Scrisoare de protest a diasporei române adresata conducerii CNN pentru difuzarea documentarului referitor la prostitutia juvenila in Romania
To: CNN
To. Mr. Aaron Brown
Director
CNN
Atlanta, Georgia
To: Mr. Eason Jordan,
Director
CNN International Desk
Atlanta, Georgia
From. Dr. Theodor Ban et all
(umrl2004@yahoo.com)
Paris
Dear Sirs,
This letter comes to you in appreciation of CNNs professionalism and omnipresence in the hot spots of our world. Also, this is a request and reply of some worldwide Romanian organizations, whose members are concerned by the unfair presentation of the biased “ Romanian Sex Trade” documentary regarding the Romanian juvenile prostitution, pedophilia and street children, broadcasted by CNN on February 15 and 22, 2004, and previously presented in December 2003.
While we are aware of the life aspects that have to be changed in Romania, such as rare cases of child sex abuse and trafficking revealed in your program, we are concerned by the unfair focus on a situation that does not and has never characterized the Romanian society. Child sex abuse is a global problem, affecting European as well as other countries.
We know that CNN is the most important global network shaping views worldwide. We will always remember that CNN has covered crucial stories in Romania such as the outstanding live broadcasting of the 1989 Romanian Revolution and other more recently like the visits of Presidents Clinton and Bush in Romania. We will be happy if you revisit the Romania issue from the point of view of an old and very important European culture, a country with hospitable people, working hard with limited financial resources to meet the requirements of the global society.
The CNN documentary program came at a time when Romania is cornered by different political forces due in part to its strong ties with the US and pro-US views. Its repeated broadcasting at high impact hours now, when Romania is in the European Union's spotlight regarding international adoptions does not help in promoting a real image of the efforts Romania has been making towards improving its citizens life and building an authentic democracy, in order to enhance its chances to join the EU in 2007.
We hope that CNN will help Romania to present its positive sides too, as the country struggles to modernize its economy, and solve new critical issues such as the ones you have addressed.
It is our strong belief that Romanians should not only be given a chance, but also a helpful hand from friends in the USA and abroad in order to accelerate the building of a truly modern and democratic country involved in today's global society.
There are many less-shocking media projects about Romania that could de-couple it from the vicious circle of the stereotypes and negativism currently promoted by some international media organizations, with direct impact on Romanias capacity of solving a range of societal problems.
Here are some ideas:
- Romanias flourishing tourism industry. Romania is a wonderful country; it has been selected for its Virginia - like landscapes by Anthony Minghella, Director of “Cold Mountain” feature movie! The program could attract more normal people to visit our country, rather then pedophiles;
- Romanias gifted students, who annually get major awards from various international competitions (Gold medals for the last 5 years in the World Math Olympiads);
- Romanias IT talents and their recognized contributions to global progress. Romania is constantly attracting major IT companies, either US (Microsoft, Oracle), Canadian (Tele systems wireless), or European;
- Romania as native land of worldwide famous leaders in science, art, culture, literature and politics: Eng. Henri Coanda, inventor, Prof Dr. George Emil Palade, Nobel Prize (Medicine), ex-director of The Rockefeller Institute from New York, Professor Nicolae Mangeron (important contributions in NASA space programs), Ellie Wiesel, Nobel Price for Peace, Constantin Brancusi, sculptor, Eugen Ionesco, playwriterMircea Eliade, philosopher and writer, George Enescu, composer, Virginia Zeani, opera Diva, professor of canto in Baltimore, Sergiu Celibidache and Yoel Levi, Symphony Orchestra Conductors, Alexandra Nechita - the so called "Little Picasso", Horst Koehler, head of the International Monetary Fund for the past four years and a former deputy finance minister, Michael Howard, former UK Home Secretary and current leader of the Conservative party, Nicolae Titulescu politician ambassador of Romania and President of the League of Nations, Nadia Comaneci, gold prize gymnast, Ilie Nastase, tennis champion, Lia Roberts, head of the Republican Party in Nevada, now in the presidential race in Romania, Liliana Pagu (presented as one of 100 world outstanding women in Whos Who, etc.
- Romania takes action: a subsequent program about how the Romanian Government and NGOs are tackling the problem of homeless children. Romania is one of the few countries that had addressed and solved AIDS problems for children patients.
- Investing in Romania: Romania is one of the most attractive economies in Central and Eastern Europe;
- Romania and the US: a lasting partnership. Romania as a trusted US partner, be it in NATO, UN, or EU.
Romanians are aspiring to regain the world's confidence and trust after 50 years of imposed harsh communism. We stand united with the US, Great Britain and other countries in the fight against terrorism. Romania was the second country after Great Britain to join The United States in this fight, and recognized the importance of preserving a strong trans-Atlantic EU relationship with the US.
A talk show with personalities of the Romanian society from all over the world and from Romania to be hosted at CNN’s Atlanta headquarters and in Romania would be a very interesting approach to which we hope you will subscribe.
Thank you once again for your efforts to promote a balanced image about today's Romania and Romanians worldwide.
With best regards.
Romanian version:
Domnului : Aaron Brown
Director
CNN, Atlanta, Georgia
Eason Jordan,
Director
CNN International Desk
Atlanta, Georgia
Expeditor. Dr. Theodor Ban et all
(umrl2004@yahoo.com)
Paris Martie 6, 2004
Stimati Domni.
Aceasta scrisoare vine ca o apreciere la adresa profesionalismului si a omniprezentei CNN-ului in punctele de maxim interes ale lumii. Totodata, ea este o cerere si un raspuns al catorva organizatii ale societatii civile romanesti, din lumea intreaga, ai caror membrii, cetateni respectabili ai societatii in care traiesc, sunt revoltati de prezentarea documentarului referitor la prostitutia juvenila in Romania, la pedofilie si la copiii strazii, programul CNN intitulat “Romanian Sex Trade”, difuzat de postul dumneavoastra in 15 si 22 febraurie 2004, precum si in decembrie 2003.
Desi, bineinteles, recunoastem aspectele de viata care trebuie schimbate in Romania zilelor noastre, cum ar fi cazurile rare de abuzuri sexuale asupra copiilor si traficul de persoane, reflectate in programul dumneavoastra, in acelasi timp suntem revoltati de focalizarea nedreapta asupra unei situatii care nu a caracterizat si nu caracterizeaza societatea romaneasca. Abuzurile sexuale asupra copiilor nu sunt o problema numai pentru Romania, ci afecteaza atat tarile Europei cat si alte tari.
Stim ca CNN este cea mai importanta retea de stiri din lume. Va multumim, din nou, pentru emisiunile live ale Revolutiei din 1989 si a altor evenimente importante din ultimii ani, cum au fost vizitele presedintilor Clinton si Bush in Romania. Va rugam sa revedeti problema Romaniei, din puntul de vedere al unei culturi europene vechi si foarte importante, al unei tari cu oameni ospitalieri, care muncesc din greu, cu resurse financiare reduse, sa indeplineasca cerintele unei societati mondiale.
Documentarul difuzat pe postul CNN a venit in momentul in care Romania era “pusa la colt” de diferite cercuri politice, pe fondul unor legaturi puternice cu Statele Unite si pro-americane. Difuzarea sa repetata la ore de maxima audienta, tocmai acum, cand Romania se afla in vizorul UE, cu privire la adoptiile internationale nu au darul de a ajuta la promovarea unei imagini reale a eforturilor romanesti de a realiza progrese in construirea unei democratii autentice si a unui nivel de trai mai bun, menite sa o ajute a-si spori sansele de aderare la UE in 2007.
Speram ca CNN va ajuta Romania sa-si prezinte si partile pozitive, deoarece Romania se zbate sa-si modernizeze economia si sa-si rezolve problemele critice, cum ar fi cele pe care dumneavoastra le-ati mentionat.
Suntem increzatori ca romanii ar merita nu numai o sansa, dar si o mana de ajutor de la prieteni din SUA si de pretutindeni, in scopul de a-si crea o tara moderna, in adevaratul sens al cuvantului, democratica si evoluata, in contextul actual al societatii mondiale.
Ar fi multe proiecte mai putin socante despre Romania, care ar putea sa o scoata din cercul vicios de stereotipii si negativism promovat de mass-media, cu un impact direct asupra capacitatii Romaniei de a rezolva o gama de probleme ale societatii noastre.
Iata cateva exemple:
- Dezvoltarea industriei turismului. Romania este o tara atat de frumoasa! Ea a fost aleasa ca tara de bastina, o Virginia, pentru filmul “Cold Mountain” de Directorul Antony Minghella. Acest program ar putea atrage simpli cetateni sa ne viziteze, mai multi decat pedofilii;
- Elevii inzestrati ai Romaniei, care, anual, primesc premii importante, in diferite competitii internationale (medalii de aur in ultimii 5 ani la Olimpiadele de matematica);
- Specialistii in IT ai Romaniei si contributia lor la progresul global. Romania atrage atentia unor firme de prestigiu in domeniul IT, fie ele din SUA (Microsoft, Oracle), din Canada (Telesystems’ wireless ), sau din Europa;
- Romania este tara de origine a unor lideri recunoscuti in lumea intreaga, din stiinta, arta, cultura, literatura si politica: Ing. Henri Coanda, inventator, Prof. Dr. George Emil Palade, detinator al Premiului Nobel pentru medicina, ex-director al Institutului Rockefeller din New York, Profesor Nicolae Mangeron (important contributor la programele spatiale ale NASA), Ellie Wiesel, Premiul Nobel pentru pace, faimosul sculptor Constantin Brancusi, scriitorul Eugen Ionesco, Mircea Eliade, filozof si scriitor, George Enescu, compozitor, Virginia Zeani, diva Operei, professor de canto in Baltimore, Sergiu Celibidache si Yoel Levi, dirijori al Orchestrei Simfonice, Alexandra Nechita - cea numita “micul Picasso”, Horst Koehler, Presedintele Fondului Monetar International in ultimii 4 ani si fost deputat si ministru al finantelor, Michael Howard, fost secretar al Marii Britanii si actual lider al Partidului Conservator, Nicolae Titulescu, politician si ambasador al Romaniei, Presedinte al Ligii Natiunilor Unite, Nadia Comaneci, gimnasta de aur, Ilie Nastase, campion de tenis, Lia Roberts, presedinte al Partidului Republican din Nevada, aflata acum in cursa pentru presedintia Romaniei, Liliana Pagu, premiata intre primele 100 de femei ale lumii, etc. Si lista ar putea continua...
- Romania este parte activa intr-un program consecvent, in care Guvernul Romaniei si ONG-urile incearca rezolvarea problemei copiilor strazii. Romania este recunoscuta ca una dintre putinele tari care au rezolvat problemele ridicate de proliferarea maladiei SIDA in randul copiilor .
- Investitii in Romania: Romania este una dintre cele mai atractive economii, din acest punct de vedere, in Europa Centrala si de Est.
- Parteneriatul de durata dintre Romania si SUA: Romania este un partener de incredere al SUA, fie in NATO, ONU sau UE.
Dupa 50 de ani de prigoana si hartuire comunista, dorim sa recastigam increderea si respectul lumii intregi. Noi ne-am alaturat Statelor Unite, Marii Britanii si altor state in lupta contra terorismului. Romania a fost a doua tara, dupa Marea Britanie, care s-a alaturat SUA in aceasta lupta impotriva terorismului si recunoaste mentinerea legaturilor transatlantice dintre Uniunea Europeana si Statele Unite ale Americii.
Un talk show cu personalitati ale societatii romanesti din toata lumea,
gazduit fie de CNN Atlanta, fie in Romania, ar fi o apropiere interesanta, careia speram ca ii veti raspunde.
Va multumim, inca o data, pentru efortul dumneavoastra de a promova o imagine echilibrata a Romaniei zilelor noastre si a romanilor din lumea intreaga.
Cu salutari sincere
Organizations:
1. International Committee of The World Union of Free Romanian (UMRL) Saint Maur, Paris, France www.consiliu.org
2. Romanian World Council, USA www.consiliu.org
3. Alliance of Romanian Canadians, Toronto, Canada, www.arcweb.ca
4. Foundation for Romanians, Florida, USA www.Matasa.net
5. Romanian American Trade and Business Bureau, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
6. Youth for a Better World, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia, USA
7. American Romanian Sister Cities Council, Inc, Atlanta, USA
8. Romanian American Council, Pico Rivera, California, USA
9. Romanian World Council Branch, Rialto, California, USA
10. Romanian World Council Branch; Atlanta, Georgia USA
11. Romanian-American Cultural Center "Athenaeum" of Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Persons
1. Dr. Theodor Ban, Secretary General of International Committee of The World Union of Free Romanians Kerkrade, Netherlands, umrl2004@yahoo.com; www.gurke.nl
2, Prof. Smaranda Livescu, Secretary General of The World Romanian Council, President Founder of The Romanian-American Cultural Center "Athenaeum" of Atlanta, Georgia, USA Romaniancc@aol.com
3. Florin Rapan, IT specialist, Toronto, Canada, Alliance of Romanian Canadians, florinrapan@yahoo.ca
4. Eng. Florentina Ilie, President of the “Promotion the European Principles in the New Structures of the Romanian Society Association”, Pitesti, Romania florentinailie@yahoo.com
5. Eng. Virgil Ciuca, New York virgilciuca2002@yahoo.com
6. Diana Voicu, Freiburg, Germany mdiavaro99ro@yahoo.com
7. Sisila Duldurescu, Vice-President of The World Union of Free Romanians Paris sisiladd@yahoo.fr
8. Eng. Doru Novacovici, Honour President of The World Union of Free Romanians, Paris novacovici@worldonline.fr
9. Eng. Mircea Popescu, President of The World Romanian Council, Costa Mesa California, USA popescu@pcnet.net
10. Dr. Alexandu Mircea Munteanu, President of The World Union of Free Romanians, Bad Rappenau, Germany, A.M.Munteanu@t-online-de
11. Marcel Ban, IT specialist, Toronto, President of Alliance of Romanian Canadians. marcel@thebans.com (www.thebans.com)
12. Alexander Popescu, student, Hagen, Germany appopescu@yahoo.de
13. Prof. Claude Matasa, DCE, DSc, Prof of Oral Biomaterials, Hollywood, Florida, USA, President of Foundation for Romanians, www.Matasa.net
14. Dumitru Popescu, Director Romanian-Canadian Newspaper Observator, Toronto, Canada observro@idirect.ca
15. Cornel Dobre, Suedia, montana532003@yahoo.com
16. Liliana Pagu, President of Women’s Association of Romania, Bucharest, Romania afr@opensys.ro; www.afr.ro
17. Lucian I. Livescu, President of the Romanian American Trade and Business Bureau, Youth for a Better World, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia, American Romanian Sister Cities Council, Inc., Atlanta (Romaniancc@aol.com)
18. Nicu Popa, President of The Romanian American Council, Pico Rivera, California, USA nicupopa@aol.com
19. Prof. Eugen Cojocaru, Stuttgart, Germany eugen.cojocaru@web.de
20. Doina Muresan, New York doinam@hotmail.com
21. Octavian Mihaescu, Gochsheim, Germany octavianm63@aol.com
22. Gabriel Bostan, Director Romanian World Council Branch, Rialto, California, USA Ploiesti@aol.com
23. Paul Carahan, Director Romanian World Council Branch; Atlanta, Georgia USA paulc@europeanstucco.com
24. Elena Angela Silistraru, Italia, elenangela@libero.it
25. Eng.Victor Todoriuc, Atlanta, Georgia, USA victor.todoriuc@ps.ge.com
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
http://www.petitiononline.com/CNNRom/petition.html
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observator 3/9/2004 |
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