CBC cries foul to it's Chinese masters
Newsbot @ Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:39 pm
<strong>Title: </strong> <a href="/link.php?id=32043" target="_blank">CBC cries foul to it's Chinese masters</a> (click to view)
<strong>Category:</strong> <a href="/news/topic/16-world" target="_blank">World</a>
<strong>Posted By: </strong> <a href="/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=ridenrain" target="_blank">ridenrain</a>
<strong>Date: </strong> 2008-04-07 16:56:29
<strong>Canadian</strong>
Robair @ Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:39 pm
"Chinese masters?" ridenrain, you have issues.
ridenrain @ Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:51 pm
I just find it delicious that the CBC did almost everything they could to minimize the impact of that documentary, for China's benefit. Now their being censored in China, not because of this doccumentary but because of the Tibet news.
Why should Canadian taxpayers care one rats ass about the CBC not being shown in China?
ridenrain @ Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:03 pm
Here is the sucky letter the CBC sent:
$1:
His Excellency Lu Shumin
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Canada
515 St. Patrick Street
P.O. Box 8935
New Terminal, Alta Vista
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 5H3
Your Excellency,
2008 is an important year for the image and reputation of China as a leading member of the international community. All eyes are on China as it prepares to host the world for the Summer Olympics. CBC/Radio-Canada is proud to be a partner in broadcasting the pageantry and excitement of these Games and, as backdrop, the tremendous social and economic strides that China is making to assert its role as a modern, engaged, global leader.
It is with this in mind that I call your attention to a matter of the gravest importance. You are aware, no doubt, that access to the two principal CBC/Radio-Canada websites, Radio-Canada.ca and CBC.ca, has been blocked in China. Our French site has been blocked for at least six months and our English site since January of this year.
As you may be aware, Canadian embassy officials in Beijing have raised this issue with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
I am writing to request that you make formal and immediate enquiries as to why the sites have been blocked, and that you take steps to ensure that this policy is reversed.
CBC/Radio-Canada has maintained staff and a bureau in China for many years and, as Canada’s public broadcaster, we are committed to freedom of the press. I took note of the remarks of Premier Wen Jiabao when he promised, in April 2007, that in the spirit of One World, One Dream, “the government will provide services of an Olympic standard to athlete, officials, spectators and the media in order to facilitate their participation and enjoyment of the Games. The freedom of foreign journalists in their news coverage will also be ensured.” I understand that, in that spirit, access to the BBC’s website, which had been restricted, has recently been unblocked. This is welcome.
Your Excellency, Canada and China have a long history built on our ability to share our culture with each other. That relationship depends on our ability to communicate. Blocking access to our websites is inconsistent with that history, and with China’s growing place on the world stage. I would appreciate your personal commitment to resolving this problem as quickly as possible and ensuring that access to our programming is restored expeditiously.
Yours sincerely,
Hubert T. Lacroix
President and CEO
CBC/Radio-Canada
Copies to:
Hon. Josée Verner, PC, M.P.
Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages
Hon. Maxime Bernier, PC, M.P.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Bob Rae, PC, MP
Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic
Francine Lalonde, MP
Bloc Foreign Affairs Critic
Paul Dewar, MP
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Canada
515 St. Patrick Street
P.O. Box 8935
New Terminal, Alta Vista
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 5H3
Your Excellency,
2008 is an important year for the image and reputation of China as a leading member of the international community. All eyes are on China as it prepares to host the world for the Summer Olympics. CBC/Radio-Canada is proud to be a partner in broadcasting the pageantry and excitement of these Games and, as backdrop, the tremendous social and economic strides that China is making to assert its role as a modern, engaged, global leader.
It is with this in mind that I call your attention to a matter of the gravest importance. You are aware, no doubt, that access to the two principal CBC/Radio-Canada websites, Radio-Canada.ca and CBC.ca, has been blocked in China. Our French site has been blocked for at least six months and our English site since January of this year.
As you may be aware, Canadian embassy officials in Beijing have raised this issue with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
I am writing to request that you make formal and immediate enquiries as to why the sites have been blocked, and that you take steps to ensure that this policy is reversed.
CBC/Radio-Canada has maintained staff and a bureau in China for many years and, as Canada’s public broadcaster, we are committed to freedom of the press. I took note of the remarks of Premier Wen Jiabao when he promised, in April 2007, that in the spirit of One World, One Dream, “the government will provide services of an Olympic standard to athlete, officials, spectators and the media in order to facilitate their participation and enjoyment of the Games. The freedom of foreign journalists in their news coverage will also be ensured.” I understand that, in that spirit, access to the BBC’s website, which had been restricted, has recently been unblocked. This is welcome.
Your Excellency, Canada and China have a long history built on our ability to share our culture with each other. That relationship depends on our ability to communicate. Blocking access to our websites is inconsistent with that history, and with China’s growing place on the world stage. I would appreciate your personal commitment to resolving this problem as quickly as possible and ensuring that access to our programming is restored expeditiously.
Yours sincerely,
Hubert T. Lacroix
President and CEO
CBC/Radio-Canada
Copies to:
Hon. Josée Verner, PC, M.P.
Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages
Hon. Maxime Bernier, PC, M.P.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Bob Rae, PC, MP
Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic
Francine Lalonde, MP
Bloc Foreign Affairs Critic
Paul Dewar, MP
BluesBud @ Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:13 pm
The problem 'rain is that China is restricting all western news sources because they only want their view known to the population, Its called propaganda. That is why we should give a "rats ass" about it.
The Chinese government does not want any sympathy for protesters of any kind. Especially with the world arriving for the Olympics. Everything must be squeaky clean and sanitized. The message they want their people to have is the west has a problem with things. Everything is good, the west is the causing problems here not us.
Blue_Nose @ Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:17 pm
What's "sucky" about the letter?
I'm sure in ridenrain-world, they'd just say, "fuck you, commies," and be done with it, but that's not how it works in the real world.
ridenrain @ Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:22 pm
But Blues, The CBC mandate has nothing to do with countries outside of Canada. The CBC isn't some "American Style" propaganda vehicle, bent on pushing our corrupt western views and culture on foreigners.
This role reversal is kinda fun..
Blue_Nose @ Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:26 pm
There's nothing corrupt about asking China to live up to the "freedom of foreign journalists" standard the premier ensured.
ridenrain @ Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:30 pm
No. There's nothing sucky about asking that.
Most definately naive though.
Since we agree that China is most worried about Tibet news, should we censor our Canadian news to make them happy?
BluesBud @ Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:40 pm
ridenrain ridenrain:
No. There's nothing sucky about asking that.
Most definately naive though.
Since we agree that China is most worried about Tibet news, should we censor our Canadian news to make them happy?
Watch out 'rain. You are in danger of arguing both sides of the point. Most definately naive though.
Since we agree that China is most worried about Tibet news, should we censor our Canadian news to make them happy?
Here in Canada some would like to only have the media give the government's point of view on the issues of the day. We have a free media & freedom of speech. They do not! If the populous want the truth and not just the Chinese Propagandistic version of it, they can only turn to foreign sources and the internet. The Chinese government is even doing its best to restrict internet access.
This should get very interesting once the Games get started.
sasquatch2 @ Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:34 pm
BluesBud
$1:
Here in Canada some would like to only have the media give the government's point of view on the issues of the day.
Here in Canada we have a taxpayer supported media which does not report the governments point of view but the point of view of a previous government.
ridenrain @ Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:13 am
Here in Canada we also have a state run media empire that restricts private industry from entering that market, then competes with them when they do.
Blue_Nose @ Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:24 am
Yeah, and George Bush drove remote controlled planes into the pentagon.
ridenrain @ Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:31 am
Go start you're own radio station or TV station then.
Robair @ Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:20 am
ridenrain ridenrain:
Here in Canada we also have a state run media empire that restricts private industry from entering that market, then competes with them when they do.
Here in Canada we have the choice of getting our news from two different viewpoints. In some other countries you would only get big money's point of view, and in others, only the government's.
I take it you would rather have those private individuals/companies with deep pockets providing us with all of our news?