Ad war over religion puts UK regulator on the spot David Sapsted, Foreign Correspondent Last Updated: January 11. 2009 9:30AM UAE / GMT LONDON // The advertising watchdog in Britain is being challenged to rule on whether or not God exists. In a war of words between atheists and Christians, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is being asked to determine the accuracy of an advertisement stating: “There’s probably no God.” The advertisements began to appear at the end of last week on buses across Britain as part of a campaign launched by the British Humanist Association. By yesterday, the ASA had received more than 100 complaints, most of them saying that the ads were offensive to Christians and other religions that believe in a single God. One complaint, however – from Christian Voice, a fundamentalist ministry – accused the advertisement of breaking the ASA legal code on the ground that, in fact, God does exist. Now the ASA is having to decide on whether it should launch a formal inquiry to try to determine the accuracy of the atheists’ claim. Stephen Green, national director of the Christian Voice, said: “It is given as a statement of fact and that means it must be capable of substantiation if it is not to break the rules. “There is plenty of evidence for God, from people’s personal experience, to the complexity, interdependence, beauty and design of the natural world. “But there is scant evidence on the other side. So I think the advertisers are really going to struggle to show their claim is not an exaggeration or inaccurate, as the ASA code puts it.” By tomorrow, about 800 buses in England, Scotland and Wales will be carrying the advertisements, which read in full: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” A further 1,000 posters are being placed on London Underground stations in a month-long campaign that costs £140,000 (Dh784,000). Ariane Sherine first proposed the atheist advertising campaign in a blog in The Guardian newspaper’s Comment is Free column in June, saying that it could provide a “reassuring counter-message to religious slogans threatening non-Christians with hell and damnation”. But the humanist association took up the idea and sought to raise up to £5,000 to put the posters on London buses only. In the end, they got more than 25 times their target and extended the campaign to the rest of Britain. Hanne Stinson, the chief executive of the association, said the Christian Voice complaint had been greeted with “peals of laughter” from her atheist colleagues. She added: “I am sure Stephen Green really does think there is a great deal of evidence for God – though, presumably, only the one that he believes in – but I pity the ASA if they are going to be expected to rule on the probability of God’s existence. “However, if they do investigate, we will be very happy to respond.” Other Christian leaders in Britain have been much more sanguine about the campaign than Christian Voice, although the Church of England has now launched its own website – thereprobablyis.com – where people can join the debate with their own comments. Fr Stephen Wang, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in England and Wales, said: “I think it is great to get people thinking. I love the idea of this bus winding its way through the streets and someone stopping to think: ‘Mm, maybe there is no God – but maybe there is’. “Many people simply never think about God or religion as a serious question and, if this prods them a little bit, then that’s great. “My only sadness is that these posters betray such a negative view of religion – as if religious believers are walking around oppressed by worry all the time.” The Rt Rev Andrew Watson, the Anglican bishop of Aston, also welcomed the campaign because of the debate it had created. But he added: “I’m a little surprised at the idea on these posters that not believing in God helps us to stop worrying and to enjoy life. “All the evidence is that religious people tend to be more at peace with themselves and with the world, and to live longer than their non-religious contemporaries.” Following Britain’s lead, the American Humanist Association began running advertisements in Washington in November, though the message on the sides of buses was less strident. “Why believe in a god?” they read. “Just be good for goodness sake.” A plan by the Atheist Foundation of Australia to run a similar campaign on the country’s public transport system was thwarted when the country’s largest outdoor advertising company rejected the ads without giving any reason. Spanish atheists will start running an identically worded campaign to their British counterparts (“Probablemente Dios no existe. Deja de preocuparte y goza de la vida”) on buses in Barcelona this week. The Spanish group hopes to spread the campaign to other cities, including Madrid and Valencia, but local politicians are believed to be coming under pressure from the Roman Catholic Church to ban the ads from municipal buses. A spokesman for the campaign described the advertisements as “an attack on all religions”. thenational.ae

LoL If only I had a phone not registered to me

^Thats not the case yet saxib. Still too early but Benitez was only waiting for Fergie to make a comment and BANG he pulls out a list of Fergies comments on refs going back years lol

Prince's apology for racist term See the vid Prince Harry has apologised for using offensive language to describe a member of his army platoon. The News of the World has published video in which the prince calls one of his Sandhurst colleagues a "Paki" in commentary he made over filming. St James's Palace said he used the term three years ago as a nickname about a friend and without any malice. The prince had to apologise in 2005 for wearing a swastika armband to a party, which offended many Jewish people. The video shows Harry while still an officer cadet at Sandhurst military academy. It was filmed in front of other cadets at an airport departure lounge as they waited for a flight to Cyprus to go on manoeuvres. The newspaper said the prince had called the soldier "our little Paki friend". 'Extremely sorry' In a separate incident, Prince Harry is heard calling another officer cadet a "raghead". During a faked call to the Queen, as the Commander in Chief of the British Army, the prince says, "Granny I've got to go, send my love to the Corgis and Grandpa." He finishes saying: "I've got to go, got to go, bye. God Save You ... yeah, that's great." A statement from St James's Palace, with regards the term "Paki" said: "Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offence his words might cause. "However, on this occasion three years ago, Prince Harry used the term without any malice and as a nickname about a highly popular member of his platoon. "There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend." The statement continued: "Prince Harry used the term 'raghead' to mean Taleban or Iraqi insurgent." A man told BBC Radio Five Live the cadet concerned was his nephew, Ahmed Raza Khan, from Pakistan, who served with Prince Harry at Sandhurst for one year as a Commonwealth cadet. Iftikhar Raja said his nephew, now a captain in the Pakistani army, would have risen above such terms and had not mentioned the incident to his family. Mr Raja said: "At no time he told us that he was called Paki or he was a good friend of Prince Harry, I mean, although they served together that is true. "But I myself am a British subject, I am proud to be British and if someone called me Pakistani I would be proud to be called that, but Paki is definitely a derogatory remark." He added: "We expect better from our Royal Family on whom we spend millions and millions of pounds for training and schooling." Captain Ahmed Raza Khan graduated with Harry from Sandhurst in 2006 receiving a special award from the Queen for being the best overseas officer cadet. 'Disturbing allegations' BBC Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt said this was an "embarrassing episode" for the prince, and it was because comments made in private had become public that a statement had been issued. He added St James's Palace had been at pains to place the prince's words in context. Prince Harry's aides insisted Captain Ahmed and Harry "were friends, members of a close knit platoon who used nicknames and the prince was not being malicious", he said. "However, whatever the context, royal officials must know the damage has been done, " said our correspondent. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: "Neither the Army nor the Armed Forces tolerates inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form. "The Army takes all allegations of inappropriate behaviour very seriously and all substantive allegations are investigated. "We are not aware of any complaint having been made by the individual. Bullying and racism are not endemic in the Armed Forces." A spokeswoman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "These appear to be disturbing allegations and we will be asking the MoD to see the evidence, share that evidence with us and their plans for dealing with it. "We will then consider what further action might be necessary." But Ingrid Seward, the editor of Majesty magazine and a biographer of Prince Harry and Prince William, said there was a danger of over-reaction. She said: "I think it was a private video, he was talking about a friend of his, they were having fun and they were calling each other nicknames and I think it's been taken out of context. "Yes, it would be very offensive if Harry went around calling people Pakis in a racist way but this was not meant, you know, it was meant more of a nickname. "I mean, Harry's mates call him Ginge or Ginger - that could be equally offensive to people with red hair."

Originally posted by *Ibtisam*: ^^^Took spare shoes dee, you don't throw the ones you are wearing, I think everyone had a bag of old shoes with them. The least you could have done was throw the shoes you wore and walk home bare foot :rolleyes:

^LoL Back to the prem after a long 2 week wait. ps Ronaldo crashed his Ferrari!

^LoL Are you serious? You probably are

There just doesn't seem to be a desire to unite. That's the problem. Every man on his own at the moment.

I hardly have the latest phones. So long as it works ok and I can talk it.

Come on now. Somalis hate for the sake of it. No reasons involved. I just don't like them winning the African Cup!

^They are people born in EU or US. Their parents born in EU or US. Their grand parents born in EU or US and so on and so forth. The Europeans and US gave them the idea of a home of their own when on a guilt trip post World war II.

Apart from a calls for truce, Muslim nations and their leaders can do very little. There is a term called being held by the kahuunas. Now my good SOLers idinku maxaad sameen laheedeen?

Time does fly. Val, a raised cup of tea is in order. Completed 5 SOL years last month. The past 9 years (since 2000) have been a blur.

You haven't heard It's Akpo Sodje , denenenene, his passport's dodgy, denenene Abu Diaby, I'll keep going mate.

Allah yarxamu I know that name.

Puntland new and former Presidents. (1)Abdillahi Yusuf ( Coussin of Faroole ) (2)Jama Ali Jama ( Cousin of Abdillahi ) (3)Cadde Muuse ( Cousin of Jama Ali Jama) (4)C/Rahmaan Faroole ( Cousin of all of them )

^Never saw the little midget play (apart from Italia 1990 and USA 1994).

^I just need to head butt someone first. Luckily I'm too mild mannered.

Zizou followed closely by R Baggio

^Thoise guys who came to Liverpool back in those days were quite good until we started beating them every week and they gave up. Since then these guys have been beating us which is why most of the boys have now retired. Not me though

Ngonge, these guys are probably a few generations younger than the guys you know.

How many Abdis in your phone book?

^They lost to reer Cardiff

^They got cheated dee These are the lads in Toronto 2008 Tournament (they lost in the final) http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=pB_KWwcaII8

Originally posted by NGONGE: Norf, Milan are planning to sign a precontract with Pennant! He played a blinder against them in CL Final 2007. Hard to believe still.