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Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
From www.animalaid.org.uk
A report in The Observer newspaper claims that a plotline for BBC 1's Casualty, in which a Muslim suicide bomber blows himself up, has been changed for one in which animal rights 'militants' plant a bomb on a bus and cause widespread bloodshed.
The original storyline was changed, according to the report, to avoid giving offence to the Muslim community. But it seems that the Corporation feels that animal rights campaigners can be freely defamed and besmirched. Please write a message of complaint to the BBC (ecu@bbc.co.uk). In Animal Aid's letter to the Editorial Complaints Unit, Director Andrew Tyler stated: 'Apart from being offensive and hurtful, such portrayals authenticate prevailing negative stereotypes and give licence to government, the police and the courts to further undermine the civil and legal rights of peaceful campaigners.'
Read Animal Aid's letter.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Oh no - the idiots. I will write.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I just wrote a letter from me (and then one from my husband.)
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I just am never having a TV (TV license). Sorted.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
gertvegan
A report in The Observer newspaper claims that a plotline for BBC 1's Casualty, in which a Muslim suicide bomber blows himself up, has been changed for one in which animal rights 'militants' plant a bomb on a bus and cause widespread bloodshed.
That just would not happen in real life but no doubt many of the people who watch this crap will believe it :mad:
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
The BBC could offend a lot more people if they made the suicide bomber a Muslim, animal rights campaigning member of the IRA. :D
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Littlejohn writing in the Mail, as per usual he shows himself for being the @:%^$$$ he is, but there is the odd reasonable point.
'Truth is the first Casualty at the BBC
Richard Littlejohn, Daily Mail
"Good morning, this is the news from the BBC. A group of
animal rights activists has hijacked four airliners and flown
them into the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon
in Washington."
I'm sorry, I'll read that again. "Four members of the
anti-vivisection movement have blown themselves up on the
London Transport network, killing 52 people and injuring
hundreds more." I don't think so. "Two doctors have attempted
a suicide car bomb attack on Glasgow airport. The League
Against Cruel Sports has claimed responsibility."
As the late Bill Deedes might have said: shurely shome
mishtake. But it all makes about as much sense as the BBC's
decision to can an episode of Casualty which starts with a
young Muslim blowing himself up in a crowded bus station -
and rewrite it so that the bombing is carried out by animal
rights extremists.
The Casualty plotline was rejected by the Beeb's "editorial
and ethical standards" commissars, who were worried that it
was stereotyping young Muslims as terrorists.
Another dramatic moment in Casualty: the BBC likes to boast
about the gritty reality of its dramas - but if that were the
case, they'd have stuck with the original Casualty script The
BBC likes to boast about the gritty reality of its dramas.
But if that were the case, they'd have stuck with the
original script.
In real life, it's Muslims committing all the terrorist
atrocities in Britain these days.
That's not to say that all Muslims are terrorists, far from
it, but to pretend that the bunny liberation brigade are
bombing bus stations is preposterous.
Admittedly, the animal rights movement contains its fair
share of violent lunatics. But much as they love beagles and
lab rats, there is no recorded incident to my knowledge of
any of them being prepared to lay down their own lives for
the cause - although I do seem to remember one madwoman threw
herself in front of a lorryload of veal calves a few years
ago.
Even if we concede that the decision to pull the Casualty
episode was taken for the most laudable of reasons, it is yet
more evidence of the institutionalised bias, cowardice and
cultural cringe which runs through the Corporation like the
lettering in a stick of rock. The simple fact is that the
BBC, like the police, like the CPS and so many other of our
public institutions, is scared to death of upsetting Muslims.
No such self-censorship applies when it comes to offending
other religious groups.
The BBC went to court to defend its right to "free speech"
when it was determined to screen the appalling, puerile Jerry
Springer: The Opera - which portrayed Christ as an
infantilised, nappy-wearing copraphiliac who was "a little
bit gay". The protests of 47,000 devout Christians counted
for nothing. But, then, devout Christians are unlikely to
storm Broadcasting House demanding the beheading of the
director-general.
Let's say someone was daft enough to write a musical which
featured the Prophet Mohammed as an incontinent paedophile.
Do you think the BBC would move heaven and earth to broadcast
it in the name of defending "free speech"? Precisely.
The BBC groupthink permeates its entire output, from its news
bulletins, through drama and even the website. Take the MI5
series, Spooks. It's good fun and well done, but it's a
complete parcel of nonsense designed to peddle the
Guardianista worldview. The last series featured a
fundamentalist Christian sect, hellbent on killing Muslims
(yeah, right).
Then there was the bombing of an oil depot and a plot to blow
up an airliner over London. Jihadists? Nope, rogue elements
in the security services and a deranged, Tory-supporting
newspaper baron. And a special two-parter centred on the
takeover of the Saudi Embassy by Islamist terrorists
demanding the release of al-Qaeda prisoners. Turns out -
you're ahead of me here, aren't you? - that it wasn't Osama's
boys after all, it was the evil Izza-ra-ay-lees in disguise,
trying to destabilise the Saudis and blame it all on
peace-loving Muslim freedom fighters.
So there you have it: the threat to life and limb in Britain
today comes from, in no particular order, the provisional
wing of Fleet Street; renegade members of MI6; Mossad; and
genocidal Christian evangelicals. I'm only surprised that
they didn't rule that the bus station bombing in Casualty
should be carried out by "militants" linked to UKIP,
demanding a referendum on the European Constitution.
There's a lot going on under the radar, too. The BBC website
forums automatically delete any criticism of Islam
immediately. Yet a posting which called Christ a
'B-A-S-T-A-R-D' was allowed to remain for a week until the
Mail on Sunday got on the case. This comment came from
someone called Colonelartist (not his real name, I suspect)
who has also written that the Jews in concentration camps
enjoyed better conditions and freedoms than the Palestinians,
without incurring the wrath of the editorial and ethical
standards watchdogs. After my recent TV documentary on
anti-Semitism, someone called "Iron Naz" posted a comment on
the BBC website which perpetrated the old, discredited and
utterly false libel that the Talmud legitimises Jewish
supremacy over other faiths.
Last time anyone looked, it was still there, despite protests
from the Board of Deputies and Jewish community groups. I'm
still not sure why there was a BBC forum devoted to the
programme. After all, the Beeb had turned it down flat and it
went out on Channel 4. Anyway, when did it become part of the
remit for licence-payers to provide a noticeboard for
anonymous anti-Semites? Meanwhile, the BBC is still refusing
to publish a report it commissioned into whether or not there
is systematic anti-Israel bias in its news coverage from the
Middle East.
So we'll take that as a "yes" then.
I don't like to indulge in gratuitous Beeb-bashing, because
there's so much good about the organisation. But it is too
big, too unaccountable and too riddled with an
institutionalised mindset which holds that it's fine to heap
scorn on Christians and Jews, but cravenly appeases Muslims
at every turn.
The BBC is a publicly-funded body which has a duty to be
even-handed to all and not pander to the political prejudices
of those who work for it. If it can't manage that, it should be broken up and sold off.
No offence.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...322&in_check=N
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
That was a long post, here's something else from Littlejohn:
'Dissenters are dealt with ruthlessly. Under Blair, the Bully State stifles free speech and arrests peaceful demonstrators who dare to give voice to inconvenient truths.'
How true.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Well I am shocked.
I'm not keen on the protester being labelled a 'madwoman', but I think that's a very good article considering.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I have complained too. You can do it Via their website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
veganbikerboy
I have complained using this link. Cheers VBB.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
thx for the link, i made a complaint as well. i pasted a link to an antivivisection site in my email too, maybe someone will read it.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Thanks for the link, VBB. I have sent them a complaint too. Idiots.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
This is sad. Has the BBC already forgotten the events in London on July 7, 2005? What's next? Nazis in movies can't be portrayed with German accents? :rolleyes:
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I can see why they don't want to upset Muslims (I can see some good reasons and some bad reasons for that). However it was pretty feeble-minded of them to get round the problem by slagging off another group, one that has never done anything of the kind.
You'd think they could have made up their own terrorist group, disenchanted TV producers or something ;)
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I'll be complaining as well. It's just another example that it's ok to demonise animal rights activists.
Wasn't there a ridiculous animal rights based storyline in Casualty a few years ago? I didn't see it but I'm pretty sure I read it was very negative.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
aubergine
Well I am shocked.
I'm not keen on the protester being labelled a 'madwoman', but I think that's a very good article considering.
She was certainly not a 'madwoman'. :mad: I knew Jill Phipps for many years and she was an absolutely lovely person, dedicated to the liberation of all living creatures, and also a dear friend. I still miss her. :(
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
Willowherb
Wasn't there a ridiculous animal rights based storyline in Casualty a few years ago? I didn't see it but I'm pretty sure I read it was very negative.
I think you're thinking of The Bill. My family are very quick to report anything negative about AR to me. They sit watching all these rubbish programmes every night :rolleyes:
I can't help thinking wouldn't it be cool if we could get lots of muslims on our side about AR. Maybe then we'd actually get somewhere.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
It wouldn't surprise me about the Bill, but I'm fairly sure there was an AR storyline in Casualty a few years ago that was far from positive. I don't watch either programmes.
There is a Muslim vegetarian group but I don't think they have a website.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I intend to complain aswell.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
Maisiepaisie
I can't help thinking wouldn't it be cool if we could get lots of muslims on our side about AR. Maybe then we'd actually get somewhere.
u made me laugh! lol
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Littlejohn is a c0ck. His throwaway remark about Jill Phipps shows just how little respect he has for life in general.
I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of supporting his spuriously linked thinking in this instance. Drama, generally, is not supposed to mirror life. Casualty even less so.
As for the BBC. I will be writing to them about the conveniently selective use of perceived "terrorists" in new drama.
Perhaps they could dramatise this sort of thing?
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
horselesspaul
Perhaps they could dramatise this sort of thing
That would be progress.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Sorry. What WAS I thinking?
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Huh?
Anyway...
Tough cookie this one, I'm not sure if I should complain, as the BBC should be free to write about what they want (even if it for third-rate homogenic crap). And I know one response to this would be that they have already censored themselves, so they are displaying double standards, yet as me old ma said: two wrongs don't make a right. Still, that isn't saying I can't see where you are all coming from.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
Paulski
Huh?
Check the link about a real terr0r1st in our community.
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Tell us about it
Quote:
Mahk
This is sad. Has the BBC already forgotten the events in London on July 7, 2005? What's next? Nazis in movies can't be portrayed with German accents? :rolleyes:
Tell us about the events of July 7 05, London.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Four suicide bombers, later linked to al-Qaeda, killed 52 and wounded over 700 London commuters, on three underground trains and this double-decker bus:
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200703/r133222_445891.jpg
The original BBC storyline I assume was a fictionalized version at least "reminiscent" of this actual bus attack.
I'm against stereotyping and prejudice. I'm sure al-Qaeda has many Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist members who also blow themselves up.:rolleyes:
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
Paulski
Tough cookie this one, I'm not sure if I should complain, as the BBC should be free to write about what they want (even if it for third-rate homogenic crap). And I know one response to this would be that they have already censored themselves, so they are displaying double standards, yet as me old ma said: two wrongs don't make a right. Still, that isn't saying I can't see where you are all coming from.
If this episode of Casualty uses the animal rights extremist storyline try giving out leaflets, run an information stall or attend a demo shortly after it's shown and see just how friendly the public are towards you. The problem is the public see lies in fictional programmes and take them as truths. We have enough trouble trying to get the public on our side as it is thanks to the demonising and stereotyping of animal rights activists in the media and this programme will only serve to reinforce people's prejudices against us and that not only harms us but the animals as well who's only chance of liberation is through us.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Have complained via the BBC website.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Typical I got this in note on myspace I emailed them straight away using the animal aid letter as a template. As for the Daily Mail I think it must be run by most right wing journalists the UK has left.
I hope with all the posts I have scene about this all over the web on AR and Vegan Sites that enough people will write in and make the British Bullyboy Corporation listen.
I am not sure when this series is supposed to be aired ? does anyone know ?.
I remember when Casualty first came out way back, they ran a story about hunt sabs also showing us sabs in a bad light :mad: a woman got hurt and so did a horse which was all aimed at being the sab fault. Also a sab got clubbed over the head with a branch which is common from practice for red coats, but oh no the Beebs Casualty set up a plot of two sabs secretly hating each other as one was a hell bent anarchist who wanted to cause maximum damage to the hunt rather than save the foxes life. :cool:
Well I can tell you in the 10 years I have tried to save foxes from death that is all we want to do is save the animals life - it's priority. Good old right wing beeb ;) keeping the Daily Mails Little John in work.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
The series starts in September, according to the "Observer" report
http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/...151869,00.html
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
jaydog
Also a sab got clubbed over the head with a branch which is common from practice for red coats, but oh no the Beebs Casualty set up a plot of two sabs secretly hating each other as one was a hell bent anarchist who wanted to cause maximum damage to the hunt rather than save the foxes life. :cool:
Well I can tell you in the 10 years I have tried to save foxes from death that is all we want to do is save the animals life - it's priority. Good old right wing beeb ;) keeping the Daily Mails Little John in work.
Fwiw I have come across many types sabbing/protesting whose sole interest lay in personalised class war rather than animal freedom.
I get your point though..
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I have complained via their website and asked for a reply :mad:. I have a feeling the first part is due to be aired this coming Saturday.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I've registered a complaint.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I sent a complaint i have pasted it below. Apologies if it is not very good :(
"It has come to my attention via an article in 'The Observer' that you shall be airing an episode in casuality where animal rights activists act as suicide bombers. As someone who campaigns for the welfare of animals and who believes that animals have rights i am outraged that the bbc could potentially undo people's hard work of bringing to light the abuse and exploitation of animals. Those who campaign for animals could be potenially viewed as threating to the general public. This is strangely ironic since I and other 'activists' are compassionate and care for not only the welfare of animals, but for other people's health and the enviroment. I do not pay my TV licence in order to be insulted. You have decided not to approach the poignant issue of muslim suicide bombers on buses (not that i am saying all muslims are terrorists). You have instead portrayed animal right 'activists' as being dangerous terrorists. This is an entirely incorrect and a mis-informed stereotype. I feel discrimated against and hope that you reverse your decision of such a plotline.
I look forward to your response"
Has anyone had a response?
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I think it said 10 working days for a reply and of course we'll all get the standard waffle.
It starts on September 8th and the animal extremist episode is the first one.
Explosive New Series
http://www.bbc.co.uk/casualty/images/spacer.gifCasualty returns to our screens with a thrilling two-parter, involving a bus explosion caused by animal rights extremists.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/casualty/news_series22.shtml
So much for the complaints.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
Dear Mr Ward
Thank you for contacting the BBC regarding the portrayal of animal rights
activists in the episodes of Casualty which will be transmitted on the 8th and
9th September.
Our intention in these episodes is not to imply that all animal rights activists
are terrorists, and we hope that when you see the finished episodes you will
agree that both sides of the animal rights debate are fairly represented.
With all controversial issues we consider very carefully the implications before
developing or broadcasting any story and this is no exception. Any storyline
change was part of the normal editorial and production process.
Thank you for taking the time to contact us and I hope that you will continue to
watch and enjoy Casualty.
Your comments have been fully registered and added to our daily audience log.
This is an internal document that is made available to the Casualty production
team and senior BBC management.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Regards
Paul Kettle
BBC Information
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I don't think you can expect much else TBH, but at least they may think more carefully the next time now they know that they've offended a lot of people.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I got the exact same reply as Antman!
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Quote:
sandra
I got the exact same reply as Antman!
snap! :D
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Even the 'Dear Mr. Ward' bit?
;)
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Yep! I thought that strange too!;):D
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I haven't got a reply yet.
Yum, I thought your letter was really great. :) Did you get a reply to it?
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
Cheers Spud_Addict. No reply as yet. The email BBC sent back to others seems a cop out:rolleyes:
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
What do they mean "we hope that when you see the finished episodes you will agree that both sides of the animal rights debate are fairly represented" - the side that blows up buses and the other side? :rolleyes: If anyone watches please report back.
I haven't had a reply, unless it's stuck in a spam filter somewhere.
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I have got a reply today:-
Dear Mr XXXX
Thank you for contacting the BBC regarding the portrayal of animal rights activists in the episodes of 'Casualty' which will be transmitted on the 8th and 9th September 2007.
Our intention in these episodes is not to imply that all animal rights activists are terrorists, and we hope that when you see the finished episodes you will agree that both sides of the animal rights debate are fairly represented.
With all controversial issues we consider very carefully the implications before developing or broadcasting any story and this is no exception.
We understand there has been press speculation about changes to the storyline and I would like to reassure you any storyline change was part of the normal editorial and production process.
To this end your comments have been fully registered on our audience log which is made available to senior BBC management and the programme makers.
To view our procedures for contacting the Editorial Complaints Unit please visit our site at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/comp..._process.shtml
Thank you for taking the time to contact us and I hope that you will continue to watch and enjoy Casualty.
Regards
Tony Brown
BBC Information
__________________________________________
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------------Original Message---------------
>{Date:} 22/08/2007
>{Feedback Type:} Complaint
>
>{Title:} Mr
>{First Name:} Jayson
>{Last Name:} XXXX
>
>
>{Email:} XXXXXXXXXX
>{Phone:} XXXXXXXXX
>{Postcode:} XXXXXX
>{Country:} England
>
>{About:} General
>{Network:} BBC1
>
>
>
>
>
>{Programme Name:} Casulty
>{Transmission Date:}
>
>{Comments:}
>Broadcast Date Unknown
>
>Dear Editorial Complaints Unit
>
>A report in The Observer (August 19), states that a plotline for BBC 1's Casualty, in which a Muslim suicide bomber blows himself up in a bus station, has been replaced by a storyline in which 'animal rights militants' plant a bomb on a bus 'leaving Holby City Hospital's Emergency Department to deal with the bloody aftermath'.
>
>The reason for the plot change, according to The Observer, is that the Corporation's editorial guidelines staff determined that that 'the story would perpetuate stereotypes of young Muslims in Britain'.
>
>Animal rights campaigners in this country are entirely peaceful, compassionate people, who are committed to ending the abuse and suffering of animals. During the 30-plus years since the inception of the modern movement, animal rights people have neither killed nor seriously injured anyone. By contrast, three peaceful activists have been killed and many more injured.
>
>Given that our movement is comprised of many thousands of people, it can be reasonably asserted that, as a group, we are uncommonly peaceful and nonviolent. And yet the BBC presumes that while Muslim sensibilities are to be protected, animal rights campaigners can be freely defamed and besmirched. Apart from being offensive and hurtful, such portrayals authenticate prevailing negative stereotypes and give licence to government, the police and the courts to further undermine the civil and legal rights of peaceful campaigners.
>
>I ask the BBC to please rethink the Casualty storyline once again and come up with something that is consonant with reality and avoids giving gross and unreasonable offence.
>
>Yours sincerely
>
>
>Jayson XXXX
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
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Re: Complain to BBC over defamatory programme
I just recieved the identical response.