ECO Open WSDC Tallinn 2016

MOTION 1: THBT online search engines and technology firms should be compelled to share personal data of their users with government agencies upon demand MOTION 2: THW stop the production of biofuels FINAL: THW re-establish border control in the Schengen area

13th International Debate Academy Slovenia 2015

INTERNATIONAL DEBATE ACADEMY SLOVENIA 2015

1.  THW legalise multi-partner marriages with any gender.

2. We support global maximum wealth limits for individuals

3. THBT we should suffer now to protect the ecological inheritance of the next generation. 

4. THBT further research into the development of Artificial Intelligence would result in more harm than good.

INFOSLIDE: Artificial intelligence involves computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence.

5. THR hook-up apps.

INFOSLIDE: Hookup apps are smartphone (Android, iPhone, etc.) programs which match people to others seeking casual sex, and put them in contact. The two most popular apps are ‘Tinder’ which sees ten million matches per day, and ‘Grindr’ (which is designed for men meeting men), which has over a four million users, one million using it daily

6. TH welcomes Russian military involvement in the Middle East.

Semfinals THBT Freedom of Speech must include freedom to offend

Final THBT class is more important than race.

Prep Motions for WSDC Tournament in Ljutomer March 2016

Here are prepared motions for the 13th International Worlds Schools Debate Tournament Ljutomer, Slovenia 2nd - 6th of March 2016:

THBT class is more important than race.

THBT the West should replace Saudi Arabia with Iran as its primary partner in the Middle East

TH regrets the dominant narrative of women as nonviolent and vulnerable in conflicts and humanitarian crises.

Please, be aware that a lot of countries/schools expressed their interest in the tournament (and 5 national teams for Worlds 2016 already committed to participate) so do not wait to register as the spots are limited. Registration is open and it will close on December 31st. You can get the registration form and more information at http://www.zainproti.com/web/index.php/domov/349-ljutomer2016.html

You can also join us a the https://www.facebook.com/ljutomer2016 to follow the updates. In case you have any questions, please, feel free to ask on facebook page or send an email to bojana.skrt@gmail.com.

The tournament is organised by Slovenian national debate organisation Za in proti, zavod za kulturo dialoga/Pro et contra, institute for culture of dialogue and the hosting school Gimnazija Franca Miklošiča Ljutomer.

Looking forward hosting you in Ljutomer,

Bojana Skrt

85th Mahaffey Memorial Tournament, Linfield College 2015

 85th Mahaffey Memorial Tournament, Linfield College 2015

Round 1

The USFG should guarantee free college tuition at public colleges and universities

Round 2

China’s claim of sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea is justified

Round 3 

THBT minors should be prosecuted for exchanging sexually explicit electronic images

Skype Demo Debate w/ Teams from Afghanistan

This house supports the rise of a secular state in Afghanistan

Round 4

The United States should adopt a national primary day for the selection of presidential candidates

Round 5

Europe should take increased responsibilities for refugees of the Syrian conflict

QUARTERS

THW normalize relations with Myanmar

SEMIS

Military recruitment campaigns targeted at low-income groups should be banned

FINALS 

THBT Saudi Arabia is the greatest threat in the Middle East 

Huber Debates, Vermont 2015

1. THW end all programs aimed at preserving endangered languages.
2. TH regrets the strong promotion of people declaring their sexual orientation (eg National Coming Out Day) as an advocacy strategy by LGBTQ movements.
3. THBT, following the resolution of domestic armed conflicts, prominent members of groups who fought against the state should be prohibited from running for public office (eg members of FARC in Columbia, Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka).
4. TH regrets the inclusion of religious symbols in memorial sites (eg crosses at Auschwitz, cross at Ground Zero).
5. TH supports the universal legalization of polyamorous unions.
Quarterfinals TH, as a progressive judge, presiding over the Marine Le Pen trial, would adopt reasoning that was plausible, but which you believe to be unsound, in order to justify a conviction.
Semifinals THBT the IMF should require collateral for national bailouts.
Novice Finals Given the option, THW establish a new state on a shared religious foundation rather than upon a secular foundation.
Grand Finals INFOSLIDE: According to convention the “first wave” of feminism was concerned with attaining basic legal and political rights for women. The “second wave” of feminism engaged itself with the ways in which social structures and norms resulted in gender inequality, which all women have a shared obligation to oppose.“Third Wave Feminism” is a loosely defined term which for the purposes of this debate is identified with feminists who argue it is instead up to individual women to decide whether to participate in certain social structures labeled as oppressive by second wave feminism e.g. wearing make up, being employed in the sex industry and seeks to ‘reclaim’ forms of patriarchal oppression e.g. via the attempt to reclaim the words ‘slut’ and "bitch"
MOTION: THR the rise of the "Third Wave Feminism"

Edinburgh Cup 2015

Edinburgh Cup 2015 (3-4 October 2015)
R1: THW abolish juries in all criminal trial.
R2: THW remove all benefits from those deemed fit, but unwilling, to work.
R3: Infoslide: Range voting is a voting system for single-person offices. Voters give each candidate a point score representing their support (e.g. 1 to 100), and the candidate with the most points is elected. Motion: THW introduce the range voting system.
R4: It is August 2015. TH, as Russia would not militarily intervene in Syria.
R5: THW Legalise Squatting
Semis: THR the release of Aylan Kurdi's image.
Finals: THS the election of Jeremy Corbyn.

ISIC 2015

ISIC 2015 (3-4 October 2015, London, UK)
R1: THBT developing nations should adopt a policy of benign neglect towards patent enforcement
R2: TH supports the Malaysian government’s policy of affirmative action to ethnic Malays
R3: TH, as the Indonesian government, would legalise slash and burn laws
R4: THBT the US should, given a choice between the two, focus on engaging India rather than China
Final: THBT development is more important than democracy

UCL President’s Cup 2015

UCL President’s Cup 2015 (10 October 2015, London, UK)
R1: THW allow the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport
R2: THBT railways should be nationally owned and operated
R3: THW allow individuals to use violent force to defend their homes, even where they do not fear for personal safety
R4: THBT Student Unions should refuse a platform to speakers who they deem offensive
Semis: THBT developing countries should legalise child labour
Non-Schools final: TH regrets internet anonymity
Final: THBT artists from majority cultures should not attempt to represent or emulate the minority cultures in their art

Münster WUDC Preparation Tournament 2015

Münster WUDC Preparation Tournament(10 October 2015, Münster, Germany)
R1: Assuming that a minimum standard of welfare has been achieved, THBT states should make no further attempt to reduce economic inequality
R2: THW ban the display of all art created with the intended purpose or reasonably likely outcome of creating offence
R3: THW aggressively financially incentivise the enrollment of female students in programs of study with disproportionately low female enrollment
R4: THBT Western foreign policies should abandon attempts to universalise liberal values
R5: THW prefer to live in a world where personal success and failure are seen as a consequence of random factors rather than personal choice

(The tournament had no final: the winners were the team top of tab after five rounds)

UCD IV 2015

UCD IV (10-11 October, Dublin, Ireland)
R1: This House Would require approval from local referenda for all major land development decisions (e.g stadiums, airport extensions, railways etc.)
R2: This House supports the July 2015 decision of the UK government to deny a visa to Tyler the Creator
R3: This House Believes That the West should abandon its foreign policy aim of removing Assad from power
R4: This House would allow asylum seekers to work
R5: This House believes that the government should only fund further education courses that have high graduate employment rates
Semi Final: This House believes that political parties’ Cabinets and Shadow Cabinets should be elected by the members of that party
Final: This House regrets the overwhelming narrative of good triumphing over evil in children’s entertainment

Odessa Open 2015

Odessa Open (October 10-11, Odessa, Ukraine)
R1: THW restrict more than one person from the same family from running for high political positions
R2: THB in the complete freedom of movement from refugees
R3: TH prefers a world where people believe in God to a world where people don’t
R4: THW introduce recall elections for Supreme Court or constitutional judges
R5: TH, as the feminist movement, supports sexualization of men in the media and pop culture
Semi Final: THB in a global wealth cap for individuals
Final: TH supports extensive Russian military involvement in Syria

King’s College London IV 2015

King’s College London IV (October 17, London, UK)
R1: THW cap every company's highest salary at 10x the lowest salary within that company.
R2: In countries with few female politicians, THBT it is good to have a politically active First Lady.
R3: THW introduce a tax on "low brow" entertainment in order to subsidise "high brow" art.
R4: THBT criminal justice policy should be outsourced to technocrats instead of elected representatives
Novice Final: TH as Western Countries ( EU, US, Canada, Australia) would stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia
Semi Final: THBT militaries should aggressively engage in the genetic and bionic enhancement of consenting soldiers
Final: THBT the US and it's allies should announce Intentions to capture and try, as opposed to assassinate the leaders of Da'esh (IS)

Strathclyde Open 2015

Strathclyde Open (October 17, Glasgow, UK)
R1: THW Criminalise Holocaust Denial
R2: THBT states should pursue economic equality above all else (e.g. high top rates of tax, high minimum income thresholds, property and inheritance tax)
R3: THBT the US should make Japanese participation in TPP contingent on apologising for WWII war crimes
R4: THR that the LGBTQA movement has allocated its limited time and resources to the achievement of legal marriage
Final: THBT Aung San Suu Kyi should include demands for Rohingya equality in her campaigning

Turku Open 2015

Turku Open (23rd-24th October)
R1: THS the use of Referenda when deciding whether to introduce same sex marriage
R2: Infoslide: Many State and charity programmes for the settlement or resettlement of the homeless place certain conditions on the individuals being housed eg not having used alcohol or drugs for a certain period of time.Motion: THW not set lifestyle conditions for placement of homeless people in state and charity provided accommodation
R3: THBT Finland should apply for NATO membership
R4: THW introduce socio-economic background quotas for students at university departments
R5: THW require broadcasters to devote equal time and prominence to coverage of female football games as male football games
Semis: Infoslide: In some sectors (eg. Banking, Corporate Law), there is a culture of long working hours.Motion: THW Require an anonymous, multi-option ballot of employees to determine the legally binding, maximum amount of extra working hours beyond the contractual minimum
Final: THW remove the distinction between economic migrants and refugees

SOAS IV 2015

SOAS IV (24th-25th October)
R1: THW give women two votes in political elections
R2: THBT law enforcement organisations should never provide incentives to gang members to inform on their superiors (e.g. plea bargains or monetary rewards)
R3: TH regrets the decline in oil prices over the last 18 months
R4: THBT Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is good for America
R5: THW allow countries to pay other countries to settle refugees who reach their borders
Quarters: THBT the state should reclaim a fixed proportion of all charitable giving and redistribute it to other charities on the basis of their effectiveness
Semis: THBT the trans movement should actively seek to separate themselves, their issues and their collective identity from the LGBTQ movement in their campaigns and in the public consciousness
Final: THW prefer a world in which there are no extreme emotions such as boiling rage, falling madly in love, extreme grief etc
ESL Final: THBT countries, like Switzerland, that were neutral in WW II should pay financial reparations to states occupied by the Nazis