Saudi Prince Appears in Mobile Phone Advert
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The appearance of a young Saudi prince, a grandson of the king, in a mobile phone advert has raised eyebrows in his country.

Prince Abdullah bin Meteb's lead role in a television advert for Saudi Arabia's second-biggest mobile phone operator Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), has sparked a debate among diplomats and Saudis alike on what it could mean for the absolute monarchy, which has always been secretive about its internal affairs.

"Why is a Saudi prince on a television commercial? And why did it have to be the grandson of the king and not someone else?" one Riyadh-based Western diplomat mused.

But others say the advert, starring Prince Abdullah, a professional rider, and his sponsorship deal with Mobily expose changes in the Saudi royal family in recent years as it becomes ever larger and younger.

There are several thousand Saudi princes, all descendants of the kingdom's founder King Abdulaziz, who died in 1953.

"They are getting closer to the public. The number of young princes eclipses the number of patriarchs in the Saudi monarchy which is getting more bourgeois in its lifestyle," said a Saudi analyst.

"Whether through their involvement in business life or in philanthropy, royalty is becoming part of the Saudi elite".

King Abdullah has repeatedly stated his commitment to modernising the world's largest oil exporter with political and economic reforms, but the closest the ageing monarch has come to reforming the monarchy itself was the inception in 2006 of a royal council to appoint future crown princes and kings. >>> | Sunday, April 18, 2010
KUWAIT TIMES: Saudi prince stars in TV commercial >>> | Monday, April 19, 2010

Tiger Woods 'To Divorce Soon'
THE TELEGRAPH: Tiger Woods is losing the battle to save his marriage and his wife may file for divorce soon, according to friends.

Tiger Woods at ‘The Masters’. Photograph: The Telegraph
The beleaguered golfer's wife Elin Nordegren was said to be furious over a television advertisement he filmed for Nike which featured the voice of his late father.

She was also said to have thought her husband would take more time off before returning to the course.

Woods took an indefinite break from golf after details of his infidelities started to become public at the end of last year.

He returned in the Masters at Augusta, Georgia last week, where he finished fourth, but his wife did not attend the tournament.

At the weekend she was seen boarding a private jet alone after leaving their estate near Orlando, Florida.

The television advertisement said to have angered her was broadcast on the eve of the tournament and featured Woods looking directly into the camera without speaking.

A 2004 recording of his late father Earl saying "Did you learn anything?", was played over the footage.

"Elin was violently angry over this commercial and thought it was a cheesy thing to do," a source told People magazine. "She wouldn't have gone near the Masters under any condition but that just made her madder. She is over Tiger. I wouldn't be surprised if she files for divorce sometime soon." >>> Nick Allen in Los Angeles | Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Scary Gay Marriage Ad

American Bloggers Forced to Declare Interests
TIMES ONLINE: American bloggers will be forced to declare any interest in products reviewed or discussed in their blogs under new rules announced on Monday by the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC’s revisions to its existing guidance are intended as an aid to advertisers to keep their work within the FTC Act, part of which covers endorsements by consumers, experts, organisations, and celebrities, as well as the disclosure of important connections between advertisers and endorsers. They will come into force on December 1 this year.

In a statement, the FTC said that its revised rules “also add new examples to illustrate the long standing principle that ‘material connections’ (sometimes payments or free products) between advertisers and endorsers – connections that consumers would not expect – must be disclosed… while decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis, the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement. Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service.” >>> Nigel Kendall, Technology Editor | Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Halal Ads Hit French TV
Halal butchery and poultry shelves in a supermarket in Illzach, France, on the eve of the beginning of Ramadan. Photo: TIME
TIME: A pack of shoppers swarm supermarket shelves, cheerfully snapping up packages of prepared lasagna, ravioli and paella as they sing the products' praises. Sounds just like a normal evening TV ad. And it is, only this one features ethnic-Arab actors in a commercial for halal food in France. A first in its own right, the ad is already a remarkable sight on French TV. But even more surprising is the reaction it's gotten — or, rather, hasn't gotten. In a country that's usually quick to burst into outrage over the spread of Islam into secular society, these halal-food ads have been playing without a peep from the public.

The ad campaign by Panzani-owned, Lyon-based food brand Zakia Halal is the first ever mass-market promotion of halal food to France's estimated 5 million Muslims. The TV spots kicked off on Aug. 17 to coincide with the start of the holy month of Ramadan and have been running on most of France's largest television channels since. The $430,000 campaign will be put on pause Sept. 2, then resumed as Ramadan comes to an end later this month and the feast of Eid el-Fitr approaches. Thus far, the spots have gotten a mostly supportive reaction from Muslim shoppers and the French media, with the daily Le Parisien trumpeting "Halal Takes a Spot on TV."

What's astounding is how long it took for any of France's numerous makers of halal food products to embrace this kind of mass marketing. Studies done by ethnic-marketing consultancy Solis Conseil in Paris estimate that French Muslims currently purchase about $5.7 billion worth of specialized foodstuffs and related products — a market that's been increasing nearly 15% annually for almost a decade. Solis has also found that nearly 94% of all Muslims in France with North African roots — by far the largest group of Muslims in the country — buy exclusively halal food. A recent poll by the Ifop agency found that 70% of Muslims in France are observing Ramadan this year — leaving little doubt as to the thinking behind the timing of Zakia Halal's groundbreaking ad campaign.

"Even though people have to fast during the day, Muslims tend to eat more — and better — when they can eat during Ramadan, which is why it is traditionally a period of peak consumer activity," explains Abbas Bendali, director of Solis Conseil. "Zakia's timing makes good sense because people tend to be short on time during Ramadan and will use prepared dishes along with fresh food for meals. And when you consider the size and value of this demographic, using mass-market methods to promote halal products becomes logical too." But it's also potentially inflammatory, given the tendency of the French to view overt manifestations of Islamic faith as a threat to the nation's tradition of secularity. >>> Bruce Crumley, Paris | Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Condoms to Be Advertised Round-the-clock on TV
TIMESONLINE: Condoms are to be advertised round-the-clock on television under proposals published today.

In an attempt to cut the teenage pregnancy rate, which is the highest in Europe, the Advertising Standards Authority wants to relax the current rules. The authority also proposes to allow pro-abortion services to advertise on television for the first time in a move condemned immediately by anti-abortion groups.

The 9pm watershed on condom advertisements is to be abolished, although they will not be broadcast around programmes aimed at children under 10.

The change is outlined in a consultation by the authority beginning today on new advertising codes for broadcast and other media. Pregnancy advice services will be able to advertise on television but must make it clear whether or not their service includes abortion referrals.

The use of condoms was condemned last week by the Pope as a health measure that “aggravates” rather than protects against the problem of HIV/Aids infection.

Anti-abortion and Catholic groups believe that condoms encourage promiscuity and so have the opposite effect of what is intended, increasing rates of unwanted pregnancies and risking an increase of sexually transmitted diseases.

At present, condoms cannot be advertised on Channel 4 before 7pm and on other channels before 9pm, in order to protect younger viewers from “inappropriate” content. Britain’s growing teenage pregnancy rate, however, has prompted the proposal for change.

Baroness Gould of Potternewton, the chairman of the Government’s Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV, wrote to the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice in 2007 to request a review of the scheduling restrictions on condom advertising, noting that Britain had the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe and spiralling rates of sexually transmitted infections. Her group’s annual report had showed that young people believed television was one of the most effective ways of encouraging those of the same age group to use condoms. >>> Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent | Thursday, March 26, 2009

LE FIGARO: Sida : l'Église ne proscrit pas le préservatif

L'Osservatore Romano rend publique une étude, menée en Ouganda, mettant en évidence l'efficacité du préservatif dans la lutte contre la maladie.


Photo de préservatifs grâce aux Google Images.
La nouvelle peut surprendre après la polémique ouverte par Benoît XVI lors de son voyage en Afrique, mais l'Église catholique admet implicitement le préservatif pour lutter contre le sida. Son combat - totalement incompris - consiste à dire que ce moyen ne suffit pas, à lui seul, pour endiguer l'épidémie. Le quotidien officiel du Saint-Siège, l'Osservatore Romano, vient de le confirmer publiquement en admettant l'efficacité prophylactique du préservatif à condition qu'il soit associé à d'autres facteurs.

En première page de l'édition du dimanche 22 mars, un article sur «Église et sida» reconnaît que le préservatif est efficace «à 97 % contre l'infection» dans les meilleures conditions d'utilisation et «à 87 %» dans des conditions communes, comme en Afrique. Et le journal de citer l'expérience de l'Ouganda où des campagnes soutenues par le gouvernement, dites «ABC», ont été lancées contre le sida : «A» comme abstinence, «B» comme fidélité (be faithful), «C» comme préservatif (condom).

L'article précise aussitôt que l'usage du préservatif prévu par cette méthode n'est certes pas conforme «aux indications de l'Église», mais que les effets de ­cette campagne sont spectaculaires. L'Ouganda est ainsi «l'unique pays d'Afrique qui a obtenu de bons résultats» dans cette lutte contre le sida : «La fréquence d'infection dans la population est descendue de 15 % en 1991 à 5 % en 2001.»

«L'abstinence» en question est effectivement conseillée aux jeunes adolescents. L'âge moyen du premier rapport sexuel a ainsi été retardé de «15 à 19 ans». «La fidélité», recommandée aux couples, aurait permis de réduire de 60 % le vagabondage sexuel. La méthode prévoit, enfin, l'usage du préservatif. «Ces trois facteurs, insiste l'Osservatore Romano, ont une influence importante sur la réduction de l'incidence du sida.» >>> Jean-Marie Guénois | Mardi 24 Mars 2009

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Broché) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Relié) >>>

Chicago: Group Places Ads for Islam on Buses
UPI: CHICAGO -- A Muslim group called Gain Peace has spent nearly $30,000 to place ads for Islam on Chicago Transit Authority buses serving the city's North Side.

The move is part of a monthlong campaign to dispel popular misconceptions about the religion, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

Though most people interviewed by the Tribune said they hadn't noticed the ads, Gain Peace is calling the campaign a success. Group Places Ads for Islam on Buses >>> | October 15, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback (US) Barnes & Noble >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Hardcover (US) Barnes & Noble >>>

Control, Control, Control! This Meddlesome European Union!
This is one step closer to Eurabia, since using pretty women to promote perfume and clothing is banned in places like Saudi Arabia too!

Do present day politicians know how to do anything else other than ban and restrict? Why don’t they get on with the substantive issues, and solve the REAL problems facing us?

But then they are too cowardly for that, aren’t they? - ©Mark

THE TELEGRAPH: Adverts which use sex to sell or promote gender stereotypes could be banned by the EU.

MEPs want TV regulators in the EU to set guidelines which would see the end of anything deemed to portray women as sex objects or reinforce gender stereotypes.

This could potentially mean an end to attractive women advertising perfume, housewives in the kitchen or men doing DIY.

Such classic adverts as the Diet Coke commercial featuring the bare-chested builder, or Wonderbra's "Hello Boys" featuring model Eva Herzigova would have been banned.

The new rules come in a report by the EU's women's rights committee.
Swedish MEP Eva-Britt Svensson urged Britain and other members to use existing equality, sexism and discrimination laws to control advertising.

She wants regulatory bodies set up to monitor ads and introduce a "zero-tolerance" policy against "sexist insults or degrading images". EU Wants to Ban 'Sexist' TV Commercials >>> By Chris Irvine | September 5, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (UK) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (UK) >>>

Promoting Islam to Appear in Subways Soon
WCBSTV.COM: Imam Linked To Bomb Plots Behind Controversial Ad Campaign

NEW YORK (CBS) ― After being linked to a plot to blow up city landmarks, a Brooklyn imam has a new target - subway ads explaining the true meaning of Islam.

Siraj Wahhaj, once a character witness for Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind sheikh now doing life for plotting to blow up the world trade center in 1993, was also linked by the feds to a plan to blow up city landmarks. Now he's behind a controversial subway ad campaign pushing Islam.

"Horrible, absolutely horrible," one New Yorker said of the campaign.

"I believe in freedom of religion, but anyone with terrorist ties – I'd be skeptical," said Court Williams, a Fairfield, Conn. resident who works in the city. Promoting Islam to Appear in Subways Soon: Imam Linked To Bomb Plots Behind Controversial Ad Campaign >>> By Marcia Kramer | July 21, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US) >>>

Defacing Images in Adverts in Saudi Arabia
ARAB NEWS: JEDDAH, 3 February 2008 — Have you ever wondered why some advertisements in Jeddah show people’s faces while others have the faces marked out?

Well, you aren’t alone. Even the responsible authorities wonder why some advertising agencies still produce signs where the faces of the people in the advertisements are digitally blurred out.

The habit of defacing images stems from a traditional aversion in Saudi Arabia toward depicting the human face in images, such as advertising billboards. But Saudi authorities say there is no law against showing advertisements without the alterations.

“There is no rule or regulation that enforces the deformation of a human figure or face in any advertisement,” Ahmad Al-Zahrani, an official at the Ministry of Information and Culture, told Arab News yesterday.

Nevertheless, some advertising agencies appear averse toward depicting human faces. “What is happening is self-imposed censorship,” said Qaswara Al-Khateeb, head of the advertising committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Khateeb says ad agencies tend to deface their signs in order to avoid any complaints from people, especially authorities, who might use this as a pretext for having the ads removed, or for otherwise getting the agency in trouble.

He said that since most agencies are foreign owned, they tend to be extra cautious in matters that might be interpreted locally as a violation of religious or cultural mores. Is Defacing of Images in Outdoor Adverts Forced? >>> By Hasan Hatrash

Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)