These were the topics for the 2011-2012 competition season.<\/p>\n
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2011-2012 Topics<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Coral Reefs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Coral reefs are sometimes known as “the rainforests of the sea.” Reefs are some of the world’s great\u00a0tropical and sub-tropical ecosystems. Coral reefs support the livelihoods of millions of people. Worldwide,\u00a0already 25 percent of coral reefs have been destroyed or badly degraded and some scientist predict that\u00a0by 2020 up to 70 percent might be permanently lost. These are areas rich in marine species that are\u00a0found only in a small area. Therefore, they are highly vulnerable to extinction. They supply seafood,\u00a0building materials, sources for medicinal products, and draw in much needed tourism revenue. Reefs also\u00a0protect shorelines and communities from storms and erosion. Coral reefs are deeply threatened by\u00a0human activities and global climate change. Coral reefs are an important source of food for hundreds of\u00a0millions of people, many of whom have no other source of animal protein. However, especially reefs in\u00a0developing countries are threatened and if human impact on reefs is not reduced there is a great danger\u00a0that some of the world’s poorest people will lose an important source of nutrition, and in many cases, their\u00a0livelihoods.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n All in a Day’s Work<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Mobile phones, laptop computers, and the Blackberry have changed where and when people can do\u00a0work. Gender equality in the workplace has altered traditional notions of who should be at home and\u00a0when. Globalization has led to increased competition and more business interactions across time zones –\u00a0meaning longer hours at work for many. Is the forty-hour workweek a relic of the past? What impact will\u00a0longer work hours and increased telecommuting have on families and on mental health of children and\u00a0adults? Several countries have tried to mandate maximum work hours and minimum vacation time, but\u00a0such policies can lead to higher rates of unemployment and other negative economic consequences. Will\u00a0workers in the future, even well-educated ones, be able to succeed financially yet still manage to enjoy\u00a0free time alone or with friends and family?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Human Rights<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Since the end of World War II, many people have prioritized the protection of human rights around the\u00a0world. But what exactly are human rights? Do they vary depending on religion and culture? Many western\u00a0countries criticize the Islamic world for its treatment of women, while the United States is often\u00a0condemned for its use of the death penalty. Can one nation fight to protect human rights in another\u00a0nation, and if so, how? What challenges do globalization and the prevention of terrorism present to the\u00a0preservation of human rights in the future?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Trade Barriers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Historically, states have relied on trade barriers – such as subsidies for domestic producers, import\u00a0quotas, and tariffs – to protect domestic economic interests. Many economists have long argued,\u00a0however, that such barriers can limit potential economic growth, may only benefit certain politically\u00a0powerful groups like labor unions, and have other harmful effects. To combat these concerns,\u00a0policymakers around the world have created new treaties and institutions, such as the World Trade\u00a0Organization, on the theory that reducing trade barriers will increase economic prosperity. But others\u00a0argue that the benefits of tearing down trade barriers means fewer jobs and lower wages for farmers,\u00a0factory workers, and relatively less-educated employees. Should policymakers strive for Free Trade or\u00a0Fair Trade in the future – or some balance of the two?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Pharmaceuticals<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Many people rely on modern medicines to stay alive and well, but others are not as fortunate. Should\u00a0countries have to respect intellectual property rights causing citizens to pay for drugs at prices they\u00a0cannot afford? Are pharmaceutical companies earning too much profit? How do we sustain\u00a0pharmaceutical research and development without incredibly large prices and profits? Are therapeutic\u00a0products going too far in developed countries? It is difficult to understand why medicines for diseases that\u00a0tend to afflict poorer countries – which are often relatively simple and cheap to develop – are neglected\u00a0while there are drugs readily available for trivial issues such as cosmetics. Are people becoming too\u00a0dependent on medications? One study in England concluded that over 50% of antibiotic resistant\u00a0microorganisms are the direct result of the excessive use of antibiotics in intensive animal farming (i.e.\u00a0battery chickens) and in human medicine as well. We\u2019re now encountering the effects of overuse of\u00a0antibiotics in diseases with resistance to multiple antibiotics which are limiting the ability of modern\u00a0medicine to cure disease. What other consequences may result from mankind\u2019s addiction to medicine in\u00a0the future?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n PP#1<\/td>\n Coral Reefs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n PP#2<\/td>\n All In a Day’s Work<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Regional<\/td>\n Human Rights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n State<\/td>\n Trade Barriers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n International<\/td>\n Pharmaceuticals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n