Debate motions from 2012

THW make fathers take paternity leave.

1

THW prevent politicians from making fact claims that, while not technically lies, are substantially misleading to voters.

2

THW force large companies who leave an area to pay the costs of any resulting structural unemployment.

3

THW require individuals to use all their wealth beyond USD 5 million for philanthropic projects.

4

THW require deaf parents to send their children (whether deaf or hearing) to mainstream schools for their primary and secondary education.

5

TH supports politicians who pass progressive legislation, even where this is contrary to the wishes of the democratic electorate.

6

TH supports the free movement of labour worldwide.

7

THW exempt academic disputes from defamation law.

8

THW ban all private healthcare in favour of a comprehensive public healthcare system.

9

THBT when doctors discover a patient has STDs, they should reveal that info to the patient's partner.

EFL_Semis

THBT public education systems should raise the aspirations of children from disadvantaged backgrounds beyond that which is realistic to expect them to achieve.

EFL_Final

THW limit government ministers' standard of living to that of someone on the current median wage.

ESL_Quarters

In countries with few female politicians, THB it is good to have a politically active 'first lady'.

ESL_Semis

TH supports scientists who fabricate evidence exaggerating the certainty of man-made climate change, where there is a low likelihood to be caught.

ESL_Final

THW not allow a single media company to own multiple TV channels or newspapers (whether in print or online).

Open_Octos

THBT "Western" consultants advising dictatorships have a moral duty to sabotage them.

Open_Quarters

THBT images designed to even slightly sexually attract/aroused viewer should be restricted to specialist adult shot/xxx domain.

Open_Semis

TH supports nationalism.

Open_Final

THBT we live in a mediaocracy

1

THB in the Holy Trinity: Apple, Google and Facebook

2

THBT life begins at 25

3

THBT politicians should retire at 65 like everybody else

4

THB in freedom at all costs

5

THB in a three-day week-end

6

THW blow the whistle

7

THBT physical appearance is a fundamental criterion for good leadership

8

THB politicians should have a sense of humor

9

THBT If You Are Not In Fashion, You Are Nobody

10

THBT science has replaced philosophy

11

THBT men build too many walls and not enough bridges

12

THBT if it isn't broken, break it

13

THW look back in anger

14

THBT greed is good

15

THBT If It's Not Fun, You're Not Doing It Right.

16

THBT the best is yet to come

17

THBT stale, pale males still rule

18

THW remove all hate speech laws

1

THW allow "religious duty/compulsion" as a mitigating defense for crimes

2

THW ban media reporting on violent crimes

3

THW hold parents responsible for the crimes of their kids

4

THW make rehabilitation the sole criteria for releasing criminals from prison

5

THW ban works of literature/film/music that glorify criminality

6

THW compel priests to report a crime which they learn of through confession

7

TTHW abolish the practice of plea bargaining

8

THW end the use of prisons

9

THW, in countries where the death penalty is in use, not allow anyone to watch the execution

10

THW take socio-economic background into account when sentencing criminals

11

TTHW prosecute domestic violence without the consent of the victim

12

THBT post-revolution states should delegate all trials and sentencing of former rulers and high ranking officials to the international community

13

THW Elect its Judges Democratically

14

THW publish a list of convicted sex offenders

15

THW ban alcohol

16

THBT Parents Should Choose Not To Send their Children to Private Schools

1

THW Give First Nations Peoples (eg. Native Americans and Aboriginal Australians) Complete Autonomous Self-Government

2

THBT The Music Industry Should Not Facilitate the Comebacks of Artists Who Commit Violent Crimes

3

THBT The Mexican Government Should Lift All Limits on the Military and Law Enforcement in the Fight Against Organised Crime

4

THBT The ECB Should Unconditionally Buy Government Debt from Struggling Eurozone Economies

5

THW Cap the Amount Corporations Can Spend in Any One Course of Litigation

6

THW Require the Military to Recruit Soldiers in Direct Proportion to the Socio-Economic Make-up of the Country

7

THBT The Palestinians Should Accept Complete Demilitarisation in Immediate Return for A Sovereign State

8

THW Let Anyone Take Up Residence in Any Country, Provided They Can Show that They Will Not be an Economic Burden on that Country

9

TH Supports Life Sentences Without the Possibility of Parole For Serial Serious Re-Offenders

ESL_Quarters

THBT The Militaries of Newly Democratised Arab Countries Should Act as Guardians of Secularism

ESL_Semis

THW Retrospectively Remove Amnesties Granted to Those Who Committed Crimes As Part of Oppressive Regimes

ESL_Final

THBT Republika Srpska Should Secede from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Open_Quarters

THBT Schools Should Aggressively Stream Students According to their Ability From An Early Age

Open_Semis

THW Amend the US Constitution To Prohibit Any Involvement by Religious Organisation in the Electoral Process

Open_Final

THB India should remove its ban on 'The Satanic Verses'

1

THW invest in big casinos to rejuvenate economically disadvantaged areas

2

THB the Greek Government should reject the latest EU, ECB & IMF bailout agreement

3

THB the Gay Rights Movement should oppose Gay Pride Parades in Western Liberal Democracies

4

THBT the states of former Yugoslavia should create a unified football league

5

THBT the Media should not show images of police brutality

ESL_Semis

THW grant automatic asylum to women from countries under sharia law

ESL_Final

THBT Vladmir Putin should make a credible public offer to the United States for joint decommissioning of their entire nuclear arsenal

Open_Quarters

THBT film stars, music stars & other popular entertainers should be prohibited from participating in political campaigns

Open_Semis

THBT Western European countries should teach an overwhelmingly negative version of their imperial histories

Open_Final

THW legalize multi-partner marriages for both men and women.

1

THW ban private financing of election campaigns.

2

TH regrets the Arab Spring

3

THW abolish prison sentences for all non-violent crimes.

4

THBT the creation of the Eurozone has done more harm than good. INFO SLIDE: The Eurozone is a currency union consisting of EU member states who have adopted the Euro as their common currency. Its monetary policy is administered by the European Central Bank.

5

THBT the West Should cease using attack drones in counter-insurgency operations.

6

THW lift all sanctions on Iran that target its nuclear program.

Open_Octos

TH regrets the declIne of labor unions.

Open_Quarters

THBT governments should systematically use subconscious manipulation to nudge citizens towards socially desirable choices.INFOSLIDE: There is growing evidence from behavioral economics that seemingly trivial alterations in the way decisions are presented can substantially affect choices. For instance, printing smiley faces on the electricity bills of low-usage households decreases their future electricity consumption. As another example, consumers presented with a list of financial choices are more likely to choose items placed near the middle of the list.

Open_Semis

THBT coming cuts in USA military spending will make the world a better place.

Open_Final

THW oblige pharmaceutical companies to spend half of their research budgets on illnesses that occur primarily in developing countries

1

THW forbid domestic security services to monitor Members of Parliaments

2

THW continue the European Football Championships with 16 participating teams

3

TH, which is technically capable to do so, would clone Neandertalers

4

THW create Eurobonds

5

THW not perform any plays of Thomas Bernhard in Austria

6

TH supports the foundation of an independent Kurdic state

7

TH condemns the use of unmanned weapon systems (drones) against human targets

Open_Quarters

THW use geo-engineering to combat climate change

Open_Semis

TH supports large-scale migration from poor to rich regions in the European Union

Open_Final

TH regrets the criminalisation of squatting.

1

THW allow high-ranked army officials, when in agreement, to reverse decisions made by democratic governments regarding military missions.

2

THW fund research into the existence of a violent gene.

3

THB that LGBTQI activism in countries with strong anti-gay policies does more harm than good.

4

THW abolish all term-limits on the service of elected heads of state.

5

THW not allow members of the royal family to serve in active combat.

ESL_Semis

THB that European States should end all funding for the arts until everyone lives above the national poverty level.

ESL_Final

THB it is legitimate for states to deny residence or asylum to immigrants who openly contradict their predominant values.

Open_Quarters

You are the British government. You have full guarantee that SAS (special air service) can enter the prison which currently holds the Pussy Riot Girls in Russia and you can remove them safely. THW enter Russia and remove the Pussy Riot Girls from their cells.

Open_Semis

THB the state should actively prosecute sexist and misogynist remarks..

Open_Final

THBT Google, YouTube, & social media websites should remove content which it deems to insult religions

1

THB the ANC should nationalize all mines

2

THBT Western governments should buy the freedom of slaves

3

THBT the Greek military should suspend democratic government until economic recovery

4

THBT companies should not take public stance in gay right issues

5

THB governments should actively discourage consumerist lifestyles

ESL_Semis

THW give extra votes to youths over the age of 18

ESL_Final

THBT Emily's list should fund pro-choice male candidates

Open_Quarters

THBT States should forcibly reverse the transmigration policies of their former dictators

Open_Semis

THB in the right to bear arms

Open_Final

THW legalise all forms of assisted suicide for mentally sound people

1

TH regrets the strong social norms in favour of lifelong monogamy

2

THBT western countries should invest primarily in air power rather than ground troops for future military interventions

3

THBT the education system should promote equality of outcomes over equality of opportunities

4

TH welcomes the advent of extreme genetic enhancements for human beings

5

THBT national governments should aim to depopulate rather than regenerate areas with few viable economic activities

ESL_Final

info slide: behavioural economics, rival changes in the way choices are presented changes behaviour THBT the state should systematically use subconscious manipulation to nudge citizens towards good choices

Open_Quarters

THBT Western foreign policy should seek to prevent China's acquisition of Africa's natural land and resources

Open_Semis

TH regrets the decline of Marxism in liberal Western democracies

Open_Final

THBT political parties should not take gender into account when selecting candidates for voting lists

1

You call the internet provider to take down the filter, while your children are present

2

THW abolish the tax rebate on mortgage interest

3

THW allow the Reclame Code Commissie (Dutch Advertising Standards Authority) to ban advertisements which affirm gender roles

4

You lie to Albert Speer and tell him the atomic bomb cannot be built.

5

THW abolish the income criteria for family reunification (when bringing family members to the Netherlands for permanent settlement, the applicant must have an income significantly higher than the minimum wage)

6

THBT in countries where abortion is illegal, no exceptions should be made for cases of incest or rape

Novice_Final

THBT, upon death, every person's body should revert to the state for scientific use or for organ donation depending on necessity

Open_Semis

THBT every Dutch family with an average or higher income has a moral obligation to take in a foster child (child from foster care)

Open_Final

THB the state should send all underage overweight children to a summer far camp

1

THBT all EU countries should set the bar of entry to their parliament in such a way that would ensure a two party system

2

THBT Amercia is justified in keeping the Second Amendment

3

You are a western reporter covering the Middle East. You received indisputable and exclusive evidence that Israel is about to launch an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in the next 24 hours. THW not publish the story

4

THB Turkey should abandon all efforts to join the EU

5

You are a CEO of a major clothing company and currently pay workers in your factory 1 dollar a day. You are presented with a plan that would give your employees a dignified living wage. This would significantly increase production costs but would not put you out of business. THW implement the plan.

6

THBT posing for Playboy is immoral

7

THW heavily incentivise Bosnians, Croats and Serbs in Bosnia and Hercegovina that move to areas where dominant ethnicity is other than their own

Open_Semis

Given the technology, THW burn obedience to criminal law in the brains of all humans

Open_Final

The state should pay a living wage to stay at home parents

1

THB all donor countries should freeze aid to Rwanda

2

THW hold the senior executives of major banks and rating agencies criminally liable for the actions of their companies that led to the Global Financial Crisis

3

THBT democratic reform is more important than economic growth for China

4

THBT prosecutors should never offer reduced sentences in exchange for testifying against others

5

THBT that Japan should not abandon nuclear power

ESL_Final

TH regrets the rise of 24 hour news culture

Open_Quarters

THBT all companies should be at least 75% owned by their workforce, in equal shares

Open_Semis

THBT Egypt should provide a military security guarantee against the invasion of Gaza

Open_Final

This House Believes That newly democratised Arab nations should not allow religious parties to participate in elections

Round 2 (prepared)

This House Would allow single parents to raise their children behind bars

Round 3 (impromptu)

This House Believes That developing nations should place limits on internal rural-urban migration

Round 4 (prepared)

This House Believes That the police should use racial profiling to fight crime

Round 5 (impromptu)

This House Believes That states should enshrine legally actionable socio-economic rights

Round 8 (prepared)

This House Believes That governments should create schools which teach in indigenous languages

Octofinals (impromptu)

This House Believes That gay rights organisations should out gay public figures

Quarterfinals (impromptu)

TH supports 100% inheritance tax

Semifinals (impromptu)

TH regrets South Africa's decision to use the Truth and Reconciliation Commission rather than prosecuting perpetrators of crimes committed under Apartheid.

Grand Final (prepared)

THW disclose the ethnicity of a sperm/egg donor to the prospective parent

1

THBT goverments should only fund bailouts of other countries if they get permission to do so in a referendum

2

THBT the US should give South Korea weapons

3

THBT the feminist groups should not campaign against abortion

4

THBT the US should pay reparations to its Muslim population for policies carried out in the aftermath of 9/11

5

THBT Boston College should release the IRA tapes

Open_Quarters

TH whishes that Barack Obama had faced a primary challenge

Open_Semis

THW welcome the downfall of global capitalism

Open_Final

THW allow the families of victims of war crimes to sue the country responsible for reparations

1

THW grant amnesty to dictators who voluntarily leave office

2

THW Make the directors of multi-national companies criminally responsible for any environmental damage caused by their company in the developing world

3

THW refuse to extradite criminals to countries with the death penalty

4

THW Never hold major sporting events in countries with ongoing human rights violations

5

THW allow the global free movement of people

6

THW believes that it is legitimate for parliaments to delegate sovereignty to the EU without any need for referendum

7

THW use military force to deliver aid in humanitarian crises

8

THW introduce mandatory trips to Nazi concentration camps for Austrian elementary school students.

1

This House supports the use of charity rather than state welfare systems.

2

This House believes that Russia was justified in vetoing intervention in Syria.

3

This House believes that Facebook is justified to censor any of its users' content for any reason it sees fit.

4

This House supports the appointment of technocratic governments in Eurozone countries suffering fiscal crisis.

5

THB the Israeli Army should adopt a policy of shooting to kill their own comrades where they are likely to be captured.

6

THBT EU countries should promote Christianity and not other religions.

Open_Semis

Given the ability to carry a full term pregnancy in an incubator. THBT humankind should seek to abolish natural pregnancy.

Open_Final

THW forcibly relocate indigenous peoples where their presence prevents the extraction of valuable resources

1

HB that sex education classes should include sexual fetishes with the aim of normalising them.

2

THW not allow pre-nuptial agreements

3

THB that developing countries should disregard intellectual property rights on life saving/preserving medicine

4

This House Would covertly fabricate evidence that politicians who promote demonisation or criminalisation of homosexuality are gay (approximation)

5

THW make the punishment for crimes of theft inversely proportional to the wealth of the victim (approximation)

Novice_Final

THW create country quotas for the acceptance of refugees and allow for trade of these obligations

Open_Semis

THW create a Supreme Court to protect future generations from current lawmakers

Open_Final

THW remove all constraints on companies firing workers

1

THW make sportןמע teams whose fans performed violence or severe disorderly behaviour, play their matches in front of a crowd of women and children only.

2

TH, as Aljazeera, would have broadcasted the videos of the Toulouse attacks.

3

THBT retribution should not be a part of the criminal justice system

4

THBT the state should subsidize feminist porn

5

HW make assimilation the primary goal of legislation related to immigrants.

ESL_Final