GEORGE MONBIOT, COLUMNIST, 'THE GUARDIAN'
- INTERVIEW 25th April 2010
The world is a much smaller place than it used to be, with countries
more intricately and intimately connected than ever before.
And that, says environmentalist and author George Monbiot, is the
problem; when a natural event like the eruption of Eyjafjallajvkull
volcano on the remote island of Iceland is able to seize up
international flight paths and wreak untold economic havoc round the
world.
For many commentators, this week's volcanic chaos was an early glimpse
of what the world may look like when oil runs out.
According to UK-based Monbiot, it proved evidence of a world reliant on
an over-strained system - ultimately making the global financial crisis
and a blast of nature's fury not too dissimilar.
So what is his answer for a simpler world? Or will nature do the job
before world leaders can?
Hear his take on the forthcoming UK elections
and the rise of
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg.
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WILL
HUTTON (AUTHOR AND ECONOMICS COMMENTATOR)
- INTERVIEW 2nd May
2010
Last October, UK author and commentator Will Hutton predicted on
Dateline that David Cameron would be the next British Prime Minister.
This week, George Negus asks him if he’s still so sure, with
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg rising rapidly in the opinion polls,
and many suggesting that Britain could elect its first hung parliament
since 1974.
But UK politics aren’t the only thing hanging in the
balance… the Eurozone is facing renewed crisis over what to
do about Greece’s huge debts, as Spain’s credit
rating is also downgraded.
Some are calling this week’s events a ‘Lehman
moment’, which could trigger stage two of the GFC, taking
Europe with it.
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more...
SABRIA
JAWHAR, SAUDI JOURNALIST AND BLOGGER
– INTERVIEW 9th May 2010
The question of whether Muslim women should be allowed to cover
themselves in a burqa, or wear a niqab with only their eyes showing, is
polarising opinion across Europe.
Last month, Belgium’s lower house voted unanimously for a ban
on wearing full Islamic veils in public spaces, and French politicians
have cited security reasons for considering a similar ban.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy declared the burqa is not welcome in
France, and has branded the face-covering, body-length gown as a symbol
of women’s oppression.
But that's certainly not the view of Saudi Arabian journalist and
blogger Sabria Jawhar, who’s adamant she doesn't want western
lawmakers telling her what she can or can't wear.
George Negus speaks to her from the UK, where she’s currently
studying, in her first interview not wearing her burqa.
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more...
WESTMINSTER INSIDERS - INTERVIEW 23rd May 2010
Is the new UK coalition government between the centre-right
Conservatives and centre-left Liberal Democrats a marriage made in
heaven or a marriage of convenience?
George Negus travels to London for a special Dateline debate with four
Westminster Insiders, to get the lowdown on what’s been
happening in British politics and whether they think it will succeed.
Jackie Ashley is a columnist and political reporter for the Guardian
newspaper and has a long background of covering politics as a TV and
print journalist.
Lord Matthew Oakeshott is a Liberal Democrat politician and currently
Spokesperson for the Treasury, and Work and Pensions. He has been a
pension fund investment manager for more than 30 years. He was made a
life peer in 2000.
Clare Short served as an MP in Birmingham from 1983,
but stood down at this election. For most of that time she was a Labour
MP, but resigned from the party in 2006 over Tony Blair's handling of
the Iraq War. She served the rest of her term as an Independent. She
spent six years as Secretary of State for International Development in
the Blair government.
Will Hutton is a former editor and ongoing columnist for The Observer
newspaper. He is also Chief Executive of The Work Foundation, a
consultancy advising on employment issues. He was recently appointed by
the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government to head a review into
public service pay. Will is a seasoned political commentator and a
regular contributor to Dateline.
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more....
Please Note: More interviews will be added as time permits.