From: Andrew Johnson
Date: 2009-01-24 18:15:24
uk.news.yahoo.com/4/… Broadcaster row over Gaza appeal grows Saturday, January 24 05:48 pm Print Story ITV, Channel 4 and Five have said they will air a charity appeal for Gaza as the BBC is slammed for refusing to screen it. Skip related content Related photos / videos Gaza protest at BBC HQ Play video Related content Video: Gaza protest at BBC HQ UK Troops’ Lives ‘Being Wasted’ Ministers accused over Afghanistan Related Hot Topic: Liberal Democrats Have your say: Liberal Democrats The Disasters Emergency Committee appeal hopes to raise millions of pounds for supplies for Palestinians suffering after the three-week bombardment of the region by Israel. The BBC claims that showing the appeal might compromise its impartiality. However, ITV says it will run the appeal next week, saying: “After careful consideration, and in consultation with other networks, a common consensus has been reached by the majority of broadcasters and as a result ITV will broadcast a DEC appeal.” And terrestrial television channel Five later announced that it is also joining ITV and Channel 4 in broadcasting the appeal. A Five spokesman said: “Five feels this is an urgent humanitarian situation which transcends politics and has taken the decision to show the Gaza appeal.” Thousands of people have been protesting in central London amid the controversy and Fiyaz Mughal, an adviser to Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, said shadow secretary for energy and climate change Simon Hughes will take action in the Commons on Monday in relation to the BBC’s decision not to air the appeal. He said: “The people of Gaza and Palestine need our support even more now that the fighting has stopped on the ground. Those guilty of illegal acts must be punished.” The protesters in Trafalgar Square also held one minutes silence for ‘those who were massacred in Gaza’. Justice minister Shahid Malik, who was Britain’s first Muslim minister, said: “In a flawed attempt to be viewed as impartial, the BBC has managed to achieve the exact opposite. “This issue is not about contentious notions of impartiality but about the unequivocal reality of human suffering on the ground – ultimately about saving lives and alleviating unnecessary pain. “Sadly, across the globe the BBC’s decision will be viewed as one which inflicts still further misery on the beleaguered and suffering people of Gaza. The BBC ought to take the advice of Douglas Alexander, reconsider its decision and do the decent thing.” Are you interested in what’s really going on in the world, behind the facade? Then…www.checktheevidence… happened on 9/11?www.drjudywood.com/
