Kevin your gripe is frankly meaningless in the face of what is
happening in Zimbabwe.
I have a friend who is working for an NGO in Harare. I speak to him
when I can in-between the power cuts. Finding water to drink is one
of his primary concerns at the moment, another is that what cost him
3 Million Zimbabwean Dollars 2 days ago costs him 7 Million
Zimbabwean Dollars today... in other words a loaf of bread.
He'll often tell me about events which take days to get into the
worlds media, if they surface at all. Frankly I applaud the BBC for
their continued ingenuity and bravery in this particular situation.
It's maybe time to shift your gaze off the birds and look at the real
story staring you in the face here. Your initiative is noteworthy,
but unfortunately in this context seems woefully misplaced.
Steve
On 22 Jan 2008, at 00:39, Kevin Colver wrote:
> Today the BBC made no bones about using reporters disguised as
> birders to get into Zimbabwe, illegally gaining access to areas off
> limits to reporters. This behavior clearly raises the suspicion of
> some government leaders against valid birders and other nature
> enthusiasts. The BBC has endangered us all with their illegal
> behavior.
>
> I have sent them the following letter:
>
> "I was shocked and angered that you would have one of your reporters
> masquerade as a birder to enter the country of Zimbabwe. Then, worst
> of all, you published this openly on the radio. This clearly puts
> all valid birders, nature photographers and recorders, and other
> valid tourists at a new risk of suspicion and harm. As a nature
> recordist and birder myself, I already fall under unwarranted
> suspicion when I use my binoculars and recording equipment in out-of-
> the-way places. Now you have validated the suspicions that should
> have remained unfounded.
>
> "You clearly owe a major apology to all the nature enthusiasts and
> scientists you have now endangered. You also should make a public
> statement that such behavior will never again be tolerated by your
> reporters.
>
> As you, as a nature recordists group, have now been affected, I
> wanted to let you know.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kevin Colver
>
>
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