BBC LAUGHED AT BABIES BEING BLOWN UP

Kafka meets Orwell at the national union of journalists

The NUJ delegates at their conference in Blackpool laughed at the thought of babies being blown up in Gaza. When challenged if he thought it funny one said “the more the better.”

These delegates included senior BBC presenters such as: Harvey Cook, who describes himself as a news reader at BBC radio two and radio Kent.

These delegates who represented several sections, but were mostly based in London, had spent the entire conference voting down every resolution that in anyway supported Palestine.

Whenever they lost a vote they would bring it back with a point of order or vote clause by clause to neuter it.

The NUJ is a small union of under 20,000 and is hemorrhaging members. It is well known in union circles that those in the BBC sections have threatened to leave in block if the union supports Palestine in any way. Obviously some BBC workers value their jobs more than opposing Genocide!

Manchester delegate, Stefan Choluwka, said:
“it was like something out of Kafka’s, the trial.”

When the NUJ executive ruled out of order yet another attempt to block discussion on Gaza, Harvey Cook approached them, whispered something to them, and magically, they changed their minds.

Many times, pro Palestinian delegates were not allowed to speak by time being called on debate. When one delegate from Manchester spoke to tell the conference what the pro Israel lobby had said, he was ruled out of order.

This delegate was then intimidated by a member of the BBC world service, and later by an NUJ executive member called, Nick McGowan – Lowe. ( this is one person not Manchester United’s new midfield.)

Worse was to follow. The delegate was then called into a room by the then union assistant General Secretary, Seamus Dooley. No prior notice was given. No legal representation allowed. The unions legal officer took notes but the delegate was given no such luxury. Charges were then brought against the delegate by (the executive) rather than any named accusers.) The executive are therefore acting as judge and jury.

One of the charges is that the delegate may in the future write an article about the conference. Think for a moment.. : a journalist is charged with, at some time in the future, writing an article about journalists, at a conference for… journalists…

Opening the conference, union President, Natasha Hirst, had said:

” healthy debate is crucial to strengthening the unions work.”