| 1 | Rumen Cholakov [United Kingdom] |
| 2 | Ben Ryan [United Kingdom] |
| 3 | Cara Eckholm [USA Unicorns] |
| 4 | Hyun Woo Yoon [Korea KMLA] |
| 5 | Eun Sung Yang [Korea KMLA] |
| 6 | Hadar Tamir [Israel 1] |
| 7 | Iulian Maier [Romania ARDOR] |
| 8 | Alex Forzani [United Kingdom] |
| 9 | Yeon Hwa Lee [Korea KMLA] |
| 10 | Naama Peled [Israel 1] |
| 11 | Denaya Barnes [USA Baltimore] |
| 12 | Yasmeen Rasool [South-Africa] |
| 13 | Renita Balgobind [South-Africa] |
| 14 | Bontle Bopape [South-Africa] |
| 15 | Toader Mateoc [USA Unicorns] |
| 16 | Isabel Patkowski [USA Unicorns] |
| 17 | Ada Ziemyte [Lithuania 1] |
| 18 | Nathaniel Lee-hyun Kim [Korea KYGD] |
| 19 | Or Mastey [Israel 2] |
| 20 | Dovile Venskutonyt [Lithuania 2] |
| 21 | Shani Mastey [Israel 2] |
| 22 | Sabin Ciornea [Romania ARDOR] |
| 23 | Karen Kim [Korea SIS] |
| 24 | Rugile Stonyte [Lithuania 2] |
| 25 | Tiffany Oglesby [USA Baltimore] |
| 26 | Katarina Krasulova [Slovakia] |
| 27 | Sang Won Lee [Korea KYGD] |
| 28 | Viktoryia Bakhrutzinava [Belarus] |
| 29 | Mateja Mikulic [Bosnia&Herzegovina] |
| 30 | Belma Ibrahimovic [Bosnia&Herzegovina] |
| 31 | Joon Hun Seong [Korea KYGD] |
| 32 | Andrei Platonov [Russia St.Pete 1] |
| 33 | Rimas Andrijauskas [Lithuania 1] |
| 34 | Sarah Park [Korea SIS] |
| 35 | Christine Choi [Korea SIS] |
| 36 | Elena Isac [Moldova] |
| 37 | Merima Beslagic [Bosnia&Herzegovina] |
| 38 | Jessica Wilkie [USA Baltimore] |
| 39 | Yomyong Chung [Korea KDA] |
| 40 | Rokas Atkociunas [Lithuania 1] |
| 41 | Anton Howes [Mixed 3 Korea-UK] |
| 42 | Kseniya Halavataya [Belarus] |
| 43 | Michael Russkikh [Russia St.Pete 1] |
| 44 | Kristina Aluzaite [Lithuania 3] |
| 45 | Marko Gjorgjiev [Macedonia] |
| 46 | Rodica Raducanu [Romania ARDOR] |
| 47 | Ana Salapic [Croatia] |
| 48 | Justas Jarusevicius [Lithuania 2] |
| 49 | Dina Salapic [Croatia] |
| 50 | Won Ki Lee [Korea KDA] |
| 51 | David Svacina [Slovakia] |
| 52 | Marek Sandrik [Slovakia] |
| 53 | Noar Sahiti [Kosovo] |
| 54 | Karlo Resler [Croatia] |
| 55 | Martin Mets [Estonia] |
| 56 | Petru Claudiu Seicaru [Romania-Pache] |
| 57 | Laurentiu Balasa [Romania-Pache] |
| 58 | Gerald Elbasani [Albania] |
| 59 | Hyung Il Hahn [Korea KDA] |
| 60 | Andrei Dorofei [Moldova] |
| 61 | Sophie Vengerova [Russia St.Pete 1] |
| 62 | Besart Stavileci [Kosovo] |
| 63 | Age Tomson [Estonia] |
| 64 | Spela Zupan [Mixed 1 Isrl-Slov-S-Africa] |
| 65 | Ionela Costachi [Moldova] |
| 66 | Vivian Schreier [Germany] |
| 67 | Giedrius Zolubas [Lithuania 3] |
| 68 | Lynne Murowitz [Israel 2] |
| 69 | Ledia Pelivani [Albania] |
| 70 | Valentin Marinescu [Romania-Pache] |
| 71 | Donjeta Sahatciu [Kosovo] |
| 72 | Tetyana Kuvita [Ukraine] |
| 73 | Maryia Vovk [Belarus] |
| 74 | Joon-Sung Park [Mixed 2 Georgia-Korea] |
| 75 | Alima Zhunussova [Kazakhstan 3] |
Monday, July 28, 2008
Top 75 Speakers
The following are the top 75 speakers from the Karl Popper Debate Championships just held in Smolyan, Bulgaria.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
KPDC Results
The Karl Popper Debate Championships at the 14th IDEA Youth Forum concluded last night in a beautiful Roman amphitheater in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The final round featured Korea KMLA on the affirmative versus the United Kingdom on the negative. On a 4-3 decision, the United Kingdom are the newly crowned Karl Popper Debate champions. Congratulations!
Champions:United Kingdom
Finalists:
Korea KMLA
Semifinalists:
Romania ARDOR
USA Unicorns
Quarterfinalists:
Belarus
Lithuania 2
Russia St. Pete 2
Korea KYDG
Octofinalists:
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Korea SIS
Romania-Pache
Macedonia
Israel 2
Lithuania 1
Lithuania 3
Slovakia
Congratulations to all who broke into elimination rounds and to Korea KMLA and the United Kingdom on a phenomenal final round. More results will be following, including the top 25 teams and top 75 speakers.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Youth Forum '08
Hi All-
The Youth Forum begins this morning and there are lots of ways that we'll be keeping in touch with you:
1) This blog. We'll post photos, results, videos, and hilarious things.
2) IDEA Radio. From www.idebate.org you can access IDEA Radio - we'll be putting audio debates from this year's Forum up as they happen.
3) IDEA YouTube. Videos of debates will be up just as soon as we can upload them to YouTube. You can find our group on YouTube here: http://youtube.com/user/idebate
Check back to find out what we're up to.
alex and nat.
The Youth Forum begins this morning and there are lots of ways that we'll be keeping in touch with you:
1) This blog. We'll post photos, results, videos, and hilarious things.
2) IDEA Radio. From www.idebate.org you can access IDEA Radio - we'll be putting audio debates from this year's Forum up as they happen.
3) IDEA YouTube. Videos of debates will be up just as soon as we can upload them to YouTube. You can find our group on YouTube here: http://youtube.com/user/idebate
Check back to find out what we're up to.
alex and nat.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Debate and Citizen Journalism Institute: EFL Track Brainstrom on Extreme Political Parties
Affirmative side
Negative side
Negative side
Monday, July 14, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
NJFL Tournament Results
The IDEA NJFL National Tournament was held at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky June 26th-29th. IDEA would like to thank all participants and volunteers involved for their help in holding a successful middle school debate tournament. Here are the results:
PUBLIC FORUM DEBATEQuarterfinalists:
AD103 – Capital Debate – Deep Singh & Niran Lakhanpal
AZ101 – Sidney Lanier – Reid Geissen & Noah Morrison
AZ106 – Sidney Lanier – Linda Oyolu & Lisa Oyolu
AZ108 – Sidney Lanier – Lavanya Sunder & Janice Maliakkal
Semifinalists:
AH101 – Fort Scott – Reed Ramsey & Baker Weilert
AZ104 – Sidney Lanier – Conrad Fuller & Brian Whitehouse
2nd Place:
AZ102 – Sidney Lanier – Gregory Ross & Joshua Coronado
1st Place:
AZ109 – Sidney Lanier – Robin Go & Jake Wheeler
PROSE
Quarterfinalists:
Ockerman – Erica Gunther - AP112
Saint Edward – Janika Raynes – AV107
Saint Mary’s Hall – Jared Naylor – AW107
Sydney Lanier – Elizabeth Zhang – AZ116
Saint Mary’s Hall – Michael Johnson – AW103
Rowan County – Cassidy Teager – AT105
Sydney Lanier – Lucy Chen – AZ115
Saint Mary’s Hall – Sam Blow – AW104
Sydney Lanier – Christine Dang – AZ117
John’s Creek – William Coleman – AJ103
Ockerman – Kristen Coomer – AP111
St. Edward – Ashley Lance (AV109)
Semifinalists:
From Sydney Lanier – Jessica Bolynn (AZ119)
From John’s Creek – Paige Thaker (AJ105)
From Russell – Fay Kanagy (AU109)
From Pike – Kell Yang Sammataro (AQ103)
From Saint Mary’s Hall – Kent Healy (AW108)
From Lee’s Summit CCS – Andi Fantauzzi (AK101)
From Bronx Prep – Antonio Brown (AC109)
PROSE Finalist:
From Ockerman Meridith Thronton
From Moreland Ridge Ryan McCrary
From St. Edward Sarah DeHarde
3rd Place:
From Bronx Prep Matt Alston
2nd Place:
From Ockerman Emily Watson
1st Place:
From Bowling Green Christian Taylor Boswell
POETRYQuarterfinalists:
From Bronx Prep - Antonio Brown (AC109)
From Bronx Prep - Jekia Brockman (AC102)
From Ockerman - Olivia McMillian (AP101)
From Woodland – Rachel Hanon (AY110)
From Pike – Sydney Bagley (AQ112)
From Bronx Prep – Marco Cunquiero (AC104)
From John’s Creek – Jill Hale (AJ111)
From Sydney Lanier – Libby Brudner (AZ120)
From John’s Creek – Rickayla Newsome (AJ110)
From St. Edward – Ashley Lance (AV109)
Semifinalists:
From Pike –Angela Lei (AQ115)
From Pike- Louisa Dallett (AQ113)
From Pike – James Hamilton (AQ114)
From Gramling Home School – Amelia Gramling (AF101)
From Ockerman – Jay Drayton (AP117)
From Ockerman – Tiffany Robinson(AP118)
From Lees Summit Community Christian School – Andi Fantauzzi (AK101)
From East Hardin – Jasmine Jones (AG108)
POETRYFinalists:
From Ockerman Gabby Cahill
From John’s Creek – P.J. Sowards
From Sydney Lanier – Drew Barkley
From Sydney Lanier – Gina Toumajian
3rd Place:From Bowling Green Christian Taylor Boswell
2nd Place:From Rowan County – Christa Iwu
1st Place:From Bronx Prep – Antonio Brown
HUMOROUSQuarterfinalists:
From Ockerman – Clay Edwards (AP107)
From John’s Creek – Mary Beth Hall (AJ102)
From Saint Edwards – Sarah DeHarde (AV102)
From John’s Creek – William Coleman (AJ103)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Kent Healy (AW108)
From Pike – Kell Yang Sammataro (AQ103)
From John’s Creek – Adda Coleman (AJ101)
From Sydney Lanier – Erik Rowley (AZ108)
From Pike – Max McGillvrary (AQ101)
From Ockerman – Gabby Cahill (AP105)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Bianca Lopez (AW110)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Ben Kellogg (AW101)
Semifinalists:
From Ockerman – Conner Moulton(AP108)
From Ockerman – Colin Waters(AP106)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Jared Naylor (AW107)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Kevin Healy (AW106)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Jonathon Broker (AW105)
From Pike – Harry Wood (AQ102)
HUMOROUS Finalists:
From St. Mary’s Jacob Fox
From Rowan County Nathan Stevens
From Sydney Lanier Drew Barkley
3rd Place:
From Brentwood Academy Bryce Prior
2nd Place:
From St. Mary’s Michael Johnson
1st. Place:
From St. Mary’s Sam Blow
Dramatic interp.Semifinalist
From Sydney Lanier – Olivia Arena (AZ111)
From Sydney Lanier – Kathy Zho (AZ114)
From St. Edwards – Sarah Powers (AV104)
From John’s Creek – Adda Coleman (AJ101)
From Pike – Max McGillivray (AQ101)
From Pike – Harry Wood (AQ102)
Finalist
From St Mary - Bianca Lopez (AW110)
From Ribet Academy Philip Dunn (AS102)
From St Mary Ben Kellogg (AW101)
3rd Place Rickayla Newsome from Johns Creek
2nd Place Rowan County Christa IWU (AT102)
1st Rowan County Luke Thaxton (AT103)
EXTEMPSemifinalists:
East Hardin – Ryan Nichols – AG101
Rowan Country – Katie Caric – AT107
Ockerman – Colin Waters – AP106
Russell – Danny Rosen – AU117
Sydney Lanier – Noah Morrison – AZ124
Sydney Lanier – Konrad Fuller – AZ126
Finalist
From Sydney Lanier – Sherri Hong
Lucy Chen
Olivia Arena
Third Place –
From Sydney Lanier – Janice Maliakkial
Second Place –
From Ockerman –Lori Lovell
First Place –
From Sydney Lanier – Reid Geissen
IMPROMPTU
Semifinals:
Pike – Mike Ippolito – AQ117
St. Edward – Sarah DeHarde – AV102
Saipan – Doyi Lee – AX106
Saipan – Anastasia Rose Schweiger – AX101
Sydney Lanier – Reid Geissen – AZ123
Sydney Lanier – Brennen Lanier – AZ133
Finalist
From Ockerman – Kristen Coomer
From Ockerman – Colin Waters
From Sydney Lanier – Gina Toumajian
Third Place –
From Ockerman – Lori Lovell
Second Place –
From Sydney Lanier – Lavanya Sunder
First Place –
From Pike – John French
ORATORY
Semifinalists:
Bronx Prep – Amber Quiones – AC108
Capital Debate – Brianna Richardson – AD103
John’s Creek – Adda Coleman – AJ101
St. Edward – Janika Raynes – AV107
Sydney Lanier – Lavanya Sunder – AZ129
Sydney Lanier – Olivia Arena – AZ110
Finalist –
From Sydney Lanier – Janice Maliakkial
From Ockerman – Olivia McMillian
From Sydney Lanier – Robin Go
Third Place -
From Ockerman – Allison Brannon
Second Place –
From Pike – Julie Moon
First Place –
Gramling Home School – Amelia Gramling
DUO
Semifinalsists:
Bronx Prep – Matt Alston & Mario Cunquiero – AC103-104
Fort Scott – Reid Ramsey & Baker Weilert – AH101-102
John’s Creek – William Coleman & PJ Sowards – AJ103-109
John’s Creek – Rikayla Newsome & Paige Thacker – AJ110-105
Pike School – Nick Gates & Harry Wood – AQ110-102
St. Mary’s Hall – Jonathan Broker & Kevin Healy – AW105-106
FINALIST
From Bronx Prep Dann’l Bowen and Manny Lindsey
From St. Mary’s Hall – Michael Johnson and Sam Blow
From Ockerman – Clay Edwards and Brianna Berry
Third Place –
From St. Mary’s Hall – Ben Kellogg and Jacob Fox
Second Place –
From St Mary’s Hall – Jared Naylor and Kent Healy
First Place –
Rowan County – Nathan Stevens and Christa Iwu
Schools of Excellence
Schools of Excellence in DebateCapitol Debate
Fort Scott
Sydney Linear
Schools of Excellence in SpeechJohn’s Creek
Ockerman
Pike
Rowan County
Saint Mary’s Hall
Sydney Lanier
Overall Schools of ExcellenceBronx Prep
Ockerman
Sydney Lanier
** All schools are listed in Alphabetical order – not in rank order.
PUBLIC FORUM DEBATEQuarterfinalists:
AD103 – Capital Debate – Deep Singh & Niran Lakhanpal
AZ101 – Sidney Lanier – Reid Geissen & Noah Morrison
AZ106 – Sidney Lanier – Linda Oyolu & Lisa Oyolu
AZ108 – Sidney Lanier – Lavanya Sunder & Janice Maliakkal
Semifinalists:
AH101 – Fort Scott – Reed Ramsey & Baker Weilert
AZ104 – Sidney Lanier – Conrad Fuller & Brian Whitehouse
2nd Place:
AZ102 – Sidney Lanier – Gregory Ross & Joshua Coronado
1st Place:
AZ109 – Sidney Lanier – Robin Go & Jake Wheeler
PROSE
Quarterfinalists:
Ockerman – Erica Gunther - AP112
Saint Edward – Janika Raynes – AV107
Saint Mary’s Hall – Jared Naylor – AW107
Sydney Lanier – Elizabeth Zhang – AZ116
Saint Mary’s Hall – Michael Johnson – AW103
Rowan County – Cassidy Teager – AT105
Sydney Lanier – Lucy Chen – AZ115
Saint Mary’s Hall – Sam Blow – AW104
Sydney Lanier – Christine Dang – AZ117
John’s Creek – William Coleman – AJ103
Ockerman – Kristen Coomer – AP111
St. Edward – Ashley Lance (AV109)
Semifinalists:
From Sydney Lanier – Jessica Bolynn (AZ119)
From John’s Creek – Paige Thaker (AJ105)
From Russell – Fay Kanagy (AU109)
From Pike – Kell Yang Sammataro (AQ103)
From Saint Mary’s Hall – Kent Healy (AW108)
From Lee’s Summit CCS – Andi Fantauzzi (AK101)
From Bronx Prep – Antonio Brown (AC109)
PROSE Finalist:
From Ockerman Meridith Thronton
From Moreland Ridge Ryan McCrary
From St. Edward Sarah DeHarde
3rd Place:
From Bronx Prep Matt Alston
2nd Place:
From Ockerman Emily Watson
1st Place:
From Bowling Green Christian Taylor Boswell
POETRYQuarterfinalists:
From Bronx Prep - Antonio Brown (AC109)
From Bronx Prep - Jekia Brockman (AC102)
From Ockerman - Olivia McMillian (AP101)
From Woodland – Rachel Hanon (AY110)
From Pike – Sydney Bagley (AQ112)
From Bronx Prep – Marco Cunquiero (AC104)
From John’s Creek – Jill Hale (AJ111)
From Sydney Lanier – Libby Brudner (AZ120)
From John’s Creek – Rickayla Newsome (AJ110)
From St. Edward – Ashley Lance (AV109)
Semifinalists:
From Pike –Angela Lei (AQ115)
From Pike- Louisa Dallett (AQ113)
From Pike – James Hamilton (AQ114)
From Gramling Home School – Amelia Gramling (AF101)
From Ockerman – Jay Drayton (AP117)
From Ockerman – Tiffany Robinson(AP118)
From Lees Summit Community Christian School – Andi Fantauzzi (AK101)
From East Hardin – Jasmine Jones (AG108)
POETRYFinalists:
From Ockerman Gabby Cahill
From John’s Creek – P.J. Sowards
From Sydney Lanier – Drew Barkley
From Sydney Lanier – Gina Toumajian
3rd Place:From Bowling Green Christian Taylor Boswell
2nd Place:From Rowan County – Christa Iwu
1st Place:From Bronx Prep – Antonio Brown
HUMOROUSQuarterfinalists:
From Ockerman – Clay Edwards (AP107)
From John’s Creek – Mary Beth Hall (AJ102)
From Saint Edwards – Sarah DeHarde (AV102)
From John’s Creek – William Coleman (AJ103)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Kent Healy (AW108)
From Pike – Kell Yang Sammataro (AQ103)
From John’s Creek – Adda Coleman (AJ101)
From Sydney Lanier – Erik Rowley (AZ108)
From Pike – Max McGillvrary (AQ101)
From Ockerman – Gabby Cahill (AP105)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Bianca Lopez (AW110)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Ben Kellogg (AW101)
Semifinalists:
From Ockerman – Conner Moulton(AP108)
From Ockerman – Colin Waters(AP106)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Jared Naylor (AW107)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Kevin Healy (AW106)
From St. Mary’s Hall – Jonathon Broker (AW105)
From Pike – Harry Wood (AQ102)
HUMOROUS Finalists:
From St. Mary’s Jacob Fox
From Rowan County Nathan Stevens
From Sydney Lanier Drew Barkley
3rd Place:
From Brentwood Academy Bryce Prior
2nd Place:
From St. Mary’s Michael Johnson
1st. Place:
From St. Mary’s Sam Blow
Dramatic interp.Semifinalist
From Sydney Lanier – Olivia Arena (AZ111)
From Sydney Lanier – Kathy Zho (AZ114)
From St. Edwards – Sarah Powers (AV104)
From John’s Creek – Adda Coleman (AJ101)
From Pike – Max McGillivray (AQ101)
From Pike – Harry Wood (AQ102)
Finalist
From St Mary - Bianca Lopez (AW110)
From Ribet Academy Philip Dunn (AS102)
From St Mary Ben Kellogg (AW101)
3rd Place Rickayla Newsome from Johns Creek
2nd Place Rowan County Christa IWU (AT102)
1st Rowan County Luke Thaxton (AT103)
EXTEMPSemifinalists:
East Hardin – Ryan Nichols – AG101
Rowan Country – Katie Caric – AT107
Ockerman – Colin Waters – AP106
Russell – Danny Rosen – AU117
Sydney Lanier – Noah Morrison – AZ124
Sydney Lanier – Konrad Fuller – AZ126
Finalist
From Sydney Lanier – Sherri Hong
Lucy Chen
Olivia Arena
Third Place –
From Sydney Lanier – Janice Maliakkial
Second Place –
From Ockerman –Lori Lovell
First Place –
From Sydney Lanier – Reid Geissen
IMPROMPTU
Semifinals:
Pike – Mike Ippolito – AQ117
St. Edward – Sarah DeHarde – AV102
Saipan – Doyi Lee – AX106
Saipan – Anastasia Rose Schweiger – AX101
Sydney Lanier – Reid Geissen – AZ123
Sydney Lanier – Brennen Lanier – AZ133
Finalist
From Ockerman – Kristen Coomer
From Ockerman – Colin Waters
From Sydney Lanier – Gina Toumajian
Third Place –
From Ockerman – Lori Lovell
Second Place –
From Sydney Lanier – Lavanya Sunder
First Place –
From Pike – John French
ORATORY
Semifinalists:
Bronx Prep – Amber Quiones – AC108
Capital Debate – Brianna Richardson – AD103
John’s Creek – Adda Coleman – AJ101
St. Edward – Janika Raynes – AV107
Sydney Lanier – Lavanya Sunder – AZ129
Sydney Lanier – Olivia Arena – AZ110
Finalist –
From Sydney Lanier – Janice Maliakkial
From Ockerman – Olivia McMillian
From Sydney Lanier – Robin Go
Third Place -
From Ockerman – Allison Brannon
Second Place –
From Pike – Julie Moon
First Place –
Gramling Home School – Amelia Gramling
DUO
Semifinalsists:
Bronx Prep – Matt Alston & Mario Cunquiero – AC103-104
Fort Scott – Reid Ramsey & Baker Weilert – AH101-102
John’s Creek – William Coleman & PJ Sowards – AJ103-109
John’s Creek – Rikayla Newsome & Paige Thacker – AJ110-105
Pike School – Nick Gates & Harry Wood – AQ110-102
St. Mary’s Hall – Jonathan Broker & Kevin Healy – AW105-106
FINALIST
From Bronx Prep Dann’l Bowen and Manny Lindsey
From St. Mary’s Hall – Michael Johnson and Sam Blow
From Ockerman – Clay Edwards and Brianna Berry
Third Place –
From St. Mary’s Hall – Ben Kellogg and Jacob Fox
Second Place –
From St Mary’s Hall – Jared Naylor and Kent Healy
First Place –
Rowan County – Nathan Stevens and Christa Iwu
Schools of Excellence
Schools of Excellence in DebateCapitol Debate
Fort Scott
Sydney Linear
Schools of Excellence in SpeechJohn’s Creek
Ockerman
Pike
Rowan County
Saint Mary’s Hall
Sydney Lanier
Overall Schools of ExcellenceBronx Prep
Ockerman
Sydney Lanier
** All schools are listed in Alphabetical order – not in rank order.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
IDEA-NJFL Partial Results #3
Advancing to HUMOROUS INTERP Semifinals:
AB101
AP106
AP108
AQ102
AT101
AW102
AW103
AW104
AW105
AW106
AW107
AZ107
Advancing to PROSE Semifinals:
AZ119
AL101
AV102
AW108
AP115
AC109
AC103
AJ105
AA101
AQ103
AU109
AP114
AK101
AB101
AP106
AP108
AQ102
AT101
AW102
AW103
AW104
AW105
AW106
AW107
AZ107
Advancing to PROSE Semifinals:
AZ119
AL101
AV102
AW108
AP115
AC109
AC103
AJ105
AA101
AQ103
AU109
AP114
AK101
IDEA-NJFL Partial Results #2
Advancing to PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE Semifinals:
AH101
AZ102
AZ104
AZ109
Advancing to POETRY Semifinals:
AT102
AP117
AG108
AA101
AF101
AZ121
AC109
AP118
AJ109
AZ107
AK101
AP105
AQ113
AQ115
AQ114
AH101
AZ102
AZ104
AZ109
Advancing to POETRY Semifinals:
AT102
AP117
AG108
AA101
AF101
AZ121
AC109
AP118
AJ109
AZ107
AK101
AP105
AQ113
AQ115
AQ114
IDEA-NJFL Partial Results
Advancing to DUO Semifinals:
AC103-104
AC105-106
AH101-102
AJ103-109
AJ110-105
AP107-110
AQ110-102
AT101-102
AW101-102
AW103-104
AW105-106
AW107-108
Advancing to EXTEMP Semifinals:
AG101
AP106
AP120
AT107
AU117
AZ111
AZ115
AZ123
AZ124
AZ126
AZ127
AZ128
Advancing to ORATORY Semifinals:
AC108
AD103
AF101
AJ101
AP101
AP122
AQ116
AV107
AZ111
AZ127
AZ129
AZ130
Advancing to IMPROMPTU Semifinals:
AP106
AP111
AP120
AQ107
AQ117
AV102
AX101
AX106
AZ121
AZ123
AZ129
AZ133
Advancing to DRAMATIC INTERP Semifinals:
AJ101
AJ110
AQ101
AQ102
AS102
AT102
AT103
AV104
AW101
AW110
AZ111
AZ114
AC103-104
AC105-106
AH101-102
AJ103-109
AJ110-105
AP107-110
AQ110-102
AT101-102
AW101-102
AW103-104
AW105-106
AW107-108
Advancing to EXTEMP Semifinals:
AG101
AP106
AP120
AT107
AU117
AZ111
AZ115
AZ123
AZ124
AZ126
AZ127
AZ128
Advancing to ORATORY Semifinals:
AC108
AD103
AF101
AJ101
AP101
AP122
AQ116
AV107
AZ111
AZ127
AZ129
AZ130
Advancing to IMPROMPTU Semifinals:
AP106
AP111
AP120
AQ107
AQ117
AV102
AX101
AX106
AZ121
AZ123
AZ129
AZ133
Advancing to DRAMATIC INTERP Semifinals:
AJ101
AJ110
AQ101
AQ102
AS102
AT102
AT103
AV104
AW101
AW110
AZ111
AZ114
IDEA-NJFL Gets Intense...
As Day 2 heats up, the competition begins to move from prelims to elimination rounds. Some highlights:
Postings for Quarters make dreams come true:
Debaters verbally spar:
Interpers interpret things:
Postings for Quarters make dreams come true:
IDEA-NJFL Under Way
The 2008 IDEA-NJFL is well under way at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. Over 250 students from around the country are competing in a variety of events: humorous, dramatic, duo, poetry, and prose interpretations, oratory, impromptu, public forum debate and extemp speaking. Each event will break to at least semifinals and several schools will receive "school of excellence" awards for advancing students to those rounds.Pictures and results will be posted here as the event continues.
alex.
BarCamp Istanbul
You can watch Marjan's presentation about Youth Journalism that he delivered on the BarCamp
or you can download John's presentation: Citizen Journalism and Youth Media also delivered on the BarCamp.
or you can download John's presentation: Citizen Journalism and Youth Media also delivered on the BarCamp.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
IDEA hosted 50 students in Amsterdam at the EYS 2008
From May 4-9 the International Debate Education Association hosted 50 participants from 6 countries - Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and The Netherlands in an event called European Youth Speak: Unity in Diversity Exchange. There were only 6 countries, but at least 15 cultures were represented among this group. Each country nominated 7 students (16-21) and one university supervisor, with the emphasis on creating as diverse group as possible. AND truly, what an exchange of cultures! Pity you missed it.On the first evening, during the icebreaking session, we started off with teaching each other the 3 most useful words in our all the languages and a survival tip for each country present. One lesson learnt for sure: in Estonia you don't hug or kiss unless you are boyfriends and girlfriends - and maybe not even then. Hint why the birth rate is so low in Estonia?! ☺
The next 2 days were devoted to transferring the set of skills needed for better communication. The trainers, Marcin and I focused the sessions on how to become more effective speakers in terms of argumentation and presentation in the international environment. We also taught the format of Legislative debate; a format of discussion we were to use on the latter 2 days to steer our discussion regarding the specific policies youth should adopt to deal with problems of various cultures living together. We also started to talk about common problems in our societies. In mixed groups we exchanged best practices how these are or how they should be treated, always bringing the real life examples and experience from our communities into the discussion.
On the second night we exchanged also many things with the city of Amsterdam. The Dutch participants first took us to the concert on Museumsplein and then showed us the true multicultural face of Amsterdam guiding us through the dodgy corners in the opposite direction from the Hostel in the middle of the night. On the third night we hosted a heated debate on whether religious symbols should be shown in public institutions as part of the Project Stranger. The debate was very tight and in the end, it was the team affirming the resolution that won the hearts and minds of the public and thereby the debate.The next 2 days were devoted to heated discussions on policies. The ultimate goal was to produce a common statement - resolution of the participants attending the European Youth Speak Conference. Additionally each country was to come up with a national action plan that was feasible for the participants to carry out. These national action plans were then presented in the final discussion called Youth-to-Youth Exchange, the highlight event of the daily program. The national delegations fought for the main prize - 200 EUR to help with launch of their project. The Estonian idea of a exchange of students between the Russian and Estonian families (which btw could be surely well commercialized as a next reality show on the Estonian national TV) won the main prize. The closing speech was done by Rogier Elshout, the National Youth Council Representative for European Affairs, who made remarks on the national action plans and advised the young participants how to make the plans even better by adopting more local and participatory approach. It could be best summarized by a quote from his speech “go and talk to the people; ask them what they need and develop the project with them, not for them!”.
The highlight of the evening program was surely the Hyde Park – Speakers’ corner event taking place on the forth night in the Oosterpark. Each of the participants had the chance to be critically evaluated by their peers on their vision of multicultural Europe using the 'format' of speakers' corner – there are no rules apart from time limit! The event was moderated by Bahram Sadeghi and the closing speech was delivered Jelena Jakulj, Policy Officer Access Croatia, who reflected upon the performance and the ideas of the speakers.The participants’ differences in attitudes and feeling of being strange that was visible at the beginning slowly faded away and was lessened through the discussion and talks through the sessions during the day or in the evening. Hence, mission completed and see more of you next year!
For more photos, click here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/marczaleski/EYS?authkey=eDmkIv
http://picasaweb.google.nl/winnie.terra/IDEANL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20964524@N02/sets/72157604997063419/
thanks Marcin, Winnie and Sergiu!
http://picasaweb.google.nl/winnie.terra/IDEANL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20964524@N02/sets/72157604997063419/
thanks Marcin, Winnie and Sergiu!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
IDEA Visits the Daegu American Corner
On May 28, IDEA visited the American Corner in Daegu, Korea to conduct a debate training for any interested community members. The American Corner program is an initiative of the US State Department and gives educational outreach and resources in English to people around the world. In addition to the Daegu American Corner, the US Embassy in Korea sponsors one in Busan and one in Gwangju.Ranging from university-aged to 77 years old, the group was certainly an enthusiast
ic and eclectic one! In addition to discussing the concept of debate and what sorts of things make for a good debate, each participant crafted a public speech on a topic of their choosing. Each person's initial argument was deconstructed by fellow participants and returned to him/her, which enabled each speaker to respond effectively to criticisms of his/her beliefs.Topics discussed ranged from President Lee Myung Bak's plan to construct a large canal across Korea to methods of English education to whether pets should be allowed to live with people in apartments to the merits of test-taking. Most people in the group wanted to share their speeches in the supportive and engaged environment of the Daegu American Corner. IDEA looks forward to working with US Embassy education programs in the future!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
ITOC Results
Congratulations to our ITOC Champions, Jonny Carson and Iqbal Kassam, from West Point Grey Academy! Jonny and Iqbal beat semi-finalists, Alex Bores and Jon Lee from Hunter College High School, in an oh-so-close 3-2 decision (yes, 3-2!) for the final round of the ITOC. The topic was, "The UN should invite more members into the nuclear family." Both teams debated well in this final round.
Congratulations to the following Quarterfinalist teams:
Frankie Cena and Carol Kwon (Burnaby Mountain Prep)
Steven Carr and Lucy Chiang/David Nguyen (Fairmont Prep Academy)
Jon Lee and Alex Bores (Hunter College High)
Josiah Miller and Kenneth Hall (Silverton High)
Kehl Van Winkle and Zach Johnston (Sprague High)
Jonny Carson and Iqbal Kassam (West Point Grey Academy)
Sean Husband and Helenaz Hajifattahi (West Point Grey Academy)
Rafael Baptista and Chris Axtman (Westview High)
IDEA would like to thank all of the schools who participated in this tournament and helped to make it a success. Between great debating, hot weather, a LOT of ice cream, and some serious, competitive soccer, it was a fun weekend. We hope to see you at Willamette University for the 2009 International Tournament of Champions!
Congratulations to the following Quarterfinalist teams:
Frankie Cena and Carol Kwon (Burnaby Mountain Prep)
Steven Carr and Lucy Chiang/David Nguyen (Fairmont Prep Academy)
Jon Lee and Alex Bores (Hunter College High)
Josiah Miller and Kenneth Hall (Silverton High)
Kehl Van Winkle and Zach Johnston (Sprague High)
Jonny Carson and Iqbal Kassam (West Point Grey Academy)
Sean Husband and Helenaz Hajifattahi (West Point Grey Academy)
Rafael Baptista and Chris Axtman (Westview High)
IDEA would like to thank all of the schools who participated in this tournament and helped to make it a success. Between great debating, hot weather, a LOT of ice cream, and some serious, competitive soccer, it was a fun weekend. We hope to see you at Willamette University for the 2009 International Tournament of Champions!
Monday, May 19, 2008
A Note From IDEA ITOC Participants
Live from the IDEA ITOC!
Right now we are sitting watching the exciting semifinals round between an American team and a Canadian team. It is on the controversial topic of pornography and is quite heated—literally as well as metaphorically. It’s 90 degrees outside! The ITOC has attracted debaters from all over the world, from New York to Canada to the Philippines. Throughout the tournament, we’ve debated a wide selection of topics ranging from music piracy rights, to taxing plastic bags, to the merits of anarchy as opposed to oppressive government.
The tournament is running on an extremely efficient schedule. All the rounds have started on time, which is a miracle for a debate tournament! 21 teams competed this year, and in between the debate rounds, we have all had a chance to get to know each other and relax on the beautiful Willamette campus. Despite the “no heckling” rule, the debate rounds have been witty, entertaining and intelligent. There have been many successful night-time activities as well—such an intense game of soccer and an ice cream social.
So far, the semifinal round has addressed several contentious issues surrounding pornography, such as hate crime, freedom of speech and feminism. Neither of the teams has ever competed in American parliamentary before which makes the round especially exciting. Check back later for updates on who wins!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Training & Tournament in Wuhan, China
Last weekend in Wuhan, IDEA visited the Hubei University of Economics to help train and judge at its Cang Long Cup. In addition to helping with training in the English language and its 64-team English tournament, IDEA made a first attempt at working with Chinese-language debate. The training session attracted over 100 participants and fused the Western format of British Parliamentary debate with a Chinese-language medium.Led by Eric Barnes, philosophy professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, with interpretation help from Helen McCabe, also an HWS professor, and Anna Martin, the team introduced participants to debate generally and the norms of BP debate specifically. Beginning with how to structure speeches and arguments and progressing to a demonstration debate as well as practice in public speaking and debate, the workshop began Friday evening and ended Saturday evening.
The demonstration debate by students from the host university and Beijing Foreign Studies University centered on the motion "Western Media Influence does more harm than good in China." Important issues of media bias were discussed in front of the 115-strong audience. The English language demonstration focused on the topic of Genetically-modified foods in China.
On Sunday, the English language track, which had several hundred participants, held a 64-team BP mini-tournament with 4 rounds. Each team was able to debate in each BP position one time. Because there was no final round, participants were given Gold, Silver or Bronze IDEA certificates based on their performance in the 4 rounds. Topics debated ranged from providing condoms on college campuses to intellectual property rights for musicians.
There are many people to thank, but I'd like to specifically mention Isabel from HBUE, Eric Barnes, Helen McCabe, Anna Martin, Gary Rybold, all the student volunteers and judges, and the administration of HBUE for supporting debate.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
US Universities Tournament Results
The US Universities National Tournament, hosted by Portland State University and co-Sponsored by IDEA, took place April 11th-13th at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Tournament results are:
Quarterfinalists:
University of Alaska - Jim Stinson and Michaela Hernandez
Claremont Colleges - Joseph Clifton and Jesse Katz-Blumenthal
Colgate University - Stephen West and Andrew Eldridge
Loyola Marymount University MC - James Mollison and Matt Contreras
Loyola Marymount University CA - Courtney Crooks and Michael Aguilera
Seattle University - Michael Flores and Nicholas Henderson
Seattle University - Alana Bellwood and Sophia Sanders
Willamette University - Megan Kowalski and Edward McGlone
Semifinalists:
University of Alaska - Ben Ferguson and Severin Randal
Hobart William Smith College - Dan Thorson and David Hernandez
Portland State University - Josh Gross and Kelly Welch
Regis University - Dennis Sapranov and Braden Smith
Finalists
Claremont Colleges - Charles Sprague and Kari (last name omitted)
Seattle University - Michael Imeson and James Kilcup
University of LaVerne - Rob Ruiz and Thomas Allison
First Place:
Loyola Marymount University - Alexander Schwab and Kevin Kiley
Congratulations, Debaters!
Quarterfinalists:
University of Alaska - Jim Stinson and Michaela Hernandez
Claremont Colleges - Joseph Clifton and Jesse Katz-Blumenthal
Colgate University - Stephen West and Andrew Eldridge
Loyola Marymount University MC - James Mollison and Matt Contreras
Loyola Marymount University CA - Courtney Crooks and Michael Aguilera
Seattle University - Michael Flores and Nicholas Henderson
Seattle University - Alana Bellwood and Sophia Sanders
Willamette University - Megan Kowalski and Edward McGlone
Semifinalists:
University of Alaska - Ben Ferguson and Severin Randal
Hobart William Smith College - Dan Thorson and David Hernandez
Portland State University - Josh Gross and Kelly Welch
Regis University - Dennis Sapranov and Braden Smith
Finalists
Claremont Colleges - Charles Sprague and Kari (last name omitted)
Seattle University - Michael Imeson and James Kilcup
University of LaVerne - Rob Ruiz and Thomas Allison
First Place:
Loyola Marymount University - Alexander Schwab and Kevin Kiley
Congratulations, Debaters!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
IDEA-NFL Korea Qualifying Tournament Results
The IDEA-NFL Qualifier in Korea at Indianhead International School successfully concluded on Saturday evening. After 6 debate rounds, 4 oratory rounds, and 3 duo and dramatic rounds all packed into Friday evening and Saturday, the qualifiers for the NFL National Tournament in Las Vegas have been determined. There are 10 people and they come from 5 different schools, indicating the level and balance of competition in speech and debate in Korea. Without further ado, the results:Duo Interpretation:
3rd place (2nd alternate for Las Vegas): Haeun Park and Amy Byun from Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS).
2nd place (1st alternate for Las Vegas): Joyce Lee and Michelle Kim from Korea International School (KIS)
1st place (Qualifier for Las Vegas): Kristin Chung and Hanna Kim from KIS
Dramatic Interpretation:
4th place (finalist): Julia Shin from Seoul International School (SIS)
3rd place (2nd alternate): Megan Song from KIS
2nd place (1st alternate): Soomin Kim from Cheongshim International Academy
1st place (Qualifier for Las Vegas): Sukyeon Won from SIS
Original Oratory:
5th place (2nd alternate): Minjoo Kim from Daewon Foreign Language High School
4th place (1st alternate): Sung Woo Yang from SIS
3rd place (Qualifier for Las Vegas): Sejin Park from KIS
2nd place (Qualifier for Las Vegas): Suyeon Kim from Cheongshim International Academy
1st place (Qualifier for Las Vegas): Ashley Shin from Taejeon Christian International School
Public Forum Debate:
4th place (2nd alternate): Jeewon Yoo and Do Hyeong Kwon from Daewon FLHS
3rd place (1st alternate): Jun-bin Yun and Ku-ri Park from Daeil FLHS
2nd place, 5-1 record (Qualifier for Las Vegas): Janice Yoon and Stephanie Char from SIS
1st place, 6-0 record (Qualifier for Las Vegas): Youjin Song and Jongmin Lee from Daewon FLHS
Congratulations to all! Thank you everyone for all of your hard work to make this year's tournament a success. I want to especially recognize Tammi Wenzig from Indianhead International School for hosting this tournament. The facilities were beautiful and IDEA owes a debt of gratitude to Tammi and IIS for hosting the tournament this year. Thanks, Tammi!
Monday, April 07, 2008
HWS/IDEA Round Robin: Results are In!
Congratulations to all of the teams who participated in the Round Robin BP Tournament this year. The competition was intense, and every speaker did a wonderful job. For full tab of tournament rankings, please visit: http://people.hws.edu/barnes/debate/Round-Robin-Tab-2008.pdf. A short list below:
1. Hart House (U. of Toronto)
2. Harvard
3. Oxford
4. Claremont
5. Swarthmore
6. Queen's
7. LaVerne
8. Rochester Institute of Technology
9. Seattle University
10. Vassar
11. University of Alaska-Anchorage
12. Portland State University
13. Yale
14. Amherst
15. Cornell
16. University of Vermont
IDEA is looking forward to partnering with HWS again for this event next year!
1. Hart House (U. of Toronto)
2. Harvard
3. Oxford
4. Claremont
5. Swarthmore
6. Queen's
7. LaVerne
8. Rochester Institute of Technology
9. Seattle University
10. Vassar
11. University of Alaska-Anchorage
12. Portland State University
13. Yale
14. Amherst
15. Cornell
16. University of Vermont
IDEA is looking forward to partnering with HWS again for this event next year!
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Reporting from the HWS/IDEA Round Robin
Debate Enthusiasts,
The competition at the 2008 HWS/IDEA Round Robin BP Tournament is outstanding. The sixteen teams here have demonstrated impressive skills, and tournament organizers, Eric Barnes, Kate Bardsley, and the HWS team have been gracious hosts. What a wonderful event!
Rounds 1 and 2 were held yesterday, and debaters attended a reception at the home of HWS President Mark Gearan. Today, we begin rounds 3,4,and 5, followed by the final round to take place in the historic St. John's Chapel on the HWS campus.
Current standings up to Round 3 are:
1: Oxford University
2: Queen's University
3: Harvard University
4: Rochester Institute of Technology
5: Hart House (U. of Toronto)
6: Claremont Colleges
7: Swarthmore College
8: University of LaVerne
9: University of Alaska-Anchorage
10: Portland State University
11: Seattle University
12: Vassar College
13: Cornell University
14: Amherst College
15: University of Vermont
16: Yale University
Stay tuned for final results!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
IDEA-NFL Singapore Results!
Singapore, the newest country in the IDEA-NFL Guest Country Qualifier system, has just completed its tournament and is ready to send competitors to Las Vegas! Held at the Anglo-Chinese Junior College and featuring roughly 40 competitors from 6 schools, the tournament featured original oratory, dramatic interpretation, humorous interpretation, international extemporaneous speaking and duo interpretation. Results are as follows:Duo Interp
2nd Alternate for US Nationals: Charmaine Poh and Rebecca Kwan from (Anglo-Chinese Junior College - ACJC)
1st Alternate: Nicholas Ngo and Lesley Sia (ACJC)
National Qualifier (1st place): Mark Cheng and Yin Ling Ng (ACJC)
International Extemp
1st Alternate: Ho Wee Seng (Anderson Junior College)
National Qualifier: Arun Vignesh s/o Selvaraju (Raffles Junior College)
Dramatic Interp
2nd Alternate: Dharshini Lokaswarn (ACJC)
1st Alternate: Frances Lee (ACJC)
Qualifier: Sarah-Ann Lee Meixia
Humorous Interp
2nd Alternate: John Cheah (ACJC)
1st Alternate: Xun Wei (ACJC)
National Qualifier: Gideon Yap (ACJC)
Original Oratory
Finalist: Nurul Sharafudin (National Junior College)
Finalist: Geran Wong (Millennia Institute)
2nd Alternate: Shreya Vipul Sanghvi (Victoria Junior College)
1st Alternate: Lian Kim Selby (ACJC)
National Qualifier (2nd place): Alexander Woon (Raffles Junior College)
National Qualifier (1st place): Sarah Yip (Victoria Junior College)
I would like to thank again Geetha Creffield from Anglo-Chinese Junior College along with her students Disha and Elizabeth for working hard to make this tournament a huge success. Also thanks to all the judges, ushers and volunteers for helping make this competition run smoothly. See some of you in Las Vegas and we hope to see the rest of you at next year's Qualifying Tournament!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
IDEA Youth Forum: Where Incredible Happens
I invite you to spend some time on two new "Facts about IDEA Youth Forum" videos or you can watch these videos like really good remix of previous videos. Enjoy.
Monday, March 10, 2008
IDEA-CAU Tournament a Success!
The IDEA-CAU Open held at Chung-Ang University last weekend was a great kick-off to the debate semester here in Korea. Seventeen 3-person teams competed in Asian Parliamentary Debate - including some universities new to the activity. Konkuk University and Korea Development Institute both fielded teams exploring a debate tournament for the first time. In addition to several new teams and adjudicators, Jason Jarvis was able to train Gina Kim and Dohhee Roh in how to run debate tab. Notice the picture of the tab and organizing team "working hard" watching YouTube on the projector and eating pizza....Saturday featured 3 preliminary rounds with the themes Law and Crime, International Relations, and Sports and Entertainment. On Sunday, a 4th preliminary round with the theme Ethics was held followed by Quarters (Asian Affairs), Semis (Gender) and Finals (Democracy). After finals on Sunday evening, those still around celebrated with food and libations at a nearby restaurant.
The final round between an Ehwa-Kyunghee International swing team and Hanyang 1 was on the motion "Thi
s House Believes that the Best Cure for the Ills of Democracy is More Democracy." Debating as Government, the Hanyang team centered the debate on increasing e-government in order promote democratic participation and freedom of information. The swing team argued back by exposing the dangers of e-voting (hacking, proxy votes, ect.) along with proposing an alternative narrative to explain low levels of democratic participation: people are fed up with the behavior of politicians. The debate was a 3-0 decision for the swing team of Ah-young Kim (Ewha), Hanna Ko (Ewha) and Jya-hyun Lee (Kyunghee Intl.).The top 5 speakers at the tournament were:
1) Ah-young Kim (Ewha - swing)
2) Roh Hye-won (Korea University Debate Club)
3) Hanna Ko (Ewha - swing)
4) Michal Vodrazka (Korea Development Institute)
5) An Hee-jin (EDiS)
Many thanks to Chung-Ang University for hosting this event. CAU has always shown a great commitment to promoting debate and last weekend's tournament saw this trend continue. Logan from CAU deserves much credit for organizing this tournament as well as tirelessly promoting debate throughout Asia. Damin Kim and Lee Chan Young did about 99% of the work for this tournament - next time you see one of them, buy them lunch and say thanks! Jason Jarvis' willingness to train people in running tab should not be forgotten - this sort of knowledge-sharing will help make debate even more sustainable and wide-spread in Korea. Finally, to all the adjudicators who spent yet another weekend on a college campus helping debaters refine their advocacy skills: you all help make this activity a reality, so my warmest thanks for your help.
Motions:
Round 1 (Law and Crime)
1) THBT naked walkers should be imprisoned
2) TH supports the use of juries for all criminal trials.
3) THW use electronic bracelets to monitor pedophiles after release from prison.
Round 2 (International Relations)
1) TH supports Kosovo's declaration of independence.
2) THBT multinational businesses have a responsibility to adhere to international human rights standards.
3) THBT Turkey should be a member of the European Union.
Round 3 (Sports and Enternatinment)
1) THBT states should not fund sports.
2) THW allow athletes who have undergone sex-change operations to compete as their current gender.
3) THW set a minimum age requirement to become a pop star.
Round 4 (Ethics)
1) TH supports the death penalty for human trafficking.
2) THBT monogamy does more harm than good.
3) THW ban pets.
Quarterfinals (Asian Affairs)
1) THW censure China for its support of the Myanmar government.
2) THBT ASEAN should abandon its non-intervention policy.
3) THW send more troops to Afghanistan.
Semifinals (Gender)
1) THW create quotas for women in parliament.
2) THW give fathers an equal amount of paternity leave as mothers.
3) THBT Britney Spears is a good role model for women.
Finals (Democracy)
1) THBT e-government promotes democratic participation.
2) THW tie foreign aid to democratic reforms.
3) THBT the cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy.
Monday, February 18, 2008
IDEA Youth Forum: where incredible happens
I invite you to spend some time on "Facts about IDEA Youth Forum" videos.
These videos produced by Mite Kuzevski on behalf of the International Debate Education Association.
These videos produced by Mite Kuzevski on behalf of the International Debate Education Association.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
IDEA Presents Guest Blogs From the Fall Global Debates!
Green Is In the House
By Amanda Robert, Princeton High School, Princeton, Texas
Today I did something new. Something revolutionary. At least, revolutionary in my household. I started a change, slowly easing my family into it. First, I started with convincing them that purified water was better than spending all that money on water bottles. My parents seemed to agree as they went out that day to buy a water filter for our faucet.
Then, I worked them into buying more environmentally friendly house products. Started them off easy with new light bulbs, buying recycled goods (as well as recycling our own things), and different cleaning products than we usually get. They learned the joys of products from companies like Clean Environment Co. and were behind the 'going green' project I had started. But today was different. I was still fighting the battle in my home for things to be cleaner and better for the environment, but in a more drastic way. Our family rents their cars instead of buying them, so every few years they go out and pick some new ones. I'm sad to say that in the past we haven't had the cleanest cars around, but I convinced them to try something different this time around.
My parents decided, with some prodding, that looking into hybrid cars for this run would be worth it. I was surprised that it didn't take much to convince them (probably because they were renting it instead of buying), but they tend to tell their friends about things they like. So, if the new hybrid cars go over well, they might convince a few more people to give them a try. Here's to hoping to seeing more environmentally friendly cars out on the roads!
By Amanda Robert, Princeton High School, Princeton, Texas
Today I did something new. Something revolutionary. At least, revolutionary in my household. I started a change, slowly easing my family into it. First, I started with convincing them that purified water was better than spending all that money on water bottles. My parents seemed to agree as they went out that day to buy a water filter for our faucet.
Then, I worked them into buying more environmentally friendly house products. Started them off easy with new light bulbs, buying recycled goods (as well as recycling our own things), and different cleaning products than we usually get. They learned the joys of products from companies like Clean Environment Co. and were behind the 'going green' project I had started. But today was different. I was still fighting the battle in my home for things to be cleaner and better for the environment, but in a more drastic way. Our family rents their cars instead of buying them, so every few years they go out and pick some new ones. I'm sad to say that in the past we haven't had the cleanest cars around, but I convinced them to try something different this time around.
My parents decided, with some prodding, that looking into hybrid cars for this run would be worth it. I was surprised that it didn't take much to convince them (probably because they were renting it instead of buying), but they tend to tell their friends about things they like. So, if the new hybrid cars go over well, they might convince a few more people to give them a try. Here's to hoping to seeing more environmentally friendly cars out on the roads!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Girls: An Interview by Rob Bingham
One of the most maddening realities of life in Uganda, especially for a school teacher like myself, is the massive disparity between the intellectual ability of many Ugandan students and their income. While Uganda has made some progress in the last ten years, introducing universal primary education in 1997, schooling at the secondary level is still financed by fees and tuition paid by individual families. The result is that many of the brightest young minds in the country, especially in places like the North, are simply locked out of the educational system by economic forces outside their control.
The issue of school fees often hits girls the hardest, as parents sometimes marry their daughters off as young as twelve in order to collect a "bride price," or dowry. Ironically, this bride price is often used to pay for the secondary education of other family members -- more often than not, boys. I sat down with the Ugandan girls of the CTAC Project to discuss what it is like to grow up as a young woman in Uganda.
This interview with Aseku Genavive, Namirembe Brenda, Achan Alice, and Ayee Beatrice -- the Ugandan girls of the Linking Individuals, Knowledge, and Culture Program -- was conducted over a two day period in July 2007. It has been edited and broken down into three parts: Women in Uganda, Education, and Politics, and The Future....
Women in Uganda
RB: As an American man, it's difficult for me to understand what it would be like to be a Ugandan woman. So what is it like? What are the lives of most Ugandan women like?
GENAVIVE: The life of the Ugandan women.... We are always oppressed by the men in Uganda.
RB: How so?
GENAVIVE: Okay, the reason I say so.... Women in Uganda are oppressed even in official work. We are always under men. We are not given the chance to be equal like men. For them, they want to be on top of us and we would be below them. And yet, in actual sense, we are capable of doing more than what they are doing right now.
BRENDA: And this is the result of men. Many still have the belief of traditional society where men used to be the boss, they're on top.... Now people are contradicting that belief that men are on top forever and ever. But even if they say we have emancipated women, (oppression) still exists in certain circumstances.
RB: So women are treated as property?
BRENDA: Yes.
RB: We had this other discussion in the parliament about early marriage. Could someone just explain what early marriage is?
ALICE: Okay, Early marriage. This is still existing in the rural areas.... For instance, if you go into Northern Uganda, you'll find that a girl of thirteen years old is already married, simply because their parents want to get property. Because of financial problems they tend to send their daughters for early marriage so they can get money and other things, like cows, goats... So they are released from the problem of poverty.
RB: So they essentially sell their daughters.
ALICE: Yes.
BRENDA: And if they happen to give birth to a girl child, they are happy because they have already got rich. They are rich now, to give birth to a girld child.
RB: So a Ugandan family is happier to have a girl?
BRENDA: Yes. They are happy they have given birth to a girl child --
RB: But only because they know they can get a bride price--
BRENDA: Yeah. And that's why we are here, to stand and fight so that may not continue.
GENAVIVE: It should be abolished.
RB: Early marriage should be abolished?
GENAVIVE: Yeah, because a person like me, I get married now and I cannot support myself as an individual. I become a parent.... How am I supposed to support my family? And yet also in a family a man goes to work, gets his money, goes to drink. He leaves me with all the activities in the home. I'm the one to buy food for the children, I'm the one to clothe them. You see that kind thing. That's why we stand firmly that early marriage should be abolished here in Uganda.
RB: But can't a girl refuse early marriage?
GENAVIVE: You cannot.
BRENDA: If you refuse they just send you out of your family. "You go, and look for someone to care after you!"
ALICE: That's how many girls are now in the streets, because of early marriage. They tend to run away. Because they have nowhere to go, they tend to be in the street.
Education
RB: Can we talk about school fees for a minute? How much are your guys' school fees? Can we just go around -- Alice, How much per year are your school fees?
ALICE: It depends on the school....
RB: Well, let's say the worst school in your district and the best school in your district. What are the two prices?
GENAVIVE: For me, the worst school in the district -- Okay... The schools which are not highly paid, which have a low standard.... like where I am.... We pay 106,800 (Ugandan schillings) per term.
RB: And how many terms per year?
GENAVIVE: Three terms.
RB: Okay, so that's roughly 300,000 per term....
*NOTE: 300,00 Ugandan schillings is roughly $200... for huge classes, limited supplies, and untrained teachers. In sum, a substandard education. Quality schools -- boarding schools in the capitol, for example -- cost 600,000 or more, roughly $350 per year, an amount unaffordable to most families.
A final note of clarification. Ugandan students refer to amounts in the hundreds of thousands in terms of a fraction out of a million. Six hundred thousand shillings, for example, might be described as "point six."
GENAVIVE: I have heard there are schools that cost one million here in Uganda, but most of us don't even know the direction (laughs), because you cannot start going there looking for admission and yet you are not capable of paying.... and even in the lower school (laughs) I am not able to pay....
RB: So what are your schools like? Can you tell me a bit about the schools you're currently attending?
ALICE: First, you find that good teachers tend to go away because the pay is not there.... Like...we don't have literature in our school. Political education is not there, and many other subjects we are not being taught. We are supposed to have eighteen subjects, but we are being taught fourteen only. For the case of Northern Uganda, it is even the worst. You find many students who did not finish Senior 6 (the final year of high school) are the ones who teach, because there is no one else....
RB: Like in Gulu, for example...
ALICE: Yeah.
GENAVIVE: Qualified teachers are based in Kampala.
ALICE: Rob, all of us who are here you picked from rural schools, and most of us here are bright. But the reason you picked us from those rural schools is because we are lacking school fees. Otherwise, we would be attending better schools where they pay .6 million.... But we are not capable of paying....
RB: But you’re confident that, if you could pay, that you would be admitted to a good school?
ALICE: Yes.
RB: Okay.... Beatrice, you haven't spoken much. What is your school like? Explain for us.... How many students per class, for example?
BEATRICE: Okay, at our school we have a total of one thousand students --
RB: And you go to a girls' school, is that right?
BEATRICE: Yes. It's a girls' school. And there would be between one hundred fifty and two hundred students....
RB: Wait. So if you walk into a class, and the teacher goes to the front, how many students are sitting in those desks?
BEATRICE: We don't use desks; we used lockers....
RB: What do you mean by "locker?"
BEATRICE: A locker is just like a cupboard.
RB: Oh okay. But seriously, you would have one teacher at the front of the room and one hundred and fifty students?
BEATRICE: Yeah.
RB: Wow.
Politics and The Future
RB: Okay, we were talking politics and someone mentioned Nelson Mandela. Who mentioned Nelson Mandela?
GENAVIVE: Me.
RB: So do you think.... Well, you were telling me this the other night. Do you think it's necessary to suffer in order to govern, to understand --
BRENDA: It was like this. There was an Apartheid policy in South Africa, where blacks were discriminated against. There were schools for the whites, and gardens for the whites.... and Nelson Mandela said no, the only difference is color. We are all human beings, and we are all from God. Why can't we have equal rights?
RB: So what makes Nelson Mandela different from other people? From other leaders? You were saying, Genavive, that he gave away power peacefully --
GENAVIVE: When it came time for him to retire, he didn't fight. He never fought. He told his people, "You elect the leader of your choice. It is my time to retire. I can only be an advisor." And that is what he is doing.
RB: So Nelson Mandela is the model for you?
GENAVIVE: Yes.
ALICE: In fact, we want all the leaders to be like Nelson Mandela. You retire when your time comes, and not guns, guns, all the time....
RB: Okay, let's wrap this up. I want each person to tell me -- for one minute each -- where do you see yourself ten years from now?
ALICE: For me, the way I see myself... If I am to be educated, well-educated, I will be someone useful in the future.
RB: So you see yourself in a university?
ALICE: Yes.
RB: An American university or a Ugandan University?
ALICE: It is my dream to study from an American University. Yeah.
RB: Genavive?
GENAVIVE: I see myself as a gift from God. So I have to utilize my life to support others. If I am well-educated, I have to become a politician, because politicians are the ones who speak in the parliament....
RB: Okay. Beatrice?
BEATRICE: For me, if I'm supported, I would like to become a medical doctor. And you know, in the camps, people are really having problems. The sanitation is so poor, people are almost in a place with the animals, and that is very, very bad --
RB: And this is the Internally Displaced Persons Camp where you live, right?
BEATRICE: Yes. So if I'm educated, I would really fight for people's health. I would like to be a medical doctor. My dream... I would like to study from the outside where the technology is advanced.
ALICE: Even in politics, you find that many of the politicians go and study from the outside and come back to implement the knowledge.
RB: What about you, Brenda? Where do you see yourself in ten years?
BRENDA: For me in ten years, if I happen to get a good education, I can be good for my country....Because I pray that one day I become the president of this country.
The issue of school fees often hits girls the hardest, as parents sometimes marry their daughters off as young as twelve in order to collect a "bride price," or dowry. Ironically, this bride price is often used to pay for the secondary education of other family members -- more often than not, boys. I sat down with the Ugandan girls of the CTAC Project to discuss what it is like to grow up as a young woman in Uganda.
This interview with Aseku Genavive, Namirembe Brenda, Achan Alice, and Ayee Beatrice -- the Ugandan girls of the Linking Individuals, Knowledge, and Culture Program -- was conducted over a two day period in July 2007. It has been edited and broken down into three parts: Women in Uganda, Education, and Politics, and The Future....
Women in Uganda
RB: As an American man, it's difficult for me to understand what it would be like to be a Ugandan woman. So what is it like? What are the lives of most Ugandan women like?
GENAVIVE: The life of the Ugandan women.... We are always oppressed by the men in Uganda.
RB: How so?
GENAVIVE: Okay, the reason I say so.... Women in Uganda are oppressed even in official work. We are always under men. We are not given the chance to be equal like men. For them, they want to be on top of us and we would be below them. And yet, in actual sense, we are capable of doing more than what they are doing right now.
BRENDA: And this is the result of men. Many still have the belief of traditional society where men used to be the boss, they're on top.... Now people are contradicting that belief that men are on top forever and ever. But even if they say we have emancipated women, (oppression) still exists in certain circumstances.
RB: So women are treated as property?
BRENDA: Yes.
RB: We had this other discussion in the parliament about early marriage. Could someone just explain what early marriage is?
ALICE: Okay, Early marriage. This is still existing in the rural areas.... For instance, if you go into Northern Uganda, you'll find that a girl of thirteen years old is already married, simply because their parents want to get property. Because of financial problems they tend to send their daughters for early marriage so they can get money and other things, like cows, goats... So they are released from the problem of poverty.
RB: So they essentially sell their daughters.
ALICE: Yes.
BRENDA: And if they happen to give birth to a girl child, they are happy because they have already got rich. They are rich now, to give birth to a girld child.
RB: So a Ugandan family is happier to have a girl?
BRENDA: Yes. They are happy they have given birth to a girl child --
RB: But only because they know they can get a bride price--
BRENDA: Yeah. And that's why we are here, to stand and fight so that may not continue.
GENAVIVE: It should be abolished.
RB: Early marriage should be abolished?
GENAVIVE: Yeah, because a person like me, I get married now and I cannot support myself as an individual. I become a parent.... How am I supposed to support my family? And yet also in a family a man goes to work, gets his money, goes to drink. He leaves me with all the activities in the home. I'm the one to buy food for the children, I'm the one to clothe them. You see that kind thing. That's why we stand firmly that early marriage should be abolished here in Uganda.
RB: But can't a girl refuse early marriage?
GENAVIVE: You cannot.
BRENDA: If you refuse they just send you out of your family. "You go, and look for someone to care after you!"
ALICE: That's how many girls are now in the streets, because of early marriage. They tend to run away. Because they have nowhere to go, they tend to be in the street.
Education
RB: Can we talk about school fees for a minute? How much are your guys' school fees? Can we just go around -- Alice, How much per year are your school fees?
ALICE: It depends on the school....
RB: Well, let's say the worst school in your district and the best school in your district. What are the two prices?
GENAVIVE: For me, the worst school in the district -- Okay... The schools which are not highly paid, which have a low standard.... like where I am.... We pay 106,800 (Ugandan schillings) per term.
RB: And how many terms per year?
GENAVIVE: Three terms.
RB: Okay, so that's roughly 300,000 per term....
*NOTE: 300,00 Ugandan schillings is roughly $200... for huge classes, limited supplies, and untrained teachers. In sum, a substandard education. Quality schools -- boarding schools in the capitol, for example -- cost 600,000 or more, roughly $350 per year, an amount unaffordable to most families.
A final note of clarification. Ugandan students refer to amounts in the hundreds of thousands in terms of a fraction out of a million. Six hundred thousand shillings, for example, might be described as "point six."
GENAVIVE: I have heard there are schools that cost one million here in Uganda, but most of us don't even know the direction (laughs), because you cannot start going there looking for admission and yet you are not capable of paying.... and even in the lower school (laughs) I am not able to pay....
RB: So what are your schools like? Can you tell me a bit about the schools you're currently attending?
ALICE: First, you find that good teachers tend to go away because the pay is not there.... Like...we don't have literature in our school. Political education is not there, and many other subjects we are not being taught. We are supposed to have eighteen subjects, but we are being taught fourteen only. For the case of Northern Uganda, it is even the worst. You find many students who did not finish Senior 6 (the final year of high school) are the ones who teach, because there is no one else....
RB: Like in Gulu, for example...
ALICE: Yeah.
GENAVIVE: Qualified teachers are based in Kampala.
ALICE: Rob, all of us who are here you picked from rural schools, and most of us here are bright. But the reason you picked us from those rural schools is because we are lacking school fees. Otherwise, we would be attending better schools where they pay .6 million.... But we are not capable of paying....
RB: But you’re confident that, if you could pay, that you would be admitted to a good school?
ALICE: Yes.
RB: Okay.... Beatrice, you haven't spoken much. What is your school like? Explain for us.... How many students per class, for example?
BEATRICE: Okay, at our school we have a total of one thousand students --
RB: And you go to a girls' school, is that right?
BEATRICE: Yes. It's a girls' school. And there would be between one hundred fifty and two hundred students....
RB: Wait. So if you walk into a class, and the teacher goes to the front, how many students are sitting in those desks?
BEATRICE: We don't use desks; we used lockers....
RB: What do you mean by "locker?"
BEATRICE: A locker is just like a cupboard.
RB: Oh okay. But seriously, you would have one teacher at the front of the room and one hundred and fifty students?
BEATRICE: Yeah.
RB: Wow.
Politics and The Future
RB: Okay, we were talking politics and someone mentioned Nelson Mandela. Who mentioned Nelson Mandela?
GENAVIVE: Me.
RB: So do you think.... Well, you were telling me this the other night. Do you think it's necessary to suffer in order to govern, to understand --
BRENDA: It was like this. There was an Apartheid policy in South Africa, where blacks were discriminated against. There were schools for the whites, and gardens for the whites.... and Nelson Mandela said no, the only difference is color. We are all human beings, and we are all from God. Why can't we have equal rights?
RB: So what makes Nelson Mandela different from other people? From other leaders? You were saying, Genavive, that he gave away power peacefully --
GENAVIVE: When it came time for him to retire, he didn't fight. He never fought. He told his people, "You elect the leader of your choice. It is my time to retire. I can only be an advisor." And that is what he is doing.
RB: So Nelson Mandela is the model for you?
GENAVIVE: Yes.
ALICE: In fact, we want all the leaders to be like Nelson Mandela. You retire when your time comes, and not guns, guns, all the time....
RB: Okay, let's wrap this up. I want each person to tell me -- for one minute each -- where do you see yourself ten years from now?
ALICE: For me, the way I see myself... If I am to be educated, well-educated, I will be someone useful in the future.
RB: So you see yourself in a university?
ALICE: Yes.
RB: An American university or a Ugandan University?
ALICE: It is my dream to study from an American University. Yeah.
RB: Genavive?
GENAVIVE: I see myself as a gift from God. So I have to utilize my life to support others. If I am well-educated, I have to become a politician, because politicians are the ones who speak in the parliament....
RB: Okay. Beatrice?
BEATRICE: For me, if I'm supported, I would like to become a medical doctor. And you know, in the camps, people are really having problems. The sanitation is so poor, people are almost in a place with the animals, and that is very, very bad --
RB: And this is the Internally Displaced Persons Camp where you live, right?
BEATRICE: Yes. So if I'm educated, I would really fight for people's health. I would like to be a medical doctor. My dream... I would like to study from the outside where the technology is advanced.
ALICE: Even in politics, you find that many of the politicians go and study from the outside and come back to implement the knowledge.
RB: What about you, Brenda? Where do you see yourself in ten years?
BRENDA: For me in ten years, if I happen to get a good education, I can be good for my country....Because I pray that one day I become the president of this country.
Friday, February 08, 2008
IDEA Trains in Malaysia!
With the help of 2 trainers from the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), I had the opportunity to work with students from the Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah and a handful of local high school students in Kulim, Malaysia from January 31 to February 4. Fareez bin Zahir and Yem Mohammad – both accomplished debaters and trainers – lent their expertise in British Parliamentary debate to introduce a crop of 45 debaters and 6 adjudicators to the format.
The first evening was a time for icebreakers and activities to put all participants at ease. Picking 5 people – George Bush, Paris Hilton, Osama bin Laden, David Beckham and me (I didn’t pick me! A student did!) – and putting them in a hypothetical crashing airplane with only 1 parachute led to some stimulating debate. The students also shared their expectations and hope for the camp.
On day 2 we leapt into heavier subjects with a session introducing debate generally and two sessions introducing British Parliamentary debate in particular. While Yem and I worked with students in the afternoon, Fareez worked with the new adjudicators to outline how to run and judge a debate. At the end of the day, with the camp divided into 3 smaller groups, debaters practiced their skills by giving public speeches on subjects ranging from global warming to Malaysian national service.
Saturday saw the debaters put all of their newfound skills together and do full debates. Yem and I, feeling particularly mean, assigned debate partners by randomly drawing names out of a paper bag! Debaters then assigned their newfound team a name. Although grumbles could be heard when we revealed our plan, I can see that new friendships were formed from our short camp. As is sometimes the case with beginning debaters, speeches on Day 3 were not always the full 7 minutes and some of the rules of the format were still being discovered. At the end of the day, though, most debaters were prepared – if a bit apprehensive – to participate in the mini-tournament with their new partners at the end of the camp.
The tournament featured 3 preliminary rounds, plus a semi-final and final round. Many students who on Day 1 shared their fears of speaking publicly were giving rousing 7 minutes speeches by Day 4. Some even asked if they could extend speeches to 10 minutes! Topics for the tournament mostly focused on issues relating to Malaysians and Malaysian youth. Preliminary topics centered on lowering the voting age in Malaysia (currently 21), banning smoking in public places and censoring the internet for political content. Those advancing to the semi-finals debated the merits of Malaysian National Service – a system wherein young people go to a 3-month camp run by the government to learn life skills.
The final round topic was “This House would restrict foreign laborers from coming to Malaysia” and featured plenty of entertainment for the sizable audience and three new adjudicators. Eventually, team Paranoid Duo of Nicole and Farah took first place from the Closing Opposition position, while teams Kaiser Crew, Assassins and Left Brain finished second, third and fourth, respectively. A three-way tie for first individual speaker from the preliminary rounds could not be mathematically broken, so Nicole from Paranoid Duo, Rena from Assassins and Thiban from team TZ currently shared a trophy.
The enthusiasm for debate in Kulim is high and we have to thank Lye Wah and Isyati Suparaman from the Polytechnic for arranging everything and helping to put on a fantastic camp. Also thanks to Yem and Fareez for donating their weekend to help spread debate in Malaysia. Thanks everyone and we hope to see you again!
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