What should the Indian government do to protect its students?

Australia is a major travel destination for Indian students studying abroad.   In return they generate good revenue for Australia.

Surely, these students have a right to feel safe whilst there.  But after an Indian graduate was stabbed to death at the weekend their safety is being questioned. 

Do you trust your government to decide what you can see online?

I don’t think it’s going out on a limb to say that most of us wouldn’t want to check out websites containing images of graphic and disturbing sex abuse or detailed instructions for committing crimes. Most of us would find them abhorrent. But should those sorts of sites be censored from the internet altogether? And should your government be deciding what you should and shouldn’t see online?

On air: What do government apologies achieve?

“We come together today to deal with an ugly chapter in our nation’s history.”

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology to thousands of children abused in state care – following a 20 year campaign by the victims – is another example of governments saying sorry for historical events.

On air: Should we have more of a sense of humour about race?

This act on an Australian TV talent show seems to have offended a lot of people – including an American celebrity on the judging panel. 

ON AIR: Should you be forced to vote?

The team is on it’s way to Dublin for tonight’s programme… 

TN2020 participant Gabriella Kessler from New York suggested we talk about compulsory voting today.

Good governance

Thanks to Hannah and Will for excellent work at the weekend, and you managed to keep the agenda broad despite some attempts to railroad it. I’d be interested to hear from you both (and Brett and Lubna) about whether the experience makes you feel differently about the WHYS “community”. 

Morning musings

Greetings from a cold, crisp, magnificent morning in London…

We’re planning to devote most of tonight’s programme to the subject of pain, as you’ll see from Ben’s posting. But there are a few other interesting stories around. In Australia, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is promising firm action to help Aboriginal communities, after his formal apology for the injustices perpetrated by two centuries of white settlement. Can anything really make amends for the past suffering of Aborigines? What do you think the government should do to help improve Aboriginal lives?