This International Dateline episode includes three segments: Cardinal George Pell Interview, Solomon Islands - Mission Impossible?, and Jean Calder - Doctor of Hope.
Cardinal George Pell Interview
Dateline speaks with Australian Cardinal George Pell in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome to discuss the aftermath of the Pope's death. The death of Pope John Paul II has drawn world-wide attention and a global outpouring of emotion. The Archbishop of Sydney warns Dateline reporter, George Negus, against radical reform: "There's no possibility for vitality in the church without fidelity to the gospels."
Solomon Islands - Mission Impossible?
In 2003, Australian prime minister, John Howard, announced that as part of Australia's new Pacific policy, The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), he would be sending forces to the Solomon Islands. Now in early 2005, 2 Australian soldiers are dead and ethnic tensions are simmering away. Initially, the Australian campaign began unexpectedly well, with weapons being handed over readily but now a period of discontent has set in, culminating in the murder of an Australian federal police officer. Ramsi's new phase of arrests, such as 4 politicians charged with corruption and other businessmen and Malaitian leaders, is no coincidence. Ramsi may be coming down hard on corruption but it is not winning the hearts and minds on both sides. Do the fault lines run too deep for this Australian mission?
Jean Calder - Doctor of Hope
Amidst the devastation of the Gaza strip lives Jean Calder, an Australian doctor who is the embodiment of serenity and kindness. Dateline profiles the woman who gave up her privileged lifestyle in Australia to help disabled people in the Middle East. For 25 years, she has been the full-time care-taker of 3 disabled Palestinians. For the last ten years she has worked at the rundown and bullet ridden Al Amal City Centre of Ability Development in Khan Yunis. In April of 2005, Dr. Calder will be in Canberra to accept the Companion in the Order of Australia in recognition of her work. This Dateline episode examines the life of this remarkable woman.
About International Dateline
SBS Dateline, which began in 1984, is Australia's longest-running international current affairs program. It has a well-earned reputation for authoritative and incisive reporting. Dateline has taken the traditional way of producing TV current affairs and turned it on its head. Reporters who used to travel with a cameraperson and sound recordist now travel alone and have the responsibility of both filming and reporting their stories. The reporters became video-journalists, gaining access to people and places that the conventional camera crews cannot.
