diálogos Digital Julio 2014 | Page 29

2.- Public speaking and debate project: We think that public speaking is a fundamental function in democracy. Debating, convincing, advocating or criticizing a political platform, or a public policy, is an essential part of democracy. Consequently, we promote public speaking workshops, expositions and debating contests in order to increase the capabilities of public communication among youth. We consider that public speaking should be a capacity not only for professional politicians and leaders, but also for every single citizen in a democratic society. Besides, effective communication generates trust, empathy, comprehension, and cooperation between citizens, which are critical elements to strengthen the social bases of democracy. 3.- Editorial and website project: We live in a digital era, our ideas and actions could have repercussions in many places. That is the reason why we encourage the expression of fresh ideas not only by public speaking, but also by writing. We have an editorial team which prepares and selects periodical columns and papers about several topics of the national and international agenda, based on writings of any young student or citizen. Poetry and literature are not excluded. We are opened to give a channel of expression to any innovative and fresh ideas. For any further information, you can visit our website and read some of these materials in www.dialogos.org.mx. 4.- International cooperation: Mexico, now, is part of a global world. Global problems cannot be solved just with local strategies; therefore, we need to create national, but also international networks to face all the challenges of this era. Consequently, we reckon that is important to encourage the participation of young Mexicans in multilateral forums and organizations. Last year, for example, members of “Diálogos” participated as the Mexican Delegation in the Y8 Summit, which took place in London. Topics like nuclear arsenals, tax heavens, cyber-attacks, the use of drones, financial crisis, humanitarian crises, social and human development, sustainable development, and youth employment were discussed in the summit. The conclusions, statements, and proposals from the summit constitute an excellent material to the improvement of international public policies. Furthermore, the Y8 summit was a great opportunity to create ties of interaction between the young delegates. Likewise, this year “Diálogos” organized a forum in Mexico City with the young panelists from the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. All these events increase our knowledge about the global agenda, but also give us a chance to participate in the collective shaping of this agenda. In all these activities, “Diálogos” see in Kybernus Group an example of successful in the promotion of liberal-democratic values. Kybernus is also a non-profit, nongovernmental and non-partisan organization. First of all, Kybernus offers a frame of values and good practices. They have taught us that leadership is important, but is even more important how we exert leadership. Because, the way we exert leadership 29