Did Al Gore Deserve To Be Awarded The Nobel Peace Prize?

Former Vice President and near US President Al Gore who post election devoted himself to environmental issues has been awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, sharing it with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations network of scientists.The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised both “for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change.” Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth" that highlighted the consequences of climate change won the 2007 Academy Award for best documentary was criticised by many US conservatives as alarmist and exaggerated. On receiving the award Mr Gore said “I will accept this award on behalf of all the people that have been working so long and so hard to try to get the message out about this planetary emergency,” Does this award vindicate Al Gore's message and do you think he is a worthy winner?

Did Al Gore Deserve To Be Awarded The Nobel Peace Prize?

Should Hollywood Ban Smoking In Films?

Anti smoking groups have been campaigning hard for a ban on images of tobacco in all but films with R or NC-17 ratings.Do you think that the depictions of smoking actually encourages the young to smoke? Will the absence of smoking detract from a movies realism? Would the classic movie Casablanca still have been a classic without the smoking?

Should Hollywood Ban Smoking In Films?

CCTV Crime Deterrent Or Just Another Example Of Big Brother?

The local authorities and Transport for London operate over 10,000 Close Circuit Television cameras (CCTV) that are estimated to have cost the tax payer an estimated £200 million. Despite the relentless drive towards installing more and more cameras figures recently released suggest that CCTV does little to prevent or solve crime. Should the reliance on CCTV be curbed and they only be installed where there is undeniable evidence that they are effective?

CCTV Crime Deterrent Or Just Another Example Of Big Brother?

DNA Testing For All?

The British police can currently store DNA samples from anyone arrested in England or Wales for a recordable offence which typically can lead to jail. Do you think that a country's police force should be allowed to keep such information and should each country move towards having the whole population and every visitor's DNA added to a national DNA database?

DNA Testing For All?

The British Leave Basra, Handover Or Retreat?

We ask if the handover by the British to the Iraq government was an inevitable step in a war that many would argue was ill-conceived right from the very start? Will the Americans have to sooner or later face reality and follow suit? Have the British cut and run leaving even more death, destruction and hardship for the average Iraqi?

The British Leave Basra, Handover Or Retreat?

How Patient Are You?

Is the pace of modern life getting the better of you and do you find that you are often less tolerant of others or are you the sort of person who glides through life with remarkable ease?

How Patient Are You?

Which Heroes Super Powers Would You Most Like?

Heroes is an action-packed TV drama that follows the lives of ordinary people who discover they have extraordinary abilities. There is a politician that can fly, a high school cheerleader who is indestructible and a Las Vegas stripper who has an alter ego who has superhuman strength. They are joined by an artist who discovers that he can paint the future and a police officer who can hear other peoples thoughts and a Japanese computer programmer who can freeze time, stop time and teleport from one place to another.After leading mostly plain and unexciting lives they all individually have to gradually come to terms with their powers and somehow all unite as it is their destiny to save the world. Which of the Heroes superpowers would you most like to have?

Which Heroes Super Powers Would You Most Like?

Are Neckties On The Way Out?

With or without a formal suit the necktie has for years established itself as a firm fashion accessory, with some establishments even going so far as to make it a condition of entry. We ask if the necktie has now become outdated and how influential the wearing of neckties is to you when you meet business people for the first time?

Are Neckties On The Way Out?

What Are The Greatest Ever Music Videos?

Music videos as they are today came into their own in the 1980s, although the origins of the music video goes back much further. The popularity of the format allowed the U.S. video channel MTV to the launch the first 24-hour-a-day music on television channel. Music videos continue to play a central role in popular music marketing and since the 1980's have spawned some classic videos where it is difficult to hear the song without thinking of the video.Which are your three all time favourite music videos and do you think music videos are better today than they were when the format was still young?

What Are The Greatest Ever Music Videos?

Was Bush Right To Prevent Lewis Libby From Going To Jail?

US President Bush created a political storm by intervening to stop the disgraced White House aide, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, from going to jail. In March 2004 Libby testified to a grand jury and denied deliberately leaking that Valerie Plame's worked for the CIA.In October 2005 Libby was indicted by the FBI on five counts: obstruction of justice and two counts each of false statement and two counts of perjury.In September 2006 the former US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage confessed to leaking Plame's name and in March 2007 Libby was found guilty on four out of five charges and given a 30-month prison sentence.Bush said "I respect the jury's verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence is excessive.".President Bush did not grant Mr Libby a pardon and Libby will still face a $250,00 fine and remain on probation, Bush did however commute Libby's jail sentence. The announcement from President Bush was prompted by a federal court decision earlier yesterday not to allow Mr Libby to remain at home pending the outcome of an appeal that would have meant that he would have been heading to jail within the next few weeks where he was expected to have served out his time in a minimum security jail.Critics had suggested that Libby's strategy had until then appeared to be to string out the appeal until January 2009 in expectation of a pardon when Mr Bush left office.The Democratic leader in the Senate, Harry Reid described Mr Bush's action as "disgraceful" and Charles Schumer, a Democratic senator was to reported to have said "As independence day nears, we're reminded that one of the principles our forefathers fought for was equal justice under the law. This commutation completely tramples on that principle.".Fred Thompson, a Republican welcomed the decision from Bush, noting Mr Libby's long service to the US.Has President Bush acted as a democratic leader or a dictator in this matter? Should those that hold positions of high office be held more, and not less accountable, than those that they represent?

Was Bush Right To Prevent Lewis Libby From Going To Jail?

Was Salman Rushdie's Knighthood Deserved?

In 1988 the publication of The Satanic Verses sparked worldwide protests when it was condemned by the Islamic world because of its perceived blasphemous depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. It was described by one book critic as a cosmic battle between good and evil that combined fantasy, philosophy and farce. The book was banned in many countries with large Muslim communities and in 1989 Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's spiritual leader, issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie's execution.Although in 1998, the Iranian government said it would no longer support the fatwa some groups said that the fatwa was irrevocable. After many years in hiding Salman returned to public life in 1999. Fast forward to 2007 and Salman Rushdie was one of over 900 people to appear on the Queen's Birthday Honours list, which is aimed at recognising outstanding achievement. Iran were quick to criticised the knighthood, saying praising the "apostate" showed Islamophobia among British officials. Also a Pakistani minister was reported to have said that 'Salman Rushdie contributes to insulting Islam and may lead to terrorism' and the Religious Affairs Minister Ejaz-ul-Haq told his parliment that such 'actions are the root cause of terrorism. Were the British right to honour Salman Rushdie, did he deserve such an honour and were Pakistan and Iran correct in their criticism?

Was Salman Rushdie's Knighthood Deserved?

Should The EU's Galileo Satellite-Navigation Be Scrapped?

Europe's eight-company, five-nation satellite-navigation consortium, Galileo was concocted as a public-private partnership by the European Union in 2002. The aim was to construct a rival to the American built Global Positioning System (GPS) that was originally developed for the US armed forces but is now available for free use worldwide.GPS is now in everyday use from aviation to private vehicles with sales of GPS equipment exceeding twenty billion dollars a year with about 5 of that being non-civilian use.As an alternative to America's GPS Galileo was supposed to be accurate to within one metre rather than three. Funding for the project was to be recouped by offering a free GPS-like service, but charge for higher accuracy and other special features.European fears that America could at a whim turn off their GPS system have diminished since Russia and China have launched their own systems, offering increasingly capable alternatives to GPS and modifications made by the US to their GPS system now allows then to offer similar accuracy to that planned by Galileo.Original scheduled to be operational by 2010 only one of the planned 30 satellites has so far been launched, the official estimated completion date is now 2012 with most analysts saying it will not be ready until 2014. The project was originally costed at $3.4 and is already some $2 billion over budget. Transport ministers from the EU's 27 member countries are now due to meet to consider Galileo's fate.They have three options: to set new deadlines for the consortium and pour in more money; to make it a fully public-sector initiative and foot the bill; or to shut it down.Which would you vote for?

Should The EU's Galileo Satellite-Navigation Be Scrapped?

What Will British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Legacy Be?

After 10 years as prime minister and 13 as Labour leader Tony Blair has announced that he will tender his resignation to the Queen on June 27.In a 17-minute speech in front of a handpicked group of supporters he said the judgement on his 10-year administration was "for you, the people, to make".He apologised for "the times I have fallen short" but stated that "Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right. I may have been wrong - that's your call. But I did what I thought was right for our country.Many critics have suggested that Mr Blair's exit was forced upon him and that his party were keen to see him go. How do you rate Mr Blair's performance, what do you think will be his legacy and what do you think he will do in future?

What Will British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Legacy Be?

Does Paris Hilton Deserve Jail?

A Los Angeles judge's sentenced hotel heiress Paris Hilton to 45 days behind bars in a California jail cell, after she was found guilty for violating a probation order and driving with a suspended license.She has insisted that she doesn't deserve the sentence that she has claimed is both cruel and unwanted.She has called on her fans to help her stay out of jail by endorsing an online petition her fans can sign and she has reportedly also asked California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to pardon her.The petition to Schwarzenegger claims that "the American public who support Paris are shocked, dismayed and appalled by how Paris has been the person to be used as an example that drunk driving is wrong. She provides hope for young people all over the US and the world. She provides beauty and excitement to (most of) our otherwise mundane lives. If the late former President Gerald Ford could find it in his heart to pardon the late former President Richard Nixon after his mistake(s), we undeniably support Paris Hilton being pardoned for her honest mistake as well." Should Paris Hilton serve time?

Does Paris Hilton Deserve Jail?

Hillary Clinton 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination?

With less than a year to go until the US primaries the race is on for the 2008 democratic nomination. With candidates jockeying for position and the possibility of some late entries who do you think will win the nomination?Will Hillary Clinton be able to emulate her husbands success and succeed in first winning the Democratic nomination and then the US Presidency?Is the US Presidency more about policies or charisma?

Hillary Clinton 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination?

Should Prince Harry Be Sent To Iraq?

Prince Henry of Wales, more commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and his first wife, the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Prince Harry is third in the line of succession to the British Throne, behind his father, and his older brother Prince William.Following the royal families tradition Prince Harry joined the British Army and after training is now an officer in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry.The British Ministry of Defence recently confirmed that Prince Harry would be deployed with his regiment in Iraq where he will serve as part of the 1st Mechanised Brigade of the 3rd (UK) Mechanised Division. It is believed that the Blues and Royals are expected to form part of the force patrolling the Iran-Iraq border with the prince leading a small force tasked with reconnaissance duties using Scimitar tanks.The last member of the British Royal Family to serve in a war zone was the Prince's uncle, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who flew helicopters during the Falklands War in 1982 who at the time would have been second in line to the British Throne.In interviews Prince Harry had made it clear that he would leave the army if he was left in safety while his regiment was sent to a war zone.However, some sources have sought to prevent Prince Harry from serving, often claiming that his presence there would put at risk those that severed with him.Should Prince Harry serve in Iraq, and if he does, should he be given more protection than would normally be expected for any other serving officer of similar rank?

Should Prince Harry Be Sent To Iraq?

Should Service Personnel Be Allowed To Sell Their Stories?

In March 2007 15 British navy personnel were detained in Iran for 13 days after being seized by the Iran Revolutionary Guard in the Shatt al-Arab waterway between Iran and Iraq for allegedly trespassing into Iranian territorial waters. The British government said they were in Iraqi waters. While in Iranian custody some of the personnel where seen on Iranian television apologising for their action and in interviews stated that they were being treated well by their Iranian hosts. Some of those in custody wrote published statements that criticised the British involvement in Iraq.On the navy personnel's release six members of the group attended a press conference arranged by the Navy and said they were kept in solitary confinement for much of the time and that they were at times fearful that they would be executed. With media interest growing the navy was authorised by the Government to allow the naval personnel to sell their individual stories to the press.There was severe criticism from within and outside the armed forces for allowing the service personnel to benefit financially. Some argued that it would undermine the reputation of the British Armed Forces at home and Britain's standing abroad and that it would also set a dangerous precedent for whenever military actions are the subject of intensive media coverage in the future. Many argued that it was unfair to other service personnel who were serving in in Iraq and Afghanistan.The Defence Secretary, Des Browne, first denied involvement but eventually admitted that it was he who first authorised the service personnel to sell their stories and then later reversed his decision when he announced that Service personnel will not 'be allowed to talk to the media about their experiences in return for payment' until the review is complete, Relationships between the government and the British armed services have been strained as the government have been slow to admit their involvement.Should a country's military personnel be allowed to discuss their experiences with the press and if so should they be entitled to some financial reward?Do you believe that the British personnel had wandered into Iranian territorial waters?

Should Service Personnel Be Allowed To Sell Their Stories?

President Bush The Joker Or A Joke?

President Bush attended the US Radio and Television Correspondents' Association 2007 dinner where not for the first time and in keeping with the events traditions he made a speech that poked fun at himself and a few others and his remarks drew laughter and applause from the Washington Hilton Hotel audience.He made light of the poor ratings he is experiencing due to his handling of Iraq and he tongue in cheek suggested that the Vice President was on vacation in Afghanistan where people liked him. He also touched on the controversy over the Justice Department's firing of eight federal prosecutors, by saying: "I have to admit we really blew the way we let those attorneys go. You know you've botched it when people sympathise with lawyers."The full speech can be seen at Bush Address at Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner.Even the most ardent of Bush supporters have now accepted that there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq and there was no link between Saddam Hussein and global terrorists. The Bush action that was launched based on that misinformation has cost over 3,500 American, UK and other military lives and over 20,00 wounded (January 2003 to April 2007), with an untold number of civilian deaths which even the most conservative estimate puts at over 24,000 and is more likely to be much higher.

Considering the serious consequences of his action should the US president be making light of any part of his administration?

Is his ability to make jokes at his own expense an attempt to reverse his unpopularity?

Should George Bush resign or see out the rest of his presidential term?

President Bush The Joker Or A Joke?

Should Britain Apologise For The Slave Trade?

2007 sees the United Kingdom mark 200 years since the British parliament abolished the transatlantic trade in slaves.To publicise the anniversary a number of movies, television dramas and documentaries have been made that have in themselves brought controversy as many factions argue who in history should be credited with being the driving force behind the action that led to the abolishment of the abhorrent trade.A further debate has emerged with some people requesting that Britain apologise.Should governments, on behalf of their citizens, apologise for things their forefathers have done wrong or does the passing of generations make such apologies meaningless?If an apology was to be made, who should make it and to whom and should any apology be accompanied with financial compensation?

Should Britain Apologise For The Slave Trade?

Controversial Glass Balcony Built Over Grand Canyon

In Phoenix at the Grand Canyon the Indian Hualapai tribe have constructed a large glass-bottomed walkway.The $30 million Skywalk is perched at the canyon's edge and uses an elaborate system of pulleys connected to four tractor-trailers to allow the platform to extend some 70 feet over the rim and about 4,000 feet over the canyon floor. The tribe hope that the attraction will encourage tourism to the remote western edge of the canyon where the tribe that number about 2,200 people live.Construction of the platform started in April 2005 and was the idea of a Las Vegas developer David Jin. David Jin approached the Hualapai in 1996 with a plan to build it using his own money and the tribe agreed but on the condition that the tribe would own the walkway and Jin would get a cut of any profits.However some of the Hualapai elders have now started to question the wisdom of the project as to them the canyon is sacred ground and the construction cut into land scattered with Hualapai burial sites.Environmentalists also have criticised the project for diminishing the canyon's majesty with some critics describing the structure as a tacky tourist attraction.It is predicted that the Skywalk will become a major and popular attraction, bringing much needed income to the tribe.Do you think the Hualapai tribe were right to agree to the construction?Do you think the design of the Skywalk is environmentally in keeping with the Grand Canyon?

Controversial Glass Balcony Built Over Grand Canyon

Britney Spears - A Very Public Breakdown

Aged 25 Britney Spears suffered what appeared to be a very public breakdown when she was reported to have driven to a hairdressing salon and shaved her own head.A child star who first found fame in 1993 as a member of the American TV show The Mickey Mouse Club, she went on to have phenomenal success with her first single "Baby....one more time" and a debut album which became the highest selling album of a teenager of all time. With her media stock riding high she won MTV awards and publicly announced her relationship with fellow Mickey Mouse Club child star Justin Timberlake who had himself carved out a successful solo singing career.When she broke up with Justin Timberlake though things started to go wrong and the media were there to not only see her burst into tears during a TV interview, but were at hand to report her Las Vegas marriage to her childhood friend Jason Alexander and it's annulment two days later.Britney did get married for real to one of her backing dancers, Kevin Federline, in April 2004.The media were quick to report that the marriage would prove to be less than happy and while her new husband tried to carve out a singing career for himself, Britney became pregnant. The new baby did nothing to save the marriage and Britney and Kevin filed for divorce in December 2006 after just two years of marriage.Rarely out of the media spotlight, Britney then alarms friends and family as she appears to mentally self-destruct resulting in the shaving of her head and visits in and out of rehab centres.Reports have suggested that Britney is being treated for postnatal depression and that doctors believe that any substance abuse was a reaction to post-baby blues and an intense feeling on Britney’s part that she had lost control of her life.Do you think this is the price people like Britney pay for having achieved stardom; or is it the fault of the media that continually fuels the paparazzi; or is it the general public that buys the newspapers and magazines that take delight in reporting when celebrities have bad hair days?

Britney Spears - A Very Public Breakdown

The Net Neutrality Debate

In August 2005 a decision was made by the US Federal Communications Commision to put the high-speed Internet Services Providers(ISPs) under the same regulation umbrella as phone companies. The ISPs interpreted the decision as permission to charge websites a premium for faster networks and also suggested that the more successful companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo and Google should contribute financially in improving the internet infrastucture. However, opponents argue that a multi-tiered Internet would be against the fundamental principles of the Internet and stress the importance of maintaining a level playing field and are wary that with the wrong legislation the telecom companies could hold companies hostage, or have an unfair advantage over rival companies.Some argue that there is already a tiered systems in place where people have access to the Internet via dial-up modem (slow) and high speed broadband connections that range in speed from 2MB to 16MB and beyond. Although the telecom companies point at the more successful websites not paying their fair share, net neutrality supporters say it is the masses that are making use of the successful websites so penalising the larger successful companies would effectively penalise the masses.Who gets your vote?

The Net Neutrality Debate

Gerald Ford, 38Th US President - How Will He Be Remembered?

Gerald Rudolph Ford the 38th President who served between 1974 and 1977 died on December 26, 2006.Gerald Ford has been the only person to have been appointed to the US Vice Presidency under the terms of the 25th Amendment when Nixon's Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned. When Richard Nixon resigned in the wake of the Watergate scandal on August 9, 1974 Ford became the only person to hold the Presidency without having been elected either President or Vice President.Gerald Ford was to occupy the White House for just 896 days where although he sought re-election where he narrowly lost out to Jimmy Carter.One of Ford's first act as President was to controversially pardon Richard Nixon, an act that some say lost him the next election.With the resignation of their President, Ford assumed the role of President at a time when the US economy was in disarray, a worsening energy shortage and where there was great division throughout the country.How do you view Ford's Presidency? Was he right to pardon Richard Nixon and do you think he pardoned Nixon after striking a deal with him prior to Nixon's resignation?

Gerald Ford, 38Th US President - How Will He Be Remembered?