Background Briefing

Three spin doctors—or political strategists—talk about media cynicism, handling their politicians, and getting the public to understand things their way. Lynton Crosby, Alistair Campbell and, from Uganda, John Nagenda argue with each other and with Owen Bennett-Jones. A BBC World Service program.

Prices at the shops may be rising because billions of Indians and Chinese are eating more, and using cars - and it could be that some well funded gamers are playing the commodities market like a casino in cyberspace. Take our quiz. Reporter Stan Correy

An astonishing six million hectares of Australia—something like the size of Tasmania—is now being privately protected for plants and animals. Hundreds of millions of dollars are involved as schemes spring up around the country. But private conservation faces big challenges. Reporter: Di Martin

There's a boom in funerals around the corner as the Boomers face mortality, but neither cemeteries nor crematoria are eco-friendly. The business of burials is beginning to adapt, and so are their future customers. Reporter Ian Townsend.

It's an ideological battle between those who want a fairer, better deal for the poor farmers in the developing world - and those who say the best way to get that is having a world wide free market. There are fault lines in both arguments. Reporter Jane Shields.

For years it's been one of the science community's great taboos but the idea of global climate control is starting to be openly discussed. Ideas like placing giant mirrors in space or firing sulphur particles into the stratosphere to cool the planet are no longer just in the domain of science fiction. Many scientists now believe the time for these ideas will come. Reporter, Wendy Carlisle (This program was originally broadcast on 6th April 2008.)

As corporations collapse while executives are paid huge salary packages, shareholders are taking a greater interest in just how companies are run. But they face a wall of complexity, and legalistic and business jargon which is almost impenetrable. Reporter: Erica Vowles.

It's forty years since the massacre of an entire village in Vietnam and only now has the full story come out. The Peers Inquiry of l970 exposed it as one of the most shocking events in American military history, and it has reverberations today in how the US army conducts itself, and explains tensions over Guantanamo Bay. A BBC World Service production.

Is it slavery to keep someone working for nothing till they pay off their debt? There are women here kept in sex slavery, and there are also domestic servants, back room workers, and illegals forced into underground labour. The High Court will soon bring down a clarification about what the word "slavery" means, and that will help prosecutions in Australian law. Reporter Hagar Cohen.

Australia's sitting on some of the biggest natural gas fields in the world - and other energy-starved, ravenous nations are starting to bid for it. Australia will have to do some soul searching about how much we keep for ourselves and who to sell it to. Reporter, Ian Townsend.