Background Briefing

The business world is agog as the private equity consortiums storm the globe with their trillions, buying and selling and skimming fees. They've been called locusts, barbarians, and gluttons - but it's not illegal and the profits are huge. Reporter, Stan Correy.

Europe, as a union of nations, could emerge as an important force in world affairs. Chris Patten, now Lord Patten of Barnes, is one of the most influential men in Europe and the UK. A leading political analyst, he has 'maintained morality clarity in murky times'.

The cost of electricity will soar in coming years - and the biggest culprit is the air conditioner. In South Australia, 90 percent of homes use them. At present, whether you have one or not, your electricity bill is higher because their cost is spread among all electricity users. Reporter: James Panichi.

It's well known that soldiers can be traumatized by war but peacekeeping can be just as stressful with its own horrors. Australian veterans of the peacekeeping operation in East Timor have taken their own lives, committed crimes, or are living with mental illness. Reporter, Tom Morton.

America's image and support across the world is low, and it's a concern for big business and policy makers. A panel of young people discuss why this has happened, whether it's justified, and also whether it's important. And, if so, what can be done to fix it. A forum from the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco.

They are called herbal medicines, or complementary, or alternative - but many of them are not useful and may be harmful. At the very least you are likely to be wasting money. There are legal ways in which open debate is discouraged. Reporter: Gordon Taylor

The churches and welfare agencies are finding it uncomfortable to dance to the government's tune. But they need the money. In the case of the Catholic Church, it's dependent on about $500 million it gets to administer government services. Other churches and agencies, too, may draw a line in the sand. Reporter Wendy Carlisle.

Sir Robert Menzies was at the centre of the Suez crisis - one of the great failures of western political history. He was sent into negotiate with Nasser, but behind the scenes the UK, Israel, France and the USA all had other agendas. Were they treating Menzies as a mere tool in their wider game? Reporter Stan Correy.

Donating your body, or the body of a child, to medical research is a great gift to mankind. Most of you can be recycled: your eyes, your skin, your bone or even a little piece of your heart. Now they want to grind your bones for surgical putty. Then, your dead bits will be helping a biotech company's bottomline too. Can altruism and commerce live side-by-side when it comes to giving "the greatest gift of all"? Reporter: Ian Walker.

Commentators Mark Steyn and Owen Harries debate the battle of ideas going on inside western cultures. Has the west lost its nerve? Recorded at the Centre for Independent Studies.