Social Movements & Protest debate motions

2021 (200 motions)

• THO "stock market populism"

  Durham IV 2021 · Open_Semi

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  Hedge funds can engage in 'short trades' (betting that the share price of a company will go down). Hedge funds can profit if the value of a company falls. Increasingly, individual stock traders target certain stocks to buy which would increase the value of the stock price to counteract 'short trades' and cause losses for hedge funds e.g. Gamestop. This is called 'stock market populism'.

• THBT historically oppressed communities should heavily prioritise teaching values of individualism to their children

  Durham IV 2021 · 1

• THBT the Insulate Britain protests have done more harm than good

  AUDP Parliamentary Debate · Open_Quarter

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  Insulate Britain refers to a environmental activist group that has begun widespread protests by blockading roads in a bid to spur the UK government into action over climate change in particular their demand for insulation in social housing. These protests have drawn considerable ire from the public as the blockade of roads has resulted in the delay of essential services and massive problems for the public.

• THBT Democrats should adopt Popularism

  AUDP Parliamentary Debate · 5

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  David Shor, a data analyst who worked for Obama, proposes 'Popularism' as a strategy for the democratic party. "Popularism" refers to the idea that Democrats need to emphasise their most popular policies, such as economic redistribution and lower health-care costs, and avoid topics such as immigration and defunding the police. Though "don't do unpopular stuff" sounds a glaringly obvious strategy, the debate over the theory has taken hold of the party.

• TH, as the environmental movement, would prioritise advocating for the return of land rights to indigenous people as their primary environmental protection strategy

  Sydnery AWDC 2021 · Open_Final

• THBT leftist political parties in developing democracies should prioritise running ordinary working class citizens over career politicians from established political families in elections

  Sydnery AWDC 2021 · 6

• TH, as leaders of marginalized minority groups, would urge respective communities to partake in greater social integration at the expense of sustaining unique cultural attributes

  Sydnery AWDC 2021 · 5

• THR the narrative that mainstream social movements should refrain from being aggressive and antagonistic in fighting against injustice

  Sydnery AWDC 2021 · 1

• THBT hiring paid protestors is a legitimate way to promote a cause

  19th Annual Premchand Debates 2021 · Open_Semi

• THBT wealthy people from marginalized communities should not be subject to inheritance and estate tax

  19th Annual Premchand Debates 2021 · 5

• This House would abolish the private ownership of housing in major metropolitan areas.

  19th Annual Premchand Debates 2021 · 5

• THBT environmental movements should actively embrace climate philanthropy

  7th Visayas University Debate Championship 2021 · 1

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  For the purpose of this debate, climate philanthropy means the increasing commitment of philanthropists to invest, combat, and support the development of the field of climate action.

• THW abolish inclusionary zoning requirements

  Satyam Jha Memorial ProAm Debate 2021 · 4

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  Inclusionary zoning requires a given share of new construction to be affordable by people with low to moderate incomes. These policies involve placing deed restrictions on 10–30% of new houses or apartments in order to make the cost of the housing affordable to lower-income households.

• THP leaderless social movements

  The Grand Spar November 2021 · 1

• THO the rising trend of a permanent shift to remote work in the aftermath of the pandemic

  The DCAC Fundraiser Open 2021 · Novice_Semi

• THW give individuals the right to register themselves as casteless

  The DCAC Fundraiser Open 2021 · 2

• TH regrets the commercialisation of social movements (e.g. the inclusion of pop cultural icons, financial and corporate sponsorship etc.)

  HWS IV 2021 · Novice_Final

• THBT environmental activists should advocate for nuclear power.

  HWS IV 2021 · 4

• THS expropriation as an approach to tackling gentrification

  Munaazrah Gender & Sexual Minorities Parliamentary Debates 2021 · 4

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  Expropriation is when the government claims back property from private owners, against their desire, for the benefits of the public Sometimes this happens to build motorways, airports or railways. But with a growing housing crisis across Europe, some countries, such as Berlin are setting a precedent for expropriation to be used to fight gentrification and allow local people to be able to afford to live in their cities. Many argue that the contemporary housing crisis cannot be solved by minor policy fixes. What is needed are large-scale solutions that tackle housing-insecurity and empower residents to challenge their increasing marginalisation. Questions have also been raised regarding the constitutionality of this approach

• In nascent democracies, THBT the state should propagate national identity by centering them around leaders and iconic figures rather than ideologies

  Munaazrah Gender & Sexual Minorities Parliamentary Debates 2021 · 2

• THR the glorification of tech magnates (e.g. Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk) as pioneers of social change

  Munaazrah Gender & Sexual Minorities Parliamentary Debates 2021 · 1

• This House regrets the dominant narrative that increasing automation and the future of labor are irreconcilable.

  ABP 2021 · Open_Quarter

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  The future of labor refers to demand, employment and the conditions of employment

• THR the decline of class as the primary organizing political identity in liberal democracies.

  Hart House IV 2021 · Open_Semi

• THR the decision of many public health authorities to optimize for anticipated public reactions (vs. strictly truth) in their messaging during the pandemic (e.g. emphasizing no evidence masks are effective in March 2020 to discourge hoarding; adjusting vaccine guidance to encourage take up etc.)

  Hart House IV 2021 · Novice_Semi

• THR the predominance of youth within social movements (i.e tailoring social media presence to teenage and young adult consumers, the presence of young leaders)

  Hart House IV 2021 · 4

• THBT social justice movements should actively promote a belief in Radical Compassion

  IIT Bombay Debate IV 2021 · Open_Final

• THP industrial unions to workplace unions

  IIT Bombay Debate IV 2021 · Novice_PreSemi · World Schools Debating Championships

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  For the purposes of this debate, a workplace union is a union that only involves workers of one specific company. These unions tend to focus on directly negotiating with the management of that individual company. By contrast, an industrial union is a union with workers from an entire industry (e.g. service workers, educators, etc.). Industrial unions, more often, focus on trying to implement industry-wide standards for worker rights rather than negotiate with individual companies

• THBT Ambazonia Separatist movements should prioritise advocating for stronger devolved units with greater autonomy instead of a secessionary independent state

  Western IV 2021 · 4

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  The Ambazonia Separatist movements in Southern Cameroon were established through the merger of several groups to advocate for the secession of Anglophone Cameroon from the majority Francophone Cameroon. The country has since been in a civil war. Devolution is the transfer of power from a central government to sub-national (e.g., state, regional, or local) authorities. The Devolved territories have the power to make legislation relevant to the area and thus granting them a higher level of autonomy; this includes areas such as healthcare, law enforcement, education, etc. however elements such as moneary policy, taxes, foreign policy and defense remain under the central government.

• Assuming feasability, THP direct democracy over representative democracy

  Western IV 2021 · 2

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  Representative democracy is a form of democracy whereby people vote for representatives who then represent their issues in government. Direct democracy is a system by which all citizens may vote directly on all laws in the country.

• In failing cities, THW allow corporations to buy autonomous control over social and economic policy for a period of up to 99 years

  Interschool Debate Championship 2021 · 3

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  Autonomous control over a city is defined as complete control over economic (i.e. how tax dollars are spent, how much to tax, minimum wage, etc.) and social (i.e. education policy, provision of services, etc.) policy without governmental oversight over the corporation's actions in that city. A failing city are cities where, without external help, they can never return to their former level of prosperity.

• This house supports the strategy of activists publicly shaming those who do not actively denounce problematic individuals

  UADC 2021 · EFL_Final

• This house prefers a narrative of collective blame for ethnic divides within a community, rather than the blame being placed exclusively on institutions or externalities

  UADC 2021 · EFL_Final

• This house supports the narrative that current generations have a duty to protect the rights of future generations who do not exist yet

  UADC 2021 · Open_Semi

• This house, as pride event organizers, would actively work with corporations that adopt rainbow capitalism

  UADC 2021 · 6

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  Rainbow capitalism is the targeted incorporation of the LGBTQ+ movement to capitalism, consumerism, and the market economy by corporations. Examples include, but are not limited to, LGBT-related products, designs, brands, and sponsorships

• This House would ban private sector management of pension funds

  UADC 2021 · 3

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  A pension fund, also known as a superannuation fund in some countries, is any plan, fund, or scheme which provides retirement income. A public pension fund is one that is regulated under public sector law while a private pension fund is regulated under private sector law.

• That we would widely distribute X to citizens

  NLUJ PD 2021 · Open_Semi

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  X is a drug that makes people feel happy in small doses. In large doses, it creates pleasant hallucinations and a sense of timelessness.

• That, as an African American human rights activist, we would publicly denounce Nike

  NLUJ PD 2021 · 5

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  When Colin Kaepernick decided to take the knee to call attention to the issue of racial inequality and police brutality, Nike, the sporting gear giant, chose to publicly back him up. They cast him in multiple polarising advertisements and gave him a contract for signature merchandise. The advertisements in particular were deemed to be moving and one even won an Emmy. Nike continues to support the Black Lives Matter movement today. Nike also runs sweatshops which have previously come under fire for their treatment of workers in terms of workers' safety, minimum wage and long, exhausting hours.

• That we regret the 'model minority' aspiration for individuals in diasporas in the West.

  NLUJ PD 2021 · 5

• That governments should actively discourage self-segregation of ethnic communities

  NLUJ PD 2021 · 3

• TH regrets the transition of leftist movements in Southeast Asia into political parties.

  Pearl Pre-ABP BP Debates 2021 · Open_Semi

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  Examples of leftist movements in SEA which have transitioned into political parties include Parti Sosialis in Malaysia, the Makabayan Bloc in the Philippines, and RC in Indonesia.

• THS "buy local" campaigns in labour-rich countries

  East Malaysia Open 2021 · Novice_Quarter

• THBT social justice movements should not accept donations from public figures as form of apology

  BDC Pre Worlds 2021 · Novice_Semi

• THBT the BLM movement should prioritize the fight for economic reparations over the fight for radical police reform

  BDC Pre Worlds 2021 · Open_Octa

• TH regrets the rise of teenagers at the forefront of social movements (e.g. Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, the Parkland students)

  BDC Pre Worlds 2021 · 1

• THW ban viatical settlements

  NALSAR IV 2021 · Open_Semi

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  A viatical settlement is an arrangement in which someone who is terminally or chronically ill sells their life insurance policy at a discount from its face value for ready cash.

• THS non-violent property damage (e.g. blowing up pipelines, sabotaging logging equipment etc.) in order to stop climate change

  NALSAR IV 2021 · 1

• TH prefers a world where the history of successful revolutions focused heavily on the contributions of militant revolutionaries, rather than ones which priortised diplomacy

  Fulbright BP Open 2021 · 5

• THBT progressive individuals should have a zero tolerance policy for people with bigoted views in their social circles

  SMU Hammers 2021 · Open_Semi

• THBT it is justified for social activists in developing countries to work with socially regressive bodies and institutions in the state

  SMU Hammers 2021 · Open_Semi

• THS 'No Marriage' movement (비혼주위자) in South Korea

  SMU Hammers 2021 · 2

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  The 'No Marriage' ('비혼주의자') movement in South Korea is a movement by women to call for t

• THR the politicisation of student unions in developing countries

  SMU Hammers 2021 · 1

• THP a world where success is measured by how individuals contribute to the lives of others as opposed to by what individuals achieve

  Regatta IV 2021 · Novice_Semi

• THW abolish the "Revlon Duty"

  Wolce Pre-Asians 2021 · Open_Quarter

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  The "Revlon Duty" is a standard that is imposed by courts upon the Board of Directors of a company. The Revlon Duty states that when a company is being approached for an acquisition by multiple companies then the Board of Directors can only choose the one which maximises the wealth of shareholders as opposed to any other factor (the management, the long term future of the business, strategic choices)

• THR a singular Indian feminist movement

  Wolce Pre-Asians 2021 · 4

• THS Mainland China's deadline for solving housing issues in Hong Kong

  Strait Debate Open 2021 · 2

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  Mainland China's top official for Hong Kong gave the city government a deadline of 2049 to get rid of its long-lasting housing issues like subdivided flats and cage homes. He said that Hong Kong's housing problems should be "greatly improved" by 2049, on a private gathering of the Hong Kong's senior-most officials on July 16, 2021.

• THBT that is in the interest of liberal opposition movements in democratic-authoritarian regimes to actively use disinformation strategies and fake news

  CMDLP 2021 · Open_Quarter

• THBT social movements should emphasize the individual's ability to change their own reality in the face of oppression at the expense of emphasizing structures that restrict and determine an individual's life

  CMDLP 2021 · Novice_Semi

• THS the existence of institutions with the power to ban anti-democratic political actions and speeches

  CMDLP 2021 · 6

• TH prefers environmental movements heavily prioritizing a local agenda over a global one (e.g., focusing on local pollution rather than climate change)

  The Grand Spar September 2021 · 2

• THO politicians using current pop culture icons and trends (e.g Joe Biden using Olivia Rodrigo to promote youth vaccinations, Hillary Clinton co-opting memes during her campaign) as a tactic to gain support

  The Grand Spar September 2021 · 1

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  Olivia Isabel Rodrigo (born February 20, 2003) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She is known for her roles as Paige Olvera on the Disney Channel series Bizaardvark and Nini Salazar-Roberts on the Disney+ mockumentary series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. She signed with Interscope and Geffen Records in 2020, and released her debut single, "Drivers License" in 2021, which quickly topped various charts worldwide and gave Rodrigo her breakthrough. It was followed by successful singles "Deja Vu" and "Good 4 U", leading up to the release of her debut studio album, Sour, on May 21 2021, to critical acclaim. On July 13 2021, Rodrigo was involved in a White House effort to promote COVID-19 vaccinations among young people in the US. She met with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci, to discuss her efforts. Rodrigo recorded videos about the importance of young people getting vaccinated, including answering questions the youth have regarding the vaccination. The videos were featured on Rodrigo's social media channels, which combined have more than 28 million followers, as well as official White House accounts.

• THBT progressive activists in developing countries should integrate conservative rhetoric and religious institutions into their advocacy, rather than distancing from them

  Taylors Debate Open 2021 · 2

• TH opposes the framing of social justice issues as a battle between generations

  Lasallian Debate League 2021 · 3

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  There is a popular narrative among younger generations (e.g. millennials, Gen Z) that older generations (e.g. "boomers") are regressive and unempathetic to social justice issues (i.e. topics of race relations, gender identity, etc.). Similarly, the popular narrative among older generations is that the younger generations are snowflakes (i.e. inflated sense of uniqueness, easily offended, and unable to deal with opposing opinions.). These narratives frequently dominate social media pages that are centred around social justice issues.

• THBT social movements should use anger to mobilize support for their advocacy

  Magiting Cup 2021 · Open_Semi

• In places where minority members are greatly oppressed by the majority, As a minority individual THW choose to adopt majority culture, language and dress

  BDC Fempowerment 2021 · 4

• THW allow parents to sue their adult children for financial support.

  BDC Fempowerment 2021 · 1

• THR progressivism's focus on sociocultural issues(e.g. microaggressions, cancel culture, media representation, etc.) rather than policy issues(e.g. economic redistribution, policies related to criminal justice system, etc.) in western liberal democracies

  KIDA 2021 · Open_Final

• THBT that the Queer movement should promote a narrative of actions, rather than people, being queer (e.g. that two cis men who have sex with one another are not queer individuals, but people engaging in a queer act)

  Oceania Queer Open 2021 · Open_Final

• THS the existence of a technology that lets people see the alternative outcomes of major life decisions they have made.

  VIT Round Robin 2021 · 4

• TH, as a union representing workers in the mining sector, would publicly call for climate action.

  VIT Round Robin 2021 · 2

• TH, as Aurat March, would become a political party and contest future elections in Pakistan.

  Pakistan Debate Open 2021 · Open_Final

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  Aurat March is a feminist protest movement organised in Pakistan. While they have political demands, they are primarily an activist group operating mostly via protest and demonstrations. They have been endorsed by the Lady Health Workers Association and include representatives from multiple women's rights organizations. Since inception, Aurat March has called for more accountability for violence against women, and to support women who experience violence and harassment at the hands of security forces, in public spaces, at home, and at the workplace. They also demand economic justice, including implementation of labor rights, the Sexual Harassment Against Women in the Workplace Act 2010, recognition of women's input to the 'care economy' as unpaid labor, and provision of maternity leaves and daycare centers to ensure women's inclusion in the labor force. They have also vocally supported other left-leaning movements and organisations in Pakistan, such as Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, and are thus also viewed controversially by segments of the populace. Critics claim that the movement's radical language is a reason for why they do not have more widespread support in Pakistani society.

• THW join Masquerade

  Pakistan Debate Open 2021 · Open_Semi

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  Masquerade is an independent territory outside the jurisdiction of any state. There is no ability to contact the outside world, and tourism and visitation is strictly forbidden. In Masquerade, one's personal characteristics, including looks, personality, ethnicity, gender identity, and talents, change every day upon waking up, involuntarily and at random (memories are retained as normal). Joining Masquerade through legal immigration is possible, however, once one immigrates, it is impossible to leave.

• THO the social expectation to publicly take sides and be vocal on social networks in times of social, economic or political turbulence.

  Pakistan Debate Open 2021 · Novice_Semi

• THR the narrative that homeownership is aspirational

  Pakistan Debate Open 2021 · 4

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  There is a prominent narrative in society that home ownership is, or should be, the aspiration of families and individuals.

• This House regrets the rise of teenagers at the forefront of social movements (eg Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafazi, the Parkland students)

  NSDA China 2021 · 4

• THBT trade unions and labor protection laws should be suspended during times of economic crisis.

  Asia Schools Debate Championship 2021 · Open_Quarter

• THW nationalise all housing

  Asia Schools Debate Championship 2021 · 5

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  Nationalise house refers to the government taking ownership and control of residential property, managing allocation, pricing, and more.

• THW nationalise Facebook

  Asia Schools Debate Championship 2021 · 5

• THR the rising trend in pop culture to portray villains as a victim of society

  Asia Schools Debate Championship 2021 · 4

• TH, as progressive activists in highly religious states, would make use of religious texts to justify progressive reform

  Asia Schools Debate Championship 2021 · 2

• THBT social movements should follow social marxism

  EUDC 2021 · 6

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  For the purposes of this debate, "social marxism" is defined as the belief that members of all oppressed groups should unite and fight together. Social marxism states that you cannot support one group without also supporting all others.

• TH, as the Spanish government, would give Catalonia a chartered regime

  EUDC 2021 · 5

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  In Spain there are two ways financial autonomy is exercised by autonomous regions: In the common regime the central government is in charge of setting and collecting most taxes, which it then redistributes between all the autonomous regions with the aim of reducing inequalities between regions. This implies that richer regions become net contributors to the system, while poorer ones become net recipients. Catalonia is currently under a common regime. The second regime is a chartered regime, where as long as regions pay a fixed amount to the central government, they are allowed full control over setting and collecting non-VAT taxes (including raising or lowering tax). Currently only Basque Country and Navarre have a chartered regime.

• THBT societal narratives about recovery during crisis should be transformative (attempt to radically change society) rather than restorative (attempt to stabilise current crisis)

  EUDC 2021 · 4

• THW prioritise means-based[1] rather than target-based[2] regulation [1] e.g of means-based regulations: setting standards that attempt to make the workplace more accessible or banning the use of polluting technologies [2] e.g of target-based regulations: setting hiring quotas for employees from one particular group, or making companies reduce carbon emissions to X under threat of fines

  EUDC 2021 · 1

• THO leaders of social movement from entering politics (including but not limited to becoming a politician, joining a political party, etc.)

  The Interschool Debate 2021 · Open_Quarter

• THBT privileged minority persons living in a conservative society should not emigrate to more liberal countries

  The Interschool Debate 2021 · Open_Quarter

• THS athletes using international sporting events (the Olympics, SEA Games, FIFA World Cup, etc.) as platforms to protest and raise political stances.

  The Interschool Debate 2021 · 4

• THO the trend of happy endings in movies about minority communities

  The Interschool Debate 2021 · 2

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  Movies and shows featuring the stories and plights of minorities and marginalised communities often have a happy ending, showing some degree of progress toward overcoming oppression

• THW give exclusive control over the national curriculum of social sciences (including but not limited to history, civic studies, political sciences, etc) to minority communities

  The Interschool Debate 2021 · 1

• THBT the Makabayan Bloc should actively condemn and distance themselves from the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA)

  PIDC 2021 · Open_Final

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  The Makabayan Bloc is a coalition of leftist Philippine political parties in the House of Representatives of the Philippines. The political parties represent peasants, workers, women, teachers, youth, migrants, and indigenous peoples (e.g. Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers, Kabataan). They are also allied with militant civil society organizations like Anakbayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno, and Piston.

• THS the creation of Facebook Metaverse

  PIDC 2021 · Open_Semi

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  Mark Zuckerberg recently announced their ambition to transform Facebook into a metaverse that seeks to actively replace social, workplace, and entertainment spaces. The metaverse uses augmented reality technology to create a virtual environment where users can be present with other users in digital spaces. These users are seemingly immersed in these spaces rather than just looking at them. No sole company can create and run a metaverse. Its success would rely on the cooperation and immutable record-keeping among Facebook and other companies.

• THBT environmental movements should make campaigning for fossil fuel divestment their primary strategy against climate change

  PIDC 2021 · 2

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  The campaign for fossil fuel divestment refers to environmental movements asking institutions, corporations, and investors to move their money out of oil, coal, and gas companies for both moral and financial reason

• THW impose carbon taxes on individuals

  PIDC 2021 · 2

• THP leaderless social justice movements

  WSDC 2021 · 5 · World Schools Debating Championships

• This House Believes That the International Olympic Committee should recognise an athlete's right to protest

  WSDC 2021 · 2a · World Schools Debating Championships

• THS aggressive deconsolidation of the American private sector (e.g., breaking up dominant firms like Amazon and Disney, preventing future horizontal and vertical mergers, subsidizing competitors to existing monopolies, etc.)

  LSE IV 2021 · Open_Semi

• THBT social movements should use judicial review as a means of garnering legislative change, at the expense of lobbying for new protective legislation

  LSE IV 2021 · 5

• THO the creation of the Victoria Collective

  The Novice Debate 2021 · Open_Final

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  Victoria's Secret is the largest lingerie company in the world, with $184 billion value and $6.8 billion annual revenue. The Victoria's Collective is a diverse group of feminist professionals, including Megan Rapinoe and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, that will collaborate with Victoria's Secret as part of a branding pivot toward "changing how we connect with and show up for women" that also involves the creation of a Global Fund for Women's Cancers.

• In responding to conspiracy theorists, THP the approach of spreading beneficial conspiracies rather than attempting to educate them (E.g. That the antivax movement was actually started by Big Pharma to make more sick people who will buy medicines, or that masks block 5G signals)

  The Novice Debate 2021 · 3

• THBT the governments of functional democracies should set up appointed boards to assess the efficacy of charitable organizations, and remove the tax-exempt status of charities determined to be of low social value

  Pro Ams Parliamentary 2021 · Open_Semi

• THBT individuals should be encouraged to make significant sacrifices for their community

  Pro Ams Parliamentary 2021 · 5

• THBT all democracies should allow laws to be passed through voter-initiated referenda

  Pro Ams Parliamentary 2021 · 2b

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  Voter-initiated referenda' refers to the following process. First, citizens gather signatures for a petition in favor of a certain bill. If the petition gets enough signatures (usually 5-10% of the population), the law is put before the voters. If a majority of voters vote in favor of the bill, it becomes a law. This allows citizens to enact legislation without any involvement from Parliament or any politicians. If voter-initiated referenda are allowed, parliament could still pass other laws without this process, but parliament would be bound to the decision of the referendum

• THBT environmental movements should concentrate their conservation efforts on protecting keystone animals, even at the expense of other endangered species

  World Debate Open 2021 · Novice_Final

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  Keystone species are animals which are disproportionately important to the survival of an ecosystem. For example, bees are a keystone species because their pollination is necessary for the reproduction of certain plants; Pacific salmon are another example, because they are the main food source for many predators when they migrate upriver in the spring

• TH opposes the academisation* of social justice movements *The increasingly significant presence of academics and academic terminology, processes and structures in many parts of the world

  WUDC 2021 · 8

• TH opposes the general approach of companies to grow by massively sacrificing short-term profitability with the hope of gaining a large portion of the market* *e.g. the original business model of companies such as Uber or Amazon

  WUDC 2021 · 5

• THP a world where the idea of a collective unconscious does not exist

  Debatable IV 2021 · Novice_Final

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  Based on a theory by Carl Jung, the collective unconscious is a body of knowledge containing all of human experience. These experiences are both positive (i.e.: charity, selfless acts, open-mindedness, etc.) and negative (i.e.: racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, etc.). It is said to influence a person's preferences, dreams, ideals, and goals based on the many factors that a person has no control over, even before they are born. It establishes the idea that a segment of humanity is genetically inherited and not shaped by personal experience

• THW prioritize the funding of scientific research conducted by members of historically marginalized groups

  Debatable IV 2021 · 3

• TH, as the anti-ableist movement, would center their narrative on the unique skills and abilities of people with disabilities, rather than their unique vulnerabilities

  Rahat Fundraiser 2021 · Open_Y

• THS the rise of groups like Shubhamastu.

  Rahat Fundraiser 2021 · Open_Quarter

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  Context 1'Shubhamastu', a Kolkata-based collective led by four priestesses, has been presiding over Hindu ceremonies of weddings, memorial services, housewarming rituals, among others, for over a decade now. These women have created simplified versions of Vedic ('from the Vedas') rituals and chants, and by subverting or doing away with some patriarchal rituals, they hope to elbow their way into what has been a male dominated space. Context 2 The group has however, been criticised for not having a single non-Brahmin (Brahmins are the highest-ranked caste in the Hindu caste system) priestess and for not stepping outside the universe of the Vedas. The rituals conducted by these priestess include the chanting of Sanskrit hymns and the performance of Rabindranath Tagore's vast repertoire of songs. note: the Vedas are a collection of four books that together form the corpus of Hindu literature. The Vedas have been criticised by stalwarts of the anti-caste movement like B.R Ambedkar for consolidating the superiority of the caste system.

• THS churches taking an active role in brokering transitions of political power

  Rahat Fundraiser 2021 · Open_Quarter

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  In Haiti, the Church offered to help broker discussions between the opposition and government for transitional elections after the dissolution of the goverment during unrest over contested extensions of terms in office.

• TH, as a progressive academic in an authoritarian state, would advocate for progressive ideas as advancing state interests or policies

  Rahat Fundraiser 2021 · Open_Octa

• THBT labour unions in developing countries should primarily pursue legislative change as a means of achieving workers' rights, instead of directly negotiating with companies

  Rahat Fundraiser 2021 · 3

• THW adopt compulsory voting in developing nations

  Rahat Fundraiser 2021 · 1

• THW introduce an immediate democracy

  Rahat Fundraiser 2021 · 1

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  Immediate democracy is a system wherein voters have the ability change their vote at any given time, thus changing the composition of the parliament on a daily basis based on politicians' actions and public support

• THO epidemic sovereignty

  Doxbridge IV 2021 · Schools_Final

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  Epidemic sovereignty is the principle that all nation-states should have the sovereignty to decide their responses to epidemics (e.g. COVID).

• THBT progressive rabbis should actively denounce Zionism

  Nagoya Debate Open 2021 · Open_Semi

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  A rabbi is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. Progressive rabbis are rabbis who support the reform of judaism, which is characterized as being relatively liberal (viewing the individual Jew as autonomous and open to progressive values). Zionism is both an ideology and a nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of and support for a Jewish state centered in the area roughly corresponding to the Holy Land, the region of Palestine and/or Israel on the basis of a long Jewish attachment to that land.

• TH, as a millennial, would adopt the FIRE strategy

  Mayon Open Debate Cup 2021 · Open_Final

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  Financial Independence / Retire Early (FIRE) is a strategy aimed at accumulating extreme savings and investments in order to live comfortably after working for a shorter time (e.g. retiring at 39 years old). By extension, it also looks into the value ascribed to items, goods and lifestyles based on how much time must be spent by an individual working in order to afford the said entity.

• THW establish government-run centers where individuals can use psychedelic drugs

  Mayon Open Debate Cup 2021 · Open_Octa

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  Psychedelic drugs are substances which significantly alter one's perception of the environment and reality upon consumption. Examples include LSD, magic mushrooms, etc.

• THS the creation of youth-only political parties

  Mayon Open Debate Cup 2021 · 4

• TH, as the progressive Filipino youth, would engage in disinformation campaigns to support opposition candidates for the 2022 elections

  Mayon Open Debate Cup 2021 · 4

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  disinformation campaigns involve the deliberate creation and proliferation of false and misleading information intended to deceive the public.

• THP social movements centred around class struggles, rather than identity struggles

  BDIDF International Final · 3

• THBT labour unions in developing countries should primarily pursue legislative change as a means of achieving workers' rights, instead of directly negotiating with companies (eg: Lobbying the government to implement minimum wage and maximum work hour laws, instead of directly negotiating with companies to convince them to increase wages and reduce working hours)

  SASDC 2021 · Open_Quarter

• THW suspend labour unions for healthcare workers in times of crisis

  Malaysia Nationals WSDC · 2

  Info slide

  A labour union is an organisation of workers who have come together to achieve common goals (eg improving safety standards, attaining better wages and benefits such as healthcare)

• THP a world where governments made public a list of individuals and their niche

  KCL Open · ProAm_Final

  Info slide

  For the purposes of this debate, you are in a world where you are born with an educational niche that you are innately proficient at. This is broken up across population and everyone has a niche (i.e. 5% of population are extremely good at math, 5% are artistic etc.). In every other trait you can be average, but you won't be the best of the best.

• THBT capitalism brings more harm than good for disenfranchised groups

  KCL Open · 3

• This House Prefers media portraying marginalized groups as thriving, as opposed to portraying them suffering

  Habib University Debating Championship · Open_Quarter

• This house believes that large companies should be made financially responsible for the pollution caused by sabotage by environmental activists (for example, clean up costs from the sabotage of oil pipelines)

  ANU Spring · 1

• THBT the disability rights movement should prioritize advocacy for increase in government benefits (e.g health care, ubi, etc.) over adaptations to society (e.g. working hours, educational exams, etc.).

  NAW*GMDC · Open_Final

• THBT the IWW should actively support and encourage prisoners to unionize (including but not limited to providing funding to unions, giving advice on strategies etc.)

  NAW*GMDC · 2

  Info slide

  The International Workers of the World (IWW) is a worker-led union dedicated to direct action, workplace democracy, and industrial unionism.

• This House believes that the environmental movement should significantly prioritise their campaigning efforts on changing the behaviour of individuals rather than changing the behaviour of companies

  NAMDA Novice 2021 · 3

• THR the decline of class as the primary identifier for social and political movements.

  RMPD · 5

• THBT left wing media should focus on "notable achievements" of immigrants, rather than instances of their exclusion, suffering, or vulnerabilities.

  DSNPD · Novice_Semi

  Info slide

  India follows a quasi-federal system of governance where the centre and state share powers with the central government often having more powers. Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), the incumbent Chief Minister of West Bengal, has long been criticised for her politics due to her tendency to appease religious minorities in the historically, culturally, and ethnically diverse border state. Her soon to be 3 term long rule has also been criticised on the grounds of slow economic progress. BJP, the controversial ruling party at the centre made significant headway in the 2021 Bengal Elections, increasing its number of seats from just 3 to 77 in a mere five years. This progress is often credited to the strong never-done-before Hindutva narrative they pushed in the state alongside promises of swift economic development.

• THP a world where successes of revolutions were attributed to violent, rather than peacemaking efforts in the retelling of history.

  DSNPD · 1

• THR narratives that claim that history inevitably moves towards a particular end (e.g. Fukuyama's "end of history", Marx's "global revolution")

  Trinity Open · Open_Final

• TH, as Sinn Fein, would cease to practice abstentionism.

  Trinity Open · 2

  Info slide

  Sinn Fein is an Irish Republican party, and currently holds 7 of the UK's 19 Parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland. It has long practised "abstentionism," where candidates stand for election but do not occupy their seats and vote in the UK's parliament because they do not recognize the legitimacy of British rule, or of their right to govern the British people.

• THBT successful members of marginalized groups should adopt a narrative that predominantly attributes their successes to chance as opposed to merit

  NTU Pre Worlds · 4

• This House believes that environmental advocacy groups should prioritise convincing individuals to take responsibility for their personal actions above lobbying governments to change environmental policies

  MOE-ACJC IDC · 1

• Assuming that robots have evolved to a point where they can replicate human creativity and thinking process, but not emotions, THW allow robots to take part in government elections

  UET IV · 1

• THW choose to cease existing

  Chun Ling InterSchool · Open_Semi

  Info slide

  You are given the choice after death to either be evaluated for your life choices on a metric you are not informed of, after which you will be sent to either heaven or hell, or to cease to exist at that moment.

• THBT activists should advocate for prison-abolishment as opposed to prison-reform

  Chun Ling InterSchool · 2

  Info slide

  Prison-abolishment is seeking to reduce or eliminate prisons and the prison system, and replace them with systems of rehabilitation that do not place a focus on punishment and government institutionalization. Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, improve the effectiveness of a penal system, or implement alternatives to incarceration.

• THW ban children-based reality TV competitions (i.e: Dance Moms)

  Chun Ling InterSchool · 1

• THS, as the left wing, the use of aggressive and inflammatory rhetoric against right wing ideology

  Credence BP · Open_Octa

• THBT modern BLM movements should seek assistence from modern socialist governments (China, Cuba, Vietnam)

  Alex Trebek Random Pro Am · Open_Final

  Info slide

  In the 60s Huey Newton (Leader of The Black Panther Party) met with Chairman Mao and travelled China with Mao, as Newton was interested in the model of Chinese socialism Mao had created. After their meeting Newton was allowed to print copies of the Quotations to increase education of socialism among the people and raise money for the party. Castro in Cuba regularly offered policial asylum to Black Panthers who were prosecuted by the US government

• This House prefers leaderless social movements as opposed to one with clearly identifiable leaders

  Borneo British Parliamentary Debate Championship · Open_Semi

• THBT environmental activists should emphasize blaming large corporations for environmental degradation, as opposed to focusing on individual responsibility*

  Borneo British Parliamentary Debate Championship · 5

• THR the celebration of soliders as heroes

  Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship · Open_Final

• THS immigrants raising their children in the dominant culture of the immigrated country over their heritage culture

  Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship · HS_Final

• THR the use of martyrdom as a tool for empowering social movements

  Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship · HS_Semi

• THT progressive movements should significantly prioritise the funding and support of community-based initiatives, even at the expense of calling out government inadequacies

  Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship · HS_Semi

• TH, as an activist group, would adopt consensus decision-making processes as opposed to majority voting.

  Australasian Womens Debate Open · 1

• THS right to work laws

  Nanjing Online Tournament · 4

  Info slide

  The right-to-work law is a law that allows workers the freedom to choose whether or not to join a union in the workplace. The right-to-work law also makes it optional for employees in unionized workplaces to pay for union dues or other membership fees required for union representation, whether they are in the union or not.

• THBT drag should not be mainstream

  Queer Round Robin · 3

• THBT Green Political Parties should take pro-capitalist stances as well as be willing to form coalitions with right wing parties

  Sabanci Open · 4

  Info slide

  Green parties in Europe are generally anti-capitalist and usually aim to form coalitions exclusively with leftist political parties.

• THW allow parents to remove their children from specific classes at school (e.g sports, religious studies, sex education, science) on moral, religious or political grounds

  Sabanci Open · 1

• THR the glorification of leftist martyrs (e.g. Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis in the Netherlands, Wang Erxiao in China).

  Horizon Cup · 3

• THBT it is in the interest of liberal opposition movements in authoritarian democracies to actively employ and embrace strategies of disinformation

  RVDT · Open_Final

  Info slide

  Authoritarian democracies are characterized as having a democratic form of government with an authoritarian-like (or strongman) leader in power. Examples could include Brazil (Bolsonaro), Philippines (Duterte), and Hungary (Orban). Disinformation is defined as false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth

• THO corporations mandating the use of their own app stores by developers

  RVDT · 5

  Info slide

  All hosting of and payments for applications that run on the iOS platform currently need to be done via Apple's proprietary App Store. Apple has complete control over what applications are hosted on its platform, and charges developers a 30% commision on all transactions made.

• THBT European leftist parties (eg Podemos, La France Insoumise, Die Linke), should support exist from the European Union

  Socialism Open · 3

  Info slide

  Outside of the EU trade unionists can get back to some serious international solidarity with out European counterparts. The EU has been on a rampage of privatisations and break up of collective bargaining and workers' rights throughout the continent. Because our trade unions congress and the European trade union confederation have been so enamoured of the EU, the full story of the EU's attacks has not been told" - press release - Trade Unions Against the EU (2016)

• THP left wing anarchism over Marxism

  Socialism Open · 4

  Info slide

  In addition to opposing private property, left-wing anarchism supports the immediate abolition of the state. State power is replaced by decentralised workers' cooperatives organised through direct democracy. The most prominent example of an anarchist society is revolutionary Catalonia (1936 - 1939)

• THR the predominance of historical materialism rather than Marxist humanism in socialist politics

  Socialism Open · Open_Final

  Info slide

  Most orthodox Marxist endorse "historical materialism", the idea that history is determined by material conditions, and tend to see socialism as applying a "scientific" and objective analysis to that history. This was the theory of socialism endorsed by the leaders of the Soviet Union and most other officially socialist regimes. "Marxist humanism", by contrast, argues that Marxism should not consider itself a science, but a philosophy. Marxist humanists see humans as subjective sources of consciousness and value, suggesting that human experience is not necessarily dictated by material conditions.

• THR the glorification of civilian-initiated community pantries

  North Luzon Intervarsity · Open_Final

• THBT minorities in the US should reject the narrative of the American dream

  Oldham International League · 2

  Info slide

  The narrative of the American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born, what class they were born into, what one's gender is, can attain their own version of success in American society, where upward mobility is possible for everyone. Meritocracy is a core tenet of the American Dream, emphasizing that success is achieved through hard work, rather than by chance.

• THP world where upon birth children are taken from their parents and placed in community homes where they are raised by their respective communities

  Xavier Cup · Open_Final

• TH as Aleksei Navalny's would maintain anti corruption as his main slogan as opposed to social injustice

  Xavier Cup · 4

• THR the rise of private cities

  Xavier Cup · 3

  Info slide

  Private cities are mixed use developments presided over a company rather than a government. They have their own sets of laws often different from laws of nations they are located within. (new labor regulations, tax codes, education models, etc). These don't need to be one particular form of government. As a "contract citizen," you have a legal claim to comply and a claim for damages in the event the provider does not perform

• THBT believes that it is legitimate for a minority group in a majoritarian state to not pay taxes, as a form of protest

  National Law School Parliamentary Debate · 6

• The House regrets the emphasis on individual responsibility in stories about working class struggles (e.g., These Dreams of You, Parasite)

  1st LPU Davao Aristotle Cup · Open_Final

• TH supports the rising trend of celebrities and influencers taking key roles in activism (e.g in environment, human rights, social justice movements etc.)

  Taylor's Genders · 1

• This House Believes that Environmental Activists Should Focus on the Culpability of Large Corporations for Environmental Degradation, Rather Than Emphasize the Role of Personal Responsibility (e.g. Using Less Water, Recycling Household Waste)

  Oldham Asia Pacific & Atlantic · 1

• THBT indigineous communities in the Amazon rainforest should undertake acts of vigilantism against poachers and illegal loggers

  i3L Debate Match · 3

  Info slide

  In recent years, logging companies have cleared swathes of land around indigenous communities' reservation in the Amazon, with loggers and poachers often also entering their perimeters. President Bolsonaro has claimed that the reservations are too expensive and has called for mining and industrial farming on tribal land. Recently, member of indigenous tribes have begun forming vigilante groups to fight back against the encroachments. They have experienced relative success in combating illegal incursion, but this has come at the cost of being regularly exposed to armed skirmishes and vigilantism being denounced by local authorities.

• THBT social movements should take the approach of skepticism as opposed to optimism

  Chanakya National Law University BP · 2

• TH believes that there is no longer a place for monarchies in modern democracies

  Chanakya National Law University BP · 3

  Info slide

  Current monarchies include but are not limited to the following democratic countries: the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Sweden, Spain, and Japan.

• THIS HOUSE REGRETS THE GLORIFICATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT OF SOCIAL MOBILITY

  Hanoi Debate Open · 4

• THW join Stonewall

  Brasil Queer Open · 4

  Info slide

  The Stonewall Riots were a series of violent demonstrations in the 1960s carried out by members of the LGBT community in the face of police violence against the community. During the 1960s, the United States experienced a system of intense legal and social exclusion from the LGBT community. For the purposes of this debate, you are a LGB cisgender person of relevant position in your social environment, currently living in a façade marriage, posing as heterosexual.

• TH, as the animal rights movement, Would campaign solely focusing on large-scale atrocities (e.g. battery farming, animal testing) as opposed to individual behaviours (e.g. eating meat, wearing leather)

  UET IV · Novice_Final

• THR overfocusing in historical narratives on figures of revolution

  UET IV · Open_Quarter

• THBT leftist parties in Eastern Europe should prioritize left economic policies and postulates (better working conditions, progressive taxation, higher social welfare distribution rates) over progressive liberty rights (same-sex marriages, widespread access to legal abortion, diminishing of influence of church over public sphere)

  UET IV · 4

• THS the widespread introduction of millionaire taxes in response to COVID-19

  UET IV · 2

  Info slide

  In response to COVID-19 Argentina recently introduced a "millionaire tax", a one-off payment taxing roughly 5% of assets of people with assets worth over $1,000,000

• TH, as a functioning democracy, would give more weight to votes from marginalized peoples than those from the majority ethnic and racial groups

  UET IV · 1

• THR the shift of Debating Pop Posting from being predominantly a pop culture Facebook group to the way that it is now

  Pop Posting Open · 2

• THBT "scabs" should no longer be allowed to join any union in the future

  Malaysia National Universities Debating Championship · 3

  Info slide

  Scabs are workers that work against collective bargaining (e.g. undermining strikes, disrupting negotiations with corporations etc)

• THBT social movements should actively disassociate themselves from corporations (refusing donations, rejecting any public affiliation or association etc)

  Malaysia National Universities Debating Championship · 2

• THW distribute populations in residential areas to achieve a balance of individuals across different socioeconomic status

  Malaysia National Universities Debating Championship · 2

• Assuming feasibility, THW make the state raise all children instead of the parents

  World Changers Camp · Novice_Semi

• THBT celebrities should take political stances on social justice issues

  World Changers Camp · 3

• That the perception of being a 'model minority' has brought more harms than benefits to the Asian diaspora in Western nations

  Online Easters · Open_Quarter

• That Australia should give temporary work visa holders the right to vote

  Online Easters · 6

• That Progressives in Australia should not support the Greens' hung parliament strategy

  Online Easters · 6

  Info slide

  A "hung parliament" means that no single party has gained a majority of seats at the election and therefore cannot form government without other parties joining them. While common overseas, they are rare in Australia. The Australian Greens recently announced their "hung parliament strategy" for the next federal election. The main parts of this strategy include: a) Advocating to voters the benefits of a hung parliament and how it could be likely to oust the Liberal & National Parties from power; b) aggressively targetting 9 Lower House seats (5 Labor-held and 4 Liberal-held) in order to gain the balance of power in the Lower House and force a hung parliament; c) Targetting Labor voters and trying to force the Labor party into minority government with the Greens so they can exert influence on policy

• That states should actively discourage self-segregation of immigrant/ethnic/religious communities

  Online Easters · 5

• That, as the progressive movement, we would oppose censorship by social media companies (e.g. Spotify and Facebook)

  Online Easters · 3

• TH (as a social movement) will not employ memes as a vehicle to communicate with the public

  Premchand Debates · 1

• THW nationalise big tech corporations (e.g. Facebook, Google, Amazon etc.)

  Jozi Rumble: Greatest of All Time · 1

• THBT social movements should prioritise the use of hacktivism as a method of protest

  Jozi Rumble: Greatest of All Time · 5

• THW require companies allocate seats on their boards of directors to workers

  Junior Debate Championship · 3

• THP a world in which people did not attempt to leave behind a legacy

  NA Spar Open · Open_Final

• THW grant Student Councils the right to unilaterally remove faculty members

  Blithchrome Parliamentary Debate · 1

• THR the narrative that disability can be overcome

  Blithchrome Parliamentary Debate · 3

• THS UEFA's decision to ban transfers between Champion League teams

  Blithchrome Parliamentary Debate · Novice_Final

• THBT it is in the interest of social movements to "hijack" symbols of their opposition groups (e.g LGBT Twitter users and the #ProudBoys).

  4th Linkbate Debate Championship · Open_Semi

• TH regrets the glorification of sacrifice in social movements.

  4th Linkbate Debate Championship · U16_Final

• THW compel governments to run a referendum on any issue if a significant (>50%) of society petitions for it

  Australs Interschool Debating Championship · Novice_Final

  Info slide

  Referendums are a form of direct democracy where eligible voters are allowed to cast a vote on a singular issue, whether they support it or not (there are only 2 choices, yes or no in a referendum). The results of a referendum are binding and cannot be changed. Referendums can be called on any issues regarding the nation, e.g. the Brexit referendum on whether the UK should leave the EU. Currently, referendums can only be called by parliament, when a majority of MPs vote in favour of having a referendum.