The Black Hole Debate Series is intended for young, thoughtful high school students interested in understanding how our world works and how it could be made to work better.

• Participants will debate individually
• Phones will not be allowed during the debate

Click here to register for participation in the debate.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Dates: 2nd July – 3rd July, 2025

TOPICS

ROUND 1

1. Privatizing Space: Who Should Own The Moon And Stars?

1. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and CEO of SpaceX, intends to create a one-million-person colony on Mars. He wants the US to quit the Outer Space Treaty, signed in 1967. What do you think will be the implications of that?
2. How could nations come together in 1967 and create a regulatory framework? Discuss whether this is still possible today.
3. Enthusiasts for space expansion believe the OST has impeded humanity’s progress by limiting the growth of a dynamic capitalist space economy. Do you agree?Pakistan, together with many other countries, is not a participant in the space race. Do you see a difference between the haves and have-nots emerging? Explore this in some detail.
4. Discuss the implications of individuals owning parts of the solar system’s planets as their private property.

2. Global Migration: Dealing With The Future

1. What do you think about the recent US policy to sharply reduce migration to the US? The attempt to ban foreign students from US universities? Explore this action from the lens of politics, morality, and ethics.
2. Pakistan has ordered the forced deportation of Afghan refugees. Explore this from the lens of politics as well as morality and ethics.
3. Hundreds of Pakistanis – principally Punjabis – have drowned while seeking to migrate to Europe. How should European governments react? The Pakistani government?Should European countries respond to the above? Should they open their doors to immigrants, or create quotas? What should be the Pakistan government’s response?
4. Is a world without borders desirable? Possible? What makes national borders so sacrosanct?

ROUND 2

1. The Gaza Crisis: Who’s at Fault?

1. Knowing that Israel would react disproportionately, was it wise for Hamas to have attacked Israeli civilians? Did it lead to a loss of the moral high ground earlier occupied by the Palestinians?
2. Which international institutions have sought to intervene, and why did they fail?
3. Explore the level of legitimacy enjoyed by the International Court of Justice in the Gaza crisis by considering its decisions in other conflict areas.What legal or political tools does the UN currently have—and are they being used effectively?
4. Would it be possible – or helpful – to declare the United States or Israel as rogue actors and seek to expel them from the United Nations?

Debater Guidelines:

• Structure: Begin with an introduction, followed by clear and concise points, and end with a strong conclusion—present well-structured arguments, supported by evidence.
• Delivery: Avoid speaking too quickly or too slowly. Maintain a steady pace that allows the audience to follow your points.
• Respect and Decorum: Listen to each argument without interrupting and address their points respectfully. Focus on critiquing the argument, not the individual.

Participants will have two separate sessions on day 1. One topic will be assigned for each session, which will follow the following format:

Panel Discussion/Debate Format

1. Opening Statements (2 minutes):

• Each participant will start with an opening statement covering all the points in the topic description.
• Clearly define their stance and arguments for each question

2. Discussion Phase (1.5-hour-long discourse):

• The floor will be opened for discussion, where debaters present and defend their arguments.
• The chair will ask questions to each participant to facilitate a discussion
• Each participant will be asked questions relating to their opening statementsEach individual will build their case and respond with rebuttals.
• Participants can indulge in a discourse with fellow debaters (the number of questions depends on the remaining time after the discourse)

3. Closing Statements (1 minute per participant):

• Closing statements aim to solidify the participants’ stance and persuade the audience.
• Debaters offer a concise summary of their key points and restate their position.
• Use this time to leave a lasting impression and reinforce the strength of their arguments.

The forum will be open to questions from the audience after the concluding statements. (The final question session with the audience will not have any effect on the final result.)

The moderator will not ask questions during the debate session to the participants. Only panelists will be asked questions during the discourse.

Scoring Criteria

1. Organization and Clarity: viewpoints and responses are outlined both clearly and in an orderly manner.
2. Use of Arguments: Reasons are given to support the participants’ stance.
3. Use of Facts and appropriate examples: examples and facts are given to support reasons.
4. Use of Rebuttal: arguments made by the other participant are responded to and dealt with effectively.
5. Presentation Style: tone of voice, use of gestures, and level of enthusiasm, which are convincing to the audience.
6. Respectful Engagement: engaging the opponent in a respectful and tolerant manner.

This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.

The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
Click here for Google Maps Location