Alistair Cooke and Bio-Piracy - Wedding Presents

Available for over a year

ALISTAIR COOKE and BIO-PIRACY In 2004 Alistair Cooke, former Radio 4 presenter, died at the age of 95. He had requested for his remains to be cremated but instead his legs, arms and pelvis were removed as part of a criminal body trafficking conspiracy. Subsequently, his trafficked tissue and bone sold for more than $7000 despite his advanced age and the fact that he had cancer. It is now thought that the body parts were used in medical procedures in the UK and were part of a huge international clandestine trade. Laurie Taylor examines the growing phenomenon of bio-piracy and talks to Professor Nancy Scheper-Hughes, Advisor to the World Health Organisation who will be unveiling her new research in to this massive and largely unregulated industry. WEDDING PRESENTS Louise Purbrick, Senior lecturer at University of Brighton and author of The Wedding Present; Domestic Life Beyond Consumption and Dr Rachel Hurdley, Research Associate at Cardiff University discuss the social history of the wedding present. What happens to unwanted presents? Has the ‘wedding list’ killed off the original meaning of the gift? And when it is chosen by the receiver and often never seen by the giver why do we continue to give presents at weddings?