05Right.
18:06I know so many friends who, like from Model UN, have gone on to become journalists,
18:09have gone on to go into politics.
18:11We even had one of our Malaysians, I think called Kiran,
18:13she attended the recent COP as well.
18:15And all these people came from Model UN.
18:17So, I think that we see that Model UN has become a very real avenue for change-making,
18:21has become a really good tool for people to go out there and to be able to enact change.
18:25So, what I think is important is representation.
18:27These people who go to Model UN conferences,
18:30let's just not keep them at the Model UN conferences.
18:32Let's get them on to other stages as well.
18:34Let's platform more youths who attend.
18:35I know that we might not necessarily have the most experience.
18:38You'd be hard-pressed to compare a youth to a seasoned expert.
18:41But I think what's important is just having that willingness to learn.
18:44And from our policymakers, I would hope for a willingness to listen.
18:47I think that sometimes youth provide very, very unique perspectives as well.
18:50We've seen UNICEF do a lot of consultations with youths as well,
18:53just to be able to gauge what's on the ground.
18:55I think that we would understand our generation as well.
18:57And hopefully that's one thing that we can value add.
18:59So, we have representation.
19:00I believe that we provide more durable solutions.
19:03Solutions that are contextualized to what the current generation is doing.
19:07And I believe that's what Model UN is most important for.
19:09So, the two key words would be for people at Model UN to have platforms
19:13and also just to listen more.
19:15Right. More youth representation.
19:17I mean, I've been doing this show, it's about youth, for quite some time now.
19:21And I can tell you, youths' perspective are, it's like a storm.
19:28It's very loud.
19:29It's very bold.
19:30And some of these ideas, I feel that if you bring it to parliament,
19:34if you bring it to, it will provide a ripple effect of change.
19:37It's whether or not, you know, these people would listen.
19:40So, you're right.
19:40So, definitely youth representation, you know, having their voices heard.
19:44So, I definitely agree.
19:46Right.
19:47Beyond Model UN, how could we get more youths be interested in talking about,
19:53you know, global affairs or international relations or politics?
19:56You know, there's a space and a platform for it, but there's a lot of people out there who may not have the opportunity to go to these things.
20:05But how do we get them more engaged?
20:07Well, that's what we are aiming to do effectively.
20:12I think, first of all, there needs to be a greater culture of perhaps locally, regionally,
20:19of engagement in politics and international relations.
20:23And I suppose the question is then, how do you break that down?
20:26Because sometimes it can seem quite distant, quite cold, quite elitist.
20:29Perhaps, again, coming back to this issue of lack of trust in the institutions.
20:33And therefore, you know, does it concern me?
20:36Why should I bother?
20:38So, I mean, I think it boils down basically to opening up spaces for education and enlightenment about, you know,
20:46this is not an ivory tower.
20:49Right.
20:50Your participation, your voice can be heard.
20:53It can matter.
20:54You can make it matter.
20:55So, I think it's more about, you know, the outreach and the engagement and showing that ultimately, you know,
21:02politics is not something which is necessarily just for the elites.
21:07It's also something which is, you know, people's voices and opinions matter.
21:12And, you know, they should feel that they have the ability to express that.
21:16And we, as an institution, our role is basically to allow, to provide the tools to allow them to do that.
21:23Right.
21:24It's about that awareness that you talk about.
21:26You know, some people feel distant with politics and global affairs because, you know,
21:31probably they're not voting yet or probably, you know, the stuff that is happening is far away.
21:36So, I think, you know, platforms like this and engagement like this makes it more real, like you mentioned.
21:44What's your contribution to this?
21:47How do you think we can go beyond Mali UN to get more people to talk about global affairs and international relations?
21:53I think to address that, we have to ask, why do we not talk about global affairs?
21:57I mean, first off, it's a really heavy dinner table topic.
21:59It's hard.
22:00It's really hard.
22:00And maybe they don't understand.
22:02I mean, I'm a journalist, so it takes a while for me to understand certain issues.
22:06But it's not that easy.
22:08It really isn't.
22:09I think that's why platforms like Model UN, we try to make it accessible because I think the two reasons why we don't often have these conversations is,
22:15number one, that there might be a certain apathy because people don't understand, how does this global issue apply to me?
22:20How does diplomacy apply to me?
22:22And the second one would be, we just have, it may not necessarily be accessible, but that's what we're hoping to do with Champions Cup and with Model UN.
22:28We want to break down these conversations.
22:29We want to make it accessible in a way that you are, be able to learn, to have a safe space to learn because not everybody's fortunate enough to do such a degree.
22:36Some people will just go out there, you know, some people come for fun.
22:38We have people who are engineers who come to Model UN, and that's something that we don't see often, but it's so interesting because people have this passion for it.
22:45But how do we break it down and make it accessible?
22:48I think actually what's interesting, bring a bit of pop culture here, but there's this thing on TikTok called the hemline indicator.
22:54So what this indicates is that when hemlines go shorter, the economy is doing better.
22:59So when hemlines go lower, so like maxi skirts or things like Victorian and brushing the floor, that's where the economy is worse.
23:05Okay. So it's these little ways, I think, that social media has broken down these global affairs and made them unique to us because maybe the next time you're going out the street, you're going to be like, oh, very interesting.
23:16That lady's skirt. Maybe your economy is not doing too good right now.
23:19I think it's these small, like, pop culture things.
23:21I mean, of course, they're not always the most accurate, but I think it's those small, small ways that you've engaged with this, and that's how we can make it more accessible.
23:28It's all this explainers on TikTok with funky music and dances, and, you know, they explain global affairs in a very fun way.
23:37It's short, it's a minute, people digest it, but maybe it sparks people's curiosity to read more about it and have it in a more, you know, education setting, you know.
23:46Yeah, it's definitely easier to digest.
23:48That I could tap after that. After accessibility, I think the main goal from there is for, again, ownership.
23:53I feel like I've said that a lot of times, but after we make it accessible, I think people need to realise that there are things they can do.
23:58I think oftentimes, like we mentioned before, it's so overarching, right?
24:01But actually, there's small, small things that you can do.
24:03So let's break it down into bite-sized steps for them.
24:04If you want to volunteer, where can you volunteer?
24:07If you want to donate your time, where can you donate your time?
24:09Or even, let's say, it can be as simple as, let's say, ordering food from somebody that might be from a marginalised community
24:15or even buying a gift from somewhere that you know that goes towards a good cause.
24:18I think it's those small steps like that, that after we make it accessible, makes them translate that into action.
24:25So from accessibility to action.
24:27Yeah, I would add that, of course, you know, technology is ubiquitous.
24:30And of course, we embrace that in the classroom.
24:33Not to say that it doesn't bring its own challenges.
24:36So the objective is really to move from what might be indeed bite-sized, what might capture a person's attention,
24:42to then, you know, opening up that space, providing those tools with which then it can, you know,
24:49translate the bite-sized and attempt to be able to break down the more complex elements of modern-day politics.
24:56So that's the transition from a simple interest to then being able to act upon that interest.
25:01Right.
25:02I mean, and also like what you mentioned just now when you talk about linkages, right?
25:06Because ownership is, yes, one thing, but also how it affects them.
25:10Stuff is going on far away.
25:12But, you know, prices of rice, prices of, you know, trade, for example.
25:17You know, your iPhones are getting more expensive and all that.
25:19You know, stuff like that.
25:20It's, I guess, a bit more accessible to Gen Z a little bit more.
25:24You know, they can understand it a bit more.
25:25Even though, you know, stuff is happening out there, it could impact us as well.
25:29Although we have to be careful with, you know, what kind of information is coming their way.
25:33And that's my job.
25:34That's where I come in.
25:35I'm a journalist, so I fight misinformation.
25:38And we also support that because ultimately we want to have, you know,
25:44students who are very much capable and tech savvy.
25:47But we also want them to be able to make sure that the information they get,
25:50they know that it's an information that they will filter themselves, you know,
25:55from whatever source it is.
25:57So that's, again, providing the tools for them to be able to do that.
26:01So it's important they engage, but engage in a way which, you know,
26:04has involved some form of critical thinking.
26:07I think I could tap onto that.
26:08One thing that we have recently instated within Model UN,
26:10also within Champions Cup, is the international press corps.
26:13So now these delegates are getting the true UN experience,
26:16where every single move is reported on.
26:18So essentially within there, I think they have to be very careful of what they say.
26:22Yeah.
26:22Or things that they say could be misconstrued for, you know, a sensational article.
26:26I think this is what teaches them media literacy as well.
26:29It's important to understand that the news all has its bias, right?
26:32I think even if we read the news as unbiased,
26:34we all have our own biases that we bring into it.
26:36So it's very important that when these delegates are in this council
26:38and they understand like, oh, maybe this was something that I said,
26:41maybe part of it was not fully said or wasn't portrayed in the best light to them,
26:45they understand that media literacy in a sense,
26:49that they understand that news is not always biased,
26:50it's not always unbiased, and it's not always fair to what exactly would be said.
26:53But I think it just provides that lens to which they can consume and create media.
26:58And I think that hopefully we are creating a generation that is more media literate.
27:02Yeah.
27:02I mean, I think that's the goal.
27:04I think that's the goal for our side and that's the goal for education as well,
27:08for people to not spread misinformation and to treat information responsibly.
27:14Yeah.
27:14So, yeah.
27:15Right.
27:15I think that's all the time we have.
27:17I have a lot more questions to ask, but unfortunately that's all the time we have.
27:20We are at Nottingham University for the Model UN Champions Cup.
27:25And we have Dr. Benjamin and Li Pei to talk us about a little bit about the event itself,
27:31but also how youth can engage more in global affairs and international relations.
27:35Thank you so much for joining me today.
27:37Thank you, Father.
27:37Right.
27:38That's all for now.
27:39Thank you so much for watching.
27:40I'm Faana Shea.
27:41Bye.
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28:00Bye.
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