Two Weeks in Japan 06/04/09
In 30 minutes time I’m setting off to the airport to catch a 7.40am flight to Japan where I’ll be staying until the 21st April. For a general itinerary you can check Our Japan Trip Preparations. I won’t have access to the internet or go out of my way to visit internet cafés, so if you need to contact me don’t expect a response until 21st April. Sorry!
I will however be updating my Twitter. Just follow Maccath. It is linked to my Facebook status, so you will be updated there if you are a Facebook friend.
I seem to have obtained a cold over the past few days; my throat is sore and I’m a little bunged up. It could just be allergic reaction, so here’s hoping it will clear up when I get out of this dog-infested house. Drinking Lemsip whilst I can – apparently decongestants aren’t welcome within Japan. I’m not sure if that just relates to the nasal sprays but I figure I shouldn’t risk it either way.
See you all in two weeks!
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.