According to the African Union, Africa holds two fifths of the world’s uranium and gold, three quarters of the world’s platinum and 90% of the world’s diamonds. And prices of most of these commodities are soaring on world markets. Yet most Africans still live in poverty. Last year the UN reported that 35 of the world’s poorest countries are in Africa. So what explains the failure to use Africa’s riches to uplift the continents citizens? Could it be that mineral resources in Africa are a curse? In this BBC World Debate from Lusaka, Zambia host Redi Tlhabi talks to panelists including Zambia’s Finance Minister, top executives from two multinational mining companies and Clare Short , former UK secretary of state for International Development and now the chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Norway.

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This World Debate was produced by Ben Cashdan of the Broad Daylight Films Foundation in Johannesburg for BBC World News. With support from the Open Society Iniatitive for Southern Africa, the Extractive Industries Transparancy Initiative (EITI) and Revenue Watch (USA).

Em África os homossexuais são perseguidos, presos ou até mortos. No Debate Mundial da BBC perguntamos: A homossexualidade é contra-Africana?

Debate Mundial da BBC: A homossexualidade é contra-Africana? from Ben Cashdan on Vimeo.

This World Debate was produced by Ben Cashdan of the Broad Daylight Films Foundation in Johannesburg for BBC World News. With support from the Open Society Iniative for Southern Africa and the Heinrich Boell Stiftung.

En Afrique des homosexuels sont persécutés, emprisonnés, voir tués. Dans ce débat BBC World, nous posons la question suivante: L’homosexualité est-elle non-africaine ?

Débat BBC World : L’homosexualité est-elle non-africaine ? from Ben Cashdan on Vimeo.

This World Debate was produced by Ben Cashdan of the Broad Daylight Films Foundation in Johannesburg for BBC World News. With support from the Open Society Iniative for Southern Africa and the Heinrich Boell Stiftung.

Gay people on the African continent face persecution, imprisonment and even death. “Correctve rapes” continue to be inflicted on lesbians in South Africa’s black townships. In Uganda, lawmakers are promoting a new Anti-Homosexuality Bill. In this debate we bring together gay rights activists and conservative religious groups to ask “Is Homosexuality un-African?”

BBC World Debate: Is Homosexuality un-African? from Ben Cashdan on Vimeo.

This World Debate was produced by Ben Cashdan of the Broad Daylight Films Foundation in Johannesburg for BBC World News. With support from the Open Society Iniative for Southern Africa and the Heinrich Boell Stiftung.

World Leaders met in New York in September 2010 to review progress on the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs. In some parts of the world efforts to meet these anti-poverty targets are falling far short. So who’s to blame? Watch Zeinab Badawi and her panel in this BBC World Debate as we ask “The MDGs: What’s holding us back?”

World Debate on the MDGs from Big Debate on Vimeo.

Produced for BBC World News by Ben Cashdan of the Broad Daylight Films Foundation. With Support from the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and the UN Millennium Campaign.