Protest Shaw Cable Vancouver’s censorship of Riordon video!
February 5, 2012
Shaw Cable in Vancouver is attempting to censor the program "Our Way to Fight: Peace-Work Under Siege in Israel-Palestine", the video record of an book reading by Canadian peace activist and author Michael Riordon.
The program is a straightforward report of noted author Michael Riordon's talk, which was hosted by the Victoria Chapter of Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canada and produced by Pasifik.ca as part of its regular weekly community programming series.
Shaw Vancouver claims that this program, is "too 'unbalanced' and "controversial".
We also believe that there is nothing controversial or unbalanced about this video. Michael Riordon's book is a personal account based on interviews with Israeli and Palestinian peace and social justice activists. It is not a political manifesto.
Shaw Cable Vancouver has no business censoring this video program, and can only conclude that is is doing so because of its own unstated political agenda.
We ask you to join with us in protesting this erosion of free speech and democratic rights by a major Canadian telecommunications corporation.
Send a message to Shaw Vancouver that such arbitrary behaviour is both unnecessary and contrary to its agreement with the CRTC regarding community programming.
Please sign our petition below.
PETITION SUCCESSFULL -- SHAW AGREES TO BROADCAST PASIFIK.CA PROGRAM
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From: pasifik.ca
Subject: Good News!! Shaw Cable will play "Our Way to Fight"
Sent: Feb 7, 2012 11:29 AM
Hello friends and supporters of Pasifik.ca,
The general manager of Shaw TV Vancouver just called us to say that Shaw
TV will be playing "Our Way To Fight" this coming weekend.
Many thanks for all the letters of support for justice and peace shown
in this latest struggle between this Pasifik.ca program and the
community channel management.
Thanking you for your expression of solidarity,
Linda
for Pasifik.ca volunteers
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO SIGNED OUR PETITION, AND TO THOSE WHO CONTACTED SHAW DIRECTLY
Stuart Hertzog
IJV Victoria Chapter
Helga Mankovitz,
Mira Khazzam,
Allen Blakey,
terry greenberg,
You can brand anything as "controversial", even the truth. Indeed often the most controversial thing of all is the truth. What gives Shaw the right to ban truth on the public airwaves???
xxxxxxxx,
Campbell Robertson,
I sign as an admirer fan of IJV and its accomplishments.
May Shaw TV Vancouver allow free speech!
Masud Sheikh,
It was a real shock to hear that Shaw has decided not to air the program. Shaw appears to have fallen victim to the strong-arm tactics of the Israeli Lobby, which gets disproportionate support from the Harper government.
Greg Starr,
Carl Rosenberg,
David Cohen,
IJV-Victoria,
From: pasifik.ca
Subject: Good News!! Shaw Cable will play "Our Way to Fight"
Sent: Feb 7, 2012 11:29 AM
Hello friends and supporters of Pasifik.ca,
The general manager of Shaw TV Vancouver just called us to say that Shaw
TV will be playing "Our Way To Fight" this coming weekend.
Many thanks for all the letters of support for justice and peace shown
in this latest struggle between this Pasifik.ca program and the
community channel management.
Thanking you for your expression of solidarity,
Linda
for Pasifik.ca volunteers
Mordecai Briemberg,
Shaw cable has been guilty of censorship in the past, blocking out words in a public speech given in Vancouver by Dr. Norman Finkelstein. This was never rectified. Your initial decision to censor the presentation of Michael Riordon now has been reversed. This is welcome, and I hope marks your recognition that public awareness is changing and increasingly unaccepting of media presumption of "parental guidance" on this controversial topic. Let us hear the range of opinions, and we will think for ourselves.
John Turnbull,
This is no time to hide information.
michael lebowitz,
Diana Ralph,
Silencing and censorship are contrary to democracy.
Sid Shniad,
It is not the place of a broadcaster to pass judgement on the legitimacy of events that community groups wish to share with the members of their community. This latest action by Shaw is merely the latest in a string of similar actions that have served to suppress full and frank discussion of the situation in Israel and Palestine. This censorship must stop.
Larry Hannant,
Susan Rice,
Democracy requires that all voices are heard - then the people can decide for themselves. Quieting dissenting voices is unacceptable. ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY is what the people want!!!
xxxxxxxx,
This video provides insight into a 'war' that does not get balanced information to Canadians...Beacause it is obviously different than the stance Canadian Government. The author, in my opinion shares opinions of both sides of the conflict, mainly that there is a faction on both sides that would like to have peace. It is a conflict that has been censored for years and by showing your bias, Shaw is not being impartial. Canada is still a country with free speech. Please participate.
xxxxxxxx,
I watched this 29 minute video and in my opinion it speaks fairly and offers a point of view peacefully and with good intent.
John R Bell,
Balance does not require that you take a neutral position on moral issues. Balance does not require that you avoid speaking the truth to the best of your ability. It is morally repugnant to insist that one take a balanced view that respects, for example, equally the rights of the aggressor or bully and his victim. If Shaw thinks balance is required they can invite others with different views to present something as well but nobody will ever present in a balanced fashion as Shaw defines it. The fact of the matter is that Shaw would not object to an unbalanced program provided it was an unbalanced whitewash.
Salma Styles,
I attended Michael Riordon Lecture at U.Vic and was most impressed by his sincerity / ability to tell the truth based on actual interviews during his travels to Israel-Palestine. He is a proud human-right activist. Any attempt to remove him from 'Shaw' T.V. schedule would be considered a war on the Freedom of Expression in Canada!.
Christine McCallum,
I'm appalled that Shaw Cable would sensor this program. How will anyone ever understand the situation in the middle east unless we listen to all the voices?
Malcolm Latwat,
A Personal Account of anything is not controversial, it is simply someones own experience of an event. I would like to see this program, and consider it more useful information than is usually broadcast here in Canada, where stories in the news are usually very one sided and skewed severely from the truth. Better to shed light on what is going on than to hide in an imaginary world. The only thing controversial about the whole thing is the attempts to censor it.
Bill Almolky,
Please find your backbone and reconsider your decision. My option is to cancel your service. Netflix and other streaming programs is a viable alternative.Bill Almolky writing from Mexico
