Tournament: Wake Forest | Round: 2 | Opponent: Calhoun MS | Judge: Melanie Campbell
NNOW Cuba Aff
1AC--Spills
Contention One is Oil Spills:
Cuban oil drilling is inevitable. The embargo only locks-out US safety experts.
LaGesse ‘12
David LaGesse¶ reporter, with recent articles that have appeared in National Geographic, Money, and most frequently in U.S. News and World Report – National Geographic News – November 19, 2012 – internally quoting Jorge Piñon, a former president of Amoco Oil Latin America (now part of BP) and an expert on Cubaand#39;s energy sector who is now a research fellow at the University of Texas at Austin.– http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/11/121119-cuba-oil-quest/
But an energy-poor Cuba also has its risks. One of the chief
AND
a major find. But that doesnand#39;t mean Cuba will give up trying.

Absent pro-active steps, accidents are inevitable. US experts are key.
Bolstad ‘12
Erika Bolstad is a reporter who covers Washington for the Anchorage Daily News, the Idaho Statesman and McClatchy Newspapers. This evidence internally quotes Lee Hunt, the former president of the International Association of Drilling Contractors. Hunt, in this instance, is arguably not biased in favor of drilling, as he is speaking to safety and clean-up regimes and he is speaking before a liberal think-tank in favor of human rights – McClatchy Newspapers – May 10, 2012 – http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/10/148433/cuba-embargo-could-threaten-oil.html#.UaoUWpyADq0

The 50-year-old U.S. embargo of Cuba is getting
AND
in advance the kind of technologies that would be required,and#34; Reilly said.

Another major spill would crush the US economy
National Commission ‘11
Commission is co-chaired by William K. Reilly. Reilly was Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President George H. W. Bush. He has served as president of World Wildlife Fund, as a founder or advisor to several business ventures, and on many boards of directors. In 2010, he was appointed by President Barack Obama co-chair of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling to investigate the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Report to the President; National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling – January 2011 ¶ http://www.oilspillcommission.gov/sites/default/files/documents/DEEPWATER_ReporttothePresident_FINAL.pdf

Chapters 4 through 7 lay out the results of our investigation in detail, highlighting
AND
, our¶ workers safer, and our cherished natural resources better protected.

Avoiding US economic decline key to global economy.
BW ‘13
(internally quoting Dr. Venkatesh Bala, chief economist at The Cambridge Group, a part of Nielsen – Business Wire – February 5, 2013 – lexis)
and#34;North America is slowly but steadily heading in the right direction,and#34; said Dr
AND
will serve as the critical engine of improved global economic activity in 2013.and#34;

Global economic decline causes nuclear war
Auslin ‘9
(Michael, Resident Scholar – American Enterprise Institute, and Desmond Lachman – Resident Fellow – American Enterprise Institute, “The Global Economy Unravels”, Forbes, 3-6, http://www.aei.org/article/100187)
What do these trends mean in the short and medium term? The Great Depression
AND
may be a series of small explosions that coalesce into a big bang. 

Plan
Plan: As they pertain to crude oil and sugar cane ethanol, the United States federal government should exempt United States firms from restrictions on exploring, extracting, refining, importing, or coordinating engineering and safety protocols with the Republic of Cuba.

1AC—Ethanol

Contention Two is Ethanol
Not all ethanol’s the same. Cuba won’t clear land or displace food. Impacts are food prices; Brazil biod; and climate change.
Soligo ‘10
et al; Ronald Soligo is a professor emeritus of economics at Rice University and a Rice scholar at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. The author writes a chapter within the book “Cuba’s Energy Future: Strategic Approaches to Cooperation,” a Brookings Publication, edited by Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, PhD of Political Science, University of Nebraska –obtained as an ebook through MSU Electronic Resources – page 94

Castro has rightly pointed out that there can be a direct trade-off between
AND
does not necessarily have to involve environmental and food production trade-offs.

Scenario # 1 – Cerrado destruction
Cuban ethanol solves it. We displace bad ethanol expansion from the US and Brazil.
Specht ‘12
(Jonathan – Legal Advisor, Pearlmaker Holsteins, Inc. B.A., Louisiana State University, 2009; J.D.,¶ Washington University in St. Louis 2012. “Raising Cane: Cuban Sugarcane Ethanol’s Economic and Environmental Effects on the United States” – ExpressO – http://environs.law.ucdavis.edu/issues/36/2/specht.pdf)

The full debate over the environmental consequences of the Brazilian biofuel¶ production¶ 111
AND
promote the importation of Cuban¶ sugarcane-based ethanol should be encouraged. 

Cerrado’s key to warming and global biod. It’s a strong carbon sink and key to medical breakthroughs.
Vitali ‘11
(Isabella Vitali – Senior Policy Officer, WWF-UK.“Soya and the Cerrado: Brazil’s forgotten jewel – http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/soya_and_the_cerrado.pdf)

Loss of the Cerrado is of global concern not only because¶ of its significant
AND
(2000), at some¶ 265 tonnes of carbon per hectare.33

Biod checks extinction. Solves ecosystems and checks next pathogen
Mittermeier ‘11
(et al, Dr. Russell Alan Mittermeier is a primatologist, herpetologist and biological anthropologist. He holds Ph.D. from Harvard in Biological Anthropology and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He has conducted fieldwork for over 30 years on three continents and in more than 20 countries in mainly tropical locations. He is the President of Conservation International and he is considered an expert on biological diversity. Mittermeier has formally discovered several monkey species. From Chapter One of the book Biodiversity Hotspots – F.E. Zachos and J.C. Habel (eds.), DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-20992-5_1, # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011. This evidence also internally references Norman Myers, a very famous British environmentalist specialising in biodiversity. available at: http://www.academia.edu/1536096/Global_biodiversity_conservation_the_critical_role_of_hotspots)

Extinction is the gravest consequence of the biodiversity crisis, since it is¶ irreversible
AND
we are to move deliberately toward a global goal of reducing biodiversity loss.¶

Independently – extinction-pathogens are coming. Maximum biod’s needed to solve.
Yule ‘13
(et al; Jeffrey V. Yule – Herbert McElveen Professor of Applied and Natural Sciences¶ At the School of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Published April 2nd – Humanities 2013, 2, 147–159; doi:10.3390/h2020147)

Although one hypothesis explains the recent upswing in emerging infectious disease as a result of
AND
, and the potential failure of our species has¶ considerable biological implications.

Warming’s anthropogenic. We’re fine so long as we have strong carbon sinks.
Hu ‘9
(et al – all authors listed. JIA HU = Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder. DAVID J. P. MOORE = Department of Geography, King’s College London. SEANP.BURNS = National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). RUSSELL K . MONSON – Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado, Boulder. “Longer growing seasons lead to less carbon sequestration by a subalpine forest” – Global Change Biology; http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/people/burns/files/gcb10_hu_growingseason.pdf)

Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and¶ land use changes
AND
time for photosynthetic CO¶ 2¶ uptake by terres-¶ trial ecosystems.

Warming kills billions – risks extinction.
McKewon ‘7
(Elaine, Citing a Report by the IPCC, “IPCC: Global Warming Highway to Extinction”, 4-1, http://elainemckewon.wordpress.com/2007/04/01/ipcc-global-warming-highway-to-extinction/)

Climate change is paving a “highway to extinction” which could see billions of
AND
pollens would also substantially increase, and amphibians would begin to go extinct.

Scenario # 2 – Food prices
Standard ethanol spikes global food prices and leads to unrest. It’s the vital internal link.
Wise ‘12
Timothy A Wise, Policy Research Director, Global Development and Environmental Institute, Tufts University, Medford, 2012, “US corn ethanol fuels food crisis in developing countries,” http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/10/201210993632838545.html (RSC)
Record drought in the US farm belt this summer withered corn fields and parched hopes
AND
happened in 2007-2008. They are at 14 per cent now.

Food shortages kill billions and spark global wars – comparatively outweighs other impacts
Cribb ‘10
Julian Cribb, Professor in Science Communication at the University of Technology Sydney, 2010 (Julian, principal of JCA, fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, “The Coming Famine: The Global Food Crisis and What We Can Do to Avoid It”, pg 10
The character of human conflict has also changed: since the early 1990s, more
AND
believe future food shortages are a far bigger world threat than global warming.and#34;

Irrespective of war or food distribution, price spikes worsen global death tolls.
Brown ‘5
(Lester, President – Earth Policy Institute, , People and the Planet, “Falling Water Tables and#39;Could Hit Food Supplyand#39;”, 2-7, http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=2424)

Many Americans see terrorism as the principal threat to security, but for much of
AND
For them, it is the next meal that is the overriding concern.and#34;

Plan solves in two ways:

First – Lifting sanctions spurs Cuban Sugar Ethanol sector
Soligo ‘10
et al; Ronald Soligo is a professor emeritus of economics at Rice University and a Rice scholar at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. The author writes a chapter within the book “Cuba’s Energy Future: Strategic Approaches to Cooperation,” a Brookings Publication, edited by Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, PhD of Political Science, University of Nebraska –obtained as an ebook through MSU Electronic Resources – page 99-100

The shift in acreage devoted to food crops has not been successful in terms of
AND
point whether soybeans represent a more efficient use of Cuban land than sugarcane.

Cuba can generate huge amounts of sugar-ethanol via once-used land.
Soligo ‘10
et al; Ronald Soligo is a professor emeritus of economics at Rice University and a Rice scholar at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. The author writes a chapter within the book “Cuba’s Energy Future: Strategic Approaches to Cooperation,” a Brookings Publication, edited by Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, PhD of Political Science, University of Nebraska –obtained as an ebook through MSU Electronic Resources – page 80

In 2002 we published a paper on Cuban energy that began with the observation “
AND
produce up to 2 billion gallons of sugar-based ethanol per year.

Second – Cuban oil means Cuban ethanol boom
Stephens ‘11
Sarah, et al, Executive Director of the Center for Democracy in the Americas, and Ronald Soligo, Professor of Economics at  Rice University and Ph.D from Yale in economics, 2011, “As Cuba plans to drill in the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. policy poses needless risks to our national interest,” http://democracyinamericas.org/pdfs/Cuba_Drilling_and_US_Policy.pdf

Cuba’s potential contribution to the regional energy market could be valuable to the U.
AND
ethanol, it has the resources to produce cellulosic material in its place.

Embargo’s eroding now – taking out their disads. Plan’s key to spark Cuban ethanol and overcome tech barriers.
Elledge  ‘9
Nicholas Elledge – Research Fellow at Council on Hemispheric Affairs – – degrees from The London School of Economics and Political Science and Southern Methodist University – “Cuba’s Sugarcane Ethanol Potential: Cuba, Raul Castro, and the Return of King Sugar to the Island” – October 29, 2009 – http://www.coha.org/cubas-sugarcane-ethanol-potential/

As the result of a precipitous contraction in the Cuban economy, Cubans have recently
AND
many small cane farms and CPAs Agricultural Production Cooperatives throughout Cuba.”

1AC--Solvency

Contention Three is Solvency
First – Plan is effective, topical, and US firms would say “yes”.
Benjamin-Alvarado ‘10
Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, PhD of Political Science, University of Nebraska, 2010, “Cuba’s Energy Future: Strategic Approaches to Cooperation,” a Brookings Publication – obtained as an ebook through MSU Electronic Resources – page 125-26

There are numerous areas in the energy sector in which the United States and Cuba
AND
changes in the Cuban embargo so that this type of engagement can occur.

Second – Cuba also says “yes”. This spills-into broader coop.  
Benjamin-Alvarado ‘10
Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, PhD of Political Science, University of Nebraska, 2010, “Cuba’s Energy Future: Strategic Approaches to Cooperation,” a Brookings Publication – obtained as an ebook through MSU Electronic Resources – page 120

Undoubtedly, after fifty years of enmity, there is a significant lack of trust
AND
the way to establishing much-needed familiarity and confidence across these communities.

Tournament: Wake | Round: 6 | Opponent: Bronx Law AL | Judge: Jim Shultz
1AC
Contention One
Contention 1 is The Forbidden Fruit—
The United States federal government maintains claims against Cuba for property nationalized during the revolution. The value of these claims is disputed, particularly the United Fruit company’s sugar plantation. These claims will never be paid—Cuba is under too much debt. This nationalization was the primary cause of the embargo against Cuba-

Ashby, JD from Seattle University Law School and PhD from the University of Southern California and MBA from the University of Edinburgh, Spring 2009
(Timothy, “U.S. Certified Claims Against Cuba: Legal Reality and Likely Settlement Mechanisms,” University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, 40 U. Miami Inter-Am. L. Rev. 413, Lexis)
Between 1959 and 1961, the Cuban government nationalized almost all U.S.-
AND
S. embargo that has remained in place for nearly half a century.
Remarkably, the initial U.S. response was supportive of the first wave
AND
the provision for compensation to its citizens whose property may be expropriated." n2
The Cuban government responded promptly by a diplomatic Note dated June 15, 1959,
AND
in cash, reinforcing their intent to primarily use bonds for settlement. n6
Two principal Cuban laws enabled the expropriations. The first was the 1959 Agrarian Reform
AND
, and a 12 profit for lots suitable for commercial use. n9
Contrary to most published sources, Cuban law did not restrict compensation to bonds.
AND
million in cash with the balance (50) promised in bonds. n11
III. Valuation of the Nationalized Properties
The Cuban Government used declared taxable value (the value of assets listed for tax
AND
just one-fourth of the 1958 value of rural agricultural properties. n17
In 1960, during one of the largest of the multi-phased expropriations of
AND
than one-fifth of the amount claimed by the original owner. n18
In late 1960, the U.S. embassy in Havana (which remained
AND
, New York Times, Time Magazine and other domestic and international media.
IV. The U.S. Cuban Claims Program
In 1964, the U.S. Congress established a Cuban Claims Program,
AND
Secretary of State for possible use in future negotiations with the Cuban government.
Of the 8,816 claims filed, the FCSC certified 5,911 as valid and worth $ 1.82 billion. Although the Cuban Claims Act did not expressly authorize the inclusion of interest in the amount allowed, the FCSC determined that simple interest at a 6 rate should be included as part of the value of the claims it certified. n21

As a result of its indefensible actions in Cuba, United Fruit reinvented itself as Chiquita—

Waters, president of Pathfinder Press, January 2011
(Mary-Alice, “Capturing a moment in revolutionary history,” http://www.themilitant.com/2011/7502/750250.html)
In April 1960, a year after the first of the revolution’s two deepgoing agrarian
AND
interests through a combination of bribery and, when necessary, naked force.

Chiquita has inherited United Fruit’s claims against Cuba as if the corporation itself is a person—

Kushner, novelist whose mother lived in the United Fruit dominated town of Preston, 2008
(Rachel, Telex from Cuba, Kindle 4776-4782)
Feelings run high. Just sit at the Teresita for one lunch rush and you’ll
AND
gone, still, the company will fight to get its assets back.
“Corporate personhood” has enabled complete corporate domination of modern politics – rejection is key

Moyers, PBS journalist and former White House press secretary, 2012
(Bill, “Fighting Back Against Corporate Personhood,” http://www.truth-out.org/article/item/6319:fighting-back-against-corporate-personhood)
Rarely have so few imposed such damage on so many. When five conservative members
AND
as the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the fifty states.
The decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission giving “artificial entities”
AND
even more swiftly into winners and losers with little pity for the latter.
Citizens United is but the latest battle in the class war waged for thirty years
AND
the country from buying the democratic process lock, stock, and barrel.
America has a long record of conflict with corporations. Wealth acquired under capitalism is in and of itself no enemy to democracy, but wealth armed with political power—power to choke off opportunities for others to rise, power to subvert public purposes and deny public needs—is a proven danger to the “general welfare” proclaimed in the Preamble to the Constitution as one of the justifications for America’s existence.

And—the Embargo’s foundation is the single largest policy to shape our current understanding of Latin America—this Latin American rhetoric is racist and glosses over distinct cultural histories directly through the embargo via “cultural erasure”.

Riley 6 (Shannon Rose, Doctor of Philosophy in performance studies with a special emphasis on critical theory, “Imagi-nations in Black and White: Cuba, Haiti, and the Performance of Difference in US National Projects, 1898-1940” http://www.academia.edu/1378319/Imagi-nations_in_Black_and_White_Cuba_Haiti_and_the_Performance_of_Difference_in_US_National_Projects_1898-1940)
In another overly simplistic and equally dismissive gesture, popular rhetoric justifies the U.
AND
—partially erased and partially legible images embed in the national cultural imaginary.

Racism outweighs every impact – it’s the precondition to ethical political decision making.

Memmi, 2k – Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Paris (Albert, “RACISM”, translated by Steve Martinot, pp.163-165)
The struggle against racism will be long, difficult, without intermission, without remission
AND
.  True, it is a wager, but the stakes are irresistible.

Plan
The United States Federal Government should end its claims against Cuba for the expropriation of United Fruit Company property.

Contention Two

Contention 2 is framing—
The United Fruit Company has set the template for modern multinational corporations—criticism key to meaningful approaches to modern politics

Kurtz-Phelan 08 (Daniel Kurtz-Phelan is a senior editor at Foreign Affairs.Published: March 2, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/books/review/Kurtz-Phelan-t.html?_r=0)
A climactic scene in Gabriel García Márquez's masterpiece, One Hundred Years of Solitude,
AND
which isn't an apology for the multinationals but a simple statement of fact.

Your role as an educator is to reject corporate violence – placing disposable populations at the center of the decision creates a pedagogical strategy of resistance to corporate personhood

Giroux 8 Henry, PROF. OF CULTURAL STUDIES AND COMMUNICATION AT MCMASTER UNIVERSITY, “Beyond the biopolitics of disposability: rethinking neoliberalism in the New Gilded Age” Social Identities, September, 2008, CMR
Needless to say, invoking hope must be connected to a version of biopolitics in
AND
apathy provide the conditions for political inaction and the atrophy of democratic politics.  

The ballot is a social act which endorses a paradigm of policymaking based on the aff ethics
Robinson, 2008 (William I. Robinson, professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, “Latin America and Global Capitalism: A Critical Globalization Perspective” pg. xii-xiii)
The truth, as Hegel said, is in the whole. That said,
AND
of bringing together multiple publics in developing programs that integrate theory and practice.

Political acts to interrogate underlying assumptions of coloniality and racial borders must come first in any ethical framework
Sandoval 2k (Chela, Assistant Professor of Critical and Cultural Theory for the Department of Chicano Studies at University of California, Author of “Methodology of the Oppressed,” http://caringlabor.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/methodology-of-the-oppressed-chela-sandoval.pdf, Published in 2000)

True, it is the violence of colonial invasion and subjugation by race that opens
AND
which is required in order to both understand and to enact these meanings.

Criticism of Eurocentric thought is a pre-requisite to understanding Latin America as an autonomous space of diversity—any other approach fails to solve policymaking
Lander 2k (Edgardo Lander, professor of sociology at the Central University of Venezuela and a Fellow at the Transnational Institute, Nepantla: Views from South 1.3 (2000) 519-532  http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0andtype=summaryandurl=/journals/nepantla/v001/1.3lander.pdf, Published in 2000).
Political and social thought regarding Latin America has been historically characterized by a tension between
AND
It would be imperative to whiten, westernize, or exterminate that majority.

As a judge you must not base decisions on worst-case scenarios but rather balanced risk assessment
Rescher ‘83
Nicholas, Professor of Philosophy at University of Pittsburgh, Risk: A Philosophical Introduction to the Theory of Risk Evaluation and Management, Pg 50
The "worst possible case fixation" is one of the most damaging modes of
AND
satisfactory index of the overall seriousness or gravity of a situation of hazard.
Low probabilities should be dismissed as zero risk.
Rescher 1983
(Nicholas. University Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburg. Chairman of the Philosophy Department. Director of the Center for Philosophy of Science. Honorary degrees from 8 universities on 3 continents. Doctorate in Philosophy from Princeton. “Risk: A Philosophical Introduction to the theory of Risk Evaluation and Management”.. University Press of America.  P 39-40)
But in decision theory there are two different, more pressing reasons for dismissing sufficiently
AND
dismissed and taken to lie outside the realm of “real” possibilities.

And, this form of worst-case thinking is fundamentally flawed and destroys rational decision-making
Schneier 10
Bruce Schneier (an internationally renowned security technologist and author. He has testified on security before the United States Congress on several occasions and has written articles and op eds for many major publications. Described by The Economist as a "security guru," he is best known as a refreshingly candid and lucid security critic and commentator. When people want to know how security really works, they turn to Schneier), Schneier on Security, May 13, 2010, “Worst-Case Thinking", Accessed June 3, 2010, http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/05/worst-case_thin.html
“My nightmare scenario is that people keep talking about their nightmare scenarios.”  There’s
AND
it focuses on what we don’t know — and what we can imagine.

This is particular true in policy making – the impact is error replication
Saks 86
Michael J. Prof of Law at Arizona State University, cited in many Supreme Court opinions. B.A., B.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1969; M.A., 1972; Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1975; M.S.L., Yale Law School, 1983. *63 IF THERE BE A CRISIS, HOW SHALL WE KNOW IT? 46 Md. L. Rev. 63 Fall, 1986
I. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE OF THE PROBLEM AND ITS CAUSES One of the most important
AND
well be hesitant to accept their diagnosis of causes and their prescribed treatment.

And learning good decision making skills is a gateway to education – it informs how we learn
Strait and Wallace 7
L.Paul Strait and Brett Wallace, “The Scope of Negative Fiat and the Logic of Decision Making,” POLICY CURES? HEALTH ASSISTANCE TO AFRICA, Debate Research Guide, 2007, p. A2.
More to the point, debate certainly helps teach a lot of skills, yet
AND
of people’s lives, both individually and collectively” (p. 156).
Majority bias makes util irrelevant.  
Maximiano, associate prof. of business ethics at DLSU, 2003 (Jose Mario, “The View from Taft”, Business World, Nov. 6)
According to the utilitarian principle, the correct action, decision or judgment is the
AND
, because those projects may at times violate the basic rights of others.

Security-based predictions create a state permanent war and make catastrophes inevitable
Der Derian, ‘5 (James, Professor of International Relations and Political Science at Brown University, http://www.harvardir.org/articles/1430/2/)
It often takes a catastrophe to reveal the illusory beliefs we continue to harbor in
AND
-scale accident is now the prolongation of total war by other means.”

And, war is obsolete– data proves
Clark 12
Liat Clark The world will be a more peaceful place in 2050  Wired November 20 12 ( http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-11/20/world-peace-in-2050)
An upcoming paper by a political scientist will claim that in 40 years world conflict
AND
more than 50 percent in 20 countries. It overestimated by four countries.

Single events can’t produce human extinction
Tonn, ‘5 (Bruce, Futures Studies Department, Corvinus University of Budapest, “Human Extinction
Scenarios,” www.budapestfutures.org/downloads/abstracts/Bruce20Tonn20-20Abstract.pdf)
The human species faces numerous threats to its existence. These include global climate change
AND
. Humans appear to be resilient to extinction with respect to single events.
Zero risk of major war
Luft and Korin, ‘9 – Gal Luft, executive director of the Washington, DC based Institute for the Analysis of Global Securit, and Anne Korin, co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, 2009 Energy Security Challenges for the 21st Century: A Reference Handbook p72-3
The final and perhaps most important reason to not expect a rise in resource wars
AND
resources or anything else—is disappearing from the Earth. sic

Political reporting isn’t based on strong data – President doesn’t influence agenda.
Marx 2010 (Greg Marx, Political Scientist, editor of the Columbia Journalism Review.  “Embrace the Wonk” http://www.cjr.org/feature/embrace_the_wonk_1.php?page=2 June 10th, 2010)
While Bai’s tone verged on the scornful, most journalists aren’t looking to start a
AND
field produces what are, “from a journalistic perspective, unhelpful answers.”

Tournament: IHSA | Round: 3 | Opponent: GBN HK | Judge: Barnstein, Salathe
1AC – Agriculture
Contention 1
Cuban sustainability is decreasing—normal trade relations give Cuba the means to pursue sustainability
King, Lehigh Department of Political Science and Environmental Studies, 2012
(M. Dawn, “Cuban Sustainability: The Effects of Economic Isolation on Agriculture and Energy”, March, http://wpsa.research.pdx.edu/meet/2012/kingmdawn.pdf)

In the 2006 Living Planet Report, which assesses sustainable development based on the United
AND
goal of sustainable development to increase short-term capital and energy needs.
Access to the US market is critical to sustainability and emulation
Kost 04 – William is part of the Economic Research Service for the USDA. (“CUBAN AGRICULTURE: TO BE OR NOT TO BE ORGANIC?” 2004, http://www.ascecuba.org/publications/proceedings/volume14/pdfs/kost.pdf)
EXTERNAL MARKETS MAY BE CRITICAL
FOR AN ORGANIC CUBA

In addition to the above European markets, the successful expansion and viability of Cuba’s
AND
and other inputs to support growth in other sectors of the Cuban economy.
Two-way trade is key – Cuba’s model will outcompete the industrial ag model
Cornell and Patel, 9 – both write for the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (Christina and Tara, “Cuba Elevates Urban Gardening To a Cause” 4/17, http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php?article=11525

Since the development of urban agriculture in Havana, production has increased exponentially, with
AND
important economic actor, ultimately expanding its profits through competitive transactions and trade.
Cuban sustainable urban agriculture is a global model that’s spurring worldwide adoption-the plan is key to save it.
Ergas, Oregon sociology graduate student, 2013
(Christina, “Cuban Urban Agriculture as a Strategy for Food Sovereignty”, March, http://monthlyreview.org/2013/03/01/cuban-urban-agriculture-as-a-strategy-for-food-sovereignty

The agricultural revolution in Cuba has ignited the imaginations of people all over the world
AND
and is worth investigating not just for their innovations, but for inspiration. 

Industrial ag is unsustainable-the impact is global food supplies
Altieri, Berkeley agro-ecology professor, 2008
(Miguel, “Small farms as a planetary ecological asset: Five key reasons why we should support the revitalization of small farms in the Global South”, 5-9, http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2115)

This global movement, the Via Campesina, has recently brought their message to the
AND
on which we all depend now and even more so in the future.

Food scarcity goes nuclear
Klare 8 - Professor of Peace and World Security Studies @ Hampshire College, (Michael, March 10, “The Coming Resource Wars”, http://www.alternet.org/environment/33243)
It's official: the era of resource wars is upon us. In a major London address, British Defense Secretary John Reid warned that global climate change and dwindling natural resources are combining to increase the likelihood of violent conflict over land, water and energy. Climate change, he indicated, "will make scarce resources, clean water, viable agricultural land even scarcer" -- and this will "make the emergence of violent conflict more rather than less likely." Although not unprecedented, Reid's prediction of an upsurge in resource conflict is significant both because of his senior rank and the vehemence of his remarks. "The blunt truth is that the lack of water and agricultural land is a significant contributory factor to the tragic conflict we see unfolding in Darfur," he declared. "We should see this as a warning sign." Resource conflicts of this type are most likely to arise in the developing world, Reid indicated, but the more advanced and affluent countries are not likely to be spared the damaging and destabilizing effects of global climate change. With sea levels rising, water and energy becoming increasingly scarce and prime agricultural lands turning into deserts, internecine warfare over access to vital resources will become a global phenomenon. Reid's speech, delivered at the prestigious Chatham House in London (Britain's equivalent of the Council on Foreign Relations), is but the most recent expression of a growing trend in strategic circles to view environmental and resource effects -- rather than political orientation and ideology -- as the most potent source of armed conflict in the decades to come. With the world population rising, global consumption rates soaring, energy supplies rapidly disappearing and climate change eradicating valuable farmland, the stage is being set for persistent and worldwide struggles over vital resources.Religious and political strife will not disappear in this scenario, but rather will be channeled into contests over valuable sources of water, food and energy. Prior to Reid's address, the most significant expression of this outlook was a report prepared for the U.S. Department of Defense by a California-based consulting firm in October 2003. Entitled "An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario and Its Implications for United States National Security," the report warned that global climate change is more likely to result in sudden, cataclysmic environmental events than a gradual (and therefore manageable) rise in average temperatures. Such events could include a substantial increase in global sea levels, intense storms and hurricanes and continent-wide "dust bowl" effects. This would trigger pitched battles between the survivors of these effects for access to food, water, habitable land and energy supplies. "Violence and disruption stemming from the stresses created by abrupt changes in the climate pose a different type of threat to national security than we are accustomed to today," the 2003 report noted. "Military confrontation may be triggered by a desperate need for natural resources such as energy, food and water rather than by conflicts over ideology, religion or national honor." Until now, this mode of analysis has failed to command the attention of top American and British policymakers. For the most part, they insist that ideological and religious differences -- notably, the clash between values of tolerance and democracy on one hand and extremist forms of Islam on the other -- remain the main drivers of international conflict. But Reid's speech at Chatham House suggests that a major shift in strategic thinking may be under way. Environmental perils may soon dominate the world security agenda. This shift is due in part to the growing weight of evidence pointing to a significant human role in altering the planet's basic climate systems. Recent studies showing the rapid shrinkage of the polar ice caps, the accelerated melting of North American glaciers, the increased frequency of severe hurricanes and a number of other such effects all suggest that dramatic and potentially harmful changes to the global climate have begun to occur. More importantly, they conclude that human behavior -- most importantly, the burning of fossil fuels in factories, power plants, and motor vehicles -- is the most likely cause of these changes. This assessment may not have yet penetrated the White House and other bastions of head-in-the-sand thinking, but it is clearly gaining ground among scientists and thoughtful analysts around the world.For the most part, public discussion of global climate change has tended to describe its effects as an environmental problem -- as a threat to safe water, arable soil, temperate forests, certain species and so on. And, of course, climate change is a potent threat to the environment; in fact, the greatest threat imaginable. But viewing climate change as an environmental problem fails to do justice to the magnitude of the peril it poses. As Reid's speech and the 2003 Pentagon study make clear, the greatest danger posed by global climate change is not the degradation of ecosystems per se, but rather the disintegration of entire human societies, producing wholesale starvation, mass migrations and recurring conflict over resources. "As famine, disease, and weather-related disasters strike due to abrupt climate change," the Pentagon report notes, "many countries' needs will exceed their carrying capacity" -- that is, their ability to provide the minimum requirements for human survival. This "will create a sense of desperation, which is likely to lead to offensive aggression" against countries with a greater stock of vital resources. "Imagine eastern European countries, struggling to feed their populations with a falling supply of food, water, and energy, eyeing Russia, whose population is already in decline, for access to its grain, minerals, and energy supply." Similar scenarios will be replicated all across the planet, as those without the means to survival invade or migrate to those with greater abundance -- producing endless struggles between resource "haves" and "have-nots." It is this prospect, more than anything, that worries John Reid. In particular, he expressed concern over the inadequate capacity of poor and unstable countries to cope with the effects of climate change, and the resulting risk of state collapse, civil war and mass migration. "More than 300 million people in Africa currently lack access to safe water," he observed, and "climate change will worsen this dire situation" -- provoking more wars like Darfur. And even if these social disasters will occur primarily in the developing world, the wealthier countries will also be caught up in them, whether by participating in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid operations, by fending off unwanted migrants or by fighting for access to overseas supplies of food, oil, and minerals.When reading of these nightmarish scenarios, it is easy to conjure up images of desperate, starving people killing one another with knives, staves and clubs -- as was certainly often the case in the past, and could easily prove to be so again. But these scenarios also envision the use of more deadly weapons. "In this world of warring states," the 2003 Pentagon report predicted, "nuclear arms proliferation is inevitable." As oil and natural gas disappears, more and more countries will rely on nuclear power to meet their energy needs -- and this "will accelerate nuclear proliferation ascountries develop enrichment and reprocessing capabilities to ensure their national security." Although speculative, these reports make one thing clear: when thinking about the calamitous effects of global climate change, we must emphasize its social and political consequences as much as its purely environmental effects. Drought, flooding and storms can kill us, and surely will -- but so will wars among the survivors of these catastrophes over what remains of food, water and shelter. As Reid's comments indicate, no society, however affluent, will escape involvement in these forms of conflict.

Sustainable crop yields independently solves extinction- environmental collapse and global instability
Luger, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 00
(Richard, US Senator from Indiana, and a member and former chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, 2000, “Plant power”, http://www.ourplanet.com/imgversn/143/lugar.html)

In a world confronted by global terrorism, turmoil in the Middle East, burgeoning
AND
in the survival of billions of people and the health of our planet.  

1AC – Leadership
Contention 2
Plan is key to send a signal that the US doesn’t impose its values on other regimes-key to reverse Bush era perception
Colvin, New Ideas Fund fellow, 2008
(Jake, “The Case for a New Cuba Policy”, 12-23, http://web.archive.org/web/20120904201743/http://www.newideasfund.org/proposals/Colvin20-20Cuba20-20Master.pdf)

A signal to the world Beyond the domestic political benefit of acknowledging a changing Cuban
AND
have an enormous impact. I think you can do that with Cuba.?

The embargo is the largest impediment to US legitimacy-signals hostilities and aggression instead of responsibility
Safran, NYU global affairs masters, 2012
(Brian, “End the Cuban Embargo”, 8-14, http://brian-safran-4.quora.com/End-the-Cuban-Embargo-Brian-Safran)

The continuance of the embargo has incited widespread international condemnation of the United States.
AND
believe the Cuban embargo to be unfounded and unnecessary in the contemporary world.

Legitimacy of U.S. hegemony’s key to global stability-prevents great power war
Fujimoto, US Army Lt. Colonel, 2012
(Kevin, “Preserving U.S. National Security Interests Through a Liberal World Construct”, 1-11, http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/index.cfm/articles/Preserving-US-National-Security-Interests-Liberal-World-Construct/2012/1/11)

The emergence of peer competitors, not terrorism, presents the greatest long-term
AND
protect its interests later when we are no longer the world's only superpower.

The alternative is regional blocs and great power war
Zhang et al., Carnegie Endowment researcher, 2011
(Yuhan, “America’s decline: A harbinger of conflict and rivalry”, 1-22, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/01/22/americas-decline-a-harbinger-of-conflict-and-rivalry/)

Over the past two decades, no other state has had the ability to seriously
AND
forecast in a future that will inevitably be devoid of unrivalled US primacy.
Pragmatic cooperation with non-democratic regimes is key to sustain multilateralism – it’s try or die
Kupchan, Georgetown international affairs professor, 2012
(Charles, “No One's World: The West, the Rising Rest, and the Coming Global Turn”, google books)

Although Western hegemony is in its waning days, it still provides a significant level
AND
if they are to agree on an ideological foundation for the next world.

It’s try-or-die for multilateralism
Masciulli, St. Thomas political science professor, 2011
(Joseph, “The Governance Challenge for Global Political and Technoscientific Leaders in an Era of Globalization and Globalizing Technologies”, Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, February, ebsco)
What is most to be feared is enhanced global disorder resulting from the combination of
AND
and tragically, leave global survival and security to their longer term agendas. 

1AC – Relations
Contention 3
Cuba is the litmus test for Latin American relations-other forms of leverage and cooperation fail absent the legitimacy of the plan.
Perez, Yale JD, 2010
(David, “America's Cuba Policy: The Way Forward: A Policy Recommendation for the U.S. State Department”, Harvard Latino Law Review,  Spring, lexis)

Anti-Americanism has become the political chant de jour for leaders seeking long-
AND
throughout Latin America, and would go a long way toward creating goodwill.

Even if relations won’t be severed-the plan is key to deeper cooperation
Shifter, Inter-American Dialogue president, 2012
(Michael, “Remaking the Relationship: The United States and Latin America”, April, http://www.thedialogue.org/PublicationFiles/IAD2012PolicyReportFINAL.pdf)

All these changes taken together are transforming the nations of the hemisphere—and their
AND
being missed. Well developed ideas for reversing these disappointing trends are scarce.

Latin American relations are key to solving warming and Amazon deforestation
Zedillo et al., former president of Mexico, 2008
(Ernesto, “Rethinking U.S.–Latin American Relations A Hemispheric Partnership for a Turbulent World”, November, http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2008/11/2420latin20america20partnership/1124_latin_america_partnership.pdf)

The link between carbon-intensive activities and changes  in the world’s climate is now
AND
is pioneering the use of information technology  to lessen deforestation in the Amazon.
Key to successful Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas
Edwards, Brown University’s Center for Environmental Studies research fellow, 2011
(Guy, “Climate, energy to dominate US-Latin American relations”, 7-18, http://www.trust.org/item/?map=climate-energy-to-dominate-us-latin-american-relations/)

With the challenges of climate change, clean energy, resource scarcity and green growth
AND
comparable to past initiatives such as the 1960s-era Alliance for Progress.

That’s key to sustainable development
Kammen, UC Berkeley energy professor, 2012
(Daniel, “Building Bridges to a Sustainable Energy Future”, 12-5, http://www.greatenergychallengeblog.com/2012/12/05/building-bridges-to-a-sustainable-energy-future/ 

The Americas are undergoing a transition in the energy sector that will have global geopolitical
AND
industry, university, and civil-society groups in the New World.

Newest and most rigorous studies conclude warming is anthropogenic – no alt causes
Muller, University of California-Berkeley physics professor, 12
(Richard A., former MacArthur Foundation fellow, "The Conversion of a Climate-Change Skeptic," 7-28-12, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/opinion/the-conversion-of-a-climate-change-skeptic.html?pagewanted=all)

Call me a converted skeptic. Three years ago I identified problems in previous climate
AND
across the political and diplomatic spectrum about what can and should be done.

Failure to solve warming causes extinction – geological history proves
Bushnell, NASA Langley Research Center chief scientist, 10
(Dennis M. has a MS in mechanical engineering, won the Lawrence A. Sperry Award, AIAA Fluid and Plasma Dynamics Award, the AIAA Dryden Lectureship, and is the recipient of many NASA Medals for outstanding Scientific Achievement and Leadership, "Conquering Climate Change," The Futurist 44. 3, May/Jun 2010, ProQuest)

Unless we act, the next century could see increases in species extinction, disease
AND
, so, as dire as the forecasts sound, they're actually conservative. 

Amazon collapse leads to extinction
Takacs, California State Institute for Earth Systems Science and Policy environmental humanities instructor, 96
(David, “The Idea of Biodiversity: Philosophies of Paradise,” 1996, pg. 200-201)

So biodiversity keeps the world running. It has value and of itself, as
AND
of the next century - not with a bang but a whimper.14
Plan Text
The United States federal government should establish normal trade relations with the Republic of Cuba. 

1AC – Solvency
Contention 4
Establishing normal trade relations is key to two way trade
French, Lexington Institute, 2009
(Anya, “Options for Engagement A Resource Guide for Reforming U.S. Policy toward Cuba”, April, http://www.lexingtoninstitute.org/library/resources/documents/Cuba/USPolicy/options-for-engagement.pdf)

If the United States were to lift its trade embargo against Cuba, this would
AND
years, as both countries would need to adopt statutory and regulatory changes.

Tournament: Harvard | Round: 7 | Opponent: Groves CP | Judge: Jon Voss
Plan Text
The United States federal government should establish normal trade relations with the Republic of Cuba. 

1AC – Leadership

Plan is key to send a signal that the US doesn’t impose its values on other regimes-key to reverse Bush era perception
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Colvin, New Ideas Fund fellow, 2008
(Jake, “The Case for a New Cuba Policy”, 12-23, http://web.archive.org/web/20120904201743/http://www.newideasfund.org/proposals/Colvin20-20Cuba20-20Master.pdf)

A signal to the world Beyond the domestic political benefit of acknowledging a changing Cuban
AND
have an enormous impact. I think you can do that with Cuba.?

The embargo is the largest impediment to US legitimacy-signals hostilities and aggression instead of responsibility
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Safran, NYU global affairs masters, 2012
(Brian, “End the Cuban Embargo”, 8-14, http://brian-safran-4.quora.com/End-the-Cuban-Embargo-Brian-Safran)

The continuance of the embargo has incited widespread international condemnation of the United States.
AND
believe the Cuban embargo to be unfounded and unnecessary in the contemporary world.

US legitimacy is the key internal link to conflict suppression, economic stability and multilateral cooperation-key to prevent nuclear escalation and existential threats. Volumes of data support this while retrenchment is wishful thinking.
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Brooks et al., Dartmouth government professor, 2013
(Stepehn, John and William, “Don't Come Home, America: The Case against Retrenchment”, International Security, 37.3, project muse, ldg)

A core premise of deep engagement is that it prevents the emergence of a far
AND
disengaged—even as it pushes cooperation toward U.S. preferences. 

Economic calculations are good – ethics requires choices between competing demands – economics creates a system for stabilizing the demands of the Other as preferences, allowing for ethical dialogue through market competition and negotiation
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Aasland ‘9
(Dag, Prof. of Economics @ U of Agder, Norway, Ethics and Economy: After Levinas, pgs. 65-66)

What is original in Levinas compared to other authors who also have defined being a
AND
, because they have no needs and thus no need to help each other

Pragmatic cooperation with non-democratic regimes is key to sustain multilateralism
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Kupchan, Georgetown international affairs professor, 2012
(Charles, “No One's World: The West, the Rising Rest, and the Coming Global Turn”, google books)

Although Western hegemony is in its waning days, it still provides a significant level
AND
if they are to agree on an ideological foundation for the next world.

It’s try-or-die for multilateralism
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Masciulli, St. Thomas political science professor, 2011
(Joseph, “The Governance Challenge for Global Political and Technoscientific Leaders in an Era of Globalization and Globalizing Technologies”, Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, February, ebsco)
What is most to be feared is enhanced global disorder resulting from the combination of
AND
and tragically, leave global survival and security to their longer term agendas. 

Realism inevitable – rejection just makes it worse
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Guzzini Professor at the Central European University 98 (Stefano Guzzini, , 1998 Realism in International Relations and International Political Economy)
Third, this last chapter has argued that although the evolution of realism has been
AND
, it might be the best way to tacitly and uncritically reproduce it.

1AC – Relations
Cuba is the litmus test for Latin American relations-other forms of leverage and cooperation fail absent the legitimacy of the plan.
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Perez, Yale JD, 2010
(David, “America's Cuba Policy: The Way Forward: A Policy Recommendation for the U.S. State Department”, Harvard Latino Law Review,  Spring, lexis)

Anti-Americanism has become the political chant de jour for leaders seeking long-
AND
throughout Latin America, and would go a long way toward creating goodwill.

Even if relations won’t be severed-the plan is key to deeper cooperation
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Shifter, Inter-American Dialogue president, 2012
(Michael, “Remaking the Relationship: The United States and Latin America”, April, http://www.thedialogue.org/PublicationFiles/IAD2012PolicyReportFINAL.pdf)

All these changes taken together are transforming the nations of the hemisphere—and their
AND
being missed. Well developed ideas for reversing these disappointing trends are scarce.

Latin American relations are key to solving warming
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Zedillo et al., former president of Mexico, 2008
(Ernesto, “Rethinking U.S.–Latin American Relations A Hemispheric Partnership for a Turbulent World”, November, http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2008/11/2420latin20america20partnership/1124_latin_america_partnership.pdf)

The link between carbon-intensive activities and changes  in the world’s climate is now
AND
is pioneering the use of information technology  to lessen deforestation in the Amazon.
Key to successful Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Edwards, Brown University’s Center for Environmental Studies research fellow, 2011
(Guy, “Climate, energy to dominate US-Latin American relations”, 7-18, http://www.trust.org/item/?map=climate-energy-to-dominate-us-latin-american-relations/)

With the challenges of climate change, clean energy, resource scarcity and green growth
AND
comparable to past initiatives such as the 1960s-era Alliance for Progress.

That’s key to sustainable development
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Kammen, UC Berkeley energy professor, 2012
(Daniel, “Building Bridges to a Sustainable Energy Future”, 12-5, http://www.greatenergychallengeblog.com/2012/12/05/building-bridges-to-a-sustainable-energy-future/ 

The Americas are undergoing a transition in the energy sector that will have global geopolitical
AND
industry, university, and civil-society groups in the New World.

Newest and most rigorous studies conclude warming is anthropogenic – no alt causes
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Muller, University of California-Berkeley physics professor, 12
(Richard A., former MacArthur Foundation fellow, "The Conversion of a Climate-Change Skeptic," 7-28-12, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/opinion/the-conversion-of-a-climate-change-skeptic.html?pagewanted=all)

Call me a converted skeptic. Three years ago I identified problems in previous climate
AND
across the political and diplomatic spectrum about what can and should be done.

Failure to solve warming causes extinction – geological history proves
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Bushnell, NASA Langley Research Center chief scientist, 10
(Dennis M. has a MS in mechanical engineering, won the Lawrence A. Sperry Award, AIAA Fluid and Plasma Dynamics Award, the AIAA Dryden Lectureship, and is the recipient of many NASA Medals for outstanding Scientific Achievement and Leadership, "Conquering Climate Change," The Futurist 44. 3, May/Jun 2010, ProQuest)

Unless we act, the next century could see increases in species extinction, disease
AND
, so, as dire as the forecasts sound, they're actually conservative. 

Environmental pragmatism treats the environment as integrated with us, not external -~-- prevents a will to dominate nature and solves planetary extinction
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Kelly A. Parker, assistant professor of philosophy at Grand Valley State University, in Allendale, Michigan, “Pragmatism and Environmental Thought,” Environmental Pragmatism, 1996, ed: Light and Katz, p. 25-27
 (1) For the pragmatist, the environment is above all not something  
AND
annihilate the ultimate source of our growth, and hence to annihilate ourselves. 

1AC – Solvency
Establishing normal trade relations is key to two way trade
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
French, Lexington Institute, 2009
(Anya, “Options for Engagement A Resource Guide for Reforming U.S. Policy toward Cuba”, April, http://www.lexingtoninstitute.org/library/resources/documents/Cuba/USPolicy/options-for-engagement.pdf)

If the United States were to lift its trade embargo against Cuba, this would
AND
years, as both countries would need to adopt statutory and regulatory changes.

The inclusion of hypothetical impact scenarios supercharges the deliberative process by providing a normative means of assessing consequences
We disagree with the author’s use of gendered language
Larsen et al., Royal Institute of Technology, 2009
(Katarina, “Climate change scenarios and citizen-participation: Mitigation and adaptation perspectives in constructing sustainable futures”, Habitat International, 33.3, Science Direct)

 In constructing normative scenarios a set of images are generated illustrating future ways of
AND
result, both the content sustainability and the capacity to act might increase.

Tournament: NDCA | Round: 5 | Opponent: GBS CK | Judge: Sam Shore
Inherency
Cuba will continue to pursue its deep water drilling efforts.
AP 1/22. “Cuba Pushes Ahead With Oil Drilling, But U.S. Fears Potential Spills Reaching Florida.” http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2014/01/22/cuba-pushes-ahead-with-oil-drilling-us-fret-over-potential-spills-along/

Graham, who visited Cuba as part of a delegation from the Council of Foreign
AND
. companies could more smoothly participate in disaster-response to any spill.

No disads – US and Cuba cooperating on reactive oil spill clean up in the status quo.
Guzzo 1/29. Paul, Tribune Staff. “New oil spill pact between U.S., Cuba has Tampa roots.”  http://tbo.com/news/politics/new-oil-spill-pact-between-us-cuba-has-tampa-roots-20140129/
In a deal initiated in Tampa, the U.S. is putting concerns
AND
each nation, and how visas will be cleared for vessels and personnel.
Environment Advantage
Embargo restricts access to offshore technology – a spill will spread and devastate biodiversity.
Almeida ’12 Rob Almeida is Partner/CMO at gCaptain. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1999 with a B.S in Naval Architecture and spent 6.5 years on active duty as a Surface Warfare Officer. He worked for a year as a Roughneck/Rig Manager trainee on board the drillship Discoverer Americas. May 18th – http://gcaptain.com/drilling-cuba-embargo-badly/

In short however, Cuba’s access to containment systems, offshore technology, and spill
AND
oil spill could inflict unprecedented environmental devastation if not planned for in advance.
Even spills from exploratory wells will be catastrophic for Cuba – Deepwater Horizon and Ixtoc prove.
Nerurkar and Sullivan 2011. Neelesh, Specialist in Energy Policy and Mark, Specialist in Latin American Affairs. “Cuba’s Offshore Oil Development: Background and U.S. Policy Considerations.”  http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41522.pdf
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico heightened
AND
the 1979 Ixtoc oil spill in Mexico’s section of the Gulf of Mexico.
Cuba is a key hotspot for biodiversity.
Emily A. Peterson¶ Daniel J. Whittle, J.D.¶ and Douglas N. Rader, Ph.D¶ December 2012 “Bridging the Gulf¶ Finding Common Ground on Environmental and ¶ Safety Preparedness for Offshore Oil and Gas in Cuba”, http://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/EDF-Bridging_the_Gulf-2012.pdf
Situated at the convergence point of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and
AND
pressure to ¶ develop pristine coastal areas for tourism and other economic sectors.
So is the Caribbean.
CEPF ’10 (quoting Mittermeier -- the same author that establishes the “hotspot” thesis and writes our impact ev. , Dr. Russell Alan Mittermeier is a primatologist, herpetologist and biological anthropologist. He holds Ph.D. from Harvard in Biological Anthropology and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. CEPF is the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – “Ecosystem Profile: THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT” – Prepared by: BirdLife International¶ in collaboration with:¶ Durrell Wildlife Conservation¶ Trust / Bath University¶ The New York Botanical Garden¶ and with the technical support of:¶ Conservation International-Center¶ for Applied Biodiversity Science; assistance for this report was offered by 100 international and non-profit organizations. Jan 15th – http://www.cepf.net/Documents/Final_Caribbean_EP.pdf)

The Caribbean Islands Hotspot is one of the world’s greatest centers of biodiversity and¶
AND
species amounting to at least 2 percent of the world’s total¶ species.
Biodiversity in specific hotspots prevents extinction. It is key to agriculture, medicine, and ecosystems.
Mittermeier ‘11(et al, Dr. Russell Alan Mittermeier is a primatologist, herpetologist and biological anthropologist. He holds Ph.D. from Harvard in Biological Anthropology and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He has conducted fieldwork for over 30 years on three continents and in more than 20 countries in mainly tropical locations. He is the President of Conservation International and he is considered an expert on biological diversity. Mittermeier has formally discovered several monkey species. From Chapter One of the book Biodiversity Hotspots – F.E. Zachos and J.C. Habel (eds.), DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-20992-5_1, # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011. This evidence also internally references Norman Myers, a very famous British environmentalist specialising in biodiversity. available at: http://www.academia.edu/1536096/Global_biodiversity_conservation_the_critical_role_of_hotspots)

Extinction is the gravest consequence of the biodiversity crisis, since it is¶ irreversible
AND
than 30 of original vegetation remaining” criterion to a genuine hotspot.

Biodiversity loss will cross the tipping point of irreversibility, causing global extinction
Walsh, ‘10. Bryan, senior writer for TIME magazine, covering energy and the environment, previously Tokyo bureau chief for TIME. “Wildlife: A Global Convention on Biodiversity Opens in Japan, But Can It Make a Difference?” Ecocentric Blog @ TIME, 10-18, http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2010/10/18/wildlife-a-global-convention-on-biodiversity-opens-in-japan-but-can-it-make-a-difference/#ixzz131wU6CSp
The story of non-human life on the planet Earth over the past few
AND
forgive us. We're losing nature. And that loss really is forever.

Only joint oil development with the US can ensure safe extraction.
Stephens, 11 (Sarah, executive director @ Center for Democracy in the Americas, “As Cuba plans to drill in the Gulf of Mexico, US policy poses needless risks to our national interest,” http://democracyinamericas.org/pdfs/Cuba_Drilling_and_US_Policy.pdf)
This year Cuba and its foreign partners will begin drilling for oil in the Gulf
AND
with Cuba to ensure that drilling in the Gulf protects our mutual interests.

US firms have the best and safest tech – embargo prohibits necessary cooperation and joint development.
Guy 2/9. Kingsley, staff writer.  2014. “Kingsley Guy: Course change needed for U.S. in Cuba.” http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-02-09/news/fl-kgcol-oped0209-20140209_1_tar-balls-oil-spill-disaster-angola-and-brazil
The threat of an oil spill disaster is exacerbated by a vestige of the Cold
AND
communication, fosters distrust and would severely hamper cooperation when it's needed most.

Cuba Advantage
US cooperation with Cuba on oil development is the ONLY way to stabilize Cuba’s economy. International rigs can’t solve and have limited contracts.
Only Scarabeo-9 oil platform meets embargo standards and it’s not under contract for much longer. Inferior non-US rigs won’t be able to safely extract oil when it’s found, which crushes Cuba’s economy. Castro needs the oil boom to prevent instability and economic collapse.
Haven, 12 (Paul, Deputy Latin America Editor @ Associated Press, “Cuba Oil Production: Cuba Waits Anxiously For Oil Dreams To Materialize,” 5/27, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/27/cuba-oil-production_n_1549081.html)
It was supposed to be Cuba's economic savior: vast untapped reserves of black gold
AND
without a shovel, even if you know the treasure is down there."
That’s key to stop mass migrations, terrorism, and Latin American instability.
Ashby, 13 (Dr. Timothy, senior research fellow at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, “Preserving stability in Cuba after normalizing relations with the United States – the importance of trading with state-owned enterprises,” 3/29, http://www.coha.org/preserving-stability-in-cuba-timothy-ashby/)
The collapse of Cuba’s tottering economy could seismically impact the United States and neighboring countries
AND
national security threats are directly related to economic and social conditions within Cuba.

Hiroshima-level detonations happen even without expertise
Abt, ‘3 – Ph.D., Clark C., Risk analysis prepared for US DOT/RSPA/Volpe National Transportation. “The Economic Impact of Nuclear Terrorist Attacks on Freight Transport Systems in an Age of Seaport Vulnerability,” Apr 23, http://www.abtassociates.com/reports/es-economic_impact_of_nuclear_terrorist_attacks.pdf.
International terrorists have asserted their intention to acquire nuclear weapons, and have an increasing
AND
, such as the 14 th Street Bridge in DC, or midtown Manhattan

It’s the most dangerous nuclear threat because deterrence fails  
Sid-Ahmed, ‘4 – Mohammed, political analyst, “Extinction!” al-ahram weekly, http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/705/op5.htm.
The most critical moment was the one when the Soviet Union collapsed and fragmented into
AND
When nuclear pollution infects the whole planet, we will all be losers.
Independently, Cuban collapse causes US intervention – shatters relations in the region.
Gorrell, 5 (Tim, Lt. Colonel, US Army War College, Cuba: The Next Unanticipated Anticipated Strategic Crisis?, Strategy Research Project, 18 March 2005, U.S. Army War College, http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA433074)
In the midst of an unstable Cuba, the opportunity for radical fundamentalist groups to
AND
the Americas. A proactive policy now can mitigate these potential future problems.

US – Latin American relations are vital to US power projection and multilateral influence.
Sabatini and Berger, 12 – editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly and senior director of policy at AS/COA, policy associate at the AS/COA Christopher and Ryan, “Why the U.S. can't afford to ignore Latin America”, June 13th, http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/13/why-the-u-s-cant-afford-to-ignore-latin-america//cc
Speaking in Santiago, Chile, in March of last year, President Obama called
AND
S. “backyard” that is outside broader, global strategic concerns.

Legitimacy of U.S. hegemony’s key to global stability-prevents great power war
Fujimoto, US Army Lt. Colonel, 2012
(Kevin, “Preserving U.S. National Security Interests Through a Liberal World Construct”, 1-11, http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/index.cfm/articles/Preserving-US-National-Security-Interests-Liberal-World-Construct/2012/1/11)

The emergence of peer competitors, not terrorism, presents the greatest long-term
AND
protect its interests later when we are no longer the world's only superpower.

The alternative is regional blocs and great power war
Zhang et al., Carnegie Endowment researcher, 2011
(Yuhan, “America’s decline: A harbinger of conflict and rivalry”, 1-22, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/01/22/americas-decline-a-harbinger-of-conflict-and-rivalry/)

Over the past two decades, no other state has had the ability to seriously
AND
forecast in a future that will inevitably be devoid of unrivalled US primacy.
Stability in Latin America is essential to ensuring the US can project power globally – prevents shift in economic and military influence.
Rabasa 2010 – Senior Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation Angel,  “Challenges to Security in the Hemisphere”, August 4, https://umshare.miami.edu/web/wda/hemisphericpolicy/Rabasa_Security.pdf//cc
Overview of U.S. Interests in Latin America The United States has major
AND
beyond its borders and increased its stake in political stability in the region. 

Plan
Plan: The United States federal government should take all necessary steps to increase its economic engagement with the Republic of Cuba in the area of hydrocarbon development.

Solvency
Reactive spill cooperation is not enough - cooperation on oil development and drilling is vital to sustained relations. The status quo only guarantees Cuban oil spills.
No incentives for Cuba to proactively take steps to prevent spills because it knows the US will clean it up.
Helman, 11 (Christopher, southwest bureau correspondent for Forbes, “US should drop Cuba embargo for oil exploration,” 12/12, http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2011/12/12/u-s-should-drop-cuba-embargo-for-oil-exploration/)
In a few months Spanish oil company Repsol will start drilling for oil off the
AND
sphere of influence. The oil industry is a great place to start.
Cooperation key – embargo creates too many financial and tech challenges for safe development.
Tamayo 1/22. Juan, staff writer. “Cuba announces new plans for oil exploration.” http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/01/22/3886787/cuba-announces-new-plans-for-oil.html
Though recent deep-water prospecting undertaken by multinational companies has not been fruitful,
AND
This represents a high prime over the real rental cost for the operator.

We’re topical – plan is direct US-Cuban government cooperation.
Nerurkar and Sullivan 2011. Neelesh, Specialist in Energy Policy and Mark, Specialist in Latin American Affairs. “Cuba’s Offshore Oil Development: Background and U.S. Policy Considerations.”  http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41522.pdf

Cuba is moving toward development of its offshore oil resources. While the country has
AND
States to focus on preventing Cuba from engaging in offshore oil exploration altogether.

Tournament: None | Round: 1 | Opponent: NA | Judge: NA
For cites or questions email: lucwalkington@gmail.com