Government complains to BBC for blocking Gaza appeal‏

**Civilsed** · 01-23-2009

> Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
>
> URGENT REQUEST TO ALL STOP THE WAR'S SUPPORTERS
> GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS TO BBC FOR BLOCKING GAZA APPEAL
> JOIN THE GOVERNMENT'S PROTEST: COMPLAIN NOW TO THE BBC
>
> Stop the War understands that the government has contacted the
> BBC to complain about its decision to refuse the broadcasting
> of a humanitarian appeal for Gaza.
>
> The BBC's decision will prevent the raising of millions of
> pounds in emergency aid being sent to Gaza. Stop the War is
> demanding that the exchange between the government and the BBC
> be made public immediately.
>
> The BBC says it is blocking the emergency appeal "to avoid any
> risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's
> "impartiality", as if this has anything to do with
> humanitarian aid for a devastated people. Either they need the
> aid or they do not.
>
> This is the first time in the 48 years of similar national
> appeals for humanitarian aid that a broadcast has been
> refused. It is estimated that £10 million of urgently required
> aid will not now be sent to help Palestinians in Gaza, living
> in catastrophic conditions.
>
> "This is a betrayal of the BBC's obligation to be a public
> service," said Tony Benn, President of Stop the War. "To deny
> the help that the aid agencies and the UN need is
> incomprehensible."
>
> It is imperative that the BBC responds to the government's
> complaint and reverses its decision to refuse this broadcast.
> If it does not, we will see people in Gaza continue to suffer
> due to being denied emergency relief because of BBC
> "impartiality" .
>
> Stop the War urges all its supporters to complain to the BBC.
> We must mobilise all the pressure we can to get the BBC to
> reverse its decision.
>
> TO COMPLAIN TO THE BBC
> PHONE: 03700 100 222
> TEXT: 03700 100 212
> ONLINE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/
>
> BRING CHILDREN'S DOLLS TO THE BBC
> If you are coming to demonstration on Saturday 24 January,
> which assembles outside Broadcasting House, we are asking
> protestors to bring children's dolls, wrapped if possible in
> white shrouds, to be laid on the steps of the BBC, as a
> memorial to the hundreds of children who died in Israel's
> attacks and as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians in
> Gaza, now denied urgently needed aid by the BBC.
>
> DEMONSTRATE FOR GAZA: SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
> END THE BLOCKADE: STOP ALL ARMS SALES
> BRING THE WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE
> Assemble 2.00pm BBC Broadcasting House for rally
> Portland Place, London W1A 1AA
> Nearest tubes: Great Portland Street or Regents park.
> March starts at 3.00 pm. Ends with rally in Trafalgar Square
> 4.30 pm.
>
> BRING CHILDEN'S DOLLS WRAPPED IN WHITE SHROUDS TO LAY ON THE
> STEPS OF THE BBC
>
> BRING SHOES WITH MESSAGES TO GORDON BROWN INSIDE TO DELIVER AS
> WE MARCH PAST DOWNING STREET
> Instead of banning all arms trade with Israel and breaking all
> diplomatic relations, Brown has offered to send the British
> navy to help Israel tighten its blockade on Gaza.
>
> MARCH ROUTE:
> Assemble and rally Portland Place, March to Regent Street,
> Piccadilly, Lower Regent Street, Trafalgar Square,
> Northumberland Avenue, Embankment, Parliament, Downing Street,
> Trafalgar Square (End rally)

**Trumble** · 01-25-2009

You know, the weird thing is that this decision has probably done more good for the Palestinians than actually showing the appeal would ever have done! Folks can still get the information from the other channels, but the BBC refusal to show it has been headline news for a couple of days keeping the appeal in people's minds long enough to pick up the phone and actually donate.

**nocturnal** · 01-26-2009

There's absolutely no justification for such a callous, ill-considered, and clearly politicised decision on the part of the BBC.

Public confidence in the BBC's impartiality will be compromised by indeed choosing not to broadcast it, not the other way around Just as it is right to broadcast an appeal for lets say Genocide in Rwanda, a tsunami, earthquakes, hurricanes, civil wars in country's such as D.R.Congo etc, so does this tragedy warrant such appeals.

It is extremely lamentable beyond measure that what the BBC fails to understand, is that an appeal on humanitarian grounds transcends the politics of war and aggression, it is about human beings reaching out to other human beings. Such an appeal in no way is an accusatory gesture towards israel, nor is it an implicit approval of Hamas.

How such an organisation can claim to be impartial, when it is implementing so obstinately at a time of incalculable human suffering, such an imhumane and repugnant policy is beyond me.

Shame on you BBC.

**Bittersteel** · 01-26-2009

well wow even Brit MPs are against this act of BBC.that's something and I concur this will draw hopefully more attention to the Gaza situation.

**Ar-RaYYan** · 01-26-2009

Even Channel 4 agreed! :blind:

**glo** · 01-29-2009

Originally Posted by Trumble

You know, the weird thing is that this decision has probably done more good for the Palestinians than actually showing the appeal would ever have done! Folks can still get the information from the other channels, but the BBC refusal to show it has been headline news for a couple of days keeping the appeal in people's minds long enough to pick up the phone and actually donate.

I think that's exactly what has happened! This is an article from Tuesday:

The Gaza appeal which the BBC is refusing to broadcast raised £600,000 before it was shown. Donations flooded in to the Disasters Emergency Committee website before the initial transmission of the two-minute appeal on ITV1 last night.

On previous occasions the DEC has not accepted donations until an appeal has gone out live but members of the public have been able to donate to the Gaza appeal since Thursday. Charity chiefs will be hoping that the controversy over the broadcast has increased public awareness that a way of donating to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is available.

Full article here.

Now, that's good news!

**Civilsed** · 01-31-2009

This is the reply i got from BBC --- JOKE

Thank you for your e-mail. We note your disappointment at our decision not to broadcast an appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee to raise funds for Gaza. We decided not to broadcast the DEC's public appeal because we wished to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of covering a continuing news story where issues of responsibility for civilian suffering and distress are intrinsic to the story and remain highly contentious. We also could not be confident that the aid resulting from audience donations could reach those it was intended for at a time of a fragile ceasefire and sporadic border access. We will of course continue to report the humanitarian story in Gaza. The BBC's director-general Mark Thompson has therefore explained the decision in more detail in a number of television and radio broadcasts and online at our Editors' blog. Please follow the link to read his explanation in full: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditor...za_appeal.html Please be assured that we have registered your comments on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC. Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us. Regards BBC Complaints____________________________www.bbc.co.u k/complaints

**aadil77** · 01-31-2009

same

**nocturnal** · 02-01-2009

It's a very articulate response they've composed, but it obscures the fact that even though this is a continuing news story, it has nothing to do with rancorous accusations being made against either party in the conflict, and as such it doesn't compromise their impartiality in the coverage of this massive onslaught.

I just can't comprehend how they took such an irrational decision.