Inside China: 5. China Rich And Poor
23 mins, 2014 A big principle of socialism is equality, but China’s new society has glaring inequalities. The communist party calls it “socialism with Chinese characteristics” but, in the rush for growth, have they created a society far harsher than western capitalism? COMMUNISM COMES TO IKEA The new China now has a growing middle class… Read more »
Inside China: 4. The New Entrepreneurs
23 mins, 2014 China’s “new billionaires” are well-known but what about the small businesses? Many were set up by migrants who have battled against hardship – and many are women. THE PR BUSINESS 24 year old Tian Qiuyu started her business while she was still at university and now employs 6 people – but she… Read more »
Inside China: 3. Politics And The People
25 mins, 2014 China is now a market economy, but holds on to the communist political system – pollution, corruption and ethnic divisions cause great tensions. POLITICS They call it “Socialism with Chinese characteristics” but the communist party has a monopoly on power and no opposition is tolerated. There are tensions in regions such as… Read more »
Inside China: 2. China The Future?
25 mins, 2014 China is flexing its economic muscle, investing all over the world. What does this mean for the West? AFRICA China needs access to energy and raw materials – that’s why it’s pouring huge investment into Africa. Mozambique’s economy, for example, is booming, with Chinese-led construction and agriculture projects. Is this part of… Read more »
Inside China: 1. The Rise Of A Superpower
25 mins, 2014 How has China transformed, inside 30 years, from developing nation to the world’s next largest economy after the USA? Includes interviews with historians, eye-witnesses and party officials. TIANANMEN SQUARE A dramatic turning point was the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 – the communist party decided to bring in economic, if not political,… Read more »
The European Union Explained
30 mins, 2014 Conceived as a noble cause, to prevent another war in Europe, the EU has become embroiled in controversy. But what is the EU? How does it work? Should we love it or hate it? THE HISTORY, THE STRUCTURE We trace the EU from its beginnings as a coal and steel trading agreement,… Read more »
Impact Of Globalisation 4: Food
32 mins, 2014 How the clean, bright displays in our supermarkets hide a murkier story of exploitation in the supply chain. ITALY’S ROTTEN TOMATOES If you buy a tin of tomatoes chances are they come from Southern Italy – picked by migrant labour usually from Africa. They’re paid a pittance, have no rights and live… Read more »
AIDS in Africa: WHY? A Swaziland Case Study
28 mins, 2014 70% of the world’s HIV infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Swaziland, for example, has the highest HIV infection rate in the world. As many as 1 in every 2 young people has the virus. Why has this happened? The reasons are complex and may challenge western assumptions. CULTURE TO BLAME? Many commentators… Read more »