Asian Schools Debate Championship¶
ASDC 2016¶
R1: “Ban All”¶
THW ban all advertisements targeted at children¶
THW ban all religions¶
THW ban All Hook-Up Platforms (e.g. Tinder, Grindr)¶
R2: Feminism¶
TH, as a feminist, would reject/condemn any laws created specifically in the name of women’s safety or protection.¶
TH, as feminists, celebrates the rise of industries that feature women as purchasers of male sexuality (host-bars, macho-cafes, etc).¶
As A Feminist, THW Reject FEMEN¶
FEMEN is a feminist activist group intended to protect women’s rights. The organization became internationally known for organizing controversial topless protests against sex tourism, religious institutions, sexism, homophobia and other social, national and international topics. The organization describes itself as “fighting patriarchy in its three manifestations – sexual exploitation of women, dictatorship and religion” and has stated that its goal is “sextremism serving to protect women’s rights”.
R3: It’s Only Fun If You Make It Fun¶
In the event an alien invasion happens, THW give up our resources in exchange for assimilation into their planet.¶
TH, as a time traveler, would go back, kidnap baby Hitler and place him in the custody of a Jewish family¶
TH, as DC Comics, would reveal Superman to be Muslim¶
R4: War¶
TH supports a ‘scorched earth policy’ approach in combatting ISIS¶
A scorched earth policy is a military strategy that targets anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area. Specifically, all of the assets that are used or can be used by the enemy are targeted, such as food sources, transportation, communications, industrial resources, and even the people in the area. The practice can be carried out by the military in enemy territory, or in its own home territory. It may overlap with, but is not the same as, punitive destruction of the enemy’s resources, which is done for purely political reasons rather than strategic/operational reasons.
THW manipulate individuals into escalating the war on terror¶
In post conflict societies, THW recruit former rebels into the new government’s military in exchange for pardon¶
R5: Pop Culture¶
TH regrets the use of taboo shockers in popular TV and movie series¶
A ‘taboo shocker’ is the use of extreme and graphic imagery in order to elicit shock and awe in viewers. (e.g. stabbing pregnant women and rape of teenagers in Game of Thrones)
TH regrets movies and TV programmes that over-glorify villains (i.e. Hannibal, The Joker)¶
THBT talent shows (e.g. American Idol) should not use their contestant’s deeply personal and tragic stories¶
R6: Guilt¶
THBT parents should refrain from using guilt to discipline their children¶
TH regrets politicians resigning for incidents that they did not have direct responsibility over.¶
THW actively de-emphasize the need for world leaders to apologize for the atrocities of their nations’ past¶
Novice Pre-Semis/Open Quarters: North East Asia¶
THBT the international community should pressure South Korea into not prioritizing North Korean defectors in their provision of refugee status¶
THW launch an airstrike against the Yongbyon nuclear facility in North Korea¶
THW actively stop China from creating islands in the South China Sea¶
Novice Semis: Language & Education¶
THW force all university graduates to be multi-disciplinary graduates¶
Multidisciplinary graduates are individuals who graduate from universities with more than 1 specialization, preferably with specializations that complement one another.
THW hire staff in all schools to take over all functions from teachers except the actual teaching of the curriculum¶
TH supports the growing trend of culturally re-interpreting dominant languages to fit the community (e.g. Singlish/Manglish/Spanglish)¶
A dominant language, in the context of this debate, refers to the main language of trade and communication used in the country. For instance, in most countries, this will be the English Language
Open Semis: The Future¶
Assuming that it is feasible, THW actively encourage private mining operations in space.¶
THW ban virtual reality applications that simulate real-life relationships (in both their positive and negative aspects)¶
THW allow individuals to cryogenically freeze themselves even if they are still alive.¶
Cryogenic freezing is a type of freezing which requires extremely low temperatures, generally below -2380 F (-1500 C). By using cryogenic freezing, it is possible in theory to keep an object frozen indefinitely without any “aging” related loss in the object. Generally, cryogenic freezing is used to freeze living objects. It is a process developed to safely freeze and thaw living objects so they can be revived to the exact condition they were in when they entered the freezing process.
Novice GF: United States of America¶
As FEMA, THW pull disaster relief funds from states that endorse the denial of global warming¶
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The agency’s primary purpose is to coordinate the response to disasters that have occurred in the United States and that overwhelms the resources of local and state authorities.
THW ban the depiction of violence in the promotion of police and army recruitment videos¶
THBT Bernie Sanders should run as an independent candidate in the Presidential Elections¶
Open GF: Discrimination¶
TH supports Peter Thiel’s war against Gawker Media¶
Gawker and its spinoffs (Jezebel, Deadspin, etc.) are known for controversial click-friendly news, and has published content both good (such as synthesizing the accusations against Bill Cosby) and objectionable (such as the outing of celebrities).
Peter Thiel is a billionaire venture capitalist and hedgefund manager, who was outed in a Gawker article in Dec. 2007. He has since paid for lawsuits against Gawker, including the recent lawsuit by Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan) which won the former wrestler $140 million.
TH regrets the rise of alteration products and services targeted to alter one’s skin¶
Assuming feasibility, THW no longer allow anonymity on the internet¶
ASDC 2015¶
R1: Freedom!¶
THW ban the Confederate Flag from being displayed in public spaces.¶
THR the rise of music streaming services (EG: Spotify)¶
THBT obscenity laws should be equally applied to all genders.¶
R2: Know your stuff¶
THW abolish Lèse-majesté laws in Thailand¶
THW require Japan to demolish the Yasukuni Shrine for the continued right to host the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics¶
THBT progressive Malays should join the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in order to effect change from the inside¶
R3: You know nothing Jon Snow.¶
THW financially incentivize students to major in fields where their gender has been traditionally underrepresented¶
THW require all schools, public and private, to follow a state designed core curriculum¶
THW require school populations to reflect the proportions of the different wealth demographics in their country¶
R4: For God so loveth the world.¶
THBT, on balance, the Catholic Church have done more harm than good in developing countries¶
THW remove all tax exemptions granted to religious institutions¶
THW prohibit the use of religion in electoral campaigns¶
R5: I hope you have your matter file with you. Seriously.¶
As a super human, THW submit to registration.¶
This is 2016. Human beings with super powers exist among you. Some can fly, some have very powerful suits of armor, some are Asgardian gods, some are really patriotic, some have spider-like abilities, and some turn green. These superheroes go about life helping save the world from just-as-absurd situations including aliens, artificial intelligence, and World War II era Nazis. The US government has called for a registration act that would reveal secret identities, powers, and places where they live, to hold super humans accountable.
As a medical community, THW breed and harvest apes and chimps.¶
This is 2016. Research has shown that apes and chimps possess human-like intelligence. This was assisted with brain enhancing chemicals, originally intended to be a clinical trial for amnesia drugs. We have also found out that these animals possess hormones that can assist with neurological diseases. However, extracting them would entail pain and certain death for the ape/chimp.
THBT you should change your appearance to advance your career.¶
This is 2015. You are a rising singing talent in Korea. You have won many contests and have been offered different contracts by record labels who wish to sign you on. Of these, the most lucrative for your career is a label that also wants you to change your image. They would prefer you to undergo cosmetic surgery and wear more revealing clothing during performances.
R6: ASEAN¶
THBT ASEAN should welcome USA’s military presence in the South China Sea.¶
THBT ASEAN should suspend the membership of Myanmar until it recognises the Rohingya as its citizens.¶
THBT ASEAN states that are not signatories to the TPPA should pressure ASEAN states that are signatories/negotiating to withdraw from the agreement.¶
Novice SF: People. People. People.¶
THW require all citizens, upon University graduation, to work in their countries of origin for a minimum of three years.¶
THBT the state should financially incentivize people who have debilitating hereditary diseases to undergo sterilization.¶
Novice GF: Give me rainbow cake or give me death! – Eddie Izzard (sort of)¶
As the gay rights movement, THW advocate for the legalization of polyamorous relationships.¶
As loving parents, THBT we should encourage our transgender children to hide their actual sex/ sexuality/ gender to avoid childhood discrimination¶
Open QF: All is fair in love and war.¶
THBT US should discontinue all military assistance & support to Saudi Arabia until it withdraws from Yemen.¶
THBT Latin American countries currently in military conflicts with drug cartels should legalize all drugs.¶
As the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, THW recognize Israel.¶
Open SF: You are fired. (Trump, 2015 & beyond)¶
THBT multinational corporations that operate in developing countries should subject half the seats of its board of directors to democratic elections by the local populace.¶
TH welcomes a Greek exit from the Eurozone.¶
THW would make goverernments legally obliged to provide jobs to all unemployed citizens upon request.¶
Open GF: To infinity and beyond.¶
THBT the extinction of human beings is a moral outcome.¶
If evidence on a method to gain eternal life was found, THW would destroy it.¶
Assuming the technology exists, THW forcibly digitize the consciousness of Earth’s brightest minds.¶
Motions for the 2014 Asian Schools Debating Championship in Malaysia¶
R1: Education¶
THW allocate school places solely on geographical proximity and not other criteria such as intelligence, ability or talent¶
THS the creation of exclusive schools for students that identify as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning)¶
TH regrets the narrative in education that success in life is contingent on one’s level of academic achievement¶
R2: Media¶
THW ban all media reporting on suicides.¶
THW remove all songs with anti-minority lyrics from public free-to-air radio.¶
THBT peacekeeping forces should not be obligated to protect war correspondents behind enemy lines.¶
R3: USA¶
THBT the United States should not have engaged in a prisoner swap with the Taliban.¶
THBT the United States should publicly extend support to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.¶
THBT the United States should, given a choice between the two, focus on engaging India rather than China.¶
R4: Race¶
THW prevent dating websites and apps from allowing users to specify their racial preferences.¶
THBT national police forces should implement quotas to reflect the nation’s racial diversity.¶
THBT liberal democracies should grant minority races the ability to veto the implementation of nationwide policies.¶
R5: Crime and Punishment¶
In countries where prostitution is illegal, This House would charge the customers of prostitutes with rape.¶
In order to prevent illegal logging and poaching, This House supports vigilante action.¶
THW allow victims or victims’ families to veto the use of capital punishment when sentencing their aggressors, on grounds of religious objection.¶
R6: Environment¶
THW pay less-developed countries to preserve their forests.¶
THW impose a sin tax on the consumption of meat.¶
THBT developed countries, that were historically pollutive, have a moral obligation to give up part of their land to nations that will sink due to climate change (e.g. the Seychelles and the Maldives).¶
R7: LGBTQ Rights¶
In states where gay marriage is not yet legal, THBT it is better for the gay rights movement that openly gay people not enter into civil unions, until gay marriage is legalised.¶
THBT the asexual movement is better off engaging in activism separately from, rather than together with the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning) movement.¶
THR a closeted Dumbledore.¶
OF: Government¶
Assuming the technology exists, THW allow soldiers to permanently remove their ability to experience fear.¶
In countries where voting is compulsory and people only get one vote each, THBT people should be allowed to cast negative votes against candidates in elections.¶
THBT it is legitimate for progressive politicians in conservative nations to lie about their political positions in order to get into power.¶
Novice QF, Open QF: Economics¶
THW subject CEOs (chief executive officers) of privatised public utilities and public transport companies, to regular national referenda on their performance.¶
THW nationalise all pharmaceutical companies.¶
THBT adopting a minimum wage for low-skilled workers is a better strategy for alleviating poverty, than subsidising skills upgrading courses.¶
Novice SF: Women¶
THBT First World feminists should not get involved in Third World feminists’ battles.¶
THBT feminists should condemn female celebrities that choose to stay in abusive relationships.¶
TH regrets dude feminism.¶
Dude feminism is an attempt to attract men into the cause by saying that “real” men care about women’s issues (e.g. Real men do not rape)