Literific AGM 2019

Well, my last recording for the Society before I head off to Belgium. It's been a ride folks. See you in a year!

On 12 March 2019 our members gathered in the Senate Room to amend the Constitution, elect the new Council and reflect on the quality of the 170th Session. 

Elections start at 01:08:29. 

The Annual Dufferin Best Speaker Competition 2019 - TH Supports No-Platforming

So, we gathered this last week for the Annual Dufferin Competition - the internal competition where we decide the best speaker of the year! The British Parliamentary style is used, so it's a 4v4 debate, and the speakers are only told the motion 15 minutes in advance. You get to hear it though. Please enjoy:

"This House Supports No Platforming"

Tune in next week for our debate on the success of Cuba. 

THW Invade Earth

This week 40 members gathered in the Senate Room to discuss whether, should aliens ever come across us and possess the power to do so, it would be in their best interests to invade our dear earth and overthrow humanity. Please enjoy:

"This House Would Invade Earth."

Speeches start at 00:46:03. 

Don't forget to tune in next week for the AGM on Tuesday and our Annual Duffering Competition on Thursday. 

THR Disaster Tourism

Welcome all! This week we gathered in the Senate Room to debate whether "Diaster Tourism" - the practice of visiting places where a disaster either or happening or has happened - is worth it. Should we laud it for helping communities or regret it for monetising suffering? Please Enjoy:

"This House Regrets Disaster Tourism."

Speeches start at 00:49:14. 

Tune in next week for our debate on euthanasia.

THR The Gig Economy

This week, we gathered in the Senate Room to debate the Gig Economy. For those who do not know, the gig economy refers to companies like Deliveroo and Uber. Or, for an actual definition: "labour market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs." (Google) Some feel it has brought workers and consumers unprecedented freedom, while others feel they threaten to set workers back decades. Let's find out who's right.

Speeches start at 00:46:32. 

Make sure to tune in next week to the E.L. Godkin Anniversary Gala! What is that? Tune in or better yet, come along to find out. 

THW Introduce a Universal Basic Income

Hello once more! Welcome to the penultimate debate of the year! This week, 45 members gathered to debate the issue of the Universal Basic Income policy which has been increasingly discussed in recent years. Please enjoy this week's motion: 

"This House Would Introduce a Universal Basic Income"

Speeches start at 00:42:24.

THW Ban Autonomous Weapons

Hello again to everyone!

This week we gathered in the Senate Room with Queen's Computing Society, and to an audience of over 45 people we debated the issue of killer robots and whether they're good or not. Please enjoy:

"This House Would Ban Autonomous Weapons"

Speeches start at 00:43:23.

Make sure to join us next week for a discussion of the merits of Universal Basic Income. 

THW Separate Art From the Artist

Hello all! This was a very special debate this week. This week we had 8 speakers, all of whom only started speaking this term, come together and debate in order to discover which of them is the best Maiden Speaker of the 170th Session. Who will live up to the name of the founder, E.L. Godkin? 

Now, enjoy the motion: 

"This House Would Separate Art From the Artist."

Speeches start at 00:31:57. 

Join us next week for our joint debate on autonomous weapons with QCS. 

This House Believes Prostitution Should be Legalised

Hello there! Give this a listen: the First Ordinary Meeting of the 170th Session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened in tour usual Senate Room to debate the motion, "This House Believes Prostitution Should Be Legalised"!