Blank Page No.3

Welcome to Hannah in the UK and Will in Canada’s Blank Page. They’re both stalwarts of the WHYS blog so they need no introduction. All yours…

On air: Is Thabo Mbeki a disgrace to Africa?

We’re off air now, but feel free to listen to our podcsat and to add your comments below!

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai wants him removed as mediator in Zimbabwe. It was only yesterday, almost three weeks after the Zimbabwe elections, that the SA government called for the result to be released, and it wasn’t Mr Mbeki saying it. And the critics have more ammunition…

On air: Are women taken seriously in politics?

Following your response to Mark’s post this will be one of your topics today. Here’s the discussion you’ve already been having.

Should polygamy be legal?

Thanks to the raid at the Yearn for Zion ranch in Texas and the subesquent chaotic custody hearing, polygamy has been front-page news this week. And the press hasn’t been good for adherents of plural marriage. But is that fair?

What’s a blank page?

I’ve been thinking about two things a lot recently. One, how we can offer you more at the weekends on the blog. The show is off air but it always seems a shame our conversations quieten down online. And two, how we can get you more involved in framing our debates. Here’s an idea.

Talking points for 18 April

Good morning, let’s start today with a comment from Insistent Verite on the World Today’s post about talking to terrorists, which comes from former US President Jimmy Carter’s talks with Hamas in Egypt, which he has had to defend. Insistent suggest we ask “What is a terrorist?” Alternatively we could keep it simple and find out if you think he’s right to talk to Hamas.