Psyche, Science, and Society

Uproar over BBC refusing to air Gaza aid appeal

Britain is in an uproar after the BBC refused to air an appeal from 13 charities for emergency aid for the people of Gaza. The charities are:

Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, World Vision.

In an unusual twist, the British government has criticized the BBC decision!

Douglas Alexander, Britain’s international development secretary, has written to Mark Thompson, the BBC’s director-general, as well as the heads of ITV and Sky, the other two British broadcasters who normally air the appeals, urging them to reconsider airing the appeal.

BBC spurns Gaza appeal
In his letter, Alexander said: “As you know, the support of broadcasters is highly effective and extremely valued by the group of charities and non-governmental organisations who provide humanitarian relief under the DEC umbrella.

“The situation is developing on the ground and I understand that Oxfam, Save the Children and others have been able to get some aid into Gaza today.

“But it is clear that the humanitarian situation will be dire for some time to come, with around 100,000 people having left their homes and more than 50,000 people in UN emergency shelters.

“While I recognise that this is a decision rightly taken by broadcasters, I hope that in light of the great human suffering still taking place in Gaza, you will reconsider your decision in relation to the DEC appeal.”

Other TV stations, including Channel 4 and ITV, have broadcast the appeal. Many hundreds [the BBC said over its Telex "over 200", the Observer says 2,000] protested the BBC‘s likely cave-in to Israeli pressure:

For other coverage, see the Obersverlead story: BBC crisis over refusal to broadcast Gaza appeal.

Here Tony Benn refuses to collaborate and gets the appeal info in during a BBC interview:

www.dec.org.uk ,
24 hour credit card line 0370 60 60 900

cheques made payable to
“DEC Gaza Crisis”

send to:

DEC Gaza Crisis Appeal
PO Box 999,
London EC3A 3AA.

Also, remember the Psychologists for Social Responsibility [PsySR] appeal for support for the Gaza Community Mental Health Program.

January 24th, 2009

Channel 4: The destruction of Gaza

British Channel 4 has a long report on the enormity of the destruction in Gaza. The Israeli graffiti at the end tells all.

As you watch this, remember that Friday Israel refused to open the border crossings to such materials as cement.

While a U.N. official praised Israel’s “goodwill” for letting 120 truckloads per day of food and medicine into Gaza, other diplomats decried restrictions on steel and cement imports needed to make repairs after Israel’s 22-day offensive.

Israel also blocked the Western-backed Palestinian Authority from sending cash to Gaza, despite international warnings that President Mahmoud Abbas’s standing was at stake.

I have heard that no building materials have been allowed in for 18 months. Rebuilding is impossible under such circumstances. Without rebuilding there can be no possibility of peace:

January 24th, 2009