What The F’… 11/09/09
You may have noticed earlier that I posted a sarcastic remark here, and a link – Checks on children’s club drivers. This was because I was at work, and didn’t have time to write a proper entry about our government’s latest ‘scheme’. I am of course referring to the new vetting and barring scheme. An attempt to prevent child abuse by requiring all adults who have ‘frequent’ or ‘intensive’ contact with children to be criminally record checked. Anyone who fails the check will be barred from working with children. Read more…
Response from the ASA and a Nice Weekend 03/03/09
The ASA sent me a letter explaining why they cannot persue complaints againt the Christian Party’s advertisement. So it turns out that clause 12 of the ASA code makes political parties exemt from the rules. Basically, as far as they’re concerned, advertisements to influence voters are allowed regardless and by interfering with this they are interfering with democracy (what democracy?! but that’s a debate for another day…)
12.1 Any advertisement or direct marketing communication, whenever published or distributed, whose principal function is to influence voters in local, regional, national or international elections or referendums is exempt from the Code.
Oh well. You win, Christian Party. Nicely played. The letter explained the reasons why two similar advertisements were allowed to go ahead. One, from the Trinitarian Bible Society, simply contained a bible quote (The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.
) and the other, from the Russian Orthodox Church, contained the slogan There IS a God, BELIEVE. Don’t worry and enjoy your life.
which was deemed a clear reflection of opinion rather than trying portray something inprovable as fact. Fine by me, I never had a problem with these advertisements.
The Theist Bus 22/02/09
I previously blogged about the atheist bus in my post titled They’re Probably Right, but the Christians have fought back with an advertising campaign of their own. As I was walking down Gower Street at about 8:30 yesterday evening I spotted this advertisement on a number 73 bus. I tried my best to take a snapshot, but spur of the moment photography isn’t my strong point.
