A pledge to support a one day boycott of BBC television and radio in protest at the continued unbalanced and inconsistent approach it has taken on political and current affairs issues, in the light of the Kilroy affair.
We the undersigned wish to express serious concern at the inconsistent and unbalanced approach being shown by the British Broadcasting Corporation, in the light of the Kilroy affair. In seeking to supress freedom of speech for one of its presenters, the BBC has failed to acknowledge the entirely different approach taken elsewhere within the corporation. Recent examples include:
1. A directive issued to all reporters to avoid all use of the word "dictator" when referring to the captured Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein
2. A failure to censure the regular Late Show panelist, Tom Paulin, who in a newspaper interview expressed a wish to shoot dead Israeli settlers, describing them as Nazis
3. Continued use of the word "militant" to describe terrorist members of organisations such as Hamas and Al-Aksa Martyrs. These groups are on the identified European Union list of terrorist organisations.
4. Continued use of a prominent Middle East reporter, Orla Guerin, with well known Palestinian sympathies and immediate Palestinian family connections
We declare our willingness to support a one-day boycott of BBC television and radio, in the light of the BBCs lamentable double standards. Should the BBC fail to acknowledge the mistakes it has made and take steps to adequately address the situation, including those concerns outlined above, a date will be set for a national boycott of all BBC channels. As an organisation entirely funded by ratepayers, the corporation has a duty to display a rational, even-handed approach in respect of news and current affairs.
