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What's in a name?

Richard Bowen | 16:28 UK time, Thursday, 1 March 2007

A row has broken out in Germany over a . The German interior ministry is appealing against a decision by the Berlin authorities to allow an Islamist to name his son Jihad, the Arabic word used for holy war. Were the Berlin authorities right to allow this man to name his child Jihad? Should people be allowed to call their child what they want? What's in a name anyway? What's the situation like in your country?

Next we're off to New York where the city council has symbolically banned the use of the . I say symbolically because if people are caught using the word they won't get punished. Nevertheless having done this subject before on the show we know it's a hot topic. Are you in New York? What are people saying about this story? Is it a good move by the council? Or, just a useless gesture that won't change a thing?

Here's what didn't quite make it...

Paul wrote to us to suggesting these topics for today.

He wants to know what the world be like if there was no violence. How would the economies work? Would people who got rich through violence get to keep their gains?

He also wonders...

...

what a world wide peace and reconciliation treaty would look like. Everyone seems to have axes to grind. But, it might be good to see if reasonable terms could be reached among reasonable people.

Cathy likes these.

A UN annual report out today says that counterfeit medicines and drugs are and other unlicensed shops - warns they can be lethal, but people are buying them because they are cheaper than getting them from a doctor or chemist. Should drug companies make medicines available more cheaply so that people get them from the correct place and don't risk their lives - or are high prices necessary to fund research?

Fragrant future beckons for the web:

"A forecast by the South Korean government that by 2015, the internet will be able to deliver smells as fast as it does data". The prediction comes in a wide-ranging survey to find out what consumers want - and what technology experts are predicting - from future technologies.
--how about also - mobile phone batteries which last two months..
-- robots routinely carrying out surgery ---
-- soldiers uniforms which change colour to blend in with the environment.
What technological gadget/innovation would you most like to have in your life?

Jane suggests doing something on these stories.

Kruge National park in South Africa is struggling to cope with a doubling of the in the past ten years. Now the Tourism Minister has announced culling, which was banned 11 years ago, will resume if all other measures fail. Critics fear it will lead ot a resumption of the illegal ivory trade.
British clubs Arsenal and Chelsea over the refereeing decisions at their Cup final match at the weekend. Should sports people start accepting the referees decision as final? Or is it fair to have a right of reply?
The African Player of the year is announced today, who do you think should win?
Uganda - between the Government and the LRA - what's next for the country?
And in Tunisia a writer is causing waves because of his book questioning the role of Mohammed. What's the difference between that and the Danish Muslim cartoons? When is it acceptable to debate Islam?

David asks.

Are you warming to Al Gore as a ? 'Liberated by failure', and buoyed up by his Oscar, could Al Gore make one of the most unlikely American political comebacks?

Alex wants to hear

if people think the Bush administration has on it's enemies?

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