Ba'asyir release, Iranian women, World cup blues, Soweto and Wigan kids talk
It's a packed program today with five subjects and many subthemes to get all of us, and you talking.
The line up starts with the release of the Indonesian muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who was found guilty in connection with the Bali bombings in 2002. Some Australians are angry at his early release, while some in Indonesia have come out to greet the man and express their happiness at his release.
Then we'll be hearing your tales of world cup blues. Whether it's riots in Croatia, switching off the big screen in Liverpool, or power cuts in Uganda: not everyone has had an easy time watching the world cup.
On Tuesday women police in Iran broke up women protesting for equal rights. Many were shocked at the violent pictures of women beating their 'sisters'. But is the phenomenon of women fighting women against change, more widespread than we thought? What do you think?
And finally we'll be hearing from kids in Soweto and Wigan today. They took part in a video and internet link up and learnt about each other's schools and daily routines. We'll be hearing from children from both schools that took part and getting them to carry on their conversation by radio and phone.
We're talking to the Indonesian ambassador to the UK, Dr Marty Natalegawa, and hearing from those on both sides of the ocean: Indonesians and Australians.
The Australian PM expressed his, and other Australians extreme distress and frustration at the Indonesian justice system.
Two Davids’ are on the line, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. Both have stayed uop very late, or very early, to participate in the program. And both express their disappointment at Ba'asyir's release.
The Indonesian ambassador says that the proper judicial process was respected. The courts based their decisions on the evidence. He reminds us that not only Australians died, but people from many nations including many Indionesians.
David from Melbourne agrees with David. 202 people died, he says. The fact of his release is a travesty. He thinks that many Australians feel this way.
We had a comment from Chris in Amsterdam:
With the sudden release of this man the indonesian government and judiciary have shown how important they think human life is. As this is a basic difference with the way other countries and people regard the value of human life and the punishment of crimes against it, international relations should be adjusted accordingly.
Heider joins the program from Jakarta. He agrees with both the ambassador and David.
Ba’asyir came on TV and said he was framed, says Heider. Personally, he says he feels sceptical about the whole situation. And he says he is worried about revenge attacks. He also makes a comparison between the lengths of sentences that Ba’asyir received, 22 months, and the Australian girl who got 20 years for smuggling drugs.
Now for world cup blues. Arnold, on the line from Uganda, explains the impact power shortages have had on watching the world cup. It has meant that people have to go to bars to watch the game, where there are generators to ensure there'll be no outages during the games. Unfortunately we lost Arnold due to a poor phone line. Clearly power cuts are not the only communications problem.
Gary Armstrong is a lecturer in history and sociology of sport at Brunel University. He's in the studio, and talks about some of the problems that arise from or in connection with big football matches.
Zoran, in Croatia, speaks about the riots in Mostar following the recent Brazil-Croatia game. The Bosnian and Croation army starting fighting, shop windows were broken, stones were thrown. He says, even in the war, he didn't see such horrible scenes. These were kids fighting with their bare hands. He feels very sad and frustrated by the events.
Craig, of radio Merseyside, was at the big screen in Liverpool for the England game, when a fight broke out amongst the crowd. The problems were caused by people drinking too much, the hot sun, and many people who were simply not interested in watching the football.
Gary, of Brunel University, talks of there being a history of violence around football in the Balkans. He talks of disturbances in past football matches where those involved in the fighting subsequently joined the different armies.
What about domestic violence? According to some reports here in the UK, domestic violence is expected to increase over the world cup period. Craig from Liverpool says he can understand that it happens; people are excited, they've had a bit to drink.
Gary says we have to be careful about the real figures. Domestic violence is a 'catch all term'.
Now for Iran. We've seen the pictures, now let's hear from one of the women inviolved.
Late Monday afternoon group of women got together to talk about equal rights. Then more women arrived with placards. The police women started beating them.
Even men came forward to say to the women police officer. These are your sisters, why are you beating them?
Despite some progress there have been no fundamental changes for working and middle class women.
When people think of Iranian women do they think 'oppression'? That depends, says our guest Ziba Mirhusseini a social anthropologist who is here in the studio.
Now there are more women getting degrees than men. But that has created some problems. Educated women actually have more difficulties in marriage. So what we are calling for now is equality on marriage.
Now kids from Wigan and Soweto discuss their live link-up on TV and the internet today, on this the 30 year anniversary of the Soweto student uprising.
What did they learn from each other? And, what surprised them?
Aden says what happened 30 years ago is what surprised him the most. Asked whether he thinks his country, England, has something to do with that, he says yes. It was pretty awaful but he hopes that it's better now.
Wanda talks of the change that has happened in South Africa over the last few years; for the better, she thinks.
Well that's all for world have your say. Please feel free carry on the debate by adding your comment below. Or you can call, text or email us on the numbers alongside.
In our second hour we had many texts from Africa, and some calls. A great sign that we have a lot of interested listeners and participants in Africa, as always.
We got this from Nonso Nigeria, and it took us in a whole new direction.
Hi Anu, don't you know today is Nigeria Day on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ? Why are you negligent of this? I am a proud Nigerian! Pls call me.
We responded by giving him a call and then inviting more of you to text us from Nigeria, and this is what some of you said:
Babagana in Maiduguri, Nigeria had this comment:
Dear ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.Corruption is the main problem of Nigeria.Solving of it will make the country to grow.
Tony in Yola, Nigeria said:
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, why not continue discussing Nigeria instead of what you are talking about now.
Mohamed Ahmed Mansour of Monrovia sent us this comment:
Dear ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, when you talk about Nigeria l think of Kidnapping, Fetish, Fruad etc.
Paul Onwude-CLO said:
The nigerian problem is hypocrisy, greed and bad leadership.
Abdul Deen Sesay. Freetown, Nigeria sent us this text:
I had no idea how complex the nigerian society was until i listened to that wonderful programme today.Thanks for the good work ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.
Emmanuel C. Nigeria said:
Does Nigeria really have a problem? Are these things happening in this country not some of the features of 'a country' as Nigeria?
A big thank you from all the world have your say team to all the enthusiastic Nigerian callers to our program. We are now talking about carrying on talking about Nigeria tomorrow. Well, you wanted us to, so don't look the other way. Get in touch, you know how...
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