UPPING THE AUNTIE

In the latest twist to the Propaganda war, the BBC have refused to air the Disaster Emergencies Committee’s Gaza appeal. The humanitarian appeal for cash to rebuild the shattered homes and infrastructure of the Gaza Strip was knocked back on the grounds that the beeb must ‘retain their impartiality’. They’ve got caught out this time though. Channel 4, ITV and Channel 5 have all agreed to show the joint appeal put out by such dangerous loony-left groups (not!) as Oxfam, Save the Children, Help the Aged and the British Red Cross. This has left the BBC high and dry, trying to defend a stance that’s even more pro-Israeli than the government’s - a pretty difficult task by itself.

On Monday 26th a Stop the War protest outside the BBC in London managed to storm their offices. Unseen by the vanload of Plod stationed nearby, twenty people managed to get inside the lobby, demanding to see the Director General. He was unavailable for comment. Things got even sillier when a BBC camera crew were thrown out by BBC security for trying to report it.

* On the Gaza march last Saturday, the Forward Intelligence Team (FIT) were blocked by Fitwatch activists, as well as many other people supporting them to join in obstructing police cameras. The crowd blocked cop photographers all day and rendered their “intelligence” gathering operation largely useless. Police reacted by targeting two Fitwatch activists who were nicked and held till Monday when the police tried to have them remanded (but failed). They now face charges of obstructing police and assault / Section 4 (threatening behaviour). For more info on resisting police intrusion see www.fitwatch.blogspot.com

* In the face of zero mainstream press coverage, Maria Gallestegui is into the third week of her hunger strike at Parliament Square in solidarity with the people of Gaza (See SchNEWS 662). This week she staged a one-woman protest inside the gates of Downing St – which is legal because she’d registered her intentions with the police prior to the event in accordance with SOCPA laws (remember that one for next time eh). Standing outside the door of No.10 as cabinet members came and went, she demanded, in her own words "they they lift the blockade... (bring) an end to the arms sale to Israel... and (hold) a war crimes tribunal". Hear her commentary at www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2009/01//420495.mp4

* Sussex University students are claiming victory after a week of occupying a lecture theatre (See SchNEWS 663) - they have reached a mutual agreement with university management to support Palestinians in their plight. The elated group say they are ‘reviving the role of educational institutions in effecting local and international social change’. The university has agreed to review its ethical investment policy, create new scholarships for Palestinians and pass surplus educational materials to universities in Palestine. See http://sussexoccupation.blogspot.com

* On other campus protests continue: In Bradford on Jan 27th 80 students occupied the boardroom of their university following a rally on campus, calling for the university to take measures in solidarity with Gaza including a boycott of Israeli goods. For more student actions see www.indymedia.org.uk