Racism, the environment, religion, war and climate change were all up for debate at a star-studded talk in Oxford. TV newsreader Jon Snow, Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, hosted a panel of thinkers and doers, including the city's own Sister Frances and author Philip Pullman.
Self-confessed pessimist Philip Pullman predicted that the earth would take revenge on the human race.
He said: "We are using the earth's resources far too quickly. I think the earth is going to get rid of a large number of us quite soon.
"I think we must do something about it. We must impress on these politicians, who are so frightened of Rupert Murdoch, the tabloid press and the oil companies, the absolute necessity of doing something to stop this catastrophe.
"The human race will survive, civilisation might not, but I hope that those of us who do survive will learn something and live more slowly."
Racism, the environment, religion, war and climate change were all up for debate at a star-studded talk in Oxford.
TV newsreader Jon Snow, Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, hosted a panel of thinkers and doers, including the city's own Sister Frances and author Philip Pullman.
Brookes' annual Chancellor's lecture, entitled What does the world need from us?, looked at what challenges the world might face in 2015, Brookes' 150th birthday.
Hospice founder Sister Frances talked about the difficulties facing young people today.
She described living near the lively Cowley Road, which she loved, and said: "I happen to know that a great many of those young people are carrying knives, some are carrying guns."
She also highlighted racism and said her adopted teenage son, originally from Africa, had recently had his jaw broken in a racist attack while out with three friends.
She said: "Can I persuade those four people to report this to the police?
"No. They know that in all probability what the result would be. He would probably be in the dock."
Self-confessed pessimist Philip Pullman predicted that the earth would take revenge on the human race.
He said: "We are using the earth's resources far too quickly. I think the earth is going to get rid of a large number of us quite soon.
"I think we must do something about it. We must impress on these politicians, who are so frightened of Rupert Murdoch, the tabloid press and the oil companies, the absolute necessity of doing something to stop this catastrophe.
"The human race will survive, civilisation might not, but I hope that those of us who do survive will learn something and live more slowly."
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