Tournament: Valley | Round: 1 | Opponent: Des Moines Roosevelt TK | Judge: Clay Carlson
VALLEY ROUND 1 V. DES MOINES ROOSEVELT
1AC
1ac – relations
Contention one --- Latin American relations
U.S.-Latin American relations are deteriorating --- undermines the development of strong regionalism
Inter-American Dialogue, 12 – the Inter-American Dialogue is the leading US center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs (“Remaking the Relationship The United States and Latin America”, April 2012, http://www.thedialogue.org/PublicationFiles/IAD2012PolicyReportFINAL.pdf)
What is at stake is the future of inter-American relations, which today
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missed . Well-developed ideas for reversing these disappointing trends are scarce.
The plan is the vital internal link --- greater economic engagement is the litmus test for engaging all of Latin America
Perez, 10 ¬– JD, Yale Law (David, “America's Cuba Policy: The Way Forward: A Policy Recommendation for the U.S. State Department” 13 Harv. Latino L. Rev. 187, Spring, lexis)
Anti-Americanism has become the political chant de jour for leaders seeking long-
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throughout Latin America, and would go a long way toward creating goodwill.
Cuba is the number one issue in U.S.-Latin American relations
Perez, 10 ¬– JD, Yale Law (David, “America's Cuba Policy: The Way Forward: A Policy Recommendation for the U.S. State Department” 13 Harv. Latino L. Rev. 187, Spring, lexis)
Third, the Obama Administration ignores Latin America at its own peril. Latin America's
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but also the pragmatism that has made America so great to begin with.
Now is key --- if Latin American countries don’t receive greater U.S. engagement, they’ll transition to independence
Valencia, 5/20/13 – political analyst and contributing writer for Global Voices Online Robert, “U.S. and Latin America: Economic Cooperation without Militarization?”, http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2013/05/20/us-and-latin-america-economic-cooperation-without-militarization)
In May, President Barack Obama visited Mexico and Costa Rica and vowed to strengthen
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Latin American countries will forge ahead with economic and security integration amongst themselves.
The plan is key to bolster stronger regionalism --- key to Cuban democratization
Inter-American Dialogue, 12 – the Inter-American Dialogue is the leading US center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs (“Remaking the Relationship The United States and Latin America”, April 2012, http://www.thedialogue.org/PublicationFiles/IAD2012PolicyReportFINAL.pdf)
The democratic outlook in the Americas is on balance positive, particularly when compared with
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US concern about human rights violations, would be an important first step.
It also sparks a Cuban economic transition --- that’s the first step toward democracy
Lopez-Levy, 13 (Arturo, “A Post-Castro Era Looms for Cuba”, April 17, 2013 Arturo Lopez-Levy is a PhD Candidate at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies of the University of Denver, http://www.fpif.org/articles/a_post-castro_era_looms_for_cuba)
In the last five years, the Cuban government has created an important institutional foundation
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would put the U.S. embargo against the island in jeopardy.
Cuban democracy spills over to the rest of the region
Santons, 8 – chairman of the Cuban American National Foundation (Jorge Mas, “How to Win the Cuban American Vote,” Washington Post, 25 October 2008, http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2008-10-25/opinions/36910345_1_cuban-dissidents-travel-and-remittances-cuban-americans)
U.S. policy toward Cuba is at best static and at worst counterproductive
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effect on Floridians and Cuban Americans nationwide. It has in the past.
Current Cuba policy wrecks OAS credibility
Reuters, 12 (Brian Ellsworth, “Despite Obama charm, Americas summit boosts U.S. isolation,” 4/16/12, http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/16/us-americas-summit-obama-idUSBRE83F0UD20120416)
(Reuters) - President Barack Obama sat patiently through diatribes, interruptions and even
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," said Geoff Thale, program director at the Washington Office on Latin America
An effective OAS is key to Latin American democracy
Inter-American Dialogue, 12 – the Inter-American Dialogue is the leading US center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs (“Remaking the Relationship The United States and Latin America”, April 2012, http://www.thedialogue.org/PublicationFiles/IAD2012PolicyReportFINAL.pdf)
Even as Latin America expands its global reach and presence, it is important that
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, in order to regain a central role in inter-American affairs.
The plan sends a clear signal that reinvigorates the OAS
White, 13 – Senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and former U.S. ambassador to Paraguay and El Salvador (Robert, “After Chávez, a Chance to Rethink Relations With Cuba”, New York Times, 3/7/13, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/opinion/after-chavez-hope-for-good-neighbors-in-latin-america.html?pagewanted=all)//TL
FOR most of our history, the United States assumed that its security was inextricably
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cooperating in matters of common concern would be reduced to a historical footnote.
Latin American democracy is key to global democracy
Hillman, 2 – Ph.D., Professor and Director, Institute for the Study of Democracy and Human Rights, St. John Fisher College (Richard S., Democracy and Human Rights in Latin Americai, Preface, p. vii) SP
Latin American experiences, especially in the areas of democratization and human rights protection,
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human rights have definitively entered the political lexicon and discourse throughout the world.
Democracy prevents extinction
Diamond, 95 - Hoover Institute Senior Fellow (Larry, “Promoting Democracy in the 1990s,” http://wwics.si.edu/subsites/ccpdc/pubs/di/fr.htm)
This hardly exhausts the lists of threats to our security and well-being in
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which a new world order of international security and prosperity can be built.
And empirics prove it prevents war
Muravchik 1 (Josh, Resident Scholar – AEI, “Democracy and Nuclear Peace”, July, http://www.npec-web.org/Syllabus/Muravchik.pdf)
The greatest impetus for world peace -- and perforce of nuclear peace -- is the
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accommodate those interests except when the other party's behavior seems threatening or outrageous.
Relations spur effective global cooperation in preventing terrorist theft of nuclear weapons
Inter-American Dialogue 12 (“Remaking the Relationship The United States and Latin America”, the Inter-American Dialogue is the leading US center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs, April 2012, http://www.thedialogue.org/PublicationFiles/IAD2012PolicyReportFINAL.pdf)
In addition to economic and financial matters, Brazil and other Latin American nations are
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consultation and collaboration on a new, more effective approach to the problem.
Terrorism is probable --- there’s nuclear theft now
Dahl, 7/1/13 – Specialist Correspondent (Frederik, “Governments warn about nuclear terrorism threat,” 7/1/13, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/01/us-nuclear-security-idUSBRE96010E20130701)
(Reuters) - More action is needed to prevent militants acquiring plutonium or highly
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. "Some material goes missing and is never found," he said.
Nuclear terrorism results in all-out nuclear war and extinction
Ayson, 10 –Professor of Strategic Studies and Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand at the Victoria University of Wellington (Robert, “After a Terrorist Nuclear Attack: Envisaging Catalytic Effects,” Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 33.7, InformaWorld)
But these two nuclear worlds—a non-state actor nuclear attack and a
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be admitted that any preemption would probably still meet with a devastating response.
1ac – plan text
The United States federal government should substantially ease its economic restrictions with the Republic of Cuba.
1ac – agriculture
Contention two --- agriculture
Global agricultural collapse is inevitable --- destroys the environment and causes food scarcity --- several indicators demonstrate the necessity of a sustainable agriculture model
Peters, 10 – LL.M. expected 2011, University of Arkansas School of Law, Graduate Program in Agricultural and Food Law; J.D. 2010, University of Oregon School of Law (Kathryn, “Creating a Sustainable Urban Agriculture Revolution” J. ENVTL. LAW AND LITIGATION Vol. 25, 203, http://law.uoregon.edu/org/jell/docs/251/peters.pdf)
The U.S. agricultural system is becoming increasingly more concentrated, specialized,
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response to rapidly changing climate conditions and will help to ensure food security.
Cuba’s model of urban agriculture is a sustainable alternative
Peters, 10 – LL.M. expected 2011, University of Arkansas School of Law, Graduate Program in Agricultural and Food Law; J.D. 2010, University of Oregon School of Law (Kathryn, “Creating a Sustainable Urban Agriculture Revolution” J. ENVTL. LAW AND LITIGATION Vol. 25, 203, http://law.uoregon.edu/org/jell/docs/251/peters.pdf)
While urban agriculture was a response to a dramatic crisis in Cuba’s history, through
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a new economy for many Cubans without negatively impacting the environment or society.
Only the plan makes the Cuban model viable --- the U.S. export market is key
Kost, 4 – agricultural economist, Specialty Crops Branch, Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture (William, “CUBAN AGRICULTURE: TO BE OR NOT TO BE ORGANIC?” http://www.ascecuba.org/publications/proceedings/volume14/pdfs/kost.pdf)
In addition to the above European markets, the successful expansion and viability of Cuba’s
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domestic consumption in an environment where other production approaches are just not available.
The plan jumpstarts U.S. investment in Cuban organoponics --- that causes a global urban agricultural revolution
Shkolnick, 12 - J.D. Candidate, Drake University Law School (Jacob, “SIN EMBARGO: n1 THE CUBAN AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE UNITED STATES” 17 Drake J. Agric. L. 683, Fall, lexis)
VI. New Opportunities While investment in Cuban businesses and sales or purchases of Cuban
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may be just what is needed to allow for urban agriculture to flourish.
That prevents U.S. agricultural collapse --- extinction
Peters, 10 – LL.M. expected 2011, University of Arkansas School of Law, Graduate Program in Agricultural and Food Law; J.D. 2010, University of Oregon School of Law (Kathryn, “Creating a Sustainable Urban Agriculture Revolution” J. ENVTL. LAW AND LITIGATION Vol. 25, 203, http://law.uoregon.edu/org/jell/docs/251/peters.pdf)
An adequate food supply is essential for the survival of the human race. Historically
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urban areas with access to an adequate supply of fresh, nutritious food.
Environmental collapse risks extinction
Ehrlich, 13 – Professor of Biology and Senior Research Scientist in Biology @ Stanford University (Paul R. Ehrlich (President of the Center for Conservation Biology @ Stanford University) and Anne H. Ehrlich, “Can a collapse of global civilization be avoided?,” Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences, Proc. R. Soc. B 2013 280, published online 9 January 2013)
Virtually every past civilization has eventually undergone collapse, a loss of socio-political
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it from generating a global collapse is perhaps the foremost challenge confronting humanity.
Industrial agriculture ensures bioterrorism
Peters, 10 – LL.M. expected 2011, University of Arkansas School of Law, Graduate Program in Agricultural and Food Law; J.D. 2010, University of Oregon School of Law (Kathryn, “Creating a Sustainable Urban Agriculture Revolution” J. ENVTL. LAW AND LITIGATION Vol. 25, 203, http://law.uoregon.edu/org/jell/docs/251/peters.pdf)
In order to be capable of sustaining itself, the United States must eliminate dependence
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in the event of an attack on U.S. transportation infrastructures.
Extinction
Matheny, 7 – Research associate, Future of Humanity Institute, Oxford University (Jason G., “Reducing the Risk of Human Extinction,” Risk Analysis, Volume 27, Number 5, http://www.upmchealthsecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2007/2007-10-15-reducingrisk.html)
Of current extinction risks, the most severe may be bioterrorism. The knowledge needed
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such experiments because the bene?ts do not seem to be worth the risks.
2AC
2ac – terror list cp
Counterplan doesn’t solve – small steps aren’t enough
Pamela K. Starr, Pacific Council on International Policy, May 2013, “As Cuba Changes, U.S. Policy Does Not” https://www.pacificcouncil.org/document.doc?id=539
This understanding of the history of U.S.-Cuban relations, reinforced by
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the bigger country, it ¶ “needs to make a bigger effort.”
Lifting the embargo is vital to make the US a credible leader in human rights protection
Weinmann 2004- Master of international affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University (Lissa,“Washington's Irrational Cuba Policy”, World Policy Institute, Spring 2004, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40209899, JSTOR)KW
The changed mood in Congress also springs from the realization that the embargo is condemned
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multilateral approach to Cuban human rights that would necessarily involve diplomacy and engagement.
Credibility independently solves extinction
Copeland 99 (Rhonda, Professor of Law – NYU, New York City Law Review, p. 71-72)
The indivisible human rights framework survived the Cold War despite U.S. machinations
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bring the human rights framework to bear on both domestic and foreign policy.
2ac – regime change da
Transition coming now --- it will be unstable absent real economic progress --- Chavez death means only a risk the plan prevents collapse
Morris 11 (Emily, London Metropolitan University UK, FORECASTING CUBA’S ECONOMY: 2, 5, AND 20 YEARS, Presented at the international symposium “Cuba Futures: Past and Present,” organized by The Cuba Project Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies at The Graduate Center/CUNY, http://web.gc.cuny.edu/dept/bildn/cuba/cubaforecasting.pdf)
Risks in the short term Political risks arise from the process of transferring leadership from
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within the economies of the growth leaders, China and India. 14 C
Plan solves and avoids the link --- unconditional action from the US enables the regime to save face
Holmes 10 (Michael G. Holmes, BA, Georgetown University, Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies Thesis, “Seizing The Moment,” June 21, 2010, http://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/553334/holmesMichael.pdf?sequence=1)
However Raul doesn’t actually have to lobby for the removal of the embargo, he
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branch to Cuba. This may make Cuba more receptive to future changes.
2ac – imperialism k
Representations don’t shape reality – we can make accurate observations
Valbjørn, 4 (Morten , PhD in the Department of Political Science @ Aarhus, ‘4 Middle East and Palestine: Global Politics and Regional Conflict, “Culture Blind and Culture Blinded: Images of Middle Eastern Conflicts in International Relations,” p. 67-8)
As mentioned before, the relational perspective is a critique of both the neglect of
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be better at asking important and critical questions than at offering attractive answers.
Epistemology not first – it makes descriptions of the world impossible
Owen 2 (David Owen, Reader of Political Theory at the Univ. of Southampton, Millennium Vol 31 No 3 2002 p. 655-7)
Commenting on the ‘philosophical turn’ in IR, Wæver remarks that ‘a
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the first and second dangers, and so a potentially vicious circle arises.
Extinction outweighs and turns the impact
Matheny, 7 (J. G. Matheny, Ph. D. candidate, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, December 6, 2007, “Ought we worry about human extinction?,” online: http://jgmatheny.org/extinctionethics.htm)
Moral philosophers have not written much about human extinction. This may be because they
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, humanity is the animal kingdom’s best long-term hope for survival.
The U.S. is not an empire – we are key to international institutions that solve conflict
Ikenberry 4 (G. John Ikenberry, Prof. of Geopolitics, “Illusions of Empire: Defining the New American Order” Foreign Affairs, March/April 2004)
Is the United States an empire? If so, Ferguson's liberal empire is a
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of international institutions that have limited and legitimated U.S. power.
The Cuban embargo is meant to exclude and punish those who don’t fit into prevailing American rationality --- it also turns the alt
Harrison ‘8 (Faye Venetia Harrison; Ph.D., Anthropology, Stanford University, M.A., Anthropology, Stanford University, B.A., Anthropology, Brown University; Professor of Anthropology and African American Studies, University of Florida; “Outsider Within: Reworking Anthropology in the Global Age”; Pg 222; University of Illinois Press)JFIII
As I reflect on the racial and gender implications of neoliberalism and¶ structural adjustment
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foreign policies that fail to do justice¶ to our sense of humanity.
Globalization is inevitable and sustainable – key to economic stability
Price 11 (John, Graduate in Commerce from Queen's University in Canada, has taught international business at Universidad de las Americas in Mexico City, “Globalization Is Here to Stay: Why Latin America Must Accept Its Globalized Destiny and Ready Itself to Compete," 8/19/11, https://umshare.miami.edu/web/wda/hemisphericpolicy/Task_Force_Papers/Price-GlobalizationTFPaper.pdf slim_)
There exists a sizeable industry of academics, pundits, policy makers and journalists that
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- Colombian mining industry during the 1990s), productivity and wealth creation drop.