Do You Know What "Scuppers" Means?

Scuppers*, like in this headline:


BBC scuppers TV fundraising appeal for Gaza victims

And the story highlights:-

The BBC and other major broadcasters have broken a 45 year-old agreement with overseas aid charities by refusing to broadcast their fundraising appeal for Gaza.

The Disasters Emergency Committee launched its national appeal for Gaza today saying the devastation was so great the 12 leading British aid charities felt "compelled to act".

...But by far the biggest advantage of a DEC appeal is the free air-time given to it by the major broadcasters...The script is agreed and then signed off by the DEC.

However talks broke down on Wednesday evening when the broadcasters could not reach an agreement. By convention, if all broadcasters do not carry the appeal then none do.

It is understood that nervousness at the BBC that the appeal could result in the corporation having to compromise its coverage of the Gaza story was largely behind the failure to reach agreement.

In a statement the corporation admitted it did not want to risk compromising confidence in BBC impartiality.

"Along with other broadcasters, the BBC has decided not to broadcast the DEC’s public appeal to raise funds for Gaza. The BBC decision was made because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a volatile situation and also to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC’s impartiality in the context of an ongoing news story. However the BBC will, of course, continue to report the humanitarian story in Gaza," it said.

Is there an appeal for humanitarian relief for Israelis - Jews and non-Jews - who suffered from Hamas rockets?


* P.S.

One definition is a nautical term: An opening in the side of a ship at deck level to allow water to run off but it's British slang for To overwhelm or massacre; To ruin or destroy