Is it time to open our borders?

“The Jungle is our house. Please don’t destroy it. If you do so, where is the place to go?” That’s a question for French authorities who now have to decide what to do with the hundreds of illegal migrants they have just evicted, following this morning’s clearing of the migrant camp in Calais. It’s a common story that isn’t going away, so is it time for some fresh thinking -should we just keep our borders open?

On air: Was it right to release the Lockerbie bomber?

He’s going home. The man convicted of killing 270 people in the 1988 bombing of a Pam Am flight over the Scottish town in Lockerbie, has been released from prison on compassionate grounds. Abdel Baset Al-Megrahi is already on his way home to Libya, where it is believed he will die of prostate cancer within three months.

Do serious criminals deserve compassion?

If you have committed a serious crime – say murder, rape, paedophilia – do you deserve any compassion from the criminal justice system?

Should we pay couples not to have kids?

Birth control is getting creative in India – from increasing late night tv (yes to take couples’ minds off procreating) to encouraging women not to marry until they are 30 (when a women’s fertility begins to drop). Whilst these initiatives might not seem very convincing, the Indian government’s latest idea could be a little more tempting. Money.

Do we need civil liberties groups anymore?

Here’s the good news. Women are doing better than ever in the workforce. And here’s some more good news – ethnic minorities are also thriving. So what’s the point of pouring millions of dollars into promoting and maintaining civil liberties groups? Isn’t it “job done” for such bodies?

Lots of discussion here in the UK about the role and relevance of Britain’s Equalities Commission. This piece feels that such groups are outdated and that it’s wrong to assume that all minorities share the same view.

On Air: Is it possible to have a moral army?

A group of Israeli soldiers say widespread abuses were carried out on civilians during their action in Gaza.

The soldiers are part of an organisation called “Breaking the Silence”.

Amnesty International has accused both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes during the 22-day conflict.

Is development a death sentence?

The indigenous people of Peru call it a death sentence, their government calls it a lifeline. Over 50 people have been killed in riots in Peru over government plans to develop gas and oil on land that the indigenous people believe belongs to their ancestors.  Here’s more on the story and on the oil companies involved.

On air: Have you lost the argument if protests turn violent?

“If I’m surrounded by police, then I shouldn’t be there”.
This was posted on our blog last night by Mark, a British soldier, after a video emerged of an apparently unprovoked attack by riot police on a man at last week’s G20 protests. The man now died and there are calls for an inquiry into the police’s actions. (Read Mark’s full post here) It comes after a very busy 24 hours for riot police across the globe.

On air: Should the families of victims of conflict receive compensation?

There’s been angry scenes and protests in Belfast in Northern Ireland today. A government-sponsored commission has recommended that the families of all of the 3,700 people who died in the three decades long Troubles, should receive a one-off payment of $17,000 as ‘recognition’ of their loss. The idea has been slammed by many politicians and victims’ relatives. Read one of their stories here.

A case of not in my backyard for Guantanamo detainees?

President Obama was quick to announce the closure of Guantanamo last week but the question is now what to do with the inmates. Many European countries have been arguing for years the camp should be closed but some are now refusing to accept any former prisoners. A case of not in my backyard? Should EU countries take them in?