Philippine Debate Open 2015

Round 1: Minorities
– This house would prohibit disadvantaged groups from being portrayed as antagonists in fictional media
– This house believes that sexually provocative female celebrities, who publicly identify as feminists, harm the movement
– This house believes that social media sites should not limit the sexual expressions of its users

Round 2: Expression
– This house believes that protesters should not fight for their causes anonymously
– This house believes that movements should manufacture martyrs for the greater good of their cause
– This house would allow corporations to enforce their religious identity, including but not limited to, the denial of goods and services

Round 3: Development Economics
Info Slide: Quantitative easing (QE) is a type of monetary policy used by central banks to stimulate the economy when standard monetary policy has become ineffective. A central bank implements quantitative easing by buying specified amounts of financial assets from commercial banks and other private institutions, thus raising the prices of those financial assets, while simultaneously increasing the money supply. Part of the increased money supply flows to emerging markets. Motion: This house believes that quantitative easing has done more harm than good in emerging markets
– This house would progressively tax the extraction of non-renewable natural resources
– This house would allow individuals to select which welfare services to consume, subject to a maximum monetary value per individual

Round 4: Socio-Legal
Info Slide: The privilege against self-incrimination prevents the government from forcing an accused person or a witness to testify against himself. Any self-incriminating testimony, without their consent, is inadmissible in court. An individual can refuse to answer questions that he/she believes will incriminate him/her. The prosecutor may not comment on his/her silence. Motion: In areas with high crime rates, THW implement a zero-tolerance policy for petty offenses
– This house would abolish the privilege against self-incrimination
– This house would allow society to pardon political crimes (sedition, treason, rebellion, and other crimes against the state) via referenda

Round 5: Science and Society
Info Slide: Henrietta Lacks (1920-1951) was a woman whose cancer cells were “immortal” (could regenerate indefinitely, as opposed to normal cells with a shelf life of a few days). Unknown to the Lacks family until researchers investigated further into their family genetics decades later, a sample of her cells was cultivated by a research lab, producing about 20 tons of HeLa cells to date. These cells have been used to research into vaccines (i.e. the cure for polio), cancer, gene mapping, toxic testing, and countless other scientific pursuits. There are more than 10,000 patents that have some point used HeLa cells in their development. Motion: THW allow the Lacks family to patent the HeLa cell
– With the consent of all relevant individuals, This house would suspend scientific ethics in favor of scientific advancement
– Assuming feasibility, This house believes that states should temporarily neuter the emotional inhibitions of their soldiers

Round 6: Conflict
– This house believes that the United States should grant asylum to individuals who actively associate with & significantly participate in US military efforts in conflict zones, such as military interpreters and local troops
This house believes that Muslim states should lead in the war against ISIS
In hindsight, This house would not have established the state of Israel

Open Octofinals: Religion
– This house would allow children who have reached the age of majority to sue their parents for religious indoctrination
– This house regrets religion’s reliance on miracles in promoting their faith
– This house supports religious missionaries that proselytize in economically depressed communities

Open Quarterfinals & High School Semifinals: Culture and Art
Info Slide: Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902) was a British businessman, mining magnate, and politician in South Africa. As an ardent believer in British colonialism, Rhodes founded the south African territory of Rhodesia, South Africa’s Rhodes University, and the Rhodes Scholarship. Rhodes was an integral participant in South African colonization. Last week, the University of Cape Town bowed to student protests and removed a prominent memorial statue of Rhodes. Motion: This house celebrates the demolition of the Cecil Rhodes statue
– This house believes that prestigious art galleries that market to the rich do more harm than good to the art industry
– In multi-ethnic countries, This house would set minimum ethnic diversity quotas in residential areas

Open Semifinals & HS Grand Finals: International Relations
– As Greece, This house would prefer the political and economic assistance of Russia over the EU’s
– This house believes that Western liberal democracies should subsidize the operations of their multinational corporations in African states to challenge the growing Chinese economic interests in the region
– This house believes that the ASEAN should pursue deeper political integration, including but not limited to the removal of the non-interventionist policy and the enforcement of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

Grand Finals: Women
– This house regrets the Dove “Real Beauty” campaign
– This house believes that the law regarding abortion should be decided in a women-only referendum
– In pursuit of true and meaningful liberation of women, This house believes that feminists should abandon organized religion