8/13/2019 Term Card 2014

1/10

8/13/2019 Term Card 2014

2/10

0

02

04

06

08

10

12

14

16

8/13/2019 Term Card 2014

3/10

The Russian government has pursued policies that aack LGBTQ rights in Russia. In

addion the government has a poor record on civil and polical liberes. Many such as

Stephen Fry have called for a Boyco of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games held this yearin Russia. Is a boyco the best means to change Russian policy? Do athletes have a duty

to sacrice their dreams in order to aid those in need?

Lord Falconers Bill on Assisted Dying is currently under debate in the Houses of Parliament. The

bill would allow mentally capable adults with less than 6 months to live to ask for and receive

help in ending their own lives. Should assisted dying be legalised? Is it a mercy to the ill and

their families, or could it lead to abuse, with the terminally ill le feeling pressurised to end

their lives early? The MDU asks these quesons and more -Should we legalise assisted dying?

John Harris:

Professor of Bioethics

at Manchester

University, former

editor-in-chief of the

Journal of Medical

Ethics.

8/13/2019 Term Card 2014

4/10

Gender quotas have been used in situaons from board rooms and parliaments to overcome

the poor representaon of women. Yet their use remains controversial. Are gender quotas the

only way to ensure that women are properly represented in powerful posions? Or is it the case

that quotas merely serve to undermine the achievements of women and lessen the authority of

those who reach posions of power without their use?

8/13/2019 Term Card 2014

5/10

Foreign Aid remains a small but controversial part of the government s budget. Proponents of

aid argue that it is a vital tool of so power and more importantly a means by which the lives of

millions of people are made beer. Opponents of aid believe that it is spent wastefully, usedcorruptly and does lile to help people out of poverty. Similar concerns are raised about aid

funded by civil society. The Manchester Debang Union and Bollocks to Poverty Society invite

you to discuss the issues around aid as we debate the moon This House Believes That Aid

Does More Harm Than Good.

Three years into the coalion government its policies remain as controversial. It claims its program

of austerity is a necessary response to the economic crisis and has safeguarded the economic

recovery of the United Kingdom. On other issues the supporters of the government claim it has

responded appropriately to popular concerns on immigraon and undertaken necessary reforms

of the NHS and educaon system. It s opponents claim that the government has harmed the most

vulnerable in society, delayed the economic recovery and done nothing to tackle huge inequality

and low standards of living.

8/13/2019 Term Card 2014

6/10

Advert

Following a year in which Edward Snowden revealed mass surveillance by the Naonal Security

Administraon. The whistle blower seems set to be a key gure in contemporary polics. Are

whistle blowers like Snowden and Assange safeguarding our freedom or placing us in danger byrevealing that which ought to be kept secret. The Manchester Debang Union looks at the

phenomenon of the whistle blower as we debate the moon This House Would Blow the

Whistle

8/13/2019 Term Card 2014

7/10

8/13/2019 Term Card 2014

8/10

The reality of climate change is indisputable. Faced with this there is a need to take acon to

preserve our planet and mankind. Is the Green Movement as it exists at the moment heading in

the right direcon on this issue? Is it regreable that many in the movement reject the use of

technologies such as Nuclear Power which have the capacity to limit carbon emissions but raise

whole new problems? Are the taccs of the Green Movement successful in convincing the

public to take acon? If not is more or less radical acon needed?

Polical violence exercised by non-government actors has been a feature of polics throughout

history. Our atude towards terrorism is contradictory, many great historical gures have

engaged in acons that could be characterised as terrorism, whilst the terrorist remains the

bogeyman of internaonal polical. The Manchester Debang Union asks what circumstances

can polical violence be jused in, and at what level. When can violence against

representaves of the state be morally jused? Can it ever be right to target civilians with

violence for polical ends?

8/13/2019 Term Card 2014

9/10

Manchester Debating Union oers competitive debating training, free to all

members. Our training sessions are held ever Tuesday night during term time

at 6pm in University Place, room 4.205. We cater to all levels of ability, and

welcome novices at any point throughout the year. Debating helps you to gain

condence when speaking in public, improves your career prospects, helps

with essay writing, improves your general knowledge, helps you think on your

feet and to properly structure and analyse the arguments.

All great skills to have when essay season comes around!Competitions

Chair

Henry Phipps

SecretaryBecky Montacute

Treasurer

Emma Bean

Training

Chrisan Barrow

Socials

Tom LeeDirector of Debang

Laura Sears

0 0

8/13/2019 Term Card 2014

10/10

Chair

Henry Phipps

SecretaryBecky Montacute

Treasurer

Emma Bean

Training

Chrisan Barrow

Socials

Tom LeeDirector of Debang

Laura Sears

In recent months, I have had the good fortune to have been in

touch with some of the founding members of the Manchester

Debang Union. It is good to catch up with previous

generaons, if only to realise just how much the society has

changed. There are now so many things which are done that

they had not even envisaged when they began. In every year

which I have spent in the MDU, the society has moved forward

in some way or another. Every year brings something dierent

and that change can oen be one of emphasis or focus.

The society has changed drascally from the one which was

originally established back in the late 1990s, and it is the hard

work and dedicaon of its members that keeps it alive and

improving. One of the most impressive developments this year has been the instuon of the

document you are reading right now. Becky has been reless in pushing for the creaon of a

term card, and it is in large part due to her persistence and determinaon that it has been so

successful. However, there is not much point in having a term card if you do not have the

events to match it. This years public debates have featured some of the most impressive

speakers we have ever hosted, overseen by Henry with his excellent mixture of charm and

condence. Going beyond our internal events, we have been joined by what seems to be an

exceponal group of new debaters this year. The exceponal performance of Manchester

teams at novice compeons this year was a joy to behold. This has been reected by the

excellent standard of debang in training sessions. These have been organised reliably and

eciently by Chrisan and Jack.

Of course there are always things going on behind the scenes, and there are some individuals

whose hard work easily goes unacknowledged. Emma is probably the best treasurer that the

MDU has ever had, and it is hard to think of anyone more commied to our society. Chloe has

been working behind the scenes for many months now, and I am very excited to see what will

happen in February when we host our annual compeons. Laura has shown that the creaon

of the posion of Director of Debang was a good idea, performing her role admirably and

infecng everyone she speaks to with her happiness and enthusiasm. Although only elected

very recently, Declan has shown that he is determined to pick up the ball and I look forward to

next months alumni dinner. Jenny has been irrepressible, but has also quietly performed one

of the most vital roles behind the scenes in revamping the website. Last, but certainly not

least, a lot of credit must go to Tom for arranging last years end of year social and for trying to

make us a more cultured bunch of people. This is my last year in the MDU, and I could not have

wished for a nicer, more dedicated or more capable group of people to spend it with. I look

forward to seeing you at an event this year and the best of luck in future debates

Will Stobart, President 2013-2014