AFRI, Action From Ireland
Press Announcement: 14-05-09
Afri, 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (0)1 882 7563/7581 Fax: +353 (0)1 882 7576
e-mail: [email protected] web: www.afri.ie <http://www.afri.ie>
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Midwest Radio censors Rossport 5 advertisement
Midwest radio has refused to run an advertisement that included the term Rossport 5, describing the name as politically inciting. The 15 second advertisement, the exact same text of which is being run by RTE, is promoting an Afri fundraising event on Sunday 17th May in aid of the Rossport community.
The event features a number of high profile artists including Christy Moore, Booker Prize winner Anne Enright, Dermot Healy, and Vincent McGrath and Willie Corduff of the Rossport 5, who were imprisoned for 94 days in 2005 for their opposition to the Shell-led Corrib Gas project. Midwest Radio apparently believes that even to mention the name of the Rossport group, a name regularly used even by opponents of the group, is unacceptable.
Afri described the decision by Midwest Radio as a blatant act of censorship and questioned the stations impartiality vis-a-vis the Corrib Gas conflict. Would an advertisement paid for by Shell and referring to Shells claimed environmental record, for example, be considered to be politically inciting and pulled from the schedule?, asked Afri co-ordinator Joe Murray.
As part of the May 17th event, Mr Corduff will tell the story of his being beaten up in the Shell compound in Glengad and hospitalised while he was taking part in a peaceful protest last month. This is another worrying insight into the media which, with very rare exceptions, has also refused to report the beating up of Willie Corduff by sinister forces in the Shell compound in Glengad said Afri Chairperson, Andy Storey.
Further information from Afri 01 8827563 Joe Murray 086 3946893 or Andy Storey 0876543872
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MID WEST RADIO
Midwest Radio 96.1fm | Clare St, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, Ireland
Tel: +00353 (0) 818 300055 | Fax: +00353 (0) 9496 30285 | Email:
[email protected]
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BACKGROUND INFO AND VIDEOS
Goldman International Prize: info + video on Willie Corduff
http://www.goldmanprize.org/node/605
Willie Corduff on BBC World: + video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/6960111.stm
Willie Corduff on Late Late show
http://www.rte.ie/tv/latelate/20050930.html
Independent background report on Corrib gas
http://www.publicinquiry.ie/reports.php#ld197
Attack on campaigner coverage to date:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0424/1224245293902.html