Date: Sunday, October 11th 2015

Participants (from 13 countries):

Host: Marwa

Moderator: Johny

Teams

Panel PRO: Kelly, Basil, Peter, Amine

Panel CON: Finda, Marwa, Seif, Amir, Mohammed, Johny.

Audience: Shohel, Ibrahim, Ayisha, Rojhano, Kashee, Amy

Panel PRO:

Not matter how many times we hear “Money does not buy happiness”, the truth is that we cannot be happy without it.
The lack of money will sometimes push people to commit dishonest acts.
People will do bad things to get money, even when violating values they hold dearly.
History has shown that the root cause of violent conflicts can be sometimes traced to an absence of money or financial success/stability, whether at the individual or national level.
Nowadays, countries are still fighting against each other with and for their economy.
Money corrupts people, countries, governments and systems.
Many family conflicts are based on money, whether its family loans to a member or when a member dies, and the inheritance of their estate is decided.
Having Money can also mean having power. If we give money to the wrong people, this may ended up being used for creating conflicts, wars, acquiring guns, drugs or other illegal goods, and can also lead to a person wanting to control technologies, banks, companies and corporations.
Money allows a dishonest politician to “buy” people’s vote by undergoing expensive campaigns.
Money causes corruption: is easier to pull some strings in order to get some personal favor among the government, legal offices, educational institutions and courts if we “buy” the right cleric.

Panel CON:

Money can be used for improving education: in schools, money can be used for buying computers for the students, having internet as a tool for students and teachers, for buying air conditioners or heating systems for the class rooms, for buying and repairing desks, chairs and the overall infrastructure for the sake of the students, teachers and managers.
It depends on the people: money can surely be used for the benefit of society.
In the end, is not money that causes bad things, it is the people who have a choice, they can use the money to do good things or bad with it.
It’s up to each person: It is true that we see people using money for doing bad or dishonest things with it but we also see people doing good things with it, such as Bill Gates and others who had used their wealth to build foundations that helps people around the world.
Money allows us to improve our home security (buying and installing alarms, cameras or security systems and paying a security guard or personnel).
Money allows people to pay a better education for their children.
It can be used for having a memorable wedding or birthday, with the best food, music bands, fine clothing and fancy video films.
Money is a very powerful tool that depending on its use, it can be bad or a blessing.
We cannot blame money, the weakness lays on the personality of the person.

Audience summary:

Shohel left early
Ibrahim voted for team B
Ayisha voted for team B
Rojhano voted for team B
Kashee voted for team B

Team B won this debate, congratulations!

The consensus be reached with this discussion is that money by itself is not the problem, is how people use the money what creates problems.

There was a bonus chat after the debate and the topic was: “If you were nominated for Person of the world, how would you sell yourself to win?” This would be posted in a separated blog.

Thanks everyone for participating. To listen to this debate, click on the links below:

Listen online:

Download:

Money is the source of all evil | October 11th 2015 | Recording file

For people who did not join the live discussion, feel free to contribute the ideas in the comment blanks below.