[Debatewise RRT] Re: Holiday debates
- From: Daniel Strong <danielstrong52@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: debatewiserrt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:22:06 +0100
I'll take "*We should focus more on the thousands who are executed in China
rather than an individual British citizen." *to start off 2010 ;). Happy new
year everyone!
2009/12/31 nadia siddiqi <nadshi@xxxxxxxxx>
> sorry took that you can add to it. I didn't use one of the links.
>
> On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 1:20 PM, Viraj Modha <virajmodha@xxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
>> Hi Alex,
>>
>> I'll take: *Avatar will kill off big earning movie stars?*
>>
>> *Avatar will kill off big earning movie stars?*
>>
>> There have been numerous films this year that have made large amounts of
>> money but have not had big stars attached. Avatar in particular shows that
>> there are other ways of engaging audiences rather than paying immense pay
>> checks to a few faces that everyone recognises. Avatar does it with its 3D
>> graphics.
>>
>> http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/08/film-celebrity-wilting
>>
>> http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/11/16/is-the-hollywood-movie-star-dead/
>>
>>
>> http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article6969880.ece
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> From: alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> To: debatewiserrt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [Debatewise RRT] Holiday debates
>> Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:59:12 +0000
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope you enjoyed Christmas, and have a happy new year. I am sure you are
>> all relaxing, possibly thinking of how to burn off some of those calories
>> and the new year’s resolutions you will never keep. I hope that the RRT is
>> as successful next year as it has been this year. In the mean time some
>> debates for you to be doing while you are indoors on hogmanay... or not!
>>
>>
>>
>> Alex
>>
>>
>>
>> *Debates:*
>>
>>
>>
>> *Cut generals not soldiers.*
>>
>> The British Army has one general for every 400 soldiers. Considering that
>> generals are only the top few ranks and we are not including the many more
>> majors, captains etc does Britain have too many generals? It would seem that
>> the obvious place to start making cuts into the military is to reduce the
>> size of the officer corps.
>>
>> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6969921.ece
>>
>> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6544223.ece
>>
>>
>>
>> *Yemen: America’s next war?*
>>
>> While very few people are talking about Yemen being America’s next war it
>> is obvious that something needs to be done to prevent Yemen becoming a
>> failed state and to reduce any Al Qaeda presence there. Afghanistan has
>> shown how difficult it would be to fight a war in Yemen, there is similar
>> terrain, though not the ethnic divisions. However the reason behind the war
>> in Afghanistan is essentially what is happening in Yemen, a country that is
>> becoming a base for al Qaeda and Islamic fundamentalism. Is this sufficient
>> cause to take action?
>>
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8429843.stm
>>
>>
>> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/6898945/Detroit-terror-attack-Yemen-is-the-true-home-of-Al-Qaeda.html
>>
>>
>>
>> *Literacy targets for toddlers are a waste of time.*
>>
>> There is a gender gap between boys and girls even before they enter
>> school. To the government this must mean more targets. To the rest of us a
>> more sensible approach might be to let children below school age learn at
>> their own pace. Does a gender gap at this stage matter or should we have
>> targets and try to teach boys better?
>>
>>
>> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article4387301.ece
>>
>>
>> http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/boys-aged-three-must-work-more-1852087.html
>>
>>
>>
>> *Is Iran nearing a tipping point?*
>>
>> Once demonstrations get to a certain size, or the government is unwilling
>> to cause too much bloodshed protests can topple a government. The overthrow
>> of the Shah demonstrated this, as did the rolling back of communism in 1989.
>> Unfortunately it is very difficult to measure when or if the protesters will
>> gain the upper hand or the willingness of the authorities to be brutal in
>> putting down protests. It may depend partially on how big the change would
>> be; in this case the tipping point may be quite low as the likely change in
>> regime is simply from the more radical elements to more moderate elements
>> within the current elite rather than a full scale revolution.
>>
>> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6969863.ece
>>
>>
>> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703278604574624302036557422.html
>>
>>
>>
>> *Avatar will kill off big earning movie stars?*
>>
>> There have been numerous films this year that have made large amounts of
>> money but have not had big stars attached. Avatar in particular shows that
>> there are other ways of engaging audiences rather than paying immense pay
>> checks to a few faces that everyone recognises. Avatar does it with its 3D
>> graphics.
>>
>> http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/08/film-celebrity-wilting
>>
>> http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/11/16/is-the-hollywood-movie-star-dead/
>>
>>
>> http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article6969880.ece
>>
>>
>>
>> *Return/resell unwanted gifts.*
>>
>> Many charities are encouraging us to give our unwanted gifts to them so
>> that they can be put to good use. Alternatively we might want to go and
>> demand a refund, or get a replacement. We may even take to selling them
>> online. However should we really be disposing of gifts that others have
>> bought for us, should the solution not simply be that we buy less presents
>> that are better chosen rather than get a load of presents that are then not
>> wanted.
>>
>>
>> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/6873912/How-to-recycle-your-unwanted-Christmas-presents.html
>>
>> http://www.itnewsonline.com/showrwstory.php?storyid=1718
>>
>>
>>
>> *Throw the kids out.*
>>
>> The scope of Peter Mandelson in government has been steadily advancing as
>> his department swallows others. He is now publishing advice for parents on
>> how to persuade their children to move out and stop being dependents. In
>> some cases persuading children to move out may be a good idea but in the
>> middle of a recession it seems like a waste of effort. Those who have
>> returned home would not have the resources to make their own home while
>> burdened with student debt and without a job. So kick the kids out of the
>> house to sink or swim?
>>
>>
>> http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article6969872.ece
>>
>>
>> http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/29/tough-love-parents-graduate-unemployment
>>
>>
>>
>> *Government theft or sensible use of funds.*
>>
>> The government wants to effectively nationalise charitable funds for
>> hospitals. New accounting rules will bring these funds raised onto the
>> hospitals balance sheet. This has advantages, transparency, and areas that
>> can support themselves with charitable donations can take less from the
>> overall pot for the NHS so these government resources can go to areas that
>> do not have successful charitable funds. In a recession bringing these funds
>> onto the books makes sense as they can help plug gaps as funding is falling.
>> There are however problems. Who is going to donate to a charity that is
>> effectively the Department of Health? This would break down the barrier
>> between the charities and the NHS harming both. The opposition also argues
>> it will allow stealth cuts with charity making up the shortfall.
>>
>> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6969955.ece
>>
>> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1118821/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *We should focus more on the thousands who are executed in China rather
>> than an individual British citizen.*
>>
>> There may well be good reasons for why the Chinese government has chosen
>> to ignore the representations of the British government for Akmal Shaikh. In
>> the case of the British Government it has to act in this case because Akmal
>> was a British citizen. However China would probably be more cooperative, or
>> at least more inclined to listen if we did not rave about one person and
>> attempt to show the holes in their legal system. Instead we should be
>> working with China to improve its legal system and at the same time reduce
>> the number of executions.
>>
>>
>> http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2009/dec/29/china-akmal-shaikh-execution
>>
>>
>> http://www.cfr.org/publication/10063/chinas_legal_reform_at_the_crossroads.html
>>
>> http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JF18Ad01.html
>>
>> http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1446976
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Use Revisewise @ http://revisewise.debatewise.com/
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Work done with anxiety about results is far inferior to work done without
> such anxiety, in the calm of self-surrender. Seek refuge in the knowledge of
> Brahman. They who work selfishly for results are miserable. --"Bhagavad
> Gita."
>
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