Debate Motion Central: June 2014

Friday, June 27, 2014

Deutsche Debattiermeisterschaft (German Language Debating Championships), Berlin, Germany, June 6-9 2014

R1: THW abolish Gesinnungsstrafrecht (additional attitude/mindset penalties for crimes commited, e.g. hate crimes)
R2: THW give citizens the right to change their identities without giving justification
R3: THBT Putin’s conduct of the Crimea crisis was in Russia’s strategic interest
R4: TH is a citizen of a western liberal democracy that rejects discrimination on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity. TH would boycott works from artists (painters, musicians, movie directors, etc.) that personally hold discriminatory views, even when you like their art
R5: TH regrets the increasing classification of human behaviour as illnesses
R6: THW, as part of awareness campaigns about rape and sexual violence, inform women of potentially risky behaviour (like alcohol consumption or choice of clothing)
R7: TH, as the European Union, would introduce defence mechanisms agains anti-EU parties
Quarter:: THBT liberal democracies should not treat disclosure of information to the public as treason.
Semi:: THW temporarily recolonise former colonies that have developed into “failed states”
DaF (German as a Second Language) Final: THBT it is time for Germany to take more on miiltary responsibility in the world
Final: THBT current day’s political correctness does more harm than good

TechOpen, Haifa, Israel, May 30-31 2014

R1: THW implement a full ban on burqas
R2: Info: In recent years, Hungary has severely limited freedom of speech and freedom of the press, has silenced opposition groups, and condoned widespread discrimination of the LGBT community and the Roma minority. Motion: TH, as the European Union, would suspend Hungary's EU-membership if they do not reform within a set period of time.
R3: Info: Hamsterdams are non-residential areas in which drug users and dealers are legally allowed to buy, sell, and use drugs. Any drug related activity outside such
Hamsterdams remains illegal. Motion: THW create Hamsterdams in cities with a high level of drug use
R4: Info: Virtual child pornography is a very realistic appearing computer generated depiction of a minor engaging in sexual acts. In the USA, Germany, and Australia (among others) virtual child pornography is banned. Motion: THW allow virtual child pornography
Semi: Info: In Star Trek, the Prime Directive prohibits space travels missions’ personnel from interfering with the internal development of alien civilizations. It was designed primarily for encounters with alien civilizations deemed to be less advanced. In the future, when human kind develops space travel capabilities, Motion: THW Implement the Prime Directive
Final: TH, as the Palestinian people, would launch a Third Intifada

Neckarwiesen Cup, Heiderlberg, Germany, May 17 2014

R1: Should we introduce diversity quota, rather than women’s quota?
R2: (inkl.Factsheet) Should we reserve prostheses and implants for people with physical deficiencies?
R3: Should companies have to justify the labour conditions of their suppliers in their yearly financial reports?
Final: Should the European Court of Justice be given the power to annul national laws that violate European values upon request of the European Parliament?

Helsinki Open, Helsinki, Finland, May 16-18 2014

R1: THBT parents should monitor the electronic communications of their children, for example by installing spyware, requiring their children to give them their passwords, or reading browser histories
R2: THW take away essential service givers' (such as policemen, firemen and doctors) right to strike
R3: Info Slide: Brendan Eich was appointed in April 2014 as CEO of the Mozilla Corporation, creator of the web browser Firefox. After his appointment, news emerged that he had made a $1000 donation in 2008 to support Proposition 8, a referendum that sought to establish ”only marriage between a man and a woman is recognised in California”. This resulted in a wide spread campaign calling to remove Eich from office, eventually resulting in his resignation 10 days after taking office. Motion: TH regrets the campaign to remove Brendan Eich from office
R4: Info Slide: A retroactive law is a law criminalizing a particular act, such that people who committed the act even before it was criminalized can still be prosecuted under this law. Motion: THW allow the parliament to pass retroactive laws with a 2/3 majority
R5: THBT developing countries should ban aid organizations from religious proselytizing
Semi-Final: THBT The death of newspapers and news print media would be a net good
Final: THBT the education system should stream children according to their abilities from a young age

French Language World Championships Debating, Paris, France, May 12-16 2014

THW prohibit works of art that undermine/go against morality
THW ban commercials
THW introduce a “capability vote”
THW prohibit sex changes
THW ban pornography
THW impose a DNA database
THW prohibit all motor vehicles
THW grant legal personality to animals
THW ban online dating sites
THW make participating in sports activities mandatory
THW permit the state discretionary eavesdropping on its citizens
THW put a cap on the salaries of top athletes
THW make the payment of family allowances conditionary on school attendance
THW resist the supremacy of English by any means available

Thursday, June 26, 2014

IDEA League of Young Voters European Cup, Strassbourg, France, 9-11 May 2014

R1: THW substantially lower labour regulations for young people in areas with high youth unemployment.
R2: THBT internet piracy has done more good than harm.
R3: THBT the European Union should guarantee membership to regions of member states that secede from their parent state.
R4: TH supports hydraulic fracturing.
R5: THW implement tradable quotas for asylum seekers within the European Union.
Semi: TH supports Athletic Bilbao's cantera policy.
Final: THW create a common history curricula for the entire European Union.

Zeit Debatte Mainz, Mainz, Germany, 2-4 May 2014

Zeit Debatte Mainz, Mainz, Germany, 2-4 May 2014 (translated)

R1: Should universities stop giving out honours or titles for which no scientific labour or standards were met (e.g. honourary doctors title)?
R2: Should Spartengewerkschaften (craft unions) be abolished? Spartengewerkschaften abgeschafft werden?
R3: Should providing arms to the citizens of another state be outlawed under international law?
R4: Should landowners be the owners of all natural resources (Bodenschätze) in their ground?
R5: Should media be banned from publishing information about the sexual preferences or orientations of public figures without their consent?
Semi: It is mandatory in Germany to reserve one percent of your public building budget for art projects.Motion: Should we stop the mandatory art requirement for public building projects?
Final: Should politicians be liable for policy decisions with their private assets (mutatis mutandis)?

Copenhagen Open, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2-3 May 2014

R1: THW legalise the sale and purchase of human organs
R2: THW allocate public housing and use financial incentives (e.g. rent subsidies) to maintain a minimum quota of ethnic groups in all areas of the country
R3: THW ban the use of photoshop in magazines and advertising
R4: THBT the USA should withdraw from NATO
R5: THW lower income tax and impose higher wealth taxes (e.g. on inheritance, property and other assets) instead
Final: Info slide: Tell me yourself – I challenge you; let’s assume that you were called upon to build the edifice of human destiny so that men would finally be happy and would find perfect peace and tranquility. If you knew that, in order to attain this, you would have to torture just one single creature, let’s say the little girl who beat her chest so desperately in the outhouse, and that on her unavenged tears you could build that edifice, would you agree to do it? Tell me and don’t lie! Motion: THW build Dostoevsky's edifice

South German Regional Championships, Stuttgart, Germany, 26-27 May 2014

South German Regional Championships, Stuttgart, Germany, 26-27 May 2014 (translated)

R1: THBT liberal democratic states should add citizens duties as well as citizens rights in their constitutions
R2: THW rewrite sexist, racist or otherwise discriminating passages in opera libretti
R3: THW allow parents to decide to let their severally mentally handicapped children be operated or treated with hormones so that they will not enter physical puberty
R4: THW ban money from Saudi Arabia to promote Islam in the EU, as long as other religions are banned from that country.
Semi: THW require popular sports that generate high profits to share a portion of their gains with marginal/fringe sports
Final: THW require companies to make the salaries of all their employees publicly available

West German Regional Championships, Münster, Germany, 26-27 May 2014

West German Regional Championships, Münster, Germany, 26-27 May 2014 (translated)

R1: THW ban beauty pageants for minors
R2: THW ban political contributions.
R3: TH, as a woman, would make targeted use of her feminine charms
R4: THBT all borders should be opened at once
Semi: THW replace the Bundestag by permanent “delegated voting”
Final: THW require companies to make the salaries of all their employees publicly available

North-East German Regional Championships, Magdeburg, Germany, 26-27 April 2014

North-East German Regional Championships, Magdeburg, Germany, 26-27 April 2014 (translated)

R1: THW ban commercial expeditions to the top of the Mount Everest
R2: THW award state funding for the arts through lottery
R3: Info: Given that it is technically possible to alter people´s subjective experience of time so that short periods of time feel considerably longer (e.g. one day feels like a year) Motion: THW apply the technology as an alternative to regular imprisonment
R4: THW falsify history in post-war societies in order to ensure peace
Semi: THW replace the state pension with a state disability insurance
Final: THW require companies to make the salaries of all their employees publicly available

Hull Open, Hull, England, 26 April 2014

R1: THW require all advertising to be gender neutral.
R2: A Computer Operated Police (or C.O.P) Machine is a non-autonomous humanoid domestic drone currently being developed by the State to carry out operations deemed to be too dangerous for human officers. They are remote operated and fully armed. Motion: TH supports the deployment, throughout the Police Force, of C.O.P.s.
R3: 'Scientific rationalism': The practice or principle of basing opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.Motion: THW aggressively promote scientific rationalism in schools.
R4: THW, as the West, invade Syria with the objectives to depose the Assad regime and oversee a transition to democracy.
Final: THW decriminalise the intentional and negligent transmission of HIV.

VUAS Debate tournament, Valmiera, Lithuania, 26-27 April 2014

R1: THW require elected politicians and their families to use only services provided by the state
R2: THW grant the Roma the right to settle in self governing autonomous communities
R3: THBT states should grant unconditional asylum to all Syrians
R4: TH, as Latvia, would ban Legion Day parades
R5: THW would classify crimes directed against sub-cultures as hate crimes
Semi: In countries where gay marriage is legal THW abolish tax exemptions and cease funding of religious organisations that refuse to conduct same sex marriage or ban homosexuals from their services
Final: Given the consent of Ukraine's government, THBT the West should assist in maintaining peace and territorial integrity in Eastern Ukraine

Paris Open, Paris, France, 25-26 April 2014

R1: THBT it is immoral to donate to animal welfare charities while there are charities which aim to alleviate human suffering still in need.
R2: THW guarantee military veterans jobs for life (through civilian state sector employment or/and state subsidy of private sector employment).
R3: Info: The Diamond Club is a dating website which aims to pair male millionaires with physically attractive females. Male members pay upwards of £100,000 to join the site, while female members are ranked out of 100 for their physical attractiveness and do not pay a fee to join. No other qualities, such as skills or interests, are taken into account when ranking female members. The site is for linking of dates, and not for prostitution.Motion: THBT feminists should not oppose dating sites which seek to romantically link rich men and physically attractive women.
R4: THBT western nations should require companies seeking to sell products within their borders to abide by national worker’s rights legislation, regardless of where the goods were manufactured and at all stages of the production process.
R5: THW determine income tax based on the relative privilege of an individuals’ upbringing.(Privilege includes such things as private education, parental wealth, childhood home)
Open Semi: THW, as NATO, send troops to protect the Ukrainian border (not including the Crimea).
ESL Final: THW offer citizenship to illegal immigrants in exchange for meaningful information on their traffickers and illegal employers.
Open Final: THS the unlimited use of war-time propaganda which aims to dehumanise the enemy.

Aberdeen Open, Aberdeen, Scotland, 19 April 2014

R1: THW legalize the sale, production and consumption of drugs
R2: THW expand baby hatches in China
R3: THW partially link development aid to developing countries commitment to female equality
R4: TH welcomes the downfall of global capitalism
Final: THBT the states should pay reparations to ethnic minorities

Kent IV, Kent, England, 12 April 2014

Round 1: This House Regrets the rise of televised talent shows
Round 2: THBT national central banks should set limits on government spending
Round 3: THW ban the orange march in the UK
Round 4: THBT developing democracies with a history of ethnic tensions should have ethnic quotas in government
Final: THBT black civil rights groups should condemn contemporary hip hop

Estonian Open, Tallinn, Estonia, 11-13 April 2014

R1: THW create a separate athletics league for athletes that choose to take performance enhancing substances.
R2: THW impose quotas that ensure at least half of a company’s board of directors is composed of women.
R3: THBT the gay rights movement should abandon the claim that sexuality is not a choice.
R4: THW allow individuals to enter into pre-nuptial agreements where infidelity is punishable by prison sentences.
R5: THS the creation and use of Autonomous Killing Robots. Info: Autonomous Killing Robots are a form of military technology which when activated, can identify and engage targets* without further human intervention. *targets include humans and light armoured vehicles
Open Semi Final: THBT the EU should offer membership to Middle Eastern and North African states that achieve successful democratic transition.
Novice final: THW give the public the power, via referendum, to pardon whistleblowers.
Open Final: In a parallel universe, there is a planet X which resembles Earth as it existed in the early days of humanity. Their human population face a choice of implementing one of two political systems. Motion: TH, as the human population of planet X, would choose communism over capitalism.

Berlin IV, Berlin, Germany, 11-13 April 2014

R1: THS the “No Platform” practice towards far-right and fascist public figures in advance of the EU elections.
R2: THBT history curricula should feature the same proportion of male and female historical figures.
R3: THW allow assisted suicide for terminally ill children with the consent of their parents.
R4: THBT Western states should substantially support the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in its efforts in the developing world to promote birth control that is undetectable by men.
R5: THW make voting mandatory.
Semi: THW abolish the prison system.
Final: THBT the EU should force member states to adopt socially progressive legislation (e. g. same-sex marriage, abortion rights, ethnic and religious minority rights).

NK Debatteren (Dutch National Championships), Utrecht, the Netherlands, 5-6 April 2014

NK Debatteren (Dutch National Championships), Utrecht, the Netherlands, 5-6 April 2014 (translated)

R1: THBT landowners should become the automatic owners of everything on and in the ground they own
R2: THBT all schools in the Westbank become integrated schools (mixing up children of different backgrounds to enhance integration and understanding)
R3: THW ban research into the genetic origins of homosexuality
R4: THW offer NATO membership to all former Soviet Union states
R5: TH, as the parent of a child diagnosed with ADHD would conceal the diagnosis from the child and its school
Semi: THW legally define rape as sex without explicit consent
Novice final: THW ban women older than 40 from having children
Final: THBT no mayor should have participated in the protest marches against Wilders’ statements

Northumbria Open, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, 5 April 2014

R1: THW hold football clubs criminally liable for the actions of their fans
R2: THBT developing countries should create constitutionally guaranteed minimum standards of living
R3: THW establish vocational schools and aggressively stream academically underperforming children into them.
R4: TH regrets the centralisation of organised religion.
Final: THBT the government should nationalise all land and buildings.

Aberystwyth Open, Aberystwyth, Wales, 5 April 2014

R1: Info: Scientology is a set of beliefs founded in the 1950s by Science Fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard The church of Scientology has gathered controversy for its practice of auditing, a process which requires large sums of money to advance through the levels of the church, as well as a belief that psychiatry should be abolished The US currently recognises Scientology as a religion, whilst European nations such as France have characterised the movement as a cult. On the 2011 UK census, over 8000 people registered themselves as scientologists Recognising a religion grants legal protection from discrimination and considerable tax breaks and financial benefits Motion: THW officially recognise Scientology as a religion
R2: TH regrets the popularisation and commercialisation of counter-cultural or oppositional sub-genres of music (e.g Gangsta Rap or Punk music)
R3: Info: For the purposes of this debate, the definition of strong AI is “A computer or robot with the intellectual and emotional intelligence, communication skills and consciousness equal to, at least, the level of a human” Asimov's three laws of robotics are: 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot may not injure its own kind and defend its own kind unless it is interfering with the first or second rule This is a suggestion, based on systems proposed in the past. Feel free to use other moral frameworks, provided this is made clear in the first minute of the PM's speech Motion: Upon the creation of strong AI, THW hardwire AI units with an unassailable and unalterable moral code
R4: Info: Conversion therapy is a range of treatments that aim to reduce Same-Sex Attraction and increase Opposite Sex Attraction. Such treatments have been criticized for being pseudo-scientific, but proponents maintain that the treatments are successful, coining the term “Ex-Gay” In all western liberal democracies, Motion:This House Would ban gay conversion therapy
Final: In a world where the technology exists, This House Would erase all the memories of individuals who have committed serious crimes and replace them with a fabricated set of memories, instead of sending them to prison

Heriott Watt Open, Edinburgh, Scotland, March 29 2014

R1: THBT the death of newspapers and print news media would be good for journalism
R2: Info: "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" Motion: TH regrets hookup apps
R3: Info: Most votes in parliaments are 'whipped votes': in these cases MPs might be expelled from their party or denied promotion if they vote against the party. Occasionally a party will have a 'free vote' and MPs can vote as they like. Examples in the UK include the ban on fox hunting with dogs, votes on abortion, and the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Labour had a whipped vote in favour of same-sex marriage, whereas the Conservatives had a free vote. Motion: TH regrets free votes
R4: Info: Of thirty-one University of Cambridge Colleges, there are three which are women-only: Murray Edwards, Newnham and Lucy Cavendish. 1,100 out of 17 000 students in women-only colleges (6%). In the university as a whole, the ratio of women to men is roughly 50:50.Motion: This house, as the University of Cambridge, would abolish women-only colleges
Final: Info: Final info slide: The Conservative Party is the main centre-right party in the UK. The Conservative Party is wildly unpopular in Scotland with just one seat in Westminster Parliament, despite winning many seats in England. Polls of Scottish voters see them expressing economic and social views generally in line with the majority of UK voters. It has been proposed that the Conservative Party in Scotland split with UK Conservative Party. The new party would have an independent policy platform. Motion: In the event of a 'no' vote in the independence referendum, THBT the Scottish Conservative Party should split from the UK Conservative Party

Cardiff Open, Cardiff, Wales, March 29 2014

R1: THW prioritise the funding of grassroots over elite sports
R2: THBT large Eurozone states should openly oppose Britain's attempts to renegotiate its duties and relationship with the EU
R3: TH supports the televisation of trials
R4: THW make development aid contingent on recipient countries maintaining substantial redistributive taxes
Final: THW make failure to render reasonable assistance to a person in distress a criminal offence

Copenhagen Mini Open, Copenhagen, Denmark, March 29 2014

R1: THW ban unpaid internships
R2: THW establish and monitor centres for animal prostitution
R3: THW heavily increase taxes on meat
Final: Given that a trade-off is required, THBT history education in post-conflict societies should focus on reconciliation at the cost of truth

National Maiden’s, Dublin, Ireland, March 28-29 2014

R1: THW ban commercial surrogacy
R2: THW abandon the search for extraterrestrial life
R3: THW welcome a political union of Latin American states based on the ideals of the Bolivarian revolution
R4: THBT artists accrue no additional responsibilities/duties by virtue of becoming famous
R4: THW make ratification of peace agreements conditional on approval by a popular vote of women affected by the conflict
Semi: TH is a police officer operating in a democracy with a functional judicial system. THW use extra-legal methods in the investigation and apprehension of serious criminals
Final: In Margaret Atwood's novel Oryx and Crake there is a pill, which: (a) Protects the user against all sexually transmitted diseases (b) Provides unlimited libido and sexual prowess, along with a general sense of energy and well being (c) Acts as a 100% effective male and female birth control pill. All of the effects are irreversible and there are no other side effects. THW take the pill.

Zeit Debatte Wien, Vienna, Austria, March 28-30 2014

Zeit Debatte Wien, Vienna, Austria, March 28-30 2014 (translated)

R1: Should media be banned from speculative or evaluative (judgmental) reporting during court cases?
R2: Should war memorials for fallen soldiers also offer equal recognition to soldiers from the other side?
R3: Should it be a duty to report recognised injustices committed by fellow citizens (Sollen es eine Pflicht geben, erkanntes Unrecht seiner Mitbürger zur Anzeige zu bringen?)
R4: Should Fracking be stimulated?
R5: (inkl. Factsheet) Should Austria counteract itsDeclaration of Neutrality?
Semi: Should state marriage be open for all relations between people?
Final: Should we accept the incorporation of Crimea into Russia?

Southampton Open, Southampton, England, March 23 2014

R1: THW offer drug and alcohol addicts substantial cash payments in return for agreeing to undergo sterilisation
R2: THBT major news-media organisations should not interview people with views outside the consensus of the scientific community
R3: THBT men should take no active role in the womens liberation movement
R4: TH, as a developing state, would ignore all international patent and copyright treaties
Final: A person's self-image is the mental picture, generally of a kind that is quite resistant to change, that depicts not only details that are potentially available to objective investigation by others (height, weight, hair colour, biological sex, race etc.), but also items that have been learned by that person about himself or herself, either from personal experiences or by internalizing the judgments of others (gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity etc.) Motion: TH regrets the concept of self-image

NK Beleidsdebatteren (Dutch Policy Debate Championships), Eindhoven, the Netherlands, March 22 2014

NK Beleidsdebatteren (Dutch Policy Debate Championships), Eindhoven, the Netherlands, March 22 2014 (translated)

R1: Secondary schools should have a mandatory course in etiquette
R2: The Netherlands should give everyone over 14 the right to vote
R3: Dutch mayors should be elected
R4: Only people with a teaching degree should teach at universities in the Netherlands
Semi 1: We should stop giving development aid.
Semi 2: Polygamie should be legalised in the Netherlands
Final: Growing and selling cannabis should be made legal in the Netherlands

Liverpool IV, Liverpool, England, March 22 2014

R1: THBT schools should actively seek to instill a strong sense of patriotism
R2: THBT Western states should maintain travel bans on Modi in the event of his ascension to Prime Minister
R3: THW impose a quota ensuring that more than half of the London Metropolitan Police Service, across all ranks, is composed of people from ethnic minorities
R4: THW compel doctors to facilitate the deaths of consenting and competent patients.
Pro Am Final: THBT Judges should take into account the socioeconomic circumstances of defendants
Open Final: You are a Western Liberal democracy in a four-year long brutal and bloody war of attrition against an imperialistic dictatorship. Every Christmas, there is a football match between the two sides and a ceasefire. Attending the match are high ranking political and military persons of both sides, the killing of which would benefit greatly the other side. Motion: THW violate the ceasefire and kill the leaders.

Exeter Open, Exeter, England, March 22 2014

R1: THW bring back the Assisted Places Scheme (info)
R2: THBT the feminist movement should actively participate in the production, distribution and consumption of pornography
R3: TH regrets the rise of atheism as promoted by Richard Dawkins (in, for example, The God Delusion in which he argues that tolerance of religion damages society and individuals)
R4: Info: You are the leader of a large group of hackers, who can accurately determine the personal information of people who post online. This includes, but is not limited to, their name, home address and place of work. As this information is obtained through means of questionable legality, it would be inadmissible in court and reporting it would likely lead to the prosecution of you and your group.Motion: THW aggressively harass those who post online anonymous abuse
Final: There is a city called Omelas where all the citizens live perfectly fulfilled and happy lives. Buildings are beautiful, crops are plentiful, there is no disease, no crime, and no sorrow of any kind. On the day they reach adulthood, every citizen is taken into the citadel, to a room in the basement. There, in the deepest dungeon, they find a child, malnourished and sick, chained against the wall, in the utmost misery a human being can endure. They know that if the child were comforted, if it were allowed to enjoy a solitary moment of happiness, that the beauty of the city above would crumble, and disease, crime and want would become a part of the peoples lives. For that reason, the child will never be allowed to leave by the city. Every citizen in Omelas knows it is there, and they have all agreed to live with it. Occasionally, a citizen, man or woman, young or old, will walk through the gate on the edge of the city. They will venture into the desert that surrounds the city for as far as can be seen, walk over the horizon, and never be seen or heard from again.They are known only as The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas.Motion: THW walk away.

DCU Open, Dublin, Ireland, March 21-22 2014

R1: This House Would Ban All Political Donations
R2: This House Would Establish Brothels on Military Bases
R3: This House Believes That it is Legitimate for Nations to Rewrite History Books in their Favour After a Time of War
R4: That This House, as Barack Obama, would use inception to plant socially progressive ideas in Vladimir Putin's dreams
R5: This House Believes That liberal states with sexually conservative communities should subsidise hymenoplasty
Semi:Info slide - Disgruntled with NSA spying on US citizens, two senators from opposing parties have introduced a bill banning companies in California from providing essential utility services to the agency – including cutting off its computer-cooling water supply. Motion: THW Support the Bill
Final: TH Welcomes the advent of extreme genetic advancements for humans

Royal Holloway Open, London, England, March 16 2014

This tournament allowed first props to pick their motions. The results:

R1: TH, as the North of England, would violently secede from the UK.
R1: THW allow people to ascertain their lifespan via the 'Bethesda' device.
R1: In a Battlestar Galactica-themed scenario (where humanity is drifting in space), THW ban abortion.
R1: TH supports feminist vigilante groups in India.
R1: THBT when secession referenda are called, the nation that is being seceded from should get a chance to vote the smaller country out
R1: THW create a market in internal organs
R1: THBT all erroneous information used in debates should be penalised by judges
R1: TH, as a wizard, would create a horcrux
R1: THW force countries to invest in a global space program
R2: THW require all businesses to be owned and run as cooperatives
R2: THW ban the production, sale, and use of Poké Balls
R2: THW enter the Matrix
R2: TH supports unmanned aerial vehicles in warfare
R2: THW introduce a UK constitution giving courts more power.
R2: THBT parents should advise daughters against heavy drinking to avoid sexual assault.
R2: THW eliminate copyright and patenting
R2: TH, as Germany, would ban all emission vehicles by 2020
R2: THW disproportionately teach colonialism in schools
R3: TH regrets the rise of drinking initiations in universities
R3: TH supports the marriage of Ron and Hermione
R3: THW allow "Just following orders" as a defence
R3: THW ban advertising
R3: THW forcibly plug everyone into Nozick's experience machine
R3: TH does not regret internet piracy
R3: It is 2017. This house is the Out campaign. THW spread hyperbolised information and lies about the EU in order to win the referendum
R3: THBT colonialism caused more good than harm
R3: THW force men and women to take equal maternity and paternity leave
R4: TH, as Marcus Brutus, would participate in the conspiracy to kill Caesar
R4: TH prefers 'an eye for an eye' in modern society
R4: TH welcomes the advent of emerging genetic enhancements on the human body
R4: THBT feminists should oppose global capitalism
R4: It is 1951, during the Korean War. TH, as the US, would aggressively nuke China
R4: THW tie minimum wage increases to increases in the income of the 1%
R4: THW institute a lottery system whereby Olympic ticket purchasers may be drafted in as athletes
R4: In a world with superheroes, THW institute a superhero register
R4: There is a zombie outbreak where 1% of the world is infected. They are all kept in a pen at great expense. We have a vaccination, and the other 99% are vaccinated - they will not be zombified, but the 1% are still dangerous, and there is no cure. Motion: THW kill the 1%
Final: TH prefers the abolition of pornography to the nationalisation of pornography.

UCL IV, London, England, March 15 2014

R1: TH regrets the creation of shows like 'teen mom' and '16 and pregnant'
R2: TH supports Israel’s targeted assassinations of prominent members of Hamas
R3: THW suspend trade unions and labour protection laws at times of economic crisis
R4: THW require all isolated communities to have a rumspringa
Semi: TH welcomes the rise of anarcho-populism
Final: On the condition that gangs fulfil basic social needs (such as basic healthcare, education and sanitation), THW cease to combat the gangs and their trade in favelas

Reedhoven Cup, Bonn, Germany, March 15-16 2014

Reedhoven Cup, Bonn, Germany, March 15-16 2014 (translated)

R1: Should the state provide drug checking options in all areas with higher than average drug use?
R2: Should all people be required to take a vaccination against human gene mutation (of the X-men variety) after birth?
R3: Should professional sports clubs be prohibited to seek national and international transfers of minors that are still in youth programs?
R4: Should closed prisons be abolished for all crimes in juvenile justice system?
Semi: Should there be an unconditional basic income?
Final: Should killing and feeding (Verfüttern) zoo animals for population control and consolidation of genetic diversity be banned?

Paris V, French Debating Association Tournament semis, Paris, France, March 11 - March 17 2014

Semi 1: THBT the relationship between Britain and France is indeed a "Dear Conjunction"
Semi 2: THBT "Action is Eloquence" (Coriolanus)

Pre-Pristina Open, Pristina, Kosovo, March 9 2014

R1: THW ban advertising targeted at children
R2: THW assassinate North Korean nuclear scientists
Final: TH, as a high profile Kosovar football player, would choose to play for a national team fully recognised by FIFA instead of Kosovo

Mainzer Debütanten Cup, Mainz, Germany, March 8 2014

Mainzer Debütanten Cup, Mainz, Germany, March 8 2014 (translated)

R1: Should religious education at school be abolished?
R2: Should we introduce mandatory quotas for media products from Europe in film, tv and radio?
R3: Should men be allowed to protest their legal duty to pay child support in writing if their partners decide against getting their written permission for abortion?
Final: Should the West cut all economic ties with Russia as long as it occupies Crimea?

Leeds Open, Leeds, England, March 8-9 2014

R1: THW legally require the consent of artists for the resale and use of their art
R2: TH supports The RMT's decision to strike (in protest at ticket office closures)
R3: THBT the US and EU should apply economic sanctions to Russia unless there is a full withdrawal of troops from territorial Ukraine.
R4: THW replace all means-tested benefits with a Universal Basic Income
R5: THW abolish Oxford and Cambridge Universities

Vienna IV, Vienna, Austria, March 7-9 2014

R1: THBT NGOs/charities should not accept donations from organizations that contradict their aims
R2: In situations where it's not possible to achieve both aims and the decision lies with the doctor, THBT doctors should prioritize prolonging life over the quality of that life
R3: THBT that Vienna should devote Ottakring to immigrants from Eastern Europe (i.e.: An Eastern European 'Chinatown') Context: Ottakring is a neighbourhood with a high percentage of immigrants, particularly from former Yugoslavia.
R4: THBT the US and the EU should support a Russian annexation of Crimea in exchange for an otherwise independent Ukraine
R5: Info: the “Thirst Games” is a reality tv show in which contestants compete against each other and battle to the death. The games continue until only one contestant remains alive and that person wins fame, glory and riches.Motion: Assuming participants have consented freely and in full knowledge of the risks and possible consequences, THW allow its citizens to participate in the “Thirst Games”
R6: TH supports nations marketing themselves as destinations for ‘good time tourism’ (for the purpose of this debate, good time tourism refers to every form of tourism that satisfies human desires and is generally forbidden in the West (prostitution, drugs)
Quarter: Given a machine that can predict a person's life 95% accurately, THW not use it
Semi: THBT media aimed at children should reject the "happily ever after" model and show a more realistic picture
Final: THBT no state, in any situation, has the right to demand, encourage or promote its citizen to fight or die for their country

Friday, June 27, 2014

Thursday, June 26, 2014

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