This Blog has now moved to idebate.org/worlddebating - all future posts will be made there!

15 July 2009

Amsterdam Open motions analysis

Dear all,
After a while of radio silence, we are proud to present the statistical analysis of the Amsterdam Open (AO) 2009. This is an initiative from last year's AO CA-team and we are happy to continue it as we believe it increases transparency of judging results and hopefully helps fighting the good fight against the infamous motion-bias.


We are happy to inform you that there was no significant bias in this year's Amsterdam Open as a whole, although some motions showed an inclination to bias. The full analysis can be found here in a google doc. We hope you'll enjoy reading it.

With kind regards,
The Amsterdam Open 2009 CA team
Leela Koenig, Jonathan Leader Maynard, Kirsty Russel, Ross Reid McGuire and Anne Valkering

14 July 2009

Iraq Debate Appeal for Funding

Iraq Debate wishes to continue spreading debate in Iraq as a positive initiative in this country during a transition period of instability.

We are starting from the north and our destination is the farthest South of Iraq but the nature of our situation is currently somewhat difficult. There is a lack of understanding of the role debate can play in creating and stabilizing a complex and multi-ethnic society. In a time of many challenges it is difficult for people to accept the need for training Iraqi youth for a better tomorrow -- a time when disagreement can be used constructively to solve problems and not just to divide people.

Now, we are facing a problem of a lack of funding as the income of students in Iraq is very low. We are seeking funds to partially cover our trip to Turkey for the World Universities Debating Championship. Each student who can attend the World Universities Debating Championships can return as an ambassador for debating and have a huge impact training and sharing with others.

Iraq Debate has several teams now registered to attend the World Universities Debating Championships to be held in December-January in Antalya, Turkey. We have teams and enthusiasm and some financial support, but we are just a bit short and the time draws near to pay up or drop out.

Please help us improve Iraqi Society through making people familiar with tolerance and understand the power of diversity, love of free speech, and appreciate the value of fair dialogue and informed decision-making procedures.

Help us improve the lives of Iraqi citizens by supporting our efforts to instill passion for learning in the hearts of Iraqi students. Students will go further in life with the ability to think logically, the ability to present complex ideas clearly, a keen ear to listen well to the words of others, a wide but deep knowledge of the Iraqi society, a proactive desire to solve both Iraqi and world problems, and confidence to do all that, and keep on moving ahead. Students of debate find new reasons to make the most of their education and strive to become better, more informed people in an imperfect world.

Please help us to replace conflict with constructive debate. The lives of debaters, the people in their lives and the future of Iraqi leadership and of Iraqi society will only benefit from any financial help you can give now .

If you could help Iraq Debate students debaters it would be greatly appreciated.

For donation please visit this page www.iraqdebate.org/donate.htm

Thank you for your cooperation.

Muhammad Duhoki

Director, Iraq Debate

Note: please send an email to donate@iraqdebate.org when you are donating to save your name in our database and keep it.

12 July 2009

JoziSpeak 2009 results

Results from JoziSpeak 2009 (South African Universities Champs), hosted by Wits University last week, from Richard Stupart's blog:

Winners of the EFL (English First Language) category:
Chris McConnachie and Michael Anderson from Rhodes University
Winners of the ESL (English Second Language) category:
Ayanda Siyuyu and Bonga Malewa from the University of Cape Town
Best EFL Speaker:
Daniel de Kadt from the UNiversity of KwaZulu Natal
Best ESL Speaker:
Albert Titus from the University of Namibia
Best New EFL Speaker:
Michael Anderson from Rhodes University. Incorrectly announced originally as Razina Thokan from Wits University, as the committee – in great excitement – never thought to consider that the winning team might have a first-year debater in it.
Best New ESL Speaker:
Mhlanganisi Madlongolwai from the University of the Free State
Best Public Speaker:
Leon Jamaine Mithi from Wits University
Best New Adjudicator:
Nezi Ndamasa from the University of the Free State
Best Adjudicator:
Deborah Nixon from The University of Pretoria