Burma, Lonely Planet and the BBC

Last week, Simon Barrow of Ekklesia posted a link to The Dirty List, the Burma Campaign's list of companies with ties to Burma. The Campaign wants us to apply pressure on these companies to sever their ties, thus isolating the Myanmar regime, and closing revenue streams. On the list is Lonely Planet, the travel guide company, which publishes a guide to Myanmar (the regime's name for Burma, which the British government refuses to recognise). On their web site, the company provides a balanced list of reasons for and against going to Burma as a tourist. The article notes that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to go to Burma, and that the government used forced labour to ready tourist-related sights and services.

Usually, I'm all for giving people informed choices, and allowing them to make their own decisions. In view of the violence of the past week, Aung San Suu Kyi's request is compelling, and the Myanmar guide should be withdrawn. However, the company's owners have been resistant to all such calls in the past.

Things moved on a bit yesterday, as BBC News announced that Lonely Planet has been acquired by BBC Worldwide. Now is an opportune time to apply a little pressure on the guide's new owners.

A little digging revealed that BBC Worldwide's Chief executive Officer is John Smith, and his email address is john.smith.01@bbc.co.uk. I'm going to send him an email. The purchase of Lonely Planet was approved by the BBC Trust, who review all of the BBC's commercial activities against four criteria, one of which is that activities must 'not jeopardise the good reputation of the BBC or the value of the BBC brand'. Putting the BBC brand on a guidebook to Myanmar isn't going to do much for the brand's value, or for the BBC's reputation.

Technorati tags: Burma, Myanmar, Lonely Planet, BBC worldwide, campaign

Comments

[Free Burma!]

Free Burma!
International Bloggers' Day for Burma on the 4th of October

International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words „Free Burma!“.

www.free-burma.org

[David]

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/david_cox/2007/10/the_name_game.html

[ayresnograces]

Thanks, David. Your link you left pointing to your article isn't displaying properly. It points here.

[rebecca]

Since you can't do too much for Burma, here are some further action points. Christian Aid has a petition here: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/pressoffice
/pressreleases/Burma_Sign_the_petition.aspx
(this address has been divided in two to prevent it being truncated).

And Amnesty International has an action point here: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=331