AFFIRMATIVE CASE
POSSIBILITIES
Rich Edwards
Baylor University
2014-15 National Policy Topic
Resolved: The United States federal government should
substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or
development of the Earth’s oceans.
Law of the
Sea
Develop Energy
Resources
Reduce Risk of Conflict
Protect Ocean
Environment
Ocean
Energy
Global Warming
Oceans Especially
Threatened
Ocean Renewable
Energy Superior
Explore
Oceans Are Vital
Basic Ocean Science
Needed to Save
Fisheries Science
Tsunami Protection
Rare
Earths
Vital to National
Security
China Has Monopoly
Ocean Offers Superior
Alternative
Seaports
Federal Responsibility
Vital to U.S. Economy
Vital to Environment
RAMP Act Solves
Coral
Reefs
Reefs Dying Now
All Life in the Ocean Is
at Risk
Restoration Is Superior
to Preservation
AquaCulture
Reliance on
Aquaculture is
Inevitable
Imported Aquaculture
Especially
Destructive
Proper Regulation
Solves
OverFishing
Overfishing Is Extensive
Single-Species
Regulation
Inherently Flawed
Marine Protected Areas
Provide the Solution
Whales
Whales Are Threatened
Seismic Airgun Blasts
Harm Whales
Banning Seismic Airgun
Blasts Vital to Saving
Whales
Invasive
Species
Invasive Species
Threaten the Ocean
Environment
Current Standards
Inadequate
Phase 2 BWM Standard
Needed
Marine
Cables
Internet Security Vital
Marine Cables Essential
to Internet Security
UNCLOS necessary to
Secure Marine
Cables
Iron
Fertilization
Study
Climate Change May Be
Unstoppable
Reasonable Measures
Must Be Examined
Iron Fertilization May
Offer a Last-Ditch
Solution
Rule of Law
U.S. Unilateralism
Threatens the
Global Commons
UNCLOS Offers a Key
Test of U.S.
Willingness to
Support Rule of Law
Arctic
Resources
Arctic Resources Are
Massive
Arctic Resources Will
be Exploited
U.S. Environmental
Standards Will Best
Preserve the Arctic
Environment
DeSalination
Fresh Water Supplies
Are in Seriously
Short Supply
Water Shortages
Inevitably Cause
Conflict
Desalination Offers an
Optimal Solution
National
Ocean Policy
Executive Order Is in
Place But Requires
Congressional
Action
Ecosystem-Based
Management Will
Replace Ineffective
Single-Species
Management
Save Sea
Turtles
Sea Turtles Are
Endangered
Measures Are Available
to Save Sea Turtles
Only a Holistic
Approach Will Be
Enough
Ocean
Pollution
Plastic Pollution
Dead Zones
Mercury Pollution
Cruise Ship Discharge
Illegal Fishing
Illegal Fishing Practices
Abound
U.S. imports 90% of its
seafood
U.S. should ratify the
Agreement on Port State
Measures to Prevent,
Deter and Eliminate
Illegal, Unreported and
Unregulated Fishing
Ban Bottom
Trawling
Bottom trawling destroys
ocean ecosystems
Bottom trawling is currently
allowed in most U.S.
ocean waters.
Banning bottom trawling will
preserve ocean
ecosystems.