You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it’s actually true. (Really. Check at the bottom if you don’t believe me.) Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS.
A House panel has voted to eliminate all public funding for NPR and PBS, starting with “Sesame Street,” “Reading Rainbow,” and other commercial-free children’s shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch.
The cuts would slash 25% of the federal funding this year ($100 million) and end funding altogether within two years. The loss could kill beloved children’s shows like “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” “Arthur,” and “Postcards from Buster.” Rural stations and those serving low-income communities might not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate sponsorships.
Already, 300,000 people have signed the petition. Can you help us reach 400,000 signatures today?
Here is the link to read the Washington Post report on this issue.
Being a producer of children’s media content I’m dumbstruck by this decision. Sesame Street has been an inspiration to myself and many other parents I know that grew up with the show and hoped that their children would too. I hope that people will get passionate about this issue and congress will see fit to have a change of heart. Our children deserve a bit of Big Bird every now and again…
Posted on June 17th, 2005 by Sam
Filed under: Uncategorized, Daily Life, Read This!
I have been hearing about this and thought of posting about it, too. This is downright frightening. Thanks for helping to get people to take action…