CENSORED - Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal for Gaza

This was the DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee) appeal for the people of Gaza which was banned from BBC and Sky News (and other news agencies).  Their refusal to show an appeal citing impartiality demonstrates what little impartiality the BBC has.  It also shows how weak the BBC are when a former BBC Producer such as Tony Benn has to remind them of their duty to report - Not take sides.  Maybe I should follow in the footsteps of the BBC and refuse to use them as a source.  Thankfully I am not like them which is why you will find their news articles listed along with many other news media on my blog.


There is no place for censorship in a Free Democracy
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"We are passionate about defending the BBC's impartiality and we worry with such an emotive and such a political story - the United Nations this morning describing it as a political crisis with humanitarian consequences.  We do want to cover the humanitarian story, we want to cover it in our news programmes where we can put it in context, we can do it in an even, carefully balanced, objective way.  We worry about being seen to endorse something which could give people the impression that we were backing one side." - MARK THOMPSON, BBC DIRECTOR GENERAL

"These are difficult judgements for all broadcasters, but particularly so for the BBC because of the way it is funded.  I am pleased this appeal will now be shown, that other broadcasters have decided to do so.  But as the man who does uphold the independence of broadcasters in this country, I think it is right that broadcasters come to their own judgement.  And the fact that Sky are obviously still considering these issues in the balance does demonstrate that for broadcasters that have an international presence, it is a difficult judgement call for them." - ANDY BURNHAM, CULTURE SECRETARY

"This is not a row about impartiality but rather about humanity.  This situation is akin to that of British military hospitals who treat prisoners of war as a result of their duty under the Geneva convention.  They do so because they identify need rather than cause.  This is not an appeal by Hamas asking for arms but by the Disasters Emergency Committee asking for relief.  By declining their request, the BBC has already taken sides and forsaken impartiality." - DR JOHN SENTAMU, ARCHBISHOP OF YORK

Links:

http://www.dec.org.uk/item/347

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7849554.stm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix5CkWWeSmI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofuvlx-MGRk&feature=search

"It's an insult to the viewing public to suggest they can't distinguish between the humanitarian needs of thousands of children and families in Gaza and the political sensitivities of the Middle East. It's a distinction which anyone can make and to suggest the BBC should somehow not allow people to show their compassion because of the wider controversies in the Middle East is a case, in this instance, of the BBC totally getting its priorities upside down." - NICK CLEGG, LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER

"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 in Gaza at the moment, that this is in any way a credible argument.  They still have time to make a different judgement, to recognise the immense human suffering and to address the concern - which I think otherwise may develop - that somehow the suffering of people in Gaza is not taken as seriously as the suffering of people in other conflicts." - DOUGLAS ALEXANDER, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY