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The programme that explains the present by exploring the past

The programme that explains the present by exploring the past.

The Forum: 27/08/2011 GMT

Discussion & Talk

27/08/2011 GMT

BBC World Service - The Forum, 27/08/2011 GMT

Human rights: How do you prove you have them? And how do you make sure you can enjoy them?

Rights: Should you bribe someone to get your tax rebate? Can the free market really ensure rights for all? Is it right to use an embryo for life-saving research?

Rights: Is it right to use an embryo for life-saving research? Can the free market really ensure rights for all? If you need to, should you bribe someone to get your driver’s licence?

We feel entitled to many rights, and exercise them daily, but what cornerstone are they built on?  As people in the Arab world fight for their rights, we debate on what grounds we are owed anything by anyone.  

This week’s Forum guests are India’s chief economic advisor, Kaushik Basu; British philosopher Mary Warnock; and cutting-edge stem cell biologist Tilo Kunath.

Illustration by Charlotte Kingston: the world puzzles over which rights to write.

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27/08/2011 GMT

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