I took a left, it took a left, and my right was met by a pause from the big-eyed digital waitress who left a…
The War on Drugs comes to Google+
It’s time to end the War on Drugs. That’s the motion to be debated in an upcoming live Hangout on Google+.
The Hangout is set to be the first in a series called Versus, and has been organised in partnership with Intelligence2 — an organisation that claims to be committed to revitalising the art of live debate.
Among those lending their voice to the debate are business tycoon Richard Branson, comedian and actor Russell Brand, and Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange, along with experts such as the former presidents of Mexico and Brazil.
The Hangout will reportedly give users “the chance to question people who are close to the decisions being made on topical issues, on both sides of the debate”.
Google claims that “real-time voting on the channel will also let the speakers know how their arguments are resonating with viewers”.
Google claims that its Hangouts have the ability not only “to connect people on opposite sides of the planet”, but also “people on opposing sides of the social and political spectrum”.
Public hangouts are among the most unique features on Google+. They have previously been used to connect Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama after the latter was refused entry into South Africa and the American people with President Barack Obama.
BBC newsreader and presenter Emily Maitlis will chair the debate.
The debate will be streamed live on the Versus YouTube channel on 13 March at 7pm GMT.
