On Monday 2nd February, 40-50 campaigners braved the snow [ lots of snow!] and cold to protest outside the BBC offices on London Road. They were demonstrating against the BBC's refusal to broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal for the devastated people of Gaza, but also criticised the BBC's reporting of the recent Israeli assault on Gaza.

The protesters had various concerns about the BBC's coverage of the recent assault on Gaza. Besides the DEC controversy, they contend that BBC has given free airspace to that smooth talking spokesperson for the Israeli Government, Mark Ragev, and generally played down or ignored protest against Israeli policy. Locally, one of the biggest marches that Nottingham has seen for some time, but was ignored by the BBC in Nottingham.

The BBC agreed to send a delegate down and there was some hope that they might make a brief speech on the BBC's position, but in the end all that happened was that somebody stuck their head out a door, accepted a letter of protest, had their photo taken doing so and then disappeared back inside. Clearly Auntie has little interest in engaging with the concerns of licence payers.

Did i mention it was snowing ? ....... lots!!!

So, I think this is a barometer of the strength of feeling, that people would still turn out to demonstrate in such conditions.

Free Gaza Campaign
 http://www.freegaza.com

Nottingham Stop the War Coalition
 http://www.nottmagainstwar.org.uk

UK Feature: Yet again Israel massacres Gazan civilians
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416339.html

UK Feature: Gaza: Stop The Genocide
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417271.html

UK Feature: National Free Gaza demo 10.01.2009
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417698.html

Nottingham Gaza Emergency Protest
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416449.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416470.html

Gaza Public Meeting at Bobbers Mill Community Centre
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418048.html

Nottingham Responds to Gaza Massacre [Feature]
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2009/01/418376.html

Nottingham Gaza Protest 'candle-lit' Vigil
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419206.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419227.html

Nottingham Gaza Protest March Through Nottingham to Market Sq
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419251.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419272.html

Nottingham University Students Occupation in Solidarity with Gaza
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420886.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420907.html

Nottingham University Gaza solidarity occupation violently evicted
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421082.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421103.html

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ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@indymedia.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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