BBC refuse to broadcast appeal for humanitarian aid to gaza

[brix]

From 2pm it seems:

http://globaldayofaction.org/stopwar/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=958&Itemid=1

 

[brix]

.

 

[belboid]

just been the lead item on the Radio 4 news, so the objections must be having some effect.

Complaint lodged

 

[quimcunx]

I think the BBC has been a little innacurate. The protest has not been called because they won't show the appeal. It has beeen scheduled for at least a couple of weeks to protest the BBC's decidedly 'partial' news coverage of recent events.

 

[brix]

I think the BBC has been a little innacurate. The protest has not been called because they won't show the appeal. It has beeen scheduled for at least a couple of weeks to protest the BBC's decidedly 'partial' news coverage of recent events.

Yes, I realise that now. But it does seem serendipitous, innit.

 

[danny la rouge]

Some appeals the BBC have broadcast for "controversial" conflicts:

Gulf Crisis (1990)
Former Yugoslavia (1994)
Rwanda (1994)
Sudan (1998)
Kosovo (1999)
Liberia (2003)
Sudan - Darfur (2004)
Darfur & Chad (2007)

A BBC spokesperson said: "Along with other broadcasters, the BBC has decided not to broadcast the DEC's public appeal to raise funds for Gaza. The BBC decision was made because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a volatile situation and also to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of an ongoing news story. However, the BBC will of course continue to report the humanitarian story in Gaza."

So did that not apply in those other appeals? Was Darfur an easy aid drop? Was Rwanda not volatile? Were the humanitarian appeals for the victims of the Balkan conflict and the Gulf crisis in no danger of compromising public confidence in BBC impartiality?

It is, of course, a bollocks excuse.

 

[danny la rouge]

God, even Ben Bradshaw of all people says it was "an inexplicable decision" and that the reasons given were "completely feeble"! (Here).

 

[mauvais]

Until it finds some balls, the BBC should give up on news reporting and just show the Tellytubbies at six every day. I've given up on them.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Okay, there are now three threads on this and things are being repeated; I will merge them into this one.

 

[claphamboy]

I couldn't get through on the phone last night - which I'm hoping meant lots of people were complaining. I used the online form to lodge my complaint instead: http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complaints_stage1.shtml

Thanks for the link.

Some appeals the BBC have broadcast for "controversial" conflicts:

Gulf Crisis (1990)
Former Yugoslavia (1994)
Rwanda (1994)
Sudan (1998)
Kosovo (1999)
Liberia (2003)
Sudan - Darfur (2004)
Darfur & Chad (2007)

Thanks for that info.

Complaint sent:

Gaza Appeal.

I wish to register my complaint concerning the refusal of the BBC to air the Gaza charity appeal.

At a time of massive human suffering, I feel it is the duty of the BBC as a publicly funded public service broadcaster to transmit these appeals - it is then up to the public to decide if they wish to contribute or not.

I find the reasons, nee excuses, not to transmit this appeal to be unreasonable to say the least.

1 – Compromise impartiality.

Sorry, I cannot accept this – there’s thousands upon thousands suffering in Gaza, there is nothing like that happening in Israel, if there were I would expect you to transmit appeals for both sides. There isn’t, so there’s no problem with impartiality by transmitting this appeal.

2 – We have to be clear the money goes to the people it is intended for.

What is your chief operating officer, Caroline Thomson, suggesting here? That the MAJOR and INTERTNATIONAL aid CHARTIES are going to defraud the appeal fund? Is she suggesting the £25m of aid that our government is giving is going to be diverted? Please explain what this outrageous statement exactly means.

3 – Could be ‘controversial’

Let’s look at some of the pervious appeals broadcast during/after ‘controversial conflicts’:
Gulf Crisis (1990)
Former Yugoslavia (1994)
Rwanda (1994)
Sudan (1998)
Kosovo (1999)
Liberia (2003)
Sudan - Darfur (2004)
Darfur & Chad (2007)
Can you please explain why this appeal is any different?

The bottom line is that people are dying and more will die because of the BBC’s refusal to transmit this appeal, which means those that have taken this decision will have blood on their hands. Can you explain how they can live with that?

I look forward to your reply before I refer my complaint to my Member of Parliament.

Regards,

 

[brix]

Okay, there are now three threads on this and things are being repeated; I will merge them into this one.

Sorry, most of that was me.

Thanks for the link.

Actually elbows had already posted it, but glad it was useful.

Thanks for that info.

Complaint sent:

Gaza Appeal.

I wish to register my complaint concerning the refusal of the BBC to air the Gaza charity appeal.

At a time of massive human suffering, I feel it is the duty of the BBC as a publicly funded public service broadcaster to transmit these appeals - it is then up to the public to decide if they wish to contribute or not.

I find the reasons, nee excuses, not to transmit this appeal to be unreasonable to say the least.

1 – Compromise impartiality.

Sorry, I cannot accept this – there’s thousands upon thousands suffering in Gaza, there is nothing like that happening in Israel, if there were I would expect you to transmit appeals for both sides. There isn’t, so there’s no problem with impartiality by transmitting this appeal.

2 – We have to be clear the money goes to the people it is intended for.

What is your chief operating officer, Caroline Thomson, suggesting here? That the MAJOR and INTETNATION aid CHARTIES are going to defraud the appeal fund? Is she suggesting the £25m of aid that our government is giving is going to be diverted? Please explain what this outrageous statement exactly means.

3 – Could be ‘controversial’

Let’s look at some of the pervious appeals broadcast during/after ‘controversial conflicts’:
Gulf Crisis (1990)
Former Yugoslavia (1994)
Rwanda (1994)
Sudan (1998)
Kosovo (1999)
Liberia (2003)
Sudan - Darfur (2004)
Darfur & Chad (2007)
Can you please explain why this appeal is any different?

The bottom line is that people are dying and more will die because of the BBC’s refusal to transmit this appeal, which means those that have taken this decision will have blood on their hands. Can you explain how they can live with that?

I look forward to your reply before I refer my complaint to my Member of Parliament.

Regards,

Excellent e-mail.

 

[claphamboy]

Excellent e-mail.

Cheers.

I am trying to make a complaint by phone too*, but the line is constantly engaged - I'll keep trying

* using a different name.

 

[brix]

Cheers.

I am trying to make a complaint by phone too*, but the line is constantly engaged - I'll keep trying

* using a different name.

I spent about half an hour trying to get through earlier but I couldn't get through either. I'm hoping that means that lots of people are calling and not that the beeb have simply taken the phones off the hook.

I'm so bloody angry about this. It defies belief.

 

[danny la rouge]

I've slightly amended my complaint to the BBC, and sent it to my MP:

Dear Anne


Happy New Year. I write in the light of the BBC decision not to broadcast a humanitarian appeal for what the UN has called "shocking" conditions in Gaza. Sir John Holmes, the UN's humanitarian chief who visited Gaza on Thursday, said he was shocked by "the systematic nature of the destruction".


I am astonished, given the UN position, that the BBC has decided, on the flimsiest of excuses, not to broadcast an appeal by the DEC. Some appeals the BBC has broadcast in the past have been for "controversial" conflicts, including:



Gulf Crisis (1990)

Former Yugoslavia (1994)

Rwanda (1994)

Sudan (1998)

Kosovo (1999)

Liberia (2003)

Sudan - Darfur (2004)

Darfur & Chad (2007)



A BBC spokesperson is quoted as saying: "Along with other broadcasters, the BBC has decided not to broadcast the DEC's public appeal to raise funds for Gaza. The BBC decision was made because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a volatile situation and also to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of an ongoing news story. However, the BBC will of course continue to report the humanitarian story in Gaza."



So did that not apply in those other appeals? Was Darfur an easy aid drop? Was Rwanda not volatile? Were the humanitarian appeals for the victims of the Balkan conflict and the Gulf crisis in no danger of compromising public confidence in BBC impartiality?



It is a sham of an excuse. Ben Bradshaw has said it was "an inexplicable decision" and that the reasons given were "completely feeble"!



The hypocrisy of reporting on a humanitarian crisis but refusing to broadcast an appeal for aid for that crisis beggars belief. Indeed, far from demonstrating impartiality, it seems to suggest that the victims here are somehow less deserving. In its panic, the BBC has lost its way. But quite what the reasons for the panic are in the first place escapes me.


I have, of course, complained to the BBC, but I feel that Parliament has a duty to voice concern over this decision, and to hold the BBC to account.


Yours

 

[claphamboy]

I've slightly amended my complaint to the BBC, and sent it to my MP:

Excellent.

 

[danny la rouge]

Excellent.

She's a Labour MP, so I had to cut "even that hopeless tosser Bradshaw".

 

[brix]

She's a Labour MP, so I had to cut "even that hopeless tosser Bradshaw".

 

[Badger Kitten]

As well as complaining please can everyone give what they can - so that the Disaster Emergency Committee is able to help the suffering people in Gaza despite the crap decision by the BBC.

http://www.dec.org.uk/

Thanks.

Sorry, felt it was necessary to shout

 

[Fedayn]

It's now a news item on BBC radio news.

 

[tangentlama]

I am seriously considering sending my television to my father's house for the next 3 months and cancel my direct debit with the television licensing, and sending the license sum + extra funds instead to the DEC.

I am disgusted at the BBC decision.

 

[danny la rouge]

It's now a news item on BBC radio news.

Clueless cocks.

The thing is, some listeners may be confused by the headless chicken routine and infer that there might be good reasons that the BBC thinks it shouldn't broadcast an appeal. They've done real harm here.

 

[elbows]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7848673.stm

International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said it was not too late for a reversal to recognise the "immense human suffering".
A protest is to be held outside Broadcasting House in London after the BBC declined to broadcast appeals by the Disasters Emergency Committee.
The BBC said it would not compromise its commitment to impartiality.
Mr Alexander said: "I think the British public ... can distinguish between support for humanitarian aid and perceived partiality in a conflict.
"I really struggle to see in the face of the immense human suffering of people in Gaza... that this is in any way a credible argument.
"They still have time to make a different judgement to recognise the immense human suffering."

 

[DotCommunist]

the comment box isn't as idiotic as normal.

 

[danny la rouge]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7848673.stm

I find myself agreeing with both Ben "hopeless tosser" Bradshaw and Dougie "smug twat" Alexander in the same day. What times we live in.

 

[elbows]

For some reason I keep thinking of the Blue Peter Cambodia appeal:

http://rfaunplugged.wordpress.com/2...-thatcher-talks-to-blue-peter-about-cambodia/

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I find myself agreeing with both Ben "hopeless tosser" Bradshaw and Dougie "smug twat" Alexander in the same day. What times we live in.

Well, they're only saying it because it helps take attention off the government for not actually having done anything while the shells were still flying. If the scarily on-message Bradshaw is saying it, you can be sure it's policy. But let them do something useful for a change I suppose.

 

[danny la rouge]

Well, they're only saying it because it helps take attention off the government for not actually having done anything while the shells were still flying. If the scarily on-message Bradshaw is saying it, you can be sure it's policy. But let them do something useful for a change I suppose.

Well, quite.

 

[claphamboy]

I finally managed to make a complaint by phone, after being on hold for 17 minutes – it was worth the wait!

They don’t ask for your name or any other personal details, they only record the volume of complaints, so I recommend everyone complains both by phone AND via the website – two complaints for the price of one.

The guy did say they have received ‘a massive amount’ of complaints on this matter.

The number again to register your complaint with the BBC is – 03700 100 222 option 3.

And the web-form is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complaints_stage1.shtml

 

[claphamboy]

It is now the main story on BBC News24, with a 5-minute report, including an interview with a spokesman from the DEC explaining how important TV appeals are, with 80% of donations during last year’s Congo appeal coming directly from the TV broadcasts!

So, keep up the pressure peeps.

 

[Badger Kitten]

It is now the main story on BBC News24, with a 5-minute report, including an interview with a spokesman from the DEC explaining how important TV appeals are, with 80% of donations during last year’s Congo appeal coming directly from the TV broadcasts!

So, keep up the pressure peeps.

And...

As well as complaining please can everyone give what they can - so that the Disaster Emergency Committee is able to help the suffering people in Gaza despite the crap decision by the BBC.

http://www.dec.org.uk/