The Capital Problem

Credit crunch. Recession. Depression. Age of Austerity. Are we waking up to the fact that capitalism is finally broke? Is there a new, softer, kinder, gentler edition of socially-responsible capitalism set to save the day... or is someone having a laugh? Why should the devil have all the best bankers? Panelists include Sarah Edwards, Oliver James, Jane Corbett, Paul Chandler (CEO of Traidcraft) Gillian Tett. Chaired by Rhian Roberts.

Don’t Let Them Put You Down...

Is it right to assist those who are at the end of their lives, to end their lives? If not, why not? Witness statements come from Lesley Misrahi (qualified in public health and theology), George Pitcher (financial journalist for Marketing Weekly), John Swinton and Nicola Hambridge (Greenbelt volunteer and GP) while our expert panel includes Paul Badham, Gustavo Parajon and Stanley Hauerhaus. Chaired by Lucy Winkett.

How do you know what you know?

If the scientists and the religionists could settle down for a moment, maybe we could ask just how rational art is... or science... or religion? Panellists include comedian and atheist Robin Ince, Bobby Baker and academic Keith Skene. Chaired by Maggi Dawn.

Meat Is Murdering the Planet

Should we take a vow of vegetarianism? Isn’t it time we recognised that our meat-based diets are a disaster for our globe? Has the ethical argument been overtaken by a pragmatic one – are we eating ourselves into history? Panelists include Michael Northcott, Solumuzi Mabuza and Peter Tatchell. Chaired by Clare Catford.

Palestine Is Still The Issue...

We can’t ignore it and it won’t go away. The west’s failure to be even-handed and abide by international law allows a dangerous sense of grievance to build - particularly in the Muslim world. Witness statements come from Swee Ang, Solumuza Mabusa and Brian Klug while our expert panel includes Ilan Pape, Clare Short and Ben White. Chaired by Sue Plater.

Time To Boycott Israeli Goods (Class Discuss)

Can the pound in your pocket deliver a just peace for the Holy Land? From apartheid South Africa to multinational chocolate companies, boycotts have long focused the world’s consumers on injustice. So is it time to boycott Israeli goods? If we don’t squeeze a jaffa, would it help end the occupation? Or are boycotts counter-productive? Can our economic power get the State of Israel, as Zoughbi Zoughbi puts it, “to their senses and not to their knees”. Panelists include Jane Clements, Nigel Varndell, Steve Hucklesby and Abe Hayeem. Chaired by Martin Evans.

What’s Wrong With Our Political System? (And how can we fix it?)

One vote every five years? First Past The Post (FPTP) in a modern democracy? Do you believe in the AV? Or perhaps STV? Or the ACDA (A Completely Different Acronym) Jonathan Bartley of think tank Ekklesia, and other politicians and activists ask how democratic our voting system is, how we might get greater representation and whether updating the constitution will engage new audiences in the political process. Chaired by Rhian Roberts.

When are online communities real?

What is it that makes an online community work? After thirty years of experimentation, we ought to know. But to judge by the results we don’t. What we seem to have made online is antisocial networking. Is this because our notions of community have been taken over and redefined by the corporate online powers who think the word means “markets”. Or is it original sin? Andrew Brown opens the debate with contributions from blogger and priest Karen Ward and Simon Jenkins, editor of Ship of Fools.