Here's what happens
when reality TV gets out of control. CBS's new upcoming reality
show, "Kid Nation," puts 40 children between the ages of 8 to
15 in an abandoned New Mexico desert town alone, with no parental
supervision, forced to fend for themselves. Four of the
children have been injured after drinking bleach that was left
in an unmarked soda bottle; one was burned by hot grease when trying to
cook. But it gets worse: the parents of the forty kids
participating in the show have all signed blanket liability waivers that
state they cannot sue CBS if their child is severely injured,
contracts a Sexually Transmitted Disease, or dies during the
filming of "Kid Nation."
I don't know why Child Protective
Services is not all over this one.
The waivers also consent to the network making their own medical
treatment decisions on behalf of the minors, including surgery,
and make no promise as to "the qualifications or
credentials" of the medical personnel on staff. They
sign away even their privacy, unless they are "in the
process of showering, bathing, urinating, or
defecating."
Each child was paid only $5,000 for appearing on
the show, save for a few of them that earned $20,000 bonuses for
challenges presented during the 13 episodes. You can read the
actual release that these parents signed at
The Smoking
Gun
. The New Mexico Department of Labor has said the
children worked up to 14 hours per day and were taken advantage
of, because statutes protect theatrical and film productions from
child labor restrictions. Twelve of the forty children are
ages 10 or younger.
CBS is now casting for Kid Nation 2. I don't see how
anyone can view this as anything other than what it is:
unethical, illegal, and immoral.
1. Please sign this petition, asking CBS not to air this
series!!
2. Do not watch the
series!! It is set to air September 19th,
2007. Don't watch it and don't let your kids watch
it...if you do, you are supporting the show through ratings and
sending the message that we will tolerate this form of abuse for
entertainment!
3.
Spread the
word !! E-mail the petition,
or copy and paste the text and link for it into a new bulletin
post on your MySpace!!
