Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
 Resolved: The United States Federal Government should establish a matching funds program and initiate licensing reform with Nuclear Regulatory Commission to promote the use of Thorium as a nuclear fuel. 

Inherency

Thorium revival is inevitable—the only question is whether the U.S. is a follower or a leader
Martin, Pike Research Editorial Director, 5-4-12
(Richard, “Is Thorium A Magic Bullet For Our Energy Problems?,” Talk of the Nation Science Friday, National Public Radio, accessed 8-20-12, p. Lexis) 

ADV 1
Prolif inevitable
Alagappa, Senior fellow at the East-West Center, 9
(Muthiah, “Nuclear Weapons Reinforce Security and Stability in 21st Century Asia,” Global Asia, Volume 4, Spring 2009, da 9-27-12, mee)

Thorium solves nuclear terrorism
Martin, Wired Science Contributing Editor, 9
(Richard, December 21, “Uranium is so Last Century: Enter Thorium, the New Green Nuke,” http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/all/1, accessed 8-25-12, hec)

The plan causes other suppliers to model US practices-ensures no proliferation.
Sokolski, Nonproliferation Policy Education Center Executive Director, 11
(Henry, “The Post-Fukushima Arms Race?”, Foreign Policy, July, 29, 2011,http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/07/29/the_post_fukushima_arms_race?print=yesandhidecomments=yesandpage=full, 10/9/12, atl)

Other countries follow the US lead-ensures they’ll pick nuclear and implement safety measures
Lieberman, American Physical Society senior government relations specialist, 11
(Jodi, November 15, 2011 “Nonproliferation, Congress, and Nuclear Trade: Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” http://csis.org/files/publication/111116_nonproliferation_congress_and_nucleartrade.pdf

Proliferation causes nuclear war-crisis escalation, aggression, saving face, delegation and launch on warning guarantee it.
Kroenig, Georgetown University Government assistant professor, 12
(Matthew, Assistant Professor of Government at Georgetown University and Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at Council on Foreign Relations, “The History of Proliferation Optimism: Does It Have A Future?,” 5-26-12, http://www.npolicy.org/article.php?aid=1182andrtid=2, accessed 10-2-12, mtf)

Prolif in Southeast Asia causes nuclear terrorism and piracy
CNS, 12
(Center for Nonproliferation Studies. May 2012. “PROSPECTS FOR NUCLEAR SECURITY PARTNERSHIP IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.” http://cns.miis.edu/opapers/pdfs/120515_seasia_nuclear_security_partnership.pdf. Accessed: 9/30/2012. ADC)

Extinction
Morgan, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, 2009
(Dennis, World on fire: two scenarios of the destruction of human civilization and possible extinction of the human race Futures, Volume 41, Issue 10, December, ldg)

Status quo nuclear power will be based off Chinese designs-guarantees accidents and meltdowns
Tu, Carnegie Energy and Climate Program senior associate, 12
(Kevin Jianjun. “China’s Nuclear Crossroads.” 3-11. http://carnegieendowment.org/2012/03/11/china-s-nuclear-crossroads. Accessed: 9/30/2012. ADC)

Nuclear accidents wreck biodiversity
Mousseau, USC biology professor, 2011
(TA, “Conservation consequences of Chernobyl and other nuclear accidents”, Biological Conservation Volume 144, Issue 12, December 2011, Pages 2787–2798, Science Direct, ldg)

Extinction
Daily et al, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences Stanford, 7
(11-19, Gretchen, Senior Fellow, Woods Institute for the Environment Director, Center for Conservation Biology Director, Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources Chair, The Natural Capital Project, “ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: Benefits Supplied to Human Societies by Natural Ecosystems,” http://www.sierraforestlegacy.org/Resources/Conservation/FireForestEcology/ForestEconomics/Economics-Daily97.pdf) atw

ADV 2
Chinese thorium development ensures Sino leadership on world clean energy policies
Evans-Pritchard, Daily Telegraph International Business Editor, 3-20-11
(Ambrose, “Safe nuclear does exist, and China is leading the way with thorium,” Daily Telegraph, accessed 8-20-12, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/8393984/Safe-nuclear-does-exist-and-China-is-leading-the-way-with-thorium.html)

Plan solves- U.S. leadership in clean energy markets is key to accelerate the installation of modern energy services worldwide
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 08
(“Strengthening U.S. Leadership  of International Clean Energy Cooperation,” December 2008, accessed 8-20-12, http://www.nrel.gov/international/pdfs/44261.pdf)

Access to modern energy services is key to reduce global poverty
International Energy Agency, 11
(“Energy For All: Financing access for the poor,” October 2011, accessed 9-2-12, http://www.iea.org/Papers/2011/weo2011_energy_for_all.pdf) 

Global poverty kills tens of millions each year
Abu-Jamal, Social Activist, 9-19-98
(Mumia, “A Quiet and Deadly Violence,” accessed 9-3-12, http://www.angelfire.com/az/catchphraze/mumiaswords.html#quiet)

ADV 3
USFG has no solution to the issue of what to do with nuclear waste
Jacobson, Seattle Times Reporter, 6-8-12
(Linda, “Nuclear Waste Storage: An ugly issue with no solution in sight,” The Seattle Times, http://blogs.seattletimes.com/uwelectioneye/2012/06/08/hanford-site-nuclear-waste-storage/) 

Status quo storage policies concerning nuclear waste disproportionately effects minorities and is an example of environmental injustice
Endres, Univ. of Utah Assistant Prof. of Communication, 07
(Danielle, “The State of Environmental Justice in High-Level Nuclear Waste Siting Decisions,” accessed 8-22-12, http://www.ejconference.net/images/Endres.pdf)

We have a moral obligation to advocate for environmental justice
Lawson and Westra, Univ. of Memphis Philosophy Prof. and Univ. of Windsor Philosophy Prof., 01
(Bill and Laura, Faces of Environmental Racism: Confronting Issues of Global Justice, Google Books, accessed 8-22-12, http://books.google.com/books?id=uHPoATIWeZcCandpg=PR15andlpg=PR15anddq=moral+obligation+to+fight+environmental+racismandsource=blandots=_KMwaDCwhgandsig=ykDE6YcjvBAaBuizwg6qGNHtntIandsa=Xandei=jok1UL-oLIa09QS0wICIBAandsqi=2andved=0CDoQ6AEwCQ#v=onepageandq=moral%20obligation%20to%20fight%20environmental%20racismandf=false) 

Economic vulnerability and unique legal status ensures nuclear waste will be stored on Native American lands—this perpetuates radioactive colonialism
Lacey, Georgetown Univ. Law Center JD Candidate, 04
(Eric Jonathan, “Manifest Destiny's New Face: "Soft-Selling" Tribal Heritage Lands for Toxic Waste,” Georgetown Law Journal, January 2004, accessed 10-16-12, p. Lexis) 

Radioactive colonialism results in extinction for indigenous peoples—and we have a moral obligation to take responsibility for it
Yokota, 02
(Ryan Masaaki, “Radioactive Colonization: The Impacts of Nuclear Weaponry on Non-White Populations,” accessed 10-16-12, http://www.buddhahead.org/writing/oped_082295.htm)

Thorium fueled LFTR’s solve for the current nuclear waste problem in the U.S.
Martin, Pike Research Editorial Director, 12
(Richard, Super Fuel: Thorium, the Green Energy Source for the Future, page 77-79)

Moral obligation to dismantle racism
Barndt (co-director of Ministry Working to Dismantle Racism) 1991
"Dismantling Racism" p. 155

Concrete ethical action and values are necessary and good—this precedes ontology and theory, is a necessary condition of subjectivity, and is key to destroy the ideology of genocide.
Arnett, Duquesne University Communication Professor, 2003
(Ronald C., "The Responsive 'I': Levinas's Derivative Argument," Argumentation and Advocacy 40.1, pg. 39-43, cab)

Solvency
Failure to develop a strong civilian industry brackets the US out of future markets and destroys nonproliferation efforts
Bengelsdorf, Consultant and former director of both key State and Energy Department offices that are concerned with international nuclear and nonproliferation affairs, 07
(Harold, “The U.S. Domestic Civil Nuclear Infrastructure and U.S. Nonproliferation Policy” The U.S. Domestic Civil Nuclear Infrastructure AND U.S. Nonproliferation Policy, May 2007, 6/2/12, atl)

Federal action is key to prevent rapid collapse and sustains diplomatic pressure
Wallace et al, Senior Adviser, U.S. Nuclear Energy Project – CSIS, 12
(Michael e-, member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC), which advises the president on matters related to homeland security, member of the Nuclear Sector Coordinating Council under the Department of Homeland Security’s National Infrastructure Protection Plan and Business Executives for National Security (BENS), the Naval Historical Foundation Advisory Council, and the Marquette University College of Engineering National Advisory Council, Sarah Williams, program coordinator and research associate in the U.S. Nuclear Energy Project at CSIS, M.A. in global policy studies from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin, “Nuclear Energy in America: Preventing its Early Demise”, Global Forecast 2012 pg. 50-61, 6/12/12, atl)

A federal matching funds program solves for the development of thorium as a nuclear fuel
Martin, Pike Research Editorial Director, 12
(Richard, Super Fuel: Thorium, the Green Energy Source for the Future, page 232)

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
High prices inevitable – history and exports
Whitman, former EPA administrator, ‘12
(Chirstine Todd, former Governor of New Jersy,  “It’s dangerous to depend on natural gas” 5-9-12 http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/05/09/christine-whitman-nuclear-energy/ accessed: 9-23-12 mlb)

No link - Prices massively fluctuate – empirics
Spencer, Heritage Foundation Nuclear Energy Policy Senior Research Fellow, 12
(Jack “More to the story on nuclear power and cheap natural gas” 3-16-12 http://blog.heritage.org/2012/03/16/more-to-the-story-on-nuclear-power-and-cheap-natural-gas/ accessed: 9-23-12 mlb)

Company adaption solves the impact
Whitman, M.J. Bradley and Associates, ‘11
(Austin F.  “Natural Gas Volatility” A report for the American Clear Skies Foundation and the Task Force on Ensuring Stable Natural Gas Markets, 1-26-11 http://bipartisanpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Natural%20Gas%20Price%20Volatility%20-%20Lessons%20from%20Other%20Markets.pdf accessed: 9-24-12 mlb)

Even if there's a zero-sum tradeoff, prefer thorium over natural gas- gas emissions substantially contribute to global warming
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, 2012
("NATURAL GAS IN THE U.S. ELECTRIC POWER SECTOR", Technology, May, http://www.c2es.org/docUploads/natural-gas-electric-power-sector.pdf, accessed 10/3/12, SLC)

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
High prices are inevitable – growth in developing countries outweighs
Gold, WSJ staff writer, 2012
(Russell, “Drivers Cut Back on $4 Gas”, Wall Street Journal, April 28, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703367004576289292254881456.html, accessed 9/18/12, SLC)

3) No Link—electricity production and generation doesn’t rely on oil
Behrens and Glover, Congressional Research Service Energy Specialists, 4-11-12
(Carl and Carol, “U.S. Energy: Overview and Key Statistics,” accessed 9-18-12, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40187.pdf) 

4) No Impact—a logical policymaker can endorse the plan and high oil prices at the same time. 

5) Non Unique—White House release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve ensures prices remain low
Domm and Gee, CNBC Reporters, 9-18-12
(Patti and Judy, “How the White House Is Keeping a Lid on Oil Prices,” accessed 9-18-12, http://www.cnbc.com/id/49018980

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
2) Counter Interpretation—the United States Federal Government is all three branches
Columbia Encyclopedia, no date given
"United States," http://www.answers.com/topic/united-states, mss

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
1) Non Unique—Congress just passed a spending bill—means either the rider was attached to it or it empirically denies their scenario 

Associated Press, 9-22-12
(“Unproductive Congress skips town until November,” accessed 9-22-12, http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hHKMl24BF1oFrA4SmvkanaYcG1gQ?docId=5ca41ad23dad4e2f925bc0cf1fe54e9e) 

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
New technology doesn’t require rare earth metals
Patton, Recharge News, 11
(Dominique, "Rare earths miner Molycorp invests in Boulder Wind", 9-24-11, http://www.rechargenews.com/business_area/finance/article277963.ece, accessed 10-15-12, AT)

New metals don’t come from China
Benson, Natural News Staff Writer, 11
(Jonathan, "Advanced wind turbine design eliminates need for environmentally-harmful rare earth metals, generates electricity t .4 per kWh", 9-22-11, http://www.naturalnews.com/033647_wind_turbines_rare_earth_metals.html, accessed 10-15-12, AT)

The U.S. is incentivizing domestic production---will cause self-sufficiency
Humphries, CRS energy policy specialist, 2011
(Marc, “Rare Earth Elements: The Global Supply Chain”, 9-6, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41347.pdf, DOA: 10-2-12, ldg)

New Japanese discoveries destroy China’s monopoly
HSN 2011
(Homeland Security News Wire, “Japanese discovery could undermine China's rare earth dominance”, 7-7, http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/japanese-discovery-could-undermine-chinas-rare-earth-dominance, DOA: 10-2-12, ldg)

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
Technological thinking is inevitable
Kateb, Princeton politics professor, 97
(George, “Technology and the Rest of Culture”, Ohio State Univ Pr (Txt) (June 2001), 10/4/12, atl)

Concrete ethical action and values are necessary and good—this precedes ontology and theory, is a necessary condition of subjectivity, and is key to destroy the ideology of genocide.
Arnett, Duquesne University Communication Professor, 2003
(Ronald C., "The Responsive 'I': Levinas's Derivative Argument," Argumentation and Advocacy 40.1, pg. 39-43, cab)

Preventing extinction is a political end of Dasein – failure to solve turns the alt
Reilly, Merchants Exchange Owner and Political Consultant, 08
(Clint, 19 August 2008, "From Heidegger to the Environment: Californians Are in the World," http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/08/from_heidegger.html, 9/15/12, atl)

Investigations of the meaning of Being are inherently contradictory—there is no ahistorical point for their critique to begin from and there is no such thing as the meaning of Being.
Garrard, Bath Spa University English Lecturer, 10
(Greg, NOTE: Bath Spa University is a real liberal arts university in Bath, England "Heidegger Nazism Ecocriticism," Interdisiplinary Studies in Literature and Environment, 17.2, pg. 259-261, cab)

Even if ontology is good in the abstract, those who advocate it fail to grapple with real-world problems.
Mulligan et al, University of Geneva Professor for philosophy, 06
(Kevin, “What’s wrong with contemporary philosophy? http://www.springerlink.com/content/e6hl522358431760/fulltext.pdf//wyo-mm, 9/15/12, atl)

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
Federal incentives are vital to spur investment and innovation in the energy sector—private sector alone can’t solve
American Energy Innovation Council, 11
(“Catalyzing American Ingenuity: The Role of Government in Energy Innovation,” January 2011, accessed 9-13-12, http://americanenergyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AEIC_Catalyzing_Ingenuity_2011.pdf) 

Emphasis on the free market is the foundation of neo-liberalism
Abu-Jazar, Political Theorists, 09
(L., “THE NEO-LIBERAL DOGMA,” accessed 9-22-12, http://politics.lilithezine.com/The-Neo-Liberal-Dogma-and-Canada.html)

Neoliberalism eviscerates morality, faith, and meaning
Brown, 03
(Wendy, “Neo-liberalism and the End of Liberal Democracy,” Theory and Event, Volume 7, Issue 1, p. MUSE) 

Neoliberalism produces hierarchies and causes mass poverty and structural violence
Giroux, 06
(Henry, “The Emerging Authoritarianism in the United States: Political Culture Under the Bush/Chaney Administration,” Symploke, Volume 14, Numbers 1-2, p. MUSE) 

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
Ruling on posterity clause is controversial and will be perceived by the public
Updegraff, Univ. of Colorado Law School JD, 09
(Trevor, “Morals on Stilts: Assessing the Value of Intergenerational Environmental Ethics,” 20 COLO. J. INT'L ENVTL. L. and POL'Y 367, Summer 2009, accessed 9-24-12, p. lexis) 

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
Links to politics – XOs are unpopular AND takes out solvency – Congress will force rollback
Savage, NY Times, 12
(Charlie, “Shift on Executive Power Lets Obama Bypass Rivals,” 4-22-12, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/us/politics/shift-on-executive-powers-let-obama-bypass-congress.html?pagewanted=alland_moc.semityn.www#h, accessed 9-19-12, ara)

Tournament: Navy | Round: Quarters | Opponent: GMU HM | Judge: Hayes
Thorium fueled reactors can consume decommissioned nuclear weapons
Sorensen, Nuclear and Aerospace Engineer, 3-23-11
(Kirk, “Sorensen Rebuttal of IEER/PSR Thorium Paper,” accessed 11-3-12, http://energyfromthorium.com/2011/03/23/sorensen-rebuttal/) 

Destroying decommissioned warheads is key to robust U.S.-Russia relations
Tyler, New York Times Reporter, 1-11-02
(Patrick, “U.S. plan to store warheads irks Russia,” Chicago Tribune, accessed 1-4-13, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-01-11/news/0201110271_1_nuclear-weapons-responsive-capability-nuclear-arsenals)

Arms control is key to overall relations and now is the key time to reinvigorate bilateral relations
Albright and Ivanov, Former U.S. Secretary of State and Former Russian Foreign Minister, 12-30-12
(Madeleine and Igor, “A New Agenda for U.S.-Russia Cooperation,” New York Times, accessed 1-4-13, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/31/opinion/31iht-edalbright31.html?_r=0) 

Robust relations are vital to global stability and plan is key to inject new energy into bilateral relations
Rojansky, Deputy Director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 9-5-12
(Matthew, “U.S.-Russian Cooperation Beyond 2012,” accessed 1-4-13, http://carnegieendowment.org/2012/09/05/u.s.-russian-cooperation-beyond-2012/drem)

Robust bilateral relations are vital to preventing nuclear war, loss of hegemony, nuclear terrorism, proliferation, and economic collapse
Allison and Blackwill, Harvard Political Science Prof., and Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow, 11
(Graham and Robert, “Russia and U.S. National Interests: Why Should Americans Care?,” October 2011, accessed 1-4-13, http://www.cftni.org/Russia-and-US-NI_final-web.pdf) 

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
The public loves reactors
Whitman, CASEnergy Co-Chair, 8-13
(Christine Todd, Former EPA Administrator and New Jersey Governor, "Nuclear Power Garners Bipartisan Support," 8-13-12, http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2012/08/finding-the-sweet-spot-biparti.php#2237728, accessed 9-30-12, mtf)

Obama won’t use influence effectively- hoards capital and folds easily
McConnell, American Conservative founding editor, 12-26
(Scott, "About Obama More than Hagel," 12-26-12, http://www.theamericanconservative.com/about-obama-more-than-hagel/, accessed 1-4-13, mtf)

Obama will push gun control
Wilson and Rucker, Washington Post writers, 12-17
(Scott and Philip, "Obama asks Cabinet members for proposals to curb gun violence," 12-17-12, http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-12-17/politics/35887284_1_gun-violence-supporters-of-gun-rights-gun-control-legislation/2, accessed 1-4-13, mtf)

Gun control drains capital
Frum, CNN contributor, 12-17
(David, contributing editor at Newsweek and The Daily Beast, special assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2002, "Why Obama shouldn't lead fight against gun violence," 12-17-12, http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/17/opinion/frum-leadership-newtown/index.html, accessed 1-4-13, mtf)

Tournament: Jv/ Novice Nats | Round: 6 | Opponent: JMU HP | Judge:
Thorium fueled reactors produce cheap electricity and can replace coal
McClaughry, Nuclear Engineer, 9-11-12
(John, “A Cheaper, Safer Sort of Nuclear Power,” accessed 10-14-12, http://reason.com/archives/2012/09/11/a-cheaper-safer-sort-of-nuclear-power?utm_source=feedburnerandutm_medium=feedandutm_campaign=Feed%3A+reason%2FArticles+%28Reason+Online+-+All+Articles+%28except+Hit+%26+Run+blog%29%29) 

Thorium fueled reactors produce electricity cheaper than coal
Hargraves, Expert in Energy Policy at Dartmouth College, 7-11-10
(Robert, “Energy cheaper than from coal,” accessed 10-14-12, http://energyfromthorium.com/2010/07/11/ending-energy-poverty/) 

Debates about mountaintop removal are key to formation of a healthy civic identity that balances principle and profit—the alternative is a civic domain dominated by corporate interests that regularly violate dignity and further injustice  
Rhodes, Duke Univ. Law School JD Candidate, 2-15-13
(Howard, “Howard Rhodes: Civic Identity and Sacred Values,” accessed 2-17-13, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/by-topic/howard-rhodes-civic-identity-and-sacred-values/14751/)

Mountaintop removal mining is the biggest rights violation possible
Biggers, Writer for EcoWatch, 11-16-12
(Jeff, “If Big Coal Can Phase Out Mountaintop Removal, Congress and the White House Can Pass the ACHE Act,” accessed 2-17-13, http://ecowatch.org/2012/end-mountaintop-removal/)

Domestic coal use separates us from nature, is a direct cause of anthropocentricism, justifies a philosophy of unsustainable economic growth and reliance on more complex technology, dooms Appalachia to permanent status as a national sacrificial zone—the affirmatives advocacy is key to stop mountaintop removal mining
Butler, President of the Northeast Wilderness Trust, 09
(Tom, “Plundering Appalachia: The Tragedy of Mountaintop-Removal Coal Mining,” accessed 2-2-13, http://www.plunderingappalachia.org/thebook_intro.htm)

Tournament: JV/ Novice Nats | Round: 6 | Opponent: JMU HP | Judge:
Medical isotope shortage is coming—this ensures price spikes and lack of patient access to life saving medicines—development of thorium fueled reactors solves
Martin, Pike Research Editorial Director, 12
(Richard, Super Fuel: Thorium, The Green Energy Source for the Future, Pages 195-197) 

Robust supply of medical isotopes is vital to domestic research and development into more effective treatments for various types of cancer—and for diagnosing and treating people who already have it
Nichols, Investment Analyst, 8-14-12
(Brian, “Isotopes, Shortages, Solutions and The Growing Demand Of Cancer Treatment,” accessed 10-4-12, http://seekingalpha.com/article/805651-isotopes-shortages-solutions-the-growing-demand-of-cancer-treatment) 

Deaths from cancer is the biggest systematic impact in the round
Craig, 21st Century Science and Technology Associate Editor, 9
(Christine, “Radioisotopes: The Medical Lifesavers That Congress Is Suppressing,” accessed 10-4-12, http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/Articles_2010/Winter_2009/Isotope_Suppression.pdf)