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Anti-war numbers don't add up to media 'all'

Millions of people around the world took to the streets over the weekend in a massive protest message to governments that war with Iraq is unacceptable.

Two million are reported to have marched in London, 3 million in Italy, 1.5 million in Spain, 250,000 in Sydney and slightly fewer in Melbourne.

It was a spectacular view of people power and good luck to all concerned - it is their right to say they do not agree with something.

However, the puke-inducing media coverage would have you thinking 'that whole nations moved' and voted against a US-led attack on Iraq.

This is plainly not true. Despite the numbers of marchers, those in the streets make up only a small fraction of their country's populations.

Britain 58 million (3.3%)
Spain 39 million (4%)
Italy 58 million (5%)
Australia 20 million(2.5%)

As far as this old bloke is concerned, when a majority of people march - that is more than 50% you media cretins - then I'll think the facts will match the hype-the-story crap we are forced to listen to, watch, or read.

A headline in Melbourne's Age said 'With one voice, the world says no'. Duh! How many of the world's billions marched, or cared enough to march? Bugger all.

Too often Australia's media takes an issue and - whether it be because of poor mathematics, their own personal leanings or general lack of being worldy-wise - trumpets things against it and purports them to be facts.

A fact is a proveable thing - not an opinion, or a guess.

It is about time Australia's journalists - and I do use that word exceedingly loosely - started to present more facts, and fewer opinions, in their reports.

No wonder the public opinion ratings of a once-honourable profession have dropped to such appalling levels.

If there is something that has really got up your nose, let Grumpy Old Coot know at grumpy@webwombat.com