My own comment in the complaint to the BBC:
I am disgusted and saddened by the BBC’s refusal to broadcast the DEC’s Gaza appeal under the pretense of ‘impartiality’. Regardless of the politics of the situation in the Middle East, it is a cold hard fact that thousands of people are living in refugee camps, thousands have had their homes and civilian infrastructure destroyed, and thousands are without basics such as food, water & medical supplies. I have always supported the ideal of the BBC and believe it can be a positive force in the world, but if you continue to block this appeal I will be forced by my values to cancel my TV license for the foreseeable future as I do not want such a cold hearted, vacuous organisation receiving any of my money.
Someone else backs the issue up with some facts on previous campaigns broadcast by the BBC:
I have never posted a comment on this site before but I am moved to do so now because I am so appauled by the BBC’s decision not to air the DEC appeal for humanitarian aid to Palestine. The BBC has lost all credibility with this decision. To watch senior members of BBC staff such as Thompson and Thomson flailing around trying to justify their decision is both laughable and heartbreaking.
Some appeals the BBC have broadcast for “controversial” conflicts are:
Gulf Crisis (1990)
Former Yugoslavia (1994)
Rwanda (1994)
Sudan (1998)
Kosovo (1999)
Liberia (2003)
Sudan - Darfur (2004)
Darfur & Chad (2007)By not broadcasting this appeal the BBC, rather than preserving it’s impartiality, is revealing it’s partiality.
Shame on you BBC - you have really shot yourself in the foot over this. Reconsider now before it’s too late and masses of people, including myself, decide that they would rather not pay a licence fee to such a politically motivated organisation.
(quoted from a poster on the Urban75 message board)
Please use the BBC’s webform to send a complaint. This is much more important than the Ross/Brand affair.
You can also telephone them at 03700 100 222 option 3.
