cuz to criticize the el duce is wrong

[Guest guest]

Canadian activist shunned by CBS for her views on George Bush

 

Ottawa - Maude Barlow, known internationally for her work on the right

to water, was recently informed that she would not be interviewed by

CBS News due to her criticisms of the Bush administration. " This is a

clear offense of free speech, " says Barlow. " Viewers should be

concerned by the network's decision to prevent critical views from

being heard. "

 

On July 4, CBS News contacted the Council of Canadians seeking

background information for a story on water and expressed an interest

in interviewing its chairperson, Maude Barlow. After several exchanges

of phone calls and emails, Meera Karunananthan, the Council's Media

Officer, was informed that CBS News was no longer interested in

interviewing the prominent Canadian activist. When pressed, the CBS

producer, Taigi Smith, revealed that CBS management was concerned about

negative reactions from viewers due to Maude Barlow's previous

criticisms of the Bush administration.

 

" Maude Barlow has been critical of both Canadian and American

governments on a variety of issues, " says Karunananthan. " This does

not diminish the fact that she is recognized in both countries as the

leading expert on global water issues - something CBS clearly

acknowledged when they contacted us. "

 

Barlow says she would not have needed to criticize the Bush

administration in an interview on the global water crisis. " I have

been interviewed on numerous occasions by the American media, and

wonder if this recent decision by CBS is indicative of a climate in

which those who have criticized policies of the Bush administration

will not be able to have their views - even ones uncritical of the Bush

administration - heard by the American people, " she says.

 

Maude Barlow is the author of 15 books including the international

bestseller Blue Gold: The Fight to Stop Corporate Theft of the

World's Water, which was published in 40 countries. Her work has

earned her such prestigious awards as the Right Livelihood Award

presented to her by the Swedish Parliament in December 2005.

 

-30-

 

For more information, contact:

Meera Karunananthan Media Officer: Tel.: (613) 233-4487, ext. 234;

Cell: (613) 795-8685; meera.

 

--

The Council of Canadians

700-170 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5.

Tel: (613) 233-2773; Toll-free: 1-800-387-7177

Fax: (613) 233-6776

inquiries

www.canadians.org

 

 

If George Bush said that the Earth was flat, the headline would read, “Views

Differ on Shape of the Earth