Is A Shoot To Kill Policy Ever Justified?

With the London bombings still fresh in the minds of all Londoners terrorist tried to inflict further devastation but this time their bombs failed to explode. As the bombers fled and London's police force launched a full scale man hunt, armed police shot dead a Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes. Eyewitness reports indicated that the police chased and then caught Menezes and then shot him eight times suspecting that he was a suicide bomber. The police have since issued a statement that they are now satisfied that Jean Menezes was innocent of any connection to the London bombings. Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that he was "desperately sorry" about the killing, but added that the police were working in "very, very difficult circumstances." Early reports seem to suggest that after being challenged by plain clothed policemen Mr Menezes fled into the tube station giving the impression to the chasing officers that he was indeed, as they had suspected, a suicide bomber. Was this just a tragic event or have the authorities, by adopting a "shoot to kill policy", played into the terrorist hands and made London a city where the general public now have to fear the police?

Is A Shoot To Kill Policy Ever Justified?

London Bombings July 7 2005

In the wake of the terrorist attacks in London on July 7 2005 this survey attempts to gauge the mood of ordinary people from around the world to some of the views and statements that have been reported through the many forms of media. How strongly do you agree with the following selected statements that attempt to explain the root causes of these barbaric acts, the steps that could be taken to prevent them and the need or otherwise to change US and UK policy?

London Bombings July 7 2005

The Chance To Make Poverty History

Twenty years on from the Live Aid concerts that galvanised individuals from the worlds richest nations into positive action to help save starving people, The Make Poverty History campaign, through Live 8, staged a demonstration, across four continents, against poverty.

200,000 people attended the London Hyde Park event, that along with concerts in Berlin, Moscow, Johannesburg, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome and Toronto was seen by a global audience estimated to be in the region of 3 billion.

Bob Geldof, who with his band the Boomtown Rats enjoyed musical success in the late 70's and early 80's, inspired the original Live Aid concerts and has had his achievements recognised with an honorary Knighthood making him Sir Bob. A tireless campaigner for the world’s poorest and with the ear of many a world leader, he has through staging Live 8 ensured that the plight of Africa is again centre stage.

With the music event now over and the G8 leaders now firmly in the spotlight, will Live 8 help the poor?

The Chance To Make Poverty History