23 January 09 BBC Blocks Aid to Gaza Appeal Update. The Government complains to the BBC and you should too

URGENT REQUEST TO ALL STOP THE WAR’S SUPPORTERS

GOVERNMENT COMPLAINS TO BBC FOR BLOCKING GAZA APPEAL

JOIN THE GOVERNMENT’S PROTEST: COMPLAIN NOW TO THE BBC

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/

BRING CHILDREN’S DOLLS TO THE BBC

If you are coming to demonstration on Saturday 24 January,   which assembles outside Broadcasting House, we are asking   protestors to bring children’s dolls, wrapped if possible in   white shrouds, to be laid on the steps of the BBC, as a   memorial to the hundreds of children who died in Israel’s   attacks and as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians in   Gaza, now denied urgently needed aid by the BBC.

DEMONSTRATE FOR GAZA: SATURDAY 24 JANUARY

END THE BLOCKADE: STOP ALL ARMS SALES  BRING THE WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE

Assemble 2.00pm BBC Broadcasting House for rally   Portland Place, London W1A 1AA

Nearest tubes: Great Portland Street or Regents park.

March starts at 3.00 pm. Ends with rally in Trafalgar Square   4.30 pm.

BRING CHILDEN’S DOLLS WRAPPED IN WHITE SHROUDS TO LAY ON THE   STEPS OF THE BBC BRING SHOES WITH MESSAGES TO GORDON BROWN INSIDE TO DELIVER AS  WE MARCH PAST DOWNING STREET

Instead of banning all arms trade with Israel and breaking all  diplomatic relations, Brown has offered to send the British navy to help Israel tighten its blockade on Gaza.

MARCH ROUTE:   Assemble and rally Portland Place, March to Regent Street,   Piccadilly, Lower Regent Street, Trafalgar Square,   Northumberland Avenue, Embankment, Parliament, Downing Street,   Trafalgar Square (End rally)

STOP THE WAR COALITION   NEWSLETTER   No. 1078  23 January 2009   Email office@stopwar.org.uk   Tel: 020 7278 6694   Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk