The Scottish Parliament's Festival of Politics opens today, playing host to a selection of presentations, speeches and debates from a cast of famous faces, including political icons, peace campaigners and journalists.

Now in its fourth year, the four day Festival of Politics attracts nearly 3,000 people to the Parliament each year.

The Festival offers a great number of events, broadening the opportunity to discover that politics is for everyone. The festival is planned for all ages, with schools events through the week and youth events on Saturday. For the first time, the Parliament is also working with the Carnegie Festival and hosting joint sessions, including the Youth Politics Festival where young people will have the chance to express their views on the most important global issues for youth in Scotland.

Today the Festival will open with a session called “Who Pays the Piper?” to discuss the funding of Scottish culture and creative industries and the decision-making mechanisms involved.

The Parliament will host also a session on human trafficking at 12.30 in Committee Room 3. The Director of Amnesty International UK will outline new research highlighting the extent of people trafficking into Scotland.

Today's Festival will also hear discussions on the idea that pathways to peace can still be found in a world which seems to be dominated by conflict and violence. Arun Ghandi, grandson of Mahatma, and Nobel Peace prizewinner Mairead Corrigan-Maguire will give an insight into world peace movements.

Later in the day a debate will be held into what effect a new president might have on America and the rest of the world in the lead up to a US election in November.

The Festival will also hear from actor Simon Callow on his personal experiences of Britain's changing attitudes to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgenders (LGBT). He will chat about his work with gay rights organisation Stonewall and discuss what he thinks still needs to be done to achieve full equality in Britain.

Sessions take place throughout the day and public and media are invited to attend in the Main Chamber and Committee Rooms. Events in the Main Chamber will be broadcast live on the internet at www.holyrood.tv.

A full programme can be obtained at ww.festivalofpolitics.org.uk . On Thursday highlights include Denis Healey discussing the highs and lows of the Labour Government and Lord Hurd discussing his role during the Thatcher-Major era.

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