Peru and world food prices

Alejandro Toledo warns Venezuela’s president is a source of instability in South America

Earlier this month leaders from 50 European, Latin American and Caribbean nations met in Peru to address poverty and the rise in world food prices.
 
As South America’s fastest growing economy, Peru ought to be an example to the rest of the continent, but the country has seen little by way of poverty reduction. 

Peru’s wealthy elite dominates economic and political power. 

Joining Sir David to discuss the country and the region is Alejandro Toledo, Peru’s former persident between 2001 and 2006.   

Toledo says that alleviating poverty is one of South America’s greatest challenges but thinks the region can soon play a predominant role in the world economy. 

He warns that Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez is a divisive figure and a source of instability in the region.

Watch the interview with Alejandro Toledo

Sidney Blumenthal

Sidney Blumenthal, part of Clinton’s campaign team, says McCain is a formidable candidate

After five months of voting and 16 months of campaigning, the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination rolls on. 

Barack Obama is tantalisingly close to victory, but Hillary Clinton is refusing to lie down.

It looks like the race will now be decided by the ‘superdelegates’ at the Democratic National Convention in August.

Sir David talks to Sidney Blumenthal, a former adviser to Bill Clinton who is now part of Hillary’s campaign team. 

He argues that Hillary still has a chance to win the nomination so must stay in the race. 

Blumenthal says John McCain, the Republican nominee, is a formidable candidate.

Darius Rejali

Darius Rejali is a leading expert on the use of torture

It is one of the most controversial topics today – is torture justified? 

Speaking to Sir David earlier this year, Alan Dershowitz suggested that torture is justified in a ‘ticking bomb’ situation if there is compelling evidence to suggest that it could prevent the loss of life. 

A new book by Darius Rejali, one of the world’s leading experts on torture, puts the counter argument. 

In Torture and Democracy, Rejali argues that the use of torture is futile.

Darius Rejali joins Sir David to discuss the issue. He says that torture does not produce good intelligence.

Rejali also says that modern democracies have pioneered forms of torture that leave few marks.

Watch the interview with Sidney Blumenthal and Darius Rejali 

Sebastian Faulks discuss writing the lastest book about the British spy James Bond

The author Ian Fleming was born 100 years ago this week. To mark the anniversary, a book has been published celebrating Fleming’s most enduring character – the British spy James Bond. 

Fleming died in 1964 with 14 Bond books to his credit. So enduring is his legacy that no fewer than 22 subsequent Bond books have been written by other authors. 

The latest attempt, Devil May Care, is written by the acclaimed English novelist Sebastian Faulks.

Faulks talks to Sir David about the new book.

He says that he tried to impersonate Fleming’s writing style and interpretation of James Bond as a solitary and vulnerable character. 

Faulks says he completed the book in just six weeks.

Watch the interview with Sebastian Faulks

Stephanos Stephanou discusses the bitter dispute of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus

The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been the subject of a bitter 34-year dispute.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been separated since 1974 when Turkey deployed troops to prevent a coup by Greek Cypriots who wanted union with Greece. 

Hopes for peace were raised earlier this year with the election of Demetris Christofias as the island’s new president. 

The Greek Cypriot politician pledged to restart talks aimed at boosting the momentum for a peace agreement.

Stephanos Stephanou, a Greek Cypriot government spokesman, joins Sir David.

He points to the many obstacles in the way of peace, but says the Cypriot president has the will to resolve the situation.

Corinna Csaky

Corinna Csaky says clearer lines of accountability are needed with aid workers

According to a recently published report, children in the Ivory Coast, Sudan and Haiti are being abused by peacekeepers and aid workers.
 
The London-based Save the Children charity say they have found evidence that children as young as six are being exploited by the very people drafted in to protect them. 

A wide range of groups, including the UN, are implicated in the report. The charity has called for the establishment of an international watchdog to investigate the alleged abuse.

Corinna Csaky, the author of the report, says it is important to remember that the problem is confined to a minority of aid workers but adds that it is a problem for every organisation. 

Csaky says clearer lines of accountability are needed.

Watch the interview with Stephanos Stephanou and Corinna Csaky

Frost over the World airs at 18:00GMT every Friday on Al Jazeera English and is repeated during the week.

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