Great Viral Ads no. 20: Muslim Demographics – the changing face of Europe

With 10-million views in 4 months, Muslim Demographics, posted on YouTube by friendofmuslim is a classic example of a viral video. Searching on YouTube for videos with keywords like ‘Muslim Europeans’ and ‘future of Europe’ doesn’t reveal this particular video on page one of YouTube search results, suggesting that the web address itself has been emailed, or the video has been embedded time and time again.

As it happens, the facts are not accurate: while there may be 2.5m muslims in the UK now, the increase in population hasn’t been quite so explosive as the video suggests: According to Dr Andrew Hinde, a demographer at Southampton University, from the 1981 census, those born in Pakistan and Bangladesh in the UK alone numbered 300,000.

25% of the Belgian population isn’t muslim – the actual figure is more like 6%.

And to suggest that muslim women produce 8.1 offspring is hokum – according to 2008 UN figures, the average for Moroccan and Algerian muslims is much lower, at 2.38.

But the real issue is why this video has been distributed and subsequently viewed 10m times. It’s inaccurate, it’s inflammatory and doesn’t it remind you just a little bit of anti-Semitic propaganda in the 1930s?

More here: More Or Less, Muslim Demographics on BBC Radio 4, 8pm Sunday or online

Great Viral Ads no. 2: Flying Penguins on the BBC (video)

Jeremy Clarkson calls Gordon Brown names

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has said he is sorry for calling Gordon Brown a “one-eyed Scottish idiot”.

He said: “In the heat of the moment I made a remark about the Prime Minister’s personal appearance for which, upon reflection, I apologise.” The broadcaster made the comments to journalists in Sydney when he was speaking about the economic crisis.

The BBC said it noted Clarkson’s apology for the comments and would be taking no further action. Public figures have reacted angrily to the presenter’s remarks, with Labour MP Gordon Banks saying what Clarkson said was “unforgivable”.

Number 10 would only say that Clarkson “is entitled to his own interpretation of the economic circumstances”. The spokesperson declined to comment on the specific insult about Mr Brown, who lost the sight in one eye after an accident as a teenager.

‘Unacceptable’

But the Royal National Institute for Blind People called the comment was offensive.

“Any suggestion that equates disability with incompetence is totally unacceptable” said chief executive Lesley-Anne Alexander Scottish

Labour leader Iain Gray joined in the criticism. “Such a comment is really a reflection on Jeremy Clarkson and speaks for itself,” he said. “Most people here are proud that the prime minister is a Scot and believe him to be the right person to get the UK through this global economic crisis.”

Clarkson is in Australia to host Top Gear Live, a stage version of the hit BBC show.

The controversial presenter compared Mr Brown to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, shortly after Mr Rudd had addressed the country on the severity of the global financial crisis. Clarkson said: “He [Rudd] genuinely looked terrified. The poor man, he’s actually seen the books. “[In the UK] we’ve got this one-eyed Scottish idiot. “He keeps telling us everything’s fine and he’s saved the world and we know he’s lying, but he’s smooth at telling us.”

Mickey-taking

It had also been reported that Clarkson had called Australians ‘apes’. However the BBC press office has strongly denied that this was the case. They said that the presenter was in referring to some of the UK audience members, in keeping with the style of the programme. “Top Gear is known for its tone – the presenters take the mickey out of each other, and the Top Gear studio audience aren’t immune from that either.”

In November, more than 1,800 people complained to the BBC after Clarkson made a joke on Top Gear about lorry drivers killing sex workers. The joke followed the conviction of forklift truck driver Steve Wright for the murders of five prostitutes in Ipswich. Some 340 people also complained to regulator Ofcom, but it later ruled the joke did not breach the broadcasting code.

Source: BBC

Well, given the state of the economy, aren’t we all calling Gordon the Brown names?

Oops, I just did it.

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Thinking of relocating out of London?

Business relocation – Somerset UK.

How racist is ‘Paki’?

Prince Harry, a respected member of our Royal Family and an icon for future generations, has apologised publicly for using the term ‘Paki’ to describe a Pakistani colleague in a video diary filmed during his training at Sandhurst Military College.

Whilst most people see the term ‘Paki’ as low level racism, I wonder just how racist it really is in the eyes of a Pakistani person?

After all, isn’t ‘Paki’ just an abbreviation of ‘Pakistani’? Just like ‘Ozzy’ is an abbreviation of ‘Australian’ and ‘Brit’ is an abbreviation of ‘Briton’ or ‘British’.

It’s clear that Prince Harry used the term as a nickname for a popular member of his platoon. If his friend had taken offense then I am certain he’d have lodged a complaint himself.

Isn’t use of the word ‘Paki’ to be considered in context, just like everything else? Yes, ‘Paki’ used to be derogatory and it’s true that racists can add an offensive tone of voice to the word, but the same could be said of ‘Ginge’ and ‘Shorty’ and most people would agree that these could be used affectionately as well.

Prince Harry was not acting out of malice, but out of affection.

Should he apologise for that?

If so, then I’ll be writing to all the people at school who called me ‘Gangly’. There’s probably some compensation waiting for me.