Copenhagen : the youth vote…

Have a look around our venue. Here’s Ros to guide you through…

Heba: We’ve arrived in Copenhagen! Jacques (our Sound Engineer) and I arrived late last night in the Danish capital and we’re ready to hit the ground running – the youth debate is tomorrow (Thursday 17th December).

Young and Unemployed on World Update

It’s got many labels: The recession generation, the quarter life crisis or very simply young and unemployed.

On Thursday 5th November @ 1000 GMT World Update with Dan Damon will be taking a close look at what the economic downturn has done to the employment prospects of those who are young and very qualified.

Should paedophilies be castrated?

Friend of the programme Nuala got in touch with this story.

Last week Poland’s lower house approved chemical castration in certain cases of pedophilia.

Today Russian lawmakers are considering it. Offenders would, in general, have the choice between chemical castration or a long prison sentence possibly life in prison.

Are young people becoming addicted to the internet?

Teenagers around the northern hemisphere are coming to the end of their summer holidays. The credit crunch, working parents and other factors will have meant that many of them will have been stuck at home for much of their time off school. And lots of them will have been on the internet. For hour after hour. Some parents feel that it’s safe – they’re at home and all is well. Others are concerned about over-use of the internet. At 1230 GMT this Saturday, Newshour will be asking whether this concern is justified.

Is social networking a suicide risk?

Bullied to death on Bebo. 15 year old Megan Gillans committed suicide following taunts on the Internet about her clothing and appearance. Yesterday the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Vincent Nichols  criticised such sites for playing a key role in young people committing suicide.  Are we too addicted to realise the danger of online social networking?

On-Air :U.S and Iran talk today

Update: Ros in Portland and Lyse Doucet in Tehran co-presenting the programme

Is something changing in Iran ?

Since a series of TV debates, the election campaign has burst into life.

Our BBC correspondents in Tehran say the outcome will be close, but it’s just possible that hardline President Ahmedinijad could be defeated by a “reformer” Mir Hossein Mousavi (pictured with his wife Zara Rahnavard).

Young reporters on the BBC

As WHYS is being taken care of, by school kids today, I thought it was worth letting you know how Your Story is working with under 18’s for their perspective on the news.

For a view on sex education in schools, I worked with teenage mums from Southampton on contraception.   There are also these three teenagers from Chicago who are recording about their lives in a failing school system, where there is poverty and violence.  To get involved, check out the Your Story blog.

On air: Is direct action the only way for young people to get noticed?

On Christmas day we’re handing WHYS over to a panel of young listeners from Kenya, Bangladesh, India, Canada, Zimbabwe, Greece and the US.  We gave them the chance to set the agenda and this is what they want to ask you:

How should young voices be heard . .. .and taken seriously?

Talking Points for 20 June

UPDATE: Ros here. We’ll be broadcasting live today from the Civicus World Assembly in Glasgow. We’ve just met with some of the people who are coming along . Here are their five suggestions for you to consider.

1. Are you satisfied with how your government is tackling the threat of ‘terrorism’?                              

2. Is a Western lifestyle something to aspire to?

3. Should leaders be left to lead? Or do you want more involvement in the decisions they make?

4. Should the developing world be left out of the fight against climate change? Why should it compromise the wealth and lifestyle that it’s only just getting?

5. Are there some services, such as trasnport, healthcare and education, which should always be in the hands of the state?

Let us know what you think. Here are the other stories that we’re considering….

ON AIR: Are we over-educated?

Ros, Chloe and Mark are in Glasgow for tonight’s special broadcast from the Civicus Youth Assembly. The presentations have been made, and a vote taken for which of the four debates below we’re going to talk about tonight.

Are we overeducated? won by a good margin so keep posting your comments below….

Should 16 year olds be allowed to vote? came second, so we’ll probably talk about that too.

Chola and Susan from Zambia proposed the winner…