End of year special: Best decade debate

DATE: Thursday 10 December

TIME: 7.30pm - 10.30pm

VENUE: Harcourt Arms, York St, London W1H 4HX (see here for map)

MOTION: Balloon debate - what was the best decade in modern history?


What's the debate about?

Our next debate is our last for this year and as we head into the final weeks of the first decade of the 21st century, the motion for this debate seemed obvious: what was the best decade in modern history?

The spotlight will be on the last six decades since the war; the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and the 2000s (the noughties). There will be six speakers, one for each decade, who will have to argue why their chosen decade was the best.

How does it work?

Instead of our traditional 2 v 2 format, this will be a balloon debate. A balloon debate is a bit like Question time, except each speaker has to make their case to the audience as to why they should be kept on the panel over a series of rounds.

At the end of each round, the audience will vote for the speaker they want to keep and the person with the least votes will leave the panel. The last speaker standing will be the winner.

Where will the debate take place and what should you do if you want to attend?

Each of our debates is held at the Harcourt Arms, a cosy pub at the end of York St and a five minute walk from Baker St tube station (see top for map).

If you would like to come to this debate, then all you need to do is turn up on the night. We always give the audience a chance to put their questions and comments to the speakers before voting for who they want to win. However, you don't have to speak or do anything else if you'd just rather watch the debate.

Admission is free and friends are always welcome, so if you know someone who might be interested in this event, bring them along.

Xmas/end of year social:

As this is our last debate of the year, we'll all be letting our hair down and enjoying a few festive drinks and nibbles (the pub does some very nice food) in the run up to the Christmas holidays. We've hired out the pub's dining room and we'll have it all night, so feel free to join us and if you're new to the society it will be a good chance for you to get to know us all.


Joining the Central London Debating Society:

Membership of the Debating society is free of charge as is admission to each of our debates. If you would like to join, simple email me at central.debating@gmail.com

Once you're on our mailing list, you'll receive notifications of all upcoming events and will be eligible to speak at a debate or even try your hand at chairing.

Find the Central London Debating Society online

Have you seen our website yet? Visit us at http://clds.debatewise.com and join in our latest debates online from privatising the post office to legalising prostitution.

Join our facebook group and sign up for all our latest events and news updates.

You can also follow us on Twitter to receive new updates and see who else is following us at http://twitter.com/centraldebating

Next debate - Thursday 26th November - how to fix climate change

DATE: Thursday 26th November 2009

VENUE: Harcourt Arms pub, York Street, London W1H 4HX

TIME: 7.30pm - 9.30pm

MOTION: This House Believes that the only way to fix climate change is if the richest nations pay for it


BACKGROUND:

The debate over climate change is raging more than ever, but the main issue of contention is no longer whether climate change exists, but whose job it is to fix it. As the world's developing economies continue to grow, so do their carbon emissions. However, they say they will not consider any reductions in output unless the world's developed nations are prepared to compensate them with financial and technological support.

VENUE:

We will be returning once more to the Harcourt Arms pub for this debate. We have hired out their dining room which, with its comfy sofas, tables and chairs, has consistently proved the perfect venue for our events.

The Harcourt Arms is situated at the end of York Street, just a few minutes walk from Baker Street tube station. See here for a map of the area.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

If you would like to attend this debate, feel free to turn up on the night and grill the speakers from the floor. If you would like to speak, however, email me at t.koutsoumbos@gmail.com.

For anyone who'd like to give it a try but doesn't have much experience of public speaking, let me know and we can have a chat about how to make a good argument and go through the rules to help you prepare.

After the debate's over, I hope you'll all stick around for a drink, as we have the room for the whole night if we want it.

HOW DOES IT WORK:

Each debate comprises four speakers, two on each side arguing for and against the motion. The speakers have five minutes each to make their case before the debate is handed over to the audience for a Q&A session. This is where everyone else gets the opportunity to cross-examine the speakers and offer their own comments on the motion. After that each side has two minutes to sum up their arguments before the motion is decided by a public vote.

Admission is free and plus ones are always welcome, so if you know someone who might be interested in this event, bring them along.


Joining the Central London Debating Society:

Membership of the Debating society is free of charge as is admission to each of our debates. If you would like to join, simple email me at central.debating@gmail.com

Once you're on our mailing list, you'll receive notifications of all upcoming events and will be eligible to speak at a debate or even try your hand at chairing.

Follow the Central London Debating Society online:

Visit our website and take part in online debates to build up some experience and see what other people have to say about all the hot topics of the day.

Find us on facebook and join the Central London Debating Society group

Follow us on twitter to get all our latest updates about upcoming debates and other events at http://twitter.com/londondebating


See you at the debate

Tony

Next debate: This House Believes Britain's drug laws are in urgent need of reform

DATE: Thursday 12th November 2009

VENUE: Harcourt Arms pub, York Street, London W1H 4HX

TIME: 7.30pm - 9.30pm

MOTION: This House Believes Britain's drug laws are in urgent need of reform


BACKGROUND:

The sacking of government adviser Professor David Nutt by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson has reopened the debate over drugs classification and the means by which such decisions are taken.

Should cannabis be legal or decriminalised? Should alcohol and tobacco be classified as harmful substances and what implications would this have for their legal status and that of illegal drugs? Who should be making such decisions in the first place: elected politicians or independent experts?

VENUE:

We will be returning once more to the Harcourt Arms pub for this debate. We have hired out their dining room which, with its comfy sofas, tables and chairs, has consistently proved the perfect venue for our events.

The Harcourt Arms is situated at the end of York Street, just a few minutes walk from Baker Street tube station. See here for a map of the area.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

If you would like to attend this debate, feel free to turn up on the night and grill the speakers from the floor. If you would like to speak, however, email me at t.koutsoumbos@gmail.com.

For anyone who'd like to give it a try but doesn't have much experience of public speaking, I'm happy to meet you about half an hour or so before the debate starts and go through the rules with you and help you prepare.

After the debate's over, I hope you'll all stick around for a drink, as we have the room for the whole night if we want it.

Also, if you know anyone who might be interested in coming to the debate, please feel free to bring them along as everyone is welcome at the Central London Debating Society.

HOW DOES IT WORK:

Each debate comprises four speakers, two on each side arguing for and against the motion. The speakers have five minutes each to make their case before the debate is handed over to the audience for a Q&A session. This is where everyone else gets the opportunity to cross-examine the speakers and offer their own comments on the motion. After that each side has two minutes to sum up their arguments before the motion is decided by a public vote.


Joining the Central London Debating Society:

Membership of the Debating society is free of charge as is admission to each of our debates. If you would like to join, simple email me at central.debating@gmail.com

Once you're on our mailing list, you'll receive notifications of all upcoming events and will be eligible to speak at a debate or even try your hand at chairing.

Visit our website and take part in online debates to build up some experience and see what other people have to say about all the hot topics of the day.

Find us on facebook and join the Central London Debating Society group

You can now also follow us on twitter to get all our latest updates about upcoming debates and other events at http://twitter.com/londondebating


See you at the debate

Tony