Debate motions from 2013

THW ban teenagers from using Facebook

1

THW choose immortality over fertility

1

THBT Simba should not go back

1

THBT Bilbo should have killed Gollum when he had the chance

1

THBT all politicians should be celibate

1

THW ban advertising

1

THBT charity is immoral

1

THW kill its best friend when s/he is about to become a zombie

1

THW build a second Deathstar

2

THBT children under 18 with close relatives who are victims of FGM should not be allowed to travel outside the EU

2

THW ban Google Glasses

2

THW discourage people with genetic diseases from having children and prioritise them in terms of adoption

2

THW replace juries with panels of philosophers who will decide cases purely on utilitarian grounds

2

THW not give aliens the vote (aliens live alongside humans 1 year from now)

2

THB feminists should oppose capitalism

2

THBT the feminist movement should oppose the banning of the burqa

2

THBT the Pope Francis should make an ex-cathedra statement to the effect that all Catholics must support socialism

3

THW give the Roma a homeland

3

THW build a deathstar

3

As an omipotent, omniscient god, THW smite people who commit serious crimes and who we know will feel no remorse

3

THW bring back public corporal punishment for smaller crimes

3

THW make higher education free

3

THW abolish the speaker tab

3

THW fully replace agriculture and fishing with stem cell production to produce food

3

THW require priests to report confessions that lead to criminal convictions

4

You are an Israeli nuclear submarine commander. You learn that Israel has been wiped out by an iranian nuclear strike. THW return Fire

4

THW link Job Seekers Allowance to previous income

4

THW not become a superhero

4

THW encourage replacing human body parts with advanced robotic counterparts

4

THW build 500,000 social homes in the London Greenbelt

4

THW wipe the memories of those convicted very serious crimes and replace them with more positive memories

4

THW require universities to increase funding for classics and deprioritise funding for popular culture choices

4

In world that has eradicated racism, THW prefer that people were/were not able to recognise differences in physical appearance

Open_Final

THS SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act)

1.1

Assuming efficacy, THW prefer an internet of no anonimity.

1.2

THBT it is only justifiable to leak classified information when that information details clearly illegal government conduct.

1.3

THW remove the image of Mohammed from the US surpreme court building.

2.1

THO the instititution of petitionary prayer.

2.2

TH prefers a religion that believes thaat people are inherently good to one that believes they are inherently flawed.

2.3

THW not punish professional sports athletes for off-field behaviour.

3.1

As a gay athlete qualified for the Sochi olympics, THW boycott those Olympics.

3.2

THBT coaches should be held liable for players which they choose to play with the knowledge that those players were already injured.

3.3

THW allow jurors to pose questions to anyone testifying.

4.1

As a juror, this house would in no circumstances consider nullification.

4.2

THBT lawyers should not be involved in jury selection.

4.3

THW prioritize women in international university applications.

Open_Quarters_1

TH prefers a society which prioritizes global poverty reduction over domestic poverty initiatives.

Open_Quarters_2

THBT Western governments should renounce democratization of other states as a foreign policy objective.

Open_Quarters_3

THW prefer to experience art knowing nothing of the artist.

Open_Semis_1

TH has received incontrovertible proof that the Mona Lisa is a forgery. THW not reveal that information.

Open_Semis_2

THS the right of an artist to absolute posthumour control of their work.

Open_Semis_3

THS a federal European state.

Open_Finals_1

THBT a democratic world government is a worthwhile long-term human project.

Open_Finals_2

THS a people's enshrined right to a binding secession referenda.

Open_Finals_3

THW create public housing for the poor in wealthy areas

1

THBT Japan should acquire nuclear weapons

2

THW only imprison individuals who pose a direct and continuing threat to society

3

THBT International development institutions (such as the World Bank) should not finance natural resource extraction projects in corrupt states

4

THBT self described progressive males of dominant ethnicities are morally obliged to refrain from taking positions of responsibility where there is a qualified alternative candidate from a historically disadvantaged group who would otherwise receive the post

5

THW legally permit soldiers to refuse to participate in military actions or missions on the basis of conscience

6

THBT European Union nations should forgive Greece's sovereign debt

7

THBT countries with booming populations should allocate every adult a single tradable permit to have a child

8

THW ban political parties and require all candidates for national public office to seek election as independents

9

THBT publicly funded universities should be required to reduce enrolment in degree programs within their university that have statistically poor employment outcomes

EFL_Quarters

THBT policies that may have significant environmental consequences should be subject to a veto by a 'supreme court' of scientific experts

EFL_Semis

TH welcomes the decline of the USA as the sole global super power.

EFL_Final

THBT publicly funded universities should be required to reduce enrolment in degree programs within their university that have statistically poor employment outcomes (same as EFL_Quarters)

ESL_Quarters

THBT the feminist movement should actively promote norms of stable monogamous relationships

ESL_Semis

THBT representative democracies with large numbers of foreigners living in their territory (on a temporary or permanent basis) should create specific seats to represent them in parliament.

ESL_Final

THBT universities should never prohibit research or teaching on the grounds of sexist, racist or otherwise discriminatory implications

Open_Partial_Double_Octos

THBT the US should cut off military aid to Egypt

Open_Octos

THW ban all advertising of consumer goods and services

Open_Quarters

TBHT the WTO should never allow nations to place export restrictions on food, rare-earth metals, and other non-oil commodities

Open_Semis

THW not allow religious communities to expel members on the basis of views or actions that contradict doctrinal teachings

Open_Final

THW criminalise doping in sport

1

THW ban any technology that can delete or alter a person's memory

2

A pill exists that ensures "moral behaviour", THW ban the morality pill.

3

THB that abortion referendums should be open to women voters only

4

THB countries should cease trying to prevent climate change and focus resources on preparing for its consequences.

5

THB social media companies have a duty to prevent far-right or hate groups from using their platforms.

6

TH supports a Palestinian right of return.

7

THBT former colonial powers should never intervene militarily or economically in favour of one side in a civil war or rebellion in a former colony.

8

THW ban the use of artificial human augmentation, either by surgical or genetic therapy.

Open_Quarter_1

THB that people who attend mass are morally responsible for the actions of the Catholic Church

Open_Quarter_2

THW allow prisoners to choose death over life sentence

Open_Quarter_3

THW ban domestic drones

Open_Quarter_4

THW ban the advertising of financial products that entail an obligation of consumer debt

1

THBT domestically, Margaret Thatcher's premiership did more harm than good

2

THW allow pro-immigration charities to sue politicians and media outlets that defame 'immigrants'

3

THW tax earnings over £1million by 75% but allow individuals to decide how the government spends the additional revenue generated by this income

4

TH welcomes the decline of US-led humanitarian interventions without international consensus

Open_Semis

THBT all main political parties should implement a cross party political scheme to use all-women shortlists to get more women into parliament until gender parity is reached

Open_Final

THW rather die before they get old.

A1

THBT we are clever enough to engineer our doom but not to prevent it.

A2

THBT limitation nurtures creativity

A3

THBT peace is only an illusion

A4

THBT we should not let our schooling interfere with our education

B1

THBT technology is killing our work ethic

B2

THBT we should strive for immortality

B3

THW sooner befriend an evil genius than a dull hero

B4

THBT Art is the highest achievement of humanity.

C1

THBT change is not progress

C2

THBT life is nasty, brutish and short

C3

THBT uncle Sam is not a member of the family

C4

THBT books are obsolete

D1

THBT it is better to learn than to be taught

D2

THBT true friends stab you in the front.

D3

THBT peace depends on fear

D4

THBT banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than armies

D5

THW ban video games in which the player engages in brutal and immoral violence in a realistic setting

1

THW require international development aid budgets to be approved by popular referenda

2

TH, as the Muslim Brotherhood, would sincerely offer to cease resistance, participate in elections and respect a liberal constitution

3

THW permit government agencies to conduct automated surveillance without court authorisation

4

THBT Israel should allow members of the Jewish diaspora to vote in elections

5

TH applauds the rise of songs by female pop artists that glorify assertive female sexuality. For example: Nothing on, I strut around; I do it big, I shut it down; I wonder if you'll be able to handle me; Rita Ora – R.I.P

6

THBT it is in China's strategic interest to cease all non-humanitarian assistance to North-Korea until it verifiably ends its nuclear programme

7

THBT Barack Obama should not have granted legal immunity to officials who ordered the use of torture

8

THW provide welfare in the form of basic goods and services rather than cash payments

9

THBT men should consistently call out and correct chauvinistic claims by colleagues and co-workers

ESL_Quarters

THBT environmental agencies should start a campaign of sabotage and destruction against major pollution companies

ESL_Semis

THBT the state should not fund any works of art or performances that the average citizen would not recognize as having artistic merit

ESL_Final

THBT African countries should adopt English as the principle language of instruction

Open_Quarters

TH regrets that Western Media demonised Islamist Terrorists rather than portraying them as criminals with legitimate grievances

Open_Semis

THW give more votes to citizens according to their performance on a current affairs test

Open_Final

THW punish parents for the crimes their minor children commit

1

THW give the death penalty to government officials that engage in acts of corruption

2

TH regrets welfare policies promoted by Eurozone countries currently immersed in a debt crisis

3

THW pay poor people to not have children

4

THW prohibit in financial settlements lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies

5

THW allow organ donation only to those individuals who are donors

6

THW help/support snitches (informants, informers)

7

THBT developing countries should nationalise companies that extract their national resources

8

TH supports media censorship during times of political crisis

9

TH regrets that Brazil is the host of the football World Cup 2014

Open_Quarters

TH would eliminate the Catholic Church on a global level (the Church's global governing level?)

Open_Semis

TH repents of the Spanish colonisation of Latin America

Open_Final

THW provide mobile teachers for the compulsory education of children in travelling communities (e.g. Roma and Irish travellers)

1

THBT developing countries should collectivelly agree to radically redistributive tax policies.

2

THW ban the gender testing of athletes in sports.

3

THW require major polluters to open their borders to environmental refugees.

4

THBT national war memorials should commemorate the casualties on all sides of the conflict.

5

THBT political parties should adopt non-hierarchical organisational structures.

ESL_Semis

THBT liberal democracies should cut all economic and military ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

ESL_Finals

THBT when courts sentence offenders, they should give considerable weight to the views of the victims.

Novice_Finals

THW, as a liberal democracy, restrict coverage of small-scale terrorist attacks.

Open_Quarters

THBT identity-based social movements should not include in their movements allies who are not part of the identity group in question.

Open_Semis

THBT the US should dissolve its military capabilities.

Open_Finals

This House Believes That important decisions about children's health should be made by medical professionals and not by their parents

Round 1 (prepared)

This House Believes That the media should be prevented by law from intruding the lives of public figures

Round 2 (impromptu)

TH supports greater US military presence in East Asia

Round 3 (prepared)

This House Would cease the exploitation of resources in the Arctic Region

Round 5 (prepared)

This House Would require government schools to teach religious studies

Round 6 (impromptu)

TH supports sovereign debt default as a legitimate economic strategy for countries

Round 7 (prepared)

This House Would require university students to work in their country of origin for a number of years after graduation

Round 8 (impromptu)

This House Would cut welfare support on compulsive gamblers

Octofinals (impromptu)

This House Believes That social movements in democratic countries should drive social change through the courts rather than the legislature

Quarterfinals (impromptu)

This House Believes That the government should pay house wives and house husbands for their work

Semifinals (impromptu)

This House Believes That Turkey is better off outside the EU

Grand Final (prepared)

Should bullfighting be forbidden?

1

Should teams be excluded from sports matches when one of their team members has taken doping?

2

Seed companies seek out strong-yielding plants and sterilise the seeds. The plants cannot produce fertile seeds and the companies protect their license rights. Motion: Should plant sterilisation be banned?

3

Assume the technical possibility of a manned flight to Mars, without the possibility to survive there on a long-term basis, or to return: Should we send a manned spacecraft to Mars?

4

Should we abolish adding to wages until the income reaches the poverty line?

5

After a civil war, should the ethnic groups involved be separated, even through forced resettlement?

6

Should commuter allowances be abolished?

Open_Octos

Servicemen and women are equal before the law in the Armed Forces. In practice, women are not used on the frontline (as special commandos for example). Motion: should women be employed in the frontline?

Open_Quarters

Should prisoners on hungerstrike be forcefed?

Open_Semis

When the Bundestag votes on matters of conscience, the members can vote without party discipline. Should the People decide on matters of conscience instead of the Parliament?

Open_Final

THW bail out Detroit.

1

THS the force feeding of incarcerated hunger strikers.

2

THW eliminate adoption preference based on race and ethnicity.

3

THBT the government should not promote home ownership.

4

THBT US elected officials should not be subject to recall elections.

5

THBT individuals displaced by a conflict should have a right to emigrate to any country.

6

THBT individuals should not be permitted to represent themselves at trial.

7

THBT governments should establish methods to provide unconditional cash transfers to the poor.

8

THBT jury trials do more harm than good.

Open_Semis

THW eliminate inheritance.

Open_Finals

THW give primates and cetaceans the same rights to life, freedom from physical harm and freedom of movement as humans.

1

THBT developed countries should set maximum rents for residential properties in large urban centres.

2

THBT despite the expressed wishes of the Pakistani government, the United States should continue to target the leaders of Tehrik-i-Talibani (Pakistani Taliban).

3

THW break up banks like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and HSBC, that are deemed "too big to fail".

4

THW ban religious charities from engaging in proselytisation.

5

THW prevent those who deny climate change from seeking political office.

ESL_Semis

THBT it should be the policy of the US to conduct all of its military interventions unilaterally.

ESL_Finals

THBT the Republican and Democratic parties should select congressional, senate and presidential candidates through a vote by the party leadership rather than through primaries.

Open_Quarters

Instead of creating a Jewish state in the British Mandate of Palestine, with the benefit of hindsight THW have created a Jewish state in Germany.

Open_Semis

THBT it is in the West's interests for Assad to decisively win the Syrian civil war.

Open_Finals

THBT Western Liberal Democracies should institute bans on their citizens visiting illiberal states whose economies depends on tourism

1

THW require prospective owners or large shareholders of sport clubs / teams to gain majority support from season ticket holders or other representatives of the fan base to complete their acquisition

2

THW make conscription a war crime

3

THW require close relatives of the homeless to pay their welfare costs to the extent that they can afford to do so

4

THW allocate state funding for the arts exclusively to new and original work, and never to reproductions of 'great works' or other old plays, opera, music, films or art

5

This House would allow pro-life organisations to offer to pay women considering abortions to carry the baby to term (assuming adequate child support services exist)

ESL_Final

THBT the International Criminal Court should focus on indicting and prosecuting larger numbers of middle-to-low ranking suspects for war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide, rather than smaller numbers of high ranking suspects

Open_Quarters

This House believes that the civil and criminal legal system has no business considering or regulating behaviour that exclusively occurs in online virtual worlds such as 'Second Life'

Open_Semis

This House would support policies of 'ever increasing political union' – i.e. progressive political integration aimed at the distant goal of federal unification – amongst members of the League of Arab States

Open_Final

THW require all criminal defendants to use a government-provided lawyer.

1

THW withhold government funding from indigenous bands or tribal councils that do not have a democratic form of government.

2

THW aggressively prioritize the posting of female diplomats to countries with poor women's rights records.

3