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1558 motions

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  • This house believes that Stormont should be abolished and replaced with direct rule from Westminster.

    Infoslide

    The Northern Ireland Assembly (“Stormont”) is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland, established in 1998. It has the power to legislate on a wide range of domestic areas, including housing, employment, education, health, and agriculture. It does not have the power to legislate on national issues such as trade deals, security, and defence; these remain the jurisdiction of the national legislature in Westminster. Stormont operates under a mandatory power-sharing agreement between unionists and nationalists. This arrangement is very fragile. As a result of severe disagreements between both groups, Stormont has been suspended for over 40% of its existence. When Stormont is suspended, Westminster governs Northern Ireland directly.

    The Earlsfort Open 2024 · Semifinals · 2024-11-19

  • This House would legalise paternity tests in France.

    Infoslide

    Since 1994, France has prohibited paternity tests except for exceptional court-ordered tests (e.g. to resolve immigration or inheritance disputes). The penalty for unauthorised use is up to a year in prison and a fine of €15,000. This includes tests performed by laboratories in other countries. According to polling, approximately one in two French men and one in three French women have engaged in infidelity.

    Cambridge IV 2024 · Round 2 · 2024-11-15

  • This House Believes That it is in the interests of the EU to abandon the aim of 'Ever Closer Union'

    Infoslide

    For the purposes of this debate, "Ever Closer Union" refers to the commitment of EU member states to foster deeper economic, political, and social integration among EU nations.

    Oxford Intervarsity 2024 · Semifinals · 2024-11-09

  • This House Believes that the majority of Western citizens will not get into secular heaven

    Infoslide

    Secular Heaven is an afterlife in which people are permanently fulfilled and happy. This heaven is guarded by an omnipotent being who assesses your actions, their consequences and the intentions behind those actions. If you are judged net positively, you will be admitted.

    Oxford Intervarsity 2024 · Grand Final · 2024-11-09

  • This house believes that the EU should end refugee deals with states outside of the EU (e.g. Turkey deal, Tunesia deal)

    Infoslide

    It is the year 1450 AD. Kampen - formerly one of Europe's biggest trading hubs and candidate for the capital of the Netherlands - is part of the Hanseatic League. The city is bordering the Zuiderzee (South Sea), making it easy to reach Amsterdam and London on the one hand, and the river IJssel running into Germany on the other. The Hanseatic League is a trade cartel consisting of cities in Eastern Netherlands, Germany, Poland and the Baltic States that agreed to collaborate to suppress and exclude other cities that threatened their wealth. They do this by monopolising trade on some of the most profitable goods (e.g., grain, wood, skin, wine and spices), exclusive storage rights in harbours and limiting expertise in how to build ships to cities within the Hanseatic League. Recently, the Hanseatic League has been facing competition from Western European cities in Denmark, Flanders (Belgium), Scotland, England and Western Netherlands (including Amsterdam, another candidate capital of the Netherlands). Some cities in Poland from the Hanseatic League have broken the agreements and now allow trading, mostly with Amsterdam as Amsterdam offers significantly cheaper prices. Following its declining dominance, the Hanseatic League has become more aggressive and blocked access to the East Sea for all cities not part of the League. Ships from Amsterdam have just broken this blockade and the city demands that - rather than neutrality - Kampen drops from the league and stops trading with their respective cities. This is not relevant for the debate, but Martijn felt like you should know.

    Erasmus Novice Cup 2024 · Round 2 · 2024-11-09

  • This house believes that it is in the interest of the Swedish Social Democrats to support harsher measures on gang violence

    Infoslide

    Sweden is currently grappling with a significant rise in gang-related violence, including drug trade, shootings, and bombings which have started to trickle down to neighboring nations. The gangs mainly recruit youth from underprivileged areas where many of the residents are from immigrant backgrounds. The current right-leaning coalition government has gained popularity by emphasizing the necessity of aggressively tackling gang violence. There have been discussions around stricter gun crime penalties, lowering the age of criminal responsibility, deporting gang members with non-Swedish backgrounds, and involving the military in supporting police efforts. However, the left-leaning Social Democrats, the most prominent opposition party, has argued for more preventative measures and more resource allocation to underprivileged areas.

    Kumamoto North East Asia Debating Championship 2024 · EFL Semi Finals · 2024-11-08

  • This house would break-up ASML (into smaller companies, each with access to its current technologies).

    Infoslide

    ASML is a Dutch multinational corporation that has a monopoly on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, a highly advanced technology essential for producing the smallest, most powerful microchips used in modern electronics. No other company in the world currently produces EUV machines, making ASML the sole supplier of this critical technology to semiconductor giants like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung. None of these companies could produce semiconductors without these machines.

    Oxford WGM 2024 · Round 3 · 2024-11-08

  • This house predicts the rise of ecofascism in the West as a major force within the 21st century

    Infoslide

    Ecofascism is an ideology which blames the demise of the environment on overpopulation, immigration, and over-industrialization

    BP Pro-Am 2024 · Grand Final · 2024-11-03

  • This house believes that EU member states should adopt measures which favour EU firms over foreign firms (e.g. imposing strict market-share limitations on foreign firms, implementing tougher conditions on acquisitions by foreign investors, and promoting the creation of a limited number of large conglomerates).

    LSE IV 2024 · Round 5 · 2024-11-02

  • This house would accept the offer

    Infoslide

    "Love Island" is a popular TV dating show where singles, or "islanders," live in a tropical villa and must form romantic connections to stay in the competition. They initially couple up based on attraction, with the option to switch partners during "re-coupling." Islanders compete in challenges to test their compatibility, and new arrivals often disrupt existing relationships. Eliminations occur through public voting by viewers or if someone is left single after re-coupling. The winning couple takes home a £100,000 prize. Participants stay in the villa for up to 8 weeks, with all expenses covered. You are a young, single adult living in Manchester. The producers of Love Island have uniquely offered you to participate in the upcoming season.

    Manchester Novices 2024 · Grand Final · 2024-11-02

  • This house believes that the rise of BSW is in Germany‘s interest.

    Infoslide

    The Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) is a newly formed German party founded by Sahra Wagenknecht, a former leader of Die Linke, a far left German party. BSW holds classically leftwing stances on redistribution, but holds conservative stances on sociocultural issues and is very critical of immigration, similar to the popular rightwing extremist AFD. It also calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine and is seen as a Russia sympathising party. BSW has seen success in recent regional elections in East Germany

    Zurich Open 2024 · Round 2 · 2024-11-02

  • This house, as Caesar, would cross the Rubicon

    Infoslide

    In 49BC, the general Julius Caesar attempted to return from a successful campaign in Gaul to Rome. The Roman Senate, fearing Caesar’s popularity with his army and the people, issued an ultimatum that Caesar was to not cross the border marked by the River Rubicon, else he would be named a traitor and spark a civil war.

    Glasgow Schools 2024 · Silver Finals · 2024-11-02

  • This house, as Caesar, W cross the Rubicon

    Infoslide

    The year is 49BC. The general Julius Caesar is on his way back from a highly successful campaign in Gaul. The Roman Senate, fearing Caesar’s popularity, have issued an ultimatum that Caesar is not to cross the border at the River Rubicon, else he will be named a traitor and create a strong divide in the senate, possibly leading to a civil war. The Senate promises Caesar that if he doesn’t cross the Rubicon and stands down, relinquishing power over his armies, he will be allowed to return to Rome as a regular citizen. If he crosses the Rubicon, he gets the chance to seek ultimate power by capturing Rome.

    SSDC Bogwall Novices 2024 · Non Schools Final · 2024-10-26

  • This house would remove charitable status from all private schools

    Infoslide

    There are about 1,200 private schools in England and Wales registered as charities. Not all private schools are charities; some are run for profit. Schools with charitable status receive tax exemptions. E.g. school fees are exempt from VAT; donations received are entitled to gift aid. In return, they are required to ensure that their expenditure is wholly and exclusively applied to their charitable purposes, and are subject to the supervision of the Charity Commission.

    England BP 2024 · Grand Final · 2024-10-26

  • That, as the mayor of a major European tourist city, we would adopt measures aimed at significantly reducing the number of tourists (e.g. tourist cap, increasing tourist tax, etc.)

    Infoslide

    In 2024, the numbers of tourists visiting big European cities hit record levels. In response, locals in cities such as Barcelona, Athens, and Venice protested against tourist numbers. Locals sprayed tourists with water pistols in Barcelona, and messages like "tourists go home" were graffitied across Athens.

    Junior IDC 2024 · Round 3 · 2024-10-25