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BBC World Have Your Say 
I recently visited Africa – came home and developed a curriculum to teach technology to kids.
When I wrote to USAID about my desire to teach African children and adults about technology I was told that teaching kids was not a priority
I like and believe what the guest Miss Kitty was saying about beauty and confidence and thought she was accurate is revealing to the mother of the five year old that SHE is planting this seed of being fat by being AFRAID of her daughter getting fat. Mothering your children and making them aware of such a concept of being fat leads to the teasing and insecurity you deeply fear.
What resists, persists.
We as women need to cultivate a healthy self image by embracing our different shapes and sizes. The confidence we exude, whether we a “fluffy’ (love that) or naturally thin is what is sexy.
To brag about teaching African kids and adults about technology is an insult to african people. Do not think that Africans are stupid people who have no knowledge of technology. Do you know that African people recycle things better than the western world? They may not have equipments like the west, but their knowledge of technology is well far higher than you think. Teaching kids is important, we must catch them young to increase their interest in all works of life, but it does not have to be african kids and adults. Charity should start at home.
STpracer, please don’t give up!
Perhaps you could help me get a project started to send Babar Ali (The Youngest Headmaster..) some money to enable him to build a proper place for these kids to be taught by him. I would like him to have a room with a roof and a solid floor because of the conditions under which he is labouring at the moment because of the rains.
Please e-mail my message to anyone you feel would be interested. I have already committed online to contribute £50. I have also sent a message to Damian Grammaticas and to the paper’s ‘have your say’
Regards,
Elaine (aka Mrs.Kindly)
It should be entirely up to the individual if they chose to disclose their mental health status and gain the chance of employers making reasonable adjustments in the workplace, or to keepit from employers and try to deal with challenges to ones health amongst professionals, friend and family.
The presenter and Mr Farmer from MIND were inaccurate in saying it was a UK organisation-it only operates in England and Wales and as for the man from the council, Andrew North, he can’t have it both ways. He says that his employee should have disclosed so she could have got help and adjustments in the workplace, but he also says he wouldn’t have employed her if she had disclosed!
I have depression and have survived suicide attempts, I am honest about my mental health status because I choose to be in a supportive employment environment. If your isn’t supportive, you may want to think twice about disclosing, but, again, the decision should always, always be yours!
Let me be clear there is no correlation between mental health and violence and the caller that tried to make this association was mistaken. You are more likely to be a victim of violence if you have a mental health problem, than be a perpetrator!
education is must for kids
There is an important point the media are continually missing about these mass shootings. If 90% or more of the shooters were Muslims, would there be a great hue and cry about “what is wrong with Muslims?” Of course there would. If the vast majority of shooters were girls and women, people would be demanding that something be done to “fix” females so this would not keep happening. But when most of the shooters are white, middle class males, the media ignores that fact. They write about “youth” doing the killings, not BOYS or MEN. Jackson Katz speaks about this regularly. see his website, jacksonkatz.com or check out this Youtube video showing him:
Masculinity, an artificial cultural construct, plays a huge part in these killings.
i think with an ever broadening global consciousness and new advances in science…our society is going through another renaissance. we have access to different cultures and ideas that we’ve never had before. this expansion of perspective allows a person to find their own spirituality, and often people are customizing their beliefs by adopting certain aspects from various religions. people are beginning to consider christianity on par with various mythologies that were en vogue centuries ago. combine this with the debacles of the catholic church through the last century, and people are very eager to construct their own DIY brand of spirituality and accountability while leaving authoritarian dogma behind.
portland, or
A major issue I encountered, while serving a Mormon mission, was the belief that Mormons are not Christians. The LDS church changed the official church logo some time ago to emphasize the name Jesus Christ. Romney’s speech was an attempt to win the votes of the Evangelical Republican vote letting them know that he was in fact a Christian like them, and held a great deal of similar beliefs. He talked about the Bible and his religious convictions. I believe that a person does not need to be Christian to run for President, but they do need to be a person of faith if they hope to win. So many people in the U.S. feel that faith is an important issue and would not elect someone who lacked it.
Here in Ireland the Catholic church had a very strong hold over the country at both the community and the political level. In the last twenty years this power has declined rapidly as Ireland has become wealthier and many abuses of church authority were exposed. In previous generations Ireland used to send its priests and missionaries all over the world, but now there are very few Irish ordinations. In fact, the fastest growing Christian communities here are composed of African immigrants, whilst Polish migrant workers sustain church congregations. One explanation for the decline in Ireland has been the unhealthily close relationship in the past between the church and state, which allowed abuses to take place. Irish people are more prosperous today, more materialistic and less willing to accept authority. Perhaps the message of Christ appeals more to poor and oppressed communities, offering a solace that is ‘not of this world’.
I was trying to find the space to respond to Richard Hawkins “The God Delusion”
But I could not find the space
Richard Hawkins gripe with religion, is just down to their teaching against
homosexuality and lesbianism.
Mr. Hawkins just want to stamp out the word SIN, and to get rid of SIN,
Mr. Hawkins has to get rid of God, which Mr Hawkins seems hard to do on his own.
Mr Hawkins probably don’t have any children, if he does, he has to teach them
about right and wrong.
And Western World Government Laws are based on the Moral Law (Ten Commandments),
which God claims to has given to Moses to pass on to Israel, when they came
out of slavery and bondage in Egypt.
People who are angry with God, usually take it out on those who believe in God.
If God can talk to Mr. Hawkins, He will say the same thing as when Jesus was
hanging on the cross, “Father forgive him, Mr. Hawkins don’t know what he is
saying”
William London
St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
West Indies
it’s important that priority be given to educating women especially in my country Nigeria that hardwork pays. we have glorious examples like Dora Akuyuili to boast off. women should not see their body as an article of advantage in getting what they want. that is what pervade here and that is why women are taken advantage off.
Today in Australia, for the first time ever, we have a woman as our acting Prime Minister, Ms Julia Gillard. However, we also have a Queensland judge, who is also a woman, who has let a number of males go free after they gang-raped a 10 year old girl. The judge, in her summation, said that the 10 year old girl had probably agreed to have sex with the boys. And yes, we have a huge domestic violence problem here too, but that voilence is mostly portrayed by the media as being most prevelent in Aboriginal communities. In reality, that is not the case. There are also many barriers against women that men still will never need to face. If a young woman marries a man and takes his name, which is the custom in the western world, and later the couple divorce, the woman is only able to be reclaim her original identity legally by deed poll. Then for the rest of her life whenever she must sign a form, try and obtain a passport, particularly a British passport, try and collect government support in any way, or sign any other government or official legal document, she must produce not only her birth certificate, but also her marriage certificate, her decree nisi documentation and, of course, her deed poll document. A divorced man, however, only need show his birth certificate and never has the occassion to have to remember a bad marriage or a traumatic marriage, as many women do every time they sign a form. Until women stop changing their family name they will always be disadvantaged, they will never be able to ‘move on’ from their past mistakes, and there will never be any opportunity for achieving any kind of respect, let alone equity.
todays bbc report on eastern congo shows that its just going the ruwandan way of 1995 when un was discussing whether the massacre will come under genocide by the time they conclude it will come 8lakhs were massacred there the same will be the fate of eastcongoese ,somalians and sudanese if this callousness on the part of un and other major countries who were so hurrying to interfere in iraq,afghanizthanetc.and their reluctance to help out in west africa were its in chaos the dailylife of people is indeed intriguing.
devadas.v
jyothinivas
talap
kannur
kerala
india-670001
by allowing muraleedharan to continue in international cricket even after darell hair called him for chucking in 1996 the icc has legitimised a chucker bowling feat as world record .now all youngesters are copying that action once termed by doyen of spin bowling bishen singh bedi as a javelin thrower.by legimitising muralis chucking icc has to bring in 15 degree bend rule so that pak,srilanka and indian board were all money comes from are not piqued.nobody except hair had the guts to call murali for chucking and sadly darell hair is cooling his legs in his house whereas muralee is approaching towards 1000 wicket mark and reaping in all kinds of adulation even from the bbc on his breaking the world record .what a paradox like the time of old there not even a kid who boldly said that the king was nude but presently with the tide policy the sportswriters,printand electronic media all have become mute in this murali chucking saga.
devadas.v
jyothinivas
near ollacherrykavvu
talap
kannur
kerala
india-670001
On the legality of waterboarding: United States courts-martial prosecuted American servicemen for waterboarding Filipino insurgents as early as 1898. International tribunals organized by the United States prosecuted waterboarding as a war crime and convicted Japanese military officers for using the technique.
The US is signatory to the Geneva Conventions, which means these treaties have the force of law in the US. The fourth Geneva Convention prohibits torture or maltreatment of civilian detainees.
Under US legal precedent, current US law, and international law, waterboarding is illegal.
The current obfuscation by the American executive branch and military lawyers is meant solely to shield US torturers from prosecution under the law.
On “2007 Data Confirms Warming Trend”: This story in the BBC News site states that 11 of the warmest years since 1850 occurred in the last 13 years. Not true. It also states that 1998 was the warmest year on record – again, not true. There is still not a “clear picture” of “how to measure the global temperature”. The data used to support this story is old data, from NASA. The data had certain “corrections” applied to it in error. NASA corrected these errors earlier this year. The warmest year on record was 1934 (anybody still alive ever heard of the “dust bowl”). In fact 6 of the 10 warmest years happened between 1929 and 1939. This just illustrates the FACT that the BBC fails miserably in balanced reporting of the facts.
Today: (Friday, December 14)
1. EU right, USA wrong.
2. Dialog is good. Between, among all parties.
3. Don’t have a gun, so wouldn’t shoot. Some people do.
Virginia in Portland, OR
Listening to the talk about global warming and what needs to done, was just showing how ignorent most Us amerikans are. And to leave it to the industry to fix the problem is suicide! We have the global problem because of an ignorent industry, focused on just making money. We need to control and tell the industry what to do and what not to do. especially the media with all commercials sending the wrong message to consumers. But there is the political problem, and as long as there is an goverment getting payed by the industry it will not change.
My opinion is to teach our children the right way and enforce polluting laws. Europe is so far ahead with recycling and producing economic cars, and the us is to arrogant to follow. Global Warming is not a issue of politics and industry only, it is “everybodys ” responsibility. And that gets back to Education, which is not well done in the us.
Thank you for listening
I am not against all your sentiments but before you call people ignorant, you should first learn to spell in good English. There is no ‘e’ in ignorant, or ‘k’ in Americans, and the word is ‘paid’, not payed. (get yerself an edikashun)
Read the corn article with considerable interest. Anyone looking for insight into this issue should read “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” – absolutely fascinating insight into modern agriculture. Argues that corn deserves an award for being the most successful plant in the world – it’s convinced all of us to dedicate huge amounts of resources to making sure it can grow and prosper, with generally negative ecological and economic results.
Read and think.
I am writing to express my disgust at the BBC World Service, & in particular “World Have Your Say”
The avalanche of rampant anti-semitism, holocaust deniel & fanatical anti-Americanism & anti “Westernism” on display was sickening.
The BBC World Service is nothiong biut a mouthpiece for the Islamofacists and their opologists.
Interestiong that Israel is excluded from the “World” encouraged to have its say.
I have listened to the BBC World service for decades. No more.
The BBC World Service is what radio in Islamofacist Iran must be like, or the sort of stuff the Nazis used to broadcast
Lord Haw Haw would feel at home on your station
Interesting !
I would have thought you were the Tel Aviv Post.
“have your say” continues to broadcast the truth and real life. i congratulate the entire team on yet another year’s fine broadcast excellenece
Happy Christmas to you all at the BBC:. especially those working today.
Clive Marcus is bitter, and I can understand him. At first i felt enthusiasm for the chance to hear other views, to day Christmas day i am not sure.
Is the blatant denial of fact an opinion?, NO,
Killing in the name of god in war, is by no means modern. But the murder of civilians in undergrounds, and buses etc.,and the carrying out of such murders knowing that women and children will be maimed, and killed, has nothing to do with war, or religion.
The BBC has a large public of all creeds and religions, and must be fair in dealing with each and every individual piece of news. Democracy never ever meant giving in to any one or anything because of some political legislation. Can it mean: being fair to those that are fair to you, helping those that help you, freedom of speech to those that guarantee you the freedom of speech, permit religous practice to those that allow you to practice your religion, and so on.
Fanatics in any way, are a curse to mankind, world history is the proof.
So lets not give fanatics a democratic chance, they would not give it to us. They will find the chance to destroy us if they can.
May your god , whom ever, be with you in the New Year
John
Is it just me? Or is there a systematic diversion of news in the USA?
The opposition candidate Bhutto was murdered in Pakistan but today all the news stations are talking about is the tiger attack in a zoo.
Looking back over the last year, does it seem to you that each time some major political, economic, war etc disaster was breaking some sensational non-news suddenly appeared to sweep the major news off the radar screen?
Is there a legitimate cause for concern here?
Sudden sensational celebrity or “lone gunman” or other distraction prevented the significant reporting of important news that could sway national policy if public debate followed for 2007- book deal best seller expose or just the way it goes?
Of course there is a plan in what you astutely observe.
Consider Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine or the wonderful documentary about Manufactoring Consent. Learn about the Creel Commission, Edward Bernays and his book which Goebels said was the most influencial book in his vast library in the contruction of the third Reich “Propoganda” Published in 1929 and just reprinted again. We must remember that 10 years before Hitler, Germany was at the height of civil society and so quickly it can change if we don’t learn. You are instructed to remember the Holocast but not why the holocast. For some fun I thinnk the work of Amazing Randi.com can show how easy it is to fool people.
Mitchell in the Graves of Acadame says:
It is possible, of course, to keep educated people unfree in a state of civilization, but it’s much easier to keep ignorant people unfree in a state of civilization. And it is easiest of all if you can convince the ignorant that they are educated, for you can thus make them collaborators in your disposition of their liberty and property. That is the institutionally assigned task, for all that it may be invisible to those who perform it, of American public education.
http://www.sourcetext.com/grammarian/graves-of-academe/index.html
Please dear reader if this information changes you as it has changed me. Our collective work has made significant improvements in the world and will continue.
M.
Bush has empowered and emboldened Mussharouf, our “ally in the war on terror,” to do murder his opposition. They should both be indicted.
Hi Team,
This temporary blog looks perfect in replacement to the old blog that needs surgical operations to get functional again. The current one has the look of the old one, except that on the margin it needs a link to “Listen again”. It can be an alternative to those who don’t want or have the time to podcast the show.
I hope it will be technically possible to add this section to the blog.
Happy New Year to you all and a special greeting to Maestro Mark Sandell
Regards.
This should shock our former President back to real life. That life on this earth and the properties we acquire plus the loot squirreled away is so transient, ephemeral and can literally go up in flames in one day. Very sad the precious common man has been forced to do the unthinkable!
Kariuki
I have just been told by sources close to Kericho, Kabarak, and Kabarnet that some of Moi’s cherished properties have either been burned, are being burned, or are in the process of being burned. Kaisugu Tea factory ( Kericho ) is in ashes already, Kiptagich ( Kirenget ) is being targeted, his mansion in Kabarnet is history. Citizens are scrumbling to return their ‘cows’, and other valuables from the Kabarak farm. It is now free for all – all you can carry – I am told!
Kariuki
I want to disagree with what many media houses say about the current mayhem in Kenya.For heaven’s sake,it is not a Kikuyu-Luo affair.clashes are all over the country even where there are no luos.Luo inhabit only Nairobi and Kisumu.The fight is a manifestation of the people’s desire to do away with politicians who have dominated them for decades.They have always stolen from the public,rigged elections and continued to politically straddle over our heads.People are resorting to unorthodox means of fighting because in Kenya,you can never have a peaceful demonstration. Police will always be set upon you.
Kibaki is sleeping in State House.He is not in-charge.He has been kidnapped by 4 people(John Michuki,Martha Karua,Stanley Murage,Kiraitu Murungi and Amos Kimunya).Kibaki is largely a cool wordless gentle guy..but he has no capacity to resist his handlers.
The international community must isolate this government completely.The EU must ban Kibaki and his ministers from traveling to Europe.They must,at least designate his government as a terror organization.
Kariuki.
My sister tells me that upto 7 unussually big planes landed in Eldoret – might anyone have information on this?
Local radio CapitalFM interviewed a Mungiki person who confirmed to have been sent to Kapsabet and Kericho
Kariuki
On the eve of the new year, I as KCA President, having passed a
statement through the membership and the Executive for ratification,
made a choice to guide the organization to accepting the results
announced by the Electoral Commission of Kenya. I have since received
many responses, some angry, some reconciliatory. I’d like to take
this opportunity to make a personal response to all. For starters,
the KCA statement was NOT a congratulatory statement, calculatedly
so, and nowhere does it claim to be such; it is a statement accepting
of the decision that came from a constitutionally recognized power,
the ECK.
I did this after very careful consideration of the fact that unless
we learn to respect our own established constitutional systems, we
will give ourselves license to trash all legitimate authority and
choose anarchy. Not accepting the ECK results, even when individual
commissioners questioned them, means establishing an indefinite
leadership vacuum. A state of anarchy cannot support a path to
justice; it can only support a path of destruction. We have witnessed
this in many African countries that have been left with a leadership
vacuum.
Something went very wrong in the 2007 elections, rigging and
killings, and in the coming days, we will need to seek justice upon a
restored semblance or order, not upon a bloodbath. Even when that
semblance of order means having someone at the top whom many do not
accept as legitimate leader. Someone must rise above the street
level, the machete-bearing mentality, the rage-driven violence, if we
are to find justice.
Mr. Mwai Kibaki, after being sworn in amidst chaos, must now contend
with the shame of the country now faces internationally. Neither the
President nor any citizen has any boast anymore of economic
advancements of the past years, for they mean nothing in light of the
unfolding events. I’m reminded that mighty Rome was razed to the
ground in a day, and we are witnessing the same happening in Kenya.
The country is now divided, enraged, and disappointed in democracy.
I mentioned in my statement that no one individual is greater that
the country. This includes the President and his supporters, and the
opposition and their supporters. There is no joy in observing what we
are observe at home. It is a sorrowful beginning to what could have
been Kenya’s best boast yet: a peaceful election. It is stomach-
churning to see anyone celebrate gleefully, for the loss of life and
the heightening hateful rage affects us all. Many have spent a new
year’s night in tears over the loss of loved ones, some of us, over
the loss of countryfolk and the shame of being confronted with: is
that your country?
Yes, the legitimacy of Kenya’s recently sworn-in leadership is in
question, and I for one believe these legitimate questions must be
answered. The first instinctive reaction is to retaliate and inflict
as much pain on an opponent as we can. This has only become a vicious
circle of violence and ethnic hatred. I’d urge the enraged citizens
to take this one most difficult road, for the good of Kenya; that
they reconcile the act of accepting what they believe to be a stolen
presidency with the concerted move towards seeking justice
resolutely, without turning the country into Africa’s next graveyard
with streets, trenches and churches swimming with massacred citizens.
Personally, I want Mr. Kibaki accorded the protection and recognition
that will allow for the buck to stop with him and behoove him to
begin making some great sacrifices. He must not attempt to force
peace with the barrel of the gun. The city has been chock-a-block
with armed forces running battled endlessly, and if it so proves that
he cannot gunner the respect necessary to lead as a civilian
president, the first great sacrifice for Kenya would be for him to
abdicate and transition the country into a path of peace, for Kenya
must refuse to descend into a military state. The process out of the
present chaos has to be one that will raise Kenya above the hell it
has descended, inclusive and respecting of the opponent. No more
underhanded deals and betrayals between politicians that morph into
ethnic violence and floods of sorrow for innocent wananchi five years
later.
I speak as a mwananchi, as one enraged and in mourning over the
murderous violence that has rocked the nation of Kenya, and as one
who has made a decision not to entertain my first retaliatory
instinct, but to seek a stable ground where my voice and actions will
count towards Kenya’s healing.
People are dying in Kenya. The international community have expressed concern over irregularities in the just concluded elections. It is therefore morally wrong for you to claim to represent Kenyans abroad then go ahead and recognize a regime that stole elections. Kibaki right now is sorrounded by greedy people who lost in elections. Just have a look at the people who were present during the private swearing in ceremony: all losers and spoilers of Kenyan people and Kenyan economy.
ITS VERY SAD WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHATS HAPPENING IN KENYA,SHAME TO AFRICAN LEADERS,WHY CANT KIBAKI ACCEPTS THAT HE RIGED THE VOTES,KIBAKI SHOULD KNOW THAT AS LONG AS HE WILL REMAIN IN POWER KILLINGS WILL CONTINUE AND PEOPLES BLOOD WILL BE ON HIS HEAD.POEPLE HAVE REJECTED HIM LET HIM JUST CALL FOR A RECOUNT OR NEW ELECTIONS,ODIGA HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN OVER THE ELECTIONS BECAUSE HE WON THE POLL.ODIGA YOU A MAN FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS.AFRICA NEEDS SUCH LEADERS NOT LEADERS WHO CLAIM VICTORY THROUGH CORRUPTION.GOD BLESS THE PEOPLE FOR REFUSING CORRUPT LEADERS.
check my blog http://www.dhiambi.wordpress.com for the background to the clashes in Kenya.
OBAMA, RAILA, MBOYA, AND OGINGA ODINGA
The past 45 years have shown us that the Kikuyus will not allow a Luo to become president of Kenya. Will they permit one to be president of the United States?
MVUVI
This is a necessary conversation, bless the BBC and each of you working there, listening and participating.
what a day it will be when we can talk about important ways to progress as humans. racism and war are non progressive in very similiar ways… they lead directly to human destruction. your distinguished Indian guest is deluded and using pretty language, minimizing the obvious, (consistently documented reality of race based differences) with his own arrogant, elitist language and view. he is part of the problem. thanks again for having this dialogue.
The magnitude of this issue is more apparent than real. We seem to all have forgotten one of the few absolute rules in human affairs: it ain’t over ’till it’s over.
HOW TO STOP THE MICE
There are three things you can do:
1) Mouseproof the office.
Any food must be stored in sealed containers. Plastic is fine. Any edible rubbish must be disposed in metal waste cans with lids. Invest in a breadbox with a narrow seal. (The first breadbox I tried had a centimeter gap in the bottom of the lid and the mousies were still getting in.) Naturally, an office refrigerator is essential. And clean up all crumbs (most of which will accumulate under the refrigerator). Mice can live off dried soda can spills.
This won’t solve your mouse problem immediately, but it will deflect their foraging to other areas of the office where you won’t be bothered by them.
2) Set Have-A-Heart mousetraps.
I’m not sure what you call them in the UK, but they can be purchased at any well-stocked hardware store. They’re essentially tiny plastic boxes that rock on a tiny ridge of plastic supporting a lid that flips shut when the critter enters the contraption and upsets the balance.
Bait them with a peanut, as mice prefer peanuts to cheese.
Then listen for the “snap.”
If your office has the same mouse problem as my apartment 6 years ago, you should hear the “snap” within 5 to 10 minutes of baiting them.
It’s also good karma to empty them as soon as you can. I took the traps down the street to a park and dumped the mice out at the edge of the woods. I once let a tripped trap stand for 12 hours; the poor little guy inside was dwelling in his own excrement. It’s bad karma to let them die in the traps. I realize their brains are about as smart as a smoke alarm, but it’s still like being buried alive. If the mice are set free promptly, it’s also — as you say — great sport.
Again, this won’t solve your mouse problem right away, but it will thin the herd a little.
Remember, it’s cold outside, and once they’re in for the winter, they’re in to stay.
3) Allow whoever owns a cat to bring their cat to work.
The only real bother will be the maintainance of the litter box. The nearest to the bathroom — I mean water closet — you can place it, the better. I’d argue against an office cat. Cats are social creatures and enjoy our company. Besides, at my university newspaper, we befriended a feral cat at let him live in our offices. But he sustained an injury one night in a heavy pneumatic door and had to be put down.
You might regard this as a last resort, but it will be great fun for the cat.
Remember the cat mantra:
Luv them little mousies
mousies what I luv to eat
bite they little heads off
nibble on they tiny feet.
–Author Unknown.
I live in an old building on a street between Louisville’s restaurant row and a forest preserve. One winter I let the mice get in and, despite all of the above, I couldn’t get rid of them.
However, miraculously, the next winter I was mice free.
Good luck with it. –Tom.
Hello,
Fundamentally, I am not against nuclear stations. However, I have two questions unanswered:
– the sources of uranium are not unlimited and might also come from unstable countries; so is it not a conundrum?
– if climate change is coming, it means that, in summer, temperatures will raise; a nuclear station is cooled down by water; in Alsace (France) during summer there are regular problem with the amount of water available for cooling, which means that the station is running at low level or is stopped; if you put it next to the sea, what if sea level raises; another conundrum, isn’t it?
Cheers all
Trust Discussion on Radio 4 today.
It’s not just about phone-ins and naming the blue peter cat. It is about independence from your political masters. Ever since Dyke was forced to resign the BBC has hardly conducted any investigative journalism.
I became aware of this when I started looking into 9/11. (Now, don’t you brand me a Conspiracy Theorist just because I ask questions!!!) Reading the official account, created on the day of 9/11 and then re-inforced by the 9/11 commission report, actually makes little sense and flies in the face of reason. So why has so little attention been paid to the (serious) questions (asked by relatives of the victims themselves)?
Much of these incidents of teen violence is the fault of the parents whom do not take the time to show their children the difference between right and wrong.
It comes as no surprise to hear the story of Mrs love. It is happening more and more and all we are getting are slogans and motherhood statements and NO ACTIONS from our politicians.
The answer to this major problem is the Army, and before the DOGOODERS and the civil libertarians jump up and down my neck, I would like to make it clear that I am not suggesting for a moment that we should bring back the military service all I am saying is a special unit should be created within the army, to cater for the those young offenders. Sadly some youngsters’ look at being in jail as a badge of honour and by mixing with hardens criminals they become experts in committing crimes. The other method of punishment is so called counselling which is a laughable matter as far as some teenagers are concerned.
I will be interested to read other opinions from your listeners on this serious problem
Abi
Hi Ros
Listening to the report about electricity supplies to the Gaza strip in the night made me think about a few points.
No one seems to have voted for the Hamas. How did they manage to get in?.
Israel is right in defending its self as best it can. Home made rockets can kill.
Women and children should be protected at all times, but it is not right to use them to obtain SYMPATHY from the International Community.
Have a nice day
John.
Adding “listen again” for the shows of the previous week is a good idea. This will allow listeners to have another archive of the shows in addition to the ones they can podcast. Listeners now have multiple choices by listening live, listening again or podcasting the show.
WHYS team keeps evolving! Your show , it is sure, has become indispensable to many. It stimulates many to follow the news with the aim of having their views on it. It’s , in a way, an initiation in amateur journalism although the majority of those who contribute depend on news sources to make and share their views with the rest of the world.
Once again, WHYS Team, thumb up for all your efforts and innovations.
I have to remind all that a blockade is an act of war in anyone’s definition. By ignoring Hamas as the legal representative and relying on brute force backed up by America is morally corrupt. Hamas has offered negotiations and a ceasefire. Israel should negotiate without preconditions such as recognition etc. You don’t make peace agreements with your favorite aunt but with people who hate you and distrust you. So let’s get serious about the context of all this.
Martin Luther King didn’t fail. He was killed because he threatened the War Machine. In 1999 the King family won a Memphis jury verdict that King was killed by a conspiracy. The War Machine still rules Washington with disastrous results.
The situation in Kenya is awful and it is get into genocide although Mr. Richard Dowden said that, it is not genocide, but it is going to develop.
What would you say, if the tribes are killing themselves mercilessly without considering the live of the children and women, I think it is absolutely genocide.
It remains only for kikuyu to identify the houses of Kalenjin, Luo tribe and then come during the night and kill the whole family, so the tribes are targeting themselves.
And that is why some fathers in Naivasha are armed to protect their families during the night from the attached of the invading tribes
In my opinion the right thing to be done is that the two leaders, Raila Odinga should cool down and Mwai Kibaki should step down from the presidency and elect the transitional government and after the six months the election should be resume with observation of international monitoring because the two parties doesn’t care for the life of Kenyan Citizens and they are greedy for the presidency. Imagine when the president Mwai Kibaki said that, my position is not negotiatable and Raila said that I can’t stop going to the demonstration if Kibaki does not step down. They don’t care about the flowing blood of the citzens
Santo Akuei Akoon Kuc
Juba, Southern Sudan
I have been an avid listener of the BBC for many years but today I must protest the constant classification of African groups by the derogatory word “tribe”. Global genome projects have shown that people have lived in Africa tens of thousands of years longer than they have any where else. Plenty time for very unique and diverse groups to emerge. Some groups are as genetically diverse from one another as East Asians are from Europeans. They are linguistically, culturally, and physically diverse from the world’s tallest the Masai, to the shortest the Pygmy. Although each group is not as populous as the Hans of China or as wealthy as the Germans of Germany, recognition and respect of their diversity might lead to greater political autonomy reducing the frequency of rebellion and civil war, balanced with greater economic cooperation to reduce poverty
By way of comment on Matthew of Portland Oregon’s surprise at the perception that Mormons are not considered to be Christians is the fact that although they take some things from Christianity they do not accept the major doctrines of the bible including the central one of salvation in Christ and they add their own scriptures which are unrelated to biblical Christianity and contradict it in different ways.
I listen to your show as often as I can during the week and appreciate BBC for the contact with the outside world it gives me, an English speaker, in Ukraine. It’s just a pity that many of the phone connections during the show are of poor sound quality. Is this due to the fact that most people prefer to speak on mobile phones? How about making an announcement that if someone wants to make a contribution by phone to World Have Your Say that s(he) rather use a landline phone if they have one?
As a card carrying Fred Head (I’m not a ‘former supporter’ because I still think Fred Thompson is the best man for the job) I too, have had to settle for John McCain as my second choice for President. Even as the fall-back candidate, McCain’s not a bad choice.
John McCain’s Service in the Navy, Heroism in the Vietnam war and proven track record of thoughtful and principled voting in the senate demonstrate that he’s committed to do what’s right for our troops in their mission, and he’ll do well in the top job.
SHOULD KENYA BE PLAYING HOST TO ROBERT MUGABE: What is the different between Mugabe to kibaki, They are both treating there people in deplorable way. In fact kibaki is worse, he has his people hacking each other to death. They both make there people starve. Right now food are unable to reach people in refugee camps in Kenya, which means these people will die from lack of food. So i do not see why everyone is making an example of Mugabe. And i have not heard anyone condemn kibaki. What is the different in the people’s suffering. We can have one rule for one and another rule for another. It disgraceful the way kibaki make his people live in utter poverty. Where are these people conscience!!! kibaki is 73yrs he should go into exile and let his people and the world forget about him, the murderer
In response to the gentleman who made the snide quip that Barak Obama has absolutely no experience in foregn policy what so ever I ask “When elected president, how much experience did Reagan or Clinton or George W Bush have?”
It doesn’t seem that experience in foreign policy going into the White House makes a lot of difference!
obama will be the next presidant of unitrd states of americ,deep impact,the comet will land opon allah enemies,,mr nice,the wind the sea the storm,earhquake
who commanded the wind the the storm,? mr nice,,,,only jesus crist had such powers,,,
art and sciece of healty living, an alternative medicine, a life changing experince, take away pains and aches, anxiety, worry, ill health, cancer, heart deciase, bring back confidance, ability, safety, security, youth, out the darkness, into the light, mazmatrix, 01902 568569, only crist had such powers to heal,
I want to ask the world a question on what have any of you done for Civil Rights,The Acts, the Movement,the eluding of the major principles in the the pass 39yrs., and see why their worldwide wars,cause whitey’s has forced on the masses of people,guns instead of love, hatred instead of loyalty,and no respect for any form of Blackness over whatever else it could be but ungodliness when theirs no man,woman,and child, all the while,and what have any of you’ve done for CIVIL RIGHTS ACT of 1964., and how the WDC bureau can contact I,Eddie at 2026387424,or write Eddie at P.O.Box 6301,Alexandria,Va.22036.,I’m promoting I people’s family band named The Incient Future Band and can be found on their own website incientfuture.com and enjoy their video whom is a whole family structure unlike what’s been seen the pass 39yrs.,but do check I brethren and his family doing music
BBC World News,
I am a 26 year old Texan and a Republican. I heard you saying yesterday that you think some moderate Republicans are fed up with the Bush white house and such and that is why they may vote for Barak Obama. I would like to say that I am NOT fed up with the Bush white house but do, however, intend to vote for Obama. He is young, motivated and seems NOT to lean so far to the left that he seems like an irrational frivolous spend-crazy democrat. (i.e. Clinton, Kerry, Edwards, Gore)
Obama genuinely seems to enjoy concern for all Americans and seems to possess the foresight which I believe will direct Americans on a real path for positive change. To my own surprise, I even gave his campaign money online. I have never voted for a democrat in ANY election ever. Much less given money to ANY campaign, Republican or otherwise. I feel a real shockwave is about to hit our country and the wave of the future seems to be Barack Obama. For the first time in my life, I do not fear a Democrat for president.
Hi there,
11th February is an international Youth’s day; allover the youths are very busy preparing celebrating their day and it gives HOPE indeed.
We also try to look into some of their problems to improve on their wellbeing in all sectors: health, education, moral and manners, etc.
Now my anxiety is how to tackle what so called “SUGAR MOMIES” among young men.
Are sugar momies a problem?
Thanks.
I am failing to subscribe through Ros’s page. Is there another way?
I suggest that WHYS discusses the intervention of the Bishop of Cantabury, Dr Williams on the stand of the Anglican church on same sex.
I believe as a spiritual leader he should guide the church, using his spiritual knowledge as to whether the Anglican communion accepts same sex or not just like the Pope did.
If he makes a stand the church will do away with the current agreements. It will be up to the conservatives to agree or leave the church. The current situation leaves too much room for confusion because there is no clear church stand.
Its possible the African bishops would be conviced by an official church position from the head of the church. We should not blame them now because the church hasnt opened up as regards policy on same sex
Sir,
Yet again Government policy provides a headline news item that the coming cuts in the defence budget not only starve our forces of funds necessary for vital equipment but that these cuts have to be carried out by stealth to avoid political embarrassment. This from a Prime Minister who not so long ago piously committed himself to transparency in Government. No major programme “can be seen to be cut”, merely pushed back into future years when obsolescence will render them less effective. Constantly, both the PM and the Defence Secretary tout the blatant lie that under their stewardship defence expenditure has risen year or year when the official figure for the annual rise in expenditure is 1.5%, less than even retail price inflation, let alone any relevant measure in the increase costs of modern weaponry. The PM should need no tutelage on the effect of inflation but clearly does so. Annual expenditure on defence in 1996 was 4.2% of the GDP. Now it is 2.2%. That is the truth and the extent of the mendacity of this Government and of its Prime Minister.
Surely, it now time for our Defence Chiefs to give this Government and it’s duplicitous and incompetent leader a Churchillian two-fingers and to back that gesture with their collective resignations? That action will, at the very least, earn them the respect of those they lead and, with any luck, provoke a vote of no confidence in Parliament which may finally rid us of the Labour farce that has continued for far too many years already. Sadly, our Defence Chiefs seem unable to comprehend that the predictable military reaction when given an impossible task – salute the flag and die with honour – has no place in modern Britain. It is high time they divested themselves of their scruples and played the game by Gordon’s rules. Either that or disband altogether and forego the fig leaf of a token defence force.
Sincerely,
P.P. Gilroy
Squadron Leader, RAF Retd
Hi
integration efforts must be done by the foreigners and the society . i cconsider myself lucky because i live here.i have many english friends.being a friend to them needs an understanding from boty of us
thanks
I am a teacher in a secondary school in the uk. I think parents play a very big role in the way their teenage children behave. I have seen children who behave rudly and and have no manners, if you trace their brothers and sisters in other year groups at school, they behave same way . They must be getting this from somewhere and it could only be from home.
AHMED
George Bush has cut funding in his own country for many public services including health care. His motives in Africa are that he needs a legacy other than the Iraq war to be remembered by. Thus he wants to be seen on the world stage as something other than a war monger. The restraints on HIV education come from a fundamental Christian point of view and will never work as the use of condoms is not allowed to be taught. George Bush also never looks at where the money will come from, he just writes checks that are not covered and thus contributes to the deficit.
When Bush took office USA had a 300 billion dollar surplus and now we have a 3 trillion dollar deficit. (the war costs $250,000 per minute).
Bentley Hall
Portland Oregon
USA
Being deaf or blind is a disabilty.This is b/cos the
person cannot function ordinarily like other peers.
disable person need special gadgets for him to learn effectively.In most society these sets of people are neglected and they roam the street.
Nations pass laws that its citzens must live by. If i, as an american, was to move to Iran i could not, and shoud not, expect the same laws to govern me there as i did back home. Nations are different, people are different, and cultrues are different, but, what ever country you live in you MUST obey the laws of the land. If a new segment of the UK’s population believes that women must wear a head scarf, thats too bad. The land they moved into has pre-existing laws, and sociatal norms, that must be followed. Or what if a minority in China, say Mexicans, wanted to have the traditional large family. The law of the land forbids this. You cant bring your preexisting laws and notions to your new nation. Immigrants, indeed all people, must live by the laws. If they dont like them, then they can become more engaged in society and seek political relief.
Does world have your say have a twitter feed?
Also is there a seperate RSS feed for comments that appear on various blog entries?
Hi ptcbus. We now have a Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/BBC_WHYS
Thanks for the nudge.
As for feeds, there is one for every post. Just put /feed/ at the end of the URL and there you go.
Remembert that God cares less for how you died and more on how you lived. Death is only a small fraction of our lives. Live well and your diety will be unconcerned about your end. Cherish the journey and not just the finish line.
hello ras,every body has the right to die be it passive or active.after all death is path of life circle,and as the bible says it is appointed onto a man to die once.so what’s the point in debating.
Dear Ros.
Here we go again. Subvension grabbing has been going on for years, at the moment of low employment in most parts of Europe it is a scourge. Most of the movement is to the east, and to the ex Russian lands. It is costing the tax Payer in Germany Millions. NOKIA, is one of the last offenders.
Raising the point a couple of times i have found that it has found no interest at the BEEB in reporting on this matter.. Accepting your rules ect. no problem.,but i wonder if you could let me know why there is a lack of interest?.
Subvension grabbing has put many Europeans on the bread line, due to loss of work, Houses have been lost because the mortgages cannot be paid. Hundreds have been pushed into social segregation. The large Global firms,are cold and calculating to give the shareholders another 0.001% point. Sorry i forgot the excessive manager bonuses, that are paid. Every new factory built, provides less work than the last, robot machines take over, THEY DO NOT PAY INTO PENSION SCHEMES; NOR HEALTH INSURANCE SYSTEMS. and the people on the doll are supported by those that work. Its the wedge system in reverse, until it closes up and strangles us. Of course the subventions are payed by the tax-payers
The world is full of problems, funnily enough mostly man made, but lets not forget Europe. Of course Iraq, Africa, South America, Tibet, Chine. are up front. But people go hungry in Europe. Children sleep on the streets here as well. Old people die, and it takes the postman to find out.
The French President, and Gordon Brown prommiss to feed millions in Africa. Sir’s look at the European doorsteps, are they clean?. ( And if i can give doctors 400 cars, surely i have money to feed a lot of children. )
Bless you all at BEEB and keep up the good work.
John in Germany
Hi All.
German Aysul offices have been accused of using a convenience doctor in Bonn to provide medical certificates to allow Aysul seekers to be sent home.
Under German law a person cannot be invicted if he is not capable of travelling.
The unnamed doctor had offered his services to the authorities, copies of letters were shown on the TV. He wrote the medical certificates without even seeing the persons concerned. And all negative for the VICTIM.
In the case described, a man had a serious heart condition and was evicted. He returned and had to go straight into hospital.
It is hard to condemn others when that sort of thing happens on ones own doorstep.
Have a very productive day.
John in Germany
Growth of any religion is immaterial to the world. The growth of extemeists however is the question regardless or religious affiliation
One small bit of knowledge off topic. There was mention of christians being taught to turn the other cheek.
The turning of the other cheek was not a show of humility.
Romans slapped other romans with their right hand and everyone else, lesser folks, were slapped with the left hand.
When Jesus was slapped, he was slapped with the left hand. He turned the other cheek to be slapped as an equal to a roman.
It never did say if he actually got slapped on the other cheek. Did it?
Nancy
Solon, Ohio USA
Since the beginning of the year and especially in the wake of the Olympic torch protests, some prominent sportsmen and women have insisted that sports and ‘politics’ should not mix. By that they mean neither the humanitarian crisis in Darfur nor the suppression of freedom and killing of protesters in Tibet should in anyway affect the celebration of sports through China’s organisation of the Olympics. My view, however, is that sportsmen and women who think their only mission on earth is to win medals and make money (and that the suffering of other human beings should be left for so-called politicians to solve) do not fully appreciate their mission on earth. I will mourn with the people of Darfur and share the pains of the suppressed in Tibet, rather than celebrate medals and money in Beijing.
Africa pride herself as the continent with rich family tradition and brotherly fraternity where help and support for members is upheld. But what her leaders do in politics and power make one wonder if this fraternity and support only count when personal riches and wealth is involved, and never, once it comes to public funds and trust.
Enough of hypocricies of leaders and self-seeking elders, who want their subjects to stay in perpetual penury, begging and learning to eat all their lifes, and never be taught to fish themselves for fear they will become empowered enough to compete for relevance, challenge their “dynasty” and put an end to their selfish political ambition to remain in power perpetually.
We all know why no sit-tight leader in Africa would want good education, or economic empowerment for the people. The idea is; keep them impoverished as much as possible, then remain the one-eyed king in the land of the blind!
Desmond Kalu
Akwa Ibom State.
Nigeria.
Am an african, a kenyan Actually, living in the US.
No absolutely NOT. Am black, avery proud Black person I have colleagues of diverse cultural backgound, of course some are ‘whites’don’t treat me as a collegue, some even don’t speak to me if I don’t speak first. This does not bother me though. And—– O yeah, some decribe me in very unimaginable terms, behind my back “that I act ‘WHITE’, by my dress code and accent”.And yes, I have been treated different for being black. In the US, being black, not properly dressed you are a criminal. Pitful!
It doesn’t matter what your color is, so long as you act responsibly. WE ARE EQUAL.
Am an african, a kenyan Actually, living in the US.
No absolutely NOT. Am black, avery proud Black person I have colleagues of diverse cultural backgound, of course some’whites’ don’t treat me as a collegue, some even don’t speak to me if I don’t speak first. This does not bother me though. And—– O yeah, some decribe me in very unimaginable terms, behind my back “that I act ‘WHITE’, by my dress code and accent”.And yes, I have been treated different for being black. In the US, being black, not properly dressed or groomed, you are treated with distrust- a criminal. Pitiful!
It doesn’t matter what your color is, so long as you act responsibly. WE ARE EQUAL. Am black if that’s what you want to call me, am proud of it.We do not apply for our skin colour. we are who we are, because that’s what it is. there is no way around it. Don’t you think, God had a reason for creating everything differently?
Hello everybody
I’m here in Brazil, listening to BBC News now.
Congratulation for so nice work, it’s my favorite.
I work in a Cooperative in Tourism Responsible and Sustainable in Ilhéus-Bahia State.
Best regards
Maria
COOPERBOM TURISMO
cooperbomtuirismo.blogspot.com
This is all wag-the-dog politics.
There is no way to reach the future if we pretend the past is not still with us.
Barack Obama is someone who is capable of bridging the gap between the choices we have made in the past – that no longer serve our well-being -and the choice we all would make for a better future. Of course he knows people of extreme opinions… don’t we all? This is a time of extremes. But in the end we will only end up with the future we are willing to work for.
The more games the status quo plays to maintain the illusion that the ship is not sinking – the surer I am that radical change is all that will save us.
Aleta – Portland Oregon USA
I didn’t realize what a tremendous impact that not having a father ( since I was 11) had on my life until about age 30. i found that, as I looked back, that I had an inability to form lasting relationships with the opposite sex. I always set it up to be sure to have someplace to go, so I wouldn’t be ‘abandoned’ so to speak, as our father did to us kids. I was always looking for my dad in every man I met. Not that that was available to my fragile psyche at the time, it was disquised by the ‘loose morals’ of the 60’s and 70’s, as being the path that I took. It is amazing to me how well adjusted I am from going through some of these experiences. This is an excellent topic and the results of having no father in the home is far reaching and is shaped by many factors, both good and bad. I surely knew that I was developing strength beyond my years to take care of myself as my mom was ‘forced’ to work as the only bread winner.
Does a child need a father in his/her life? Of course. Just like a child needs a mother – it’s his/her God-given birthright. This is the ideal situation but ideals are there to be broken. If ANY parent is irresponsible or abusive, then the child is better off WITHOUT that abusive/irresponsible dad or mum. The lesbian couple who has decided that their son does not need a father in his life must be ready to face the tough questions (and consequences) their son will demand from them for refusing him his birthright of a father.
yes its harder then ever. thanx god am oldrr rite now but i can see children around me where there is no body to take of of them because his parents are kids too i live in nairobi and i can see ever day
The royal family need to know of such powers of healing.Mazmatrix art and science of healthy living.
I have a major problem with bbc arabic radio; I find the staff to be simply an unprofessional egyptian click than do not represent the whole arab world. for the following reasons.
1. when they want to do a field survey, its always in cairo!
2. when they want to interview an expert, its mostly an egyptian expert!
3. they pronounce a lot of arabic words using egyptian dialect. (like pronouncing the j as g)
4.they sometimes put inappropriate egyptian music along with serious subjects they report about (ex. putting a romantic song along with a story of a tragic suicide)
Many times i switch the radio off when i hear such crap on a reputed radio, but i eventually tune back for lack of an alternative arabic station. audit the content of the arabic broadcasting and appoint more diversely if you want to address the whole arab world, because if we wanted to listen to radio cario we would have tuned to radio cairo!!!!
I am afraid I turned the radio off after twenty-five minutes of listening to this topic being aired.
There is clearly only one answer to the question “Should a woman be a virgin
at marriage?”
The answer is that it is none of my business, just as it is none of the business
of the high-minded bigots who tend to infest the program with their ‘holier than thou’ agenda.
I BELIEVE THAT EVERY ONE BOTH MALE AND FEMALE SHOULD BE VIRGINS WHEN THEY MARRY.I SEE MARRIAGE AS A SACRED ACT THAT SHOULD BE KEPT INTACT.SEX IS GIFT FROM GOD DESIGNED TO CONDUCTED IN THE CONFINES OF MARRIAGE AND THATS IT. SEX IS NOT LIKE ANY OTHER GAME, IT INVOLVES EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTACHMENTS THAT CANT BE BRUSHED ASIDE.
WHEN U GET MARRIED U BECOME ONE AND WHAT SEALS THIS RELATIONSHIP IS SEX, I WONDER IF YOU WENT SLEEPING AROUND YOU WOULD BECOME ONE WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE
SOCIETY HAS MADE VIRGINITY A PREREQUISITE FOR MARRIAGE OF FEMALES, HAVE EVER THEY THOUGHT THAT MALES OUGHT TO BE VIRGINS ALSO.
VIRGINITY SHOULD HOWEVER BE AN OBSTACLE TO MARRIAGE.
Perhaps my fright that any insect would be referred to as technology caught my eye on this one. But it seems that the plausible consequences far outweigh the benefits, however well-meant in its development.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2005/oct/10/infectiousdiseases.medicineandhealth
June 26,2008
I think we all need to start looking at a solution instead of being a critic all the time. Please let it go.
Let us focus on a solution quickly. Not taking money from people whom do not have it to give.
lady dot
June 26, 2008
Self defense is good, especially when you know that someone is targeting. The police never come quickly when i am getting beat up or afraid for my life two or more people are trying to kill me. Help help,help, help, what do i do. where did morality go? I am fragile if someone attacks me and i weigh 100 pounds they weigh 200 pounds where is my support. Not the police. I live in fear of my life everyday why should i have to move because someone is trying to beat up on me. I ran from two big fat women. I will do the same again.
Lady Dot
I have lived in Switzerland for 40 years and have never and will never possess a gun.
Guns at homes in Switzerland does not stop crime but has caused many murders.
I’m from Portland, OR, US
I can’t help but cringe at the references to empty symbols like flag-waving and song-writing as being patriotic. Simple pride for one’s country is NOT patriotic. Standing for what makes the country great and focus on the fundamentals that make that country what it is is patriotic. In order to have HEALTHY DEMOCRACY, patriots must be able to critique the country and the powers that move the country. Without educated, frank and honest critique, Democracy dies. What is patriotic about blind loyalty that can lead a nation to ruin? Thanks for your time.
There is a major difference between defending your nation and sticking your nose in the business of other sovereign nations. If the US minded it’s own business, this country would be a much better place. Nations must totally responsible for their own citizens and not depend on others.
Thank You,
Stuart Schaller
This will seem trivial and perhaps not in the right place.
But I would be grateful if someone could fit in cities No 2 and No 3 in the following World Service promotion/intro:
This is the BBC in Beijing, in XXXX, in [Sofia???YYYY] in Delhi….
The fact that I can’t make out the two middle cities is … irritating.
Thanks in advance, David in Bangkok
I was listening to the morning news about Bashir (Sudanese President) being charged in International Criminal Court and debate being justice taking over priority of peace.
My question is when did dealing with such criminals become peaceful? The international community has been dealing with the Sudanes government for quite a long time and things have turned much more worse for the people of Darfur region.
Also my question is why is that the law is different for one region of people and different for another.
No one is held accountable for the number of civilian deaths caused by the US or coalition forces. Doesn’t life in Iraq or Afghanistan matter? According to this Washington Post article, (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/10/AR2006101001442.html)
the count of Iraqi citizens would have crossed 655000 from 2003-2006.
What and where do we stop killing each other? In all this the so called beasts like the lion or a tiger seem to be tame animals which just kill when they are hungry. We probably should coin a better word for human being who kills without any logical reason.
It’s of absolutely no surprise to me that Bulgaria has stolen hundreds of millions of euros from hard working European Union taxpayers. Since moving to Bulgaria in 2005 I have lived all over this difficult country, not just in the pleasing tourist areas where as Bulgarians say ‘they do not want to embarrass themselves in front of the foreigners’ but in areas and situations where foreigners would never dare venture. This is a very poor country indeed and money is high on everyone’s agenda here. For a Bulgarian, acquiring easy money from EU subsidies for doing little or no work is as great a triumph for them as moving to the UK and obtaining a National Insurance number for free benefits and health care. Corruption for them is second nature, bribing the Police for speeding offences is just a way of life. Mafia type corruption and the need to make quick and easy money, span the entire population, from the unemployed to the highest officials. Foreigners see only what’s on the surface here. Even those who believe they haven’t been ‘ripped off’ are simply those who naively haven’t noticed it yet. The same applies to the EU with their road funding projects. They are ploughing hundreds of millions of euros into Bulgaria’s roads, only to find that Bulgarians are laying a pretty top layer with nothing of substance underneath. My advice is that everyone should dig a hell of a lot deeper when dealing with this country. Bulgaria sees the EU as the ‘goose that laid the golden egg’. Unfortunately however, Bulgarians will prefer to steal as many eggs as possible, shoot the bird and then eat it, rather than wait patiently and work hard for everyone’s future mutual benefit. Finally, many thanks to BBC World for a superb program that quite simply has kept me sane whilst living away from home.
GKB
Sofia, Varna, Bansko, Sozopol
Bulgaria
I would like to join your bbc haveyoursay programme for various reasons such as to boost my knowledge and to about various activities around the world.
those of important people have not yet got back to me,,the royilty,,patric swayze,,mazmatrix art and science of healthy living,,,
My telephone provider is also my DSL connection. Recently my webmail would not allow me to send email. I called technical support and I was given a number that was not my telephone number that the technician said I was using to connect to my DSL provider.
The technician spoke very fast. So I asked them to repeat the number and wrote it down. I told them that was not my telephone number but it may be the number that my computer was connected to, in between my computer and them my internet provider.
It took two days to resolve the issue. Now I am finding whole corrections to my articles are being left in limbo.
I looked the telephone number up and it is a telephone of Jefferson County in Birmingham, Alabama. All I could find on it was that it was a land line based phone number with the coordinates of a Latitude of 33.51 and the Longitude of 88.81
The Beijing Olympics is a great milestone in the history of modern China however what do you see as the next great milestone that China should be striving for in the future?
Dear Have Your say,
Lucy Kelliway, Busted For Groping: …but not fellow employees, instead, cultural amnesia. The “Brain Drain” is the main factor in why business finds itself in such a state, not “the 60s”. Kelliway, who never dropped out, is trying to analyze a phenomenon while crippled with myopia – she can’t see the results of cultural I.Q. deprivation. Those of us who refused to participate in the “establishment” and its madness, both in the 1950s – when the Brain Drain began, and the 1960s – when it got a major boost – have gone one way, where Kelliway isn’t – and the results are palpable. We see it, because we’re STILL not trapped inside. Business is playing its game with a third string, doesn’t know it, and it shows.
Dear Have Your Say,
Something Smells About “The Pill”: A report that women have been selecting the wrong men because The Pill affected their sense of smell would certainly explain the rise of Feminism. There was a time lag between The Pill’s appearance around 1960-61, and the torrent of female complaints about men, beginning around 1969. In the beginning, we all thought The Pill was life’s answer to Utopia. Then came the earlier revelations, weight gain, emotional instability, cervical cancer and soon afterward the biggest smell of all, hardcore feminists, who rushed into the complaint vaccum with a litany of reasons why men were “no good.” Hard to imagine, but the whole nasty, ugly rise of feminism may be due..to bad drugs.
Dear Have Your say,
New Phrases For The Old Concept Of “Plunder”: Despite lip service, you KNOW that once deep sea mining companies get going, we’ll soon hear of the first mining disaster, the first ecologiocal tragedy, the announcement that deep sea creatures are becoming extinct. “Trust Us’ is just a finesse to get to the loot. Meanwhile, a rumor has it that Donald Trump, saying “Why should THEY have all the fun stabilizing the sea floor, I’m the guy who stablizes things!” has announced the first deep sea golf course, complete with Taco Bells and Starbucks, aerobics studios and Las Vegas-style entertainment.
Dear Have Your Say,
But Can They Play Golf?: Sea eagles released in Scotland have reportedly been issued their own miniature t-shirts, with the words “Stabilize Me” on them. The eagles, in an effort to help them adapt to Scotland’s new urban sprawl, have been taught to scrounge food mindlessly dropped by golfers and mall shoppers, and have been trained to appreciate Las Vegas-style lounge music.
dear have your say
finally political deadlock in nepal seems to be ending who will be the next primeminister of nepal.with months of political rangling prachanda the feared one seems to be the primeminister of Nepal.but he have a rough road infront of him.what i want to discuss with whys members is,what is the best way of solving the conflict.whether it is discussion with other political parties as maoist have done or whether they should have fought till the day when they were able to form a government as they have wished.their dicission to join government have defeniately brought peace to nepal but thier vision now seem to be in drain.what is best way to resolve a conflict.maoist joing government what does it means for other insurgent movement going on around the world.do they view it as surrender or do they view it as a path they should be following.
At the rate America is going there won’t be a next generation. The bush administration have ruined all the goodwill built between Russia and the West since the end of the cold war. Now they are playing military games in Europe.
John.
There is a disgusting amount of taunting and poor sportsmanship in sports in the US. However I did not think that Bolt was disrespectful or taunting. His actions were due to euphoria. I nor Rogge will ever now what it is like to run faster than anyone in history. His performance thrilled me. I can only imagine how he felt
I live in and was born in Canada. That is to say like most Canaiadians I define my nationality as not Amaerican.
At its best nationalism is defined by a st of unhiversal values which a proponent is willing to struggle to uphold. At its worst it is an unspoken claim to priviledges. It is a term frequently used simultaneously for both purposes. It often creates an us and them situation – not unlike religeon.
When a Canadian defines himself as not an American it seems to mean we care about each other. Canada has universal medicare and in a recent poll we identified the greatest Canadian as Tommy Douglas – widely viewed as our father of medicare. In conrast most americans seem to have an attitude of “every man for himself” – “sink or swim”.
Why do you think that Bill Clinton is the ‘messiah’? He gave us NAFTA, deregulation and capitulated to republican anti-regulation mentality time and time again! I don’t want him advising anyone!
The terrorism which is biggest enemy of the world
today is the offspring of social, economic and religious intolerance and injustice besides other factors.The situation has changed after 9/11 and incidents in various parts of the world. The rights and
the leftists all over the world are equally responsible
for the crimes/genocide arising out of terrorism.
Can I ask your readers if they can help me find a book that I have seen mentioned
in the press. THE MASTER AND THE MESSENGER. I do not know the author.
I am very interested in learning about it. Thank you BBC
McCain’s Palin VP pick has energized the conservative base for McCain (including me) like I thought impossible just a week ago.
As a conservative Christian living in middle Tennessee, I now have a reason to VOTE FOR MCCAIN, in leau of just VOTING AGAINST OBAMA.
She is truly one of us, the flyover countryman, that the Beltway & media folk, despise and hold in low regard.
William Ayers hosted Obama’s first fund raising reception for Obama’s first Illinois state Senate campaign in 1995. William Ayers admitted to participating in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, the Capitol building in 1971 and the Pentagon in 1972. Why hasn’t the media been in an uproar over this? Why do they instead focus their energy on the pregnancy of Sarah Palin’s 17 year old daughter?
Camille P… said today she supports Obama and is a democrat yet is condeming as sexist the media, etc re Sarah Palin. Yet, isn’t that actually sexist, just wanting a woman in that high office, evidently regardless of her policies. I believe John McCain is being sexist in picking this woman, simply because she is a woman. (Even prominent republicans say she is unqualified). I believe the vey people calling anyone opposed to her nomination “sexist” are, in fact, sexist themselves based on the above and this fact should be brought out by the media.
Freddie mac and Fannie may should definitely not be bailed out by tax payers money. How about multimillionaires bailing them out or their own managers and directors. See how they feel about it. Bad decisions must also have some type of punishment. Why is it that it is only the poor that always have to suffer.
As i listened to the Arizona women’s gun club discuss Sarah Palin, I was appalled that they actually think PTA experience could be given as a qualification to lead a country in diplomatic relations, world affairs, economic developments in this country and the world, and the list goes on. Thinking that living in proximity of Canada and Russia gives her diplomatic and foreign service experience is also beyond belief. If you’re looking for a woman on the conservative side that has experience, then look to Rice. SP is NOT qualified to be a VP, much less 1 breath away from the presidency. I shake my head at some of our uninformed electorate!
I listen to your show at work each day and sometimes I am perplexed at some of the responses you air, none were as appalling as the show for the 16th. Listening to my fellow Americans talk about the lousy government in regards to the economy and health care. While I applaud some for their views of standing alone and not requiring help from others. I am perplexed at those who say our government is broken. I can’t understand why we vote people into office and allow measures to pass and then complain about them. People just don’t understand that they “each and everyone” is the government, not just the people they elect, how can they close their eyes to it. Ten we complain about financial institutions going broke, good lord we the people have done that also. We buy stock in those companies, demand they make us rich any way they can and then we complain that they failed. Somewhere down the line we need to start fixing the problems “we” cause by un-wise moves we facilitate. Not only do we need to tell government what we want, we need to follow up on a daily basis to see that they do.
I live in Baltimore i would like to see all the money that these ceo made the millions go to help people in texas who were devistaded by hurcaine Ike then mabe we should talk about how help them out of there problem. by the way what are they as idviduals doing about it besides crying to the us gov
If I make bad monetary decisions, I have three options. I can pay the debt slowly, restructure my debt, or declare bankruptcy. I don’t see why stockholders in companies that make bad monetary decisions should be bailed out of their mistakes. No one bails me out of mine.
Annette USA
I would like to ask, why are the rich so very, very, conspicuously quiet? Surely the very rich can give back a million dollrs or two to help their country.
Can someone tell me why they are not saying anything?
In the past 20 years we have seen the failings of both Communism and Capitalism. There is no perfect system: everything grinds to a halt with Communism and everyone stabs each other in the back with Capitalism. We are not just animals, where herds go through feast and famine, sometimes becoming extinct. It is best for society for all men to have a home, an education and health-care. Homes, Real Estate, is really what keeps an economy going and our leaders can not leave this up to the jungle economics of Capitalism – they have to step in and guide Capitalism through this mess – not only for the best of the world, but for the best of the USA. Stubborn staunch so-called conservatives need to put their ego’s on the back burner and do what is right. We need such Progressive Leader – that is Change.
I am not surprised about the public’s reaction to Palin’s media comments, I am alarmed about the media’s. Those with experience in politics know that few legislators ever pick up a paper, rather news is gathered through legislative clipping services that include articles from virtually every paper in the US. The Texas legislative clipping service cited an article from the Anchorage Daily News long before Palin was the VP pick.
Regardless of whether she relies on news clipping services or if McCain know how to google the reactions have been over the top. Do American’s really want their president sitting down to google what to do with the financial crisis? McCain has had an outstanding staff for over 38 years. Palin has had a strong staff as well. Those are the people who need to know how to google, to know exactly what newspaper the article came from and to do the research that gets into the hands of the Executive.
Good morning to all of you at “World Have Your Say”,
I am a married, working mother of three. Since this down turn in the economy, I have seen lots of changes in my home. Family members have come to me and my husband, requesting to live with us because they were either laid off or can’t find a job. I have a five bedroom home that I have had to squeeze my three children into one, me and my husband has another, the rest are filled with 2 nephews, 1 neighbor, my mother-in-law and as of yesterday, my older sister. When I look in my refrigerator, the shelves remind me of the old children’s rhyme “Old Mother Hubbard.” There isn’t enough there to feed all the people in my home.
That is one of the major things that I have seen. I could go on but …. I do not have that much time on my break. The other thing I wanted to mention was this. One day my baby girl pulled out her homework from her backpack. I looked at the paper the teacher had printed her homework on and then took a second look. It was the brown, lined writing paper that they use to practice their handwriting. So, I went to the school the next day and asked the teacher, why she was using writing paper for the homework sheets. She said, the schools did not have any money in the budget for basic copying paper.
It had already been enough that there were reductions of books and the kids were receiving copied versions of portions of their books. Now they are being forced to use writing paper on what should be clean sheets is really an eye opener for me to how dramatically we are suffering. These may seem like little things, but they are only a symbol of how bad things are seen & unseen and a precursor to worse things to come.
Concerned Mom.
Good Morning,
My name is Courtenay, I am 22 and am from Washington State, United States. I don’t know if this is the right place to state my case, but please hear me out. I am very disterbed by the fact that we are so concerned by race, color, and personality. These are issues, but I have heard almost nothing about there stance on the enviroment. We have so many gigantic issues that are present in our enviroment (north pole melting, mass of plastic in the pacific ocean twice the size of Texas, global warming). But my biggest problem is on the roadless act that has been in act for decades. Also how it was revoked in Alaska, and how the overlogging and drilling will affect alaska’s biggest cash flow, Alaskin Halibate, and Salmon. How our President Bush was acaully found guilty by the suppreme court for trying to reverse the Roadless Act (which was illegal) when he first came into power and how it was Palin who supported having it revoked in Alaska (51 million acres of National Forest). This is a major, major issue that keeps me awake at night and has swayed my vote from McCain to Obama. If you could address this issue, I believe the whole world should be aware of what is really happening behind closed hidden doors. There is alot more too it, I am trying to make this short. Please research yourself to find out really how deep this goes.
When Bush revoked the Roadless Act the first time he sold over 11 million acres before the suppreme court could stop him.
Alaska has THE richest fishing grounds in the world because the Alaskin PEOPLE have worked SO hard over 50 years to bring back there Halibate and Salmon.
Now over 80 + million acres of prestine wilderness are open to logging, drilling, minning, and human influence when before it was protected for so many years.
religion makes me sick. if it (religion)is supposed to make people spiritual and peaceful, i argue that the opposite is true. all i see is hate and fear in an attempt at controlling peoples mind.. wake up anbd realize that religion is a farce. god did not create man in his image, but man created god in his. why else do people try to convert others than to control them and take their money. Why does god need so much money?
I appreciate what your caller from Somalia said. Although we are voting domestically, our policy has been to be involved in the world. The current economic problem globally is an example of our impact. I believe that as Americans we not only have a responsibility for voting for our domestic concerns, but also for the responsibility that we have assumed in the world.
I’ll be voting for Obama tomorrow. I believe he has the majority, but I am concerned that it will not be enough. Serious questions exist as to the legitamacy of our electronic voting system. For what reason would a voting machine be created and put into use that leaves no paper trail. I get a reciept every time I buy a stick of gum, but can’t get one at the polls? 25% of the US will use these machines tomorrow. Widespred problems are already being reported with these machines by early voters. IE: widespread allegations of vote flipping from Obama to McCain!
I am listening to the BBC World News Show and I just wanted to say that I am a Kenyan living in America and in regards to voting for Obama. We are not supporting Obama because of his ethnic background, but rather because of his policies. This type of a leader does not come around often. I am flabbergasted at the idea of voting for him due to the color of the screen. He is a well educated AMERICAN and he has the experience and resilience to lead this nation back to its re-knowned and respected state. If he were white with the same ideologies…I would still vote for him…so color is out of the question. We need revitalization and he is the man for the job.
I am Ghanaian student of the university of Ghana-Legon and i always listen to bbc news in intervals(i.e i scroll channels and listen to music and preaching messages of the Bible ).but i gave myself a holiday .no music and no lectures today because i don’t wanna skip any news on the U.S elections which i seriously yearn to hear OBAMA being pronounced the 44th US president .i will sit tight behind the computer till day breaks when Obama wins.long live America,long live Obama,long live Africa
Hello its Georgina Adjasoo
its 4:14 am in Accra – Ghana, I am now going to sleep since I have been up all night, but its been worth it, just a few minutes ago, I have been priviledged to see history being made.
My friends and I have been calling each other up to share the amazing and incredible news. Its just amazing watching the breaking news on tv and seeing the celebrations going on.
I feel so priviledged to witness this incredible event in my life time.
Congrats to John McCain for being a gracious loser
I am Munna from Dhaka, Bangladesh. I feel that the victory of Obama will help America to regain the image it lost during the last 8 years. Now, the world will love America again. Thanks to American people, they have really proved that they are not racist, they want a change.
For me, a mother in a German-British-Indian family, Obama has a multi-cultural background. If one calls him a black or an afro-american president only (see BBC News) you seem to forget that he has also a white American mother with whom he lived and who has brought him up offering him this multi-cultural background in Hawai, Indonesia and the US. BBC and other news agencies seem to forget giving publicity and thus paying respect to the impact of the intercultural thinking and work of his mother – giving her strength to him as her child. This is exactly as important as his African-American roots in Kenia.
So I call him a multi-cultural American president.
first of all congratulations to president Barack Obama for being the new president in America.I am really happy because i know that he will change a lot not only in America but also other parts of the world.I just thank God for a great man he has made president of America.president Obama please make sure that make the changes you have promised especially helping poor countries because you are trying to make this world a better place to live in right?.I know God on our side,YES WE CAN.john from mufulira zambia
Dear Ross: Although it appears tht humans derive from the same human ancestor and the genetic pool is dwindeling in its diversity (it appears that al humans are relatives to some degree from some schools of thought) I belive that we all are different and unique! Many place different efforts in their development and therefore advance in society at different levels. Equalizing everybody is a dangerous venture! I don’t want to be harsh but it sounds like Socialism or even more grave like the rebirth of Comunism
Catalin P. Hustea
Glenrothes Bye Election
According to the media, only 19,946 voted Labour. What percentage were public servants and welfare benefits scroungers who rely on the government for their money and gold-plated pensions?
Obama’s priority should be
1] restore the economy american as well as world
2] reduce the friction with IRAN with the help of RUSSIA.
3] war on terror should be redirected at saudi Arabia,
which finances the terror either directly and directly.
And saudi arabia ‘s income comes from selling oil to USA
It is important to remember that many of these people are striving to become martyrs for their religion. Being put to death, in their minds, seals the deal and awards them this honor. Execution is what they desire and is NOT punishment to them. Sitting in jail for the rest of their lives would render their actions in vain. I believe that the punishment should fit the crime in the eyes of the perpetrator.
To hang the Rothko painting I would look at the brush strokes in the paint first to see which way they could be applied comfortably. I don’t remember ever seeing a vertical Rothko so I’m about 99% certain that the painting in question would be hung horizontally.
That’s one of the Harvard murals, I believe. It should hang horizontally.
This in response to Graham Burke’s post November 3, 2008
I know how you feel. I had worries myself that the election would be so close that a little bit of typical Republican manipulation could shift the final count in McCain’s favor. Thank God Obama won a landslide victory, not only for The White House, but the Senate and Congress as well. Not even the deep down evil Republican cult could fix this one, like they did last time, when Bush was appointed to the White House by a corrupt judge in Florida. I was relieved when the results were in, and the USA, and the world, was rid of the worst administration in history. Thank you to the people of the USA, for having the resolve to say “enough is enough, no more”.
Let’s hope it is not too late to turn things around, but one thing is for sure, Barack Obama has the world behind him. Between 60 and 80 percent of the world support Obama. That’s history in the making. Best regards from: Bosco in Canada
This in response to Courtenay, October 16, 2008
I share your concerns 100%. The destruction of forests around the world, for very short term gains, is only one of many examples of the callous abuse of the worlds resources, by a capitalistic culture which seems to know the price of everything, yet do not appreciate the value of anything. It’s ironic at a time of global warming concern, due to increasing levels of carbon dioxide, that people have decided to ignore the fact that deforestation accelerates this process. Trees, and all other green plants, absorbs carbon dioxide, and expels oxygen. By destroying forests and other natural habitats, people are causing the build up of carbon dioxide, while depleting the level of oxygen in the atmosphere. A vicious circle. I share the frustration felt by people by this rape of the world’s habitats and resources by a few cynical and greedy groups, who have no regard for the future of the Planet or the next generations, who will have to deal with the consequences of these reckless acts of exploitation. There are better ways, but they require investments in proper resource management, and as long as the mighty dollar dictates, we will continue on this path to ultimate disaster. Not much encouragement, I guess, but at least you know that you are not alone, and getting rid of the Bush mafia was a good start on the path to a better way of doing things. All the best from: Bosco in Canada.
This in response to “john”, January 21, 2008.
John writes: “no one seems to have voted for Hamas”. In fact hamas won an absolute landslide victory in an election. I don’t remember the exact date, but it was the latest election held in the region. However, the result of this election was rejected by Israel and the USA, and the election was declared invalid. A new election was held, in which the Palestinian people were allowed to choose between candidates selected by Israel and the USA. Sure, home made rockets can kill. But the Israeli military, the most powerful and advanced in the world, can inflict thousands time more carnage. And Israel does not hesitate to target civilians or United Nations facilities. I can’t find any logic in the too often repeated statement: “Israel has the right to defend itself”. Israel was established in 1948, on Palestinian Ancestral land, a land called Palestine. It was Britain and the USA who decided to give this land to the Jewish people, to create a Jewish state, and the Palestinian people became stateless and status less. Until Israel, and the world community, decides to create a Palestinian homeland, or reinstate them to a status of human beings, giving them equal citizenship in the state of Israel, all efforts at bringing peasce to the region is a futile waste of time. Palestine too, has the right to defend itself.
Of course talk to them, talk to one of the foot solders, with your own translator. See what the man/woman in the field thinks, and feels. Find out if they really feel like they are dead already, and that their only hope is to die in the name of Alah, and for the cause of the Holy Jhad? Do they think that they are only going to be given justice in the after life?
Help them understand that up until the time they kill their first Western Infadel we (Americans) still view them as Human Beings like the rest of us. Once the killing begins and they cross the line, then they deserve to die for the life/lives that they have taken.
America has enough trouble with our own people, we don’t want to try and rule the lives of others on another continent. We don’t hate them, and we would just as soon that they take care of themselves, in any fashion that does not screw up our economy, like using oil as a weapon against us. We would gladly trade food stuffs for oil where some kind of monitary exchange puts money in both of our pockets.
The only thing I can say is start arranging marriages with americans where the racial difference, and the cultural differences are smoothed out. We don’t usually shoot our inlaws, and we usually accept our childrens choices as much as possible. So! See if you can get Obama to marry off one of his daughters to some prince’s son! Really could be any easier?
singer/musician poll. there’s no competition, in popularity or in importance,
quality, ability, talent influence etc; Robert Plant of course
This in response to Frank, November 13 2008,
I think suicide bombing is the most tragic and desperate act of war.I do not understand what drives these people to self destruct for their cause.But I do understand that they do it because they hate the West,and especially the USA,who have been committing crimes against humanity in those countries.If they should die for the deaths caused by their acts,how many Americans do you think deserve to die for the invasion of Iraq,which has resulted in as many as 150000 civilians casualties.What do you mean:you veiw them as human beings?That’s part of the problem,you don’t.The USA only view them as objects obstructing the way to crude oil.you proceed to state that the Americans have enough trouble with their own people,Amen to that,deal with it.
You don’t want to rule the lives of others?that must be why you have half a million US troops engaged around the world,not to mention CIA,the most brutal terrorist organization in the world.The OPEC does not use oil as a weapon against your people.the so called “supply and demand” game,or commodity manipulation which is illegal even in the US,is used by corrupt US and British oil corporations,or organized crime,to extort money from all of us.The rest of your post’s going on about “food stuff” for oil and arranged marriages is a pile of crap,not worthy of a comment.
on Obama and socialism…
I really don’t think his tax proposal is socialist, he doesn’t recommend an income cap, he recommends a proportional tax. This is not socialism, this is capitalism with a couple of modifiers. If you want to target finances that are hurting our country talk about localized taxes. When it comes to public schooling talk about the poor getting poorer, I’m more worried about the distribution of education here.
We have been told that dialogue brings peace by our Republican friends in leadership in the U.S.A. They have funded this idea and put pressure on our government to talk to Lords Resistance Army of Kony, A terrorist organisation. I,m suprised that Republicans in Texus is opposed to dialogue with terrorists
I was surprised to hear the commentary from Georgetown, but it is quite different from what you would hear in Austin especially central Austin. More than 84% of my precinct voted for Obama and more than 64% of Travis County. Williamson County which includes Georgetown is traditionally the most Republican county in metro Austin, although, it is beginning to change.
It also seems that you had a disproportionate number of white men on the show who also tend to be the most Republican group among Americans. However, most of the white men that I know in Austin did vote for Obama. That includes my husband who is a 67 year-old Anglo native Texan. However, he has a background in economics and has a very different perspective on economics than your typical “Good Ole Boy”.
I am also a native Texan, a 64-year-old Anglo woman who actively supported Obama. Because I live in central Austin, almost everybody I know supported Obama.
I would be curious to know the crime rate statistic based on comparable populations to other places with the death penalty. Statiscally is it effective?
I would also wonder if Texas is primarily a supporter of right to life, if so how can this incongruence in respect to life coexist successfully.
Suggestion for discussion topic:
Is it viable in the 21st century to interpret religious texts written centuries ago literally and apply them? Does this cause unneeded strife due to simple ideological differences and interpretations? Certainly a heated debate would ensue.
@ Archibald
Certainly a heated debate would ensue.
Yet, it is time to have this discussion, I think.
USA is responsible for worldwide problem. You name it:
1. Worldwide economy crisis
2. Modern day massacre -Iraq, Afghanishtan
3. Terrorism -who gave birth to all top terrorists?
Would China be more ethical? Think about how they have behaved in Sudan? If they are ethical – they certainly haven’t cared about human rights when they want the oil.
while we don’t always have the best of records we also have the Marshall plan and the Camp David Accords.
Women all over shall continue to be the target for proponents of GBV. The best resolve is for them to abandon the kitchen (a thing they have woken up to nowadays) and plant themselves firmly in decision making circles. Dependancy and low self esteem are two of women’s worst enemies.
oops! SALEM Oregon actually… So much for American public education!!!!
The world economy cannot help but crash. It is an attempt to make a linear system which in our universe is totally impossible. Money must circulate to be of any value.
According to a program about the housing financial crisis there is $70 trillion in world savings and according to an article in the magazine Political Affairs %40 of that money is not being lent out (in circulation). The wonderful aspect of our lives as workers is that we get to work ever harder making rich men richer until the house of bills collapses then we get put on the dole and cursed for being lazy.
But Dan Damon in Iraq continues to denigrate the Iraqi government for hiring many more workers to work in the factories then are needed. Possibly there government should hire the workers to build the people housing and repair the infrastructure that I’m sure needs repair just like in the UK and US.
It has been proven time and time again that the private sector cannot lead an economy but Dan continues to spread the propaganda that the private sector knows best. Every one and the environment must be considered in economic decisions. Thanks for a forum to express my views that so easily accessible. Joe Kopnitsky Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Hello David Cole from World Update here. I’ve posted your email onto Dan in Baghdad Joe, and he plans to respond to it on air at about 5 minutes past 5 (a.m) Pittsburgh time, so I hope you get a chance to listen in. Thanks for listening.
Mumbai Terrorist Attacks
Directly after the attacks, Indians complained quite rightly that their authorities took too long to respond. Yet Pakistan claims India decided to invade it the day after the first attack, seemingly ignorant of India’s painfully slow cleft-stick-messenger bureaucracy.
Yet India’s IT engineers are sought after all over the world.
Toni Gous
Dear BBC
I Have been your regular listener for twenty years. Thanks very much for your excellent programs and professional presenters.
You have changed your online website to iPlayer. I found that the iPlayer suddenly disconnects, which I did not experience in your previous online website. Can you give us the option of using the previous website until it is known that iPlayer is trouble free?
Your long time listener.
Girma Orssengo
With all this talk about the auto industry remeber that financial institutions got billions without even a discussion in congress.
This is really about Republican misrule–funny it’s Republican senators that are blocking the auto deal.
The Republicans have stolen the American Treasury. Bush and his cronies have made lots of money off of the working people of America.
We gave billions of our money to save them and now the banks won’t lend US our own money. So we are supposed to sacrifice because we can’t get access to our own resources.
Bush will screw America until the last moment of his Presidency.
Steve
HI Again
it’s me noor from iraq
i’d like to tell a new proverb if the shoes hit BOOSH directly the iraq will fly in bush……………..
Hi, I think Bush deserve what he did. He killed a lot of iraquies and he also killed a lot of americans. He destroyed a lot of families. What is a simple shoes, so?? Thanks Erica from Argentina.
You cant understand these two arch enemies,who speaks one language but dress differently,raining and pointing accusing fingers to each other,who helped them build the mass dom killing factories which always make them to fly above their wings?An unpenetrated tribal areas,is another untouchable so-called Green zone?an area that infested with sorry-look-like faces recruits ready to offer their lives for any devasting and destructive blows,whats wrong with P-country?double game,two-way sword,sincerity in fighting wicked recruits are gone,P-country is now the major recruits exporter in the World today,who knows next port of call?I-country is not globally notorious with such destuctions.World communities,keep eye on P-country and its innocent face-look recruits.
Hi ros! am failing to get on the blog! somebody is messing up my email and all this ????????????
I can get into my email!
Isn’t it that the world doesn’t care because they think they can’t help? What about a country like Sudan where they’re getting huge amounts of food aid because they won’t help their own people? And furthermore, isn’t there a problem with giving many countries the expectation that they should be able to live on others’ good will? Wouldn’t more people care if there were more clear paths to self-sufficiency?
I have been receiving the weekly email for some time now, and I have this question: why the frak is the link to WHYS (above the weekly question in the email) still take me to the page for 26 October 2007?! Is this service akin to the bleeding BBCiPlayer(which has NEVER worked properly or consistently with Firefox, but does with I.E.), or what?
I am glad that here in Portland Oregon we have a good Mass Trancit system. I hope for more ways to get to the MT. and seashore etc. There is a Company that is planing on making an Electric RV. For some I feel that there Auto has become an
Ideal.
If Hamas can not manage to get medical supplies into Gaza, how have they managed to get 6,000 rockets?
YOUR MISLEADING TITLE IS BEING REPEATED ALL OVER EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO TRUCE OFFERED BY HAMAS, NOTHING OFFICIAL ABOUT THE FRENCH SUGGESTION. HAMAS WAS THE FIRST TO SAY THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF RENEWING THE CEASE FIRE. THEY ARE SHOOTING ROCKETS DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO ISRAEL AND HAVE DONE SO FROM THE MINUTE THEY WENT INTO GAZA.
ISRAEL LEFT GAZA,. AND RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BUY THE THRIVING GREENHOUSES IN GAZA AND GIVE THEM TO THE PALESTINIANS BUT RIVAL TRIBES CAME INTO GAZA, FIGHTING OVER WHO WOULD TAKE CONTROL AND EVENTUALLY DESTROYED ALL THE GREENHOUSES THAT COULD HAVE PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND STARTED TO REBUILD THEIR ECONOMY. IN ADDITON, ISRAEL HELPED TO RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM PRIVATE PEOPLE AND FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO BUILD AN INFRASTRUCTURE IN GAZA. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONEY? THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAMAS WRESTED CONTROL FROM THE MODERATE ABBAS AND PROCEEDED TO DESTROY IT’S OWN PEOPLE.
This is an exact repeat of the thinking that led to the invasion of bombing of Lebanon 2 years ago which ended with a strengthening of the Hezbollah position in the area. Though I am not a supporter of Hamas and think their actions are counter-productive, does this method of collective punishment not backfire by strengthening support for what is then viewed as the only “resistance” force to an aggressive military action? This seems like a repetition of flawed and counter-productive measures for both sides.
Will no one call this guy on the notion that Gaza is so densely populated that they have to store their rockets in their mosques? I understand that the whole area of Gush Katif would be available to Hamas for military installations, but these would not permit their brave fighters to hide behind their women’s hijabs.
Whatever the failings of the elected government of Gaza it is against all humanitarian principles to attack 1.5 million civilians who are trapped and unable to leave the war zone. For that reason there is no viable justification for the attacks on the people living in the Gaza strip.
The Gazans are being collectively punished for the actions of a few. Israel can say all it wants is peace and that it had no choice but I can list a number of choices Israel has had over the years:
1) In 2006 they could have recognized Hamas when they were elected and have carried out negotiations with them and Fatah. But for reasons of propaganda they chose not to do that. and instead attempted to starve the people into submission.
2) After a truce was negotiated 6 months ago they also could have started to negotiate and to show their good faith opened the borders to goods.
3) when the truce ran out they did not have to choose to invade Gaza killing 6 people in an attempt to break down the tunnels that were built as a response to the blockade.
4) When Hamas started sending rockets again they could have initiated negotiations to open the border which is in fact what Hamas is trying to achieve. and
5) today they could stop the bombing and open the borders to international agencies and start negotiating about a permenant opening.
They say they are weakening the infrastructure of Hamas. However Hamas is not
a building or a person – it is a response to the occupation of Gaza. Israel can not bomb Hamas out of existence. They can however convert more people to the philosophy exposed by Hamas.
This war is a man-made disaster which can only increase the cycle of violence and act as a recruitment for even more militant young men and women. It is not in the european or american world interest or actually even in the Israeli long term interest. At some point the moderates will be out numbered by people who have been irrevocably scared by acts of war. this is not new – it has happened all over the world in every war of resistance.
Israel and the Palestinians must negotiate a settlement and to do this Israel as the strongest party in this conflict must first of all must accept the right of the Palestinians to have a sovergn state. Once they really do that they will have options – I think that is the real reason that Sharon unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. He actually finnally came to the conclusion that a two state solution was the only way.
But the current generation of Israeli politicians have yet to reach this conclusion so now they carry out punishing military action against 1.5 million trapped civilians because its easier than negotiating, and because they think they will somehow win, and simply because they want to show that they can.
Israel says no government in the world would accept rockets being shoot into its territority. On the other side what government in the world would “accept” an 18 month seige and blockade of its people preventing all passage of goods? One has led to the other. Israel must accept the 2-state solution and negotiate with all of the Palestinians including Hamas.
I live in cyprus .A country under partial occupation.Am shocked by the worlds tolerance of what going on in gaza.
The question was framed incorrectly. The question should not have been “Does Israel have the right to defend itself?”
Of course they do. That’s not even debatable, I would think.
The proper question to ask is “Can this current offensive properly be termed a defense of Israel?”
I live in the Bahamas and I understand that every country has a right to defend themselves but at what cost is Israel defending themselves? I’m watching the coverage on the war and all I’m seeing is hundreds of civilians dying as a result of this war. I hope and pray that this ends soon. I can’t stand to see innocent lives being taken. War never solved anything and all this is doing is fueling the hate that already exists between these two countries.
Israel…. Hamas… Please STOP this war.
It is shocking to hear there is no ceasefire. Why are the so called leaders silent, Come on let’s be kind.
The whole world awaits who will take the blame of attacks in Gaza.
Isreal gets its powerfull support from who? who supply all ammunitions to them? they buy or manufacture them.
Who denies Palastians with self defence equipment, thats not fair.
Israel has the right to defend itself but the loss of civilians in the crossfire is unacceptable, all military operations need to stop. UN peacekeepers need to be deployed and Hamas has to disarm. Hamas should govern its people not lead them into slaughter. Irrational beliefs only lead to pain and suffering!
This Israeli atrocity must be stopped. The innocent people are the ultimate sufferers not the terrorists. If there is any list of terrorist nation, I guess we have to name Israel in the list.
God help the mankind !!! when are we going to grow up and be a sensible creatures!!!!!! Learn to accept that the world belongs to all of us and that we can not stop/ or change the differences by fighting… anyone and can not destroy any society by bombing… this will only increase the difference…I as an middle aged person i fail to see any logic in this act by Israel.. …No religion can be teaching violent..
Hashi Ghosh
ok, i dont understand why the palestinians if they want the killing to stop, they should turn in the members of hamas, obiously they live among them, if all it took was for the fighting and killing to stop was to turn in these people,why dont they do it? even if they believed in hamas and supported them but on the other hand they wanted the killing to stop why not find them and turn them in? its waht i would do. and thats why alot of people think the palestinians support them. because they do almost nothing to stop them themselvs if they want them to stop they should find and turn them over to the authorities.
I strongly believe that Israel is committing a serious crime against human rights especially considering the number of civilian casualties that have been recorded. I really feel for the people in Gaza as they live in constant fear, not knowing what will happen next and not having the freedom to continue with their lives normally. My question is: In Israels’ pursuit of Hamas rebels, will it be a success if thousands of civilians are dead and Hamas is temporarily subdued?
I suggest journalists stop reporting what is happening in Sderot and southern Israel as long as the ban on reporting what is happening in Gaza remain in place.
It is painfully obvious a full blown massacre is taking place here and Israel should not be allowed to get away with it.
I believe what is really going on between the Israelites and Palestinians is simply unimaginable hate towards each other, and as far as I am concerned instead of letting innocent women and children dying from both sides to justify righteousness to deffend from these politicians, its time for the United Nations (if ever its there) to make sure to bring a ceasefire immediately and keep it that way by all means necessary.
Your censuring policy is absolutely disgusting!… Sounds like BBC is a Zionist broadcast!? And don’t get me wrong, when I say Zionist I don’t mean Jew
Dr. Samuels.
The editorial in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal by a Rabi from The Wiesenthal Center was quite provocative. The head of the Center of tolerance displayed an animosity which makes leadsme to question in this way; How did his editorial help advance a dialogue for understanding, illucidation, and finally a journey towards tolerance between angry people (or hot heads)?
I keep getting “your coment is awaiting moderation” with a red ban, which remains after I have finished m reply. What and how do I get rid of it??.
Elias.
Strange how there is a shortage of everything in Gaza except for an unlimited supply of rockets and weaponry?
War is when both parties are equally equipped….Israel is a shame, trying to show itself as a victim when it has killed helpless men women and children ,targeting school and hospitals…and with countries like the US and the UK keeping silent, it clearly shows they believe in ‘might is right!’
“Racism” is itself a buzzword. A better framing word might be – is a word or term inherently dismissive or derogatory?
Any word or term that denies or minimizes a human being worth or value is by its nature an attack or excuse for one.
“Race” has almost nothing to do with it. We attack people with more (or less) money, education, faith or style than we might have. No matter the context – we all deserve the respect of being human beings.
Here’s a reminder – http://www.humanrightsactioncenter.org/
It has been more than 7 years since the attacks on Septemnber 11, 2001. We have had not one attack on US soil since then. Bush deserves credit for that. I worry that, within the first few months of Obama’s presidency, this safety string will end because he will be perceived as being weak by Islamic fascists. I hope I am wrong but I have an inkling that it is almost certain.
The world today has a very short time to figure out the solutions to the problems we have been having for quite a while. These solutions should not be solutions to symptoms of a problem but should a be a solution to the problem itself. One such problem is religion . You have catholics and judaism and islam all wanting this holy place in Israyl. They will blow each other up to prove that their god wants them to have the holy place , now if that doesnt stop we are in trouble. This tribal mentality has worn itself out or a least it should have by now. BIG problem. George Bush acually thinks he is on the side of god or at least he pretends to be on his way heaven by trying to blow the non jesuses up. What a complete moron . As long as we have this tribal mentality running things we are not going to solve anything , these are symtoms of a very large problem. As far as the new president is concerned he will try im sure but the problem in the mideast may be out of proportion by then. OH by the way there was no letter “J” in any language until after1600 AD.
Yes, I would drive an electric vehicle. I believe that under the new president, we have a better chance of having this type of car available to us and affordable.
Of course, on American Streets, the Hummers ,SUVS and16 Wheelers on the interstate, could cause more serious injury to those in the electric car. We have the Smart Car here and they are so small, they seem unsafe on our interstate system
I think the inaguaration of Obama will open a new ideological thinking for terrorist not to think america as enemy of muslim community.
Unfortunately, the problems with most countries in the African continent have to do with their leaders’ own corruptions. and there isn’t much Obama or the USA can right now, because USA have spent a lot money on support, but yet those contries always fall back again.
I do think USA should always care about the rest of world, but at the same time American need to have in order first then – I am sure the world will get their share soon.
Unfortunately, the problems with most countries in the African continent have to do with their leaders’ own corruptions. and there isn’t much Obama or the USA can right now, because USA have spent a lot money on support, but yet those contries always fall back again.
I do think USA should always care about the rest of world, but at the same time American need to have in order first then – I am sure the world will get their share soon.
Harry
Fort Myers, Florida, USA
If other countries don’t want our advice, then they should stop taking our money. The United States is responding to the calls for help from the citizens of these countries.
Justice demands the other side also be heard.Broadcasting news of war is never far away from being fair– it’s always ‘either you are on our side ; you are on their on their side.’ So journalists must make sure that following troops is not the best they can do. They should cross over and hear the other side of the story so that we don’t end up helping either of the parties by broadcasting their propaganda..
Having listened to an interview between Gordon Brown and an interview called, I believe, “Evan”, I was surprised to realise that it was really Alan Partridge moonlighting as a BBC reporter. Could ” Evan” stick to what he is good at?
When I check profiles of BBS world service radio presenters I can see many different names and profiles, but I do not actually hear almost half of them presenting on BBC world service air although I listen to your radio service regularly. I wonder why.
About the Gaza appeal: This is a humanitarian crisis, not a political one. The BBC should publicise it. If it was Tel Aviv that had been flattened, I think you’d broadcast an appeal in favour of the Israelis.
About buying a more expensive car mentioned a moment ago because of environmental rulings. The point is that if all cars were to be more environmentally friendly this question wouldn’t exist and indeed the economies of scale reached would keep the prices down anyhow.
On the Gaza Appeal Of course the BBC shouldn’t do so. I didn’t hear anything like this on worse and more prolonged situations, eg Congo, being used to attack a news agency. There are organisations who can and do such work. Incidentally making a big issue of it in your news so frequently surely does the same job.
Israeli troops, but Palestinian militants.
How’s that for even handedness?
Israeli troops, but Palestinian militants.
How’s that for even handedness?
you report the latest violence violence in the middle east as between Israeli ‘troops’ and Palestinian ‘militants’.
How’s that for even handedness?
Protectionism is a reflex reaction of capitalist world economy when it goes into its death throws. We have seen this before in the 30,s .It occurs because rather than being based on co operation between nation states, capitalism is essentially anarchic .
The only way to resolve this, and to avoid the terrible consequences of this ie trade war ,and then war itself,is to socialise world economy .In the act of doing this the logic of the market place then responds to’ need ‘as opposed to the logic of ‘profit ‘.
This is the historical point which we have now reached . However the media in cluding the BBC continues to indulge the views of economists academics and businessmen whose reference and world view is that of the status quo .
Those who predicted recent events have been made conspicuous by their absence on the media front . However we will soon be fed the views of the BNP as they gain some bizarre mindless sense of credibility due to popular vote .
I’ve been listening to the discussions and comments from average Jews and Arabs in Israel. It seems like they all need basic counseling in communications. They all state they want to talk and listen to the other side but I don’t hear that happening. Everyone is talking but no one is listening. One person states their position and the next person responds with either attacks or defensiveness then back to the first speaker being defensive or attacking. It’s like a heard of cats. They’ve been fighting for 3,000 years. It doesn’t sound like it is going to change any time soon.
The GOP Congresswoman who recently asserted the GOP alternative package would cost have of the Obama plan. She is being disingenuous. In fact the Martinez/McCain alternative had a price tag of 715 billion. In addition, the alternative was little more than a reworking of the Bush tax cuts which resulted in the worst job creation since WWII.
In Africa we have more than 51 country,but i want to know you people from BBC radio the only country to talk about is only Kenya?per one day its not less than two or three times.If there’s special contract between BBC and KENYA just mention this openly or make the news fair for all African country .There’s lot to talk in other country don’t make as blind for your support or advertise one country.
THANK YOU.
When the U.S. went into Iraq they allowed the National Museum to be totally looted. There is suspicion that the looters were proffesional because they had taken the time to tqake pictures off their frames. What about that. How could we let that happen?
Sudan’s president should be arrested without waisting time at all.He has committed a very great atrocities.Eric from Amsterdam
Frankly the Catholic church is showing itself as archaic and out of touch. Mercy killings (in this case) which also save a life are necessary. The archbishops words are but the words of the catholic church which needs to change canon laws. Abortion is not necessarily the most moral action but, in this case the young girls certain life is more important than 2 unborn lives which put her life at risk. Why lose three lives when you can save one?
Africa will not be democratic unless its benefactors and donors demand it. I asked the IMF guys at different times, “How can you just shell out cash without demanding security? No bank would be so irresponsible.” This was before the irresponsible house mortgage bubble, but perhaps the start of that rot?
But they always shrugged their shouders, smugly said “Untied aid”, and went to lunch.
What a cop-out; most of the aid money goes into the off-shore bank accounts of the men at the top, their women, their clans and their tribes, in that order. The so-called developed world has propped up a military dictatprship in Nigeria since the ’60s, while every “unconnected” Nigerian has to bribe his/her way practically since birth.
It’s tantamount to the Allies telling the Germans after WWII “All right, you can keep your Reichstag, your SS, your death camps, and your other smelly customs, as long as you keep it at home.”
The little people all over Africa would love to have real democracy. In fact, they swim through crocodile-infested waters and risk rape and death to get into the few fledgling African democracies. They clamber into rickety boats and brave oceans to get into Holland, Spain, Britain, Germany, et al.
Alright, maybe someone should truelly tell the world about Africa.
am sick and tired of the western media making Africa appear like some kind of hell on earth, where one will find all the failures of the word.
am African, and a proud one for that matter, Kenyan in particular, and, i don’t think Africa has been represented fairly in the western media.
1st, the fact that african’s don’t live in the million dollar house in siato or Miami doesn’t mean they are poor, what matters is a prefferance of a people.
2nd. yes, we have bad governace in Africa, but the real big deal props up when the governnace does no favor the western.
think of Mobutu seseko, a real loyal to the west, when he turns a bad boy, his gotten rid of.
Ancle Bob, (Mugabe) is a kind of leader i would love to see in Africa.
if he was evicting southAfricans, Kenyans or Nigerians from Zimbambwe, no one would care, BUT. because its the white man on eviction, a streamming of suctions wont stop flowing.
then when the people die of cholera, Mugabe is to blam.
am actually happy with my county’s trade talks with the Irannian Govt. a friend with integrity is a friend indeed.
One time,
Africa will really have its say in the world, then we will make the world understand the streangh of A BLACK MAN.
I worked as a mental health technician and mental health officer for about 5 1/2 years in the late 1980’s-early 1990’s. I worked a variety of shifts involving days, afternoons, evenings and nights. Because of the nature of psychiatric emergency rooms (open 24 hours a day), you were expected to work whatever shift your were assigned. Unfortunately, I ended up working nights. Even though I was given a shift differential in my pay (typically only $1.00-$1.75 additional), I ended up with a severe sleep disorders (erratic circadian rhythm) and to this day, I cannot sleep more than 2-3 hours a night. I think that more compensation is necessary because of a number of health problems (much more severe and life altering than my sleep disorder) that occur because of night shift work.
I don’t think that it’s a stretch that some women could develop breast cancer because of a change in their rhythms and that when people are given a night shift that they are both compensated and sign a statement of informed consent.
Michael Stranathan
Clinton, Ohio
(listening on WCPN, 90.3 in Cleveland, Ohio)
What is there to understand?! Here in the United States, as a result of this understanding, sex offenders have been received increased leniency and early release from prison. What has been the result? Sex offenders RE-offending! What about the rights of the children and women who are these new victims?!
Dear Lawyer of Josef Fritzl,
I think the lawyer of Mr. Fritzl is slightly confused (or engaging in dramatics) when he pleads that Mr. Fritzl be treated as a human being.
The fact that he is in protective custody, and being tried in a court of law means, by definition, that he IS being treated as a human being. Otherwise he would surely have been hacked to pieces by the peasants.
David
Amsterdam
Politicians, like anyone else, may practice whatever religious belief they wish. However, when it comes to governing, religion ought not to be a consideration in terms of policy-making. One can make ethically and morally sound decisions with or without religion. All religion will do in politics is drive wedges between believers and non-believers and help divide religious people into right and wrong, good and bad, better and best religious categories. Being a good leader need have NOTHING to do with religion which can in fact become detrimental to fair decision-making.
What you are looking for is Abraham Maslow’s eupsychian ethic.
The US House of Representatives plans to tax the bonuses AIG employees received at 90%. However, with all of the taxes that apply, the recipients of bonuses must pay the government 102% of the bonuses they receive. The possibility of our government being able to take back 102% of a person’s money whenever they so desire is frightening, and the precedent it would set is despicable.
Harry
Hey,
I just wanted to add that talking about age doesn’t help in my opinion. People at a age off 10-15 are curious about ‘real sex’ (not in the books). You can warn them but they’ll still find out there self. At least that is how I feel about it! You better can learn them how to proper work with condoms, that they won’t brake for example. Although 65% of ‘condom problems’ aren’t from braking but slipping off. If you want to prevent those kind of situations you will need to learn them about condom sizes for example. 15% of the problems is that the condom is to tight, not the right size. That way it will brake. 35% of the time it slips of because it is to large. although 47% is perfect, so if you learn people to have a morning after pill orsomething after your sex it should be 100% save.
Regards,
Ron
This question of racism is framed incorrectly as everyone is racist to a point.
Take the BBC show on English as rewarding people service or not from the Post Office. You had to speak English to be on the show. This is racism. We have to go beyond to one of your guest’s points, actions not words. Cartoons are action, nigger is a word.
Eric
In America, we are creating a politically correct elite (including all races) which is anti-white, anti-male, anti-Catholic and anti-heterosexual. It is ok to publicly derrogate these groups but it is prejudiced, racist and bigoted to make similar comments about blacks, hispanics, moslems, homosexuals and females. sound familiar? It will get worse. Just wait.
There different forces which have been trying to destabilise raising power Pakistan by creating conflicts among all kind of social groups. Those forces are given by a complex network of Western, particular US American and New York, interest groups and Western Capital. It all comes to the slogan ” Divide and rule ” and it is the same which is being done in Sudan at present.
A question for anyone in of from Lahore.
When did you become aware of the issues of anything outside of Lahore, e.g the tribal states.
I ask this because, in my interatction with Pakistanis over the last 40 years I realised that there are many Pakistans.
The people of the large cities seemed to be more obscessed with India and eveywhere else.
They would talk about the “poor rural people” as if they were in some other foreign country.
The G 20 should left as it is
The members are chosen because their economies are significant
What happens in the G20 could have an effect on the rest of the world’s economies.
Not vice versa
People around the world specially the political leaders have forgotten the principle of’ “( Live and Let Live)” and (Love thy Neighbor) and (Find happiness in the happiness of others) .(and share with others)These were all taught by all the saints who have come into this world like Christ, Guru Nanak, Mohamed and Buddha and Tao and Swami Ji and many more.There will never be peace in the world unless all groups start to realize the true teachings of saints,the teachings have been distorted for their own selfish motives.
I have watched President Obama’s Town Hall Speech live on BBC News the day before. President Obama seems to place great emphasis on looking past differences and focusing on common goals and targets for the world in key areas such as combating terrorism, upholding human rights and finding solutions for the current global economic crisis.
I have a question here: When exactly are differences between countries acceptable, and when do they become an issue? While many of us know of human rights violations committed by terrorists, how about human rights violations or key differences in international human rights norms made by countries themselves? Saudi Arabia has questionable laws and punishment methods for criminals, and has come under criticism for its human rights record by various human rights organisations. What is the position of the United States on such an issue?
a verse of the quran practically says women were created for men’s pleasure, confort and to ensure their reproduction. Even though i am a muslim i refuse this
Yes, violence does call attention to a protest. However, if you’re protesting a war, for instance, isn’t violent protest completely hypocritical? And even in other cases, isn’t a protest used to voice opinions against behaviors and actions we find abhorrent? If we become violent through protest we are just as bad as those we protest against and are setting NO kind of positive example for those whose behaviors we are trying to change.
@Ralf Gandler
I suggest you brush up on your Pakistani history, it’s always been divided.
There have been tensions between the people of Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan etc., for centuries, long before Pakistan was created. And long before the East India Company established control over the Indus valley in the 19th century.
The tensions were exacerbated by the migration of the Delhi Mohajirs following partition.
Conflict has long existed between the classes & castes, and one ought not to forget that there are many descendants of African slaves in Pakistan, which is another source of communal tension because many are Shia. The Arabs and Persians had a flourishing African slave trade long before the Europeans.
A vignette of this history can be gleaned by examining the revolution of Sufi Shah Inayat in the early 18th century. Especially how the elites, including the Delhi Murghals, ganged up to destroy the community he established, which was based on the qualities of freedom and equality. This happened before the leaders of the American and French revolutions were even born, let alone Karl Marx, and well before the British ruled the region now referred to as Pakistan.
Ross- I can not see any spin that would cast a positive light on the pirates. Even the thought that these guys are home defenders is absurd. Solmalia can begin in the simpilist ways to become self governing. Local councils and other local self governing groups would soon grow to a rudementry government and recieve support from the world community. The pirates are profit oriented crooks. Nice shooting Seals.
Everyone who has spoken so far on the programme who wants to go back and live at home are total loosers…. don’t they realise that they have to take responsibility for their actions. That their parents are there to bring them up and then set them free to make their own decisions and not live off the back and hard work of their parents. Dont they think that the parents deserve to find their own privacy again? I think this whole discussion is a reflection of our current society where people in general think that everything is owed to them – didn’t someone say that there was no free lunch or dinner for that matter?
Having grown-up in Oregon, I was made keenly aware, at a very early age, of environmental concerns effecting our world. My personal concerns were so great that I decided as a pre-teen that I would not bring children into a world that was clearly on it’s way to self-destruction and over-population. Now on the cusp of fifty I am even more sure of my decision. The clock on the environmental time bomb that is attached to our planet is not slowing down but instead speeding-up at an alarming pace. Some would say, “Well, perhaps it would be YOUR children that would find the solutions to these problems”. I say, there are plenty of people and too many children living in deplorable conditions around the world. Instead of continuing to have four, six, eight children, how about adopting some of the kids who need good homes and are suffering. I fear it’s becoming too late for our little blue marble. If the people already populating earth can’t find the answers, we’re already doomed.
It is impossible to make data harder to copy. In fact as computer science progresses it will be easier to copy. So fighting against copying is fighting against progression of computer science. We need to change our profit structure and not fight progress because that is futile.
Stealing and file sharing are not comparable. Sharing is more like looking at something and building it yourself. That would be like making it illegal to make your own ice cream that taste just like Ben and Jerry’s. Long as you don’t sell it as Ben And Jerry’s ice cream its legal. The problem is people don’t understand computer science.
Sir,
You havent highlighted the plight of Tamils who are suffering at the hands of Srilankan forces. This is outright injustice to the tamil problem in srilanka. Have you people seen the photos of barbaric killing of innocent women and children in Srilanka. stop this ongoing genocide. The present Indian congress regime is a shame less govt, I hope you dont choose the same path.
Das
Organic food has become more available in common supermarkets. It frustrates me that people refuse to accept any sort of responsibility for what they do to themselves or our environment.
Yes, the government has a big part to play in the type of food available to the “common” people. People want cheap food and refuse to spend a little more for the quality.
I am the ‘blacksheep’ if you will of my entire extended family who are all over weight, if not obese. They are always asking me if I’ve eaten just because I am a size 4. I exercise 5 to 6 days a week and I buy fresh, organic items. It is important to me to avoid all the health issues affecting those in my family. Yes, it may cost a little more, but my health and longevity is much more important than saving a few bucks.
Obese people are irresponsible and need to stop blaming and do something to change. They didn’t get that way overnight and so they shouldn’t expect a miracle cure. It will take time and effort, but will benefit them and society greatly.
I’m not so sure about the world’s reaction over this new strain of swine flu.
Do you think the fear over this epidemic is that the virus might “morph” into something more seriously over the next months? Or do people in the know feel that the worst was in Mexico and that it has weakened since it spread?
Thank you ~
Elizabeth
Cleveland, Ohio
In Greece people are not allowed to take headache tablet by law. It is a jailable offence. The laws in Australia are not the same. Australian invented the disprin and the panadol headache tablets, although they are manufactured by the EEC now. None of these cultural differences are being addressed, and police in Australia seem to making up the law as they go along. Who manufactures disprin and panadol now? Why was Patsy Cline disabled? Why was Lewis Carroll imprisoned? Why are our famous artists, musicians, and sports players wearing different faces? Trophies are being auctioned off in pubs. Does the Royal Family expect to make money from Spencer underwear? There are so many questions to be answered.END
Disprin and Panadol were first invented in Australia.
The Beck family could be from the expression:
“I’m at your beck and call”. Which means I’m being treated like a servant. In fact their real name may have been Davidson, and one family in particular could be related to me. The name chances on the disprin packet may signify foulplay.
How do Australians tackel the royal family, and other such heavy types.
While it seems a good idea to ban people who really incite anger and bad feelings, the better approach is to give some type of economic hit. For example, if people could contact sponsors of the Michael Savage radio show and show that there wil be an economic impact to them if they continue to sponsor Mr. Savage, I believe you would see his show go away at some point.
Being a listener to the BBC World Service, I’m irritated there seems to be a fetishistic preoccupation with the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan.
There is more to the rest of the world.
I also find it strange that there seems to be be little British news. This is perplexing expecially since the BBC is still funded by TV licences paid by members of the British public; a practise Australia phased out nearly 30 years ago.
On Americans giving up their gas guzzlers I have this comment. For financial reasons, I have been commuting to work by bus in what we call a reverse commute going from a city, Sacramento, California, to a suburban town in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The cost is $1.00 US soon to rise by about $.25 or less than the cost of a gallon of gas. The downside is the commute takes one hour each way and requires transfers. The essential problem in most American cities is that since the early 1960s’ American urban planning has been focused on automobiles and not mass transit or walking or biking. Consequently, while I suspect many Americans would be happy to park the car and travel with their fellow citizens (as many in large older urban centers do quite happily), the odds are stacked against you if you live in a less enlightened area well away from traditional urban centers.
I am a professional who works for a non-profit so dressing casually and making my own hours isn’t a problem. On the other hand one of my fellow commuters is a young woman who commutes daily by rail, bus and bike to a slightly better than minimum wage job at one of the uber discount retail chains. Clearly my bus buddy and I are not the constituency that are able to influence planning officials and the politicians who enslaved Americans to their cars low those many years ago.
This issue is a poignant illustration of U.S. irresponsbility. The audacity of members of congress who invoke the pathetic cliché: “Not in my backyard,” should be forced to swallow another equally ridiculous one: ” You made your
bed now you have to lie in it.” The Bush Administration created this mess with the approval of the majority of congress. Now it’s time to set things straight and these congressman and the American people need to accept the sacrifices that the closing of Guantanamo implies and not burden the rest of the world with their heinous mistakes any longer.
Frank is absolutely ignorant absolute Islam as well as the issue of closing Guantanamo. In his black and white world of good guys and bad guys he seems to be suggesting that we should incarcerate anyone who is a muslim because they are bad guys. He enjoys convoluting the issue with his simplistic notions of the problem and forgets that it was the U.S. that started this problem and the U.S. who needs to finish it. Why do Americans like him continue to have their voice in world affairs?
Regarding the MPs’ expenditures, we’ve heard a very great deal about those who have been …indiscreet. It’s time to highlight MPs who have behaved honourably in this matter. The honourable deserve to be praised no less than the dishonourable deserve what they’ve been given.
The fact that the Australian Labor Party donated billions of taxpayers money to Burma, late last year in 2008, based on this liasion between Wales, Denmark, and Greece is not publicised or known amoungst many people in Australia, and has largely been forgotton.The current Queen of Wales, Elizabeth the 2nd’s father gave her husband Phillip, the name Mountbatten after Elizabeth’s uncle. Phillip’s cousin representing the monarchy in Burma was given the name Countess Mountbatten, and she was married to Lord Brabourne. Phillip only had one name before this, and he was appointed heir to the Greek monarchy, by royals in Denmark, because the Greek royals had been overthrone and their line discontinued.
Written by: Ms Joann Davidson, Australia.
regarding ‘MP’s Expenses mismanaged”, nobody holds debates on leaman bros and fanny mae and freddie mac and other banks who may have criminally mismanaged public funds. Here we have politicians who have mishandled and are wrong, just look at the money amount and lets forgive our politicians who do carry the burden of running a nation. Let us have a debate on financial institutions and how they have managed private funds.. Kurt canada
I listened with great interest and admiration to the interview with the wife of the opposition candidate running for the Iranian presidency. He last comment was terribly disappointing. She declared that if her husband were elected, Iran would be open to having good relations with any nation who wanted to have good relations with Iran, “except Israel.”
Perhaps the best way to measure the depth of hatred for anyone or anything is not to listen only to the most extreme hard-liners, but to listen also to some of the most progressive, open-minded people who still hate. If even these people hate, you have a clear idea of just how deep the hatred goes in a given society.
Stephen D. Gold
Jackson, NJ
U. S. A.
Regarding Welfare,
Why don’t we change Welfare to Work Fair?
We certainly have plenty of work that should be done in our city that we cannot afford to have done.
The wage for work fair should be set at 80% of the minimum wage.
Any one is eligible.
That should provide incentive to get off work fair and at the same time, eliminate the complaint that people are lazy.
Just a couple of annoying points of pronunciation on the part of several of your presenters:
The name Chrysler does not contain and is not pronounced with a Z.
It isn’t Obammer or Obomber, it’s Obama. Oh BAH muh!
Please keep in mind many persons who have English as a second language look to BBC for correct pronunciation. I urge you all to be aware of this fact and to take extreme care to give proper prununciation and clear diction at all times.
Thank you,
Reverend L. McCormack
Hundreds of thousands protestors swarmed streets of the Iranian capital Tehran this week in a political turmoil after tyrant Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was confirmed as the winner a questionable presidential election. It felt like a déjà vu that reminded me with the 2005 Ukrainian “Orange Revolution” by Iranian “Green Wave”. I can almost feel “Wind of Change” over the Middle East after the recent changes in Lebanon with Saad Hariri and his 14 March pro-west bloc winning the Lebanese elections, and now the attempts of change in Iran many voting for the moderate and reformist Hossein Mousavi.
Many political analysts agreed that one main root problem of this region is manifested in the Iranian affairs and its nuclear problems. Being from the Middle East, I would argue that people in this region are tired of the current status of lack of freedom and want change. Iranians want Democracy. They want Prosperity. They want Freedom. The recent movements for change throughout the ascending street demonstrations in Iran is a great prove of this fact.
Where is President Obama, the U.S. administration or the Western world from all of this? Why all this sudden silence after being so loud couple of weeks ago with a new message of hope to the Muslim world. One can claim that his speech maybe contributed and encouraged people to support the events that triggered the call for democracy in this region. So now, it’s our responsibility as international community to step in. The more we wait the more it allows time to the Iranian government to crush the well of the people. All od us now looking back at the White House waiting for a prove that President Obama can walk-the-walk after he proved couple of weeks ago that he can talk-the-talk. Can he step up for it?
Rany Ibrahim,
Halifax, NS
Canada
Dear Rany,
I couldn’t agree with you more. Let’s hope & pray the US & Western community help the Iranian people obtain liberty.
Regards
In your piece about the proposed repatriation of the Elgin Marbles, please inform Christopher HItchens that there are indeed Aztecs extant–they are the Nahuatls of Mexico, and they are numerous!
Re the survey in Sth Africa regarding rape.
In questioning the researcher, Professor Rachel Jewkes of the Medical Research Council, on the efficacy of her study, Dan Damon asked whether she had included an adequate control group.
For Damon’s edification, control groups feature in experiments not in surveys, would he ask a political pollster whether they had an adequate control group.
If Damon or any other journalist doesn’t have a basic understanding of research methods then I suggest he/they have no business questioning highly qualified researchers on the efficacy of their work.
IMO Rachel Jewkes might have been excused if she had hung up.
no meddle in! Especially US…’Cause Iran has enough of political, economical problems with US in the past. Western influence shouldn’t affect now. Also, there is another issue which is MEDIA-PROPAGANDA. The current young generation of Iran experiencing completely differrent uprising contrary from islamic-postrevolution. Born after the revolution and under the age 30.
But I have a question. What do the people of Iran want from the government, do they want Ahmadeen Najat to resign or they want afresh vote? If they support Musaviy – What solutions does Musaviy offer to Iranian people for their future. I didn’t hear from any candidate any stable, robust or potential economic or political solution during their campaign… Thank You
i think what is going in Iran is a mere intrnal affair. no one should intervene.though it is a right of all human beings to participate in leading the world;nevertheless, the decision should be given to Iranian people to decide about the futue of thier nation.
First & foremost, I would like to thank the BBC for the excellent coverage on the events taking place in Iran. Being a huge supporter of President Obama, I was shocked at the statement that the US will not interfere with the current internal issues of Iran, however President Carter of the United States was fast and enthusiastic to interfere and arrange to overthrow the Iranian monarchy in 1979 and fly in Ayotollah Khomaini, which resulted in destroying many families. The Iranian people are fed up and need the US as well as the International community to help them. At least the humane rights should intervene, because if they don’t many will die or be taken away and never heard of again. The current Iranian Government are the worst kind of dictators and heartless human beings, who have no compassion and will destroy anyone who comes in their way. Please help my fellow Iranians and give them an opportunity for a normal and democratic way of life without fear.
Regards,
Leila
In response to your feed, “Ayatollah on ‘evil’ UK Government” and your diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus’ query as to why the British should be signaled out by Iran’s Supreme Leader for particular condemnation:
The rhetorical use of British as ‘evil’ is part of the Persian Shia Clerical vernacular. In this particular instance, it has been lifted from a speech given by Ayatullah Khomeini on the eve of his exile from Iran, in 1963 during the Shah’s White Revolution. From memory he said, ‘The Russian’s are bad. The American’s are worse. But the British are most evil of all.’
The expression has not aired in public for some time. I’m only aware of two instances of it being used before; and this at the time of the ‘Tanker War’ during the Iran-Iraq War.
Ron Bagnulo
Dear BBC, Having been a Dundee Asronomer and in interested in the space programme. The moral off the British people is low. The Labour government need’s to lift the moral off the British people. As people look to the future, through entertainment. Does this mean job’s in space. The labour Party need’s to keep the British Union strong. The SNP are Scottish Tories and have gone back on there promises to the Scottish people. I do not wish to go back to the old way’s off Boom and Bust off the tories. As Devoulution has strenghthened the British Union. Mark A Tierney. Dundee?
I am not supporting any groups in the iran crisis but why is the iranian regime been demonise at this extend? The world media is giving more importance to the iran crisis and participating in regime change directly and indirectly by supporting the opposition side. Twitter and facebook are western or american sites and though private still can be secretly control by the US and western intelligence Services to promote and organise the local manifestation. When the US says that they have requested twitter not to do maintenance in the site during the iran manifestation time its a direct involvement by the USA in trying to topple an independant country and member of the UNITED NATION. The UNITED NATION is in fact silent about this crisis compare to some selfish western countries who feel that Iran is a threat to them. they just want to rob Iran of its resources.The western government just choose to intervene in certain crisis which affect their interests. Many more despotic regime exists in the world but they don’t intervene as these regimes are their allies. The Ruwanda’s genocide is one example where France and Holland having military presence there just shut their eyes when it all started to permit their allies to take power and thus they could exploit the resources of the region. In Iran everything seems a conspiracy by foreign intelligence services whose country feels threaten by Iran such as Isreal who now has two main jewish extremist parties on power. By coincidence they are silent even before every thing started as if they are anticipating such events to occur. They were so in a hurry to bomb Iran nuclear facilities some months ago then silence before Iran election. The Iranian people did had some freedoms thats why the foreign medias were able to do their jobs before and during the election process. People got enough freedom to protest on the streets but these freedoms has been used and manipulated to topple the Islamic regime. If this can happen in Iran then no independant country is safe from foreign interventions.Furthermore there is no real freedom in the western democracies. Everything is just a show. People are so busy in other matters that they don’t see the realities and when they wake up its too late. They are victims of their own ignorance which makes them lose their jobs rights and family. The world economic crisis started in the west and America. Nobody thought about such things to happen to them. The 9/11 attack also is another example. Another truth is that the democratic western countries are infact rule by a few elites or oligarch who takes decisions and make policies for the government.The proof for that is the fraud which occured in Iraq by the Private security agencies who were new companies in the US just created for the Iraq war inorder to exploit the Country and to tap on the fund invested by their government in Iraq. Over tenth of billions has been looted by them. The secret US council of GEO POLITICO ECONOMIC ELITES was exposed by one french media about its existence and they want to rule the world which they are doing successfully.
I can’t believe the amount of coverage a country like Iran is getting. I mean 60 people were killed in Iraq suicide attack and yet it didnt even make the headlines because of the Iran elections. What really is the agenda here people? I bet if Iran didnt want nuclear weapons or wasnt a muslim country, no one would bother. How come the west can have Nuclear weapons and even use it but no one else can possess those weapons. What kind of double standards are these? you kill millions of iraqis in the name of democracy and weapons of mass destruction, you all should be ashmed of yourself. Now you are killing innocent afghans and pakistanis who had nothing to do with september 11, you will never WIN and will only create more enemies. Why do you Americans and Brits have so much arrogance? stop being global cops, you people are the reason for all the unrest in the world… Wake up before its too late. god help YOU
You wanted to hear from us RE: the ” retiring French rock star”
All things being equal, the fellow will likely appeal to the Tom Jones crowd over here…….
A 30-minute newscast about nothing but Michael Jackson?! Has someone at the World Service become unhinged? Did nothing of any importance happen yesterday? Everything significant about Michael Jackson could have been stated in two minutes. World Service has squandered the opportunity to report numerous world events that will now be lost to people’s awareness.
Please play “I want you back” by the Jackson 5!
Now the time has come to put on end to Iran Crisis.
You have received countless comments,remarks,editors,reporters,photo journalists notes,from other website users,newspapers,social network site users comments and from all sources.
Enough is Enough.
Please make this chapter on Iran Crisis is closed for further comments.
I request a famous,world one BBC channels should concentrate on many ,current topics for further enlarging users bases.
You have done your duty in many beautiful ways.
Please go for futher problematic,urgent issues for better humanity.
Over this last weekend I heard the same feature broadcast five times. It was about a woman who had been a Catholic nun and then stopped being a nun, had believed in God strongly and now is not sure if God exists, She said the fault is with church. She said she no longer believes in the existence of heaven.
And earlier in the week was a feature, again repeated several times, on the Catholics of Naples praying for the liquifaction of a local saint’s blood and with it, a scientific investigation on this ritual which was of course politely dismissive of the beliefs of the people of Naples.
Now these are human interest stories and the BBC is within its rights to broadcast them.
However, what gets me is the amount of negative stuff I hear on the BBC World Service about Christianity.
Not always but usually, when a feature deals with Christian things it either undermines it or people of a liberal, not evangelical, theological position are interviewed. Generally a negative side only is presented and it is not a side that the majority of Christians (be they Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox) would hold to.
Why is this? Is the BBC anti-Christian?
Re: The Ugly American — US Rep. Michelle Bachman, it sounded like–on today’s Iraq show
I’d like to apologize to everyone listening. This woman is a nut. When she asked that young woman if she HAD to wear a “head scarf,” I almost fainted. How ignorant and judgmental.
Also, when she said that US does not have a representational government–Hello? We voted. Sorry her party lost. Well, not really.
This woman makes up her own reality. She claims the US census will be used to round up republicans and put them into concentration camps.
It goes on…..
How disappointing to turn on my favorite show and hear her go on and on.
Yeah, she has the right to say whatever she wants, but too bad no one took her on.
Oh, god, she’s still on! Time to change to music.
Best to Iraq and her people. Ashamed of what we’ve done to you.
War is ALWAYS asinine and childish. I cannot stand one more minute of the Republican rubberstamping, condecending woman telling everyone how proud she is, how Iraq owes the US, and how grateful the Iraqis should be after killing 100s of thousands and destroying they’re infrastructure, so that this week the US oil developers can make bids on their largest national asset. Defending war, the supposed ideals of this war and its execution only goes to support the treasonous and murerous behaviour of our former “president”.
How much gunfire has she faced?
John
Cleveland
Hello John,
Your message implies that Americans have killed 100s thousands of Iraqis, make no mistake, it is Iraqis killing Iraqis, just as they were under Sadam.
Perhaps you did not hear the news but there were more foreign oil companies bidding, by far, tha Us companies.
The comments about the US former Prersident being “treasonous” and “murerous” is unsupported by fact, what ever those two non-words mean.
John, for your message to be more credible, your data and spelling needs to be more acurate.
Ramon
Did I actually hear an American named MJ tell Lubna how generous the US is, because it “didn’t send a bill” for destroying her country?
The mind boggles.
Jonathan
San Francisco
I am transgendered, female-to-male. It is, in my view, utter nonsense to suggest that men are at the mercy of their libidos. I have, in my bloodstream (and, yes, it’s been tested) more testosterone than the average male, and I have noticed nothing in terms of increased aggression or being out-of-control with my libido.
Men in patriarchal cultures are conditioned to denigrate women, and to view women as property. They are infantilized and indulged in this, in virtually countless ways. Enough! — don’t you think? Shouldn’t men (all adult people, for that matter) be mature enough to take responsibility for their actions? Empathy, is the order of the day. Imagine what it’s like for the other and act accordingly. Golden Rule, folks.
Rhodes
Berkeley, California, USA
I have no problem with what women wear theses days. However, for every action, there’s a reaction. From my experience, I see women wear short skirts and shirts for many of reasons, especially for attention and comfort. When they do that, they should expect good, bad or indifferent reactions. As far as the men are concerned, you can tell what kind of men they are by the reaction they give when they see a woman wearing what she’s wearing. I don’t condone it but expect that reaction sometimes. So my point is for women, expect every reaction you receive and don’t be surprised. If you’re offended by the reactions receive, then discontinue to wear those articles. This is a may be a poor example but if I wore a shirt that say, I’m rich or I won the lottery, I would think I would get a lot of unwanted attention from many of ladies.
Journalists tell us swine flu is a new strand of the flu no-one is immunized to: But they say the same thing every year, and it’s a good excuse to make sure we make people arrange an appoitment with a doctor and take shots and syrups so those in the medical profession, and the Health Departments can pat themselves on the back. Dr MacKenzie has been on the radio in Australia saying those likey to be affected by swine flu already have existing medical conditions, such as asthma; and fatalities have supported the case. If they knew what they were saying they would not advise people to stay in bed or to go to hospital, and get even more clogged up and conjested; they would suggest people exercise enough and continue to eat properly, so they stay strong enough to fight off any colds, flu (s) or infections resulting in them.
Please display the time on posts in this forum relative to my timezone rather than GMT (I think).
The code required is trivial, I can’t believe you don’t a computer programmer with an hour to spare.
I’m in the position because I have been unable to hold back much money for retirement I will only have Social Security to rely on and will definitely have to depend on working, at least part-time through retirement age.
Also I had a great-great Aunt who lived by the philosophy that “Old is always ten years older than you are!” lived to be 96 yrs old.
@BBC – Stop reporting that the Australian town of Bundanoon has “banned bottled water”, it’s nonsense and deliberately misleading. Yet another instance of the BBC stooping to tabloid journalism, thus putting itself in breach of the Agreement under which it operates.
Australian local government authorities do not have the constitutional power to ban “foodstuffs”, only the federal and state food safety authorities can do that.
What’s happened is that the local council has denied a beverage company a license to “mine” a local aquifer, and truck the water to Sydney for bottling.
In addition the community has collectively decided that local retailers won’t sell bottled water, instead they’ll provide free chilled filtered town water. This is a consensual decision by the community, it is NOT a legislated decision. Visitors can take, and consume, as much bottled water into Bundanoon as they desire, of course existing littering by-laws will apply as to the disposal of containers.
i m listening to your services for the last several years .the situation of electric supply and law and order in pakistan is going our of control and you are well aware of it . you are requested therefore to look into this matter and try your best to highlight this matter and play your key role in helping the government to solve this problem .thank you so much.
“Call for dementia research boost ”
Great idea ! Throw more money at us. Good luck !
my grouse with this programme is its relevance.
people keep on having this conversations or arguments if you like,but the question is,is it making any diferrence to those who shape or implement these policies that people talk about.my sugestion is wether WHYS is relevant.
Thank you. The message in the bottle. SOS
Your WHYS posts suddenly stopped coming to my e-mail. Any idea why or way to get it going again?
the name of the broadcast should be changed to “Hi jab: Yes or No”.
It’s socialism for the rich, democracy for the poor. This country sucks!!
In a BBC report on the new NATO Secretary General’s current visit to Afghanistan a BBC correspondent made a comment to the effect – “that it should be pointed out that Anders Rasmussen’s own country ,Denmark, of which Rasmussen was the Prime Minister, has a **MERE** 550 troops in Afghanistan”
I believe Denmark currently has more than 600 troops deployed in Afghanistan. Until the recent increase in the number of British & US forces, Denmark had the highest per capita deployment of troops in Afghanistan of ALL NATO members, including the USA. Denmark has sustained the largest per capita rate of casualties in ISAF, Denmark has had the largest percentage of troops killed out of all nations fighting in Afghanistan, whether or not they be members of ISAF or ISAF!
The population of Denmark is a **MERE** 5.5 million, the UK’s population is almost 61 million and that of the US is almost 304 million.
How dare the BBC make negative assertions about the quantity and quality of Denmark’s contribution to the war Afghanistan. The BBC should apologise to Rasmussen, the Danish people & their government and the commander of Danish forces in Afghanistan – you really are beyond contempt .
BTW I am not Danish, I’m British. I extend my regrets to any Danes who have been offended by the BBC’s recent reportage, it’s the least I can do.
Hey Ros,
The email asked about what state us Yanks are from. Since you announced me wrong twice on the air, I think you rate a public answer. Mpls is the international airline code for Minneapolis, as in Minnesota. Now I’m not a ‘mud duck’ (slang for residents and the state bird, the common loon). I am a Cheesehead, or Wisconsin born and raised. And you left Minnesota out of your list of states, thank you.
Today at 4.28am on the World Service a commentator encouraged listeners to comment on the recent decision by the Olympic Games ruling body to accept boxing for women as an olympic sport.
My own view is that it has always been the basic role of a woman to maintain a loving and peaceful home where she discourages fighting among her children rather than joining in herself !. She might have to fight to defend her children but not take part in fighting as a spare time sport.
I am sure also that to encourage boxing for women on grounds of seeking equality with men is to follow the recent modern tendency to substitute equality and non discrimination as replacements for the concepts of right right and wrong and basic common sense.
The Olympic authorities have, in my opinion, made a decision which will worry most ordinary people as obviously unwise.
“Boxing for women” seems like an excellent addition for Olympic sports.
Next lets add “Suicide bombing,” a growing sport, already popular in some regions. After all, what does the world need, more love or more violence ?
I listened with interest on your coverage of separate seating for men and women. In the USA this was common practice among Quakers well into the 19th century, also among Shakers. In both cases it actually promoted the leadership of women. Here in Pennsylvania one can still visit Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren churches that practice separate seating for men and women.
I have not personally visited a mosque, but would not be offended or surprised if asked to sit with women. It is, in this country, a matter of freedom of religion.
The US system my be innovative, but our life expectancy is no where near that of many other developed nations. Dignitaries come here from all over the world for care because they have the money to pay for where every they need. The bottom line about why some Americans (Republicans) don’t want reform is US citizens have a long history of anti-government, they have often been a lawless unruly lot. Even more, many European Americans just can not stomach the thought of any of their taxes helping minorities.
WHY IS AFRICA POOR?
Quite hard to answer and will be listening to hear what Doyle found out. From my thinking Africa is not poor but mismanaged. However, this mismanagement stems from the fact that Africa lacks a development philosophy. While all other continents have philosiophies upon which their national development plans spring, Africa lacks this. Without a clearly defined development philosophy, aid and trade will not help Africa. These philosophies that are seen in national development plans are not very useful because they are replicas from elsewhere that are not properly conceptualised and contextualised.
2ndly the issue of governance is a stumbling block to our progress. Many individuals in Africa cannot think longterm because they are not sure if political transition will be smooth. Because of this bad governance we continue to suffer from the problems of corruption, nepotism, tribalism etc.
3rdly our education systems are archaic. They are still tuned to the colonial mentality of training for civil service. This has failed to foster entrepreneurship in the graduates who wait for jobs instead of creating their own businesses.
However, the international community must avoid lumping Africa together because we are diverse and have different perspectives to development. In Africa we do not require aid but trade, not lectures but advice. That way I believe Africa will achieve its potential if the 3 deficiencies above are addressed.
Africa is full people without hope for a better day. What is needed is basic infrastructure for development such as schools and hospitals and most importantly investment in the younger generation. Poverty has attained a rather unstoppable momentum in Africa and aid will never solve this problem. At the end of the day, it boils down to the need for good leadership and restoration of the hope and pride of ordinary Africans.
Africa is poor because of the leaders.
Once if they come to power by force they immediately forget how they come to the power, this is for several reason
1. Their educational level
2. they come to the power by coupdetat
3. they develop negative attitude to the people
4. Majority of them they don’t care how they are leading their country
5. they are highly dictators
6. They don’t have a vision
7. they don’t like to see themselves to give power to the people
and so on.
This is true even for those who thinks to come to the power and no one tries to improve the needs of the society.
This could be one reason for why is Africa poor
WHERE DO LOW-ENERGY BULBS GO WHEN THEY DIE?
Many people welcome the new initiative to replace traditional light-bulbs with low-energy ones. I am concerned, however, that the move may prove to be an ecological disaster. I am not convinced that the European Union as a whole has the infrastructure to recycle these florescent bulbs, which contain far more dubious components than their predecessor, including mercury I believe. Are they simply going to end up in land-fills?
I prefer a slice of lime in my water to mercury.
David from Stockholm
Is it not time that the United Nations (WHO) banned everthing to do with the production and smoking of tobacco WORLD WIDE.
I’m not sure of the facts but intuitively I believe that the USA will not have a Health Insurance problem if this were so.
Many of the people that I know have severe medical problems directly caused by smokng-my problem is that they consume most of the medical insurance/aid for self inflicted roblems.Where governments are providing health facilities these are being consumed by smokers and persond with self inflicted ailments (obesity).
Also I believe that medical insurance/aid costs should be directly related to ones life style (health style).
Ros , I enjoy your show from just outside Portland , Oregon , and just took in your email today after having listened in yesterday .
I hereby declare that women , generally , have a negative self body image ( period , end of sentence ), and that this is part of the Human Condition .
In my experience of many frank personal discussions , women I’ve known consistently detect flaws in their appearance I never would , fixating on and exaggerating every one . And this to say nothing of women I myself had not found attractive to begin with .
This tendency , naturally , extends itself to womens’ ( and mens’ ) opinions of others . ‘Like a forest’s fight for sunlight , That takes root in ev’ry tree.’ ( as Peter Gabriel might say ), this is part of Nature’s competition for advantageous reproduction , hard-wired into us all .
It is to be resisted with vigilance , and consistently countered with humanity’s sole advantage amongst the natural kingdom : higher reasoning .
This controversy will never leave us until we evolve into something beyond human .
Hi Ross,
From cleveland Ohio. I went to your website for the first time to see the picture of the woman that caused such a two day discussion. Where is it?
We’ve been listening to whys since it began and can’t remember a topic that was so popular that it lasted for two days.
For me fat is fat, rationalizing it is just an excuse for eating too much and beening lazy. walk more, ride less
I don’t care what other countries do and I do believe in free speech but this was disrespectful to the office we are suppose to be the pillar of the world this is an embarrassment for the US.
Ps and it is interesting that Joe Wilson’s website is down except for the donation portion…we can see whats importand to him…doesn’t want to hear it.
Cheers,
Shannon Thompson
Portland OR
……Now they are saying the site is tooo busy its down yeah right!!
Shannon Thompson
portland or
I think Serena’s apology was needed and well-written.
My only problem was that it wasn’t issued until after her US Open winnings were in question. It seems money is definately the issue. People have bneen fired for bad behavior at a company party….The apology later, no matter how sincere, has not got their job back. Celebrities actions whether sports or otherwise should have consequences..
That’s all. Love the program.
To say that Obama is wrong is the same as saying that George Bush was right in his first assumpton. And we know how often Bush has been proven wrong so far.
Blocking the majority of Palestinians from reaching Jerusalem has become an established Israeli policy, implemented daily under the convenient excuse of security. It is part of an sraeli system of aprtheid in the West Bank and East Jerusalem where Palestinians are routinely humiliated and subjected to blatant discrimination. If the Jews were treated in this way in any country, the US and Western European countries would never sit idle. Israel must to be strongly censured and its actions condemned and reveresed.
I’ve just concluded listening to Mark Tully’s ‘Understanding Prayer’ . As an Indian, I’ve known and admired Mark for many, many years now. Today, my Hindu mind and heart was filled with sublimeness that I’ve felt on a very few occasions. Thank you,
bbc world service, for providing some blissful moments to your world audience and thank you, Mark, for continuing the profound work of delving into the heart of the matter in your own, inimitable manner.
Bararck Obama claimed during his campaign to unite the country. Democrats and Republicans would hold hands and we would rationally solve the problems we face. Instead of this he has surrounded himself with left wing staff that has their own agenda and are not interested in consensous at all.
The reason I did not vote for him was simply he is a product of the Chicago democratic machine politics. It is a clear that you do not rise in the ranks that quickly and not pay back your people. That is exactly what he has done.
I totally agree with the satement and feel that the US should set an example for others to follow. Being an Indian Muslim working in the Gulf, I feel that India, like other countries, has nuclear weapons just for protection from neighbouring countries who pocess such weapons. If President Obama is able to achieve the un-imaginable then it would be the first step in complete disarmament all over the world!
Iran like India has said why it should not pocess nuclear technology if other countries have it. But if all countries agree to disarm then it would lead to a world without nuclear arms.
Yes, I do think the US is getting very paranoid and considers every country it’s enemy! The US is very powerful even without the nuclear weapons and after the second World War I don’t think any country has used any nuclear weapon to win a war bur rather to show it’s military might!
Why is BBC World News such a disgrace in terms of communicating in clear English to the world? There are gabbling fools with no idea of punctuation unintelligibly rocketing through ridiculously superficial weather forecasts. There are annoying drumming noises accompanying the headlines – is this distraction a misguided vestige of jungle telegraph for former colonies? There are presenters and reporters who have no idea how to phrase and stress a sentence so that it makes narrative sense. Presenters are tucked into the side of the screen in deference to a laptop, perhaps rightly. Often the laptop has much more acceptable on-screen demeanour, such as not performing big slobbering gasps for breath, not bobbing around all over the screen, or pen-twirling, or shuffling stacks of paper. Sidelining presenters simply drives them towards intensified efforts to impress, or towards subconscious displacement behaviour, depending on whether they are inclined to exhibit conceit or discomfort.
BBC World needs to remind itself that ‘Auntie’ has historically set the standard forinternational broadcasting and that it is a WORLD service which should be delivered in clear, well-pronounced and phrased internationally understandable (but not US!) English.
Re: “Author: Alan
Comment: …”
Ah, if only all the world’s problems were spelling, punctuation and grammar !
The Western countries need to speak clearly on the dangers of Israel’s nuclear arsenal and its refusal to join the nuclear nonproliferation club. Failing to do that makes the obsession with Iran’s nuclear program look very hypocritical. The simple and fair solution should be a Middle East free of nuclear arms and related programs.
I believe Israel is getting too much attention and protection from the west. Israel can invade other countries and murder its people without the west really putting any sanctions whereas when the Iranian President is just making speeches and threatening verbally.The democratic and civilize world must be impartial and take sanctions on any country violating international rules and laws.
That reminds me of the time the Arab countries got together to annihilate Israel, and Israel kicked the crap out of the lot of them. Who was doing the invading then?? There is a good old saying in the West, it goes..”People who live in glass houses should not throw stones”. I am no great supporter of Israel, I just think that the whole rage bag of middle-eastern countries are great practicioners of hypocricy.Step into the 21st century and start living!
I am so excited that the German magazine has decided to portray everyday women. I hope other nations and other magazines take a cue from them. It’s TIME.
EchoRose in Florida:
“I am so excited that the German magazine has decided to portray everyday women. I hope other nations and other magazines take a cue from them.
It’s TIME.”
TIME is not a German magazine !
I am a mixed race American. My parents marriage wasn’t even legal when I was born!
I saw the video on Youtube and did not find this offensive. I don’t think it was offered in that the same sense as the racist blackface was in the past.
I don’t find it offensive when Dave Chappelle does white face. The only difference is the Dave’s funny!!
I think the reason people in America get so excited is because of our deeply offensive past and we are ashamed of how far we haven’t come!
If blacks were concerned about racism instead of just beating up on whites, they would address the fact that inter-racial violence is overwhelmingly done to whites by blacks.
That fact rarely seems to upset them. I’ll happily do a deal to call them fewer names if they do less violence to us.
I’m sick of oversensitive black people who think they are owed something by we whites.
I make no excuses for the people who bought human beings as chattels. No human deserves to be a slave of another. Having said that, it was the black Africans who sold their fellows to the Arabs and European. For a very long time, Europeans were restricted to the coastal areas and were not strong enough to challenge the big tribes and venture into the interior to capture people. Nor could they withstand the diseases that existed in the less healthy parts, although the Arab nations seemed able to cope well enough and traded in slaves quite freely from any nation. The warlike nature of the Africans meant that frequent attacks on neighbours resulted in taking prisoners. These were set to work if the seasons were right, but faced death or being sold to foreigners if such work was not available. It is quite likely that slavery is still carried on in Africa today! Nevertheless, people of African extraction still carry on yesterdays battle against modern Europeans, asking for reparations or special treatment because of having slave ancestry. I do not fight yesterdays battles. I am not responsible for what happened such a long time ago. What would be the point of my attacking the people of Normandy because their ancestors invaded England in the past? We have to accept the past as gone and irreconcilable. It is termed nowadays as moving on. That means trying to live together in the situation that is today and letting go of yesterdays evils. No one should forget their nation’s history, but they should use it to ensure that there is no repetition.
We have been listening to your program regarding President Obama’s receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. We believe he is most deserving of the prize. His detractors complain he has not done anything to deserve the award because we are still at war. However, if peace on earth were a criteria, few former recipients would have been chosen. We believe his leadership and gift of hope makes him an excellent choice.
Re-Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize, by your interpretation all I have to do is make a speech saying that I intend to save the World from war and want. I don’t need to actually ‘do’ anything about it afterwards, but hey hey here comes my Nobel Prize and the dollars that accompany it!! All Obama has done for the World so far,is talk about it. If he ever follows up with action!! then God bless the man. Give him a medal the size of a British dust bin lid (if you understand that one) he will then deserve it. Until that day, we see him as just a man in a ‘talk-shop’. People set too much store in him being the first black President.. Just try to remember that first to last he is of that breed called Politician and his colour means nothing. Learn to judge people by what they do, not what they talk about.
hooray, the man the President has worked tirelessly, to bring us all together, people and nations, he does not take it personally he knows its for the world and God bless him he has a heavy load to carry what a pity that we all don;t stop whining and help him in this mighty endeavour. I am English living in America and there are mighty forces against him . Sincerely Claire Daring.
The best reason to let the BNP have THEIR say on television is so that everyone can see how ridiculous and hateful they are. I personally confront racism. In almost fifty years of trying I have changed ONE person’s mind. That’s plenty for me.
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
I have just been listening to the very eloquent representative of the Jobbik Party in Hungary presenting the best face of his party to listeners of Europe Today. Unfortunately, he avoided mentioning that the party is actively anti-semitic and anti-Roma and campaigns on the basis that Hungarians belonging to these groups are nevertheless not “Hungarian”. This is exactly the path followed by the pre-WW2 fascists in Hungary under Admiral Horthy that led to the mass deportations and extermination of Roma and hundreds of thousands of Jews, a process made possible only by the active cooperation of the wider Hungarian population as well as the authorities.
The authorities and media today in Hungary are not willing to confront the neo-fascist Jobbik Party nor to deal effectively with its military arm the so-called Magyar Garda militia beyond declaring the organization “illegal”. Their anti-Roma intimidation parades are still offorded protection by the police. This is disgraceful.
Here, as in Britain, the rise of the militant Right has to be brought into the open and confronted and so exposed as the mean, divisive and dangerous movement that it is.
Though I find Nick Griffin to be a narrow-minded bigot, I have to applaud the BBC for their courage in broadcasting his views. The impartiality you show should be a beacon for the rest of the world to follow. Would Hitler have risen to such power if he had the same exposure? I don’t think so. Keep up the great work!
It is really good to be contact with you.
But i do not either I have to sign up or not.
I really feel good if reply me.
Carl-Wolfgang Holzapfel’s undertaking in the former Stasi prison cell is an unusual but bold – and extremely helpful – reminder of what some human beings will do in order to dominate others. Today’s North Korea is probably the best example of how such dynamics play themselves out, even as the world watches and wonders what to do. How can average people make an impact on such hateful situations? What can we do to help the people of Zimbabwe, North Korea, and the many other places where folks are imprisoned because of what they believe and say?
The belief in the “Global Warming Philosophy” is not a religious belief but in its impact within international law, it has given precidence to the establishment of a global One World Soverenty in the proposal of corrective administration to address perceived causation of global warming. At Copenhagen there will be references to World Government. World Government will meat out punishment and or enforcementof policy regarding “Global Warming.” This will revolutionize the way business is done on planet Earth.
I am a short wave listener of your shows recieving from NIGERIA. I had e-mail my story & would say your shows is the most influential interaction of current dabates. Thanks
Hi World have your say.
Still listening, but till today keeping quiet.
Why are there no Blogs about GMs decision to Hold on to Opel. The Catastrophe here in Germany is on its way. You are the world service, and Germany is part of the world, or do we have to be careful of American opinion.
Thanks for continuing top Radio.
John in Germany
Just want to say, I love the new theme music for your show. Very nice!
As a therapist and a Jewish Chaplain I totally reject any discrimination or some program of “keeping an eye on” muslims who serve in the military.
EXTREMISM is the enemy, not Islam. I should say that I am also the child of a military family.
I believe this man was mentally ill, and suffered from secondary traumatization; the constant exposure to other peoples trauma and
unhappiness. He is as guilty as sin, but the military itself is doing a very poor job of spotting and helping mentally unstable people.
I’m shocked that a fellow mental health professional and a command officer could be in this condition, but from what I heard he gave plenty of warning signs.
To say that devout Muslims should not be allowed to serve, or should be “watched” in the military is hateful. Should devout Christians not be allowed to serve as well? Or is their religion somehow “better”? I think not. The actions of one horrible man should not dictate the way we act towards the many. Certainly not Muslims who risk their lives in the military.
Dear Ros
I have absolute faith in the old saw: “teach someone to fish…”
Toni
What does it mean, “moderation”!
Moderation: avoidance of excess or extremes.
i have just watch your review of the monday papers and to my surprise one paper has the headline re gordon brown. i was watching on saturday day night the festival of remembrance and everytime the camera went on mr brown the man looked totally bored with the expression why i am here…..maybe it was me but to be honest i don’t think so. this morning i was watching the the remembrance service at whitehall at the cenotaph and the man we call prime minister again turned up laid what he had to lay and walked away showing no repect to the war dead. maybe i’m making to much of it ….. again i don’t think so. i hope that someone in the media will ask in a few weeks …a few months….mr brown or mr blair to name a dead soldier and you what… i’m sure these morons will not know one name…one family…one friend or one comrade.
I lived in Germany between 1986-1991 and was 27 years old and was living in West Germany when the Berlin Wall came down. I was sitting in my car at a stoplight when, suddenly, the music stopped and the radio announcer broke in. He said, “Folks, you’re not going to believe this, but the Berlin Wall is down! Within several minutes all cars started beeping there horns. Soon after, church bells rang all across Germany.
I went to Berlin twice after the fall of the Wall and got over 30 pieces of the Wall, most of which I’ve given away to family and friends. I noticed there was still a lot of tension displayed by the East Berlin border guards. They appeared confused and didn’t know what to do. They still seemed locked into their old ways of doing things and would level their machine guns at you if you got too close to their guardhouses. Obviously, the world as they knew it, their training, their ideology were crumbling before their very eyes, just like the Wall itself.
I would be happy to be interviewed about my experiences. I live in Fries, Virginia (pronounced “freeze”)
I think too little attention has been paid in this situation to 2 particular issues:
1) Asian and Muslim Americans are routinely subjeced to discrimination by dominant American Culture. They are consistently perceived as “foreign” and therefore not truly American, and many have been subjected to unjust internment and interrogation at the hands of the US governemnt based on nothing more than their heritage.
2) New immigrants and 1st generation Muslim Americans often join the military becuase they percieve US military service to be the embodiment of service to the American ideal. But when the US military is misguided to attack ambiguously defined enemies who can only be identified by their Muslim heritage, these soldiers endure extreme inner conflict.
I believe that these two factors played an integral part in what occured at Ft. Hood on 11/05.
Could you please ask any guest if West German capitalism swept clean East German communism just to find that the unified German commercialism has accomplished itself over democracy.
West German capitalism swept clean East German communism just to find
that the unified German commercialism has accomplished itself over
democracy.
Since opium money is fueling the Pashtun, why doesn’t the US buy all the opium and either make morphine for medical purposes or destroy it. It has to be cheaper than sending and supporting all those troups.
Mr Galbraith himself is now being accused of corruption, as he appears, as a result of his work in Iraq, to be about to make tens of millions of dollars in oil deals (source: Amy Goodman, Democracynow!).
Re your latest programme,Is ths roman catholic chuch a force for good in the world.
For the motion a bishop who i couldnt understand, a woman who,s shrill voice was enough to make me change the channel.
Against the motion, a well known atheist and a Homosexual, both enemys of the church.
Its seemed as though hitchen and fry had a great fan club,and considered the subject as a joke, harping back to the dark ages , homosexual priests, and condoms.
Perhaps the catholics should roll up there carpets, and fold up there tents, but then who would look after the poor and the sick, build the schools, and educate the masses of africans and other dis advantaged humans,
perhaps the atheists and homosexuals should take on the mantle eh, perhaps not.
Remember mothertTheresa, Pope John Paul,were they not a force for good
I FIND IT EXTREMELY ANNOYING THAT EVERYTIME I OPEN A VIDEO NEWS ONLINE I HAVE TO WATCH THE SAME ADVERT FOR DUBAI AND VERY OFTEN THE NEWS I WANT TO SEE DOESNT COME ON AT ALL.
ITS THE INVASION OF THE MIDDLE EAST PLUS CHINA…..WE ARE ALL VICTIMS OF.
Saying sorry,
The world can say sorry as much as it likes but until children are given safe homes and loving care we will be forever only talking. Actions speak the loudest let us all try a little harder in procting that which is so dear to us our children.
Pamela .
1. Why is it that the BBC doesn’t understand global warming? Do you realize that humankind is at risk of near decimation by the year 2100? Precaution is advisable and thus preparation to prevent the worst. Please ask your environmental writers to read James Hansen et al 2008, summarize it, and comment on it. This may well be the most important scientific paper ever written. Readers might gain from my website http://www.stopglobalwarming-newstrategies.net
I outline a case for crash courses in climate change, behavioural change before technology, lifetime emission analysis, a hierarchical strategy and a global web strategy.
2. Every other website I know that includes comments has the latest comment at the top. Is that not far more interesting?
3. It is good that you have an open topic list but why not classify the comments into about 10 topic areas? How many people want to read a list of random comments?
I agree that we should try to donate as much money as we can to people who are worse off than us. However, I can’t help but think that this is like putting a band-aid on a large wound though. Central banks around the world will continue to erode the purchasing power of their own nations through deficit spending – this is built into the fractional reserve banking system that we all have. The pot of ‘donatable’ money will forever become smaller. The IMF will continue to use damaging neo-liberal trade policies which punish the developing countries. Therefore, in the long run, donation of relative amounts of money will decline – so a more equitable way of dealing with the issue may be to look at the larger picture – i.e. inequality brought about through our banking systems, corruption and neo-liberal trade policies.
I’d like to point out that building of the mosques IS ALLOWED. Only minaret (the spire) was subject to peoples referendum.
Michael Moore has it right. The last election cycle had me as excited as I had ever been about politics. I felt we were at a real turning point. I donated. I mobilized. I got my nephew and others who had never been active, never voted, to help elect Obama, to GET US OUT OF THESE WARS. We cannot win, and the reasons for this penetrate so many levels, not the least of which is the ghost of Lyndon Johnson in Viet Nam.
I feel betrayed. I grieve for my country. Obama supporting and continuing this war is a big disappointment, and, has shattered this 52 year old man’s hope for a better and more enlightened future, not just for America, but for the world itself. If he says what they say he is going to say tonight, the political process is lost to me forever.
Hey! YOU GUYS in Copenhagen!!! Hey LISTEN UP!!!!
Success for the sake of “achievment” is the principle of the cancer cell!!!
Allowing the continuation of the debate is like continuing the debate on whether cigarettes are bad for your health. That debate went on far too long with top “experts” saying cigarettes are not bad for your health. Sceptics about climate change are like alchoholics who say they don’t have a problem or like anybody who doesn’t want to face the truth and instead talk sendlessly and spin the facts to bolster their own denial.
COPENHAGEN CANNOT REACH A BINDING AGREEMENT
The Copenhagen summit has been one of unprecedented wrangles in which rich, developing and poor countries are not able to come to terms. Though the diversity of views is unexpected it still tells us of the tales of some of the smaller islands in particular that are facing extinction and are pleading for the world to cut down on emissions if their country is not to be submerged. Today it is them, tomorrow it will be a bigger country. Without addressing the dangers facing them, a summit like this will only mean that leaders enjoy lavish stuff at the cost of their respective government exchequers. Better to abolish such meets which are only cosmetic exercises and does not have substance.
ELVIDIO MIRANDA,
PANJIM, GOA, INDIA.
Dear Ros,
“2050” is often given as a date when the effects of anything we do or not do now will be apparent.. I suggest that at the 2010 Mexico City conference, all the delegates be under 30 years of age. Most of the rest of us will not be herein 2050 to have to live with the outcome of what the middle-aged and elderly fatcats, mostly from large countries, are bequeathing our youth. It would then be up to the generations that will have to live in the world of 2050 who would have to mobilize their compatriots to hold their aging, self-serving, mentally and intellectually constipated, and hopelessly corrupt governments to account.
Kathryn
Age 59
Am shcked by what happened on the Eurostar Does management not plan for such occurences? Why were staff so un prepared and why did they no carry out a prepared drill?
apologies from management is just not enough.
Eurostar. The reasons for the breakdown are irrelevant. What is relevant is that a break down in the tunnel one day was inevitable. Why was there no plan in place to evacuate the pasasengers It appears there was total confusion in the train. Staff and management should plan for anoccurrence like this and have an emergency drill in place. What would have happened if a fire had broken out.. why was there no power back-up to maintain emergency lighting and aircon. all his does not insoire confidence in the management and preparations for an emergency. There have now been2 fires in the tunnel. there is also the prcecedent of the fire in the Mont Blanc tunnel. Management should be pealised for this mishap
The key to any substantial reduction of human generated CO2 emissions depends on the reduction of human population on earth. China has lead way by its initiatives to reduce its own population for many years. But the world, especially US, UK, did not acknowledge and encourage china’s effort. Instead, China’s effort in this aspect has been under attack by the west. Unless we take a hard look at the root of problem underlying Global warming and stop blaming other nations, like China, we shall not make any progress on this issue.
I was married and after 12 years was tired of the personal relationship. At 40 he was still a perpetual teenager and I wanted to move on. By a strange coincdence I was reunited with a man I knew in college and was unfaithful. I still occasionally suffer pangs of guilt. I feel bad that I hurt my former husband. I wish things had worked so that I could have been divorced before moving halfway across the country and on to the new relationship. Luckily the new/old relationship has lasted for eight years and although we are having some of the common seven-eight year problems many couples have, including sex, fidelity is incredibly important to us even though we have not married. Trust is more important than anything. I’m hopeful that we will work through our current difficulties and get to grow old together as we already have so much invested in each other. I will leave before resorting to having a fling or an affair.
Shows the worth of marriage vows, doesn’t it ? No, rilly ! Roight ?
CAN THE LEADERS OF USA AND WESTERN EUROPE PLAY GREEN REVOLUTION SANTA THIS CHRISTMAS
Can Barack Obama, Gordon Brown, Nikolas Sarkozy or Angela Merkel play Santa Claus this Christmas by committing to offer the world concrete decisions on stopping the world which is on the brink of climate change catastrophe. America, UK, France and Germany have the technological expertise to transform the face of the world through strategic greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives and lead the world by example. The experiences of excessive snowfall in America and Europe is a clear and present reminder of the dangers of warming of the earth’s surface and if these leaders do not contribute their clout, they will have spurned a chance to play environmental Santa this Christmas.
Whosoever reads this, may he or she have a Merry Christmas.
Making passengers sit with their hands folded in their laps for the last hour of a flite while charging them extra money to check baggage, will do nothing but create incovenience, mental anguish and anger at the airlines. Furthermore, if we keep adding restrictions and checking more and more “thoroughly” – we’ll all be flying nude soon – maybe a better solution than anything TSA has spawned to date.
END OF YEAR PHENOMENON
The ferment which is tormenting Iran will settle by itself. If anyone can construe a quick-fix is only involving in wishful thinking. Iran is the most complicated country in the world and Iranians themselves are the key to finding a solution to their malaise. Protests have plagued Iran since the declaration of election results earlier this year. Wait until the situation is resolved, though it seems this time that a long conflict is on the cards. The world would do a favour to Iran by not meddling in their internal affairs. Let the world not add fuel to the fire which is raging in Iran.
What happened to the community (Muslim or otherwise) taken responsibility for their own?
gayness has nothing to do with committment, or responsible parenting, to deny gay people the right to marry to protect families is ridcules. Likewise if you have children should you be denied the right to divorce your wife or partner?.
Three ideas:
1) Yes, the symbolism of marriage to gay and lesbian couples is important. “Marriage” is a subset of the yearning for freedom that many accept as a basic human need.
2) The Eurocentric “marriage” construct is a cultural product, and, as a model, has been successful to an extent to maintain the social matrix. However, over centuries, the “rules” for traditional marriage has had to be enforced by strong social sanctions and legal compulsions. Countless historical and contemporary examples show us that this arbitrary construct is evolving. What is important is that social supports exist for the preservation of the species. How this occurs is up to the human imagination.
3) What about the idea of “It takes a village”?
Thanks for the topic, and thanks to all the guests.
To a certain degree, yes, but the London subway and Spanish train bombings were essentially carried out by homegrown sympathizers of the Islamic Jihad.
The security scanning has to be performed on every single person in every single country regardless of their country of origin or the country they boarded. There will be delays and people may have to get to the airport hours in advance, but I think it’s a small price to pay.
To the woman who thinks it’s a good idea to stick to the side of the street with the older women on it:
Maybe if you went up to that crowd of scary people and tried to have a conversation with them, you might contribute to lessening the motivation to harm people, in general.
Think about us, rather than just yourself. THAT’S the real problem. Them, us, we’re all the same: we don’t consider things from THEIR perspective.
A stupid and suicidal idea. Let’s try something different and see what happens. Let’s try the Golden Rule.
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I am hard of hearing, & programing without close captioning is hard to follow. As bad my hearing is my Father is much worse off then I. For him anything without close captioning is useless. This is not such a problem today where most programing is close captioning, but the world service is not close captioned, for someone who reads the economist & the Guardian(online) being unable to to watch the world service would is tough. With the popularity of close captioning today why can you not bring close captioning to the world service?
for your consideration
Bill Sandford
Ross,
I simply can’t believe we are discussing god at this moment. What does god have to do with Haiti. It is the developed world who deserves the punishment. We live in developed societies primarily because of the decades of slavery and exploitations colonial powers enacted on places like Haiti. Their poverty has made us rich.
Dear BBC, the SPLM party has done a good job by bringing Cde Yassir Arman as the presidential candidate in the National level. Therefore, it shows the really ful soldarity to people of sudan.
SPLM is not looking for leadership but strongly spoken out the rights of the majority in leave in sudan.
Where are the African Programmes contact details?
I’ve listened to this program for the past 4 months, and I have noticed certain views are not acceptable by the host. This station has access to a lot of people and it is clear that you question your guest and redirect and reframe your questions to provide your listeners with a pro US attitude which is OK but it is not my cup of tea. It is apparent that you can’t handle diverse views of the world when it comes to relevant history. You should change the name of your program to World, Listen To Me (WLTM). I find your program boring.
Like your guest said today on the air, “I don’t think I want to be on this show”. Likewise, I agree not to listen.
Don’t bother to respond, thanks, jd
About Whirlpool leaving Indiana for Mexico, the workers there in Evansville aare very, very fortunate if they have had $25 per hour jobs for 40 years.
They could have offerred Whirlpool to work for $15 to $18 per hour and they might have stayed. Products must be competitive in price.
Many of us in the USA have never had work for $15 per hour, let alone $40. No one is concerned about us.
Yet when the $40 per hour crowd runs out of work, it is always viewed as a tragedy, and they are even offered free training programs. I saw this happen with the copper industry in Utah and with others through the years.
What did these people do with alll the moeny they earned? They should know how to look for a job like all the rest of us. The rest of us do not get free training, and we have to keep scrambling around on our own for whatever exists.
No one comes by to let us cry on the World Seervice.
Whilst much attention is focused on Haiti, another more important story within the UK, is breaking about the financing of the Kraft Caburys deal.
I find it staggering that the workers of that company have effectively paid for their own demise through their tax deductions.
Similarly, all the secondary industries that feed off this institutional employer have also financed the said takeover.
I find the levels of crass decision making not only in the UK, but globally quite breathtaking.
Ah well, enough ranting now.
what i like to know why do bankers get bonus for messing up. if i build a house that is round when it should be square i don’t get paid, i have to correct with my own money or get sack leaving with nothing and that is with or without contracts. but i suppose that’s be cause parliament is for corporations and not the people. as what is happen at the moment. also how democratic is an election when you have less than 51% of a constituency voting when it is in a minority it be comes a dictatorship. so in this way you can see they don’t care about the people it’s just power and making us slaves. one other thing is how much money in aid has been sent to Haiti god bless them in such hard times from the Vatican being a Catholic, you never here these from reporters are they as incompetent has governments.if my grammar is not right I’m dyslexic sorry
I have got couple of comments to make, and I hope this is the right place to do so.
I listened to BBC in Nairobi for 7 years, I have much trust in the reports aired.
When I finally made the dicision to go back to Bghdad, one thing was hard for me , how will I listen to BBC?! True to my fear I did not know how to do so, except I could read news on the website, could not listen because of Baghdad`s insufficient internet networks.
Now I am here in California, US and uttterly delighted cos I can listen to programs online , better more its live. I can get it on mobile, on radio, and on TV!!!I left my family back in Baghdad, yet feel less lonely. It may sound like am advertising for BBC -which I would happily do- but am just stating how it is. Am not alone with BBC`s wide reach….I often remember listing in Nairobi back in 2001-2007 “WHEREEVER YOU ARE, HOWEVER YOU LISTEN….THIS IS THE BBC”. All the best to you BBC team.
What a terrible show today! The people kept talking at the same time or talking over each other. Very frustrating. I was hoping to learn something, but it was very difficult to follow 😦
Am a bit disapointed with todays program, I expected a better outcome.
US WANTS TAIWAN AS A SNEAKING POINT ON CHINA
The decision by the US government to sell $6.4 billion arms to Taiwan is another classical instance of US’ military expansionism. Not only is the US selling its third grade military hardware while developing state-of-the-art new weapons systems for US’ use but it is also maintaining Taiwan as a base in line with the US’ long-term strategy to try to control and monitor China’s meteoric rise as a superpower. The US should refrain from intimidatory tactics and China has every right to impose sanctions on those US companies selling arms to Taiwan
China does literally what it feels like when it comes to individual freedom and i think its time they put a check in their way of thinking! I don’t see any problem in America selling arms to an island which is has a right to defend itself against an adversary who gets away almost everything he thinks of doing! Go go USA
I feel bad for haiti I hope they or we can fix it
The unfortunate situation in Haiti and the US lead response. kind of makes me think, how come we don`t hear of other major nations (eruropean for in stance) giving a helping hand over there, in any form or mean?!
I mean we see the US almost in every disaster taking initiative. This time the US has its own battels to fight right at home with the deterioorating economy. yet it`s over at Haiti.
Are other major nations (may be the UK, France, or Germany) playing a role in all this?
I wish the WHYS Team could reduce the number of discussions to one discussion/day otherwise the comments get spread out or important, interest ing stories get no interest at all. I know that young people can do 10 things at once but I find it very schizophrenic and wish we could all just concentrate on one issue/day. That way more people comment and the discussion seems richer somehow.
You have bunch of watered down “leaders”. The best they can come up with is reducing consumption water. Useless!
Relevant to the ongoing debate about profits, socialized distribution pf wealth, individual freedom in how one spends one’s money, the role of choice of the consumer and many other immediately identifiable endeavors to cobble society to fit the straight jacket of economic force mayeur.
I interject with;
The subject under debate is the only real debate since everything else subtends from it.
Honest money is the sine qua non of everything else touched upon. Fractional Reserve Banking, its history and patent fraudulency must be studied, understood and dealt with before any other subject becomes approachable. The core subject is design the alternative economic model to replace the existing impersonal slavery, which is what we actually have.
This has nothing to do with morality but rather to do with the substitution of our inherited model by one which is inflation-free and self-priming, not monetizing fiat debt but rather rewarding productivity measured in the altruistic terms.used by Adam Smith.
Regards, Peter Trainin. Spain.
I’m interested to know whether or not anyone has noticed the increasing usage of, what I can only describe as the “glottal stop”, in relation to the definite/indefinite article preceding a vowel sound, by programme presenters or their guests. E.g. “a x-ray”, “in the blink of a eye”, “th[u]e only one”…..etc….etc. Is there a conspiracy afoot to corrupt the English language? Americans do this frequently but now British (English?) broadcasters are starting to catch up. BBC World Service is increasingly becoming “guilty” of this heinous crime!
Let’s talk about spiritually moral values, about a monarchy, and its values for a society. I not the supporter of democracy, I the supporter of classical traditional forms of government. Certainly my sights and opinions can be perceived, as violence over not a part of a society concordant with it which with the turned consciousness to live easier, easier and substantial, freedom from any responsibility. We unfortunately have already lived the whole century in full freedom, absence of morals, a love for the neighbour where the cult of violence has been justified, and is erected in a state policy rank. At the beginning of the century when all barriers before responsibility and the right when the ideology of a personal immunity has been trampled when there was construct an ideology to correct the financial position at the expense of the neighbour, at the expense of aristocracy have been eliminated, all barriers of all human falling with the worst consequences for the people, for continent and the world as a whole are removed. When the group of people in the selfish interests began to push the nation to a crime when there was construct an idea that it is possible to do without the tsar, without God in a head, without 10 bible precepts. But we that know that appetite comes with eating. All laws on the fair certificate of self-defence when the life of the higher aristocracy not that did not cost when Imperial children were destroyed, Grand dukes and all have been trampled that concerned legitimate classical traditional board of the state. The society which has been destroyed had the right and has been obliged hold the line from those who tried to destroy it from within. Therefore the term democracy is useful, only when the balance and balance of all political institutes of the power and the state is in balance. Preaching freedom and the rights of the person as the main value, it is not necessary to forget that it concerns all members of a society, there is a right to self-defence, there is a French saying.? Your freedom to swing hands comes to an end there where my nose begins? Better to say the personal freedom has the right to existence only so far as as does not touch the right of other person. Continuation follows?.
Dear WHYS,
Please tell me why me Email will not be published.
Thank you.
JH
Maybe the Canadians consider the Americans to be their arch-rivals in ice hockey, but we (in the United States) have never really thought of the Canadians as arch-rivals in any sport. Your statement regarding this is at best, only half true.
Most people forget that these foods are byproducts, something made to make something else. Fast food isn’t the problem it is those whom consume it n access.
I know this may sound a bit daft but it just occurred to me that Toyota’s problems with their cars sound identical to those of radio control cars when someone is broadcasting on certain frequncies in the near vicinity.
I used amateur radio for many years. Certain frequencies will allow one to be heard over baby monitors, televisions, some hearing aids, regular radios and etc. I’ve even heard toasters suddenly start making noise when a radio is operating nearby.
I also play with radio controlled cars and helicopters now and agin. I have personally seen them go rogue when a radio in the vicinity is broadcasting, both from the point of view of the car operator and from the point of the radio operator. Indeed, I used to let one fellow know I was home by a short burst that made his little car go in circles.
Some of the things the little cars do are sudden and uncontrollable acceleration, non-response to steering commands and non-response ( failure) of the braking commands.
Is it just possible that something like this may be the real cause of the problems with Toyota’s cars?
Can you ( or someone ) possibly pass the suggestion to Toyota as I have no idea of how to do so.
Thank you.
I was saddened to learn of Charlie Gillett’s death. I had not heard him for a while and wondered if he was unwell. I think he was doing an important job broadcasting World music. It had earlier occured to me, before today, that if he was no longer going to be able to broadcast that Andy Kershaw is a natural successor. I hope that this suggestion is given serious consideration as the WS needs some music that reflects and represents its audience. Condolences to his family. Best wishes Eddy
That a monsignor would not feel obligated to report the abuse of a child to the civil authorities is unconscionable. No organization should be above the law. A parent should feel secure when putting his or her child under the protection of any authority – church or state.
Listened to the Gaza City story. Man makes $10.00 a day.
Various foods available and expensive. Appliances VERY expensive.
Question – Who offers items at prices no one can afford and what do the sellers do with the products after they’re not sold.
This is an interesting discussion on the US Health Care bill that was just passed.
I’m a bit concerned though that the question if this bill is even legal under the US system of government never comes up. Why don’t you talk about this? I don’t think that Europeans(or maybe even some Americans) seem to understand that the States and the Federal Government share sovereignty and the Federal Government can’t just do whatever it wants.
Thanks,
Jeremy