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The World Debate
The World Debate puts the important questions to those in the spotlight.

Nik GowingIncluding representatives from global politics, finance, business, the arts, media and other areas.
The panels and contributing audiences discuss topical themes.







ARE WE RUNNING OUT OF WATER?



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Is there really a global water shortage, or are supplies just badly managed? Are business and government part of the problem or solution? If we fail to manage global water supplies what might the consequences for the World be - especially for the one billion people without a clean water supply?

Panel



Gerard Payen – President, AQUAFED
Erna Witoelar - Former Indonesian Minister for Human Settlements
Tan Gee Paw - Chairman, P.U.B, Singapore
Professor Asit Biswas - Third World Centre for Water Management
Gidon Bromberg - Friends of the Earth, Middle East

Coming soon to watch in full






RECENTLY: MATCHING SKILLS TO JOBS



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As the world economy recovers jobs are being created but many employers can’t find the right people to fill them. How damaging to economic growth is this skills shortage? To what extent is better education and training the answer? Is there a pressing need to relax migration rules? And how would that affect the economies of the developing world and social cohesion in the developed world?

Panel


David Arkless - President of Corporate and Government Affairs, Manpower
Sharan Burrow - General Secretary, The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
Angel Gurría - Secretary-General, OECD
Jacques Myard - French MP (UMP ruling party) and Mayor of Maisons-Laffitte
Jo Ritzen - President, Maastricht University



AFGHANISTAN: A WINNABLE WAR?



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What would characterise a NATO success in Afghanistan? Does Operation Moshtarak mark the beginning of the end, or as many argue, should the western alliance talk to the Taliban in a strategy of reconciliation?

President Obama has emphasised the intertwined nature of the 'Af-Pak' issue, but is enough being done to counter the Taliban presence across the border in Pakistan - and how stable is the Pakistani government as an insurgent threat increases within its own borders?

In Europe the 'Afghanistan issue' is divisive in many capitals - so is there a possibility that the US will have to go it alone? And how would that affect the outcome of the war?

Those questions and more are tackled at the BBC World Debate in Brussels.



NEWS - WHO PAYS IN THE DIGITAL AGE?



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This debate questions if the digital age has posed an opportunity or threat to journalism and whether the media revolution has made for a better-informed world.

Panel of Chris Ahearn, President of Reuters Media, Jane Martinson, Media Editor of The Guardian in the UK, Jonathan Miller, CEO of Digital Media News Corporation, Tony Orsten, Chief Executive Officer of twofour54 in Abu Dhabi and Amra Tareen, Founder of allvoices.com



THE GREEN ECONOMY: FAD OR FACT?



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In Bali the BBC assembles a distinguished panel with Fiona Foster moderating to debate 'where now for the green economy after Copenhagen?'.

With an invited audience and a panel who include UNEP executive director, Achim Steiner, economics of biodiversity report leader, Pavan Sukhdev, Norweigian environment and development minister, Eric Solheim & Nobel peace prize-winner Wangari Mathaai.


WILL THE REAL AFRICA PLEASE STAND UP


WATCH IN FULL HERE


Kofi Annan heads the Africa Progress Panel, discussing their views on what Africa's governments are doing to meet the aspirations of their rapidly expanding populations.

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BBC World Debate from Davos


2010: Dodging the Double Dip



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As we enter a new decade, the global economy has been shaken by over a year of recession raising questions about trust in the political and financial establishments and the accelerated shift of power from West to East.

This BBC World Debate asks: has the recovery begun or are we heading for the so-called double dip?



How much has Copenhagen achieved in the battle against climate change?


With the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd and Frederik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister of Sweden



As the United Nations Climate Change Conference draws to a close, a special World Debate from Copenhagen. The debate challenges the world’s decision-makers on their commitment to the climate change negotiations.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE DEBATE IN FULL

Entitled The Greatest Debate on Earth and recorded live from the New Concert Hall in Copenhagen, the programme asks ‘How much has Copenhagen achieved in the battle against climate change?’


The Commonwealth at 60


DOES IT HAVE A FUTURE? - WATCH IN FULL HERE



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The Commonwealth, made of 53 countries, describes itself as a voluntary association where countries support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development.

Does it need to change to survive another 60 years?


Women: the boost business needs?



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Women make up half of the world's potential workforce. So is employing women not just good practice - but also good business?

What effect will the increasing role of women at work and their emerging power as consumers have on developing countries like India?

And how should businesses tap into the full potential of female talent and the female consumer?

Moderated by Nik Gowing, this BBC World Debate from Delhi looks at these questions and examines the consequences of making better use of the female workforce.


SHOWING TIMES
Saturday 17th July 0910 GMT
Repeated: Saturday at 2110 GMT. Sunday at 0210 and 1510 GMT.


Archive debates available to view online


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