#Spectre film boycott snowden series
#Spectre film boycott snowden tv

The series enjoyed wide popularity in South Africa Reid believes his was the first black character to be shown on South African television. ''WKRP in Cincinnati,'' went to South Africa in 1981 at the invitation of the country`s only multiracial radio station with his ''WKRP'' co-star Howard Hesseman.

#Spectre film boycott snowden tv

Reid, who played disc jockey Venus Flytrap on the TV series

Earlier this year, Tina Turner was hounded into making such a pledge by a group called Unity in Action-even though she was never on the UN list.Īctor Tim Reid of ''Simon and Simon'' finds the UN`s methods arbitrary and dangerous. Kenny Rogers has just been taken off the list after providing a written pledge and Goldie Hawn said she plans to do the same. (those who complied last year include George Benson, Stephanie Mills and the Staple Singers, a gospel group). Many performers have their names removed from the blacklist by sending Gbeho a written admission of misjudgement and a pledge not to return

Significantly, the number of prominent blacks listed for visits since 1982 has decreased to zero from previous years.Īmong 28 countries represented on the 1984 register, the United Kingdom led with 127 names (including Elton John, Shirley Bassey, David Essex, Cliff Richard, Leo Sayer and Barbara Woodhouse, the dog trainer). While many prominent white performers are listed as going there in 19, the number appears to be dwindling dramatically, replaced by lesser- knowns. South Africa is the only country left in the world where it has written segregation-where it is legal to discriminate by race.'' ''Those with conscience must struggle with that. ''To be listed in a United Nations document as a collaborator with a racist regime is not an easy load to bear,'' said Victor Gbeho, the permanent resident of Ghana to the United Nations, who supervises the compilation of the register. The first register was published in 1983, carrying no real authority outside the UN, but clearly designed to shame performers into observing the boycott. When Sun City opened in 1981, luring stars in droves, the UN`s Special Committee Against Apartheid began compiling names of visiting performers, mostly gleaned from South African press clippings. and Canada) and 13 abstaining (mostly Western European and Scandinavian countries). It was supported by 123 nations, with eight countries voting against (including the U.S. In 1980, the UN General Assembly passed a tougher resolution urging members to take direct steps to bolster the boycott. In the late 1970s, the South African government began to eagery court all artists, black and white. At that time, South Africa discouraged and sometimes barred black performers from entering the country (Sidney Poitier got into film ''Cry the Beloved Country'' in 1961 only as the ''indentured servant'' of his director). In 1968, the UN General Assembly passed a gently worded resolution supporting a cultural and economic boycott of South Africa. (That`s why) this boycott is so important.'' If they`re deprived of artists, they will feel it very quickly. White South Africans are more involved in the cultural arts than whites in virtually any other country. We`re letting them taste the medicine they are meting out every day to blacks, Indians and Chinese (who are classified as ''colored,'' a step above ''black''). ''By refusing to perform, we are depriving South Africans of artistic sustenance, and at the same time pointing out that South Africans are depriving blacks of most every kind of civilized life. Ethnic discrimination is the most immoral of all forms of injustice. Yes, it`s true that injustice goes on (in other countries), but there it`s political. German-born Ernest Fleischmann, a former 20-year resident of South Africa and executive director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, claims ''South Africa is the closest we come today to Nazi Germany -discrimination based on ethnic characteristics and the way you look. Does anyone feel we`ll make progress by isolating them?'' I think isolation will strengthen apartheid. I don`t know the answer, but isolation isn`t the answer. People tend to come up with facile answers to the problem. (But) we would do business there the same as any other country. Milos and I are totally against apartheid. The Hollywood chapter of the Screen Actors Guild recently passed a resolution condemning all lists of performers deemed undesirable for whatever reason-and called for negotiations with the UN to end its blacklist-while affirming the union`s position againt apartheid.įilm producer Saul Zaentz and director Milos Foreman were singled out by the UN for personally promoting ''Amadeus'' in South Africa last year, but Zaentz said, ''I would not apologize at all. ''I don`t like being told I can`t go somewhere.'' ''The last place for a boycott is in the arts,'' Linda Ronstadt has said of the controversy over her lucrative South Africa tour.