BBC Headquarters Occupied

reply to post by Terapin


Yes, the offices have been invaded by a few dozen hippies.

Now, as to the separate issue of the marching hippies (a similar species, but far more common), they move on from one cause to another.

The most recent were the Heathrow runway marches (thousands attended), and prior to that you had the protests over Tibet when the carriers of the Olympic flame were attacked, go back slightly further and you have the London poverty protests in 2007 and then the G8 protests etc etc etc

These are largely just the same group of "rent-a-mob" loudmouths who have an aversion to their own western culture and anything soap related.

Come up with a story about the persecution of Aborigines and you can rest assured they will all rush into the streets armed with their didgeridoos and face paint.

Ten years from now they'll all be investment bankers in the city, but right now they're just having "fun".

Just bring in some mobile showers and they'll soon disperse.

I would have been more impressed had they been protesting at the bias and propaganda spewed out by U.K. state-television.

This protest will have no impact on their agenda.

reply to post by Retseh


Hmm, I don't know what was more ludicrous about your post?

The actual idiotic content, or the fact that you believe it.

If we're using cliched stereotypes then i guess you'll be the type of person that when questioned by your own grandchildren about what you did when the sh*t hit the fan.

You'd say 'well erm... I insulted a couple of the people who were actively trying to improve the conditions of the world, i bunched them into crappy stereotypes and commented on nothing but their appearance.... now if you don't mind, i gotta have my micropchip scanned.'

Now go back to your reality and leave the important matters to people who give a damn.

Originally posted by Retseh
Just bring in some mobile showers and they'll soon disperse.

LOL, They need tooth brushes as well.

While I appreciate the humor in your post, I do feel that the cause does have merit.

1.) A Public Service Channel that ignores it's mandate to serve the public interest. The Public is clearly interested in the DEC aid appeal after all.

2.) Media Bias in favor of a particular political power. Clearly it is influenced by the story involving Israel, as they had no problem airing numerous aid appeals when other nations were involved

3.) A humanitarian crisis being ignored due to Media Bias. Women and children suffering due to lack of food, shelter, water, and medical supplies is both a crisis, and newsworthy. An Aid appeal by the DEC would only take a few minutes of airtime yet could relieve untold suffering. Not a lot to ask.

The fact that the Prime Minister and over 50 MP's are speaking out against the BBC in this matter, is a clear example of politicians reflecting the will of the people. As it should be. Unless of course, you would suggest that the Queen is the real power behind it all, with her own secret agenda. But then, that would be a matter of a different topic.

Originally posted by mr-lizard
Hmm, I don't know what was more ludicrous about your post?

The actual idiotic content, or the fact that you believe it.

If we're using cliched stereotypes then i guess you'll be the type of person that when questioned by your own grandchildren about what you did when the sh*t hit the fan.

You'd say 'well erm... I insulted a couple of the people who were actively trying to improve the conditions of the world, i bunched them into crappy stereotypes and commented on nothing but their appearance.... now if you don't mind, i gotta have my micropchip scanned.'

Now go back to your reality and leave the important matters to people who give a damn.

I would say you're dancing pretty close to breaching the new strict rules on member etiquette with that nasty and somewhat personal little rant.

If you don't like what I say, feel free to take issue with the content, but not me personally.

Got it?

reply to post by Retseh


If you feel the responses you receive are too personal then maybe you should be posting anonymously.

mr-lizard was spot on - responding to your post and not you



[edit on 26/1/2009 by skibtz]

reply to post by Terapin


You make some good points, especially about the toothbrushes.

I would say that all things are relative. "Humanitarian Crisis" may well mean one thing in Gaza, but they still have it pretty good in comparison to Darfur, or some of the central african republics.

The supplies are already flowing into Gaza, the crisis was remarkably short lived, not quite the same for the starving Africans, but as I said before, protesting for African aid just isn't "cool" any more, it has to be Tibet or Gaza these days.

reply to post by Retseh


Darfur is an absolute horror story but it in no way diminishes the suffering happening anywhere else, Gaza included.

I do agree that more has to be done to raise awareness of the attrocities occuring on the African continent though. The way the western governments have appeared to sit back and do nothing is awful. I was also somewhat disturbed when the UN only intervened in the Gaza situation when 'their' buildings and people started to get bombed.

Far too much politics and never enough humanity when this stuff is happening.

[edit on 26/1/2009 by skibtz]

Originally posted by Terapin

The fact that the Prime Minister and over 50 MP's are speaking out against the BBC in this matter, is a clear example of politicians reflecting the will of the people. As it should be. Unless of course, you would suggest that the Queen is the real power behind it all, with her own secret agenda. But then, that would be a matter of a different topic.

I don't think they are reflecting the will of the people, unless you mean reflecting in the archaic sense of "bending back".

Three words, eight syllables:

Problem.

Reaction.

Solution.

A revolt by "The People"? "Civil Unrest"? "The People Have Spoken"?

Please bear this in mind. These "protesters" are the usual motley crew who drag out the same old placards at any opportunity. This is just another such opportunity. This group is made up of the same old folks from the "Stop the War Coalition," i.e. a ragtag army of people almost exclusively from the Socialist Worker and various offshoots of the Cult of Islam. They are NOT the "British People." Most British people are at work and have no desire to overthrow the state due to the Gaza conflict. Most British people are more concerned about uncontrolled immigration, an undemocratic EU and rising crime. We have problems in our own back yard.

It is perhaps an ironic coupling. An extreme right wing political ideology together with a bunch of leftist students.

And the Glasgow BBC is not "occupied." Business is continuing as usual.

Still, I understand this site is built upon conspiracies. Feel free to put your tin foil hats back on.

Before i read this thread i was that angry about whats going with regards to Gaza and the Palestinians that i sent an email to both the bbc and the israeli embassy protesting. I have never protested against anything in my life but the sight of children being killed upset me that much that i felt i must at least speak out to somebody in the hope that it might help in some way.

The appeal can be seen here :

www.guardian.co.uk...


The man at the bbc responsible for refusing to show this appeal and his jewish wife's visit to israel meet aeriel sharon in 2005. :

BBC chief holds peace talks in Jerusalem with Ariel Sharon

The BBC is often accused of an anti-Israeli bias in its coverage of the Middle East, and recently censured reporter Barbara Plett for saying she "started to cry" when Yasser Arafat left Palestine shortly before his death.


Fascinating, then, to learn that its director general, Mark Thompson, has recently returned from Jerusalem, where he held a face-to-face meeting with the hardine Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Although the diplomatic visit was not publicised on these shores, it has been seized upon in Israel as evidence that Thompson, who took office in 2004, intends to build bridges with the country's political class.

Sources at the Beeb also suspect that it heralds a "softening" to the corporation's unofficial editorial line on the Middle East.

"This was the first visit of its kind by any serving director general, so it's clearly a significant development," I'm told.

"Not many people know this, but Mark is actually a deeply religious man. He's a Catholic, but his wife is Jewish, and he has a far greater regard for the Israeli cause than some of his predecessors."

Understandably, an official BBC spokesman was anxious to downplay talk of an exclusively pro-Israeli charm offensive.

BBBC Chief visit to Sharon

Terapin, Gerbil - great posts, stars from me. Thanks for making some great points.

It's disappointing that some people prefer to attack the protesters themselves rather than the correctness or otherwise of their actions.

I've no great love for the SWP but if they're right on the issue, that's an end of it.

And I'm very glad Tony Benn rang to offer support. Gotta love that guy.

Ultimately, it seems to me that people are either suck-ups - they love to kow-tow to the powerful - or they're not. There are plenty of Jewish people who quite rightly censure the Israeli government for its recent atrocities. Even some Jewish MPs, hooray.

But people like Mark Thompson are clearly more supine and anxious to please the powerful. Vile.

Originally posted by Retseh

If you don't like what I say, feel free to take issue with the content, but not me personally.

Got it?

I just think too many people swallow the 'identity' thing too much. That is what creates division.

No they're just people.

Now a group of these people, disagree with the way of the world and want to do something about it...

If you don't then don't moan when people do. Because one day you may have to swallow your pride and thank these 'hippys'

One love

reply to post by Retseh


Lamest comeback. Ever.

You could at least try to act like you have a cell up there...

As for the issue...the BBC is the first of many institutions in the UK that need this kind of action. Why is it even an issue that in a conflict infamous for its civilian casualties in Gaza, we should perhaps encourage people to be aware, and above all, humanitarian in a crisis? All of this talk of 'political bias' being a justification is just absurd. It's not about being a hick, or a hippie, it's clearly madness to any person with a shred of basic morality.

This should have happend years ago. It should have happend when Greg Dyke was forced out by the government - who had no right to do so because it's a public corporation, let alone that the reason for his dismissal was to allow actual reporting.

Big w00ts to Glasgow! Show your colour London...

Humm another minority trying to force it's opinions on the majority.... Another great day for democracy in the UK..

Screw Gaza
Screw Israel
Screw the UK Government
And most of all Screw the Stop the war coalition.

I remember a guy raising money for the STWC in Blackburn, they raised some money then him an his GF used it to bugger off to London for a few days, take part in a rally then the rest of the money was used to get pissed.... lovely. My other encounter from STWC was some higher up guy in a pub shouting in the face of (and becoming almost violent) some young girl because she was in favour of the Iraq war.

They really are a bunch of self important idiots... just like the politicians

Originally posted by Terapin
reply to post by theblunttruth

 

Gaza is Palestinian territory, and Hamas is a political party freely elected by the people. Hamas did not occupy the area as you stated, that is just absurd.

www.time.com...


You are either very misinformed or do not follow current events, particualrly pertaining to the Midlle East, very closely. See above link, the savages you defend seem to contradict your own humanitarian "concerns".

Your right the BBC is to an extent a public service and therefore it's inpartiality is paramount to its success. Catering for all perspectives and sections of public opinion is a hard enough job as it is. Please tell me why you believe it's your opninion that matters most? What about the concerns of those opposed to your Hamas-sympathising doctrine? In fact, opinion remains hugely divided on this conflict.

So go burn some Israeli flags and effigys or whatever it is you nutjob, "peaceful" protesters do... If you want to support the humanitarian crisis then give aid personally to the relevant charities like i and many have.

You simultaneously condemn occupation of Palestinian territories, but then condone the occupation of the BBC Headquarters, your a blind hypocrite at best!

[edit on 27-1-2009 by theblunttruth]



[edit on 27-1-2009 by theblunttruth]

reply to post by theblunttruth


It is clear that you have a personal agenda as you don't even read your own links. You also don't even care to understand the facts and history of the region. Hamas is not an outside occupying force. They never took and occupied that area, as they are from the area. I never stated that Hamas is without wrong. That does not change the fact that they are the legally elected representatives of Gaza and have a right to defend themselves and their land. It also does not change the fact that is was Israel who broke the ceasefire. Hamas agreed to stop launching rockets and they did. Israel agreed to open the borders and they did not. Israel violated the ceasefire on November 4 and it was not until then that Hamas chose to retaliate by renewing the rocket attacks. You seem to ignore the facts to suit your personal agenda.

The protesters who Peacefully occupied the BBC building without violence, made their statement and left without arrest a few hours later. This is quite different from the Israelis who continue to illegally build settlements in the occupied territories. Read your history. The settlements are illegal and the UN has repeatedly called for their removal. Israel has promised many times to remove them as they know that the settlements are illegal, yet they have broken their promises many times. Gaza is an Israeli established concentration camp. The people inside are virtual prisoners as Israel controls the borders and prevents the people inside from having any quality of life or freedom.

The issue being discussed in this topic, is the BBCs claim that airing a fund raising appeal would cause them to be impartial, which is absurd. What proves that the BBC position is in no way impartial, is the actions of their top man. His wife is a very vocal Zionist. He himself took a personal trip to Israel and met with their leaders. This demonstrates a severe conflict of interest and personal bias. It is one thing to have a journalist interview a leader, but it is another thing entirely to for the chief of a news organization to make a personal visit with a head of state. A clear indicator of where his interests lie and thus, a clear bias.

You can read about it here: BBC Bias in favor of Israel Begins at the Top

If you had bothered to read about the reasons for the Protests in the UK, you would learn that the issue is not about who is right, nor who is wrong in Gaza. The issue is humanitarian aid. If this was a Tsunami that caused the disaster, then the BBC would air the aid appeal. They aired aid campaigns for Kosovo, Rwanda, Congo, and Darfur, all of which were humanitarian disasters from the result of military conflict. The have shown a clear Bias when they single out the people of Gaza and refuse to air a call for humanitarian aid. The children suffering there do not care about ideologies and politics. They simply need food, shelter, clean water, and medical care. The BBC has chosen to treat them as unworthy. That is Bias. No child is unworthy of care, and any respectable Public Service Channel must not be bias or it ruins their credibility as an impartial news source. It is not some fringe element, or "nutjobs" (your words), who are calling for the BBC to change their one sided stance. It is over 50 Members of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and thousands of people across the UK who are protesting the BBCs decision. It is main stream society who know that in a humanitarian crisis, politics and blame, do not belong.

[edit on 27/1/09 by Terapin]

[edit on 27/1/09 by Terapin]

As predicted, the usual student rent-a-mob hippies were involved in the occupation:

edition.cnn.com...

On Monday night, PA reported that about 15 students -- members of the School of Oriental and African Studies' branch of Stop the War Coalition -- occupied the reception area of a BBC building in central London and demanded to speak to a senior member of the corporation.

reply to post by Retseh


What you chose not to mention from the source you linked to, is that it was not just some hippies, but it was also 112 members of parliament who petitioned the BBC to change their bias position. Your source, yet you choose leave that out. More personal bias I guess. Here is the info from your source that you chose to edit out.

"The fact that well over 100 MPs from different parties have signed this Commons motion shows the breadth of concern about the position which the BBC and Sky are taking.

The motion rejects the "unconvincing and incoherent" justifications given by the BBC and Sky.

"Viewers and listeners can see the difference between a humanitarian appeal and politics -- even if the BBC and Sky management cannot."

I will say it again. No child deserves to be ignored in a Humanitarian crisis, simply for personal bias and politics.