Category: International Extemp Page 8 of 57

R&D from Prepd: War Tensions Between Russia & Ukraine

By

On February 18, 2022

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D covers war tensions between Russia and Ukraine.  The United States, Great Britain, France, and Germany have made diplomatic overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin to avert war with Ukraine.  Russia is demanding that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) not made Ukraine a member and draw back some of its forces in Eastern Europe, conditions that Western countries have said are unacceptable.  Even though reports in the middle of the week suggested that Russia was drawing back some of its troops, other accounts have questioned those assertions, noting that Russia maintains a sizeable troop buildup in Crimea, on its proper border with Ukraine, and along the border that Ukraine shares with Belarus.  Since Russia controls 10% of the world’s oil supply, any war that causes a disruption to those supplies, especially because the United States is threatening punitive sanctions on Russia if it invades, it could cause gas prices in the U.S. to rise.

Read More

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 14-20, 2022

By

On February 14, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. How would a Russian invasion of Ukraine affect the political standing of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz?
2. Has Justin Trudeau handled the “Freedom Convoy” protests poorly?
3. To what degree is the global economy on the verge of crashing?
4. Should Russia annex Belarus?
5. What should Narendra Modi do if the BJP does poorly in India’s state elections this year?
6. Are African states doing a better job controlling the COVID-19 pandemic?
7. How can the Mexican government better protect journalists?
8. What will be the economic impact of the ICJ’s judgment against Uganda?
9. Do international sanctions work?
10. Should Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. be allowed to stand as a candidate for the Filipino presidency?

R&D from Prepd: The Ottawa Truck Protests

By

On February 11, 2022

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D provides resources on the Ottawa truck protests.  For the past week truckers who are protesting the Canadian government’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate for those crossing the U.S.-Canadian border have blocked traffic in the Canadian capital city.  They have been joined by other far-right groups and opponents of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government.  The protests also played a role in the ouster of Erin O’Toole, the moderate leader of Canada’s Conservative Party.  There are also fears by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that similar protests could occur in the United States, causing economic chaos.

Read More

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 7-13, 2022

By

On February 7, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Has India experienced a “lost decade”?
2. Should Great Britain abolish the monarchy after the death of Queen Elizabeth II?
3. What does the ouster of Erin O’Toole mean for the future of Canada’s Conservative Party?
4. Are the EU’s PIGS on the road to recovery?
5. Should the IOC create a permanent location for future Olympics?
6. Does Ukraine need to join NATO?
7. Will central bankers around the world have to take aggressive steps to combat inflation?
8. Is the death of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi a major blow to ISIS?
9. Should countries abandon “zero COVID” policies?
10. Is it in China’s best interest to form a closer relationship with Russia?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of January 31-February 6, 2022

By

On January 31, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Should Western powers agree never to let Ukraine join NATO?
2. Is organic farming a major threat to the global climate?
3. What changes does the EU need to make to its energy policy?
4. Will there be more military coups in West Africa before the end of 2022?
5. What does an inability to choose a new president reveal about the state of Italy’s political system?
6. Will the EU win its trade dispute with China at the WTO?
7. Does the UN need to be playing a part in the growing crisis in Ukraine?
8. Will the U.S. decision not to give military aid to Egypt create instability in the Middle East?
9. Does Germany need to embrace a more hawkish foreign policy?
10. Would Argentina’s economy improve with less government interference?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of January 24-30, 2022

By

On January 24, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. If Russia invades, can Ukraine fight them to a draw with Western aid?
2. Why is there a growing food crisis in the Horn of Africa?
3. If Boris Johnson resigns or is ousted, who should British Conservatives choose to replace him?
4. How should NATO respond if Russia makes a “minor incursion” into Ukraine?
5. Will hosting the Olympics create as many political problems in China as it did for Japan?
6. Should the European Union commit itself to stronger border enforcement?
7. How can the international community best assist African nations in vaccinating their populations against COVID-19?
8. Is Venezuela’s political opposition too divided to make substantial change in the country?
9. Are Iran’s proxy forces becoming more dangerous?
10. Is the BJP failing to protect India’s Muslim population?

R&D from Prepd: Boris Johnson’s Political Problems

By

On January 21, 2022

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D covers British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s political problems.  Johnson is under fire for hosting gatherings with his staff at No. 10 Downing Street while the rest of Great Britain was locked down under COVID-19 restrictions in spring 2020.  The more egregious allegations are that Johnson’s staff partied before the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, which had social distance restrictions.  Johnson has told the British Parliament that the gatherings were for work and were not social, but the public is skeptical, as are members of the British Conservative Party.  Some Conservative MPs are calling on Johnson to resign, noting that opinion polls are showing the Conservative trailing the Labour Party by double digits.  Johnson has so far refused and stated earlier in the week that he would fight any no-confidence vote.

Read More

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of January 17-23, 2022

By

On January 17, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. If you were North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which candidate would you hope wins the South Korean presidential election?
2. Will rising global oil prices trigger Kazakhstan-like protests in other nations?
3. Should Central American countries continue to aid the United States in stopping migrant caravans?
4. If the Labour Party were to return to power in Great Britain, should they restore Britain’s membership in the European Union?
5. Is Russia becoming overextended?
6. Should Serbia press forward with its lithium mining plans?
7. Is it too late for Jair Bolsonaro to mount a successful re-election effort?
8. Should revisions be made to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?
9. Why is the French Socialist Party struggling to be relevant?
10. Should the Mexican government reject Obrador’s energy policies?

R&D from Prepd: Kazakhstan Unrest

By

On January 14, 2022

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D covers the political unrest in Kazakhstan.  Increasing fuel prices provoked protests in the Central Asian nation last week, leading to wider protests against the country’s autocratic government and its economic policies.  Kazakhstan’s leadership called in Russian troops to help restore order and to date more than 9,000 people have been detained by authorities.  Experts see the problems in Kazakhstan and the resulting issues as another example of Russia trying to enhance its influence over former Soviet republic states.

Read More

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of January 10-16, 2022

By

On January 10, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Which candidates will make the French presidential runoff this spring?
2. How can Turkmenistan put an end to the “Gates of Hell” fire?
3. Are Russian concerns about NATO expansion to its border justified?
4. Can the UN save Sudan’s democratic transition?
5. Was Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s recent trip to Myanmar helpful or harmful for efforts to resolve the nation’s political crisis?
6. How can Bulgaria reverse its population decline?
7. Is Bosnia falling outside of the West’s orbit?
8. Will street protests in Kazakhstan produce lasting change?
9. Is the refusal of some nations ot sell defense components to Turkey weakening the NATO alliance?
10. How can African nations reduce their reliance on commodities?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of January 3-9, 2022

By

On January 3, 2022

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. Will 20222 see the end of the COVID-19 pandemic?
2. Should the international community refuse to release funds to the Taliban government until their human rights record improves?
3. How can Ukraine best prepare to defend itself from a Russian invasion?
4. Is Gambia’s truth commission working?
5. How can the Chinese government encourage its population to spend more in 2022?
6. Are Erdogan’s policies making Turkey’s economic situation worse?
7. Should African countries rely on their neighbors more than the United Nations to put down internal rebellions?
8. How can Boris Johnson reverse his eroding political position?
9. Does Chile need more or less “neoliberalism”?
10. Will Libya be able to hold a fair and impartial presidential election?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of December 13-19, 2021

By

On December 13, 2021

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

Note that these will be the last questions of the first semester.  Extemp Central will resume posting new, original content on Monday, January 3.

1. How will the world decide the COVID-19 pandemic is over?
2. Should the British Conservative Party give Boris Johnson the boot?
3. What will be the global impact of the Evergrande default?
4. Is Aung San Suu Kyi the best leader for Myanmar’s democratic movement going forward?
5. To what degree can Emmanuel Macron make the European Union more powerful in the world?
6. Should El Salvador’s political leadership continue negotiate with street gangs?
7. Will New Zealand’s anti-smoking plan work?
8. What can cure the dysfunction that bedevils global democracies?
9. Who will win Colombia’s next presidential election?
10. Should Israel end its policy of nuclear ambiguity?

R&D from Prepd: Iran’s Nuclear Program

By

On December 10, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D covers the ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.  The United States backed out of a 2015 framework on Iran’s nuclear program during the Trump administration, something that President Biden is looking to reverse.  However, ongoing talks in Vienna, Austria between Iran and negotiators from the United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, Germany, and France are deadlocked over Iran’s demand that all American sanctions against it end.  Some fear that the U.S. not joining a new nuclear accord could mean that Iran gets a nuclear weapon, potentially triggering a military conflict with Israel, who fears a nuclear Iran threatens its survivability.

Read More

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of December 6-12, 2021

By

On December 6, 2021

In International Extemp, Weekly Questions

1. If Russia invades Ukraine, should China invade Taiwan?
2. Should Great Britain allow Scotland to hold another independence referendum?
3. Will Eric Zemmour be Macron’s runoff challenger in the next French presidential election?
4. How can Xiomara Castro improve Honduran democracy?
5. Did the BJP err by repealing India’s farm laws?
6. Will international powers fail to reach an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program?
7. Does Sudan’s military have too much control over the nation’s political transition?
8. Will Silvio Berlusconi become the next president of Italy?
9. Has Africa become the battleground of the West’s emerging rivalry with China?
10. Five years on, has Colombia’s peace deal lived up to the hype?

R&D from Prepd: The Omicron Variant

By

On December 3, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D covers the omicron variant of COVID-19.  First discovered in South Africa, the variant is still under study and as of the time of this R&D’s creation, a handful of cases have been identified in the United States.  There are fears that the new variant might infected vaccinated individuals and be more contagious than the delta variant from India.

Read More

Page 8 of 57

Previous

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén