On Air: Why is the world not backing the Pakistani Army?

    They’re finally doing what the world wants and they say they’ re fighting a global war- so why isn’t the world backing the Pakistani army?

With all the efforts of the Pakistani army, the Taleban look far from defeated. A deputy to Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud told the BBC by telephone the attack in Lahore ,which killed at least 24 people yesterday, was in response to the army’s operation in the Swat valley.

Krupa Thakrar

I’m affectionately known on the World Have Your Say team as Marshmallow, mainly because I thought houses were built on stilts for ventilation and because I accidently bought a real crocodile’s head on a work trip to Florida. If you ever get to meet us, I’m sure you’ll hear the stories. 

On Air: Your Questions to Irene Khan of Amnesty International

Irene writes :
“Exactly one year ago I was on World Have your Say.

All the talk was about Bush, Guantanamo and War on Terror. A year later, Bush is gone, Obama has announced the closure of Guantanamo and we are in the middle of an economic crisis and the G-20 is at the top table.

I think it isn’t just about the economy. The real problems are about inequality, insecurity, discrimination, racism and xenophobia – the world is facing a human rights crisis, not just an economic crisis.

On air: Why are minority appointments still an issue?

If everything goes to plan, America will soon have it first Hispanic Supreme Court judge. President Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor, currently a US Appeals court judge, to take over from retiring Justice Souter.

Scientology: the debate continues

Ruth Gledhill, the Religion Correspondent of the Times newspaper very generously joined us for two hours on Tuesday’s programme on Scientology. Here’s her blog of the experience. Thanks Ruth! And if you missed it don’t forget you can download the podcast.

What’s wrong with killing animals?

It was just a mouthful, but the morsel of food that passed the Canadian governor general’s lips is making news around the world. Michaelle Jean helped butcher and eat a seal heart in an apparent act of solidarity with Canada’s native Inuit hunters  — and has won scores of praise and criticism in doing so.

On air: What is scientology?

The French branch of the Church of Scientology goes on trial today, accused of organised fraud, something the Church strongly rejects.

Clearly while the case is in progress there’s only so much we can say about it, but it again has got you discussing what exactly scientology is, and whether it should be allowed to operate in your country.

So tell us your perception of Scientology, and what you ask a representative of the organisation. We’re going to invite representatives onto the programme to talk with, though no guest has been confirmed yet.

An end to ethnic profiling ?

It doesn’t work, says this new report.

Police forces across Europe regularly use religious and ethnic stereotypes to target potential terrorists, but – according to the Open Society Justice Initiative -  it leaves the public “less safe”

Do you have the right to refuse your children medical treatment?

Lots of you have been talking about the story of Daniel Hauser, the cancer stricken teen who has returned voluntarily with his mother  after fleeing Minnesota to avoid chemotherapy. The family are members of a religious group that believe in natural healing methods. Do you have the right to refuse medical treatment? What’s the point in forcing someone to accept treatment?

Is it worth doing a degree?

In the toilets of the student union bar, somebody had written on the paper towel dispenser ‘Peace Studies degree – please take one’.

That’s what they thought my uni course was worth! Ros and Mark were teasing me about it too in the WHYS meeting yesterday.