大象传媒

I am writing my first Newsnight blog to express my profound disappointment with Carol Allen's report from Kenya. It was a really crass, superficial piece of reporting - largely descriptive and totally lacking in understanding. Allen's script implied that all Kenyan politicians were equally to blame, tarring the opposition with the same brush as a Government, that had brazenly cheated at the polls. Allen's report gave the impression that the strife in Kenya was simply about old tribal rivalries, rather than being caused by the legitimate anger felt by Kenyans who felt they had been cheated out of a fair election. Let me add that I have no connections, or special knowedge, about Kenya - but I do know poor reporting when I see it. But thanks for covering the story anyway.

I was in Kenya, in and around Molo, in 1991. I was only there for a couple of months in the summer. My memory is that: not long after I got home in September violence broke out; there were horrific massacres across the rift valley and Molo was particularly badly hit. As far as I remember it didn't get much coverage here, just a few lines in the paper; the only reason I noticed it was because I'd just been there. Of course, my memory may be playing tricks on me, and I may have my dates confused, but I don't think 1991 is that long ago. I was, therefore, quite taken aback not just with what's been happening lately in Kenya, but with all the recent coverage of how stable Kenya has always been, how unexpected this sort of violence is, how nobody's ever see this sort of thing before. I make no claims to know anything about the country, just some vague recollections in passing. But I'm pretty sure the massacres in 91 didn't get much coverage, I'm not sure what's changed so much lately to warrant so much air time now. I'm glad that it does warrant it, but I feel oddly offended at, what seems to me, (given my memory of things) the pretense that everything was fantastic before hand and suddenly its all gone to pot since the last election. Whatever the cause, I hope it gets better soon.

Is it something about the French in general or perhaps the Soc Gen affair that leads Jeremy to worry about a plague of frogs?

I was disappointed with the report on Kenya but who would want to go there at this time so I really should shut up as if things continue as they seem we will be lucky to get anyone in there. The court case to be held in camera was a worrying development and Jeremy was good at his usual interrogation.

As a Kenyan, I honestly believe that both Raila and Kibaki have lost the plot and deserve to go! What we needed was a Statesman but what we have are two power-hungry individuals wrangling over the highest office in the land. They are both oblivious to the plight of the suffering masses and are doing little to solve the issues. The current violence has escalated well beyond the elections. What we are seeing are ethnic quarrels that have been going on for a very long time (see BMcD) with deep rooted causes.

Its time for change!!!

Kenya: its true what thay say when birds of the same feather flock together and in Kenya's case; tribal differences make them fight each other over resources and power. What we witness in Kenya is a primitive urge hardwired in man (as well as beast), and prove that religious, cultural or political differences without the glue of civilised society is usually problematic.It was very telling that in this newsnight report, mentioned was the view that the tribal violence brought about by the 'elections' are historically based on the "indiginous and the outsider".

Look out folks, Newsnight is pitching in for some journalism awards. Usual method - get somebody in a war zone. Never mind the quality of the reporting, just look at the threat to the journalist's life: that equals credibility, dunnit?

Last night we had this silly woman jumping about Kenya with her oh-so serious voice and yet all through her film I waited for a detailed explanation of what lies behind this violence. I waited. And waited. And waited. Ethnic tension, tribes, blah blah. Yes and what about the beliefs of these tribes? That's what will be fuelling all this. But nothing. Just vague drivel.

But wait, Jeremy speaks to her on the big screen: "What's triggered this upsurge in violence?" I leant forward in my seat to hear: Waffle, waffle, waffle, "church was set fire" waffle, waffle, waffle.

What was that my dear, that you slipped in there? Buried away in all that 大象传媒 euphemistic rhubarb? A church? Set on fire? You mean a religious symbol. A place of worship. Ah madam, I think you know a little bit more than you were letting on in your film - and I also suspect that Jeremy and Peter Barron do too.

Look at this:

The opening paragraph reads: "Raila Odinga [the man who lost], the current frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election in Kenya, has promised to implement strict Islamic Sharia law if he receives the Muslim vote in the predominantly Christian country and is elected president."

This violence has a great deal to do with the attempt to Islamise Africa. It is, in essence, jihadist. But that puts organisations like the 大象传媒 in great difficulty, doesn't it? Because you very much like to do what you did last week when Kirsty Wark interviewed that British Muslim lady - let go unchallenged the propaganda that any jihadist-related violence is (to paraphrase that woman) because of US/UK foreign policy.

The 大象传媒 is the last place on earth you'd ever hear a debate about the influence of teachings like: "Make war on the unbelievers and on the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an evil fate."

Keep patronising us if you will Newsnight (and taking a licence fee for the liberty of it), but don't think none of us can see through you.

NHS WARDS
Here is why single-sex wards are not a viable option for this present Nu Labour controlled NHS and government.
A perfect example is home care of the aged and vulnerable which is against the centralisation principles on which this government bases everything. Schools, hospitals, everything in fact is supposedly run to a standard of uniformity. Even the sexes of patients are blurred, and single-sex wards have been banished. It is easier for procurement and HS departments to 'fiddle' the books when dealing in hundreds of thousands or millions of pounds. Despite Nu Labour distain of the USA. the NHS is going to use an expensive American to control initially three NHS primary practices. This is reminiscent of Livingstone's dependence on USA 'experts' for the crumbling London underground. If MP Conway's story has caused dismay, we ain't seen nothing yet!