tagged w/ Citizen TV
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Ever thought of foraging for your own food but don’t have the know-how? The Sustainable Living Advice Guru shows us how to get all the food we need from hedge-rows and our own back yard. No more visits to nasty big, bright, brash supermarkets will be needed as this a recipe for guilt free, local, unpackaged, non processed, natural, organic, sustainable, delicious eating.Ever thought of foraging for your own food but don’t have the know-how? The... more
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The Welfare Reform Bill has been hotly debated in both the House of Commons and Lords. By 2013, the government hopes to implement £18 billion in welfare cuts. We are told this will help save cash, get the unemployed back into work and it is only fair that the unemployed do not receive more on benefits than working families on a low‐wage. On the streets of Barking, East London, we asked the public what they thought and the response was instructive.The Welfare Reform Bill has been hotly debated in both the House of Commons and Lords.... more
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To mark the world’s population reaching 7 billion on Halloween 2011, WORLDbytes has launched this hilarious parody of modern day Malthusian thinking. The programme features talented Blood Brothers star and ex-RSC actor James Hirst as the central character, Bill. For Bill the news of 7 billion is a Halloween nightmare. His solutions include: getting rid of ‘thickies’, euthanasia, gelding and paying African women not to have children- a carbon offsetting scheme first proposed by the Optimum Population Trust, now rebranded as Population Matters. Bill is no Daily Mail reader, he gets his over-consumption paranoia from the Guardian and he’s going for the cull. This parody reflects WORLDbytes’ concern to challenge the profoundly anti-human roots of over population ideas.To mark the world’s population reaching 7 billion on Halloween 2011, WORLDbytes... more
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The decision to punish the ‘Facebook rioters’ with four years in jail is now being appealed, and other cases are sure to follow. Is harsh sentencing the way forward? In this extraordinary report the public are clearly not convinced rather, they suggest, we need to address the loss of adult authority and rift between adults and young people. In other parts of the world we learn, young people know the rules and ‘child centred’ policies have not degraded parent power. This report shows how most people just want to be allowed to raise (and tell off!) their own children with the support of their community but without government interference.The decision to punish the ‘Facebook rioters’ with four years in jail is... more
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The banana leaf tampon is all the rage for menstruating women from Sweden to Singapore to Sierra Leone. This made-to-measure tampon is the latest in sustainable gadgetry and a breakthrough in global female sanitary provision, affordable for women even in the most remote parts of the developing world. This is the friend we have all been waiting for. It will help women in rural communities achieve their full potential and take part in all aspects of society. Hail the banana leaf tampon. Here’s how to make one of your own.The banana leaf tampon is all the rage for menstruating women from Sweden to Singapore... more
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This appetiser reminds us their is no feast for the mind like the Battle of Ideas festival. Challenging new ideas blend with historical insights at this ‘free speech allowed’ weekend. This is a must for anyone interested in cutting edge thinking. With 75 debates and 350 speakers, a huge range of contemporary issues are covered. Mixed with snippets of debate, this programme features vox pops filmed by WORLDbytes volunteers at last year’s Battle of Ideas festival and their excitement is infectious. As one attendee tells us: “it covers issues most politicians won’t touch.” The full programme of debates and tickets for this year’s event on Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th October 2011 are available now; just visit the Battle of Ideas website.This appetiser reminds us their is no feast for the mind like the Battle of Ideas... more
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Governments and policy makers are concerned over our individual happiness. This year, the UK’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) began compiling data for Cameron’s so-called happiness index. Meanwhile at the launch of ‘Action for Happiness’ members made a simple pledge: ‘to try to create more happiness in the world around them through the way they approach their lives’. Both assume that material advancement and economic development can’t buy you happiness. This seems obvious, or is it? Should happiness be our end goal? Is getting rich bad for our wellbeing? Should the government measure our happiness levels? Luke Gittos, a WORLDbytes reporter, investigates the happiness agenda and talks to the Director of Action for Happiness, Mark Williamson and Daniel Ben Ami, author of Ferraris for All.Governments and policy makers are concerned over our individual happiness. This year,... more
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The 'apocalyptic' media frenzy post Fukushima which displaced the real disaster story and horrific loss of life wrought by the earthquake & tsunami, sickened Japanese born Mari Shibata. Along with WORLDbytes volunteers she investigates the fear factor. Why did a nuclear incident affecting only a small area fuel global meltdown stories? In an interview with the Director of the Science Media Centre we learn of news values shaped by a concern to terrify people, journalists removed from stories for being too measured and scientists accused of lying. Granted unique access to Oldbury, the oldest nuclear power station in the world we learn how seriously safety is taken and due to fears of terrorism post 9/11 its tragic shut down to visitors. Through talking to relatives in Japan we learn of the progress being made to clear up the real mess made by a natural disaster, a story neglected by the Western media.The 'apocalyptic' media frenzy post Fukushima which displaced the real... more
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In the wake of the riots in London, WORLDbytes reporters hit the streets of Enfield and Hackney to find out what the public think. Unlike the over fearful response of the authorities, some residents in these two riot stricken boroughs thought that boarding up shops and not dealing with the looters there and then gave rioters free reign. Sadly the effective stand against the looters many made has been vilified as vigilantism and potentially racist. Yet didn't they set an example we could all learn from? One member of the public points out, when the authorities dictate every aspect of how we, as adults should interact with children, people are not able to think for themselves and end up scared of the kids.In the wake of the riots in London, WORLDbytes reporters hit the streets of Enfield... more
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A breakthrough in low cost water technology, the tippy tap is a simple device for hand washing with running water at no cost to the environment and a marvel for the poor in rural areas, where disease and germs dominate. The idea behind the tippy tap is, just because you’re poor does not mean you have to be dirty. Here’s how to make your own tippy-tap in your front room.A breakthrough in low cost water technology, the tippy tap is a simple device for hand... more
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London has a love-hate relationship with fast food. Public health campaigns and celebrity chefs vilify it and warn it could kill us; yet, as this film shows, we’ve never had it so good. This programme provides an unadulterated celebration of fast food, showing, with an emphasis on our lunches, how food and eating have evolved since the 1950s. Special emphasis is made on the evolution and importance of supermarkets. As Rob Lyons, author of Panic on a Plate, tells us, supermarkets have enabled more people to be fed more inexpensively, conveniently and well.London has a love-hate relationship with fast food. Public health campaigns and... more
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This programme advises visitors and residents in the UK on how to behave appropriately in Britain. The message is, we are incapable of either tolerating people’s irksome behaviours or of speaking to people ourselves. Warning: this programme contains rude noises, toilet humour and bad images.This programme advises visitors and residents in the UK on how to behave appropriately... more
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Want to stand out from the crowd and do your bit for the environment at the same time? The bag for life is the latest rage for holiday makers venturing deep into the African savannah. This unique invention will not only do away with those nasty plastic bags, it will keep you safe from deadly malaria injecting mosquitoes without the need for destructive stinky, sticky icky chemicals and insect repellent sprays. What’s more, you can make your own bag for life on a shoe-string budget and here’s how.Want to stand out from the crowd and do your bit for the environment at the same time?... more
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After disastrous interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, the UN-sanctioned NATO intervention in Libya has revived support for “humanitarian intervention” in the name of saving lives. In this gripping on-the-sofa discussion, Middle East commentator and writer, Karl Sharro argues that such interventions far from helping, deny people the very freedom and self determination that people throughout the region are fighting for.After disastrous interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, the UN-sanctioned NATO... more
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WORLDbytes reporters hit the streets to investigate what the British public think about nuclear power after media scares of a Fukushima meltdown in Japan. Their findings are salutary and a lesson in never underestimating the public or treating their views with contempt. Savvy citizens may worry about waste but few have completely swallowed the nuclear doom mongering now evident in Germany. Eloquent insights on the press preoccupation with Fukushima where no one died, versus the horrific death and destruction caused by the Tsunami abound. For some, fear of climate catastrophe is pitted against nuclear catastrophe and nuclear power has become the ‘lesser evil.’ Perhaps a bigger problem is the idea we should settle for less energy in general.WORLDbytes reporters hit the streets to investigate what the British public think... more
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While the popularity of the monarchy may have been on the wane for many years none the less lots of people love a wedding, a party or a day off. But media hacks find it all rather distasteful and their snobbery extends to public parties and ‘ghastly punters’ planning to make the most of the day. WORLDbytes intrepid reporters hit the streets to investigate whether the public share this elitist disdain, if republicanism is alive and well or if cynicism is now more corrosive then old fashioned flag waving.While the popularity of the monarchy may have been on the wane for many years none the... more
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Suzy Dean takes government intervention on alcohol to task in this spikey on the sofa discussion. Are we incapable of deciding for ourselves or with our peers what, when, where and how much we drink? Do the army of advisors and advice from students unions to health professionals see us all as out of control victims of the demon drink and treat us like children? Should our social lives be controlled by the new temperance police and is it any of the state’s business what we consume? Suzy is clear the alcohol police will harm more than our livers, but not everyone agrees.Suzy Dean takes government intervention on alcohol to task in this spikey on the sofa... more
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Katja Reinhardt, a student from Germany and WORLDbytes reporter, investigates the impact of the points based immigration system on international students. She hears from campaigners, students and professors who tell of scandalous stories of university staff being pushed to become border agents and maintain surveillance of overseas students; treating them as criminals.Katja Reinhardt, a student from Germany and WORLDbytes reporter, investigates the... more
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A WORLDbytes crew followed the TUC March for the Alternative demonstration in London from Temple tube to Hyde Park. The turnout exceeded all expectations yet alternatives to government cuts were hard to find as cutting ‘someone else’s’ income seemed to be the main message. Growth scepticism it seems is rampant.A WORLDbytes crew followed the TUC March for the Alternative demonstration in London... more
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As restaurants take Foie Gras off the menu, in this ‘on the sofa’ discussion, Kirk Leech argues that we shouldn’t worry about eating it and that the detractors have got it wrong. Our intolerance of life style choices is a problem he argues, force feeding ducks is not. Respondents debate the issue and discuss the animal rights angle, reducing humans to the level of ducks, posh food, production and campaign violence. More than a culinary culture war is on the cards.As restaurants take Foie Gras off the menu, in this ‘on the sofa’... more
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