Well, we can see it again, a debate motion really happening in real life, and we can see, if the predictions, the arguments and the ideas, that we used in debates really happen, or not.
I wrote about that in the “A debate plan in reality” post that was about Kosovo debate motions and what debater thought is going to happen when Kosovo gets independent.
Well, now we can see another topic, that we all probably debated about, developing in Real life.
Olympic games, not going to the Olympic games or whatever connected to the Olympic games was debated a lot on tournaments around Europe, and now we can see, what is really going on. It is not like someone important didn’t go there, but we can still see at least one argument developing in the RL (Real life).
Its the “China will develop its Human Rights (HR) agenda” argument. Well, I kind of feel, that this has not happen. If you read the last weeks Economist, you can see, that that is not happening. Let’s see what rights are equally or more restricted because of the Olympic games.
1. Freedom of speech - well, I just watched a CNN report today that tried to find the protesters, that protest at the designated protest parks in Beijing. Well, they found the parks, but they were empty. You need to apply for a protest, give all the data (even what your banners are going to say) and wait for an approval. Well, up to today no one got the approval. And 1 person got arrested while applying for it.
2. Economical freedoms - even if it looks better for the tourists and other foreigners, the China’s leaders made a lot of companies to stop working, or they even forced to transfer the workers into Beijing (like with the power plants, where they got all the good workers to Beijing so that they can supply the games with power juice).
3. Freedom of movement - or is is another one, I’m not sure, but people were forcedly moved, so that they were able to build new stadiums and other venues. Well, not really a thing that you would call a good thing.
And probably other rights have been violated (like moving or arresting of beggars on the streets etc.). Its a show that they put on for us, but in the background I believe that it got worse. We will see, what will happen after the games, if they will change in a positive matter.
What do you believe now, after you have seen the games, was it a good decision?
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I just love the US political campaign. There’s almost nothing so interesting and funny than the political ads and campaigns that they do.
But I’m a bit dissapointed with the number of the oncomming debates, because Obama wishes to do only 4 debates, and a couple debates by the Vice president candidates.
Well, I will enjoy all of them, but I also believe, that there will be more, beucase if you get an invitation like that, you just need to go
(Im not sure if this will mean, that more young Americans will watch or be interested in the debates, because they will expect Paris to show up, but if nothing else, I just love the ad, how Paris calls the candidates beaches That’s kinda cute, isn’t it?
The organisers of IDAS always try to find a good mix of trainers. If you like the American proffessors more, you will get them, if you like British debate trainers, here you go, if you would like to get an idea about what the Asian trainers do, we have it for you and if you would like to hear from people that have won the EUDC ESL, we try to get them.
We are again expanding the pool of the trainers with new trainers, that have done great at different debate tournaments and have great teaching experiences. Debbie Newman is going to join this years trainers pool, and I am happy to hear that. I met her at a international High school debate tournament in Slovenia (she is a coach of the English High school world’s team) and we had great times together, and I have seen and heard from others that she is a great trainer.
Read more about the International debate academy Slovenia 2008 at the blog and apply as soon as possible.
Well, we finally got the answer from the WUDC org.com and they gave us the places. The problem is obviously getting resolved, so I hope that all the institutions that should have received their spot got one.
Well obviously something was wrong with the registration…
This is what you can read on the official website
“Just a quick update on how registration has gone. We have been massively oversubscribed and the places for allocation in this phase were allocated within a couple of minutes. There were however some places held by the system which should have been allocated to teams who have been told they are on the waitlist. These extra places will be allocated within the coming hours.
We will place a further update on the website shortly.”
I have registered teams from my University to the WUDC and I really didn’t want to miss the spots, so I waited 10 minutes before the registration opened on the site, that means that I started typing in all the information at exactly 15.00 (GMT +1).
A couple of seconds after I finished I made a print screen, just to be on the safe side, and it shows 15.02, that means that I finished the registration in less than two minutes.
The confirmation email that I received 10 minutes later told me, that we are on the waiting list.
I know that the application process goes fast, but I just can not believe it, that more than 70 people typed faster than I do and that they filled all the spots.
I really do not understand what happened.
Well, I emailed the organisers, we will see, what will be their answer.
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