Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} One week before twenty of the world’s most influential leaders arrived in Pittsburgh, Freedom students had the opportunity to participate in the G-20 Student Summit. Students heard from three speakers and then had the opportunity to speak live with kids in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Coordinated by Fox Chapel and the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, the September seventeenth mock summit involved 2,200 kids worldwide. Twenty-eight Freedom students participated from the library via poly-com and a flat screen television. On the morning of the student summit, Fox Chapel sent out e-mails alerting the schools that there was a problem with the video feed. This prevented all schools that were connected to Fox Chapel by webcam (including Freedom) from being able to view any of the events. “I really wanted to see the speakers, because I couldn’t focus on what they were saying,” says sophomore Nikki Wallace. One of the speakers, Steven Clemons, discussed the issues that the G-20 will address, such as CEO salaries and bonuses, how to improve financial markets, and the move to increase the voice and voting of the developing world. He also mentioned that the G-20 agenda was not critical. Ms. Ionta, the Freedom World Affair’s Club staff advisor, noted that, “the wheels of change move very slowly. There are lots of difficult problems to solve, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Any time heads of government get together to talk, it’s good; it fosters understanding.” After the speeches, students had the opportunity to submit questions to the three speakers. Jake Niedergall’s question, regarding the ability of the G-20 to affect policy, was selected. Dr. Juan Delgado, one of the speakers and an expert on foreign policy, answered by saying that “we are spending a lot of money, but are not getting a lot of results. However, the G-20 does have the power of persuasion.” Following the question-and-answer period, Freedom was connected to a school in Brazil. The conversation centered on the economic, environmental, and energy problems that Brazil is encountering. The majority of participants agreed with sophomore Jake Potts’ impression: “My favorite part was meeting with the kids from Brazil. They laughed at everything. » After the talk with the students in Brazil, the student summit was concluded with a discussion of the day’s events and a pizza lunch for all participants.