The Wednesday Wire with Paul Deady

95bFM: The Wednesday Wire with Paul Deady

The bFM WIRE Today: 12 - 2pm weekdays

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1210 - Russell Norman, AgResearch's Magic Clover

We'll start the show with a critical look at an announcement from AgResearch, one that's been heralded as a potential saviour to farmers looking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The Crown Research Institute reckons it can genetically engineer a strand of clover which, when digested by livestock, releases less methane than regular grass. Methane is a big problem in this country - it's about 20 times more potent than CO2 in terms of its greenhouse effect, and most of it comes from the agricultural sector. But farmers have refused to be held accountable for these emissions - more than 40% of our total - because they say there are no effective tools to control methane eking its way out of livestock. Could this be it? At 1210, Green party co-leader Russell Norman will be joining us - he says GE clover isn't going to be a lucky shamrock for this country's climate change woes. Dr Norman says there are lots of other, non-GE, ways farmers can reduce their emissions, and it should be THESE that are pursued.

1225 - Bloody Sunday Apology, Assoc. Prof Malcom Campbell

At 12.25 I'll be taking a look at the historic apology the British government made today to the families and community of those killed in the 1972 Bloody Sunday killings in Derry, Northern Ireland. Fourteen unarmed civilians were killed by British paratroopers during a civil rights march. Those killed HAD been accused of holding weapons but a 38 year struggle for truth culminated in the release of a 5000 page report - its verdict: the shootings were unjustified, no warnings were given, no soldiers were under threat, and the British troops were first to open fire. What's more, it found that those soldiers involved subsequently lied to the inquiry. The incident was a rallying point for the Irish Republican Army, a generation of nationalists were motivated to take up arms. So what does this report provide, closure? Or does it throw up even more questions - namely, what will happen now to those responsible, and those who covered it up? I'll be speaking to (above) from the History department up here at Auckland University.

1235 - Counterclockwise

A new face/voice on counterclockwise today! Rory McKinnon joins us from scoop's offshore oil rig today. He'll be looking at the media-generated fracas around Chris "see how he runs" as well as some of the manoeuvring in the Labour party reshuffle.

1245 - Swine Flu Vaccine Shenanigans, Dr Lance Jennings, Clinical Virologist

And then at 12.45 I'll speak to (above) about the influence drug companies have over governments and medical professionals. An investigation by the British Medical Journal found key scientists at the World Health Organisation were involved with drug companies who ultimately benefited from WHO recommendations that governments stockpile swine flu vaccines. New Zealand has bought about 1 and a half million doses of antiviral treatments since 2005, of which about 20 thousand have been used. Lance has been instrumental in the development of influenza control strategies for New Zealand, including the introduction of free influenza vaccine, establishment of influenza awareness education and pandemic planning.

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