Topics of the semi-finals of 2018 Guangdong High School Students MUN

——2018年广东省中学生模联复赛题目——

The topics we choose for this session are both closely related to the current heated international politics issues, and controversial to some extent. By focusing on these two topics, we hope we could derive your attention to these topics and see the full extension of them, so that you would have a better understanding of the world and develop holistic perspectives towards them.

此次复赛中选取的话题充满争议性，且与当前国际政治热点议题息息相关。组委会希望通过这两大议题，使同学们能够关注国际政治热点，并全面认知和分析这些热点议题，进一步更好地认识我们所处的世界和国际环境，并对这些话题有全面而辩证的认知。

VERY IMPORTANT: Please confirm your participation in the semi-finals by contacting the organizing committee or your respective teachers in charge of the matter before 23:59, May 3, 2018, or else you will not be added to the semi-finals competing list.

重要提示：入围复赛的同学，请在2018年5月3日23:59前向组委会确认参赛，逾期将被取消参赛资格！！！

Note: You should prepare for both topics as well as both sides of each topic, since you will be randomly assigned to any topic for your speech. The same goes for your debate preparation. Bear in mind while doing the research that you have to gain as much information of the topics as possible, and as diverse aspects of the topics as possible.

注意：由于复赛时采取抽签选择演讲题目，及随机抽签决定辩论正反方的形式，请同学们在准备过程中务必全面地研究两个议题及它们的正反面。请牢记，在调研过程中需要尽量全面系统地收集话题相关信息，尽量多面多角度剖析问题和寻求解决方案。

Topic 1: The Position of the United States on the Palestine-Israel issue.

话题1：美国在巴以问题上的立场

Topic Background:

话题背景：

On the Palestine-Israel issue, almost the entire international community stands on the Palestinian side and supports the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, opposing Israel’s unilateral declaration of Jerusalem as its capital and the construction of a separation belt and settlement in the west bank of the Jordan River.

在巴以问题上，基本上整个国际社会都站在巴勒斯坦一边，支持巴以和谈，反对以色列单方面宣布耶路撒冷为自己首都及在约旦河西修建隔离带和建立定居点。

The United States, However, has persisted in its own way, ignoring the opposition of the international community, and has always been partial to Israel on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, including but not limited to the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Specially, the United States used its veto power to vote on a draft resolution on the status of Jerusalem at the UN security council on December 18, 2017. The draft resolution shows no legal effect on any change in the status of Jerusalem in response to the United States’ decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

然而，美国却一意孤行，不顾国际社会的反对，一味在巴以问题上偏袒以色列，包括但不限于承认耶路撒冷为以色列首都。特别是在2017年12月18日联合国召开的安理会上，在对一份有关耶路撒冷地位问题的决议草案进行表决时，美国使用了一票否决权将。该决议草案表明对耶路撒冷地位的任何改变都没有法律效力，以回应美国决定承认耶路撒冷为以色列首都。

Although the United States has always been criticized by some countries for double standards on many international issues, it is almost challenging the moral bottom line and the international community on the Israeli-Palestinian issue which will no doubt damage its international image of democratic leaders of the free world.

虽然美国在许多国际问题上一贯被某些国家诟病使用双重标准。但在巴以问题上，美国几乎是在挑战整个国际社会的道义底线而一意孤行，这无疑会给美国自由和民主世界的领袖这一国际形象造成一定损害。而美国之所以如此偏袒以色列，则是出于诸多现实利益的考虑。  

Speech Topic: The United States should choose to give priority to morality and

support Palestine/ choose to give priority to interest and be partial to Israel.

演讲题目：在巴以问题上，美国应该道义优先，选择支持巴勒斯坦/在巴以问题上，美国应该利益优先，选择偏袒以色列。

Debate Topic:

辩论题目：

Pros：The United States should choose to give priority to morality and support Palestine.

正方：在巴以问题上，美国应该道义优先，选择支持巴勒斯坦

Cons： The United States should choose to give priority to interest and be partial to Israel.

反方：在巴以问题上，美国应该利益优先，选择偏袒以色列。

Topic 2: Migrating to Mars

话题2：移民火星

Topic Background:

话题背景：

Steven Hawkings, renowned scientist who passed away recently, stated repeatedly his vision towards the future of human race: ‘if humans can survive the next 200 years and learn to live in space, then our future will be bright. ...... It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster on planet Earth in the next 100 years, let alone next thousand, or million.’

已故著名科学家史蒂芬霍金，生前曾反复强调他对人类未来生存的愿景：“如果人类在今后200年内能幸存下来，学会在太空中生活，那么我们的未来依旧光明。……在未来100年避免地球上的种种灾难将十分困难，毋论更久远的未来。”

According to the Dutch not-for-profit Mars One Foundation, its first crew of 4 astronauts will depart from Earth in 2031 and land in Mars in 2032. Additional crews and cargo modules will be sent every 26 months hereafter. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has given an even earlier schedule: sending astronauts to Mars in 2024.

荷兰一家非盈利基金会 Mars One，计划将在 2031 年把第一批宇航员（共 4 名）从地球送往火星，预计于 2032 年登陆。该基金会还计划在登陆成功后的每 26个月往火星运送宇航员及物资组件。埃隆马斯克，美国太空探索技术公司的首席执行官，则给出了一个更早的时间表：该公司计划在 2024 将宇航员送往火星。

However, back to our Earth, billions of people still lack access to freshwater, hundreds of millions are suffering from malnutrition. Every minute, 20 people are being forcibly misplaced; every minute, more than 190,000 square metres of forests are being lost.

然而，当我们回望地球，我们发现：数以十亿计的人们仍缺乏生存必须的淡水，数以亿计的人们缺少足够的营养。每分钟，地球上有 20 人被迫流离失所；每分钟，超过19万平方米森林被人为或因环境恶化被破坏。

Speech Topic:

Humans should / should not migrate to Mars.  

演讲题目：人类应当 / 不应移民火星。

Debate Topic: 

辩论题目：

Pros: Human beings should migrate to Mars  

正方：人类应该移民火星。

Cons: Human beings should not migrate to Mars

反方：人类不应该移民火星。

Please state your stance clearly and try to argue with substantive evidence.

请清晰陈述所选立场，并尽可能立足事实、数据等展开说理。