Listen to Bridges with Africa online

Amsterdam Forum (20071223)

Thu, Dec 20 Listen

Human trafficking is one of the most lucrative areas of organised crime: a brutal industry worth billions of dollars. Every year hundreds of thousands of women are lured abroad by false promises of employment. But some say the number of victims is exaggerated. We assess the scale of the global trade on this weeks Amsterdam Forum

Amsterdam Forum (20071216)

Thu, Dec 13 Listen

War has been raging for years in the Democratic Republic of Congo. One of the main charactistics of the fighting in the eastern part of the country is the use of sexual violence against women. According to the United Nations, 27,000 women were raped in one province alone last year. What can be done to end the use of rape as a weapon of war? And what do the victims want: justice or reparations? To discuss these questions, Eric Beauchemin chairs a discussion in The Hague, the capital of...

Amsterdam Forum (20071209)

Thu, Dec 6 Listen

Does giving aid to the poor end poverty? Not according to Professor Easterly. The American economist is sceptical about UN summits saying that their purpose seems to be to commemorate the failure of the last one. Extreme poverty, he insists, can only be ended in the Third World, as it has been everywhere else - through the efforts of homegrown political, economic and social reformers. Is he right to be so sceptical? He debates with Bram van Ojik from the Dutch foreign office and Ralf...

Amsterdam Forum (20071202)

Thu, Nov 29 Listen

In her award-winning documentary Rule of Law filmmaker Susanne Brandstatter looks at an offshoot of the tribunal in The Hague: a special war crimes tribunal set up by the United Nations to deal with crimes in Kosovo. She follows a UN judge as she tries six Albanians and in the process reveals an ancient local system of justice still operating in many villages. Brandstatter joins a distinguished panel to discuss can local cultures offer anything to International law and can local courts have...

Amsterdam Forum (20071125)

Thu, Nov 22 Listen

In the week that marks `Buy nothing day` Amsterdam Forum discusses can we impact the planel by what we buy. Our panel comprises of an advertiser, a fare trade representative and the author of Rebel Sell who says if you\'re trying to make a difference give your money to grass roots projects. No number of `ethical products`with make a blind bit of difference. The programme was first broadcast earlier this year.

Amsterdam Forum (20071118)

Thu, Nov 15 Listen

Dubai, the booming capital of the United Arab Emirates, has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, an economy that relies on migrant workers. On this weeks programme we discuss how different countries approach their migrants and ask who is getting it right?

Amsterdam Forum (20071111)

Fri, Nov 9 Listen

The World Health Organisation reckons 300 million people are obese, and within ten years that figure will more double. By the year 2015 more than 2 billion will be classified as overweight. But can we believe such figures? No, says Patrick Basham author of a book called \'Diet Nation: exposing the obesity crusade\'. He joins our panel this week and debates a health promoter and a researcher with fresh figures.

Amsterdam Forum

Thu, Nov 1 Listen

If we\'re to believe what the statistics are saying we\'re getting fatter and fatter. Some experts tell us we\'re in the middle of an obesity epidemic that is more dangerous than climate change or even weapons of mass destruction. The World Health Organisation reckons 300 million people are obese, and within ten years that figure will more double. By the year 2015 more than 2 billion will be classified as overweight. But can we believe such figures? No, says Patrick Basham author of a book...

Amsterdam Forum (28 October 2007)

Thu, Oct 25 Listen

The conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur simmers on - so far 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million have been displaced because of fighting between the Sudanese government, Janjaweed militias and rebel fighters. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away the International Criminal Court in The Hague is trying to assemble evidence to convict those responsible for these grave crimes. This week, in a special extended edition of Amsterdam Forum we\'re joined by two experts from Sudan to...

Amsterdam Forum (21 Oct 2007)

Thu, Oct 18 Listen

Does multiculturalism divide or unite us? Three years since the Islamist murder of film maker Theo van Gogh, five years after the assassination of anti-Islam politician Pim Fortuyn, explosive and complex questions of identity still tear at the heart of Dutch politics. This year, for example, has seen a heated dispute over dual nationality. The right wing politician Geert Wilders insists that anyone with two passports has divided loyalties and must be banned from public office. Meanwhile, even...

AF - Should NATO stay the course in Afghanistan?

Fri, Oct 12 Listen

The Dutch government will soon decide whether to extend its military mission in Afghanistan beyond August 2008. Surveys show that the Dutch public`s support for the mission is slowly ebbing away, but the Netherlands is under pressure from NATO not to withdraw its troops. The Alliance is finding it hard to persuade other member countries to send troops to the south of Afghanistan, where the fighting against the Taliban is especially fierce. Amsterdam Forum brings together an expert panel to...

Amsterdam Forum (7 October 2007)

Thu, Oct 4 Listen

The city of Amsterdam has decided to close a third of all the prostitutes\' windows in the red light district. Is this the beginning or the end for Amsterdam\'s most famous - and most notorious - tourist attraction? Mayor Job Cohen says the measure is needed to combat crime. It seems the legalisation of brothels seven years ago led to an increase in organised crime, especially human trafficking and money laundering. But the Dutch sex workers\' union De Rode Draad says the mayor has got it...

Amsterdam Forum (30 September 2007)

Fri, Sep 28 Listen

Around 40,000 patients in the EU are on waiting lists for an organ transplant. In America every day 11 people die while waiting. If human organs were like any other commodity there would be no problem, but trading is banned in most countries. Should the sale of organs be legalised? - That\'s the debate on this weeks Amsterdam Forum.

Amsterdam Forum (23 September 2007)

Thu, Sep 20 Listen

Does giving aid to the poor end poverty? Not according to the American economist William Easterly. In his book The White Man\'s Burden, Professor Easterly argues that western charity actually makes the problems of the world\'s poorest people worse. He explains his viewpoint at a round-table discussion on the failings of foreign aid.

Amsterdam Forum (16 September 2007)

Mon, Sep 17 Listen

Here\'s another chance to hear our feature length interview with historian, author and political commentator Niall Ferguson. This edition of Amsterdam Forum was recorded and originally broadcast in May 2007.

Amsterdam Forum (09 sept 2007)

Thu, Sep 6 Listen

Sales of organic, fair-trade and local food have shot up in recent years. The products allow consumers to express their concerns about their health, the environment to social justice and sustainable living. But some critics say \'ethical food\' is not always as good as it appears to be on the packet - and may actually harm the world more than helping it. Are they right? And what is the best choice for foodies with good intentions? The panel: Tom Standage, business editor for the Economist...

Amsterdam Forum (02 Sept 2007)

Fri, Aug 31 Listen

Can multinationals do good deeds? One of the hottest buzz phrases in the business world is \'corporate social responsibility\' - CRS for short. Thousands of companies - especially multinationals - now proudly parade their CRS credentials. \'CSR\' can refer to anything from ethical supply chains, to carbon trading, to human rights. But many critics remain highly sceptical. They claim CSR is, at best, mere window dressing and, at worst, a complete con. These critics would rather have harsher,...

Amsterdam Forum (26 August 2007)

Fri, Aug 24 Listen

Why are the poorest countries in the world failing and what can be done about it? Aid alone will never be enough to help the world\'s poorest countries. And if they are to escape the pitfalls that have kept their economies stagnant for decades, western governments will have to offer much more than money. In some cases they may even have to send troops. That\'s what Paul Collier argues in his latest book, the Bottom Billion. Mr Collier, a professor at Oxford University and former head of...

Amsterdam Forum (19 August 2007)

Fri, Aug 17 Listen

Is rap fuelling violence in youth culture? From its beginnings in the Bronx to its transformation into a multi-billion dollar global industry, hip hop has stirred constant and contentious debate - about whether its inspires gang culture and street violence, or offers disaffected youth a chance to express themselves. Critics say many commercial rappers today, especially those who make so-called gangsta rap, provide bad role models for youngsters, with lyrics that degrade women and glamorize a...

Amsterdam Forum (12 Aug 2007)

Thu, Aug 9 Listen

Gold has long been a symbol of wealth, beauty and love. But critics of the gold mining industry describe it as one of the world\'s dirtiest industries: It\'s alleged to fuel conflict and human rights abuses, destroy communities, and devastate environments. Yet others, such as the World Gold Council, say the economic and social value gold mining brings to developing countries is vital, but often overlooked. So who\'s right? Is gold costing the planet and its people far more than the metal...

Amsterdam Forum (5 August 2007)

Fri, Aug 3 Listen

In its early days the internet was heralded as the vanguard of progress, and a potential great educator. With the dawn of Web 2.0 all that has changed. Blogs and user-generated sites such as wikipedia, youtube, myspace now dominate. Anyone can be a filmmaker, a journalist or a movie star. Some say this free and unmonitored exchange of information is exactly what the internet set up to do. But one Silicon valley entrepreneur is gravely concerned. He tells us why on this week\'s Amsterdam Forum

Amsterdam Forum (29 July 2007)

Thu, Jul 26 Listen

Is that war on terror being lost? Al-Qaeda is reported to have rebuilt its strength around the world and well placed to launch fresh attacks. Pakistan, once heralded as one the US\'s closest allies in the war on terror, has been described as a safe haven for Al Qaeda and is facing militant problems of its own. And the UK has been on high alert after the failed car bomb attacks on its soil a few weeks ago. So how are we to now judge this war on terror - and the terrorist threat? We\'ve brought...

Amsterdam Forum 22 July 2007

Fri, Jul 20 Listen

Zimbabwe used to be the breadbasket of southern Africa. But today it cannot even feed itself. Years of economic collapse have taken their toll. At least 3 million people have fled abroad to escape rampant inflation , hunger, poverty, soaring unemployment, and political repression. Its a state teetering on the brink of collapse. Critics blame the present crisis on the policies of President Robert Mugabe. An increasing number want him to go. Some have even called for some sort of outside...

Amsterdam Forum (15 July 2007)

Fri, Jul 13 Listen

Its more than 5 years since the US led invasion of Afghanistan drove the Taliban from power. But it\'s increasingly clear that the country is still anything but stable and peaceful. Never far away from the news headlines are stories of mounting civilian and military deaths, suicide attacks, and a resurgent Taliban. It seems this is a fight the west cannot win by force. So does it struggle on, as it is in Iraq, or change tack? What is the best way to bring peace and stability to the country?...

Amsterdam Forum (8 July 2007)

Fri, Jul 6 Listen

Should adoptions from abroad be banned? It\'s estimated at least 40,000 children are adopted internationally every year. But recent scandals in the Dutch press show that there is a decidedly darker side to the system. One example is the story of Rahul - a young boy adopted from India by a Dutch couple. It turned out that Rahul had actually been stolen from his biological parents and sold to an orphanage before being adopted abroad. Critics say the scandal is just the tip of the iceberg -and...

Amsterdam Forum (1 July 2007)

Fri, Jun 29 Listen

Do military interventions still serve a purpose? Critics of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq might suggest not. But the use of military force in other parts of the world, including Kosovo and Sierra Leone, tells a different story. What all these areas have in common is that winning the military battle has never been enough - the bigger challenge facing the international community is to win the peace. Efforts to restore stability in a country after a period of conflict are inevitably long,...

Amsterdam Forum (24 June 2007)

Fri, Jun 22 Listen

The world is halfway towards its 2015 target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which are measures agreed to by all the nations of the world for meeting the needs of the world\'s poorest people. Some human rights and activist groups say the goals are not ambitious enough while others criticize the rich nations for not fulfilling their promises. Who should be held accountable: governments or civil society? And where should the buck stop? Hear this week\'s Amsterdam...

Amsterdam Forum (17 June 2007)

Fri, Jun 15 Listen

In the West, our societies and economies are geared to ever greater amounts of shopping. Indeed, the power of consumerism continues to grow. Meanwhile the voice of the anti -consumerist is calling for radical action. The British environmentalist Jonathan Porritt recently declared: ``We have become a generation of shopaholics.`` He believes consumerism is now a lethal disease, destroying us spiritually and jeoardising the planet. So how do we solve this conundrum? Shop more, shop less, shop...

Amsterdam Forum (10 June 2007)

Thu, Jun 14 Listen

The Dutch government has decided to stop couples getting a `quicky divorce`. The coalition government, which is dominated by Christian parties, wants to make it less easy for husbands and wives to separate, and it wants them to think about how they will raise their children after that. So, is marriage the foundation of a stable family? Or is it an institution we are learning to do without? The panel on this week`s Amsterdam Forum asks the question - what\'s so special about marriage anyway?...

Amsterdam Forum (3 june 2007)

Fri, Jun 1 Listen

On this week\'s programme: should we beware of ?Christian nationalism?? The efforts of some evangelical Christians to influence American politics have produced sharply divergent reactions. Secular voices have been quick to raise the alarm over what they see as the rise of ?Christian nationalism?, especially its influence on President George W Bush?s Republican Party. For their part, many evangelicals are equally alarmed by what they see as the spread of secularism at all levels of American...

Bridges with Africa (World Talk)