Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge: 

Introduction- Addiction metaphor

• Those in power refuse to give it up

Topic Discussion

America doesn’t care about energy, just the power that it generates.

• Bryce 2010 (Robert, Author from the New York Times and Washington Post, “Power Hungry: The myths of “Green” Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future”)

Since America doesn’t care where energy comes from, it comes at the expense of the people in this country.

• Federal Government Energy Policy in Navajo Nation

Russia Times America 2011 (“Navajo Nation Contaminated by Uranium Ore”, 0:24-1:27, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DxWBFFkxwY)

Although we can’t see it, systems of oppression dehumanize the privileged community. Thus, dominant US identities remove their own humanity as they remove it from people such as the Navajo.

• Adams, Bell, and Griffin 2007 ((Maurianne, Lee Anne and Pat, Professors at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Barnard College, and University of Massachusetts, “Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice”)

The Navajo Nation is continuing to lose its entire culture to dominant policy.

• Russia Times America 2011 (“Navajo Nation Contaminated by Uranium Ore”, 1:53-2:23, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DxWBFFkxwY)

The US government isn’t doing anything to help the Navajo people.

• Russia Times America 2011 (“Navajo Nation Contaminated by Uranium Ore”, 2:49-3:14, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DxWBFFkxwY)

Advocacy: The USFG should substantially reduce its restrictions it has placed on individuals as a result of its energy policy and begin practicing a policy of multicultural conservation. Just as the debate community should reduce its restrictions it has placed on individuals as a result of the exclusive practices within traditional debate and must begin a policy of multicultural conservation.

Methodology and In-Round Action

In order to have effective and fair energy conservation policy, we must restore identities, which have been excluded from the conversation, through actions and performances of resistance.

• Agrawal and Gibson 1998 (Arun and Clark, Professors at Yale University and Indiana University, “Enchantment and Disenchantment: The Role of Community in Natural Resource Conservation”)

And to be able to engage in these acts and performances of resistance effectively, dominant social groups should reject and confront the systems of power/oppression from which they receive privilege by being allies.

• Edwards 2007 (Keith, Director of Campus Life at Macalester College, “Aspiring Social Justice Ally Identity Development)

Methodology of becoming an ally
Bishop 2002 (Anne, Former Coordinator of Development education for Canadian University Services Overseas, “Becoming an Ally: Breaking the Cycle of Oppression-in People-“)
There are six steps in becoming an ally. They are:

1.             Understanding oppression, how it came about, how it is held in place, and how it stamps its pattern on the individuals and institutions that continuously recreate it;

2.             Understanding different oppression, how they are similar, how they differ, and how they reinforce one another. The vast majority of us, however belong somewhere in between; we are oppressors in some parts of our identity and oppressed in others.

3.            Consciousness and healing:

4.            Becoming a worker in your own liberation
Bishop 2002 (Anne, Former Coordinator of Development education for Canadian University Services Overseas, “Becoming an Ally: Breaking the Cycle of Oppression-in People-“)
Human liberation begins with breaking the silence, ending the shame, and sharing our concerns and feelings. Story-telling leads to analysis. Analysis leads to strategy. Strategy leads to action, together, to change the injustices we suffer. Action leads to another round of reflection, analysis, strategy, and action. This is the process of liberation.

5.            Becoming an ally (The step is about taking direct action)

Allied behavior is an effective way of interrupting the cycle of violence by breaking the silence that reinforces the cycle, and by promoting a new set of behavior through modeling and mentoring

Ayvazian 1995 (Andrea, Former Dean of Religious Life and Protestant Chaplain at Mount Holyoke College “Interrupting the Cycle of Oppression: The Role of Allies as Agents of Change”)

6.            Maintaining Hope. An effective social justice group, whatever its purpose, can only maintain its hope if a balance of these two ways (intellectual processes and fun) of functioning is established. (Need for performance and acceptance argument). We also must have affirmation, acceptance, tolerance, pleasure, joy, humour, release, creativity, and fun. If there is too much intellectual work, participants burn out and lose hope. Too much intellectual work can also result in making judgments and distinctions within the group, with some members putting others down. On the other hand, if there is too much openness and fun, the group can be at risk of becoming confused and co-opted.