In-Debate March/April

BE CREATIVE. BE CONTROVERSIAL. BE CURIOUS. BUT CRUCIALLY, BE INFORMED

In-Debate

MAR/APR ‘11 TM

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Should the West police the globe?

Debates Debates on the month’s hottest issues, providing you with both sides of the story.

Listings Listings of the very best intelligent and inspirational talks, events and debates.

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W

e all love a little argument here and there, but how much do we really know about what we are arguing and how much about our own opinions has been shaped and moulded by the newspapers we read? We think that if you really want to win your argument, you need to know both sides to the issues - this way you can argue your opinion but be prepared for someone else’s, without being caught off guard. So every month In-Debate will give you four debates on the month’s hottest topics that you’re www.in-debate.com going to argue with your friends about!

Be creative, Be controversial, Be curious. but crucially, Be informed.

Contents

6

Mar/Apr '11

In-Debate

p.5 Is nuclear power Britain's best hope for a life after oil?

With Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant narrowly averting a meltdown and rapidly increasing oil prices due to turmoil in the Middle East, the uncertainty surrounding Britain’s energy future has never been more apparent. Many argue that events in Japan highlight that nuclear power is not a safe. So is it time to rethink our energy policy?

p.9 Is the West’s intervention in Libya justified?

After a month consumed by reports of revolts in Libya and Gadaffi’s brutal attempts to suppress them, the United Nations finally approved intervention. Operation Odyssey Dawn led by Britain, France and the US is intended to protect civilian lives. But has Iraq and Afghanistan not taught us the dangers of getting involved in the affairs of a Middle Eastern state?

p.15 Should Britain ban the Burqa?

On April 1st, France’s “bill to forbid concealing one’s face in public” comes into effect and although Islam or veils have not been openly mentioned the intention is clear that it is to ban the burqa. With many European countries considering adopting such measures is it time for Britain to follow suit and ban the burqa? Or would this be unconstitutional and unBritish?.

p.19 Should celebrity breakdowns be used as entertainment?

The recent public demise of Charlie Sheen has left many wondering if it is right for the media to feature celebrity breakdowns as entertainment fodder for the masses. Surely the collapse of someone’s private life is personal? Or does the label “celebrity” entitle their lives to be public property and fair game?

Disclaimer: In-Debate’s goal is to offer a balanced platform where both sides of an argument are evenly represented. These views are not In-Debate’s, but a summation of what has been portrayed in the media.

In-List

In-Addition

p.23 Brain Food

p.12 Fantastic Facts

p.25 Mind Fuel

p.13 Best April Fools

p.26 Royal Listings p.27 IQ2 Debates

In-Competition

p.28 London Treats p.29 It’s No Debate p.30 Puzzles

Contact us Enquiries: letstalk@in-debate.com Media Enquiries: Daniel da Costa daniel@in-debate.com Editor-in-chief: Rob Lyons rob.lyons@in-debate.info London Treats: Chessie Felber f.felber@in-debate.info www.in-debate.com In-Debate Ltd W11 3LQ

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Debate

Is nuclear power Britain's best hope for a life after oil?

Image: 123RF/Photoshop

By Jonathan Sebire

T

he fallout from the crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, the worst radiation disaster since the Chernobyl meltdown 25 years ago, has reverberated around the world.

An industry on the cusp of a worldwide renaissance has become crippled by doubt. Countries around the globe have found their energy policies under attack from both opposition parties and public opinion. The European Union has called for all nuclear facilities to be “stress tested” whilst China, the US, Switzerland, India

It's a little known fact that...

Science

and Germany have suspended approval for new plants. UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has also ordered a strategic review into safety at all British nuclear facilities.

The Fukushima crisis has highlighted the dangers of aging nuclear plants at a time when crude oil prices have surged to record highs following political unrest sweeping through the oil-rich Middle-East.

Is Britain’s only hope for an energy secure future nuclear power? are there better alternatives? Or do we face a choice of a return to fossil fuels and rolling blackouts?

Every day the world currently burns more than 80m barrels of oil. By 2016 this may rise to around 100m barrels per day.

Fewer and fewer major new oil fields are discovered each year: 16 in 2000 - 9 in 2001 - 1 in 2005.

58.95p per litre of main road fuels at UK pumps is tax. This will continue to rise.

Around 15-18% of the world’s electricity comes from nuclear energy.

The UK has 19 nuclear reactors generating about 18% of its total electricity.

France has the largest share of its electrical energy manufactured in nuclear power plants at 75%.

In-Debate 5

+ 1

Is nuclear power Britain's best hope for a life after oil?

The anti-nuclear reaction to Fukushima is alarmist

For

No energy source can ever be 100% risk free, but dangers associated with nuclear power have been highly exaggerated by what The Telegraph’s Brendan O’Neil calls “catastrophists”. The Financial Times argues that “facts disappear into the cloud of fear that nuclear accidents produce,” and it is clear that the Fukushima tragedy has tapped into a latent fear of nuclear power that has been festering since the 1970s. Panic created around incidents such as Three Mile Island have lead to similar sweeping statements about safety but most of the calls to abandon nuclear power ignore the disparity in age, design and environmental risk between Fukushima and Britain. In the Guardian, George Monbiot, stated: “As a result of the disaster at Fukushima, I am no longer nuclear-neutral. I now support it. A crappy 40-year-old plant with inadequate safety features was hit by a monster earthquake and a vast tsunami. Yet no one has yet received a lethal dose of radiation.”

2

Nuclear power is vital for energy security

The political unrest that has swept along the coast of North Africa and into the Gulf States poses a real threat for British energy security. Oil workers have been forced to leave Yemen and Libya as both countries fall into civil war. Libya was the UK’s third highest importer of oil in 2010. Coupled with dependency on natural gas from a Russian government that has already proved it’s willingness to shut off supplies and the case for continued domestic nuclear dependency becomes highly credible. A Department of Trade and Industry white paper on the future of nuclear power states that “nuclear fuel supply is a stable and mature industry” and that expansion of nuclear power in Britain, “may result in a reduced need for gas supplies which are more heavily concentrated in countries with political instability. “

3

Nuclear energy is vital for curbing climate change

Britain has proposed that it will reduce it’s carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. In order to achieve this nuclear power must be included in the mix of energy sources that Britain uses. The current long-term energy strategy is based on a three

6 In-Debate

prong attack which includes: a commitment to nuclear energy; the development of more renewable energy, such as wind and sea power; and new carbon-capture technology to mitigate the damaging environmental effects of fossil fuelfired power plants. Removing nuclear from this equation would require massive extra investment in renewable energy sources, as Tim Yeo, Conservative Party chair, points out: “Other forms of low-carbon energy, such as solar or offshore wind are more expensive than nuclear. Solar and wind are not reliable generators of electricity – on cloudy or still days they produce nothing. So they have to be backed up by reliable sources of power.”

4

We are out of time for viable alternatives

All but one of the UKs 10 current nuclear facilities is scheduled for closure by 2023, with eight sites marked out as replacements. EU emission regulations mean that by 2015 most of the country’s coal based power plants will also have to shut down creating a deficit in the national grid that could lead to rolling blackouts that plagued the country in the 1970’s. Tim Yeo stated: “It is very likely that without new nuclear power stations we will simply not have enough reliable electricity generation in time to replace the contribution nuclear currently makes.” The options available to post nuclear states are limited, and as George Monbiot argued in the Guardian the answer will be “not wood, water, wind or sun, but fossil fuel,” and “On every measure … coal is 100 times worse than nuclear power.” Whilst exploratory investment in green technology is admirable, if we are going to meet our future energy demands we must build new nuclear power stations.

5

It is the path the government must take

John McNamara of the Nuclear Industry Association, which advises the government on energy supplies, believes that while the Government must listen to the public over their concerns following Fukushima, “all energy sources have risks attached and we must plan for a safe, robust and low-carbon future to power our economy going forward.” He added that the current fleet of British Nuclear Power Plants has an excellent safety record and is a crucial part of our low-carbon power supply”.

In-Debate - Science A Fukushima-like meltdown could happen here

It is folly to ignore the dangers the Fukushima disaster has highlighted. Nuclear power is not only a clear and present danger, but also a timebomb for our grandchildren. In fact as recently as September last year EDF admitted to not following correct procedures which led to “unplanned shutdowns” at two reactors at Torness in East Lothian. The event, which was highlighted in a report by the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate, show that you can never protect against incompetence and human error. “These are all events that should ring very loud alarm bells,” said Pete Roche, a nuclear consultant.

Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi, adds that rising sea levels pose a serious threat to coastal plants. “Many nuclear-power plants located along the British coast are just a few metres above sea level.”

2

Nuclear power is a security risk

Ex-Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has spoken out about the terrorist threat posed to countries with nuclear power, he said: “After the heavy damage wrought by terrorists in New York, Moscow, Madrid, Tokyo, Bali, and elsewhere over the past 15 years, we must very carefully consider the vulnerability of reactor fuel, spent fuel pools and related fissile materials, and facilities to sabotage, attack, and theft.” Whilst the UK does not have to contend with the environmental risks associated with the pacific rim countries, such as Japan and California, it is a reality of the modern world that Britain is a target for terrorist attacks.

3

‘Green’ nuclear is a myth

The claims that nuclear power is the ‘green’ option and carbon free are somewhat misleading, completely dismissing the greenhouse gasses generated by the construction of the plant itself, the storage of nuclear waste and the mining of the uranium ore that fuels it. A 2008 report by the International Energy Agency showed that if global nuclear production was quadrupled it would still only make up 10 per cent of the worlds energy production by 2050. Greenpeace have stated that this level of expansion would only lower

global carbon emissions by 4%. The issue of the waste legacy also presents a real environmental threat that will last for decades. In 2006, Gordon McKerron, chair of the Committee on radioactive Waste Management, warned the Government that: “We have a 50-year history of not finding any long-term management option for high-level, dangerous radioactive waste.”

4

Britain should lead the way on alternative fuel

Britain has the potential to lead the world on renewable energy sources that would allow it to move beyond nuclear power without risking energy security. But we are lagging sadly behind nations such as Germany, who’s rooftop solar panels produce more energy than the Fukushima plant. In October 2010 the Government dropped plans to invest in a 10-mile barrage across the Severn estuary which could be used to generate “green” electricity. Instead they approved the eight new nuclear sites that are currently under review. At the time Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said: “We urgently need investment in new and diverse energy sources to power the UK.” Yet Chancellor George Osborne looks to have firmly thrown his weight behind the nuclear industry as in the latest budget they looked to subsidise the nuclear industry, by allowing the newly set up Green Investment Bank to make loans to companies looking to build new nuclear plants, and introduced a carbon floor pricing system that will see nuclear firms pick up a windfall of £1.3-3bn. Green MP Caroline Lucas called this: “A betrayal of our environment.”

Against

1

--

5

The people want renewable energy, not nuclear

A post-Fukushima survey commissioned by Friends of The Earth shows that 75% of people now want the Government to invest in energy efficiency or renewable energy, whereas a mere 9% want further investment in nuclear power.

Craig Bennett, director of policy and campaigns for Friends of the Earth UK, stated that the poll showed the Government’s nuclear expansion plans were “out of step with public opinion” and that they should “urgently refocus their energy policy”, before proceeding with building eight new nuclear power stations.

In-Debate 7

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Debate

Is the West's intervention in Libya justified?

Image: Getty Images/ Roberto Schmidt

By Jules Norton Selzer

A

belligerent Middle Eastern dictator abusing his own people, a strategically important country with large oil reserves – the story sounds depressingly familiar.

UN Security Council resolution 1973, which authorises “all means necessary” to protect civilian casualties in Libya, appears to herald the rehabilitation of humanitarian intervention after its image had been so tarnished by Iraq and Afghanistan.

Is Operation Odyssey Dawn the West’s dutiful response to the cries of the Libyan

It's a little known fact that...

News

people, or is it dangerous interference in the sovereign affairs of yet another Middle Eastern country?

The pro-war rational states that, unlike Iraq, it is UN-endorsed, does not involve ground troops, and now has NATO taking over. The counter argument points out that it is the old “imperial powers” of the US, France and the UK leading the intervention, not the Arabs. The West is failing to learn the lessons of previous misadventures in the region - the intervention lacks an exit strategy and is likely to exacerbate violence.

The UN established after World War II and founded with 51 members.

Libya is 680,000sqm, significantly larger than the 104,600sqm covered by no-fly zones in Iraq.

There are now 191 nations that are members of the organisation.

The current strength of the Libyan Ground Forces is 25,000 with an extra 25,000 conscripts.

There are 3 types of No-Fly zones that are used: Basic - $20m, Preferred - $65m, Supreme - $200m.

Aircrafts violating the no-fly zone could be intercepted using ship-based SM-2 surface-to-air missiles.

In-Debate 9

+ 1

Is the West's intervention in Libya justified?

It is UN-sponsored and legitimate

In a speech to the House of Commons, Mr Cameron outlined three tests that warrant interference in a foreign state’s internal affairs - the demonstrable need to avert a human catastrophe, regional support and the legal authority of the UN Security Council. Under Chapter VII of the 1945 charter, which is concerned with acts of aggression and maintaining peace, UN Security Council resolution 1973 has an unequivocal legal basis.

With sanction from the United Nations, the Arab League, France, Britain (Parliament supported it by 557 votes to 13) and the Libyan populace itself, this conflict bears little resemblance to Iraq in 2003.

Even countries like China or Russia, which might have vetoed, abstained. The legitimacy of the vote befits a crisis where the revulsion caused by Gaddafi’s actions is widespread.

2

Gaddafi is attacking his own people

For

The legal justification is important, but this is underpinned by humanitarian disgust at Colonel Gaddafi’s actions. For several weeks he has used superior military force to squash pro-democracy rebellions across the entire country, including in his own supposed political stronghold of Tripoli. Eye-witnesses report the use of civilians as human shields and mercenary soldiers drafted in from Niger and Mali to fight for Gaddafi’s forces. Let us not forget, this is the man who gave a hero’s welcome return to the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, a convicted terrorist who killed 270 people on Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988. This intervention is not part of a Western ‘neo-colonial’ plot, but a clear and active response to a government that has neglected its duty to protect the lives of its own people.

3

This is a moral imperative

It is difficult to muster respect for those who oppose military action on the basis that the outcome of this intervention is uncertain. This conflict offers an opportunity to recover the image of humanitarian intervention from the ashes of Iraq and retrench a “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P) as a guiding principle in international affairs.

What does it say if we just stand by and watch?

Those that talk about “double standards” by not

10 In-Debate

intervening in the Ivory Coast or Bahrain miss the point. As David Cameron eloquently put it: “Just because you can’t do the right thing everywhere doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do the right thing somewhere.” The obligation to prevent moral catastrophe and the belief in the preservation of decency should outweigh any crude calculation about the prospect of mission success.

4

Intervention is the only hope for them and us

At the time of writing, the no-fly zone put in place over Libya has helped to avoid a massacre and has stymied the seemingly unstoppable advance of Colonel Gaddafi’s troops through Benghazi.

This underlines the limited, yet effective, contours of the intervention. The survival of Gaddafi’s regime would represent a blow to the democratic aspirations of millions and a triumph for the forces of Islamic radicalism, who will surely point to Libya as another example of the West’s hypocrisy and indifference to the suffering of Muslims.

Intervention is not just a moral, but a logical, response to the demands of the Transnational National Council (the rebel leaders) for support.

As Nick Harvey, the British Minster for the Armed Forces, argued: “We have a national interest in ensuring the stability of the region that Gaddafi is so wilfully trying to destroy.”

5

The West’s record on no-fly zones is actually good

As Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and British Defence Secretary Liam Fox, said the aim is not to initiate regime change or engage in democracy-building, but to protect civilians from a brutal leader. In this way, the intervention compares more to the successful no-fly zones set up by the US, UK and France after the Gulf War of 1991 to protect humanitarian operations in northern Iraq and Shiite Muslims in the south. In the 1999 Kosovo War, it took 78 days of air strikes by NATO forces to bring about Serbia’s withdrawal from Kosovo - not much compared to ten years in Afghanistan. The success of the no-fly zones, where Tomahawk missiles, RAF Tornados and US stealth bombers have launched a devastating assault on Libya’s air defences, could be the moment that turns the civil war. It is difficult to fathom how the rebels, led by the National Transitional Council, would have been able to reverse the tide without foreign intervention.

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In-Debate - News Learn the lessons of history

Pro-interventionists ask us to forget the past and judge this intervention on its own merits, but we can not ignore the lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan where disastrous civil wars have ensued. The text of the UN Resolution, which commits forces to using “all means necessary”, is unnervingly ambiguous. There is no clear goal, no exit plan and no strategy beyond “protecting civilians”. This is emphasised by the division between General Sir David Richards, head of the British Armed Forces, and No.10 about whether Colonel Gaddafi is a legitimate target. At what point do “defensive” airstrikes become offensive military action? What are our obligations if the protection of Benghazi is successful, do we not have a moral duty to support the rebels in a civil war? This war will leave us stuck in another Middle East mess.

2

In todays climate it is a foolish waste of resources

In all the noble sentimentality about our moral obligations to the world, a crucial lesson is forgotten: a Governments’ first priority is to look after its own citizens. In more positive economic times, this excursion in Libya could be lauded.

However, a recent report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments estimates the cost of the no-fly zone at $300 million a week, not to mention the drone attacks or other types of military action likely to occur. This is a staggering sum of money. When we consider the extreme pressure public services, local councils and departmental budgets are under, it’s not fair to use so much of our stretched resources on a conflict that should be left to the Libyan people.

3

Intervention was led by the West as usual

Perhaps the most misleading argument about intervention is the veneer of legitimacy conferred on it by “Arab support”. This has been damned by the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, criticising the military strikes in Libya as a “bombardment of civilians”.

Of the Arab states, only Qatar has openly supported the Western-led campaign. In the lead-up to the UN Security Council vote, it was the usual suspects of France and Britain who were drumming up support. As British Tornados, French Dassaults and Canadian F-18s patrol the

skies over Tripoli in operation Odyssey Dawn, and NATO takes an ever more active role, the support of the Arab League looks more like a fig leaf than active regional support. Colonel Gaddafi may be a despotic lunatic, but his claim that the UN interest in Libya is “flagrant neocolonial aggression” rings true.

4

Intervention will only escalate the violence

Air exclusion zones are not sufficient to end the conflict, according to General Schwartz of the Pentagon. In the Yugoslav war, the massacre in Srebrenica directly followed the imposition of a no-fly zone, and the 1999 NATO Sarajevo bombing campaign actually catalysed rather than stymied a refugee crisis. And how better to embolden a despotic dictator bent on fighting “until the last man” than implode the country with surgical air-strikes? Many fear the conflict might even lead to the partition of Libya between liberated parts and Qaddafi-ruled territory. The Libyan revolution will only succeed if Gaddafi is toppled and the Transnational National Council forms a national government.

But how would that be formed? And what is to stop a victory degenerating into a tribalised civil war?

Against

1

5

Hypocrisy of selective intervention

David Cameron’s “three criteria” (prevent human catastrophe, regional support, UN-sanctioned) to justify intervention are misleading and hypocritical. Firstly, only last month the UK was selling arms to the Libyan government. Secondly, if we are prepared to do this in Libya, surely the same criteria applies to Bahrain, Yemen or even Saudi Arabia? The Yemeni dictatorship is waging a campaign of terror against the democratic opposition, while Bahrain violently represses its protestors with the assistance of Saudi Arabian troops. Let’s be honest, this is about strategic interests rather than principles. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are both allies of the West and action against their regimes would result in strengthening the Shiite majority and shift regional power towards Iran. If the West is going to be inconsistent about intervention, they should expect to be scrutinised about it.

In-Debate 11

Fantastic Facts The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for blood plasma.

In space, astronauts cannot cry, because there is no gravity, so the tears can’t flow!

Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten.

One punishment for an adulterous wife in medieval France was to make her chase a chicken through the town naked.

The term “the whole 9 yards” came from WWII fighter pilots in the South Pacific as the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet (9 yards).

If you stack one million US$1 bills, it would be 110m high and weigh exactly 1 ton.

The term “Blue Chip” comes from the colour of the poker chip with the highest value, blue.

Armored knights raised their visors to identify themselves when they rode past their king. This custom has become the modern military salute.

London has had several previous names: Londonium during the Roman Invasion, Ludenwic in Saxon times, and Ludenburg during the kingdom of Alfred the Great.

Beelzebub, another name for the devil, is Hebrew for Lord of the Flies, and this is where the book’s title comes from.

Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both parties are registered blood donors.

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The flag of England is called the Union Flag when seen on land and Union Jack when used on a ship. “Jack” because it must be flown on the jack mast of a vessel.

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In-Debate 12

The Best April Fools During 1957, the BBC’s Panorama news programme reported that Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper harvest from spaghetti crops due to a mild winter and elimination of the spaghetti weevil. The report was accompanied by footage of Swiss workers pulling spaghetti off trees. Vast numbers of people believed this to be true an called the BBC to ask how they could grow their own spaghetti tree.

In 1976, Radio 2’s Patrick Moore convinced listeners that, at precisely 9.47am that day, there would be an unusual alignment of the planets that would lessen the Earth’s gravitational pull and that if you jumped in the air at that precise time you would feel a strange floating sensation. There were hundreds of listeners that phoned in to say they had experienced exactly this.

The Guardian newspaper published a special sevenpage supplement in 1977, devoted to a small republic called San Serriffe, said to have consisted of semi colon-shaped islands in the Indian Ocean. Features described the geography and culture of this fictional nation and it prompted hundreds of calls from readers seeking information about the perfect holiday destination.

In 1980 the BBC reported that in order to keep up with modern times, Big Ben was going to be given a digital readout. There was large response from angry and shocked listeners over the proposed change.

The Parisien in 1986, reported that an agreement had been singed to sell the Eiffel Tower and that it was to be dismantled and replaced with a Euro Disney theme park. This let to thousands of complaints and enraged French citizens.

Entrepreneur, Richard Branson, landed a hotair balloon on the outskirts of London in 1989, which had been made to resemble a flying

saucer. This caused thousands of motorists to report seeing a UFO which led to police rushing to the scene only to discover that it was a hoax to promote Virgin Records.

In 1994, BMW touted it’s latest car advancement by showing rotating convex lasers in front of each wheel that would melt ice on the road. This seemingly continued their tradition of running hoax adverts on April Fool’s day.

In 1998 the fastfood chain Burger King published a full-page ad in USA Today revealing it had introduced a “LeftHanded Whopper specially designed for the 32 million lefthanded Americans. It contained the same ingredients as the original, but that they were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. Reports suggested that thousands of consumers fell for the hoax and began asking for left handed Whopper.

In 2004, the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 announced that the traditional theme tune to The Archers was to be replaced in favour a Brian Eno electronic version.

In 2008 the BBC announced it has proof of Darwin’s evolution when they had captured footage of flying Adélie penguins, while filming near the Antarctic. The report also featured a video clip of the flying penguins, which became one of the most viewed videos on the internet. The Presenter Terry Jones suggested that to endure the Antarctic winter, instead of huddling together, these penguins flew thousands of miles to the rainforests of South America where they “spend the winter basking in the tropical sun”.

This hoax is one of the best of the decade.

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Debate

Should Britain ban the burqa?

Image: 123RF

By Peter Ross

O

n April 1st, France will enforce a new law called “the bill to forbid concealing one’s face in public”.

Although the title might not mention Islam or indeed veils its intention is clear: to ban the burqa.

Following the bill’s introduction in April those caught breaking this new law will be fined €150 or forced to attend citizenship classes. Harsher penalties for coercing someone to wear a Burqa may even lead to prison or a fine of €15,000.

For France, a country that prides itself on its secular values, ostentatious displays of religion such as the face and body covering burqa are an unavoidable and unwanted symbol. But for the many French Muslims who wear the burqa it will be seen as an infringement of their fundamental liberté.

This new law will act as a test case for Europe, with many politicians, including in the UK, watching closely and waiting to pass judgement on whether we should follow suit and ban the burqa or condemn France for curtailing the religious right of Muslims to wear this controversial veil.

It's a little known fact that...

News

A burqa is also spelt burkha, burka or burqua, but all pronounced the same.

The face-veil portion is also called purdah a Persian word meaning “curtain”.

A recent investigation found only 367 women in France wore the burka– 0.015% of the population.

In Italy, an anti-terrorism Law passed in 1975, forbids to wearing of any dress that hides the face of a person.

The burqa is not allowed to be worn in Syrian schools and universities by either students, teachers or staff.

Turkey and Egypt have also banned the burka.

In-Debate 15

+ 1

Should Britain ban the burqa?

The burqa turns women into second-class citizens

The idea that women have to cover themselves head-to-toe in order to be protected from male attention is to regard them as purely sexual objects. Meanwhile, the fact men are exempt and allowed to dress however they like, proves that it is simply a way of controlling women and ensuring male dominance. The effect of wearing these “walking coffins”, as French immigration minister Eric Besson describes them, is to strip a woman of her individual identity. She is merely a faceless body in the crowd, a person without a voice or freedom of expression.

2

The burqa presents a huge security risk

For

In Britain today, the threat of a terrorist attack is severe. Measures to protect the public such as CCTV and other surveillance operations are undermined if you can’t tell who is hidden underneath a burqa. As well as hiding the identity of potential terror suspects the burqa could also be used to hide a suicide bomb belt. In Russia, burqa-clad suicide bombers were involved in the Moscow Theatre siege in 2002 and at the Beslan School massacre in 2004. It would have been unthinkable during the Northern Ireland conflict to allow people to wear balaclavas in public, so too today should the wearing of a burqa be equally unjustifiable. It is not just what may be concealed underneath a burqa, but also as Jean Francois-Cope states in the New York Times: “Face covering poses a serious safety threat at a time when security cameras play an important role in the protection of public order.”

Without the ability to check identifications there is no way to guarantee security.

3

The burqa encourages marginalisation

What better symbol of the division between Muslims and non-Muslims than the burqa? The veil offers a physical way of separating oneself from society. It creates suspicion towards Muslims, as some find the garment threatening as well as deeply sexist. Aside from religion there is the basic issue of communication. Any barrier to communication is a barrier to full integration.

Famously Jack Straw would ask women to

16 In-Debate

remove their facial covering in his Blackburn constituency surgery. Straw stated: “Communities are bound together partly by informal chance relations between strangers - people being able to acknowledge each other in the street or to pass the time of day.” Are you more likely to talk to someone on the bus who has their face covered or not? It is these small social interactions that are vital to feeling part of a society and not feeling marginalised.

The Qu’ran doesn’t state that women should even wear the burqa

4

The tradition of Middle Eastern women covering their bodies and faces in public stretches back long before the time of Islam. Scholars claim there is evidence found in Roman texts dating around 200AD of this type of dress being worn by Arab women in pre-Islamic Persia (modern day Iran).

Although the Qu’ran does state that women and men should dress modestly, it does not explicitly command that women should wear a full body covering. It is in fact more of a cultural issue that has been co-opted by religion. In Egypt, Syria and Turkey it is in fact against the law to wear a burqa in certain situations like in schools or universities. The burqa is a lifestyle choice and the state is justified in clamping down if it sees it as detrimental to society. As Nicolas Sarkozy stated: “The issue of the burqa is not a religious issue. It is a question of freedom and of women’s dignity.”

5

Tolerating the burqa is to tolerate religious extremism

The burqa represents the radical Islam of the Taliban. After the Taliban took over in Afghanistan, one of their first acts was to instil an extreme interpretation of Sharia law. They immediately forced all adult women to wear the burqa and forbade women from being educated, having a job, leaving the house unattended or even being treated by a male doctor. For some the burqa represents this extreme form of Islam. Lord Pearson, former leader of UKIP, supports this view and in an interview from last year said: “We see the burqa in public...as a symbol of [extremist Islam] and we fear it.” Now is the time for the UK to tackle fundamentalism head on and confront one of its major symbols: the burqa.

In-Debate - News Multiculturalism is the cornerstone of British life

British history is about successive waves of immigrants being welcomed and assimilated into British life. Although not perfect, there is a much easier acceptance of race and religion in the UK than in other parts of Europe. This legacy will be put in jeopardy if legislation such as the antiburqa laws in France are passed. Damian Green, Immigration minister recognises this point, he told the Sunday Telegraph: “Telling people what they can and can’t wear, if they’re just walking down the street, is a rather un-British thing to do... We’re a tolerant and mutually respectful society.” The UK has one of the oldest democracies in the world. Any such ban is completely undemocratic and goes against the basic freedoms that Britain prides itself in guaranteeing its citizens.

2

Should the Government dictate how we dress?

Within a democratic society, citizens should be free to express themselves as they see fit including how they choose to dress. The ban is a hypocritical stance as ordering women not to wear a burqa is no different than forcing them to cover up: they are both issues of individual freedoms being overruled by society. It is also about valuing one section of society’s opinion over another’s. There would be an outcry if British women were told they couldn’t reveal bare flesh in public or wear makeup. Some could even argue that dictating how minorities live according mainstream taste is not so far removed from facism. Focusing on the burqa, unfairly singles out Muslims unless there is a ban on all ethnic or religious dress. That would mean banning saris, kippahs, turbans, headdresses, rosaries, crucifixes etc. To do that would make Britain a very homogenous and boring place.

3

It will drive moderates into the arms of extremists

A ban will anger all Muslims not just those who choose to wear the burqa as they will feel they are being unfairly targeted. A ban also plays into the hands of extremists who will use it as a recruiting tool for disaffected Muslims. They will be able to point to the ban as tangible evidence that the West is opposed to Islam, which in turn will radicalise moderates. The aim of this law is

to help Muslims integrate better into society, but it will have completely the opposite effect.

Muslims will feel aggrieved and extremists will have even more ammunition for their hate-filled sermons. After Sarkozy announced the burqa was “not welcome” in France in 2009 an Al Qaida offshoot announced that it would “seek vengeance against France”. This won’t be the last threat against France especially as Sarkozy’s statement is now reality.

4

Muslims will be victimised and racists vindicated

To see the real motivations behind banning the burqa, one should look to Switzerland. The Swiss are contemplating a French-style ban and have already banned the building of minarets in their country. Minarets are the towers on mosques from which the call to prayer is announced.

Couple these two initiatives together and we see a general trend. The Swiss desire to ban the burqa springs not from a desire to protect women but to shield Islam from public view. Is this also the real motivation behind France’s ban? To legislate against Muslims in this way permits anti-Islamic rhetoric and vindicates racist groups, such as the BNP and the English Defence League, who present Islam as a threat to British society. To follow the path of France, Switzerland and Belgium is to accept creeping Islamophobia and entrench it into law.

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5

It is frankly unworkable

How exactly are we supposed to police such a measure? Do we, as the French intend, fine those who continue to wear the burqa? Or do we throw them in jail? How do we make sure women aren’t secretly wearing burqas in private gatherings? Do we set up a hotline to report suspected burqa wearers? No government, however right wing, could get away with passing such a law in the UK - it would be political suicide. The media simply would not tolerate it. Furthermore, according to article nine of the Human Rights Act it would be illegal: “Everyone has the right to freedom of religion; this right includes freedom to manifest his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

In-Debate 17

Debate

Should celebrity breakdowns be used as entertainment?

Image: Unknown

By Lucy Mapstone

F

ollowing the recent public demise of actor Charlie Sheen, one has to wonder: is it ever OK to treat a person’s breakdown as entertainment? His fall from grace has been watched across the world with many taking delight in “the bitchin’ rockstar from Mars” crazy antics.

This has included drinking ‘tiger blood’, brandishing a machete from a rooftop and boasting about the drugs he has consumed while, coining the now-famous phrase: “I’m not bi-polar, I’m bi-winning!” Sure it’s entertaining. If this were a TV show or a

It's a little known fact that...

Entertainment

movie it would be quite funny, but it’s not – he’s a real person and this is his life.

Sheen isn’t the only celebrity to have had a public breakdown. Remember Britney Spears shaving her hair off in a fit of rage in 2007? She was the talk of the showbiz world and many online parodies were created trivialising her obvious mental health issues.

Like Sheen and Spears, many stars have burned themselves out and had their issues chronicled for all to see. But should we really be regaling in their mental turmoil?

Charlie Sheen came into this world as “Carlos Irwin Estevez” on September 3, 1965.

He broke the Guinness World Record by achieving a million followers on Twitter in 25h17m.

Charlie has been married twice and has three daughtersCassandra, Sam, and Lola.

Twitter rants have become signs of breakdowns, Tila Tequila, Jim Carey, and Lindsay Lohan have all lost it on there.

He narrowly missed out on the role of Bruce Wayne in the 1989 film Batman.

Twitter reached its one billionth tweet this month and is now worth approx. $3.7bn.

In-Debate 19

+ 1

Should celebrity breakdowns be used as entertainment?

Celebrities choose to live in the spotlight

When a person decides to become a celebrity, whether it be an actor, a singer, a sportsperson, a TV presenter or just a party-going D-lister, they give us the right to follow every aspect of their lives. Celebs such as Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z are incredibly talented and incredibly famous, yet we don’t know every little detail of their lives because they choose to keep it private. Other stars can too. If a star doesn’t want to be papped while out shopping, then they don’t have to be. And if a star wants to have a breakdown behind closed doors, then they can. Many celebrity downfalls are free game and up for discussion, solely because whomever it’s happening to has decided not to keep it a secret. If Beyonce were to have a breakdown, we wouldn’t know about it, that’s for sure. The likes of Charlie Sheen and Britney Spears pretty much offered up their downfalls on a plate.

Stars, like Charlie Sheen, talk openly about issues

For

2

Charlie Sheen is embarking on a tour, entitled ‘My Violent Torpedo of Truth/ Defeat is Not An Option’, a venture that has come about as a result of his apparent breakdown. He is giving people the right to be entertained by his ramblings. He joined Twitter and broke the record as the fastest person to reach 1 million followers on the social networking site. He talks openly to various media outlets and broadcasts his own web show. He wants the attention and by us paying attention to his every whim and outburst, we’re keeping him in check.

Sure he looks a little crazy, but it could be a lot worse if we left him alone and let him spiral out of control even further. Giving him a voice, and giving him the attention he so obviously desires is helping him to not cross a line.

3

We can learn from their breakdowns

Over the years we’ve watched many celebrities seemingly break down, from the likes of Britney Spears to Amy Winehouse and, most recently, Charlie Sheen. We all know that drinking heavily, taking drugs and burning the candle at both ends is bad for us, and many of us don’t do it for that reason. However, in those moments of weakness,

20 In-Debate

we can take stock and maybe even make an example of those stars who have shown us what can happen if you do work and play too hard.

They give us a reason to normalise our own lives, because well…look at what can happen to you. Do you really want to end up like Winehouse, running through the streets in the middle of the night with bleeding feet? And let’s not forget model Kate Moss’ downfall a few years ago after she was caught taking cocaine – she lost a lot of work thanks to her actions.

4

Celebs crave public attention

If one chooses to be famous, then they have to be prepared for the public to take a front seat in the ‘play’ of their life. A whole industry depends on celebs and their foibles. There are magazines, newspapers, websites and TV channels dedicated to the ins and outs of celebrity lives. Consider how many jobs exist just because we are so fascinated by the rich and famous. Thousands of man-hours are spent chronicling the goings-on of these stars, and the more interesting they are the more people want to know about them. This media frenzy, in turn, draws advertisers which brings in money that ends up paying someone’s wage. It’s a very modern way of looking at the circle of life: a celeb does something crazy, journalist writes about said crazy activity, thousands read article; advertisers are happy. It’s all about business.

5

Following showbiz lives is escapism

Real life is boring and incredibly dull. It’s a routine of work, eat, and sleep for many people, with the occasional bit of fun thrown in for good measure.

Celebrities have the kind of lives we can only dream of and gazing at them with rose-tinted showbiz glasses just acts as a distraction from our own inane existences. Sure, this does mean watching the occasional celebrity breakdown but they are few and far between. Sheen’s current unravelling is not a common occurrence and we must remember this. Most showbiz gossip is based around less serious topics, such as the hook-ups and break-ups of celeb couples, weight losses and gains and silly pictures posted on Twitter. On the whole, indulging in celebrity news is fun, light and pure leisure.

In-Debate - Entertainment Their private lives should remain private

We should respect the privacy of celebrities, as we would ‘normal’ people. Their mental frailties are no different to our own, they just happen to earn a living working in the entertainment industry. For example, when Britney Spears ‘lost it’ four years ago, shaving off her hair and using an umbrella as a weapon against intrusive paparazzi, you can bet she didn’t want the world focusing on it. Unfortunately though, as is the nature of her job, she is followed night and day and her every move is subjected to scrutiny and ridicule. She later spoke of her issues after a stint in rehab, claiming she had “hit rock bottom”.

Hitting rock bottom is never something that should be turned into something public or funny.

She had issues and she sought help, yet they should have remained confidential in the first place so she didn’t feel the need to ‘defend’ herself post-recovery.

2

Charlie Sheen is not of a ‘sound mind’

It’s impossible to ignore the fact that Sheen is suffering from some internal demons and they need to be addressed by a professional and not used as tabloid fodder for our own amusement.

Imagine he is a member of your family, someone who is spiralling out of control. You’d want him to seek help and if others were gossiping about him, gleaning pleasure from his issues, it’d enrage you. Let’s not forget that Sheen also had his twin boys taken away from him during his fall from grace. An article published on Now Public questions whether ‘celebrities who battle mental illness are making crazy the new black’, and this is something we should be asking ourselves every time we think it’s funny to watch someone in the public eye deteriorate. Breakdowns (and their causes) should not be seen as fashionable or turned into entertainment.

3

Celebrities are role models

Breakdowns of people who are regarded as role models could have negative connotations on the young and impressionable.

Those who break down in the public eye are often suffering from depression, exhaustion, bi-polar disorder or addiction to drink or drugs.

Sheen is the perfect example of a celebrity we would not want to be heralded as a hero or, in

his own words, a “winner”. It is unclear whether he is actually suffering from mental problems, although when his children were taken away from him recently, his ex-wife cited that she was “very concerned that he is currently insane.”

During Sheen’s plight, we have also seen him living with two women – his “goddesses” – one of whom is a porn star. He also verbally attacked the boss of Two And A Half Men and got sacked from a job that made him the highest-earning TV star in history. This self-destructive behaviour is not something young people and children should be witnessing as it may lead them to think that this is acceptable.

4

We are encouraging personalities to self-destruct

Obsessing about whether these celebrities are of a sound mind or not only fuels the fire of their self-destruction. In reality, we wouldn’t encourage bad behaviour of people we know by lauding them for their errors – we would try to help them. We must remember that through Sheen’s out of control actions he has lost his job on TV sitcom Two And A Half Men, the job that made him the highest paid TV actor in history. That’s a long way to fall. The people who are paying to go and watch his tour are only aiding his unfortunate predicament. And those who simply read about him and keep the celebrity news and gossip industry afloat are contributing too.

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5

‘Soap opera drama’ is not news

Real life happens too. Instead of seeing the headline ‘David Beckham has a new haircut’ on the front cover of a newspaper, shouldn’t we be reading about medical breakthroughs or learning of the latest uprising in the Middle-East?

Of course celebrities are real people too, but the world in which they live is so far-removed from reality, it’s not the same as ingesting real, broadsheet-style news. And pretending these breakdowns are real news is detrimental to our minds, as well as our sanity. Instead of working our brains and learning real facts about the world, we are filling them with tat. Let’s stop wasting our time reading about self-indulgent celebrities and their mental health issues and focus on more serious world issues.

In-Debate 21

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In-Debate 22

Listings Brain Food Live talks, events, debates and inspirational listings April is a particularly quiet month and is dominated by Easter and the much anticipated Royal Wedding. So we have put together the very best of what is happening in London and we have a dedicated page to the very best Royal Wedding events for you to get into the party spirit. For more information on any event please visit the event providers website.

Business/Politics

Art/Literature

Leadership at a Time of Transition and Turbulence

Gilbert & George

Gresham College – 5th Apr, EC1N 2HH, 6pm The final part in a series of conversations/discussions with distinguished leaders who will examine the challenges of leadership at a time of financial and geo-political dislocation. Professor Ken Costa is the Chairman of Lazard International, one of the world’s preeminent financial advisory and management firms, operating from 39 cities.

Face the future: Tools for the modern media age

Front Line Club – 5th Apr, W2 1QJ, 7pm, £12.50/£8 Join us with a panel of experts to ask; will the internet wipe away newspapers and more in its wake? Is digital the only way? Will Twitter and Facebook be the new vanguards of the revolution? Chair by Raymond Snoddy, freelance journalist who presents the BBC’s Newswatch. Join Kevin Marsh, BBC College of Journalism; Laura Oliver, Guardian News and Media and formerly editor of journalism.co.uk; and Judith Townend, freelance journalist.

Rock’n’Roll Politics

Kings Place - 11th Apr, Hall One, 7pm, £9.50 Award winning journalist and broadcaster Steve Richards takes you behind the scenes of British politics and the media: The dramas, the personalities and the noisy clash of ideas. Join him and his special guests, the BBC’s John Pienaar and the Guardian’s Jackie Ashley for a night when politics comes to life.

Is the alternative vote worth voting for?

UCL Bloomsbury Theatre – 11th Apr, WC1H 0AH, 6pm, Free The UK faces its first referendum for over 30 years and has an unprecedented opportunity to change the voting system and reshape the future political landscape. This debate will provide an opportunity to discuss the arguments underpinning electoral reform and the AV system. Join speakers including Peter Facey, Chair, Unlock Democracy, Jane Kennedy, National Organiser, Labour No to AV, and Peter Kellner, YouGov.

The new localism

UCL – 13th Apr, Council Room, WC1H 9QU, 6pm Decentralisation of power from central and regional governments to local authorities is an important policy for both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives launched a major policy green paper outlining plans to give power back to local communities. Many of the policies will guide the relationship between central and local governments. Prof Travers will discuss the proposed reforms and assess their impact on local government.

V&A – 8th Apr, Lecture Theatre, 7pm, £9/£6 The artists Gilbert & George discuss their dazzling and epic new project, The Urethra Postcard Pictures, with Hans Ulrich Obrist, Serpentine Gallery Co-Director. The challenging works of Gilbert & George engage with topics including the modern city, sexuality and disease.

Alchemy Debate - Can Traditional be Modern?

South Bank Centre – 15th Apr, Level 5, 6.30pm, £8/£4 In the cultural and artistic context of rapidly transforming South Asian states, identity markers such as ‘traditional’ and ‘modern’ are increasingly contested. How can artists and thinkers work around the limiting notions of these stereotypes? This discussion is part of a programme of stimulating debates creating encounters between highprofile speakers from the UK, India and South Asia.

Free the Word Festival: Criminal Justice

Free word centre – 8th Apr, EC1R 3GA, 6.30pm, £8/£5 Crime writing is one of the world’s most tenacious literary genres, creeping around political and cultural barriers.

Yet despite the harsh spotlight it shines on power and corruption, crime writing is often written off as simply a form of popular entertainment. The bestselling French author Dominique Manotti debates the impact of crime writing with the South African crime novelist and reporter Margie Orford. Does their writing make any difference to society – or is it just an opiate for the masses?

Free the Word Festival: Terms of Engagement

Free word centre – 10th Apr, EC1R 3GA, 4pm, £8/£5 Should writers boycott festivals in countries with poor records on free speech and human rights? Or is it always better to engage with regimes, however unpleasant? At a time when literary festivals are appearing all over the world, authors increasingly face such complex ethical dilemmas.

Romesh Gunesekera and Gillian Slovo debate the increasingly blurry boundary in writers’ lives between politics and aesthetics.

Anthony Vidler on James Stirling

Tate Britain – 4th Apr, Auditorium, 5pm, £15/£10 In this evening lecture renowned architectural writer and curator of James Stirling: Notes from the Archive Anthony Vidler, asks how in the context of the crisis of modernism we might rethink the architecture of James Stirling (1924– 92), whose work, though unfashionable at the time, is now the subject of renewed interest and appreciation.

In-Debate 23

Listings Live talks, events, debates and inspirational listings

In-Debate 24

Listings Mind Fuel Live talks, events, debates and inspirational listings

Science Let there be light- sunlight, DNA and skin ageing

Royal Institution – 7th Apr, W1S 4BS, 7pm, £10/£7 Paul Matts, Research Fellow at P&G Beauty and Mark Birch Machin, Prof of Molecular Dermatology discuss new insights into the effects of UV exposure within the skin cells, the visible effects on skin ageing and perception of age, health and attractiveness, and most importantly what can be done to prevent the damage.

Nigel Lawson: An Appeal to Reason: A Cool Look at Global Warming

National Theatre – 4th Apr, 7pm, £7.50 Lord Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chairman of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, speaks about his views, analysis and distinctive perspective on the issues at the heart of the global warming debate. Part of the series of Greenland Events. This event will be followed by a booksigning

To Infinity and Beyond

Museum of London – 13th Apr, EC2Y 5HN, 1pm An overview of the development of cosmology over the last 100 years from the Big Bang models of the Universe to the astounding revelation of recent years in that we have no real understanding of 96% of its content! Or even that our Universe could just be one small part of a Multiverse that extends beyond our imagination! Ian Morison began his love of astronomy when, at the age of 12, he made a telescope out of lenses given to him by his optician.

Inspirational/Editors Pick The End of Remembering

RSA - 6th Apr, WC2N 6EZ, 6pm, Free Once upon a time remembering was everything. Today, we have endless mountains of documents, the Internet and ever-present smart phones to store our memories. As our culture has transformed from one that was fundamentally based on internal memories to one that is fundamentally based on memories stored outside the brain, what are the implications for ourselves and for our society? Join journalist and US memory champion Joshua Foer as he asks: how will we adapt to a new culture where most memories are stored outside the brain?

JCC Opinion Soup

Kings Place - 4th Apr, Hall One, 7pm, £9.50 Join two of the brightest stars in British journalism; James Harding and Eve Pollard for a wide-ranging exchange on Anglo-Jewry, reporting on Israel, editing Britain’s dailies and, of course, Jews and the media. James Harding was appointed editor of the Times in December 2007, little more than a year after he joined the paper. At 38, he was the youngest ever person to edit the broadsheet and its first Jewish editor. Eve Pollard is a journalist and s former editor of the Sunday Mirror and Sunday Express. Dubbed the ‘First Lady of Fleet Street’, her media career began at Honey magazine as a tea girl.

Stephen Fry’s Big Digital Day - Inspiring the UK digital industry’s future

Royal Festival Hall – 4th Apr, Lecture Theatre, 10am, £250 Stephen Fry’s Big Digital Day is a national event for the United Kingdom’s digital industry, presenting innovative and imaginative keynote speakers, workshops and seminars.

Tailored for companies and individuals at all levels and presented at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall this is an exploration into one of the UK economy’s most important sectors and celebrate its global achievements.

Simon Baron-Cohen

South Bank Centre – 7th Apr, Level 5, 7.45pm, £8/£4 Simon Baron-Cohen, one of the UK’s leading psychiatrists, explores the significance of empathy in human behaviour and discusses his findings. He argues that empathy, rather than evil, is the important emotion which underpins the way human beings treat each other and proposes that empathy is genetic and that every person lies somewhere on an empathy spectrum which defines the ways they behave.

Public Services and the Promise of Britain

RSA - 4th Apr, WC2N 6EZ, 11pm, Free For this month’s keynote lecture, join Ed Miliband MP for Doncaster North and Leader of the Labour Party who will talk about public services and promise of Britain. Introduction by Matthew Taylor, chief executive, RSA.

On the media: what does the future hold for Arab state media?

Front Line Club – 13th Apr, W2 1QJ, 7pm, £12.50/£8 In Libya as they did in Egypt the state-controlled TV channels and media were re-casting themselves as champions of radical change, while previously ignoring or denouncing protesters. But can a leopard change its spots?

What is required in order that a genuine revolution takes place in the media? Here we discuss the future for state media, the impact of channels such as Al Jazeera and BBC Arabic, and the ways that people are using social media.

An Evening With Guy Kawasaki

Learning w/o Frontiers – 4th Apr, WC1B 3LS, 7.30pm,£95-£25 This is a rare UK opportunity to enjoy an inspiring evening with former chief evangelist for Apple, Guy Kawasaki. Guy is the co-founder of Alltop.com, an “online magazine rack” and a founding partner at Garage Technology Ventures. He was responsible for marketing the Macintosh in 1984 and brought the concept of evangelism to high-tech business.

This is one evening that you definitely don’t want to miss.

London Comedy Writers Festival

London College of Film – 9th & 10th Apr, 9am-7.30pm, £149 A whole weekend dedicated to writing comedy. Kicking off with a party on Friday night, followed by a session packed Saturday, and rounding off with a relaxed networking Sunday with added expert comedy script clinic. At near 60 speakers now, including Griff Rys Jones,Victoria Pile (‘Green Wing’, ‘Smack The Pony’, ‘Spitting Image’), legendary BBC Commissioner and Producer Jon Plowman, Stephen Mengan (Episodes) and... well far too many amazing people to mention you really don’t want to miss out on this event.

In-Debate 25

Listings Royal Wedding Live talks, events, debates and inspirational listings

Royal Parties

Alternative Royal Wedding Reception London

Royal Wedding Weekend at Southbank Centre

South Bank Centre – 29th Apr - 2nd May, Performance times and ticket prices vary Spend the extra long royal wedding weekend at Southbank Centre soaking up some tip top live music, and making the most of everything the huge performing arts complex has to offer. During the royal wedding weekend at Southbank Centre, music fans can look forward to performances by alt rock hero Billy Bragg and a series of other live acts and interactive attractions. There’s family friendly bingo sessions with People’s Pensioner Ida Barr, as well as comedy and cabaret at the Alternative Royal Wedding Reception and delicious food at the market on Southbank Centre Square.

South Bank Centre – 29th Apr, 7.45pm, £19.50 With comedy, cabaret and more on offer at the Alternative Royal Wedding Reception, London favourite The Southbank Centre is going all out to make sure that commoners excluded from the official reception at Buck House can still party at a right royal knees up. At the alternative royal wedding reception, London revellers can take part in all the fun with cabaret stars, stand up comedians and entertainment royalty from the London circuit. Taking place in the giant, upside down purple cow that is housing the Udderbelly festival for twelve weeks over the spring and summer, the alternative royal wedding reception London show is part of the royal wedding themed weekend being held at the Southbank Centre over the bank holiday weekend.

Prince William Waxwork Exhibition

Royal Wedding House Party

Stephen Friedman Gallery – until 5th Mar, Free An unusual Prince William waxwork exhibition takes place at the Stephen Friedman Gallery this spring, giving Londoners the chance to see what it feels like to be engaged to the second in line to the throne. Featuring a full size waxwork model of the Prince, visitors can get up close and personal with the soon to be married royal. Prince William waxwork exhibition Created by American artist Jennifer Rubell.

Royal Wedding All Nighter

Apollo Piccadilly Cinema – 28th Apr, 11pm, £35 Celebrate the forthcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton with the royal wedding all nighter at the Apollo Piccadilly Cinema, as part of the 2011 Sci Fi London film festival. Starting off the long bank holiday weekend with an all night screening of golden oldies from the science fiction and horror film genre, the royal wedding all nighter aims to please those with a slightly darker take on married life. Once morning rolls around, you’ll emerge bleary eyed out of the cinema just in time to watch the rest of the city go crazy with bunting and all manner of celebrations for the wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

English Speaking Union – 27th April, 6.30pm-8.30pm, £20 As the wedding of HRH Prince William to Catherine Middleton approaches, the ESU invites you to an exclusive evening reception on the marbled courtyard at Dartmouth House. Begin your countdown to a weekend of celebration and meet representatives from ESU US, who are jetting into London especially for the occasion.

Royal Wedding Concert at Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall – 17th Apr, 7.30pm, £13.50 - £49.50 Celebrate the forthcoming nuptials between Prince William and Kate Middleton at the royal wedding concert at Albert Hall. The historic live music venue in Kensington is taking part in all the excitement of the royal wedding by hosting a special concert starring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, the Royal Choral Society and all manner of acclaimed classical musicians.

Royal Wedding English Cream Tea

108 Marylebone Lane – 27th Apr, £15.95 Toast the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton with a glass of champagne at the royal wedding English cream tea. The tea is available over the long bank holiday weekend at the popular and stylish 108 Marylebone Lane. Helping you to make the most of the long bank holiday weekend with indulgent helpings of scones, jam and cream the themed royal wedding English cream tea also comes with a glass of champagne so you can raise a glass to the royal newlyweds.

108 Marylebone Lane will also be screening footage of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29th April, giving you a glimpse of the pomp within Westminster Abbey.

Impropera’s royal wedding special

Kings Place – 28th Apr, Hall Two, 8pm, £9.50 Following their sell-out KP debut, Impropera return on the eve of the Royal Wedding to focus their virtuoso musicianship and hilarious improvisation skills at all things marriage-y! It’s all made up on the spot from your suggestions. So every show’s a premiere. And a derniere.

Image: Rex Features

In-Debate 26

Listings IQ2 Events

Spring 2011 Debate Season

Live talks, events, debates and inspirational listings This season IQ2 will be bringing you superpowers, nuclear powers and possibly the power to remove unwanted politicians from office. Tickets are available from www.intelligencesquared.com/events now.

Standard tickets are £25 and £12.50 for students.

An Evening with Britain’s Best Poets

April 7 2011: The Tabernacle Love. Sorrow. Anger. Death. God. Sex. Hell. Home. Only one profession can get to the heart of that lot - the poets. Wendy Cope, Andrew Motion, Don Paterson plus Clive James - who’s been here so long he almost counts as British - will be reading and talking about their own poems as well as their favorite works by poets from the past.

Sam Harris on the Science of Good and Evil

April 11, Kensington Town Hall Where do our ideas about morality and meaning come from? Most people - from religious extremists to secular scientists - would agree on one point: that science has nothing to say on the subject of human values. Sam Harris, the American philosopher and neuroscientist, doesn’t think so though. He will argue with Revd Dr Giles Fraser of St Paul’s Cathedral that moral relativism is mistaken and that there can be neither a Christian nor a Muslim morality - and that ultimately science should determine how best to live our lives.

Vote for AV

April 26, Cadogan Hall It matters how you vote. This debate will see David Aaronovitch, Anthony Barnett and Peter Kellner go head to head with David Davies, Rodney Leach and Michael Pinto-Duschinsky. The point of contention? Whether we should discard the Lib Dem call for the Alternative Vote, or whether first-past-the-post should be toast.

Germany no longer needs Europe – The Dream is Over

May 17, Royal Geographical Society The “no” votes on the EU constitution in 2005, the subsequent rise of nationalist and centre-right governments across Europe, the grudging bailout of Greece, the fumbled bailout of Ireland and all the sharp divisions exposed by the financial crisis...Europe? What Europe? Our panel, featuring Daniel Hannan, Timothy Garton Ash and Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, the former French president, will debate whether Germany still needs its neighbours.

VS Naipaul

May 31, Royal Geographical Society Nobel laureate and giant of Western letters, VS Naipaul has excelled in both fiction and non-fiction. Travelling extensively throughout India, Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Naipaul has examined the legacy of colonialism on the Third World, unravelling the guilt of the rulers and the self-serving myths of the ruled. He will be in discussion with Geordie Greig, Editor-in-Chief of the Evening Standard.

All events start at 6.45pm with doors opening at 6pm. For more information and to book tickets please visit www.inteligencesquared.com/events or call 0207 792 4830.

In-Debate 27

London Treats

Chessie Felber

EAT Dinner by Heston Blumenthal The rumors are true! For those of you who were unsure whether the hype was really necessary, we can confirm, it certainly is.

Heston Blumenthal has rediscovered our British heritage with exquisite style and exceptional flavours, everything on the menu is accompanied by the date of its origins providing a tour of this country’s culinary past.

The dishes are fantastic, surpassed only by astonishing textures that are more delightful with every course. The highlight of the show is definitely dessert, they are stunning, detailed and perfect on the palate. Dinner by Heston at the Mandarin Oriental is definitely a meal not to be missed.

66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA www.dinnerbyheston.com Call 0207 201 3773

DRINK The Vista Bar As the Spring sun arrives so does the want for outdoor delights which are perfectly packaged on the rooftop of the Trafalgar Hotel. The Vista Bar in Trafalgar Square boasts one of the best views in the capital; what it lacks in height it makes up in stunning surroundings and dainty decor.

The rooftop spot is scattered with white pillows, parasols and fairy lights that match perfectly with crisp cocktails and a relaxed and comfortable vibe. Outdoor heaters will keep you warm while the nights are still chilly, so make sure you stop by this weekend for taste the trend cocktails and a luxury view.

2 Spring Gardens, SW1A 2TS www.thetrafalgar.com/vista-homepage Call 0207 734 0700

SLEEP The Hempel Nestled between London’s trendy Notting Hill and Bayswater, The Hempel Hotel offers 50 individual guest rooms and suites each one more chic and polished than the next. Once you’re done consuming the wonders of your bedroom, you can make your way to The NO. 35 Restaurant for a touch of intimate and enchanting dining that boasts an extraordinary wine list to match. For those of you only interested in nibbles, head to The No. 31 Lounge Bar for some cosy cocktails or relax in the Zen Garden to get away from the bustle of London life that will feel miles away in this tranquil spot. The service is fantastic and the experience is luxurious from beginning to end so next time you plan a weekend getaway, make The Hempel your hot spot.

In-Debate 28

31-35 Craven Hill Gardens, W2 3EA www.the-hempel.co.uk Call 0207 298 2900

It's No Debate Goodies and gadgets you can’t argue with

W

e all need that special suit, you know the one that really stands out and screams suave and sophisticated.

Well we think we have just struck gold and have come across bespoke tailoring company A Suit That Fits.

Award-winning tailoring company, A Suit That Fits, enables you to design a suit to fit your style, frame and budget – starting from £200. With expert Style Advisors in 30 locations nationwide, you can visit them for a measurement and style consultation. You can even design and order your suit entirely online. Using the easy-to-use measuring guide, you can choose your garment style and input your measurements via the online wizard. A Suit That Fits also have a range of bespoke accessories including cufflinks that you can engrave with you initials!

When you book an appointment in one of their nationwide studios, you’ll receive a complimentary measurement and style consultation, worth £25 – simply quote ‘In Debate’ to your Style Advisor.* Please visit www.aSuitThatFits. com or call 020 3006 7999 for more information. *Terms and Conditions: visit www.aSuitThatFits.com/termsandconditions

S

o we think we’ve found it! The one gadget we can’t actually fault. Maybe we ‘re biased because we are all Mac users here, but after checking out some great gadgets (and some damn right rubbish ones) we think Freecom’s new toy is the must-have of the month.

Let’s just explain it briefly. Freecom’s new Mobile Drive Mg is an elegant mobile hard drive encased in an ultralightweight and strong magnesium enclosure. The drive combines sleek aesthetics with functionality – and with a thickness of just 10mm, it is also the thinnest mobile hard drive available in the world. Oh and it is the perfect complement to the Apple MacBook, and what’s more, it’s really easy to use.

For the more computer literate than ourselves the ‘tech’ specs speak for themselves: USB 3.0 technology offers rapid data transfer speeds of approximately 130 MB/s. It’s ideal for both home and professional users who want to transfer large files quickly and carry their data on the move and also backwards-compatible. What more can we say...?

For more information on the Mobile Drive Mg or to buy one visit www.freecom.com.

In-Debate 29

News Crossword

Across

Down

7 City in Japan (4)

1 Dreamcoat owner (6)

8 Rule by decree (8)

2 Lyra’s brightest star (4)

9 Winner of 3 Olivier awards (13)

3 Charmingly simple (7)

10 Mr Sheen (7) 12 Pasta choice (5) 14 Pacific ___ (5)

4 Watersport (5) 5 Lady (8) 6 Saturated (6) 11 Form of concrete (5-3)

16 Recently departed Jane (7)

13 Imprisonment (7)

19 Football Manager (13)

15 Condition of danger (6)

21 Labour Leader (8)

17 Not an expert (6)

22 Kuwaiti, e.g. (4)

18 Wedding in April (5) 20 Back (4)

News Crossword No.6 *For solutions to this month’s Crossword just email us at letstalk@in-debate.com

In-Debate 30

Sudoku

No.11 Easy

No.12 Hard

*For solutions to this month’s Sudoku just email us at letstalk@in-debate.com and we will send them straight to you!

Win a tailor made shirt Competition and cufflinks from A Suit That Fits!

Award-winning tailoring company, A Suit That Fits, offers individually hand tailored garments to fit your style, frame and budget – starting from £200.

We’ve teamed up with them to give one lucky winner the chance to get their hands on an individually hand-tailored shirt, a pair of cufflinks and a measurement and style consultation* at one of their 30 locations nationwide.

WIN

!

Simply e-mail letstalk@in-debate.com with your name, email address and telephone number for a chance to win. *Terms and Conditions: One winner will be chosen at random; prize is one shirt to the value of up to £90, one pair of cufflinks worth up to £30 and one measurement and style consultation worth £25; prize must be claimed by 31/07/2011; the judge’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into; the winner’s details can be provided by sending a stamped-addressed envelope to In-Debate competition, A Suit That Fits, J411/12, 100 Clements Road, London, SE16 4DG after 22/04/11; the competition is open to all UK residents aged 18 years and over, excluding employees, agents (or families of such employees or agents) of A Suit That Fits or anyone else connected with the administration of the competition or their immediate families; only one entry per person; the prizes are not transferable, subject to availability and there is no cash alternative to the prizes offered in whole or in part; by entering this competition you may be contacted once by A Suit That Fits; A Suit That Fits reserves the right to modify or vary the competition and/or these terms and conditions at any time.

In-Debate 31

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THE ISSUES THAT PROVOKE DEBATE? Every week, The Economist provides rigorous analysis and informed opinion to help you choose your own standpoint.

Get your FREE copy of The Economist today Call: 0845 357 8006 (quote INDEBATE) Text: ECON to 60300 (we’ll call you back) May Terms and conditions: Offer only available to residents of the UK. This offer is limited to one copy per UK address. Offer closes 31st November 2010.

1. The Economist Newspaper Ltd is registered in the UK under the Data Protection Act 1984 and is a member of the Mailing Preference Service.

Registered Office: 25 St James’s Street, London SW1A 1HG. No. 236383. VAT No. GB 340 436 876.