| NEXT PANORAMA - WHAT NOW, MR PRESIDENT - 8.30PM ON BBC ONE
POINTING THE GREEN FINGER
Planes were very much in the news this week, not only with the amazing safe landing of a jet carrying 155 passengers and crew on New York's Hudson River, but because the UK government gave the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow.
The long-awaited decision has provoked fury from green groups, climate scientists, local people and opposition parties.
The government plan does include a long list of concessions to protect the environment, but opponents of the expansion do not trust that they will be upheld and say they don't go far enough anyway.
In July, Panorama investigated claims that the government was in cahoots with BAA over the runway plan, allowing the science around air pollution and noise to be manipulated.
You can watch still that programme in full on our website, and look back at a 1985 Panorama documentary Blot On The Runway which shows how long battles over airport expansion plans are nothing new.
KNIVES AND KIDS
This week's programme tackled the emotive issue of teen knife crime by talking to five young offenders jailed for injuring and even killing with knives.
It is extremely rare to get access to these youngsters and it took a long process of liasing with the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison Service by the production team to do so.
But we at Panorama decided that jumping through all of the hoops needed to get to these young men was worth it in order to hear what they have to say.
We think the programme offers a valuable contribution to the national debate on how to curb knife crime.
DVD OFFER
And it seems that many of you agree. At the time of writing this newsletter we have had over 2,600 requests for copies of the programme from teachers, youth leaders and police and prison officers.
If you also work with young people either as a professional or volunteer and would like a DVD of Jailed for a Knife for educational purposes please do get in touch via our website.
You can also watch the programme on the website, see the full results of an exclusive Panorama poll on tackling knife crime and read about the experiences of the programme's reporter Raphael Rowe and Executive Producer Tom Giles on our blog.
And if you still want to know more about this issue on Tuesday at 9pm on BBC One you can watch The Truth About Knife Crime, a film examining the problem further.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Tuesday is of course also the day when US President-elect Barack Obama will be inaugurated.
The day before this historic event Panorama will take a close look at the challenges facing Mr Obama after he takes office in What Now, Mr President?
Hilary Andersson reports on whether Mr Obama is likely to be able to make good on his promise to make America a fairer place.
We examine the yawning gap between the country's rich and poor by specifically looking at its healthcare system, which despite costing 15% of US GDP is failing some people so badly that an estimated 27,000 people die each year because they cannot afford basic healthcare.
What Now, Mr President? is on Monday at 8.30pm on BBC One.
As for the inauguration itself, it doesn't matter if you are trapped in the office and can't get to a TV when it begins at 1630 GMT - all you need is a computer as it will be streamed live on the BBC News website.
BYE FOR NOW
That's all for this week, but remember that if there is anything you want to talk to us about at any time you can always e-mail us at panorama@bbc.co.uk
The Panorama Team
 bbc.co.uk/panorama
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