We’ve just had some brilliant news about one of our longest-running campaigns: London Mayor Boris Johnson has finally agreed keep his election promise and open three new Rape Crisis centres in London.

In his 2008 election manifesto, Boris promised to provide funding for new and existing London centres. Rape Crisis centres provide vital support for victims of rape and sexual abuse, but as a result of severe financial difficulties many either face closure or have been forced to close. There are now only 39 centres across the UK, down from 80 ten years ago. Before this announcement, London had only one small centre catering to the city’s 3.9 million women.

When it looked like Boris wasn’t going to deliver on his promise, we joined together with the Boris Keep Your Promise Campaign to make sure he did. Thousands of us signed the petition demanding proper provision for victims of rape and sexual abuse in London. Thanks to our work, they will now be getting real support.

This is an incredible achievement, but the difficulties for London’s Rape Crisis centres are not over. Because the Mayor will not be providing as much money as he originally promised, the London centres will only be covered for the next two years. This means that it’s important that we keep working together to get them long-term, sustainable funding.

Matty Mitford, spokesperson for the Boris Keep Your Promise Campaign said: “I’m sure we join all other campaigns for women in welcoming the new centres, it is a leap forward for vulnerable women in London.”

Today we visited the BBC Trust in central London, to deliver the first batch of our petition – 20 000 names – to the key players in the decision to ‘shrink’ the BBC. We wanted to give them a taste of just how big our response to proposed cuts is going to be.

Rob, one of our volunteers, dressed up for the event as a dalek from BBC drama Dr Who. We wanted to show the people at the top of the BBC what a well-loved institution it is, by bringing along a character from one of its most popular TV shows.

After getting some amused looks from passers-by (daleks are a rare sight in central London, apparently) we reached the home of the BBC Trust, where Rob delivered the petition to a member of BBC Trust staff. We told him that tens of thousands of us oppose cuts to the BBC, especially the axing of Asian Network and 6Music. We also made sure he knew that this is only the first of many actions we’ll be taking.

We’ve sent a clear message to the BBC Trust that we won’t stand for cuts. It’s important that we keep this pressure up for the period when the proposed cuts are being considered. We’ve got some great actions planned, but in the meantime please make sure you sign our petition, and that your friends and family do the same.

Say no to cuts to the BBC, here: http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts

UPDATE: here’s our petition delivery video:

In the past week, a massive 29,000 of us have signed the 38 Degrees petition to stop cuts to the BBC. It’s clear that we’re not willing to put up with the closure of much-loved services like 6Music and Asian Network.

Tomorrow we’ll be handing in the first batch of our petition to the BBC Trust. We want to show the BBC in person what a huge outcry there has already been about the cuts. But this doesn’t mean that our petition is ending. As more people sign up in coming weeks, we’ll be visiting the Trust again to submit thousands more names to them. And we hope that together we’ll be able to think up many more creative and clever ways of making sure that our message gets through.

We’d love you to join us when we deliver the petition. We’ll be meeting at the Meze Cafe near Great Portland Street station at 1pm tomorrow before heading to the Trust. You can find directions to the Cafe here, or give us a ring on 020 7611 4728 if you’re having trouble finding us.

If you haven’t already signed our petition, please add your voice now: http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts

As well as the 26,000 of us who’ve signed the 38 Degrees petition against BBC cuts, lots of other groups and individuals have been speaking up this week.  We’ve been reaching out to lots of them today to find out how we can best co-ordinate our efforts for maximum impact.  There are lots of exciting things in the pipeline!

Ammo Talwar, Director of Punch, the Birmingham-based music development agency has been a prominent voice defending the value of the BBC Asian Network this week.  Here’s a guest piece from him.

Ammo Talwar MBE, Director of Punch

The BBC Asian Network – Ten Reasons Why It Works

1.    It’s exactly the right size. The BBC Asian Network is neither a cartel nor a community radio station. It’s big enough to reach the largest possible UK audience for Asian music, but not so big that competition can’t thrive beside it. As it is, the network can robustly deliver on the BBC’s Charter yet be flexible enough to scale its services professionally as resources wax and wane.

2.    It brings you the world. The BBC Asian Network showcases the best in emerging music and culture from young British Asians. It’s the only place to hear contemporary Asian sounds alongside new and important music from across the UK and the world. The station’s unique approach puts Asian music in a British context, connecting listeners beyond their community.

3.    It’s the best match of format and content. The structure and output of the BBC Asian Network has been developed and refined over more than a decade. It is a true network, grown from community roots by professional expertise. It continues to develop to meet public expectations. No brand or station created adhoc could better serve its listeners’ needs.

4.     It stands for every flavour of Asian music. As a service, the BBC Asian Network is unique in representing music culture from across the whole of the Asian diaspora. The station’s output is genuinely accessible to all, reaching out beyond borders, faith and language groups, yet always sensitive to cultural preferences and divisive local issues.

5.    It’s the flagship for British Asian media. The BBC Asian Network sprang from the energy and enterprise of British Asians who have been active in the UK media industry since the 1980s. Their spririt helps drive employment and expertise at home and generates overseas interest in the UK. The BBC Asian Network is the credible public gateway to this world.

6.    It’s what the BBC stands for. Beyond fulfilling the letter of the BBC’s Charter, the Asian Network is authentic to its spirit. The station defines its UK Asian audience as an active British community, linking Asian interests with the whole. It’s where British news, sport, soaps and stars become ‘desi’.

7.    It’s the UK’s gateway to Asia. The output of the BBC Asian Network is unique. The new music it plays distils the breadth and dynamism of British popular culture and the UK Asian experience. Britain is the birthplace of the ‘desi’ sound, and the BBC Asian Network is where Asia tunes in to it.

8.     It’s the Radio One of Asian Music. The BBC Asian Network reaches an audience that transcends its target demographic. Thousands of listeners from across all the UK’s communities tune in, and all are made welcome. Professional. contemporary and accessible, the BBC Asian Network works for everyone.

9.    It has the technology right. The BBC Asian Network uses the best delivery methods for its uniquely diverse audience demographic. It helps some communities to learn to let go of medium wave, while serving others through digital, web or iPlayer. No other station can meet the diverse needs and habits of the nation’s Asian community.

10.    It makes new music happen. With live artist recording sessions and a presence at niche music events across the country, the BBC Asian Network is instrumental in getting new music and new artists recorded. By broadcasting and promoting the UK’s Melas helps makes them popular and accessible to all.

Over the last 48 hours over 10,000 38 Degrees members have taken action to stand up for the BBC.  Thousands of people have written in telling us their story, below are some of the recent comments, see the latest comments and sign the petition here.

“The BBC is a great national Institution, with a great international reputation for quality that is second to none. Put people first, not profit. Don’t wreck the BBC.“ Greg

“The BBC is one of the few things we have left to be proud about – lets keep it that way.“ Jim

“dont you dare!!! you will regret this action.” Geoff

“6 music is the only radio station available without ads, and with dj’s with great, varied taste in music. I just can’t imagine work without it. Please keep it going. X” Clare

“DO NOT CUT 6MUSIC! BIG MISTAKE!” Ben

“Save Public Broadcasting!” Nicholas

“Whoever is responsible for this ludicrous decision has single handedly lost the BBC every ounce of credibility it ever had.” Michael

“Radio 6 would have a huge audience if it was available on FM. Where I live you cannot access digital radio except through the TV – and I can hardly carry that round the house and garden with me. Neither can most people access it in the car where many of us listen to the radio. How about cutting the hugely expensive building programme and the excessive salaries paid to BBC executives and so-called celebrities instead?” Carol

“The BBC is one of the few things the uk has going for her. Don’t give in to corrupt bullies like Murdoch.” Joe

“I don’t care whether other corporations don’t like. The BBC is OURS, and we want it to be as broad and expansive as possible. Who says there needs to be fair competition in the media? It’s our airwaves, and frankly from the mess that has been made in the USA of television, and especially news, the only thing that is stopping news, and therefore politics, going the same way as the USA is BBC, by setting a bar high enough that the others must stay close to. If you neuter the BBC, it’s a race to the bottom, and the entire tone of political discourse in the UK will go down the toilet, taking with the newspapers, talk radio, everything. It is precisely through the lack of “fair” but essential competition that the BBC introduces that keeps the UK from degenerating into an ill-educated backwater. If you think that the educated, sharp, witty qualities are inherent in the culture, try removing the BBC from its omnipresent position and watch the erosion take hold, and twenty years from now you’ll be crying on your knees over the worst decision to befall our nation since TV became ubiquitous”. Alan

“ The BBC serves the people. Corporate media barons do not.” Jane

“6 Music is part of my everyday life, it would be a huge mistake to axe it. It would be a better decision to get rid of Radio 1. There are plenty of commercial radio stations around just like it. Nothing could replace 6 Music!” Scott

“Murdoch et al have only commercial interest in media, the lowest comon denominator is that which sells not what is of quality. The BBC is a cultual gem that we should not lose. Thhe BBC is cheap,malmost evetyone in the UK uses it and gets value for money. Can you imagine FOX news here?” Lance

“I really hope this is a publicity stunt as shutting down 6music would be a huge loss to the British music industry.” Thomas

“please don’t cut radio 6. It is by far the best radio station around and has become a big part in my daily routiene!!! X” Maeve

“It is Rupert Murdoch that needs cutting down to size.Not the BBC” Peter

“The BBC is a national treasure. Don’t let politicians or commercial interests dumb it down or restrict it.” Steve

Why do you think we should save the BBC from harsh cuts. Let us know in the comments.

The BBC has just announced plans for “halve web output, axe two digital radio stations and slash spending on foreign shows”. Thousands of 38 Degrees members are taking action right now to fight these cuts. Please join in. You canf orward the email below, which we sent out to all 38 Degrees members, this morning:

Today, the BBC is expected to propose making massive cuts to its service, including closing two radio stations and halving the size of its web site. Commercial rivals have been lobbying hard for the BBC to be cut, and it’s on the brink of giving in to the pressure.  According to The Times, the proposal is a bid to “shrink” in order to “appease the BBC’s rivals.” [1]

The BBC has many enemies among its corporate rivals. But public pressure has saved it before, and can save it again.

We’ll be delivering our petition against the cuts to the BBC Trust later this week – please add your voice now:
http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts

The BBC isn’t perfect, but the people pushing for these cuts want to destroy it, not to improve it.  The Times, owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch, responded to news of the cuts by describing the BBC as “bloated”, and calling for further cuts such as closing Radio 1. Last autumn, his son James Murdoch gave a speech calling for the BBC to be forced to become “far, far smaller”. [2]

We know that if we work together, we can shift decisions about the media for the better. Last November, thousands of us came together to email our MPs and stopped plans to hand commercial rivals a slice of the BBC’s license fee.  Just a couple of weeks ago thousands together to persuaded The Independent not to hire Rod Liddle as editor.  Now we need to do the same again to prevent deep cuts to the BBC’s service.

Help make sure our petition to the BBC Trust is huge, please sign now then spread the word: http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts

Thanks for getting involved,

David, Hannah, Johnny, Nina and the 38 Degrees team

PS: Public outcry to these cuts is springing up across the web. We’ll make sure our petition gets in front of the right people at the right time – please spread the word and encourage people to sign the petition here: http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts

Back in July, the Wright Committee was set up to suggest reforms for the House of Commons. Now MPs are being given the chance to vote on these reforms.

At the moment, the government has too much control in Parliament and the MPs – the people who directly represent us – don’t have enough.  If the Committee’s reforms are adopted, this will change: MPs will get more power to set the agenda of the Commons, and to vote for chairs of select committees.

These sound like small changes, but it’s crucial that they happen. Many good ideas don’t come from in government: for example, the 10:10 climate promise was debated on one of the rare days when an opposition party gets to set the agenda and the protection for tenants from repossessions came in an individual MP’s bill, or Private Member’s Bill.

We’ve been working together to get the Wright Committee reforms adopted by Parliament. Lots of MPs have been supporting us along the way, and some of them have made a video for us, explaining why they think the reforms are important. You can watch it at the top of this post.

Get your MP to support the Wright Committee reforms, here: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/fix-Parliament