[Media-watch] FW: Naked Awards Protest

[david Miller]

>
>----------
>From: "Theo" <seizetheday at thismoment.freeserve.co.uk>
>Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 16:44:22 -0000
>To: "Louise :-\)" <louise at ukonline.co.uk>
>Subject: Naked Awards Protest
>
>Press Release 27th March 2003
>
>
>
>BBC RADIO 3 WORLD MUSIC AWARDS
>
>Banned Members In Naked Protest
>
>When listeners and viewers tune into the BBC coverage of the Radio 3 World
>Music Awards on Radio 3 tonight and on BBC4 on Friday night, they will see
>no evidence of the anti-censorship protest which ended the
>heavily-controlled event.  So here is an account of what actually happened:
>
>A band who were denied a prestigious Radio 3 World Music Award because of
>their anti-war views, stormed the stage to launch a naked protest at The
>Ocean in London on Monday night.
>
>Two members and one supporter of the radical British folk-band Seize The
>Day, stripped off and climbed onto the stage as applause for the final act
>of the night ended.  Their bodies were hidden at first with signs reading
>"BBC Cover-Up", before they went "the full Monty", to excited cheers from
>the 1000 strong audience.  The slogan "Peace Not War" was written across
>their chests.
>
>Seize The Day polled the most on-line votes in the Radio 3 "Audience Awards"
>category, but were disqualified without warning after Radio 3 Executives
>realised they might express their anti-war believes in song at the ceremony.
>
>Singer Theo Simon, who was one of the three naked protesters, said
>"When I arrived at the Ocean Venue I was ordered at the door to remove my
>anti-war badge, which said "Not In My Name".  This confirmed our view that
>Radio 3 were trying to silence public opposition to the war in Iraq."
>
>The band hastily improvised their protest, and waited until the Senegalese
>band Orchestra Baobab had finished their encore, before springing their
>surprise revenge on the unsuspecting organisers.   Earlier they watched as
>Slovenian band Terra Folk received the Audience Award.
>
>Band member Rich Whistance said, "We didn't want to rob Terra Folk of their
>moment of glory - which they deserved as much as anyone - but we did want to
>publicly show the Radio 3 organisers up for their cowardice and dishonesty."
>
>Seize The Day are no strangers to taking direct action against
>corporations - one of their earliest actions was a naked roof-top protest
>against " The Genetix Cover-Up" by Monsanto in 1997, and band members have
>previously been arrested for obstructing road-builders and pulling up GM
>crops.
>
>However this is the first time they have protested on their own behalf.
>
>"We just felt that a real injustice had been done to the band and the
>thousands who voted for us," said singer Shannon.   "If BBC Radio 3 want to
>promote World Music, they shouldn't be afraid of songs which express the
>growing global movement for world peace and justice."
>
>Contact "Seize The Day":   Theo or Shannon - 01749 860767  mob. 0778844 6109
>More info/FOOTAGE:   www.seizetheday.org
>Email: seizetheday at thismoment.freeserve.co.uk
>
>
>