Congratulations, people power is still alive!
By Adrenochrome
@Adrenochrome (1653)
January 19, 2007 6:05am CST
Across the world, governments have been ignoring their citizens, which could have lead to the disillusioning of people to feel they can no longer influence events. However, in Britain this week the public has struck back. As many people will be aware, the celebrity (using the term very loosely) edition of Big Brother has caused great offense across the UK and India, due to 3 slags carrying out a racist vendetta against Shilpa Shetty, the tremendously talented and dignified 'Bollywood' actress. Due to efforts by myself, amd many others, a concerted attack has rained down upon the broadcaster, Channel4, the government who fund this Public Sector broadcaster, & the shows sponsors, the Carphone Warehouse. Yesterday, the carphone warehouse ended its sponsorship of the show, and a pharmacy that was retailing Jade Goody's perfume (she is the principal voice in this abhorrent abuse) removed her product from the shelf. Whilst channel4 have used the argument that 'it has brought this issue into the public domain for debate', this could also be used for screening murder, rape, assault and paedophilia, and is unacceptable. Also, the British government has refused to act, but they are spineless when confronting big business, pandering to their own career desires, than the peoples well-being!
This has, however, been a very successful campaign, targetting the sponsors, and will continue to address these matters. Thanks to all who helped by e-mailling the channel, government and sponsors.
But, where next? With he internet allowing for the arrangement of such powerful protests, without the need to stand in freezing winds and rain with placards, where should the protests look to next?
Is there anything going on in your own country, on a worldwide or national, or even local level that is heinous, disgusting and abhorrent that you would wish to be addressed?
Perhaps, a day of national protest over the increasing use of cctv in our society. If on one day, everyone were to demand copies of all cctv footage of themselves from local authorities, under (in the UK) the Data Protection Act, we could paralyze the whole of local government! What would you address? Vent your spleen, and the best answers will be acted upon.
2 people like this
10 responses
@4ftfingers (1310)
•
20 Jan 07
thank god!! hopefully we will finally stop celebrating thick pig sh'tes like jade bloody goody, who believe they need only repeat 'i say what i fink, thats jus me, i say what i think' everytime time they offend people. it's embarassing to be british, when we have her as our 'celebrity' up against someone like shilpa.
i don't think she truelly meant it racially, but thankfully her ignorance wasn't so encouraged this time around. and through efforts like your own, we stood up for what's right and supported shilpa as the underdog. that is something to be celebrated
@Adrenochrome (1653)
•
20 Jan 07
Far too many bigots do not believe they are bigots, and I think that Jades mother set the tone for the whole abhorrent episode. Jackie apparently found the 6 letter name Shilpa, too difficult to pronounce, so kept referring to her as 'the Indian' - and her early exclusion should have indicated to the other housemates that this kind of ignorant behaviour was winning them no friends in the public.
I agree wholeheartedly with your appraisal of Jade Goody, and I found her daily crocodile tears and claims that she is not 'racial', completely false. She has behaved intolerably for 2 weeks, carrying out a vendetta against a very gracious individual, and then when caught out and told she is a bully and racist, says she isn't. Well I judge people by their actions, not their words, and I hope I never have to see that woman or any member of her disgusting family on my tv again. Thank you for your input, I am aware that there is a racial problem still in the UK (though I hope that this situation has been improving steadily), but to celebrate this vulgar mentality is wrong. I am glad to have been a part of our nations fight against this kind of behaviour, this country is far better for the inclusion of the great cultures of the commonwealth and europe, and the world.
@4ftfingers (1310)
•
22 Jan 07
Well the way she was treated by the news papers, big brother, and anyone else who gave her an interview was hypocritical. the bully became bullied (i heard this on the news this morning but i thought so before.)
i would never condone what she said, whether she meant it or not, anything like that cannot be tollerated. but anyone who wanted to be associated with her was selling ignorance. the companies that sold perfume under hear name, might aswel have put 'pig ignorance' on their bottles, because that is the market you're tapping into when using jade goody, and they all knew that.
but then she goes too far, and they all dissassociate themselves with her. they don't bother to appologise or make a statement themselves, dropping her is enough for them to convince themselves they have done nothing wrong and they arn't the bad guys.
personally i think anyone who gave her a voice was doing soemthing wrong by encouraging her.
it's like telling a 5 year old to go and hit someone with a stick, then leaving them to face the consequences. jade doesn't have the inteligence to be calculated enough to bullysomeone and then fake remorse. she's just an idiot
@Adrenochrome (1653)
•
20 Jan 07
Thank you for your support, and I am truly sorry that freedom of speech and justice for all has not yet reached Moldova. Hopefully with the encroachment of the European Union into the former Eastern Bloc countries, will have an impact into your young nation soon.
I shall be sure to keep an eye on events, and iif I can raise your countrys profile in the media/internet shall do so, with pride.
Good luck, and keep hope alive.
@hazeter (670)
• Philippines
20 Jan 07
well even here in the Philippines people power is still alive. Although sometimes it causes some problem because of the police. sometimes people in rally are getting hurt here. But i think people power is still usefull specially with the leader of the country which is bad.
1 person likes this
@Adrenochrome (1653)
•
20 Jan 07
Unfortunately, sometimes in the UK, when mass protests are organised, a small group of trouble-makers can use the cause to create violence, and this benefits nobody. I hope this is not the case in the Philippines. Whenever a large body of people gather, the actual size of the group can lead to people being hurt, simply by the weight of numbers.
It would be much nicer if political leaders listened to their electorate, rather than act in their own interests, or their own political partys interest. I hope the day will soon come, when the people of the Philippines flock to the streets to celebrate their government. Thank you for your input, I greatly appreciate your thoughts.
@angelicEmu (1311)
•
19 Jan 07
Hurrah! I think that ironically the way we can make a difference tends to be via consumer-based companies, rather than the so-called democratic process. If we exert pressure on a company en masse, they're concerned with profits and image, so they have to act. Government itself, however, can pretty much do whatever it likes, or allow whatever benefits it and those who line the pockets of Political Parties. I'd personally love to stop the government from eroding our human rights and giving the police powers they oughtn't to have. ID cards should be stopped before they're started - the security and potential abuse issues are too great for us to allow this. We don't need them, and they wouldn't give greater security to the country. The police and security services already have all the information on us they need, and incompetence on their part is no excuse to take away our rights (rights, NOT privileges as MPs and the police would have us believe).
1 person likes this
@Adrenochrome (1653)
•
19 Jan 07
I believe that solicitors for the Indian government are looking at bringing a private prosecution, so hopefully justice shall be done.
As for the power of lobbying, I think all those people who emailled the carphone warehouse should pat themselves on the back, and have a little celebration.
Thanks for your contribution.
2 people like this
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Do you really think posters on the internet or "internet protestors" got the sponsors to pull out? Fat chance. It has been given global media attention, I have no idea who the eff Shilpa Shetty is and I've never seen english Big Brother, but I've heard about this racism.
Chances are the supporters just cut and run when they didn't want to be associated with it for obvious reasons.
1 person likes this
@Adrenochrome (1653)
•
19 Jan 07
Pessimist! The sponsors stated today that they had received a large number of complaints, and the public have also got the offending character out of the show! Whereas Channel4 have sclaimed there was no racism (though they are incorrect, in my humblr opinion), and as the saying goes 'there's no such thing as bad publicity', and as Oscar Wilde stated 'the only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about', so your summation would seem incorrect.
Don't worry, I know you only act contrary to public opinion and to be obtuse, so would have expected no ledd from you. Thanks for the revenue.
@helloitsmera (48)
• India
20 Jan 07
hi i feel that the issue was given more importance. if you see in india itself we people are fighting for caste,creed. If it is like this among ourself then what is there if a person form some other country comments. First of all our government should see to that there are no abuses among ourselves about caste..
1 person likes this
@Adrenochrome (1653)
•
20 Jan 07
Thank you for raising this issue, which I understand is a very major issue within India. I read that last year, a great number of people born into the lowest caste, known as 'the untouchables' in English, actually left the Hindu faith and became Christians because that was the only way to get legal rights. I believe that the great Mahatma Gandhi felt no qualms with mixing with all castes, and as the founding light of a free India, I would hope that the government and its citizens will learn to act as enlightened as he was. The Indian people know that they no longer need to accept abuse from the UK, and the behaviour of certain so-called 'celebs' does not represent the nations view, nor the vast majority of British people.
I wish you well in your continued struggle to rid India of its class system, a struggle which has been fought unsuccessfully in the UK for over a hundred years. If I can ever support your enlightened approach, please call upon me.
@jacksparrowthehunk (13)
• India
20 Jan 07
well nice 2 hear u wot do u think wot more shd i do to earn more tell me
how much money do hav in dis account
@Adrenochrome (1653)
•
20 Jan 07
I don't think this issue is about money, more to do with respect for ourselves and others.
@intunique (23)
• United States
20 Jan 07
We live in an amazing time. The internet and media networks allow for the lightning quick spread of news items around the globe. Never before could the power of one multiplied many times over have such an immediate impact. Regardless of the reason, the fact that the general public could assist in changing corporate minds is awesome. I'm not too sure that repeated attempts would be as successful as there is a novelty factor that helps create the motivation for responding. If it became a regular event it might lose its impact as folks turn their attention elsewhere. But ya never know!
1 person likes this
