This International Dateline episode includes five segments: Monkey Business, A Grain of Truth, Senator Bill Heffernan Interview, Professor Tariq Ramadan Interview, and Onward Christian Soldiers.
Monkey Business
In the United States, and to a lesser degree, in Australia the evolutionary theory versus creationism debate is raging. Scuppered by the Supreme Court ruling against the teaching of creationism in American schools, Christian conservatives have coined a new concept; that of Intelligent Design. With the imprimatur of George Bush, 43 American states have already seen calls for intelligent design to be taught in the country's public schools. Remarkably in Kansas, the State Education Board recently made the controversial decision to allow Intelligent Design through the lab door - to the dismay of scientists and progressive Christians. Dateline's Olivia Rousset recently went to Kansas, the epicenter of the debate, to see how religion has infiltrated school science labs.
A Grain of Truth
To the chagrin of the Howard Government, what's been called the "wheat for weapons" scandal, has continued to cause the Australian government political angst. The inquiry into Australian wheat exporter, AWB, opened on 16 January 2006, to investigate claims the company paid kickbacks to the regime of former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein. Recently, Australia's current Ambassador was in Washington reassuring Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the US Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, that he had not been deliberately deceived by the Australian Government last year.
Senator Bill Heffernan Interview
Dateline's George Negus speaks with the controversial Australian Senator Bill Heffernan about his views on AWB's involvement in the oil for food scandal.
Professor Tariq Ramadan Interview
In today's dodgy global climate, Professor Tariq Ramadan, a prominent Islamic scholar and thinker, is no stranger to controversy. He's an outspoken critic of the Bush Administration's policies in Iraq and the Middle East and he also rejects Muslim terrorism, condemning it as 'anti-Islam'. A Swiss citizen, he has been banned from the US under the Contentious Patriot Act. However, after the London bombings last year, Tony Blair invited him to participate in a task force to counter terrorism. Dateline's George Negus speaks with the professor who warns of the dangers of a clash of civilizations over the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
Onward Christian Soldiers
As the fury about those Danish cartoons spreads, among those who've condemned their publication have been Christian groups. One group, the US-based CPT - the Christian Peacemaker Team - believes the cartoons are blatantly anti-Muslim and only exacerbate religious hatred and bigotry. These self-styled American 'peacemakers' have good reason to be concerned. It's been several months since four of their members, all committed pacifists, were taken hostage in Iraq. A recent video released to the media showed that the four Westerners are still alive. Dateline's Nick Lazaredes recently attended a training session for would-be warriors for peace in Chicago.
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.
