RTE ban Rossport fundraiser ad

national | miscellaneous | feature

Sunday August 09, 2009 13:46

by J.F. - Afri - www.afri.ie

Afri - Aid From Ireland

Afri expressed dismay today after RTE refused to broadcast an advertisement submitted by them on the grounds that it ‘references persons involved with the Rossport/Shell campaign’ The 20 second advertisement, is promoting an Afri gig entitled ‘That’s Gas…’

The gig will consist of a night of words and music in the Sugar Club, Lr. Leeson Street, Dublin. On Thursday 6th August and will feature Paula Meehan, Dermot Bolger, Jinx Lennon, members of Kila, Donal O’Kelly, Sorcha Fox, Pom Boyd, Gina Moxley as well as Vincent McGrath and Pat O’Donnell of Rossport
Afri described the decision by RTE as a blatant form of censorship and questioned the independence of the station and the nature of its relationship with big business, especially the multinational Oil Company, Shell. Would an advertisement paid for by Shell and referring to Shell’s environmental record for example, be considered to ‘reference people involved in Shell’? And would RTE refuse to broadcast it?
This is another worrying insight into how our national broadcaster works and how large Corporations can use their power to silence voices raised on behalf of justice and human rights.
Further Information Joe Murray 086 3946893

Proposed wording for RTE ad:

THAT¹S GAS!
A night of words and music
8pm Thursday 6th August,
Sugar Club, Lr. Leeson Street, Dublin.

Paula Meehan
Dermot Bolger & Sons
Jinx Lennon
Members of Kila
Donal O’Kelly and Sorcha Fox
Pom Boyd
Gina Moxley
Vincent McGrath and Fisherman Pat O¹Donnell of Rossport

Tkts €20 Tel 01 8827563.
_______________________________________________________

That's Gas!, 8pm Thursday 6th August, Sugar Club, Lr. Leeson St., Dublin.

Afri presents That's Gas!, an evening of words and music from some of
Ireland's leading performers, writers and musicians.

That's Gas! line-up includes:-
Poet and playwright Paula Meehan
Writer and poet Dermot Bolger
Writer and actor Gina Moxley
Comedian and writer Pom Boyd
Dundalk musical phenomenon Jinx Lennon
Kila - five of the unique globetrotting trad band
Rossport Five member Vincent McGrath, Rossport fisherman Pat O'Donnell and
others.

That's Gas! is an opportunity to support the Rossport communities in County
Mayo opposing the proposed Shell gas pipeline through their locality. It's
also a chance to see a line-up of enormously exciting musical and literary
talent, all contributing their services towards Afri's work in support of
the Rossport communities.

That's Gas!, at high pressure, through a community, the ONLY pipeline of its
kind in the world, as admitted during the recent Bord Pleanála oral hearing.

Tickets 20EUR from Afri, 01 8827563.

Spread the word!
That's Gas! 8pm Thurs 6th Aug, Sugar Club, Lr. Leeson Street, near corner of
Stephen's Green, next door to Hourican's Pub.