But Mr Howard's attempt to tighten the law in the wake of Wik has provoked the most impassioned debate on race that Australia has seen.

ECONOMIST: Australia

Instead, it was the result of two roll call votes taken in the course of many hours of impassioned debate on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

The action followed months of impassioned public debate initiated by a petition signed by hundreds of residents asking for a ban on fracking.

WSJ: NY appeals court to consider local fracking bans

It's an issue that's sparked debate and impassioned demonstrations from supporters and opponents in many countries.

CNN: Uruguay's senate approves same-sex marriage bill

This bill passed despite an impassioned plea by Majority Whip Dick Durbin to extend debate and hold hearings on small business legislation.

FORBES: Senate Approves Crowdfunding, as Crowdfunds Rush to Take Advantage

My claim provoked an impassioned reaction from commenters on both sides of the debate, and many readers offered detailed and thoughtful responses.

FORBES: The ACC's Third Tier Rights And Why They're Killing The Conference

Before the debate, Welsh Secretary Ron Davies made an impassioned plea to the conference not to tear itself apart in arguing over the mechanics of achieving gender balance in the assembly.

BBC: Welsh Labour votes for sex equality

During the debate public health minister Yvette Cooper made an impassioned plea for scientists to be given the go-ahead for stem cell research, denying it was a "slippery slope" to human cloning.

BBC: MPs vote to extend embryo research