Summary of Popular Cases

These cases enact the "Water for the Poor Act."  There is a shortage of potable water worldwide, but especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Lack of clean water leads to disease and creates escalating conflict.  Some analysts contend that the next great war will be over water.  Impact areas include Water Shortages, Disease, Hunger, Poverty, Democracy, Hegemony Good, Gender/Feminism, and Water Wars. 

Negative Strategy:  Negative teams can argue that another country like Japan or China could do the plan.  These countries have the experience and resources but would not link to politics disadvantages.  In addition, negatives can argue that one water program is not enough to eradicate the huge water shortages in Sub-Saharan Africa.

MEDFLAG 

This plan increases support for Department of Defense operations know as MEDFLAG to sponsor exercises for public health assistance.  Some cases may make these exercises longer, more permanent, or more prevalent in more places.  There is also a version called MEDCAP, which expands the Medical Civil Action Projects phase of MEDFLAG.  Impact areas include Humanitarianism, Terrorism, Troop Overstretch, and Hegemony Good.   

Negative Strategy:  Negative teams can argue that doctors for MEDFLAGS will trade off with active duty and reserve personnel causing a shortage of military doctors.  Military doctors are key to readiness.  Negative teams may also run agent counterplans that have the AU or EU start a program like MEDFLAG.

Debt Cancellation 

This plan would cancel all debt owed to the United States unconditionally for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.  This plan would clear the books without condition.  Impact areas include Neoliberalism Bad, Global Civil Society, and any number of critical impacts regarding debt/debtor scenarios. 

Negative Strategy:  Negatives can argue that debt cancellation is not topical.  They can define public health assistance to mean that the affirmative must give aid specifically for health. 

Family Planning/Abortion/Gag Rule

There are a wide variety of plans on this topic.  Nearly all condemn the Mexico City Policy, also know the Global Gag Rule, which restricts organizations that receive U.S. funding from offering abortion counseling or services.  Some cases merely indict this policy, but many also pledge additional funds for family planning methods with a specific emphasis on abortion funding.  Impact areas include Women's Health, Population, and Free Speech Good, AIDS, and Patriarchy Bad.

Negative Strategy:  Negative teams can argue that lifting the gag rule is not topical.  The plan must explicitly give monetary assistance.  If the case gives monetary assistance, the negative can counterplan to only lift the Gag Rule.  Without the Gag Rule, monetary aid will continue to pour into Africa as it does in the status quo.  Negative teams can also run politics disadvantages.  The Gag Rule would be a hot button issue for conservatives.  If Bush did not veto the plan, he would alienate his base and lose political capital.   

Rescind Anti-Prostitution Pledge

The United States currently has a policy that treats equally sex workers and sex traffickers.  In order for sex workers to utilize public health services, they must pledge to leave the sex industry.  These cases rescind the Anti-Prostitution Pledge.  Impact areas include Biopolitics, Women's Health, and Feminism. 

Negative Strategy: The negative team can run a politics disadvantage and argue that the plan would be very controversial among social conservatives and leftist feminists.  They can also argue that the plan will not make a difference in who uses services, because women are not likely to self-identify as prostitutes.   

Disease Surveillance

Plan would increase support for the Disease Research, Surveillance, Isolation and Containment Centers in Sub-Saharan Africa.  These centers would offer outbreak assistance, as well as epidemiological early warnings systems to monitor disease vectors.  Impact areas include Disease, Bioterrorism, Bird Flu, Malaria and other communicable diseases.

Negative Strategy:  The UN or EU could do the plan.  These organizations have the capacity to implement surveillance programs.  Negatives can also run spending disadvantages because surveillance programs cost millions of dollars. 

AIDS Medications

Many cases are run on this topic and offer a range of ways to deal with the clinical treatment of AIDS.  Some cases limit intellectual property rights to increase the number of low cost ARVs in Africa.  Others specify more funding for AIDS research.

Negative Strategy:  The negative team can argue that plans that decrease intellectual property rights will hurt pharmaceutical companies who need profits to conduct future drug research.  The negative can also run voluntary counterplans.  The government can encourage rather than mandate that companies do this.