Saturday 24 January 2009

BBC deny Gaza fundraising appeal in order “to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC’s impartiality'

If you watch BBC at all I'm am sure at times you have come across appeals made by Disaster Emergency committee appeals. They fundraise on behalf of 12 charities and BBC in the past has give peak free air time for DEC to make appeals.

The effects of these appeals are amazing (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/313248.stm) they have been succesful and their appeals generally get brilliant response.
Today I was informed that BBC has broken the 45 year old contract with DEC and will NOT allow them to air for GAZA appeal. This is an outrage! please write to them immediately ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/) or call them on 03700 100 222. 

PLEASE COME TO THE PRTOTEST OUTSIDE THE BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE ON PORTABELLO ROAD 24TH JAN 2PM.

Dear Sir or Madam,

It has been brought to my attention that BBC has denied Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal; free broadcasting time to fundraise for Gaza. I am appalled and frankly disgusted by this decision. It has shocked me to the core that BBC has no human values left at all. With biased pro-Israeli broadcasting that you have shoved in our faces during the conflict, you are now denying 1.5 million Gazans of their chance to rebuild their lives.

May I remind you, which you have clearly forgotten, that like many others who have been complaining, I am too a BBC licence payer, and demand to know the REAL reason that you have denied DEC it’s free broadcasting time to raise money for Gaza.

I have read that DEC’s appeal has been denied by BBC in order “to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC’s impartiality in the context of an ongoing news story’ is frankly absurd and meaningless. You have for forty-five years had an agreement with DEC and in the past have aired many appeals (Zimbabwe, tsunami etc.) Now you are breaking this contract because BBC apparently gets to decide who is human and who is worth getting this aid. Frankly, that is NOT for BBC to decide. You claim that you will continue to report on the humanitarian aspects in Gaza, but your reporting has questioned the pro-Israeli stand you have already taken.

BBC are contradicting themselves, by taking this stand it makes it superbly clear that you are supporting Israel and your ‘impartiality’ has already been questioned and is on the verge of deteriorating.

It has become common knowledge that pregnant women giving births during the massacre have not been able gain post pregnancy treatments till this day. Children who have lost limbs or survived close range shootings are sitting in hospitals with infections due medication depletion, families have been torn apart, livelihoods snatched. There is need for immediate medical aid, water, housing and long term aid is further needed and you are concerned with ‘risk’ of compromising public confidence? And so I am dismayed and wonder at what kind of people work at BBC? Obviously they themselves have not been brought up with basic human values.

I will advise you that before you loose all credibility, that BBC needs to reinstate DEC its free fundraising broadcasting time immediately and start to respond to the REAL humanitarian appeal for Gazans. It may come as a surprise to you but the people of Gaza are actually human beings who have been denied nearly every basic human rights by Israel, have been victims of horrendous war crimes committed by Israel and are still suffering from the consequences of the three week massacre.

I demand as a BBC licence payer for you to broadcast DEC’s appeal immediately and to take full responsibility for this cold and callous decision made.

Awaiting your reply

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