Debatable

Should we subsidise healthy foods?

Posted 3:12am Monday 21st March 2011 by John Brinsley-Pirie and Tiho Mijatov

John Brinsley-Pirie argues the affirmative while Tiho Mijatov argues the negative. Affirmative   In New Zealand we need to face the harsh unpleasant truth; we are fat and as a nation we are only growing fatter. This is possibly the most serious health issue facing New Read more...

Should prisoners have the luxuries of outside life?

Posted 4:30am Monday 14th March 2011 by Nick Gavey and Kurt Purdon

Nick Gavey argues the affirmative while Kurt Purdon argues the negative. Affirmative I strongly oppose supplying prisoners with bottles of Moet, caviar, 600-count Egyptian cotton sheets, or personal shopping services. However if “luxuries” mean things that every other New Read more...

Should We Implement a Mandatory Carbon Labelling Scheme for all Commodities?

Posted 2:36am Monday 20th September 2010 by Hana Nyhof and Paul Hunt

Hana Nyhof argues we should; Paul Hunt disagrees. Hana:    We have access to good information around how carbon emissions are shaping the global environment so it seems bizarre that we don't encourage this information to be distributed as widely as possible. Let's assume there are Read more...

Should We Make All Art Free from Censorship?

Posted 2:10am Monday 23rd August 2010 by

Alec Dawson argues we should; Will Chisholm disagrees. Alec:    The arts are where the opinions and views of our society are born and shaped. Art, theatre, film, and all forms of writing are what challenge people and their ideals and often cause important changes in societal Read more...

Should we ban celebrities from participating in political campaigns?

Posted 10:52pm Sunday 22nd August 2010 by

Harry Misselbrook argues we should; Kurt Purdon disagrees. Harry:      The main problem inherent in allowing celebrities to participate in political campaigns is the fact that celebrities cause voters to vote for a certain political party or candidate based on their like Read more...

Should Governments Refuse to Recognise Scientology as a Religion?

Posted 2:00am Monday 9th August 2010 by Oliver Dickie and Carlos Chambers

Oliver Dickie argues they should; Carlos Chambers disagrees. Oliver:    In no way should Scientology be recognised as a religion. It is a financial scam that uses intimidation tactics to silence critics, has complete disregard for authority, and presents serious health risks to Read more...

Should we abolish the Maori quota for limited-entry courses at universities?

Posted 1:06am Monday 26th July 2010 by Will Cheyne and Nick Gavey

Will Cheyne argues we should; Nick Gavey disagrees. Will: What is it exactly that we are trying to achieve with race-based quotas? The answer must be that there is some benefit to the community as a whole in having more of a particular race represented in limited-entry courses. But what is Read more...

Do Animals Have Rights?

Posted 3:14am Tuesday 20th July 2010 by Danielle Duffield and Nick Gavey

Danielle Duffield argues that they do; Nick Gavey disagrees. Danielle: When Mary Wollstonecraft published “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” in 1792, British philosopher Thomas Taylor responded by publishing a satirical piece entitled “A Vindication of The Rights of Read more...

Debatable - 15

Posted 10:41pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Matt Chapman and Beau Murrah

Does the University need to change its drinking culture? Matt Chapman argues it does; Beau Murrah disagrees.   Matt: The drinking culture at the University of Otago is a problem that is getting exponentially worse as time goes on, and something needs to be done about it. The Read more...

Debatable - 14

Posted 9:35pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Hana Nyhof and Joelle Nyhof

Should We Halt the Creation of Artificial Life? Hana Nyhof argues we should; Joelle Nyhof disagrees. Hana: In light of the recent announcement that scientists have successfully created synthetic life in the form of a new species of bacteria that operates under the control of a Read more...