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A daily text of a topical speech or address given by a public figure

Brian Eno: Art schools should be the seed-beds of popular culture
25 March 2005
From a lecture by the musician and artist on the future of art schools, given at the Royal Society of Arts

Toby Harris: Our society is at grave risk from cyber-terrorism
24 March 2005
From a speech by the former Metropolitan Police Authority chair, at the Royal Institute of International Affairs

Steven Pinker: Morality arises from shared perspectives, not faith
23 March 2005
From a talk by the Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, given at Jewish Book Week, in London

Michael Holroyd: The second golden age of contemporary biography
22 March 2005
From the biographer's acceptance speech, on winning the David Cohen Prize for Literature, at the British Library

Stewart Purvis: British journalism is better than it used to be
21 March 2005
From a speech by the professor of television journalism at City University

Neal Ascherson: The most skilful, relentless listener in the world
18 March 2005
From an address by the writer, at a service in memory of Anthony Sampson in St Martin's in the Fields, London

Philip Pullman: Why this new law will stifle any criticism of religion
17 March 2005
From a speech by the author, given at the University of East Anglia

Sarah Spencer: Gypsies and the challenges of diversity
16 March 2005
From a lecture to the British Institute of Human Rights by the deputy chair of the Commission for Racial Equality

David Blunkett: Let us draw inspiration from Britain's radical past
15 March 2005
From a speech by the former Home Secretary to the Institute for Public Policy Research

David Cameron: Conservatism is about seeking the common ground
14 March 2005
From a speech given at the Centre for Policy Studies in London, by the Conservative MP

Beverly Malone: Nursing is the backbone of the healthcare workforce
11 March 2005
From a speech by the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, given at London's City University

Colin Wiggins: Paintings that capture the buried spirit of London
10 March 2005
From a lecture given at the National Gallery by the curator of the exhibition 'John Virtue: London Paintings'

Mark Thompson: The BBC has a duty to resist the voices of intolerance
09 March 2005
From a speech by the director general of the BBC to the FT New Media and Broadcasting Conference in London

Conor Gearty: This would mean internment by the back door
08 March 2005
From a lecture by the director of the London School of Economics' Centre for the Study of Human Rights

George Bush: Freedom is on the march in the Middle East
07 March 2005
From the weekly radio address of the American President at the weekend

Harriet Lamb: Fair trade can put poverty in the dustbin of history
04 March 2005
From a speech by the executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation, given at HM Treasury, in London

Mahmoud Abbas: Real security depends on a serious political process
03 March 2005
From a speech by the President of the Palestinian Authority at the London conference on the Middle East

Kate Allen: Here and abroad, violence against women continues
02 March 2005
From a speech by the Director of Amnesty International UK, given at the House of Commons, London

Ali Rodr�guez Araque: Don't be fooled by these slanders about Venezuela
01 March 2005
From a speech by the Foreign Minister of Venezuela, to the Organisation of American States

Nigel Williams: The young of Northern Ireland face a mental health crisis
28 February 2005
From a speech by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children, given in Belfast

John Gray: Not every country in the world can be a democracy
25 February 2005
From a speech by the LSE Professor of European Thought, given at the Royal Society of Arts, London

Keith Sciberras: The island crucible of an inflammatory genius
24 February 2005
From a lecture on Caravaggio by the teacher at the University of Malta, given at the National Gallery

Gordon Brown: The rise of China provides an opportunity for Britain
23 February 2005
From a speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, given at the Academy of Social Science, Beijing

Marina Warner: Immigration policy: a Greek tragedy in the making
22 February 2005
From a lecture on tragedy to the Royal Society of Arts by the writer and critic, given in London

Gareth Evans: Only the UN can sanction the use of military force
21 February 2005
From a speech by the president of the International Crisis Group, at the London School of Economics