Questo è un messaggio registrato, l'Apocalisse è in atto... I National Archives britannici hanno rilasciato oggi gli "script" radiofonici che la BBC aveva elaborato negli anni 70 della guerra fredda, in previsione di un possibile attacco nucleare. Se la bomba fosse scoppiata, al posto della BBC sarebbe subentrato un Wartime Broadcasting Service che avrebbe coordinato le trasmissioni di informazione. Negli archivi, dopo la desecretazione, sono disponibili gli script originali, i documenti da distribuire alla popolazione, i carteggi delle persone che avevano elaborato il piano di contingenza. Bisognava tranquillizzare la popolazione, avvertirla di non consumare cibi potenzialmente contaminati, razionare l'acqua, restare al coperto. Ma bisognava anche dare credibilità al tutto, scegliere le voci di annunciatori conosciuti, evitare che la popolazione pensasse a un colpo di stato, o peggio ancora a uno scherzo. Poi, come scrive il Guardian, c'era il problema - mai risolto - di come comunicare le frequenze di ricezione. In caso di attacco quali impianti sarebbero rimasti attivi? E in questo caso, come comunicare alla gente le frequenze sui cui trovare messaggi così importanti, considerando che, secondo i calcoli di allora, almeno un quarto della popolazione non utilizzava ancora l'FM e un altro quarto non spostava mai la sintonia della radio. Come fare arrivare le informazioni locali?Questa corrispondenza di Wales Online presenta alcuni estratti dai testi elaborati dalla BBC. Qui trovate tutto il materiale reso noto dai National Archives (il download è a pagamento).
This is the BBC: How to survive the A-bomb
Oct 3 2008 WalesOnline
A BROADCAST script formulated in the 1970s for use in the wake of a nuclear attack was published for the first time today.
Details of the announcement, written by the BBC with various government departments, were set out in files released by the National Archives.
Documents also chart discussions as to what should be said, and how not to alarm the public in case they thought Auntie had been “obliterated”.
In a letter from June 1974, Harold Greenwood, from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, wrote: “During the Second World War we came to recognise the voices of Stuart Hibberd, Alvar Liddell and other main newsreaders.
“I would expect that in the period of crisis preceding an attack a similar association of particular voices with the authoritative ‘Voice of the BBC’ would develop.
“The reassurance that ‘the BBC is still there’ would not be gleaned from a recorded announcement by an unfamiliar voice (or one that was familiar in 1974 but had not been heard for some years).
“Indeed, if an unfamiliar voice repeats the same announcement hour after hour for 12 hours listeners may begin to suspect that they are listening to a machine set to switch on every hour (or even that it has got stuck) and that perhaps after all the BBC has been obliterated.”
The Cabinet Office recommended adding in live local commentary to reassure listeners that they were not being fobbed off with a cassette recorder.
The script includes advice to “stay calm and stay in your own homes”.
It says: “This country has been attacked with nuclear weapons. Communications have been severely disrupted, and the number of casualties and the extent of the damage are not yet known.”
The public are instructed to turn off fuel supplies, conserve water and not waste it by flushing the toilet.
The script continues: “Remember there is nothing to be gained by trying to get away. By leaving your homes you could be exposing yourselves to greater danger. If you leave, you may find yourself without food, without water, without accommodation and without protection.”
The meticulously-drafted announcement was intended to be repeated every couple of hours.
It has previously been revealed that the BBC stockpiled entertainment programmes to boost public morale in the event of a war.
In the event of a nuclear attack, staff were to stay in hiding for 14 days before it was safe to leave.
What do do in a nuclear attack
Enough to make anyone who remembers the Cold War shudder – here is the script to be used in the wake of a nuclear attack.
“This is the Wartime Broadcasting Service. This country has been attacked with nuclear weapons. Communications have been severely disrupted, and the number of casualties and the extent of the damage are not yet known. We shall bring you further information as soon as possible. Meanwhile, stay tuned to this wavelength, stay calm and stay in your own homes.
Remember, there is nothing to be gained by trying to get away. By leaving your homes you could be exposing yourselves to greater danger. If you leave, you may find yourself without food, without water, without accommodation and without protection. Radioactive fall-out, which followed a nuclear explosion, is many times more dangerous if you are directly exposed to it in the open. Roofs and walls offer substantial protection. The safest place is indoors.
Make sure gas and other fuel supplies are turned off and that all fires are extinguished. If mains water is available, this can be used for fire-fighting. You should also refill all your containers for drinking water after the fires have been put out, because the mains water supply may not be available for very long. Water must not be used for flushing lavatories: until you are told that lavatories may be used again, other toilet arrangements must be made. Use your water only for essential drinking and cooking purposes. Water means life. Don’t waste it.
Make your food stocks last: ration your supply, because it may have to last for 14 days or more. If you have fresh food in the house, use this first to avoid wasting it: food in tins will keep.
If you live in an area where a fall-out warning has been given, stay in your fall-out room until you are told it is safe to come out.
When the immediate danger has passed the sirens will sound a steady note.
The “all clear” message will also be given on this wavelength.
If you leave the fall-out room to go to the lavatory or replenish food or water supplies, do not remain outside the room for a minute longer than is necessary.
Do not, in any circumstances, go outside the house.
Radioactive fall-out can kill. You cannot see it or feel it, but it is there. If you go outside, you will bring danger to your family and you may die. Stay in your fall-out room until you are told it is safe to come out or you hear the ‘all clear’ on the sirens.
Here are the main points again: Stay in your own homes, and if you live in an area where a fall-out warning has been given, stay in your fall-out room, until you are told it is safe to come out. The message that the immediate danger has passed will be given by the sirens and repeated on this wavelength.
Make sure that the gas and all fuel supplies are turned off and that all fires are extinguished.
Water must be rationed, and used only for essential drinking and cooking purposes. It must not be used for flushing lavatories.
Ration your food supply: it may have to last for 14 days or more.
We shall repeat this broadcast in two hours.
Stay tuned to this wavelength, but switch your radios off now to save your batteries until we come on the air again.
That is the end of this broadcast."
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