Humanitarian aid and the BBC

[andy-hughes]

How on earth can Mark Thompson justify his decision not to screen an appeal for aid for the victims of the conflict in Gaza?

The the two strands of thought simply do not meet in any way that can provide justification for this gross misuse of the BBC's remit to 'inform, educate and entertain'.

The justification of partiality is frankly laughable, given the BBC's slant on other political issues.

The fact is, innocent men women and children are suffering and dying in this situation, and the Appeal is to provide aid and support. Quite how any right thinking people - including any Israelis - could see that as taking sides in the political dedbate is beyond belief, but in its efforts to take the moral high ground, the BBC allows innocents to go on suffering, when it has the power to make a difference.

All involved from the DG downwards should hang their heads in shame - for as long as it takes for their resignations to be processed.

Your thoughts?

[tonymclark]

Whatever your views on whether the BBC should have broadcast the appeal or not, I somehow think the BBC and Sky's decision not to broadcast the appeal has created more awareness than if the broadcast had gone ahead. I didn't see the broadcast on ITV, Channel Four or FIVE, but heard about it simply because the appeal was banned by the BBC.

[brionon]

How can Oil rich Arabs ignore the plight of their fellow Muslims in Gaza ? Maybe they're too busy buying Football teams and Race-horses ?

[LoftyLottie2]

I totally agree Andy. I was just going to make the same point tonymclark!

[Verix]

I don't know why everyone is so confused by the Beebs decision.

In the last few years the BBc has come under such incredible flack for what are (in my opinion) fairly minor issues. From the whole Sach's fiasco to phone-in 'scandals', the BBC can't be blamed for being extra careful with what they do.

Generally i think they do a steller job, providing truly varied and interesting programming. They haven't shyed away from this issue either, as someone mentioned above, they've probably given it more publicity than the appeal would have anyway.

[andy-hughes]

I'm not confused by it at all Verix.

The decision has been made, and the reason clearly explained that the BBC is wary of being seen as in any way pro-Israel by broadcasting a charity appeal.

What next? No Red Nose Day, because there is no equivalent Blue or Orange Nose day, so the BBC will be seen as pro-Labour byt broadcasting the event?

The issue is clear - the appeal is humanitarian, based on alleviating the suffering of innocent people caught up in a war through no fault of their own. To try and second-guess some misconceived attack on its impartiality, and to attept to duck the issue in this way is inexcusable.

The BBC should be above such wheedling PC mollycoddling - broadcast the appeal, dare anyone to accuse them of political bias, and then laugh at the stupidity of such an idea, thus demolishing the detractors as fools looking for a political bias where clearky non exists.

It's not rocket science - but it is rocket damage.