On air: Is climate change too big a problem to solve?

With only three days to go, fears are growing that a “deal with teeth” may be out of reach at the climate talks in Copenhagen. Divisions between rich and poor countries seem to be widening… there have been threats of walk outs… increasingly harsh words and accusations from some developing countries that industrialised nations are not serious about carbon reduction. What do you think – is that true? Was a worldwide solution too ambitious to begin with? Is climate change just too big a problem to solve?

Should Pakistan take America’s money?

If someone offered me $1.5 billion a year for the next five years (that’s a lot of World Have Your Say shifts!), I’d probably bite their hand off. But in international politics, things are a bit more complicated.

The US Congress has approved a bill to grant that amount to help Pakistan develop and it’s now awaiting the Presidential signature in the Oval Office. But there is controversy in Pakistan itself about the strings attached.

The power of women protesters

As riot and paramilitary police flood the city of Urumqi in China’s Xinjiang region, Uighur women took to the streets in to protest the imprisonment of their husbands and loved ones.

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: How is Gaza dividing world opinion?

Both Israel and Hamas have ignored a UN security council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. America abstained from the UN vote and there’s been more heavy fighting today in defiance of it. As I write there’s supposed to be a three hour humanitarian ceasefire.

Fuel for thought

If you want to get a heated discussion going around the watercooler anywhere in Europe, then bring up one topic: the rising cost of fuel. For the past few days across Europe, truckers and fishermen have been holding protests against rising world oil prices, demanding government action to hold down prices at the pumps. Yesterday in Britain, hundreds of truck drivers shut down highways in protest against green automobile taxes. Do they have a point? Or do they need to accept that the world is changing and oil is a finite commodity which is only going to get more expensive? If you live in Europe, would you be willing to pay higher taxes to combat climate change? Let us know what you think: would you prefer lower petrol prices, or a cleaner environment? Or can we have both?

On-Air : An honest debate

Have a read of this and then tell me if you think we should do what Grace was villified for : get Chinese students from outside Tibet and students from Tibet to sit down and talk to each other

Talking points for 21 April

A few things to wet the appetite this morning. One issue we are likely to discuss on today’s programme is whether we understand the psychological toll of war. Nearly a fifth of American troops returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, with many finding inadequate support to help them. Is there enough support for troops returning from conflict, or are mental health problems for soldiers returning from war just a sad consequence that we have to accept? What about civilians caught up in wars? If you’ve been affected by this issue get in touch.

How far should you go to make a point?

Japan says environmental protesters have thrown containers of a mild acid onto one of its whaling ships in waters off Antarctica. Japanese officials say the attack by activists from the Sea Shepherd group slightly injured several crew members.

The acid — made from rancid butter — stings the eyes. The Japanese government has condemned the attack, calling it illegal.