21/12/2009

Available for over a year

Personal stories behind the news from all over the world. With Matthew Bannister. Knife Crime, Stuck in Dubai, Peace walks in Pakistan, Bolivian Skulls. Simon Sommerville When London youth worker Simon Somerville was stabbed 14 times earlier this year by a gang, he died twice on the way to hospital.Still suffering from the after effects of this violent attack, he tells Matthew Bannister why he believes his attackers need help, not punishment. Stuck in Dubai. When the apparently picture-perfect world of Dubai came crashing down, it also dashed the hopes of hundreds of thousands of expatriate workers based there. Many of them have been laid off or have not been paid in months and some are now stuck in the Emirates. They're out of work, but there are no jobs back home either, as Suhail Haleem reports. Peace walk Two students from the northern tip of Pakistan, have just completed a two and a half thousand kilometre peace walk, from their home region, to the far south of Pakistan, the port city of Karachi - literally from one end of the country to the other. Ejaz Ali Rumi and Asghar Ali Rumi wanted to show a different face of Pakistan to the world - a country of peace, hospitality, and beautiful nature. Bolivian skulls For Outlook, Andres Schipani finds out why the skulls of dead relatives are revered by the indigenous Catholic people of Bolivia - and even celebrate Christmas with them.