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  • This house supports the establishment of government run grocery stores in urban food deserts

    Infoslide

    For the purposes of this debate, a food desert is defined as an area in which the majority of the population is: 1) more than 20 minutes from a grocery store by the dominant mode of transport in that area 2) low income

    ANU Spring 2025 · Round 5 · 2025-11-15

  • This house believes that green belts in and around cities should be eliminated when experiencing a housing supply shortage

    Infoslide

    A green belt is an area designated to preserve nature or open space. They may be large recreational parks, undeveloped wilderness, or agricultural land. Development on this land is severely restricted

    LUMS Asians x OPFDC 2025 · Quarterfinals · 2025-11-10

  • In rapidly-developing megacities, This house prefers the "chaotic warm approach" in urban planning as opposed to Le Corbusier’s approach

    Infoslide

    A megacity is defined as a very large urban area, usually a metropolis, consisting of a main city supported by several satellite cities. Le Corbusier's concept of urban planning envisions polished infrastructures (wide roads, clear sidewalks, spacious public facilities etc.) within cities with well-defined sectors (clear separation of residential and commercial areas). A 'chaotic warm' approach is a city that looks “messy” from up above but feels 'warm' to its inhabitants: for example the presence of urban villages, city alleyways scattered with street food hawkers and hole-in-the-wall establishments. For the purpose of this debate, both approaches would also aim for cleanliness, relative law and order and security albeit in different ways of delivering/implementing them.

    LUMS Asians x OPFDC 2025 · Quarterfinals · 2025-11-10

  • This house believes that developing countries should actively encourage the development of sin cities

    Infoslide

    "Sin Cities" refers to cities where criminalized/heavily regulated vices (prostitution, gambling, illicit drugs) are legalized. Examples include Amsterdam, Macau, Tijuana.

    Chancellor's Cup 2025 · Round 2 · 2025-11-08

  • Under the veil of ignorance, This house prefers to live in the 6ix

    Infoslide

    In the fictional nation of Canaduh, two cities exist— Raincouver and the 6ix. In Raincouver, every single person lives a minimalist and safe but somewhat dull and predictable life with all of their base needs taken care of. There is no social or economic inequality, and no person is better off than another. In the 6ix, strong disparity exists within the socioeconomic hierarchy, and inhabitants face greater risk, but the city culture is far more vibrant and exciting, and much larger opportunities for advancement and fulfilment exist.

    UBC Summer HST 2025 · Grand Final · 2025-11-04

  • As an average individual, This house prefers to be agro-rich than urban-rich

    Infoslide

    For this debate, being agro-rich means having wealth that comes primarily from the ownership of land, farms, and agricultural production or exports; wealth that depends on physical assets, long-term contracts, and the continued management of land, machinery, and workers. It often includes commitments that tie you to the land and its operations. Being urban-rich means having wealth that comes from urban economic activity: high-paying jobs in services, finance, law, real estate, or technology, where income depends on knowledge, professional advancement, and capital flows. It often includes commitments like mortgages, stock options, or promotions.

    South Atlantic Debate Championship 2025 · Quarterfinals · 2025-11-01

  • This house prefers centralised urban planning system to decentralised urban planning system

    Infoslide

    In centralised urban planning system, decisions (e.g. about building appearance regulations, permits for new developments, construction of public spaces, etc.) are made on the municipal / city level. In contrast, a decentralised urban planning system strives to outsource these decisions to the local neighbourhood level.

    Prague Open 2025 · Round 5 · 2025-11-01

  • This house welcomes the rise of corporate-controlled cities in the Global South

    Infoslide

    Corporate-controlled cities such as private and charter cities are self- governing cities within a developing country where a guarantor, usually by corporations from developed countries, are granted political and economic autonomy. The guarantor controls the city including the creation of legal codes, laws, courts, immigration and economic policies. Examples include Prospera backed by Silicon Valley-based investors in Honduras, Bitcoin City in El Salvador and Silicon Zanzibar in Tanzania

    3rd Visayas Novice Debate Cup · Open Quarterfinals · 2025-10-25

  • This House Believes That the Martin family should go to London over Tanzania.

    Infoslide

    The Martin family lives in London Ontario. It is comprised of William Martin, 44, a civil engineer who enjoys craft beer, history, and golf, Jane Martin, 42, a pediatrician who enjoys hiking, photography, and enjoys planning detailed itineraries, Rose Martin, 13, who is artistic, shy, and loves K-pop, and Logan Martin, 9, who is energetic, an animal lover, and a huge fan of soccer. The Martin family is upper middle class and hasn’t gone on a family vacation since COVID. After thinking through their options, they have come down to London (UK) or Serengeti National Park Tanzania

    Unity Cup 2025 · Novice Finals · 2025-10-25

  • Provided he wins, This House Believes That Zohran Mamdani will do more good than harm.

    Infoslide

    Zohran Mamdani is a state assemblyman since 2021, and member of the Democratic Socialists of America who is polling to win the NYC Mayoral Election in November, with around 45% of the vote, with the rest split between other candidates. Mamdani's platform includes support for a rent freeze for millions of tenants and making evictions much more difficult, making buses free, replacing private utility companies with public ones, redirecting NYPD funds towards social services, increasing taxes on the rich and corporations, and defiantly standing against Trump and ICE.

    Unity Cup 2025 · Round 5 · 2025-10-25

  • This house believes that governments should offer significant financial support for minority residents to open businesses (e.g., grants, subsidized rents, or low-interest loans) in commercial ethnic districts (CEDs) as opposed to limiting outside businesses from moving into the district (e.g., zoning limits on chain stores or non-ethnic enterprises).

    Infoslide

    <span data-sheets-root="1" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 11pt; font-family: Roboto, Arial;">Commercial ethnic districts (CED) refer to areas of a city where businesses are primarily owned and operated by a particular minority ethnic group, and where bussinesses largely revolve around that group's culture (e.g. restaurants serving ethnic cuisine, boutiques selling traditional attire, etc.).&nbsp;Prominent examples of CEDs include Chinatowns in London &amp; San Fransisco, Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, and Little India in Singapore.</span><p><google-sheets-html-origin style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: medium;"></google-sheets-html-origin></p>

    Manila Pre-WUDC 2025 · Round 4 · 2025-10-24

  • This house prefers Kyoto where zoning bylaws impose more strict limits

    Infoslide

    Zoning bylaws are tools used by municipalities to regulate the use of land. Zoning bylaws include restrictions on building heights, setbacks, site coverage, etc. In 2023, Kyoto City partially relaxed its building height restrictions. Along major roads near Kyoto Station height limits on buildings were eased. In areas facing major roads around Yamashina Station the restrictions were lifted entirely, provided certain conditions are met. For example, if a building includes retail space on the ground floor, constructing high-rise condominiums with over 20 stories is now possible. However, the existing regulations remain in place in the city center. (i.e.In the central arterial roadside districts, buildings are limited to a height of 31 meters, while in the inner mixed-use residential and commercial zones, the limit is 15 meters or less)

    Autumn Tournament 2025 · Rookie部門決勝 · 2025-10-18

  • This house believes that Palawan should become the administrative capital of the Philippines

    Infoslide

    In the Philippines, "The Big One" refers to the speculated scenario that a catastrophic Magnitude 7.2 earthquake will be generated by a major movement of the West Valley Fault. This is anticipated to severely affect Metro Manila and surrounding provinces in Luzon including Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna. In contrast, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) classifies Palawan as a province with low seismic hazard because it is situated on a more stable continental block and lacks major active fault lines. This means that Palawan is less likely to experience high intensities of ground motion.

    Cebu Debate Open · Grand Final · 2025-10-17

  • This house predicts Zohran Mamdani’s election in 2025.

    Infoslide

    After resigning from office in 2021 amid sexual harassment scandals, Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of the state of New York, returned to the political scene in 2025. The son of a veteran politician, his career has been marked by early involvement in public service, and he was re-elected governor twice. Zohran Mamdani, for his part, is a socialist, a Muslim, a fierce critic of Israel, and an advocate of bold social-justice policies — among them, a rent freeze in New York City. Mamdani’s victory over Cuomo in the Democratic primaries for New York City mayor was greeted by the progressive media as “a major surprise.” Cuomo acknowledged the result but announced that he will run for the office as an independent candidate.

    IV UFMG Open · Rodada 2 · 2025-10-10

  • This house supports anticipatory urban planning methods in developing countries

    Infoslide

    Anticipatory urban planning involves making decisions based on predicted future conditions such as population growth, environmental change, technological adoption, or economic shifts. It aims to shape urban development ahead of time by investing in infrastructure, setting policies, or designing districts before clear demand materializes. Both public and private sectors can be involved in these projects.

    McGill Central Canadian Novice Championship 2025 · Round 4 · 2025-09-27

  • This house prefers the Tokyo model of urban development over the Seoul model.

    Infoslide

    Under the Tokyo model, urban development is largely decentralized and incremental, with flexible zoning and many small private developers shaping mixed-use neighborhoods. In contrast, under the Seoul model, urban development is centrally planned and state-led, driven by large-scale redevelopment projects emphasizing efficiency and modernization.

    Beijing International Schools Debating Championship 2025 · Round 6 · 2025-09-05

  • This house believes that governments should prioritise supply-side solutions over demand-side and redistributive solutions to address housing crises in major cities

    Infoslide

    In many major cities, housing costs have risen rapidly due to population growth, urbanisation, and limited new development. Economists broadly agree that two leading strategies can reduce housing costs: Supply-side solutions aim to increase the total number of housing units, primarily through zoning reform, easing building restrictions, and incentivising private development. Demand-side and redistributive solutions aim to help individuals afford housing through government interventions such as rent control, public/social housing, rental subsidies, or taxes on vacant homes. While both approaches can coexist, governments often have limited resources and must prioritise one approach in both funding and political capital.

    Cambridge Union Schools Debating Championship Australia New Zealand Round 2025 · Round 5 · 2025-08-30

  • This house as Prosper Michael would move to Accra.

    Infoslide

    Prosper Michael, a young man in his mid-twenties, faces a life-changing decision on his birthday. He must choose between staying in Kumasi; a town where life is stable and his basic needs are met and he has a job as a writer and researcher, or moving to Accra, a city full of uncertainty but rich with opportunity. In Kumasi, he has comfort and security but limited chances for growth. In Accra, he faces risk and unpredictability, yet the possibility of a better future.

    Friday Night Debates 2025: An African Debate Super League · Power Pair 13 · 2025-08-22