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Insight with Wendy Law-Yone: A Daughter’s Memoir of Burma
Ed Law-Yone, was founder of The Nation newspaper and a major player within the political elite in Burma until the military coup of 1962. He was imprisoned and eventually became an exile in the US where he died in 1980. He did not live to see the Burma he dreamed of but he entrusted his daughter, Wendy Law-Yone, to tell his remarkable story. She will be joining us in conversation with the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall to talk about the unique portrait of Burma she discovered in his manuscripts.
First Wednesday: Who will be the next president of Iran and why does it matter?
On 14 June Iranians will go to to the polls to vote for a president to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but what significance does this election hold? Join us to analyse the approaching election, the main players and what the result will mean for the future of Iran.
Attacks on the press: Stamping out impunity
Across the world everyday journalists face injuries, kidnappings and death in the line of their work. In the majority of cases the perpetrators are not brought to justice and this evading of punishment often leads to self censorship by other journalists. Reporting on corruption, crime, conflict, politics and human rights is crucial in society, but how can we better protect the journalists doing this work?
With Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and A Day Without News?.
Russia’s surveillance state
The surveillance culture in Russia is well documented. In the digital age as we see more protests on the streets of Moscow and elsewhere the FSB (the successor to the KGB) are developing new surveillance technologies. We will be joined by those involved in a new project called Russia’s Surveillance State and other experts to discuss the surveillance practices in Russia and how they are developing.
Writing Revolution: The voices from Tunis to Damascus
From Cairo to Damascus, Tunisia to Bahrain, Writing Revolution brings together some of the best new writing born out of the profound changes shaking the region. We will be joined by the editors and two of the contributors to talk about their work and how it has been shaped and influenced by the historic events unfolding around them.
North Korea: Sabre-rattling or imminent threat?
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has announced that it has entered into a ‘state of war’ with the US and the Republic of Korea (ROK). The US defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, has declared that DPRK poses “a real and clear danger”. Is this a war of words or could talk of war precipitate a full-blown military conflict?
Reflections with Alex Thomson
Newly crowned RTS Television Journalist of the Year, Alex Thomson was described as “without question one of the UK’s leading correspondents”. He will be joining Vin Ray in conversation to reflect on a career that has seen him spend 22 years at Channel 4 News covering 20 wars across the Gulf, the Balkans, Africa and Afghanistan, as well as presenting the programme.
First Wednesday: Pakistan goes to the polls
As Pakistan gears up for critically important elections, we are joined by a panel of experts who will be discussing the significance of this election and analysing the candidates, their alliances and policies.
Analysing Kenya’s election results
Despite being wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, on Saturday Uhuru Kenyatta won election as Kenya’s new President. Join us as we discuss what Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory means for Kenya?
Presidential elections in Iran: Crackdowns and power struggles
On 14 June, Iranians will go to the polls to vote in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s successor. As debate around the elections begins to heat up we will be joined by a panel of experts to talk us through the power struggles and the state of opposition movements.
Is it a disaster if the cameras are not there?
Organised by ShelterBox
Join us for a panel debate, chaired by Clive Jones, Chair of the Disasters Emergency Committee (and ITV News) with Sarah Whitehead of Sky News, DFID’s Dylan Winder, and Ross Preston, Head of Operations for international disaster relief charity, ShelterBox.
Two years of revolution: Bahrain’s uprising and Britain’s position
This event is organised by Bahrain Pro-Democracy Group in UK and Sayed Alwadaei, political activist in UK.
A special seminar to coincide with the second anniversary of Bahrain’s 14 February Revolution.
It is the longest and most peaceful revolution, yet the least covered by the Western media. When the youth of the Gulf island of Bahrain decided to join the Arab Spring on 14 February 2011 they were responding to the call for change that had resonated in the corners of the Arab world. Two years later, they have remained faithful to their revolutions, slogans and human values.
First Wednesday: Syria crisis – Diplomatic shifts and developing dialogues
A year after Marie Colvin was killed in Homs, the war in Syria is still raging and has cost the lives of more than 60,000 people. Following new US Secretary of State John Kerry’s first foreign tour, we ask if he can deliver on his vow not to leave the Syrian opposition “dangling in the wind”.
In the Picture: Brave New Burma with Nic Dunlop
Photographer and writer Nic Dunlop will present images from his book, Brave New Burma, and speak about the changes he has witnessed in the two decades he has spent covering the transformations taking place in Myanmar.
On the media: Unprepared, inexperienced and in a war zone
As more and more freelance journalists choose to cut their teeth in the field rather than in local newsrooms, we will be joined by a panel of journalists and editors to discuss what precautions need to be taken to keep them safe. Should they be deterred from heading straight to conflict zones, or should the training, insurance and guidance be more freely available?
Chavez’s legacy
Provoking adoration and revulsion in equal measure, Hugo Chavez is a leader like no other. In his new book, Comandante, acclaimed journalist Rory Carroll sheds light on the inside story of Chavez’s life and his political court in Caracas. He will join the New Yorker’s Jon Lee Anderson and others to ask, after more than 13 years in power, what Chavez’s legacy will be.
The future of British military engagement with the media
In light of more than ten years of conflict overseas, we examine the nature of the engagement between the British military and the media. As we see changes in the British military, the media, and the nature of conflict zones, how will this relationship develop?
Congo Dreams: Hopes and prospects for the future
This event is in association with the Royal African Society and will be held at Conway Hall.
This event is in association with the Royal African Society and will be held at Conway Hall.
The recent fighting involving the M23 rebel group that has put eastern DR Congo back on the front pages has reached a fragile ceasefire. We will be looking at the implications of recent developments and the prospects for the current peace process.
Transformations in Egyptian Journalism since the January 25 Revolution
This event is organised by Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Followed by a drinks reception.
In this launch event for her new book, Naomi Sakr looks at recent transformations in Egyptian journalism, exploring diverse approaches to converged media and the place of participatory cross-media networks in expanding and developing the country’s body of professional journalists.
FULLY BOOKED On the frontline: Refocusing on Afghanistan
October this year will mark 12 years since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and with the 2014 deadline looming join us with author and award winning journalist Christina Lamb, Afghan American author Tamim Ansary and others, as we look ahead at the path to troop withdrawal.
FULLY BOOKED Insight with Anne Applebaum: Iron Curtain
American journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Applebaum will be joining us at the Frontline Club in conversation with author, journalist and columnist for The Times, Oliver Kamm to talk about the journey taken in her new book Iron Curtain and the lessons that can be learned from that brutal period in history.
FULLY BOOKED Reflections with John Simpson
In a career that has spanned nearly half a century, the BBC’s world affairs editor John Simpson has borne witness to change and upheaval in all corners of the globe. He will be joining us in conversation with Vin Ray to look back on an unmatched lifelong career covering world events at the BBC.
FULLY BOOKED First Wednesday: Will 2013 see an end to the conflict in Syria?
March 2013 will mark two years since the conflict in Syria began. The UN has said it believes the fighting has now cost the lives of at least 60,000 people. We will be bringing together an expert panel to update you on the situation in the country, and to look ahead at the prospects for 2013.
#FCBBCA Israel and Iran: Countdown to war?
Join us to discuss what the future holds for relations between Iran, Israel and the US in the year ahead.
Cruel Britannia: A Secret History of Torture
Discussing Britain’s record on involvement in the use of torture and asking whether it is to time to challenge the official line that the UK does not ‘participate in, solicit, encourage or condone’ torture.
Covering poverty in an indifferent world
Nearly 30 years on from Michael Buerk’s reporting from the famine in Ethiopia and the subsequent Live Aid, can a global audience be galvanised to act?
FULLY BOOKED Insight with Jeremy Bowen: The Arab Uprisings
BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reflects on the past two years of game-changing moments in the history of the Middle East.
First Wednesday: Trouble at the BBC – Savile, management and public trust
Join us as we ask whether the criticism levelled at the BBC and its management is fair and how damaging it could be.
What does the Marikana massacre mean for South Africa?
The Marikana miners’ strike in South Africa which resulted in the shooting dead of 34 workers by police is becoming a pivotal moment in South Africa’s post-apartheid history. We will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss the root causes in society and politics in South Africa that lead to the Marikana massacre.
In the Picture – Narco Estado: Drug violence in Mexico with Teun Voeten
After three years focusing on the drug related violence destabilising Mexico, photographer and anthropologist Teun Voeten has just released his latest photobook Narco Estado. Voeten photographed the drug violence capital, Ciudad Juarez, as well as other hot spots such as Culiacan and Michoacan. He will present his images and speak about the collaborative and anthropological approach he adopted for the book, using introductory essays by El Paso based anthropologist Howard Campbell as well as Culiacan based writer Javier Valdez Cardenas.
