BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

The destruction of a planet of mice because of unrestricted population growth was the

theme of an episode in the children's cartoon series Captain Planet and the Planeteers,

broadcast on 1 September 1995 on TV2 at 8.00am.

Maria Hammond, on behalf of the Kapi-Mana Society for the Protection of the

Unborn Child (SPUC) complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster,

that the information about population growth was untrue and that the theme of the

programme was anti-family.

Observing that the cartoon series introduced children to environmental issues, TVNZ

pointed out that there existed an international consensus on the need to examine

uncontrolled population growth. It maintained that it was appropriate to examine the

theme in a children's series which was concerned with environmental questions.

Dissatisfied with TVNZ's decision not to uphold the complaint, Ms Hammond, on

behalf of SPUC, referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under

s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

For the reasons given below, the Authority declined to uphold the complaint.

Decision

The members of the Authority have viewed the item complained about and have read

the correspondence (summarised in the Appendix). As is its usual practice, the

Authority has determined the complaint without a formal hearing.

The children's cartoon series Captain Planet and the Planeteers examines

environmental issues and in the episode screened by TVNZ on TV2 on 1 September

1995 at 8.00am the problems of overcrowding and uncontrolled population growth as

environmental concerns were examined.

The Kapi-Mana branch of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC)

complained to TVNZ Ltd that the theme of population control was anti-family and

distorted children's feelings of self worth. SPUC questioned what it described as the

myth of overpopulation, arguing that the need for limiting family size and restricting

population was a mistaken belief which undermined children's self worth. It

considered it deplorable that the programme was screened at a time when many

parents were busy and unable to monitor what their children were watching.

TVNZ advised that it had assessed the complaint under standard G12 of the

Television Code of Broadcasting Practice which requires broadcasters:

G12 To be mindful of the effect any programme may have on children

during their normally accepted viewing hours.

It observed that Captain Planet and the Planeteers was a series designed to introduce

children to environmental issues by examining some of the problems faced in the

world. In this particular episode, overcrowding and the problems associated with

uncontrolled population growth were the themes. TVNZ pointed to the broad

international consensus on the need to confront the problem of population growth and

argued that it was appropriate to raise the issue in a children's series. It referred to the

1994 Cairo Conference, attended by 175 countries, which agreed to a 20-year

Programme of Action aimed to set a ceiling on the world's population. It asserted that

it did not share SPUC's view that the self worth of children would have been

undermined by the programme, arguing that it was responsible to introduce children to

the idea that when they reached adulthood, small families would be seen as a socially

responsible unit. TVNZ denied that a couple who controlled their fertility were anti-

family or that the message that unrestricted population growth was an environmental

risk could be regarded as harmful to children. It declined to uphold the complaint

under standard G12.

The Authority considered that it was appropriate for a children's television

programme to examine topical environmental issues. On this occasion, the

environmental issue was population growth and the dire consequences of

overpopulation were seen to be the total extermination of the species. While the

destruction of the planet was probably an extreme example, it nevertheless illustrated

that for some species, serious problems could ensue when population growth is

unchecked.

The Authority did not accept that because the programme discussed the idea that

unrestricted population growth might have serious consequences, the programme was

in some way cavalier about the effect on children. It acknowledged that many

programmes cover themes and present views that are not shared by all viewers. In

those situations, the broadcaster has a responsibility to ensure that a programme

designed for children will not cause an unreasonable level of anxiety. In addition, the

Authority did not agree with SPUC that the episode was anti-family, noting that the

hero of the episode was very devoted to his wife and child and was prepared to go to

great lengths to protect them. Accordingly, it declined to uphold the complaint.

For the reasons set forth above, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Judith Potter
Chairperson
30 November 1995

Appendix

Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child's Complaint to Television New

Zealand Ltd - 1 September 1995

Maria Hammond, on behalf of the Kapi-Mana Society for the Protection of the

Unborn Child (SPUC), complained to Television New Zealand Ltd that its broadcast

of an episode of the children's cartoon Captain Planet and the Planeteers on 1

September 1995 at 8am was in breach of broadcasting standards.

The episode concerned a planet of mice which were eventually destroyed because of

unrestricted population growth. The programme repeated the message that there was

a need for families to limit their size and for population to be restricted. In SPUC's

view, it was anti-family to promote the idea to children that family size should be

restricted, and that the programme seriously distorted children's feeling of worth and

value.

SPUC deplored the fact that the programme was screened at 8am at a time when many

parents were unaware of the messages being conveyed to their children.

TVNZ's Response to the Formal Complaint - 19 September 1995

TVNZ advised that it had considered the complaint under standard G12, which

requires broadcasters to be mindful of the effect any programme may have on children

during their normally accepted viewing times.

It observed that Captain Planet and the Planeteers introduced child viewers to the

concept of environmental protection, making them aware of some of the present issues

affecting the environment. The episode complained about emphasised the theme of

overcrowding and the problems associated with uncontrolled population growth.

TVNZ acknowledged SPUC's view but expressed its opinion that there was a broad

international consensus about the need to tackle the problem of population growth,

and that it was proper to raise the issue in a programme aimed at children. It pointed

to the 1994 Cairo conference at which a 20 year Programme of Action, aimed to set a

ceiling on the world's population, was agreed to. In this context, TVNZ asserted that

it was not irresponsible to introduce the concept of population control into the series.

It wrote:

We do not share your view that the self-worth of the child viewer was

assaulted by the programme. There was no suggestion that those viewing

should never have been born; but they were introduced to the idea that when

they reach adulthood small and controlled families will be seen as the socially

responsible unit. A couple who control their fertility are not "anti-family".

We repeat that we respect your genuinely held views on this subject, but we

do

not believe those views represent the broad consensus.

TVNZ concluded that the programme properly represented unrestricted population

growth as an environmental risk and did not believe that message was harmful to

children. It declined to uphold the complaint.

SPUC's Referral to the Authority - 7 October 1995

Dissatisfied with TVNZ's decision not to uphold the complaint, SPUC referred it to

the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

Agreeing that some countries are heavily populated, SPUC did not agree that the

world was in imminent danger of destruction because of it. It gave examples of what it

described as misleading figures and predictions which were confusing people's

knowledge on the issue and pointed out the fact that the whole of the world's

population could fit into the state of Texas.

SPUC repeated its complaint that because the programme was shown at 8am most

parents would find it impossible to monitor what their children were watching. It also

commented that the episode was shown twice in the space of about 3 weeks.

SPUC objected to TVNZ's statement that in the future, small families will be seen as

socially responsible. It noted that that was also the tone of the programme which, as a

CNN production, is owned by Ted Turner who is strongly aligned to World

Federation of Planned Parenthood.

It also repeated that it considered messages about population growth being an

environmental problem negatively affected children. It noted:

It is fearful and confusing for children in families now considered to be

"large", when a programme tells them "If you have a family, keep it small".

We know of one child from a family of 4 who took offence and said "They're

talking about us Mum, aren't they?"

Referring to recent reports that television violence was now decreasing, SPUC stated

that while Captain Planet was not openly violent, it could be upsetting for children to

see that it was the sinister villain who allowed the future to get out of control with

unrestrained population growth, while the other character, portrayed as doing good,

was actually promoting smaller families.

SPUC concluded by quoting from the Guidelines on Reproductive Health (20 Year

Plan of Action):

People...have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when

and how often they do so.

It did not believe that was the principle behind the episode of Captain Planet and the

Planeteers which was screened on 1 September.

TVNZ's Response to the Authority - 12 October 1995

TVNZ advised that it had nothing further to add to its previous response, except to

repeat its argument that there was a broad international consensus on the need to

tackle the problem of population growth and therefore it was proper to raise it in a

children's series which was concerned with environmental issues.

It considered the fact that the programme was made by one of the Ted Turner group

of companies to be irrelevant. It did not believe a man in his business position would

have had a hand in deciding which environmental issues were tackled by a cartoon

programme of this nature.

SPUC's Final Comment - 20 October 1995

When asked to make a brief final comment, Ms Hammond, on SPUC's behalf,

repeated that the main issue was the effect that negative and unwelcoming messages

have on children. She argued that adults have forgotten how sensitive children were in

picking up feelings from those around them and that they did not need to hear them on

television.