The Cerritos College Debate Team hosted a demonstration debate on Thursday versus the Xi’an International Studies University Debate Team.

The topic of discussion was environmental concerns and how those concerns have become much less important in these times of economic crisis.

Cerritos was on the opposition side of the debate, making its argument that in these times of economic troubles, the environment should still comes first.

The Chinese team won the debate with stronger points of how in these times, the people should come first and before we can think about revitalizing the earth, the government needs to get the economy flowing instead of wasteful spending, seeing as how the US has borrowed funds from other nations including China.

While Chinese students Zhang Yan (Carmen) and Men Hansi (Hans Men) made their points “clear and comprehensive,” according to one observer Claudia Ortiz, the Cerritos Debaters seemed to be making redundant statements about President Obama and his stimulus plan, which actually has nothing to do with the recovery of the environment.

The Chinese team also made it clear that they have no issue with funds being spent to save the planet but the fact remains that the world is in the worst economic time in centuries and, there can be no revitalization of our earth if we do not fix our own human issues first.

Cerritos’ only real argument was that the president’s stimulus plan would be used to manufacture more gas-efficient and “green” vehicles.

Observer Manny Girardy said, “The problem with that argument is that those cars are not even being made to help the environment as much as they are being made to help stimulate the car industry.”

The Chinese team realized that the economic troubles have to be dealt with first and foremost before people can even consider doing what is best for the environment.

Carmen made a point in the second proposition, “If the economy is in turmoil, how can she even think about getting married and starting a family?”

Cerritos debater Brian Wittig followed with the argument, “Just because the economy is struggling and funds get tighter, does not mean a person can not get married and have children”

He continued to say that in these times, love does not pay the bills nor does it feed your child.

The point Carmen was making is, it is irresponsible to do all of those family things if there aren’t even enough funds feed oneself.

The debate showed the differences in American culture and thinking from the ways the Chinese are taught, and “it was obvious the Chinese are trained to be more economically aware and responsible,” Girardy stated.

The Chinese debaters seemed to be more knowledgeable of what is going on from a worldly standpoint as opposed to just what is happening in their own country.

That is the reason they were victorious in Thursday’s debate.