lauraphillips.bsky.social
Campaigner to support the BBC, (not a BBC employee).It’s affected by savage UK govt cuts: c40% 2010-2024. BBC costs <48 pence/around 62 US cents a day per UK household. It’s a national public service broadcaster, respected worldwide for accurate reporting.
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"It’s about acknowledging that the best relationships are built on cooperation, understanding and reason — and it is underpinned by an appreciation of how miraculous and wonderful life on our planet is. It is about serving one another and the future of this planet.”
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"It is about reflecting back to the listener an accurate and broad picture of the world, one that’s meant to give each one the information they need to make decisions about their life. It’s not for elites. It’s for everyone...
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"You hear in the pictures painted by the human voice, in the stories told, in the fears expressed, the hopes that are dreamt and the joys and sorrow and pain of being alive...
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“You hear it on the radio every day in the quality of the journalism, in the passing on of information, carefully gathered, fairly and honestly assessed and eloquently presented...
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But as one of my #BBCWorldService contacts so eloquently says, this is about more than defence, security and soft power, vital as those are. It is about "love".
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We have the advantage of English, the lingua franca, and of a broadcasting tradition that makes us perfectly placed for this opportunity – if our government has the wisdom and foresight to seize it.
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and governments with very different values from ours feel they can act with impunity.
It is clear with the gutting of Voice of America that the #BBC – and by extension, the UK - has a great opportunity. The BBC can step up to be the world’s public service broadcaster.
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Defence and security come not just with more materiel and personnel, but with the spreading of democratic values, through the worldwide access to truthful information and accountability - at a time when we are effectively in an information war...
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"and that is something that must be really treasured and valued.”
When a former top diplomat and security chief speaks, I think the Labour government ought to listen.
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He said: "It had a direct political impact in inspiring people who wanted a fairer and more open society...We’ve got strong international institutions in this country…but above all it’s the BBC that makes the impact for Britain in the world..."
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The importance of the BBC in Iran was noted by Sir John Sawers, former head of M16+UK permanent representative to the UN. He said when the last Labour govt invested in a new BBC Farsi service in 2009, when Jack Straw was Foreign Secretary, it became “immensely popular” in Iran.
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#BBCPersian journalists have provided a window on a world closed to outside reporters, giving a voice to those in Iran, and providing them with a precious link to the outside world. Their work is crucial and often done at great risk and cost to their families.
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If the events of the past days have shown us anything, they have shown us the vital part
#bbcworldservice has to play in informing the British public and the wider world about the impacts of decisions taken by governments on those far from their shores.
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The #BBC is asking govt to fund the #BBCWorldService
from central govt funds as was the case for first 80 years of WS. Currently 2/3 funds come from BBC licence fee, following typically shortsighted decision of Conservative govt to load some of its cost to BBC. Govt 2010-24 cut BBC public funds c38%
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Why is this so important now? #BBC is negotiating with
the UK Foreign Office for stable funds for #BBCWorldService
130 jobs already lost to save just £6m. WS costs just c£400m. Reaches 414m in 43 languages (inc new Polish service) Russians+Chinese spend c£6-8bn on media in Africa, Asia+Middle East.
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"We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace.
We spoke about how to protect our people.
We appreciate the attention and the readiness to help bring peace closer.
Details will follow." 2.
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“The jail’s hospital/clinic has been destroyed, injured prisoners are not being attended to and the regime is blocking families from getting news.
Most political prisoners are held in Evin” 2.