Qatar 20th Inter-school Debate competition

Dear all,

BAZM-e-Alig Qatar, the alumni association of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), India, has organised its 20th Inter-school Debate competition at the Grand Palace Hotel.
The competition began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by Hafiz Abdul Hayee.

Seven schools with 30 participants took part in this year’s debating competition.
The topic for the senior category was ‘Youth of today has too much freedom,’ and for juniors it was ‘Should uniforms be got rid of?’ Arunima Ber of DPS-Modern Indian School came on top in the seniors category, with Zainab Riaz and Hamza Sardar Khan of Pakistan Education Centre (PEC) securing second and third positions, respectively. Fizza Riaz of Bright Future Pakistani School and Shubecchyya Ghoshal of Birla Public School were awarded the consolation prizes.

The winners in the junior category were: Kamal Rammohan Rai, DPS-Modern (First), Fathimath Sahla, DPS-Modern (Second), Roona Ann Raju, Ideal Indian School (Third), Hibba Hareem, PEC and Gareeshma Mathew, DPS-Modern (Consolation)
The overall Sir Syed Memorial Running trophies went to DPS-Modern Indian School.
A new category was introduced this year for the children and they spoke on the topic, ‘Should examinations be replaced with other forms of assessments?’
Eleven speakers in this category aired their arguments.

The speeches at the event were judged by Brenden Clark of QP, Caroline Cameron and Jemma Berzay of British Council, Qatar. The chief guest of the function was president, Indian Cultural Centre and ICBF, Hasan Chowgule, who gave away the prizes to the winners. Speaking on the occasion and quoting extensively from the couplets of Allama Iqbal, Pakistan’s national poet, he said: “The forum is providing an excellent opportunity for the young children to hone their talents and build confidence.” Commercialbank was the chief sponsor of the event.

Regards,
Rashedul Hasan Stalin

Source: http://www.gulf-times.com

Pakistan Kinnaird College Debating Championships 2007

Dear all,

LAHORE: The Kinnaird College Debating Society (KCDS) organised the annual Urdu and English debating contest at the college on November 16.

The title for the preliminary round was This House Would Abolish Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). The quarter round was titled This House Would Allow Pirated Books for the Third World Countries. The semifinal was contested by eight teams and the title was This House Believes that Pakistani Men are Ready for Women’s Emancipation.

KCDS president Nauveen Dubash said 14 teams participated in the contest. She said the institutes that represented in the contest included the Government College University (GCU), Forman Christian College University (FCCU), Aitchison College, Lahore College of Arts and Sciences (LACAS), Resources Academia and Lahore Grammar School (LGS).

She said the LGS and GCU had qualified in the English category and FCCU and GCU had qualified in the Urdu category for the final round.

Dubash said the final round of the debate would be held on Monday. The theme for debate in Urdu would be Main Abhi Pakistani May Rehna Chahta Hun (I want to live in Pakistan), she said. She said the topic for debate in the English category would be The House Believes that Islamophbia is not Justified.

“The society has chosen topics that are burning issues in our society,” she added.

Regards,
Rashedul Hasan Stalin

Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C11%5C18%5Cstory_18-11-2007_pg7_35

UAE Inter University Debating Championships 2007

Dear all,

The topic of whether Western media has a negative impact on the culture in developing countries provided a strong spark for a lively and interesting discussion between teams from two universities in the finals of the annual inter-university Debate Championship organized by American University of Sharjah (AUS) recently.

The team from University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), comprising Rohini Kamath, Irshad Aziz, Rumana Sadekar and Lif Hamouda, made a strong case against the competing AUS team who defended its stand that the Western media was indeed having a negative impact on the culture of developing countries.

'The debates were of very high order, and showed that students are knowledgeable in pressing issues of our time,' said Dr. Swapna Koshy, Instructor, College of Undergraduate Studies, UOWD. 'The finals were electrifying and both sides demonstrated deep maturity and understanding of topical issues. Events like these hone the presentation and thinking skills of students.'

Rohini Kamath, who was awarded 'Speaker of the Tournament' prize, the most coveted award reflecting consistent performance, said: 'The competition was tough and very demanding as it lasted a whole week. The event tested public speaking, quick thinking, reasoning and research skills. The topics centred on global issues. The topic for the finals was highly relevant and demanded great analytical reasoning.'

'The competition was intense,' remarked Irshad Aziz, another student of UOWD. 'As the topics dealt with 'real world' issues, there was a need for a deep understanding of each issue. It required sitting with the team and strategizing all angles of the topic. The entire event was a great learning experience and definitely helped each participant to sharpen their debating skills.'

Rumana Sadekar, another team member, said, 'It is not as much about winning as about gaining experience and confidence. It is about reasoning and logical thinking. The Debate championship was a great opportunity for all of us to learn from others.'

The calibre of the UOWD team members was reflected by the fact that each of them picked up at least one Best Speaker prize in the quarter and semi finals of the competition.

Regards,
Rashedul Hasan Stalin

Sousce: http://www.ameinfo.com/139155.html

India NLSIU Debate 2007

Dear all,

The 6th NLS Debate was held over four days (November 1-4, 2007) at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) campus in Nagarbhavi,Bangalore. The tournament attracted participation from 42 teams representing 23 educational institutions. The ‘NLS Debate’, launched in 2002 by the Literary and Debating Society of NLSIU, has in the matter of a few years emerged as the Indian sub-continent’s largest parliamentary-style debating championship. It follows a rigorous format modeled on international competitions such as the All-Asian and AUDC championships. The six editions held so far have attracted participation not only from the best Indian universities but have also drawn teams from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. We take pride in the fact that many teams who participate in the NLS Debate go on to perform exceedingly well in international competitions.

The schedule for this year’s event was as follows:
November 1, 2007: Introductory Briefing and Demonstration Debate followed
by first preliminary round
November 2, 2007: Rounds 2, 3 and 4
November 3, 2007: Rounds 5 and 6 followed by Quarter-finals
November 4, 2007: Semi-Finals and Grand final

The following institutions were represented:
1. Amity Law School (ALS), New Delhi
2. Army Institute of Law (AIL), Mohali
3. Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna
4. Faculty of Law, Colombo University
5. Kirori Mal College (KMC), New Delhi
6. Lady Shri Ram College (LSR), New Delhi
7. Lovely Institute of Law, Jalandhar
8. M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT), Bangalore
9. National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad
10. Nirma Institute of Law, Ahmedabad
11. National Institute of Technology (NIT),Raipur
12. National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata
13. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala
14. Ram Lal Anand College, New Delhi
15. Ram Jas College, New Delhi
16. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow
17. Rashtriya Vidyalaya College of Engineering (RVCE), Bangalore
18. Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), New Delhi
19. Sri Venkateshwara College, New Delhi
20. St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi
21. Symbiosis Law College, Pune
22. University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), Chandigarh
23. University School of Legal Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha
University, New Delhi

After the conclusion of the preliminary rounds, the top 8 teams proceeded to the knock-out stage. The following motions were debated upon at the
various stages of the tournament.

Demonstration Debate
• This house believes that televised singing competitions promote mediocrity

Round 1 (Theme: Public policy and governance)
• This house will levy higher excise duties on vehicles that pollute more
• This house believes that the President and Vice-President of India should be elected through universal adult franchise
• This house believes that post-conflict societies should choose reconciliation over criminal prosecution

Round 2 (Theme: Women)
• This house will prescribe the death penalty for those convicted of rape
• This house will lower the age of consent for marriage
• This house supports reservations for women in legislatures

Round 3 (Theme: International Relations)
• This house believes that the Non-Aligned movement (NAM) is a thing of the past
• This house believes that the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) must act against the Myanmar junta
• This house supports the construction of the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline

Round 4 (Theme: Sports)
• This house believes that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should give the Indian Cricket League(ICL) its space
• This house believes that India is not ready for hosting a ‘Formula One’ race
• This house believes that cricket team managements are justified in issuing ‘gag-orders’ to their players

Round 5 (Theme: Education)
• This house supports reservations for religious minorities in educational institutions
• This house will prohibit formal prayers in public schools
• This house believes that the government should regulate private coaching institutions

Round 6 (Theme: Internet)
• This house will ban social networking sites in educational institutions
• This house believes that free online databases are in the best interests of authors
• This house believes that Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) applications will replace fixed and mobile telecom services

Quarter-Finals (Theme: Tourism)
• This house will ban ‘space tourism’
• This house believes that foreigners and citizens should be charged the same entry fees for visiting historical monuments
• This house believes that the re-selection of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ was a farce

Semi-finals (Theme: Economics and Development)
• This house will tax agricultural income in India
• This house will not force private commercial banks to operate branches in rural areas

Grand Final (Theme: Free Speech)
• This house will take away the power of judges to punish for contempt of court

The grand final was contested between teams from Ram Jas College, New Delhi and Faculty of Law, Colombo University. The running trophy was won by the team from Ram Jas College which consisted of Harsh Malhotra, Kartik Mishra and Prithvi Rohan Kapoor. The winning team also took home a cash prize of Rs. 18,000 -/- while the runners-up team received Rs. 12,000 -/-. Cash prizes of Rs. 6,000 -/- each were also given to the losing semi-finalist teams from Kirori Mal College, New Delhi and St. Stephen’s College New Delhi. Harsh Malhotra of Ram Jas College was declared the ‘best speaker’ of the tournament (out of 126 speakers) while Parth Mehrotra of Kirori Mal College, New Delhi was declared the ‘second best speaker’ for the same. A special prize for ‘dignified’ conduct throughout the tournament was given to the team from Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna.

The main sponsor for the event was Kotak Mahindra Bank whose contribution enabled the arrangement of accommodation and food for the participants as
well as healthy prize-money for the tournament.

Contacts:
Postal address: The Literary and Debating Society (2007-08)
The Student Bar Association, National Law School of India University, PO Bag 7201,
Nagarbhavi, Bangalore (560072)
e-mail: debate@nls.ac.in

Tournament Director: Aditya Verma: +91 99867 69785
Adjudication Core: Arghya Sengupta, Yaman Verma, Sidharth Chauhan

Regards,
Sidharth Chauhan
Literary and Debating Society,
National Law School of India University, Bangalore
+91 98869 22576

Brunei Holds Schools Debate

Dear all,

Recently Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary Arabic Boys School Brunei held an Arabic speaking/debating competition at its auditorium on November 22. The event was organised by the Arabic Language Society of the Secondary school and was divided into two sessions in the morning and the afternoon. The event was the first ever held by the school and was meant to be part of post-examination activities.

Regards,
Rashedul Hasan Stalin

Source: http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Nov07/201107/bb06.htm
Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Pakistan International Debating Championship 2008

Dear all,

School of International Studies in Sciences and Arts Pakistan (SISA) is hosting the SISA International Debating & Public Speaking Championship 2008 (SIDPSC 2008) from 14th February to 19th February 2008. The competition is the only one of its kind in Pakistan and may be even in South Asia. It is conducted on the lines of the World Individual Debating & Public Speaking Championship (WIDPSC).

This year’s competition promises to bring together the top student public speakers from across the globe and offer them all a unique chance to interact with each other. This will also be a wonderful opportunity for all our international teams to experience the exotic and rich culture of Pakistan and there is no better place to do that, than the historical city of Lahore.

The registration fee is $50 (U.S) per participant/coach or chaperone (fifty dollars U.S). This will cover all the boarding & lodging arrangements for the duration of the stay in Lahore. The registration fee can be paid upon arrival in cash or if team’s want we can give them the bank/account details where they can transfer the necessary amount.

You are requested to kindly confirm the participation of your institution no later than 15th December 2007.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,
Wasif W. Mir
Convener SIDPSC 2008
Email: oratorforever@rambler.ru
Phone: (042)5311254, (042)5017348

North East Asians 2007 Results

NEAO 2007 @ Incheon University, Incheon, Korea Nov. 9-11
All Asians format w/45 teams
CA: Sunhee Kim, Incheon Univ.
DCA's: Yui Miyaichi (Keio Univ., Japan), Ray Yen
(Wenzao Univ., Taiwan), Loganimal (Chung Ang Univ,
Korea)

Champion: DAE 3 (Debate Association of Ewha)
Runner Up: Korea University 1

Semifinalists:
EDiS (Ewha Debate Society)1
Yonsei University 1

Quarterfinalists:
Hanyang Univ. 1
Hanyang Univ. 3
Hanyang Univ. 5
EDiS 5

EFL Champion: BFSU 1 (Beijing Foreign Studies)

Speaker Awards:
1. Kim, Ah Young (EDiS 1)
2. Song, Na Young (Yonsei 3)
3. Tied:
Sophie Lee (DAE 3)
Monica Jang
5. Tied:
Lee, Seung Ah (EDiS 1)
Chung, Yoonjin (EDiS 1)
7. Cho, Hyung Gyu (Hanyang 1)
8. Oh, Hyun Suk (Yonsei 3)
9. Kim, Eui Yun (KDS 2)
10. Hur, Youngran (EDiS 5)

Top EFL Speaker:
Zhou, Shengru (Beijing Foreign Studies 1)

Bangladesh Open 2007 and Worlds MINI Results

Dear all,

Bangladesh Debating Council-BDC organized the 1st Global Debating Championship in Bangladesh from November 15 to November 20, 2007. Islamic University of Technology, Bangladesh hosted this BP Format Global Esteemed Debating Championship; IUT 1st Bangladesh Open 2007 with Worlds MINI and South East Asians. Australia, USA, Malaysia participated with 28 other top local Debating Institutions from Bangladesh in this Grand Debating Championships.

Motion for the Final:
This House Believes That companies should not hire the Smokers.

Championship Results:
Champion: International Islamic University Malaysia A
Runner up: International Islamic University Malaysia B
3rd Place: Bangladesh International Tutorial A
4th Place: American International University A

Top Speakers:
Tasniem Ahmed Elyass from IIUM A (International)
Faiza Rahman from Bangladesh International Tutorial BIT A (Local)

Adjudication Core:
CA: Rashedul Hasan Stalin (BDC)
CA External: Abdul Latif (Malaysia)
DCA: Claudia Newman-Martin from Australia (ANU)
Alex Dukalskis from USA (IDEA)
Fareez Bin Zahir from Malaysia (IIUM)
Mohammed Saddam Hossain (BDC)
Azim Ahmed (BDC)
Alam Israq Chowdhury (BDC)

Regards,
Rashedul Hasan Stalin
Chief Adjudicator, Bangladesh Open and Worlds MINI 2007