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The World Debate
The World Debate puts the important questions to those in the spotlight, including representatives from global politics, finance, business, the arts, media and other areas.

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







BUSINESS OF SPORT: FOOTBALL IN THE RED


It's around 100 days until the start of the football World Cup. But across the globe professional football is in the middle of its worst financial crisis in memory.

In a debate from Manchester in the UK, Mark Pougatch will be joined by BBC Business Editor Robert Peston and some of the most influential figures from the world of football to discuss how the sport got into the financial state it's in and where it goes next.


THE GREEN ECONOMY: FAD OR FACT?


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.

Coming soon to watch here




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.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH


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?



PANEL


Sharan Burrow: President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions and President of the International Centre for Trade Union Rights as well as the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

Barney Frank: US Congressman for Massachusetts and Chairman of the Financial Services Committee

Pascal Lamy: Director-General, World Trade Organization

Gerard Lyons: Standard Chartered Bank, Chief Economist and Group Head, for Global Research

Hirotaka Takeuchi: Dean, Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy, Hitotsubashi University



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



CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE DEBATE

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.

PANEL


Carlos Ghosn

CEO of Renault, France and Nissan, Japan

Chanda Kochhar

Director of ICICI Bank, India

Indra Nooyi

CEO of PepsiCo, USA

Melanne Verveer

US ambassador for Global Women’s Issues

Suhel Seth

Business consultant and social commentator



THE COPENHAGEN SUMMIT - CAN IT SUCCEED? WATCH HERE



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PANEL


Jose Manuel Barroso

President of the European Commission

Mario Molina

Nobel Prize Winner and environmental adviser to US President Barack Obama

Rajendra Pachauri

Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Changhua Wu

China Director of The Climate Group



Recently - A Special World Debate with Nik Gowing LIVE from the IMF annual meeting in Istanbul


GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS: Can we afford the future? - WATCH HERE



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PANEL

The World Debate live from Istanbul

Niall Ferguson: Financial and Economic Historian


Christine Lagarde: French Finance Minister


Jim O’Neill: Head of Global Economic Research at Goldman Sachs


Güler Sabanci: Chairwoman of Sabanci Holding


Dominique Strauss Kahn: The IMF’s Managing Director




Housing the Future with Lyse Doucet - WATCH HERE



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And here to watch in Narrowband


As the world’s population continues to increase by 80 million a year there is a chronic shortage of adequate and affordable housing in our urban centres.

The UN estimates that 4,000 new houses must be built every hour to meet global demand. A billion people currently live in slums – with 25 million a year set to join them. Meanwhile, the emerging middle classes are struggling to get onto the property ladder.

How will we ever be able to ensure decent housing for everyone? And what will happen if we continue to ignore what could be a political and social timebomb?



Renewable Energy with Zeinab Badawi - WATCH HERE



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Is renewable energy our best weapon against global warming? How much of our energy needs can realistically be met by renewables, and which forms of renewable energy are most promising?

To what extent should environmental concerns be allowed to constrain the development of alternative energy development, and do governments need to act to support the renewables industries?



Fossil Fuels with Stephen Sackur - WATCH HERE


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Is cleaning-up fossil fuels the answer to global warming? Can fossil fuels ever be 'green'? Burning oil, gas and coal is detrimental to the earth but can new technology clean-up our environment?

And as companies and countries strive to reduce their emissions without damaging their economies, might more efficient and cleaner ways of burning fossil fuels hold the best hope for combating global warming?



Previously on the World Debate - Disasters: Prepare or React?


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To what extent can we really reduce the dangers from future disasters? Does investing in prevention divert funds from rescue efforts when disasters do occur?

Why is it difficult to persuade governments and individuals to protect themselves against disasters? What needs to be done to cut risk, and who should do it?

And with climate change do all these questions need an urgent answer? That's the World Debate from Geneva.


Also Recently, Is News Sleep-Walking Into A Global Switch Off?


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Media chiefs from around the world discuss the future of global news.

What is the impact of a fragmented and digitally-driven media?



SHOWING TIMES
0310 GMT on Saturday 6th March 2010
Repeated: Saturday at 1810 GMT. Sunday 7th March at 1110 and 1810 GMT.


The BBC World Debate asks how developing countries are being affected by the economic crisis, and what steps should be taken to reduce the impact of the downturn on the world's poorest people?


Brazil’s President Lula da Silva has said the rich world needs to pay to help preserve the Amazon rainforest, but is a lack of money really the problem?


Is the rising global population sustainable? Should we control population numbers and if so how, might migration help population imbalances around the globe?


Leaders from the world's most powerful countries met in London against the backdrop of the worst international financial crisis in decades.


Was Barack Obama seeking to improve transatlantic relations when he told Berliners that “on both sides of the Atlantic, we have drifted apart, and forgotten our shared destiny”?


Aftershock Season on BBC World News
Click here to view a 30" promo on the Global Economy- part of the Aftershock Season.
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