Barack Obama has inspired hope the world over, but the road ahead is
difficult. After over 1400 killed and 5000 wounded in Gaza, Obama knows the
US must become a fair peace mediator in the Middle East. But that is almost
impossible while the US media remains strongly biased on this conflict. Only
4% of related US media stories even mention that Palestinians are under
military occupation, and less than 25% of Americans say they can sympathize
with both sides. Given this, even Obama will find it difficult to be fair.
We urgently need to meet this challenge as Obama makes historic choices on
Israel-Palestine. The winds of change are blowing through American media --
media experts tell us the best way to seize this opportunity is to fund a
small number of highly respected individuals to engage top journalists and
editors on this issue - providing facts, information and opportunities to
hear sensible voices for peace from both Palestinians and Israelis. $40,000
would be enough to hire a respected advocate; $15,000 will pay for an
opinion poll in Gaza and Israel that challenges prejudices and is released
to US media; $50,000 will build a "peace wall" in Gaza, Jerusalem and
Washington DC for citizens in each place to post messages to each other and
the media.
If each one of us who signed the petition gives just $2 (1.50 euro) each,
we'll raise $1 million -- enough to launch a highly effective effort. The
Obama presidency is an opportunity to end this festering conflict, but he
can't do it without us. It's time for all of us to get serious about this,
click below to get started:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/gaza_media_balance
If we raise more than needed, we can match this effort with compelling
public actions that convey sensible, ordinary voices for peace from both
Palestinians and Israelis to the US media. Far from taking sides, our effort
will show that a pro-peace voice is both pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian,
because it advocates for lasting security and justice for both peoples.
Click above to see a more detailed funding proposal for this project.
For years a balanced perspective has been largely absent from US media.
Palestinian kids throwing rocks were seen as dangerous rioters, rather than
token resistance to an illegal and repressive military occupation. The
crushing nature of the Israeli occupation, the numbers of Palestinians
beaten or killed, the way that Palestinians live in a type of giant prison
with even the smallest movements or actions tightly controlled, are almost
never covered by US media. The same media however often create great empathy
among Americans for innocent Israeli victims of violence, telling their
personal stories in depth. See links below for a number of studies that have
showed the overwhelming bias of American media in this conflict. Until the
American media can tell both heart-rending sides of the story, no US
president will be able to broker a fair peace.
The opportunity is there. After the trauma of the Bush years there is a
fresh wind blowing through American democracy and media. A new emphasis on
responsible, tough journalism, and a genuine desire among media
professionals to be more balanced. On the other hand, a massive PR
infrastructure established by a few powerful organizations puts tens of
millions of dollars a year into conveying a pro-war perspective to US media.
This is tough competition, but our effort will have a much easier job -
we'll be pushing balance, not bias, helping journalists to do their job, not
shirk it. Obama has promised "fairness" in his approach to this region,
let's help make it politically possible for him to deliver. Click below:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/gaza_media_balance
With hope,
Ricken, Graziela, Alice, Luis, Paul, Brett, Milena, Paula, Pascal, Iain and
the whole Avaaz team.
PS: For more information about bias in the US media and on coverage of the
recent war in Gaza:
The Blame Game in Gaza - Erasing Israeli actions to fault only Hamas:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3667
Video - Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land:
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=eCL6WdnuNp4
Jon Stewart's critique of media bias on Gaza conflict:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=213380&title=Strip-Maul
International Law Seldom Newsworthy in Gaza War - Israeli justifications
often cited uncritically:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3672
For a recent US poll which shows the impact of the media bias:
http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/client/act_dsp_pdf.cfm?name=mr090114-2a.pdf&id=4236
Palestine Media Watch report on op-eds:
http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/mediocrity/displayCall.asp?essayID=336
Newsworthy and unnewsworthy deaths:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3057
Video - Media bias about the Israeli - Palestine conflict exposed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kiyyp9cZdY0&NR=1
Video - Biased media reports on the Israeli-Palestinian:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOC1RReb6gc
If Americans Knew - A US project helping to convey alternative perspectives
to Americans:
www.ifamericansknew.org
PPS: Please click on this link for an award winning video made by Avaaz
which is the kind of material that we will use to encourage more balanced
understanding of the Middle East: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWyJJQbFago
Fwd by
John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm>
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