This article is not available in English. Please read the German version to learn about how ten years back Michael Hoppmann, now professor in Boston, founded the Offene Parlamentarische Debatte (OPD), or open parliamentary debate, a format widely spread in German language debating. ...

Heidelberg calling: Debaters from all places on the German language debating circuit assemble by the river Neckar to compete for the title at German Nationals, or Deutsche Debattiermeisterschaft (DDM). 45 Teams from 34 debating societies follow the call of Debating Club Heidelberg: Aachen, Bayreuth, Berlin, Bonn, Dortmund, Dresden, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Göttingen, Graz, Halle, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Ingolstadt, Jena, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Köln, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Mainz, Marburg, Mannheim, München, Münster, Potsdam, Salzburg, Stuttgart, St. Gallen, Tübingen, Wien and Zürich. Internationally speaking, the 11. DDM gets more attention than ever: Four societies from Austria and two from Switzerland will participate in the tournament held ...

Erasmus of Rotterdam is the eponym for EU's student exchange programme - and for the Erasmus Debating Society (EDS) of Rotterdam's university. Study and debate go together fine, even more so with the Dutch Anglo-Saxon Parliamentary Debating Institute (DAPDI) in Rotterdam where debaters from all over Europe assemble from July 25 to 29 to do training and competition. Just before Galway Euros, it is going to be a perfect opportunity to exercise for the great European tournament, Luciën de Bruin from EDS promises: “It features three days of workshops by top-notch Oxford trainers we’re flying in, including a ...

Wanted: Your ideas and your money! Contribute the first at the WUDC 2013 Forum in Jena during the ZEIT DEBATTE tournament, akquire the latter through helping the Org Comm find sponsors for the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC or Worlds). Read the German version of this article to learn more about how the umbrella association VDCH and the WUDC org comm of Patrick Ehmann cooperate to make Worlds an all-German event. More detailed info is also available from Benedikt Nufer, vice-president of the VDCH, via benedikt.nufer@vdch.de and from Patrick himself via p.ehmann@wudcberlin.com. For sponsoring, turn to Torsten Rössing via t.roessing@wudcberlin.com. Die ...

37 Debating Societies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland have registered for the German Debating Championship (Deutsche Debattiermeisterschaft, DDM). Theses are societies from: Germany Aix-la-Chapelle Bayreuth Berlin (BDU and SK) Bonn Cologne Dortmund Dresden Duisburg-Essen Frankfurt Freiburg im Breisgau Göttingen Halle Hamburg Heidelberg Ingolstadt Jena Karlsruhe Kiel Leipzig Magdeburg Mainz Mannheim Marburg Munich Münster Osnabrück Potsdam Regensburg Stuttgart Tübingen Austria Graz Salzburg Wien (AFA and DK) Switzerland St. Gallen Zurich The German debating Championship will be staged in Heidelberg from 9 to 12 June. Format will be the Open Parliamentary Debate (OPD) widely spread in the German speaking debating circuit. The Debating Club Heidelberg (DCH), then German debating champion in 2004, will now be host to Germany’s largest tournament. Chief adjudicators are going to be Gudrun Lux, Jan Lüken, Marcus Ewald and Tim Richter.

It was a warm springtime day in Haifa, Israel when Anat Gelber and Michael Shapira married in the week before Passover. We from the team of Achte Minute congratulate the two of them and wish them all the best as they embark on their new life together! The both have a reputation as debaters on the international circuit. Anat Shapira, as is her name since the wedding, was a EUDC finalist in Zagreb in 2003 and in Cork, Ireland in 2005, both in the category of ESL, or English as a Second Language. In 2006, she was awarded Best Speaker (again ...

Take me to Manila! A first bunch of debating societies from under the umbrella of VDCH know for sure already: We are going to DLSU Worlds in Manila. In the recently published list, the convenors of the World Debating Universities Championships (WUDC or Worlds) at De La Salle University of Manila, Philippines have announced those deb socs followed their slogan “Take me to Manila”. It is a rough list of registration for DLSU Worlds only, containing many duplicates. But still, seven debating societies from the VDCH circuit made it to that list: Debattierclub Stuttgart, Berlin Debating Union, Debattierclub Johannes Gutenberg Mainz, ...

“Oxbridge“ among the top ten debating societies of the world? Of course, one may assume to find those two oldest deb socs in that list – but who else is to be listed there? Colm Flynn, former chair of the WUDC Council, is the founder and editor of the internet blog World Debating Website. There he has published his “Worlds Debating Rankings 2011“. According to this, the top ten comprises four Australian institutions and only two English ones – Oxford and Cmabridge Unions. Even an institution from the Philippines is listed among them. The most successful debating society from under ...

This weekend, VDCH debaters took part in tournaments in Stuttgart and Leeds. On top of that, our neighbors in the Netherlands have also been competing at a tournament. Three tournaments, three CA teams, three languages. Find all motions of this weekend here. Additionally, we kindly ask you, our much appreciated readers, to do us a favor: Which motion did you find the most interesting, the best to debate, the most exciting? Which one did you think was no good idea? Please do not hesitate to leave your comments below and vote for your favorite motion. ...

The final is over! Team Colgate Extra White, Austin Schwartz and Travis Steele, have won the Vienna IV 2011 from the position of Opening Government. The final motion read: "This house believes that parties' electoral campaigns should only be funded by the state." Their opponents were the following: ...

Vienna calling: Following that call are debaters from all over the international debating circuit. From Friday to Sunday, the Austrian capital will see speakers and judges flocking in from the Netherlands, Ukraine, Greece, Slovenia, Germany, Turkey, Romania, Serbia, England, Ireland, Russia, Croatia, Macedonia, France, Kosovo and the USA. The all assemble at the first Vienna IV ever to be held by Debattierklub Wien (DKW). Six prelims will be staged at Vienna’s University of Economics and Business with seven-minute speeches. The format is British Parliamentary Style (BPS), language of debate is English. The final will be held in the Festsaal of ...

No joke: You all have to re-register for Galway Euros, as convenor Nollaig O'Scannlainn revealed in a mail to the international debating community. During yesterday's registration process the system failed, hence not everybody could register for this year's European Universities Debating Championships. The order of registration cannot be guaranteed as of now. So in the interest of fairness, the registration will be repeated for all institutions on 2 March at 12 a.m. GMT, that is 1 p.m. in Berlin, 2 p.m. in Jerusalem and 3 p.m. in Moscow. Until then, the org comm ensure that problems like those of yesterday ...

Don’t miss it: Register today for European Universities Debating Championships (EUDC or Euros) in Galway! Please use the online registration form on the homepage of Galway Euros. Notice that there is a time shift: From Germany, register at 1 p.m., from Jerusalem, register at 2 p.m. and from Moscow, register at 3 p.m. Standard is 12 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time. Experience teaches that the team cap of 200 will be filled quickly (i.e. within seconds) so try to be quicker than the others! In that first phase you only have to submit five points: institution name, country, delegate leader’s name, contact ...

We're very, very sorry this text is not available English. Please read the German version of this article to learn more about poetry among debaters and the final debate on two formats widely spread in Germany: BPS vs. OPD. apf / sol

Revelations of a great debater mind – or so he denies to be. Achte Minute was talking to Michael Shapira who won this year’s World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC or Worlds) at Gaborone, Botswana in the category “English as a Second Language” (ESL) together with his team mate Meir Yarom. The Israeli from the University of Haifa did not hesitate to reveal his strategy to us. Read how his friends and his mom celebrated him and where to meet him this year. Achte Minute: Dear Michael, congrats for winning the ESL title at the Worlds in early January. Being back home ...

Apply as judge: On the first weekend in April, the US Universities Debating Championship will be held at the University of Vermont. The convenors expect about 200 teams from 1 to 3 April. They want to encourage judges from all over the world to apply until 1 March with an E-Mail to alfred.snider@uvm.edu. Guaranteed are six prelims of judging with the possibility to break to elims. Moreover, judges are welcome to judge at the America’s Cup on 31 March. Financial subsidy maybe expected, Alfred Snider, debate professor in Vermont, promises in an E-Mail to the worldwide debate community. There he mentions ...

Why jet around the planet in real life when there is an easier and less expensive possibility of becoming an online debate champion? For the third time in a row the World Online Debating Championships (WODC) are to be held, well, yes: online! The team cap is 32, so you better register sooner rather than later. And yes, of course you register online on the websites of WODC. Registration fees are 20 US-Dollars per person, but not more than 100 Dollars per team. A team is made up of two to five debaters. Only one team is accepted per nation. ...

After nine years of absence the Euros shall return to the Balkans if everything goes accordingly to Serbian plans. In 2003 the European Universities Debating Championships (EUDC or Euros) had been hosted in the Croatian capital Zagreb. Now Belgrade wants to be stage to the 14th Euros to be held in 2012. The convenors expect 220 teams by the river Danube. Belgrade allures to the party package the European debating circuit always produces with a wild nightlife. The org comm of Milan Vignjević will do the very best within their power to get the most out of it for the ...

This article is not available in English. In case you want to learn more about gossips on Magnus Schmagold or Benedikt Nufer, it's a definite must you read the German version of this bit!

The world keeps on turning, however, does not forget about the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC or Worlds) in Botswana. A US-American is mopping up after Worlds, a Botswanese is happy about the organization, another American is delighted about the results of IDAS teams and a German deb society covers the tournament. Steven M. Llano found certain things at Botswana Worlds pernicious, among which were a certain Black Eyed Peas song, the lack of fans, sleep deprivation as well as the word “pernicious” itself. On his Blog “Progymnasmata“, Achte Minute’s op-ed author Steven complained also about the lack of internet access ...

Let the competition begin: Two cities bid for hosting the European Universities Debating Championships (EUDC or Euros) 2012. The bidders are Leeds from the English county West Yorkshire and the Serbian captial Belgrade. In addition to that, there's an alleged bid from London's BPP Debating Society - rumour has it that this a hoax. Belgrade composed a prominent team. Convenor is Milan Vignjević. His bid is backed-up by the University of Belgrade. But he himself has gained a lot of experience as both debater and convenor: He broke to ESL qurters at Amsterdam Euros 2010 and is co-convenor of the Belgrade ...

There’s a whole bunch of new world champions: Team Monash A from Australia won the grand final of the open break of the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC or Worlds). That is Victor Finkel und Fiona Prowse. In the category English as a Second Language (ESL), Michael Shapira and Meir Yarom of team Haifa A from Israel defeated all other finalists. Then there is a third world champion team: Kazushige Yoshimaru and Yuki Tominaga of Tokyo B from Japan. All three winning teams triumphed from the position of opening government. The winners of the main break are experienced debaters: Victor was ...

The current president of the EUDC Council, Jens Henning Fischer, has been elected president of the WUDC Council in Botswana tonight. He succeeds Sam Greenland from Sydney, Australia in office. It was in July this year when Jens had been re-elected EUDC president at Euros in Amsterdam. Two offices at the same time? No, Jens revealed to Achte Minute, he will resign from his office as EUDC president and announce a successor after consulting the committee. On board of his WUDC team are Steven Johnson (Alaska, USA) and Simone van Elk from The Netherlands. Steven is the new registrar, Simone functions ...

Berlin has defeated Zagreb! The Council of delegates at the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC or Worlds) in Gaborone, Botswana, has made a decision: Berlin is going to host the Worlds 2013. The OrgComm around Patrick Ehmann (Berlin Debating Union) presented their bid successfully and got 87 vs 11 votes. Several hundred teams of two from all over the world plus judges and supporters are expected in the German capital around New Year’s Eve 2012/13 – these Worlds are going to be one of the biggest competitions in the WUDC series. On board with the Berlin based team are chief ...

That sure is a good start into the new year for VDCH country: Four German teams broke to ESL quarter finals of the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC or Worlds) in Gaborone. Here are the lucky ones: Stuttgart A, Michael Saliba, Andreas Lazar, 15 points Berlin B, Dessislava Kirova, Florian Umscheid, 14 points Gutenberg A (Mainz), Marcus Ewald, Marietta Gädeke, 14 points Berlin A, Bastian Laubner, Patrick Ehmann, 13 points Jens Henning Fischer and Isabelle Loewe broke as judges. The complete break was compiled by Stephen M. Llano on his Blog. The draws for the main break are available on Colm Flynn's  World Debating Website. Congratulations to ...

Breaking news from Botswana: Results of our VDCH teams after round 6 leaked from Gabs and we have it all here for our loyal readers. Colm Flynn provided photographs of the tab on his World Debating Website. So how are our German and Austrian teams doing in Gaborone? ...

Six preliminary rounds are over, night has fallen over Botswana. Tomorrow will bring three more pre-rounds at Worlds 2011. These are going to be closed rounds – no feedback and no info on the ranking will leak from the judges. Socials tonight feature a “culture night”. No more complaints about waiting and queuing are to be heard in Gaborone, but speculations on the ranking of teams and institutions. The teams of Debattierclub Stuttgart feel fine with their performance, Andreas C. Lazar reported this morning: “Gaborone, 32 degrees Celsius. Both Michael [Saliba] and I (Stuttgart A) as well as Jana [Gilke] and ...

This is an imperative: Keep your fingers crossed until New Year’s Day! This is when the WUDC Council is going to decide on who will be host of World Universities Debating Championships 2013. The Berlin Debating Union (BDU) have toured around Europe and probably still shake a lot of hands to show that they are the ones to do it! This Tuesday, they have already presented their bid at the Pre-Council Meeting in Botswana. In a letter addressed to the debate community worldwide, BDU president Patrick Ehmann explains that in the past decade the German debating circuit profited a lot from ...

And the evening and the morning were the fourth day of Botswana Worlds 2011. Participants in Gaborone had just registered when the motion of round four was announced: “This house believes that independent central banks should set limits on government spending.“ Is the org comm in better control of the schedule today? Last night’s talent show must have been great – our correspondent Henrik Maedler seems to have liked it a lot: “Last night was ‘Recreation/Talent Night‘. Never thought I'd get to see Jamaican song, Jewish rap, and Botswanan dance in one evening ... good fun!” And always an issue ...

The day of reckoning is near - on New Year's Day, the WUDC Council is going to sit in Gaborone, Botswana, and decide over who will be hosting the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC, or Worlds) in 2013. So far, two candidates from Europe bid for Worlds 2013: Berlin and Zagreb. The OrgComm from Berlin Debating Union (BDU) started their PR tour in mid-November. Therefore, they made a video that shows the strong will of Berlin for peaceful freedom and her inhabitants' penchant for big words such as in JFK's "Ich bin ein Berliner." According to the video, when it comes ...