On air: Is democracy for all inevitable?

In the early 1970s only 40 countries were democratic, today that has trebled. At this rate every country in the world will be democratic by 2100.

Talking Points for 4th July

It’s Priya with you this morning. Thanks to Will for stepping in last night. So what shall we talk about today?

Is Democracy for all inevitable?

We’ve been discussing it all week, graphs and all, Thomas has blogged about it here.

He reckons that by 2100, if the current trend continues, every country in the world will be democratic… but only if this trend continues.

Is it ok for religion to enshrine inequality ?

Morning, afternoon, evening, Peter here with news of todays WHYS on air at 1700 GMT :o)

Before we get to that a quickie about yesterdays WHYS — think it’s fair to say it was a spirited debate, yes, spirited, that’s the right word. Sometimes I (as your humble presenter / anchor / host) have to get people to shut up, and if they dont, there are times when I cant be too indelicate. We’ve laid out the ground rules, we’ve told them to behave with respect but sometimes it doesnt happen that way. Why am I not surprised by this :o) But thats why the words “PROFESSOR SCHHHHHH….!” were used, and used several times. Not bad manners, honest — just our desire to get the most, the best contribution from the people who’re on the show. Anyway, moving on:

IS IT OK FOR RELIGION TO ENSHRINE INEQUALITY ?

Now, think of any big employer, any government run department, most (and I choose the word “most” there deliberately) political parties world wide, and it would be a nonsence for women to be judged less, naturally, well qualified to occupy any role, job or position, simply because of their gender.

So why can the worlds big ( great ? ) religions get away with it ?

Talking points 3 July

Good morning it’s Karnie…

Big thanks to Laura in Minneapolis for looking after the blog overnight.

Today’s agenda is far from set..the programme will be determined in a very “democratic” meeting in a few hours time….- and .talking of Democracy, this subject just might be chosen for today’s global debate

On air: Iran and Israel..The World Have Your Say debate

With relations never good, suspicion defining what each country thinks about the other, we’re trying today to get a sane and rational debate going about Isreal and Iran. With Isreal having what many believe was a dry run at a military air strike against Iran, how can these two countries now NOT head towards some sort of conflict, proxy or otherwise. The best up-sum of where we are now, for me, appeared a while back in the magazine New Republic:

The biggest armed robbery in history?

Be honest, how many of you have heard of the Iraqi Oil Law? And how many of you can tell what it is?

The Hydrocarbon or Oil Law is, according to President Bush, designed to “share oil revenues among all of Iraq’s citizens” – Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds – and to help unify the country.

Talking points 27 June

Good morning! It’s a slightly bleary-eyed Priya blogging today after last night’s Euro 2008 semi final in an especially boisterous World Service bar. Thanks Mike and Bob for watching the blog while I slept.

It’s also Fuchsia’s last day on the programme From now on she will be far far away from us (sitting about three desks down at Newshour). So I’ll begin with her suggestion:

Is there anything wrong with swearing?

She has blogged about it already, so keep leaving your comments there.

Talking points 25 June

Goodmorning it’s Karnie…

Thanks to Chloe and Raffles in Singapore who took care of the blog for us overnight..

Thoughts for today…

Talking points 24 June

Goodmorning it’s Karnie…

Thanks to ZK and all the other moderators who pulled together overnight to manage the blog! A couple of stories to chew over today…

The UN Security Council has ended it’s silence on Zimbabwe and has unanimously condemned the violence and intimidation in the country. Countries including; China, Russia and South Africa said the violence made it impossible to hold a free and fair presidential run off vote this Friday.

Talking points for 23 June

Good Morning, it’s Priya in sunny West London. Thanks to Amy and John for keeping the latest blank page ticking over.

The morning meeting is in a few hours and I have a few ideas of what we might talk about:

ZIMBABWE

* Morgan Tsvangarai has pulled out of the presidential run-off due to be held this Friday.