Something Understood

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BBC Radio 4 LW

Religion & Ethics

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life, taking a spiritual theme and exploring it through music, prose and poetry

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Something Understood: The Elephant

Elephants

The Elephant

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, The Elephant

Mark Tully investigates the spiritual and cultural power of the elephant.

In conversation with photographer and WWF conservationist Belinda Wright, Mark Tully discusses our cultural and spiritual relationship with elephants, domestically and in the wild.

Mark Tully investigates the significance of the ancient cultural and spiritual connections between humans and elephants. 
 
Demon, god, Lord of the Jungle, beast of war and of servitude, both temple and carnival attraction, the elephant inspires awe, affection and fear in equal measure. We worship elephants and enslave them, love them and kill them in their thousands. 
 
In conversation with photographer, conservationists and founder of The World Wide Fund for Nature, Belinda Wright, he discusses the myriad qualities of the elephants of Asia and Africa. 
 
The programme includes literature and music from Africa, India, Europe and America, with work by D.H Lawrence, Heathcote Williams, George Orwell, Jack Mapango, Claude Debussy, June Tabor and Henry Mancini.
 
The Readers are Adjoa Andoh, Michael Feast and Francis Cadder.
 
Producer: Frank Stirling
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The Elephant

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