The contrast in wealth distribution between key regions and countries around the world is as stark as ever. In this commentary, using analysis in the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook, we look at the convergence we need to achieve in order to help encourage a more egalitarian form of global capitalism. The music accompanying this episode is The Nexus Riddim by Konrad OldMoney
Published:
Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
There's no question over Rishi Sunak's commitment to a strategy to encourage people to work; however, faced with a major cost of living crisis for those on the breadline,there's a real need to complement it with a strategy for sharing. If HM Treasury is not inclined to assist, it should at least set out a plan to encourage those who will. Accompanying music - Bike Sharing to Paradise, by Dan Bodan
Published:
Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
The sight of Putin seeking to rally his 'supporters' at Moscow’s Luzhynik Stadium is nothing new: the use of mass charisma as a tool for controlling people goes back millennia, and remains a major challenge for those who believe in individual liberty. This week we look at how the technique, recognised by German sociologist and political economist Max Weber as one of three tools of political domination, is used to inject a subconscious herd mentality into humanity and how, at a personal level, it can be controlled. Accompanying music is 'Russian Dance' by Joey Pecoraro
Published:
Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
The existential threat of mutually assured destruction has kept the world safe from nuclear weapons for the past sixty years but, now that balance is being challenged by a combination of insanity and ignorance, it this just leaves us with economic action. Let's make sure that the trade policy of the free world is adjusted accordingly. Music accompanying this episode is from 'Mad World' by Jennifer Ann.
Published:
Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
For the past fifty years, nearly all major conflicts have been driven by economic power granted to tyrants by our dependency on fossil fuels. We must now recognise the awful footprint it has left in terms of human suffering, as well as climate change. The huge rise in fossil fuel prices will bring substantial dividends to those who look for opportunities to invest in the new ways of powering the economy, and could kick-start moves to a safer and cleaner world.
Published:
Our commentary for w/c 28 February: as Peter Kropotkin predicted over 100 years ago, the communist legacy of centralised dictatorship has left the Russian leadership in a total moral vacuum, steered by fear and greed; and now, noting their nuclear warning, also with a degree of insanity. By a strange co-incidence, two programmes broadcast by the BBC on the day the war started point the way to a brighter future, if we can steer our path through the current tragedy engulfing Ukraine.
Published:
This hymn has a special resonance at the time of Christmas: this instrumental version is performed by musicians from the band Iona
Published:
Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Food banks are providing a vital role to help people this winter, and the Trussell Trust supports more than 1,200 throughout the United Kingdom. In this special episode of The Bigger Picture, their Chief Executive Emma Revie briefs supporters about their progress, and their plans for the future. If you would like to support the extraordinary work undertaken by this charity, please visit https://trusselltrust.org
Guests: Emma Revie
Published:
On 31 August '21 The Share Foundation hosted a virtual event for young people in Wales, to help them find money that the government put away in a Child Trust Fund for when they reached 18. All young people born in the UK from 1st September 2002 should have one of these accounts, but huge numbers don't know anything about them! With Welsh-speaking help from Jac, this audio podcast of the virtual event tells you all about your good fortune, and invites you to register at https://findCTF.sharefound.org so that Sharefound can help link you with your money. Please share! And if you want to join a virtual event yourself, please visit https://www.sharefound.org/ctf-virtual-events and register for your choice of date: they're taking place each fortnight.
Published:
Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Lord John Lee has become a champion for people investing in the stock market over recent years: he's written three books on investing, he's a patron of ShareSoc, the society for individual shareholders in the United Kingdom, and he's now challenging Government, broadcasters and regulators to encourage a much higher profile for investing in shares on TV and radio. Gavin Oldham meets with John to discuss the background to his initiative and his proposals for change; and they go on to consider how customer share ownership can be expanded, how to encourage more active participation in shareholder voting, and how to improve financial education
Guests: Lord Lee
Published:
