Talking Points 25th September

Are we losing the chance for peace in the middle east? Today 21 Aid agencies working in the region have accused the Middle-East quartet (Russia, the US, the EU and the UN) of fundamentally failing in its mission.

On Air: Should religion be a reason not to fight for your country?

An American soldier has been granted conscientious objector status and honorable discharge from the army after he said he experienced a religious awakening in Iraq. Pfc. Michael Barnes said his Christian beliefs meant he could no longer continue to fight.

Should we drug our children?

An interesting topic that got us talking in our editorial meeting today; the National Health Service in the UK have released new guidelines for the treatment of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It advises doctors and parents to avoid the use of Ritalin (Methyphendiate) in all but the most extreme cases and stop its use altogether for those under the age of five.  Should it be up to the parents to decide whether or not their children take the drug?