Tournament: | Round: 1 | Opponent: | Judge:
Contention 1 - Inherency
Science based exchanges between the U.S. and Cuba are limited now, but an increase is such exchanges would hold many benefits for both parties
Johnson et al. 2012
(Stephen Johnson, Nicholas R. Lambardo, and Sadie May Davis, “U.S.-Cuba Academic and Science-Based Exchanges”, Center for Strategic and International Studies, August 2012, http://csis.org/files/publication/120821_Johnson_U.S.-CubaExchanges_Web.pdf, DA: 7/26)
For now ... opportunities are the following
In order to increase economic engagement toward Cuba, we offer that the United States federal government should do the following plan:
Plan plank 1: The Department of State will issue out more visas for scientists looking to cooperate bilaterally with Cuban scientists
Plan plank 2: The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control will streamline the process of obtaining licenses and permits for scientists looking to cooperate bilaterally with Cuban scientists and will also add technology necessary for research to the list of exempt transactions.
Plan plank 3: The National Research Council will offer and give more grants for scientific projects that are done bilaterally with Cuba
Funding for the plan comes from the General Federal Revenue. We can specify in cross-x if asked.
Contention 2 - Solvency
Streamlining the processes that are needed in order for Cuban and American scientists to cooperate with each other catalyzes scientific cooperation
Boom 2012
(Brian M. Boom, “Biodiversity without Borders: Advancing U.S.-Cuba Cooperation through Environmental Research,” Science and Diplomacy, Vol. 1, No. 3, September 2012, http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/article/2012/biodiversity-without-borders, DA: 7/31)
Nature knows no boundaries ... bedrock for future relations
Advantage 1
A. Cuban-U.S. relations are low now, but the Cuban government is willing to cooperate to improve relations
Hanson and Lee 2013
(Stephanie Hanson and Brianna Lee, “U.S.-Cuba Relations”, Council on Foreign Relations, January 31 2013, http://www.cfr.org/cuba/us-cuba-relations/p11113, DA: April 7 2013)
Cuba has been at odds with the United States ... read the signals
B. Scientific cooperation can ease political tensions and lead to better relations
The Royal Society 2010
(The Royal Society, “New Frontiers in Science Diplomacy”, AAAS, 2010, diplomacy.aaas.org/files/New_Frontiers.pdf?, DA: Aug. 21)
Cooperation on the scientific aspects ... existing instability and conflict
C. Scientific cooperation has empirically been successful at improving relations, and the same can be done in Cuba
Ordonez 2012
(Franco Ordonez, “Scientists work to bridge political gap between Cuba, U.S.”, McClatchy Newspapers, May 21 2012, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/21/149603/scientists-work-to-bridge-political.html#.UflzVEBD9y1, DA: 7/31)
Scientists and scholars ... at the American Association for the Advancement of Science
D. Good relations with Cuba are key to improving relations with Latin America as a whole
Perez 2010
J.D. Yale Law School. Working with Koh former Dean of Yale Law and Legal Advisor to the State Department David A. Perez, America's Cuba Policy: The Way Forward: A Policy Recommendation for the U.S. State Department, Spring, 2010, Harvard Latino Law Review, 13 Harv. Latino L. Rev. 187
There is no doubt that ... so great to begin with
E. Good U.S.-Latin America relations helps solve for instability and inequality in the region
Barshefsky et. al. 2008
senior international partner at WilmerHale in DC, 08, (Charlene Barshefsky, R. Rand Beers, Alberto Coll, Margaret Crahan, Jose Fernandez, Francis Fukuyama, Peter Hankim, James Hermon, John Heimann, James Hill, Donna Hrinak, James Kimsey, Jim Kolbe, Kellie Meiman, Shannon O'Neil, Maria Otero, Arturo Porzecanski, David Rothkopf, Julia Sweig, 5/2008, Council on Foreign Relations, “US- Latin America Relations: A New Direction for a New Reality”, http://www.cfr.org/mexico/us-latin-america-relations/p16279, 6/30/2013) GM.
Latin America has never mattered more ... democracy throughout the hemisphere
Advantage 2 - Biodiversity
A. The lack of ongoing bilateral scientific cooperation between the two countries hurts biological diversity and the gulf ecosystem
Boom 2012
same cite as above
Thankfully, urgent, shared environmental problems ... seeking solutions to such threats
B. The Caribbean is home to the most diverse and unique species- losing species there cuts deep in global biodiversity.
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund 2012
(“Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot: Ecosystem Profile Summary,” Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund, 2012, http://www.cepf.net/SiteCollectionDocuments/caribbean/Caribbean_EP_Summary.pdf)
The Caribbean Islands hotspot also ... the northern Caribbean seascape
C. Biodiversity loss is unethical and should be stopped whenever possible
Chivan 2011
(Eric, director of the Project on Global Environmental Change and Health, and member of Physicians for Social Responsibility, “Species Extinction, Biodiversity Loss and Human Health,” in Environmental Health Hazards, from the Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 2011, http://www.ilo.org/oshenc/part-vii/environmental-health-hazards/item/505-species-extinction-biodiversity-loss-and-human-health)//
Human activity is causing ... that is the greatest destroyer