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Russian Organized Crime
We have been talking a lot about loose nukes and the aging Russian military. A threat that has not been receiving as much attention is organized crime. Russian gangsters are involved in a number of rackets in the United States. We put together a short list of stories and video concerning Russian mafia activity. This topic is covered in the February edition of The Carver Files which is available in the ‘Store’ here at Public Formula.

Detectives in Moscow just arrested Russia’s most notorious crime boss, Semyon Mogilevich. He has been labeled ‘The Brainy Don’ and is considered to be among the most important organized crime figures in the world. This is the first part of a BBC program about the infamous mobster made in 1999. One could argue that the capture of this important figure might produce a decrease in threat to American interests from Russian organized crime.

Russian Organized Crime in the United States

Check out our all new Video section, full of topic related footage from all over the internet. We are continuing to expand the ‘PF Resources’ section with new articles and other Public Forum Debate related information.

If you haven’t finished up tournaments for the month of January, you may be interested in purchasing the January edition of the Carver Files. The January file has already been formatted to include the Supplement File as well. Plenty of useful evidence plus expert analysis from the team here at Public Formula.

2008 January Public Forum Debate Topic
Resolved: In a democracy, civil disobedience is an appropriate weapon in the fight for justice.

The civil disobedience topic may not exactly be “ripped from the headlines” like the other Public Forum topics but that doesn’t mean it isn’t relevant. Most teams will likely associate civil disobedience with people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. The most famous examples are in the past but people today in the United States are using civil disobedience as a means for change. Here are some contemporary examples…

Tacoma Citizens Protest the War in Iraq


Universal Health Care in Connecticut


Anti-Tax Activists in New Hampshire


The February edition of the Carver Files is now available for immediate purchase and download.

2008 February Public Forum Debate Topic
Resolved: That Russia has become a threat to U.S. interests.

From our perspective, the largest threat from Russia might possibly be their loose nukes. Here is some great info from the PBS program Frontline.

PBS Frontline Special: loose nukes

Experts are concerned about the high grade uranium making its way to terrorists or other criminals. In January, a Russian scientist almost stole four ounces of the dangerous material.

The update for the January edition of the Carver Files is complete and has been sent to all subscribers. All new purchases of the Carver Files will include the topic update. Already subscribed? Check your email for the PDF.

I was checkin out YouTube and found sizzlin PF action between Desert Vista High School and Corona Del Sol. While they are arguing the January topic, they are also making a strong case for implementing an inspirational music component to the high school debate round. Each month the NFL releases a new debate topic as well as a song? Think on it.