300 épisodes

The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

The Inquiry BBC Podcasts

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    • 4,8 • 41 notes

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The Inquiry gets beyond the headlines to explore the trends, forces and ideas shaping the world.

Écouter sur Apple Podcasts
Nécessite un abonnement ainsi que macOS 11.4 ou une version ultérieure

    Is climate change impacting chocolate production?

    Is climate change impacting chocolate production?

    For centuries chocolate has had a global appeal, the key ingredient of this confectionery is derived from the dried and fully fermented seed of the Theobroma cacao, whose origins began in northern Amazonia. From this tree, both cocoa solids and cocoa butter can be extracted to form the basis of chocolate.
    Today, it’s the West African countries of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana that produce the bulk of the world’s supply of cocoa beans. But in recent years hotter temperatures and shifts in rainfall patterns have impacted cocoa harvests particularly in this region. And now the global price of this key ingredient has roughly doubled since the start of last year, fuelling concern that demand could outweigh supply.

    Cocoa farming itself is mainly small scale and these farmers are at the bottom end of the value chain when it comes to profits. But whilst many of the major chocolate manufacturers do invest in the industry, with support for improved planting and harvesting techniques, farming sustainably is just one of a number of challenges that these small farmers face.
    So on this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Is climate change impacting chocolate production?’
    Contributors:
    Dr Katie Sampeck, British Academy Global Professor of Historical Archaeology, University of Reading, England
    Philip Antwi-Agyei, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
    Steffany Bermúdez, Policy Advisor, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Canada
    Yunusa Abubakar, Project Manager, International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), Côte d’Ivoire
    Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
    Producer: Jill Collins
    Researcher: Matt Toulson
    Editor: Tara McDermott
    Technical Producer: Hal Haines
    Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey
    Image by grafvision via Getty Images

    • 23 min
    Will neighbouring countries follow El Salvador's lead on crime?

    Will neighbouring countries follow El Salvador's lead on crime?

    In February this year, El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele won re-election with nearly 85% of the vote. His flagship policy after he came to power in 2019 has been the mass arrest of thousands of alleged gang members, mainly young men.
    It is estimated that over 100,000 people are now behind bars as part of his crime crackdown. The round-ups have been hugely popular with El Salvador's people as it has improved security and neighbouring countries are taking note.
    But critics say following Bukele's approach could threaten democracy, not just in El Salvador but across the continent.

    So on this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking: Will neighbouring countries follow El Salvador's lead on crime?
    Contributors:
    Carlos Dada, director of El Faro, an online newspaper based in El Salvador
    Katherine Saunders-Hastings, a lecturer in Latin American Studies at the University of London's Institute of the Americas.
    Will Freeman, Fellow for Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York.
    Monica Pachon , a political scientist and professor at the University of the Andes in Bogotá, Colombia.
    Presenter: David Baker
    Producer: Farhana Haider
    Journalism Researcher: Matt Toulson
    Editor: Tara McDermott
    Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards
    Production Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley and Liam Morrey
    Image Credit:
    Alex Peña / Stringer via Getty Images

    • 23 min
    Is our future underground?

    Is our future underground?

    More than half of the world’s population currently lives in cities, and by 2050, the UN estimates that figure will rise to nearly 7 in 10 people. The world is also getting hotter, with heatwaves and wildfires becoming increasingly common.
    So how can we deal with the dual challenges of increasing urbanisation and extreme weather caused by climate change? Perhaps we should look downwards.
    For millennia, humans have taken refuge underground from the elements, predators and from war. Even today, bomb shelters exist under major cities like Beijing and Seoul. Many cities across the world have subway systems for easy transportation – and some are integrated seamlessly with below-ground business and shopping centres.
    But what are the future challenges for urban planners and architects in this subterranean space, and how can we overcome the social stigma against those who live underground?
    This week on the Inquiry, we ask: is our future underground?
    Contributors:
    Martin Dixon, trustee of Subterranea Britannica, a society devoted to the study and investigation of man-made and man-used underground places.
    Jacques Besner, architect and urban planner; co-founder and general manager of Associated Research Centres for Urban Underground Spaces.
    Antonia Cornaro co-chair of ITACUS, the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association's Committee on Underground Space.
    Professor Clara Irazábal, Director of the Urban Studies and Planning Program at the University of Maryland, USA.
    Presenter: Tanya Beckett
    Producer: Ravi Naik
    Editor: Tara McDermott
    Researcher: Matt Toulson
    Production Coordinators : Janet Staples & Liam Morrey
    Photo by BEHROUZ MEHRI via Getty Images

    • 23 min
    Can Mexico win its battle with US gun companies?

    Can Mexico win its battle with US gun companies?

    The Mexican government has won its appeal to bring a civil lawsuit against a number of American gun companies. Mexico, which has extremely restrictive gun laws, claims that the ‘deliberate’ business practices of these US firms results in the illegal flow of firearms into Mexico, contributing to the gun crime violence in the country. They are now seeking as much as ten billion dollars in compensation.
    The gun companies, which include some of America’s oldest established names in the firearms business, deny any wrongdoing. Since 2005, these companies have being granted immunity from prosecution under the ‘Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act’. This law protects the firearms manufacturers and dealers from being held liable when crimes have been committed with their products. But Mexico’s argument is that PLCAA, as it’s also known, only applies within the United States and therefore doesn’t protect the companies from liability.
    It’s a case which is also resonating with other Latin American countries who have been impacted by illegal gun trafficking from the United States. Some of these countries have supported Mexico’s claims in the courts. And they will be watching closely to see if Mexico’s lawsuit, the first by a sovereign state, can set a precedent.
    So on this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Can Mexico win its battle with US gun companies?’
    Contributors:
    Ioan Grillo, journalist and author focusing on Organised Crime, Mexico
    Adam Winkler, Cornell Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law, California, USA
    Robert Spitzer, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Political Science, SUNY Cortland; Adjunct Faculty Member, College of William and Mary School of Law, USA
    Dr. León Castellanos-Jankiewicz, Senior Researcher, Asser Institute for International and European Law; Academic Supervisor, International Law Clinic on Access to Justice for Gun Violence, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

    Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
    Producer: Jill Collins
    Journalism Researcher: Matt Toulson
    Editor: Tara McDermott
    Technical Producer: Cameron Ward
    Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey

    Image: Reuters via BBC Images

    • 23 min
    What’s going on with the pyramids?

    What’s going on with the pyramids?

    One of the most famous of Egypt’s pyramids, Menkaure’s pyramid on the Giza plateau, is the subject of controversy after the Egyptian authorities announced plans to restore it in what the country’s Head of Antiquities has called “the project of the century” and Egypt’s “gift to the world”.

    But not everyone believes such a restoration is in keeping with the demands of proper archaeological preservation.
    The plans met with opposition from archaeologists and Egyptologists both inside and outside the country. The project has now been paused after recommendations from a scientific committee commissioned by the Egyptian authorities.
    So what’s going on with the pyramids?
    Presenter: Gary O’Donoghue
    Producer: Louise Clarke
    Researcher: Matt Toulson
    Editor: Tara McDermott
    Technical producer: Nicky Edwards
    Production co-ordinator: Liam Morrey
    Contributors:
    Aidan Dodson, honorary Professor of Egyptology at Bristol university in the UK
    Dr Jennifer Hellum, senior lecturer in classics and ancient history at the University of Auckland in New Zealand
    Heba Saleh, Cairo correspondent for the Financial Times
    Salima Ikram, professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo
    Photo by KHALED ELFIQI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock via BBC Images

    • 23 min
    Can Europe reverse its falling fertility rates?

    Can Europe reverse its falling fertility rates?

    Across the world fertility rates are falling and for the first time Europe is experiencing a sustained population decline. The average fertility rate for the European Union is 1.53 live births per woman. In Italy the fertility rate has remained low for the last thirty years, with an average 1.3 births per woman.
    Some governments, who are concerned that not enough people are being born to keep their economies functioning in the long term are spending billions on incentives and policies to try and reverse the trend. But even in the Nordic countries, which are noted for some of the best family focused policies, these are proving ineffective against a markedly high drop in fertility rates over the last decade.
    Society’s attitudes on when or whether to start a family are shifting, so does this mean that we need to change the way we approach the issue or even adapt to a future with fewer people?
    On this week’s Inquiry, we’re asking ‘Can Europe reverse its falling fertility rates?’
    Contributors:
    Anna Rotkirch, Research Director, Population Research Institute, The Family Federation of Finland, Helsinki
    Michael Herrmann, Senior Advisor on Economics and Demography, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Turkey
    Arnstein Aassve, Professor of Demography, Political Science Centre, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
    Tomas Sobotka, Deputy Director, Vienna Institute of Demography, Austrian Academy of Sciences
    Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
    Producer: Jill Collins
    Journalism Researcher: Matt Toulson
    Editor: Tara McDermott
    Technical Producers: Nicky Edwards and Toby James
    Production Co-ordinator: Liam Morrey
    Image Credit: PA via BBC Images

    • 23 min

Avis

4,8 sur 5
41 notes

41 notes

Petit Cintre ,

Clear, calm, complete

I often re-listen, Inquiry gives a tour of a subject without being strident. Thoughtful.

yafulai ,

Possible to have two episodes a week?

Great podcast!

Jibeyy ,

Can I give 6 stars ?

One of the best podcast I am currently following ! Excellent content, up-to-date topics, interesting interveners... And clear language. As a French person, I think this podcast is perfect if you want to learn English.
Keep going guys, amazing work

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