The Kansai¶
The Kansai 2021¶
R1¶
THBT the new agriculture law is in the interest of Indian farmers¶
A new agriculture law in India was proposed last year that would allow Indian farmers to directly sell and negotiate prices for their products with private buyers like supermarket chains anywhere in India. Currently, Indian farmers can only sell their products in government-controlled markets called 'mandis'. The sales process in mandis is regulated through commission agents (CAs) who mediate between the farmers and traders. Although there is a minimum support price in mandis, the traders and CAs have built cartels where they control prices and speed of payments, with little transparency on the trade process. While this law would allow farmers to sell freely outside of mandis, the law sparked massive protests by farmers around India due to fears of further deregulation and exploitation by corporations.
R2¶
THP a world where people vote behind the veil of ignorance¶
The veil of ignorance is a hypothetical moral reasoning device proposed by an American philosopher John Rawls to discover the principles that should structure a society. Behind the "veil of ignorance", you are unable to know your personal identity/circumstances (ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender etc.) and your individual idea of how to lead a good life. Thus, when you make decisions behind the veil of ignorance, you decide without any knowledge of your current social position or characteristic, or what position you would end up having in that society.
THP a world with a technology that allows individuals to relive their memories with dead loved ones¶
R3¶
THR the formation of the Quad¶
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (also known as the Quad) is an informal strategic forum between the United States, Japan, Australia and India that is maintained by semi-regular summits, information exchanges and military drills between member countries. The forum was initiated as a dialogue in 2007 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. The diplomatic and military arrangement was widely viewed as a response to increased Chinese economic and military power, and the Chinese government respond
THW impose significant fines and sanctions on corporations that use the forced labor of Uighurs¶
THBT the Biden administration should seek to sustain the strong ties with Taiwan from the Trump administration¶
R4¶
THR the popularity of mukbang in pop culture¶
A mukbang [mʌk.paŋ], also known as an eating show, is an online audiovisual broadcast in which a host consumes large quantities of food such as noodles, junk foods, etc. It became popular in South Korea in 2010, and since then it has become a huge worldwide trend. Mukbang is usually prerecorded or streamed live on platforms such as AfreecaTV, YouTube, and Twitch. Such content creators (e.g. Yuka Kinoshita, MaxSuzuki, Shugi, Mbro are often said to have eating disorders.
THW establish exclusive schools for students with ADHD/ASD¶
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) are neurodevelopmental disorder/conditions. Sometimes ADHD/ASD occur with intellectual disability/learning disability. However, it does not mean all people with ADHD/ASD have intellectual disability/learning disability.
THW allow psychiatrists to prescribe medicines to minors without parental consent¶
QF¶
THW mandate all scientists to periodically conduct reproducibility research. (e.g. reproducing the result of existing research or experiments, meta-analysis of reproducibility of pre-existing experiments)¶
Reproducibility is a major principle of the scientific method. It means, when different researchers follow the same methodology of a research (i.e. experiments or observational study) to reproduce the result, it should match the result of the original research. Currently, many research results in some fields are said to be unreproducible, especially in several branches of Biology, Psychology and Behavioral Economics etc.
THBT the state should promote the use and adoption of embryo freezing technology¶
THW impose a digital data tax on tech companies or data brokerage firms based on amount of user data they own¶
SF¶
TH, as Sudan, R the Sudan-Israel normalization deal¶
In October 2020, Sudan agreed to normalize its diplomatic relations with Israel. In exchange, the Trump administration removed Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, unblocking international economic aid and investment. This deal has led to huge rejection from Islamists and opposition parties, where Sudan suffers from weak governance and a crippling economy
THBT preemptive self-defense should not be considered as a legitimate ground for state military actions¶
Preemptive self-defense refers to the use of armed coercion by a state to prevent another state (or non-state actor) from pursuing a particular course of action that is not yet directly threatening, but which, if permitted to continue, could result at some future point in an act of armed coercion against the first state
THBT the US should end its targeted drone strikes policy¶
Rookie GF¶
TH, as a liberal parent living in a conservative society, would encourage their daughter to be single¶
Grand Final¶
TH prefers a common law system over a civil law system¶
Legal systems around the world generally follow either a common law system or a civil law system. In a common law system (e.g. US, UK), judges take an active role in shaping the laws. Decisions by the court establish precedent for future cases. Judges interpret laws and apply to specific cases based on established precedents. In a civil law system (e.g. Japan, Germany) lawmakers and legal scholars hold stronger influence. Legislated laws clearly define cases that can be brought to court, the procedures for handling claims, and the punishment for an offense. Judges merely evaluate the facts of each case and make decisions using the conditions stated in the applicable law.
Assuming the VR technology to simulate prison sentencing for any given years (which, in reality, lasts for only a few seconds) is completed, THW replace all real criminal sentencing with the use of the VR technology¶
THBT prison inmates should be pardoned of their punishment if they are diagnosed of severe mental illnesses (e.g. Alzheimer’s causing dementia) where they cannot remember conducting the crime¶
The Kansai 2020¶
R1¶
THW not use public money on life-extending medical care for people over certain age in super aging society.¶
In super aging society, THW impose additional tax on people without children.¶
THW provide welfare in the form of basic goods and services rather than in the form of cash payment.¶
R2¶
THW remove tax exemption for religious organizations.¶
THW prohibit religious rituals that involves individual believers causing potential harm to themselves in order to prove their piousness.¶
THW ban all evangelist activities in refugee camps.¶
R3¶
THBT the increasing influence of feminist icons does more harm than good to feminist movement.¶
IN conservative area, THBT feminist movement should actively oppose male privilege in religion (e.g. a mountain inaccessible to women, a higher position exclusively attainable for men).¶
THBT girls should be taught the existence of rampant and widespread sexism and how to maneuver around it from a young age.¶
R4¶
THBT media should anonymize the identity of convicted criminals (including, but not liited to their age, face and race/nationality).¶
THW ban animated child pornography.¶
THW prohibit private ownership of art deemed to be culturally or historically significant.¶
The Kansai 2019¶
R1¶
THW grant amnesty to dictators if they peacefully give up their power¶
THW only imprison individuals who have committed violent crimes and pose a continuing threat to society¶
THW abolish intoxication defense in criminal cases¶
The intoxication defense is a defense by which a defendant may claim diminished responsibility on the basis of “”substance intoxication”” (included but not limited to alcohol). In many jurisdictions being drunk (or under influence of other substances) at the moment of committing a crime is recognized as a mitigating factor.
R2¶
TH regrets the dominant narrative in children’s education that good always wins¶
THW not consume the works of art created by people who have engaged in gravely unethical behavior¶
TH does not recognize patriotism as a virtue¶
R3¶
THBT the LGBT movement should abandon the words “gay marriage” and seek the legalization of civil unions or any other form of incomplete marriage equality instead¶
THW require all sporting events to allow MtF transgender athletes to participate in female category without gender reassignment therapy¶
TH, as LGBT community W actively promote the narrative that all people are essentially bisexual¶
R4¶
THW tax companies that actively replace human workers with artificial intelligence or robots at significantly higher rates than other companies¶
THW limit the application of CRISPR-Cas9 to humans to therapeutic use, in exclusion to enhancement of their abilities¶
CRISPR-Cas9 is a recently discovered genome editing technology. This made targeted gene silencing and rewriting far easier and cheaper. It therefore can potentially be used for curing genetic diseases or modifying babies in an expected way.
Assuming a technology that can burn obedience to criminal law in human brains exists, THW never use it¶
Pre-QF¶
THW ban religious institutions from propagating practices of mortification which may cause significant physical harm upon believers as a form of salvation.¶
Mortification is the voluntary offering up of discomfort or pain to God or some other deity; this includes but is not limited to lent, fasting, self-flagellation, and self-isolation. Mortification has a long history in many world religion.
THR the glorification of continued self-improvement (e.g. popular cultural works that glorify self-improvement, the act of constantly becoming a better person or constantly improving one’s skills and abilities)¶
QF¶
TH supports the US’s use of economic warfare (tariffs, targeted sanctions etc.) against China in order to force compliance with the rules of the global neoliberal economic order (opening up its economy, protecting intellectual property, not engaging in currency manipulation, etc.)¶
THBT donators should fund local NGOs in developing countries instead of international ones operating in these countries.¶
THW abolish Olympic Gomes.¶
SF¶
THW not allow workers to renounce their employment rights (e.g. holiday pay, defined working hours, sick pay, minimum wage) in return for work experience or financial benefit.¶
THW abolish all non-compete arguments between employers and employees.¶
Non-compete agreements usually state that the employee cannot enter into certain professions which would be considered to be in specified period of time and/ or within a specified geographic area. For example, a law firm based in New York may require that its employees cannot work as lawyers in New York for a period of 5 years if they decide to leave the firm.
THBT sovereign debt must be insured with the assets of that country, including, among others, land, national resources and state enterprises, in case of non-compliance.¶
GF¶
THR the collective label of “the feminist movement”¶
THP a world where human beings are satisfied at the point which they meet physiological needs and needs for safety, and don’t aspire for higher levels of needs.¶
(1) It is said that human desires and needs are structured in a hierarchy (a,k,a, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs). From bottom to top, they are physiological needs, needs for safety , belonging/ love, esteem, and self actualization.
(2) Physiological < Safety < Love/belonging < Esteem < Self-actualization
Rookie GF¶
In Japan,THBT the pursuit of a stable two- political system through the creation of an opposition alliance is within the best interest of Japanese citizens.¶
THW consider politicians to be under oath when making public statements on political issues.¶
When you are “under oath”, You formally promise to tell the truth. If you lie, you get a criminal punishment for perjury(偽証).
TH supports “No Platform” Policies in universities.¶
“No Platform” refers to university policies that prevent certain groups of people/ certain ideologies from spreading their ideas within the university(e.g. homophobia, Holocaust denial, etc.). This may happen by protests, banning of student groups, or rescinding invitations to someone asked to speak at an event, such as a guest lecture at a policy used by the British National Union of Students to prevent far-right wing racists from giving speeches on UK college campuses.
13th The Kansai (2018)¶
R1¶
Time has passed and technology has developed enabling the creation of medicines that completely cure all forms of mental illness (e.g. the full cure of Asperger syndrome). Assuming this technology exists, THW not allow parents to force their children to take these medicines.¶
THW allow children to choose to be adopted into a new family without the consent of their current parents.¶
TH as a parent who has lost their child would remake the child by clone technology.¶
R2¶
Assuming that it has been perfectly proved that all human beings can go to a post-mortal utopia after death, THW not allow the publication of this information and would instead withhold it.¶
R3¶
Dark tourism is a tourism that involves travelling to places associated with death and suffering caused by human-made disasters/tragedy, such as Auschwits and the Aokigahara Suicide Forest.¶
TH regrets the rise of “dark tourism”.¶
THW criminalize Yakuza membership.¶
TH supports the continued remilitaraization of Japan¶
R4¶
THR the use of female body as a site of feminist protest(e.g nude and topless protests, Slutwalk)¶
TH regrets the dominant narrative of women as non-violent and vulnerable in conflicts and humanitarian crises.¶
THBT the feminist movement should oppose the advertisement of beauty services(e.g. makeup, beauty salons)¶
Pre QF¶
TH oppose long-tarm(several months) unpaid intnernships¶
THW bail out ailing foreign companies that have a lerge local employment base¶
THBT environmentalists should reject offers of corporate funding for their research¶
Rookie SF¶
THBT the media should not report on the mental illness of criminals¶
THBT schools should expel all students who actively engage in bullying¶
THW exempt indigenous communities from environmental regulations¶
QF¶
THW abolish the limit on presidential terms for the United States presidency¶
THBT digital profit checks(Facebook posts,tweets) should not be allowed in the college and job admission process¶
THBT Democrats should accept a Mexico-United States border wall in exchange for the full legalization of DACA dreamers currently in the United States.¶
SF¶
TH supports the dominant narrative that “When you give up, that’s when the game is over”(諦めたらそこで試合終了ですよ)¶
THBT contemporary art has done more harm than good to the field of art.¶
Rookie GF¶
THW ban the creation and usage of killer robots¶
THW allow plea bargaining¶
TH opposes public entertainment (such as but not limited to dance, comedy, and circuses) which people with disabilities utilize their disabilities.¶
GF¶
THW introduce “moral meat education” in to the compulsory education system¶
TH celebrates the rise of non-politicians presidential office (e.g. Oprah, Donald Trump)¶
THBT the United Nations should rebuke and rescind all support for Aung San Suu Kyi.¶
12th The Kansai (2017)¶
R1: お兄ちゃん、この前やったモーションがどうしてできないの？¶
THW ban inheritance¶
THW ban gated communities¶
THW grant doctors the right to strike¶
R2: お兄ちゃん、ツイッターで偉そうなことばっかり言ってない？¶
THBT marginalized communities should oppose the “”Moe”” culture that aims to glorify it’s constituents¶
THW grant children the right to take gender reassigment surgery without the consent of their parents¶
THW out closeted public figures¶
R3: お兄ちゃん、X年間何やってたの？¶
THW abandon the political party system¶
Suppose we live in the 23rd century. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been developed to a level that they can feel emotions the way humans can. Assuming that an AI is emotionally and logically intelligent, THW allow It to run for public office.¶
THBT developing countries should ban members of political dynasties from standing for elected office¶
R4: リベラル思想はファッションじゃないからね、お兄ちゃん¶
THR the dominance of liberalism in contemporary socio-political discourse¶
THW grant ex-convicts the right to be forgotten¶
THBT it is high time to abolish the separation of the Church and the State¶
OF: 無理してレトリック使わなくていいからね、お兄ちゃん¶
“THBT the feminist movement should oppose “”Papa Katsu”””¶
“THBT the feminist movement should oppose “”anti-aging”””¶
THBT the feminist movement should oppose the commercialization of feminism¶
QF: ねえお兄ちゃん、英語ディベート部に入ってるってことは さぞ英語も上手いし、話も説得的だし、思考も論理的なんだよね？¶
THW auction off the long-term right to govern bankrupt cities for profit¶
THW nationalize credit rating agencies¶
THW establish an international body that governs all distribution of oil¶
Rookie SF: お兄ちゃん、everything is loveだよ¶
Assuming the technology exists, THW allow individuals to see the end of their relationship before it begins¶
Assuming feasibility, THW remove sexual desire¶
Assuming feasibility, TH, as individuals, would abandon the concept of love¶
Rookie GF: お兄ちゃん、ディベート以外の趣味ってあるの？¶
Given the trolley problem, THW pull the lever¶
The trolley problem is a thought experiment in ethics. The general form of the problem is this: There is a runaway trolley barreling down the railway tracks. Ahead, on the tracks, there are five people tied up and unable to move. The trolley is headed straight for them. You are standing some distance off in the train yard, next to a lever. If you pull this lever, the trolley will switch to a different set of tracks. However, you notice that there is one person on the side track. You have two options
Do nothing, and the trolley kills the five people on the main track.
Pull the lever, diverting the trolley onto the side track where it will kill one person.
Which is the most ethical choice?
THB in the right to die¶
THW ban abortion at all stages of pregnancy¶
SF¶
THBT International Monetary Institutions(IMF, WB, ADB, etc)should not fund Natural Resource Extraction Projects in countries with severe corruption¶
THS federalism in Syria¶
THBT assassination of dictators can be justified¶
GF: お兄ちゃん、来年もザカンに来てね¶
THS antinatalism¶
Antinatalism is a philosophical position that assigns a negative value to birth.
TH prefers a world without religion¶
TH regrets the dominant conception that “”humility is a virtue””¶
12th The Kansai (2016)¶
R1¶
THW ban price gouging.¶
THBT the head of central bank should be directly chosen by citizens.¶
THBT government regulatory bodies should break up big banks which are deemed “too big to fail”.¶
R2¶
THBT medical NGOs should not help “public enemies”.¶
THBT the ICC should not indict people for war crimes when the conflict is ongoing.¶
THBT OPEC should reduce its oil production/export.¶
R3¶
THBT post-conflict societies should destroy all artwork created in support of a fallen dictator.¶
THBT states should subsideize movies which depict their important background such as history/culture/war.¶
TH regrets black prize winners or members from boycotting the Academy Awards.¶
R4¶
THW ban court-martial.¶
THW limit the number of winning election.¶
THBT historically oppressed indigenous minorities should embrace and promote inaccurate but positive myths or beliefs about their culture.¶
Rookie SF¶
THW ban religious organizations from establishing schools¶
THBT the Pope should be prosecuted for the crimes of Roman Catholic priests.¶
THW ban religious charities from engaging in proselytization.¶
Pre-QF¶
TH supports women to use sexuality to get aids in times of natural disaster.¶
THBT the feminist movement should condemn celebrities who choose to continue to pursue a personal relationship with abusive partners.¶
TH, as the gay community, regrets the existence of Grindr.¶
Grindr is the dating web site which is exclusively for the gay and bisexual people.
Rookie GF¶
TH regrets the concept of border.¶
THBT liberal democracies should prevent dictatorships from researching on space technologies, including but not limited to launching rockets.¶
THBT states should be allowed to use assassination.¶
QF¶
THW exempt journalists from civil and criminal penalties for defamation.¶
SF¶
THW abolish income tax.¶
THBT states should be allowed to sell the portion of their territory to the MNCs.¶
THW ban non-state actors from hiring private military contractors.¶
GF¶
TH opposes the dominant narrative “hard work always pays off”.¶
TH supports moral radicalism.¶
Moral radicalism refers to extreme do-gooders. These people are often driven by moral rage and a need to be of pure service to the world. E.g. one couple have 2 biological children and adopt 20 more kids who need a home.
In post-conflict societies, THBT historical narratives sould be owned by the government.¶
11th The Kansai(2015)¶
R1¶
THW prohibit corporations from accessing criminal record of job applicants.¶
THW ban factory farming.¶
A factory farm is a large, industrial operation that raises large numbers of animals for food. Over 99% of farm animals in the U.S. are raised in factory farms, which focus on profit and efficiency at the expense of animals’ welfare.
THW prohibit corporations from sponsoring academic research.¶
R2¶
THBT the state should be obliged to help its citizens have romantic partners(恋人) (e.g. education, counseling, etc)¶
THW not convict battered wives who kill their husbands.¶
THBT sex education in schools should prioritize good sex over safe sex.¶
R3¶
THBT developing countries should prioritize the education for the mass over the education for creating elites.¶
THBT the European Union should only direct aid to nations that pursue environmentally sustainable development.¶
THBT advanced countries should ban imports of consumer goods made by child labor.¶
R4¶
THBT national sporting teams should reflect the diversity of the national population.¶
THW allow minorities to design and teach their own history curriculum in schools.¶
TH opposes demonstrations for minority rights in countries or areas where there is a risk of violent backlash against those involved.¶
Main Pre-QF, Rookie SF¶
THBT the state should illegalize medicines innovated through researches which are prohibited by domestic law.¶
THW not fund artificial reproductive technologies.¶
THW allow doctors to actively lie to their patients in order to create or augment a placebo effect.¶
Placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to receive the recipient. Sometimes patients given a placebo treatment will have a perceived or actual improvement in a medical condition, a phenomenon commonly called the placebo effect or placebo response. (Wikipedia)
Main QF¶
THBT feminist movement should celebrate slut pride.¶
THBT feminist movement should condemn popular novels which glorify female submission (e.g., sado-masochism portrayed in Fifty Shades of Gray)¶
THBT feminist movement should oppose the policy of male-dominant companies (e.g., Facebook, Apple) paying female workers for freezing their eggs (cryopreservation) and not for methods which support working mothers¶
Rookie GF¶
THW prosecute communities for complicity in honor killing.¶
THBT priests should report the confession of serious crimes to the police.¶
THBT criminal defendants should only be defended by a public attorney.¶
Main SF¶
TH, as African countries, regrets the existence of natural resource in their territory.¶
THW require the ICC to allow a defense of “cultural relativism” to the crime of recruiting and using child soldiers.¶
THBT the Western intelligence agencies (such as CIA) should rig the elections of post conflict countries to ensure that moderates win.¶
Main GF: “Perfect” Motions For Grand Final¶
Assuming that it’s possible, THW incapacitate human beings from making a lie¶
TH regrets the policy which benefits the current generation, but sacrifices greater benefit of the future generation (e.g., economic policy harming environment)¶
THW ban abortion at all stage of pregnancy¶
10th The Kansai (2014)¶
R1: Kansai Loves Money¶
THW abolish income tax.¶
THW bail out failing foreign companies if they have a lot of employment in local area.¶
THW introduce sin tax on free-to-play online games.¶
R2: Family¶
THW deprive custody right from parents after their children spend a certain period of time at child care institution.¶
THBT child custody should be decided by children in divorcing if both parents are capable of caring.¶
THBT DNA paternity testing at birth should be mandatory.¶
R3: Science & Technology¶
THBT those scientists who are found guilty of scientific misconduct (such as falsification or plagiarism) should give up on their academic careers.¶
THBT oil companies should not have patents on recyclable energies.¶
THBT technology which enhance human longevity should not develop anymore.¶
R4: 海外で起きてるんだよ！¶
THBT Republic of Korea should not limit right to believe in / support access to North Korean Communism.¶
THW seek to introduce universal common historical facts in history education.¶
THBT it is legitimate for states to use aid as a way to get votes in international organizations.¶
Main Pre-QF: the burden of obligation¶
THBT Medical NGOs should not help “Public enemies” (ex. terrorists, pirates, war criminal groups).¶
THBT civilian agencies (such as humanitarian NGO and Doctors without borders) should not ally with military.¶
THBT journalist should not write, use, spread “unconfirmed” rumors on their SNS.¶
Main QF: Politics¶
THW always guarantee certain number of seats to the opposition party of the parliament.¶
THW deprive politicians, who recorded extremely low pledge implementation rate, of their right to run for election.¶
THBT politicians should not resign due to their personal problems, such as verbal gaffes, inappropriate relationship and so on.¶
Rookie SF: 2014.2.8, Russia¶
THBT IOC should only focus on direct inspection rather than appealing campaigns of candidate countries in the process of decidinf the host of the Olympic games.¶
THW force all media companies to provide same amount of air time on both the Paralympic games and the Olympic games.¶
THW abolish subjective standards (ex. Artistry, Beauty) from the Olympic games.¶
Rookie GF: Gender¶
THW abolish marital tax deduction.¶
THW ban advertisements which utilize traditional gender roles.¶
THBT female movements should oppose beauty contests.¶
9th The Kansai (2013)¶
R1: 893¶
THW criminalize gang membership¶
THW ban film and music which glamorizes gang culture¶
THBT Japanese Government should tolerate certain criminal activities of Japanese “Yakuza” in exchange for fighting against foreign criminal organizations, such as the Chinese Triads¶
R2: Past, future, and afterlife¶
THBT state should forcefully expropriate historically important cultural relics and arts owned by private individual.¶
THBT the world should aim to create a single unified cosmopolitan language, and abolish all other languages¶
THW cap the amount of money family can spend on funerals¶
R3: Law and Order¶
THW introduce racial profiling by the police¶
In countries where euthanasia is legal, This house would allow prisoners, sentenced to life im prisonment, who is diagnosed with terminal illness to euthanize themselves.¶
In countries facing severe economical crisis, This house would impose a punishment by fine to non-violent criminals who would otherwise be sentenced to prison.¶
R4: Distributive Justice¶
THBT the International Court of Justice should divide and allocate disputed natural resources according to that countries level of fulfillment of international environmental agenda(such as the Kyoto Protocol)¶
THBT the Japanese government should forcefully allocate radioactive debris of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster to each and every loal community, even if citizen refuses.¶
THBT the Japanese government should forcefully expropriate farming land from small-scale farmer , and reallocate it to large-scale farmer.¶
Rookie QF: Theme:The Wealth of Nations¶
THW privatize the water industry¶
THW recognize child labor as necessary evil for the development of third world nations.¶
THW appoint the head of central bank by a national election¶
Main QF: Sovereignty (笑)¶
THBT the Italian Government should impose economical sanction against the Vatican State until it implements drastic reforms to clean up corruption within the Vatican Bank¶
There are severe allegation against the Vatican bank for being complicit in money-laundering operations linked to the Italian Mafia