Sunday, 25 January 2009
BBC Scotland headquarters occupied after refusal to show DEC Gaza aid appeal – Occupation victorious in highlighting the issue
Over 100 people participated in an occupation of the BBC Scotland headquarters today, demanding that the broadcaster show the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Gaza. Occupiers entered the building at 5pm, and despite the police threatening mass arrests to remove everyone within 15 minutes, the occupation remained for almost 4 hours. The occupation was successful in applying additional pressure on the BBC through extensive national and international media coverage, including CNN, CBS and Al-Jazeera. Tony Benn also telephoned the occupation to offer his support, saying 'The decision to occupy the BBC in Glasgow must be understood as a plea for the people of Gaza, who are suffering so much and who need our help to help get the money through'.
A delegation from the occupation was elected to meet with Ian Small, Head of Public Policy & Corporate Affairs and member of the BBC's Executive Board, who was called in specially to meet with the occupiers. The occupation had three main demands:
- That the BBC reverse its decision and show the DEC Appeal for Gaza.
- That the BBC director responsible for the decision not to air the appeal should be asked to resign.
- That the BBC show coverage of the outrage of the British people against the stopping of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The BBC agreed that it will arrange a meeting with the delegation with Ken McQuarrie, the Controller of the BBC Scotland, and Atholl Duncan, the head of news for BBC Scotland on Wednesday the 28th of January. Glasgow Stop the War Coalition is asking its supporters and those who support humanitarian aid to Gaza to gather outside the BBC on Wednesday at 4.30pm.
Protestors also promised to return unless the DEC appeal is aired. Glasgow Stop the War also called for others to take similar actions around the UK.
All the occupiers decided to leave the building together, and no arrests were made.
'The life of every man, woman and child in Gaza is just as valuable as the lives of people anywhere else in the world. The people of Britain want to help the people of Gaza, and the BBC should give them the information to do so. Every day that the BBC waits to show this appeal, more people in Gaza will die,' said Penny Howard, of the Stop the War Coalition.
Saturday, 24 January 2009
PROTEST OUTSIDE THE BBC - BROADCAST THE DEC GAZA APPEAL
URGENT REQUEST TO ALL STOP THE WAR'S SUPPORTERS
The BBC has scuppered the Disasters Emergency Committee http://www.dec.org.uk/ in its efforts to raise money for Gaza. Read the full story below and flood the BBC with complaints today. BBC scuppers TV fundraising appeal for Gaza victims
PROTEST OUTSIDE THE BBC
SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY
5.00PM sharp
PACIFIC QUAY, GLASGOW
MAP: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=256705&Y=665133&A=Y&Z=110
Background information:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5568735.ece Statement from the BBC"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,"BBC Statement
GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS TO BBC FOR BLOCKING GAZA APPEAL http://globaldayofaction.org/stopwar/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=988&Itemid=1
COMPLAIN NOW TO THE BBChttp://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/ 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/
Tony Benn Statement on BBC "betrayal" over charity broadcast
"The decision of the BBC to refuse to broadcast a national humanitarian appeal for Gaza, which has left aid agencies with a potential shortfall of millions of pounds in donations, is a betrayal of the obligation which it owes as a public service.The destruction in Gaza and the loss of the lives of over a thousand civilians and children, has shocked the world as Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon, made clear, when he saw the devastation for himself.The human suffering that the people of Gaza has experienced over the last few weeks has appalled people who have seen it for themselves on their television screens.To deny the help that the aid agencies and the UN need at this moment in time is incomprehensible and it follows the bias in BBC reporting of this crisis, which has been widely criticised.I appeal to the Chairman of the BBC Trust to intervene to reverse this decision to save the lives of those who are now in acute danger of dying through a lack of food, fuel, water and medical supplies."Tony Benn
The BBC has scuppered the Disasters Emergency Committee http://www.dec.org.uk/ in its efforts to raise money for Gaza. Read the full story below and flood the BBC with complaints today. BBC scuppers TV fundraising appeal for Gaza victims
PROTEST OUTSIDE THE BBC
SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY
5.00PM sharp
PACIFIC QUAY, GLASGOW
MAP: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=256705&Y=665133&A=Y&Z=110
Background information:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5568735.ece Statement from the BBC"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,"BBC Statement
GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS TO BBC FOR BLOCKING GAZA APPEAL http://globaldayofaction.org/stopwar/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=988&Itemid=1
COMPLAIN NOW TO THE BBChttp://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/ 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/
Tony Benn Statement on BBC "betrayal" over charity broadcast
"The decision of the BBC to refuse to broadcast a national humanitarian appeal for Gaza, which has left aid agencies with a potential shortfall of millions of pounds in donations, is a betrayal of the obligation which it owes as a public service.The destruction in Gaza and the loss of the lives of over a thousand civilians and children, has shocked the world as Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon, made clear, when he saw the devastation for himself.The human suffering that the people of Gaza has experienced over the last few weeks has appalled people who have seen it for themselves on their television screens.To deny the help that the aid agencies and the UN need at this moment in time is incomprehensible and it follows the bias in BBC reporting of this crisis, which has been widely criticised.I appeal to the Chairman of the BBC Trust to intervene to reverse this decision to save the lives of those who are now in acute danger of dying through a lack of food, fuel, water and medical supplies."Tony Benn
Politician Tony Benn discusses on the BBC News 24 and radio 4 why he will be attending the protest outside BBC Broadcasting House and puts out an appeal for aid himself – much to the horror of the presenters!!
Tony Benn was brilliant on BBC new 24 just now on the question of the BBC Gaza appeal ban. He stunned the interviewer by immediately interrupting her by saying "seeing as the BBC will not broadcast the appeal I will, she tried to intervene but he said "you are not going to stop me" and he gave out the appeal phone no and details as well as the numbers of casualties. She looked bewildered as he angrily raged against the BBC and said "we all know who is behind this, the Israeli Government"
http://filasteen.wordpress.com/2009/01/24/tony-benn-to-the-bbc-im-sorry-but-im-a-human-being/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7848000/7848670.stm
Unseen Gaza
Channel 4 Video Report - Broadcast - January 22, 2009
Is what has been presented on our screens and in our papers a true reflection of events on the ground in Gaza? And how do these reports differ to those aired in other countries?With reporters unable to enter Gaza, attempted media manipulation from both sides and strict regulations governing what images that can be shown on British TV, Jon Snow asks a range of journalists from at home and abroad about the challenges of getting the full story.
Watch the programme here: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21833.htm
Help us to expand our mailing list.We collect many email addresses from on demonstrations and at events. They are not always easy to read and therefore we cannot keep in touch.Collect emails addresses from your friends, family and workmates and email them to glasgowstopwar@gmail.comPlease forward this email to your email address book.
Thursday, 22 January 2009
PROTEST RALLY & TEACH-IN
PROTEST RALLY – SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
Saturday 24 January
1pm, George Square
PROSECUTE THE WAR CRIMINALS
END THE BLOCKADE
STOP ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL
EXPEL THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR
FREE PALESTINE!
We will be laying a wreath in Palestinian colours at the cenotaph, please bring red flowers and Palestinian flags to leave there in memory of the over 1300 people killed in Gaza since 27 December.
Organised by the Gaza Emergency Coordinating Committee
HOW YOU CAN HELP MAXIMISE TURN OUT FOR THIS EVENT
Call 079 1234 8366 for leaflets / posters - the more flyers/posters you want the better.
Call to volunteer for leafleting at a mosque, train station or in the city centre on Friday.
Forward this email to all your networks/friends and text everyone you know.
TEACH-IN – SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
FREE PALESTINE! Imperialism, Occupation, Resistance, Solidarity
Saturday 24 January
2:30pm-5:15pm
Strathclyde University
Student Union Building, John Street, Glasgow
(5 mins walk from George Square)
What is the history of Zionism? Why did America and the UK support the creation of Israel, and why do they continue today? What is it like to live under occupation? Who are the activists for social justice in the Middle East, and what are they doing today? What can we do in the UK to provide solidarity to the Palestinians? Boycott, divestment and sanctions: how do they work? What is our government's role and how can we influence them?
Speakers include: Wael Sawish - a Palestinian and Chair of Scottish Friends of Palestine; Joshua Brown- delegate to the January 2009 Beirut International Forum on Resistance, Anti-imperialism, Solidarity and Alternatives'; Humza Yusef - Director of Public Affairs for the Scottish Islamic Foundation and Political Advisor to Nicola Sturgeon; Nicola Fisher – Chair of Glasgow Stop the War Coalition, others to be confirmed.
Organised by the Gaza Emergency Coordinating Committee
Saturday 24 January
1pm, George Square
PROSECUTE THE WAR CRIMINALS
END THE BLOCKADE
STOP ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL
EXPEL THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR
FREE PALESTINE!
We will be laying a wreath in Palestinian colours at the cenotaph, please bring red flowers and Palestinian flags to leave there in memory of the over 1300 people killed in Gaza since 27 December.
Organised by the Gaza Emergency Coordinating Committee
HOW YOU CAN HELP MAXIMISE TURN OUT FOR THIS EVENT
Call 079 1234 8366 for leaflets / posters - the more flyers/posters you want the better.
Call to volunteer for leafleting at a mosque, train station or in the city centre on Friday.
Forward this email to all your networks/friends and text everyone you know.
TEACH-IN – SATURDAY 24 JANUARY
FREE PALESTINE! Imperialism, Occupation, Resistance, Solidarity
Saturday 24 January
2:30pm-5:15pm
Strathclyde University
Student Union Building, John Street, Glasgow
(5 mins walk from George Square)
What is the history of Zionism? Why did America and the UK support the creation of Israel, and why do they continue today? What is it like to live under occupation? Who are the activists for social justice in the Middle East, and what are they doing today? What can we do in the UK to provide solidarity to the Palestinians? Boycott, divestment and sanctions: how do they work? What is our government's role and how can we influence them?
Speakers include: Wael Sawish - a Palestinian and Chair of Scottish Friends of Palestine; Joshua Brown- delegate to the January 2009 Beirut International Forum on Resistance, Anti-imperialism, Solidarity and Alternatives'; Humza Yusef - Director of Public Affairs for the Scottish Islamic Foundation and Political Advisor to Nicola Sturgeon; Nicola Fisher – Chair of Glasgow Stop the War Coalition, others to be confirmed.
Organised by the Gaza Emergency Coordinating Committee
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