On air: Is Africa expecting too much from Obama?

Much excitement in Ghana as Barack Obama gets ready to leave Italy. And he’ll be greeted John Atta Mills and by the expectations of a continent. But from better governance, to more aid, to inspiring new leaders, to improving the attitudes of kids at school – is too much being loaded onto one man’s shoulders? Or do Africans have every right to expect these things from the first black President of America?

Obama and Africa – When times are tough, do we turn our backs on the world’s poor?

“When world leaders break a promise, it is a sin, but when governments break a promise to the poorest people on the planet, it is nothing short of a crime,”

Do you care how journalists get their stories ?

In Britain, the House of Commons – and the Metropolitan Police – have launched an investigation into  claims that “News of the World”  journalists used phone hacking to get stories.

The Guardian claims up to 3000 high profile people were targetted from Elle Macpherson to the former deputy PM John Prescott.

Are we too quick to prescribe medication ?

Here’s a story from 2001 talking about how the world – particularly the developed world – was using too many prescription drugs.

Here’s a report from 2007 which warns that  ”the abuse of prescription drugs will surpass illicit drug abuse “.

 And here’s a report – one of thousands – which talks about Michael Jackson’s  reliance on them.

G8 emission cut promises: Can you wait till 2050?

It’s been described as an historic agreement by the British PM Gordon Brown. The world’s richest industrial nationshave agreed to cut their carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 and to try to limit global warming to just 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels. But is 2050 too little too late? If we’re feeling the impact now why plans being made for the next 41 years?

On Air: Does everyone have the right to be a parent?

You’ve been sharing your thoughts and stories on whether everyone should be a parent for a week now and the latest is scientists are suggesting that everyone might be able to. Scientists claim to have created human sperm in the laboratory and believe the work could eventually help men with fertility problems.

The power of women protesters

As riot and paramilitary police flood the city of Urumqi in China’s Xinjiang region, Uighur women took to the streets in to protest the imprisonment of their husbands and loved ones.

On air: Your questions about the violence in China

We can see by looking online that you’re interested in this story, and your questions and discussions are more about wanting to know more about the people and places involved, than about the rights and wrongs. So we’ll have a panel of experts ready to answer your questions about the violence between Han Chinese and Uighurs in the city of Urumqi. Please post them here.

On air: Has all perspective been lost on the death of Michael Jackson?

UPDATE : On yesterday’s programme we discussed both issues : The first edition, which   goes out to the rest of the world MINUS Africa, the mood was clear ; generally speaking, you thought we  shouldn’t be talking about Michael Jackson at all.

The second edition, broadcasting to Africa, the response was equally clear : we can talk about China any day, you said, but today is about MJ.

Just thought i’d share that with you.

Mark 

Ever since we devoted a whole programme to his death, some of you have been fuming at the extensive media coverage and the outpouring of emotion that’s followed Michael Jackson’s passing. Put this in perspective, you’ve told us time and time again. Surely there are more important things for the media to be worrying about, you’ve argued. Some of you will think much the same when we discuss this today, but today’s memorial service is right at the top of the most read subjects online and we can’t ignore it.

60 years of Communism in China – a cause for celebration ?

   156 dead, over 1000 injured and 1400 arrested in China’s deadliest crackdown  since Beijing’s Tianemen Sqaure in 1989. China’s no stranger to brutal clampdowns. Some say it throws doubt on China’s “ideological clue to Communism”