Winning argument on weapons in space

Students

South African-born Lauren Potter grew up in an environment where injustice and poverty were rife.

It's no small wonder then that the 21-year-old is on a life-long mission to help those less fortunate.

The Bachelor of Law and International Studies second-year student is keen to pursue a career in the diplomatic field and make a difference to people's lives when she graduates.

Lauren took an important step towards this goal when she won the Best Delegate Award at this year's Asia-Pacific Model United Nations Conference, recently held in Brisbane.

Representing the People's Republic of China, Lauren took a stand against the militarisation of space and argued for disarmament.

"I was tasked with representing China's foreign policy, which is resolutely opposed to weapons in space," Lauren said.

"There is a strong argument that if we include satellites that are invasively used for military purposes, then we are on a very slippery slope towards weaponising space."

The Asia-Pacific Model United Nations Conference (AMUNC) is a leading international event for university students and has been hosted annually for the last 13 years.

It was established with a vision to promote the values of the United Nations and provide tertiary students with an opportunity to develop their communication skills and networks.

Held at the University of Adelaide in 2008, AMUNC attracted 500 tertiary students from all reaches of the Asia-Pacific this year for a week of debate and social events.

"It's a great opportunity for university students to face today's problems and current foreign policy clashes with tomorrow's answers," Lauren said.

"It makes you think about how to deal with those challenges, put aside your own personal views and represent the views of a given country."

Lauren moved to Adelaide from South Africa in early 2008 to embark on her double degree.

"I have a very keen sense of justice," she said. "Living in Johannesburg, it is easy to become desensitised to poverty and injustice because you see it every day. But I would like to raise awareness and restore the concept of responsibility for each other as human beings.

"I look at the United Nations and know it is not a trouble-free organisation but it is still the best avenue we have as an agent of change," Lauren said.

Story by Candy Gibson