Cree musician Pakesso Mukash travels to Nova Scotia, Canada to meet Mike Doucette, a renowned Master of Ceremonies and advocate for Mi’kmaq tradition who was recently given six months to live. As Mike makes peace with life and death we tell the story of his troubled childhood and how a return to cultural and spiritual practices transformed him and an entire community looking for their own Mi’kmaq identity.
Subjects: Philosophy
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Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering may be one of the greatest breakthroughs in recent history however, with scientific advancements, new ethical issues are raised, forcing us to ask not how but if we should push genetic research to its absolute limit. This program looks at the possible benefits of genetic engineering, such as the treatment and possible cure of hereditary diseases and the creation of better, more efficient crops. It also explores the potential issues that arise with this new technology – the questionable morality of cloning, and the controversy that surrounds stem-cell research are two topics which are also investigated. Students will hear both secular and religious perspectives on the morality of intervening in nature at the most fundamental level.
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IVF
It is estimated that three million people worldwide have been conceived via in vitro fertilization, or IVF. Having this still relatively recent technology has led us to question who ‘deserves’ it, and the extent to which an embryo should be engineered. Some parents-to-be use IVF to avoid potential hereditary diseases, yet should parents be allowed to choose things like sex, hair and eye color? Should IVF be free, and if so, should it be free for everyone? This program looks at how different countries have navigated this new ethical territory, and investigates the often opposing stances that various religions have towards the practice. How have the boundaries for artificial pro-creation been set?
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Euthanasia
Do people have the right to die? Should the state condone the deliberate killing of a person? This program investigates the various religious, moral and philosophical arguments surrounding euthanasia, providing both ‘for’ and ‘against’ arguments for this controversial and important topic. Students will hear from many prominent figures, such as Lord Joel Joffe – the peer who has brought the Private Members Bill to legalize Assisted Dying to the UK Parliament, and Baroness Jane Campbell – a disabled peer violently opposed to Lord Joffe’s bill, who successfully prevented doctors from ‘letting her go’ in hospital. A short drama, Jay’s Choice, also assists in contextualizing the philosophical debates in an emotional ‘real life’ story. This informative program is bound to provoke debate on a subject which could potentially change the way in which we value life and the manner in which we perceive death.