Leprosy mission criticises new Pirates film

Christian based leprosy charity, the Leprosy Mission England and Wales (TLMEW), which is based in Peterborough, has spoken out against the trailer for a new animated film that portrays those affected by the disease for humorous effect.

The trailer promoting Aardman’s ‘The Pirates! – Adventures with scientists’, which is due for release in March this year, combines an astonishing insensitivity with a lack of awareness of disability issues when it shows an arm falling off a character on a so-called ‘leper boat’.

In the scene, the ‘Pirate Captain’, voiced by Hugh Grant, arrives on the ship demanding gold. He is told by a crewmember that there is none on board because “this is a leper boat”, at which point the man’s arm falls off. This is, of course, meant to be comical.

Since 1874, the Leprosy Mission England and Wales has been working to eliminate the causes and consequences of leprosy. The disabilities it can cause currently affect around three million people worldwide, and over 200,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2010. An important part of The Leprosy Mission’s work today is to educate to ensure that the word leper is not used in public life or condoned by media channels.

Says Peter Walker, National Director of TLMEW, “The word leper is derogatory, outdated, and is associated with someone who has been rejected, ostracised or regarded as an outcast.

“People affected by leprosy have asked that the word no longer be used. It is an offensive term that has historically been used to justify appalling treatment and the passing of stigmatizing legislation.

“I find myself at a total loss as to why a modern filmmaker should find it acceptable to portray a disease associated with discrimination and loss as something humorous. They have also ensured that facts do not get in the way of their story by portraying a totally erroneous aspect of leprosy – the misnomer that body parts fall off those affected – despite the wealth of educational information coming from TLMEW and other leprosy organisations.

“Every two minutes, a person, possibly a child, is diagnosed with leprosy. They will be scared of the disease and the terrible discrimination it will probably bring and they will invariably be one of the poorest of the poor."

He continues: “They will face the triple whammy of disease, disability and discrimination within their own societies. Now, thanks to Aardman they will face the added humiliation of being seen as a soft target for half-witted humour. It is dire and discriminatory”.

The Leprosy Mission is calling for the scene to be removed from the film, as well as for an apology to be issued by those involved in its production. A petition to get the scene changed is at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/tell-aardman-to-stop-making-fun-of-leprosy/

January 29 2012 marks World Leprosy Day when campaigners worldwide will bring these issues to public attention. www.worldleprosyday.org.uk

Further information
The Leprosy Mission (TLMEW)

Peterborough PE2 5GZ
Telephone: 01733 370505

Email: hannahm@tlmew.org.uk or dianap@tlmew.org.uk

About The Leprosy Mission England & Wales:

The Leprosy Mission is an international Christian development organisation, transforming the lives of people affected by leprosy. Their goal is to eradicate the causes and consequences of this disease. They currently focus on 12 countries where leprosy remains both a chronic disease and a social problem. These are: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, North Sudan, South Sudan and DR Congo.

About leprosy

Leprosy is a mildly infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae (a relative of the tuberculosis bacterium or ‘TB’ germ). It can stay in the body for up to 20 years without showing symptoms.
It damages the nerves in the cooler parts of the body – especially the skin and surface areas of the fingers, toes, legs, arms and face. This causes loss of sensation, skin discolouration and loss of movement.
It is not hereditary and it cannot be caught by touch.
It is most common in places of poverty where overcrowding and poor nutrition and housing allow people to become more susceptible to leprosy infection.
The last case of indigenous leprosy in the UK was diagnosed in 1798 and although it can no longer be contracted in this country, around 14 new cases are diagnosed in the UK each year.
Leprosy is curable with multidrug therapy (MDT), which was developed in the 1980s. Within one day of starting MDT there is no risk of the disease spreading to anyone else. However, lack of education means that many people affected by leprosy are still stigmatised, even after they have been cured, especially if the disease has caused disfigurement or disability.
In 2010 there were 228,474 new cases of leprosy diagnosed. That is one every two minutes. Over half of these were found in India. (Source: World Health Organisation).
In 2010, five countries reporting more than 1,000 new cases per year showed an increase in the number of new cases diagnosed. These were Ethiopia, Mozambique, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Sudan.
In recent years, trends in new case detection have shown a reduction everywhere except the East Mediterranean region, although the number of new cases with already established disability remains fairly constant. It is thought that fear of seeking treatment means these figures could be much higher.

Latest News!

In response to international pressure, Aardman Animations has announced its intention to change a scene in The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists “out of respect and sensitivity”.

Feedback:

	Wild Haggis (Guest)	24/01/2012 17:19
I can't believe the Leprosy charities making such a fuss. This is a comic cartoon! No one, but no one, even children, will take it seriously!! I'm tempted to say get a life but I know that leprosy is serious. When we worked in Africa as missionaries we did occassionally met people with teh disease, althoguh it is easily curable, if caught. For years I worked alongside, as a volunteer, the Scottish rep for very Leporacy Mission and our church in Ipswich supports it, as do our kids at church. They didn't make any link to the disease from the cartoon. It's higly unlikely that those with leporacy will see this children's film. If we are going to take this attitude there then is nothing we can joke and laugh about - because humour often depends on making fun of something/someone. What about all the jokes told against the Scots. Now there is an arguement for indeoendence and perhaps a war?!!! Humph, I'm a pacifist. I think actually this catroon will raise awareness of leprosy rather than causing the work done by the various leprosy charities harm. Let's be possitive, after all Nick Park is a Christian!
	philippa (Guest)	25/01/2012 12:44
I don't think I'm usually known for being ultra p.c. or 'precious' but there is something distateful about this part of the film as it's represented here. I disagree strongly with Wild Haggis that the Leprosy Mission should 'get a life' and am grateful to them for the 'About Leprosy' section - education is always important in bringing about compassion. I think it's sad when people are defined by a disease - ie 'leper', 'diabetic' 'epileptic' etc. even in hospital life I think we've moved away from being called 'the gall bladder in bed 6'!
	Peter Walker TLMEW (Guest)	26/01/2012 17:59
Re: Wild Haggis. I'm all for having fun but not at somebody else's expense. This is especially true if that person is affected by a very debilitating disease that not only impacts them physically but due the stigma and ignorance surrounding leprosy, their very livelihoods. Aardman do plan to launch this film in India, the global leprosy hot-spot. (By the way, Nick Park was very quick to distance himself from this production, recognising its ill-concieved and erroneous plot - limbs do not fall off). Wild Haggis is right about one thing. Few leprosy affected people will get to see the film. Although leprosy does not discriminate against people, typically those affected are the poorest of the poor, who have little funds for a good night out and a laugh at themselves on the big screen.
	Peter Walker TLMEW (Guest)	26/01/2012 18:01
PS. Aardman have agreed to REMOVE the offending screen from the film. We thank them for listening.