World Debating Website

What makes a murder terrorism?

Securing Liberty — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

In the aftermath of the Boston bombings President Obama seemed to be oddly reluctant to describe the atrocity as ‘terrorism’ even when such an act could surely not be an accident. Now the British authorities are jumping on a single murder as terrorism. So what exactly does it take for an action to qualify as a terrorist act?

Just how involved in extraordinary rendition was the UK?

Securing Liberty — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:00:44 +0000

UK involvement in extraordinary rendition was greater than previously thought according to a study by academics from the Universities of Kent and Kingston. They say that there were 1,622 fights in and out of the UK by aircraft that are now known to have been involved in the rendition program.

This House would raise the school leaving age to 18 (Junior)

Alex Helling — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:53:54 +0000

In many countries children are required by law to attend school up to a specific age. When children reach this required age they then often have the choice to remain in education or leave in search of employment opportunities.

Anonymous target Guantanamo

Securing Liberty — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:40:05 +0000

Just to add a bit of irony to the idea of paying $40million for a brand new fiber optic cable the military has turned off wifi in Guantanamo bay, or at least the prison areas of it, in response to threats from the hacking group Anonymous. They are also blocking access to social networks throughout the camp.

Guantanamo to be made permanent

Securing Liberty — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:17:53 +0000

If the US needs another reason to close Guantanamo then cost might be it. The Department of Defense wants more than $450million to maintain and upgrade the camp. Ongoing operation of the camp would seem to cost $79million per year and there is a request for $99million for maintenance.

1st All Pakistan Bilingual Parliamentary Debates

S.Raheel Akhtar — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:36:21 +0000

RSVP for event

Location

University of Management & Technology, Lahore Lahore, P

Pakistan

When:

31 May 2013 - 2 June 2013

Location:

University of Management & Technology, Lahore Lahore, P

Pakistan

Event Details

Type:

Tournament

Format:

Asian Parliamentary

Language:

English

Urdu

Level:

Mixed

Debate_mk project brings 10 public debates across Macedonia

Mite Kuzevski — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:59:49 +0000

With a public debate on the topic “Absolute power”, part of the project “Debates_mk”, the Macedonian NGO Diversity Media in partnership with IDEA Southeast Europe, continues the series of debates tomorrow in the Southeast part of Macedonia, the city of Strumica.

Transparency in security.

Securing Liberty — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:27:59 +0000

To continue on from yesterday’s post one of the more recent debates added to the debatabase is relevant. Transparency in the war on terror does not seem to be the Obama administration’s way.

Does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?

Securing Liberty — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:57:51 +0000

The AP wiretapping is simply the latest in a series of attempts to catch and punish leakers from the Obama administration. In the past the government has seemed to accept that leaks are just a part of the game, they happen, find some excuses and move on. Obama instead seems to be determined to prevent leaking by making full use of the 1917 espionage act.

IDEA in Italy: Introductory workshop in Rome

Manos Moschopoulos — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:35:13 +0000

IDEA UK and Fondazione Albero Della Vita (FADV-Tree of Life) from Italy are organizing a two day introductory workshop on debate in Rome on the 21-22^nd May.