“France and other foreigners made us sign a convention on children's rights. But to our surprise, it was the French themselves who came to take our children, even though they know the law. They didn't respect us. They came in silence to set up their office and kidnap our children."

A Chadian social worker criticising the hypocrisy of the French and other europeans following the kidnapping in October of over one hundred Chadian children by French employees of the ‘non-profit organisation’ Zoe’s Ark. The children were lured away from their parents and families under false pretences and due to be sold for between £2,000 and £4,200 to families in France who wanted to adopt an African child.

"He says that he is "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours - whereas all the testing says not really", and I know that this "hot potato" is going to be difficult to address. His hope is that everyone is equal, but he counters that "people who have to deal with black employees find this not true". He says that you should not discriminate on the basis of colour, because "there are many people of colour who are very talented, but don't promote them when they haven't succeeded at the lower level". He writes that "there is no firm reason to anticipate that the intellectual capacities of peoples geographically separated in their evolution should prove to have evolved identically. Our wanting to reserve equal powers of reason as some universal heritage of humanity will not be enough to make it so".

Charlotte Hunt-Grubbe reporting on her interview with Nobel Prize winner and DNA scientist, James Watson in The Sunday Times on 14 October 2007. The Independent newspaper was later criticised for brandishing his comments on the front page of the paper and aiding the promotion of the UK leg of his current book tour.

“I’ve never been treated differently because of the colour of my skin…. Colour is not an issue, but obviously there are differences…. We crack jokes about it all the time. Me and [Moroccan band member] Amelle [Berrabah] are always calling each other the n word; it’s not a big deal. I don’t know anyone who has a problem with it. I’m not saying there’s not racism around, but I don’t see it in my world”.

Keisha Buchanan from the all girl pop group, Sugbabes, in an interview for the Obersver newspaper published 7 October 2007.

"The driver opened the sliding door and I was pushed into the middle of the seat. Two of the officers got on one side of me and the others came in on the other side. Officer A then punched me hard in the face and he said: 'These black monkeys don't want to go back to their country'."

Ugandan born Milton Apollo Okello, 25, describes the abuse he says he was subjected to by british security officials after he received a last minute reprieve allowing him to remain in the UK. An organisation that represents failed asylum seekers and the Independent newspaper produced a report highlighting the racial and physical abuse that asylum seekers are often subjected to in violation of their human rights.

Do They Know It's Christmas?

It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid
At christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade

And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy!
Throw your arms around the world at christmas time

But say a prayer - pray for the other ones
At christmas time, it's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dreaded fear
Where the only water flowing is a bitter sting of tears
And the christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom

Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

And there won't be snow in Africa this christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life

Where nothing ever grows
No rain or rivers flow

Do they know it's christmas time at all?

Here's to you
Raise your glass for everyone
Here's to them
Underneath that burning sun

Do they know it's christmas time at all?

Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it's christmas time…

Written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 and performed by Band Aid later that year to raise money for the Ethiopian famine appeal. The song still rings out in Christmas stores around the country despite its offensive and racist lyrics.

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"I've never seen Floyd dig deep, grab the bull by the horns and pull a fight out of the bag. I'm sure he's in the best shape of his life, but he does not realise how good I am and that's going to be a shock. He's referred to me as over-hyped, fat, beer-drinking - how embarrassing for him to get beat by someone like that. Like Tuesday follows Monday, I swear, it all comes to an end for Floyd at the MGM Grand."

Mancunian boxer, Ricky Hatton speaking before being considerably beaten by the African American fighter, Floyd Mayweather in the WBC welterwight title fight in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday 9th December 2007. Britain's former world heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis later suggested that Hatton retire from boxing; "…if it were me, unless I felt I could come back and actually beat Mayweather, then I would retire. He can say he tried his best but Floyd was the better man on the night."