david drysdale

 Pro golfer called McDonald's worker a 

'stupid chinky' in drunken row

One of Scotland’s top pro golfers called a security guard a "stupid chinky" during a drunken row in McDonald's.

David Drysdale pleaded guilty to assault and racially aggravated breach of the peace at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old was with his wife Victoria when they went into McDonald's in Princes Street in the early hours of March 7 last year after a night out in Edinburgh.
The court was told the restaurant was very busy at the time of the incident and customers were having to queue for the one disabled toilet.
Security guard Hin Ho Li refused to let Drysdale upstairs to use closed toilets and an argument broke out. Fiscal depute Malcolm Stewart said when the golfer walked away from Mr Li, he called him "a stupid chinky".


Read the full article :STV Edinburgh

Is smoking a problem for BBCs?

In the above Nicorette advert, Alex, a 31yr old trainee accountant tells us how, at the age of 16,he started smoking because of associations of it being daring, risky, adventurous and a form of rebellion against his parents. 

Having tried to give up smoking 3 times, at the time, Alex saw smoking as a release, sometimes smoking 10-15 a day.  Alongside Nicorette products, taking up sport has distracted him from smoking and given more focus, and having successfully quit completely, now feels more upbeat in general.

According to the 2011 NHS Statistics on smoking, 

"In 2004 the HSE included a boost sample to increase the sample size" of people in ethnic minority groups. The relationship between smoking status and ethnicity was explored in Chapter 4: Use of tobacco products of the associated report Health Survey for England 2004: The Health of Minority Ethnic Groups (HSE 2004)20. 

Example findings include: self-reported cigarette smoking prevalence was 40% among Bangladeshi, 30% Irish, 29% Pakistani, 25% of Black Caribbean, 21% Chinese, and 20% in Indian men, compared with 24% among men in the general population. 

 Self-reported smoking prevalence was higher among women in the general population (23%) than most minority ethnic groups, except Irish (26%) and Black Caribbean women (24%). The figures for the other groups were 10% Black African,

 8% Chinese, 5% Indian and Pakistani, and 2% in Bangladeshi women."

 2.4.2 Regional prevalence

The GLF 2009 report presented variations in smoking prevalence in England in 2009 by Government Office Region (GOR). The sample sizes were relatively small, making them subject to relatively high levels of sampling error, thus interpretation of regional data has been treated cautiously. Among men, the prevalence of current smokers was highest in the North West (24%) and London (26%) and lowest in the East Midlands and South West (19% each). For women, the highest prevalence was found in the Yorkshire and the Humber (22%), the North East (23%) and the North West (22%) and the lowest prevalence in the South West (17%).

According to this June 2012 BBC news report regarding the British public smoking ban in 2004 entitled: Smoking Ban's impact five years on whilst the ban has had a huge effect on stopping smokers in public...

" there is no evidence as yet that smokers have given up smoking in huge numbers because of the legislation.

While overall levels of smoking among adults in Great Britain remained constant at 21% between 2007 and 2009, the north east of England saw a different trend.
There, the smokefree ban proved to be a trigger for some adults to quit with the largest drop in smoking in England - from 29% in 2005 to 27% in 2007 and down to 21% by 2011.

"It's children who start smoking, not adults. We need to prevent people starting in the first place, full stop."

For BBCs who are more integrated into British society, whether clubbing, dating, or work,  is smoking  more to do with 'fitting in' or like Alex, do we take up the habit to be 'rebellious' ? And how easy is it for us to give up, if ever?

British public schools exported to China

The BBC's George Alagiah reports on the rise of fee-paying schools in China which mirror British public schools.The schools are in contrast to the state system in China, with an emphasis on creativity and inquiry.

Amidst the growth of the glass and concrete grown of the city of Tianjin is Wellington College, a replica of the Berkshire school, there are 300 students mainly from the ex-patriate community but with a growing number of Chinese students. Mimi Zhoh is only 5 years old but her prestigious piano playing talent, has already seen her perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Mimi's parents pay more than £15000 a year in fees, they are doing more than buying an education,they are investing in a way of life. Her parents do not want her to endure the 24-7 life in China and in the future, want her to study abroad.

In light of the new visa restrictions for Chinese students coming to the UK,  David Cook, Master of Wellington College,in Tianjin, believes Chinese government should make it easier as possible for Chinese students to come to study in Britain, because the alternative means they are almost inevitable to go America to study.

Watch here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20259954

Can BBC's Find Happiness In The Far East?

 

With the endless western media Sinophobia, enforced 'invisibility' of our British community, for BBCs who haven't completely embraced multiculturalism, being a 'minority', increasingly depressing economic times, even if you are relatively quite well off financially, if you have an ounce of social observation/sympathy, it can at times be difficult to 'switch off' from negative news around us.

In the East however, things are looking better comparatively, BBC's whose parents are from the New Territories often have village homes they can travel to and from, relatives they can stay with for some time, whilst looking for work, or even just for a break from being here in the UK. 

Culturally, for some BBCs although popular HK/Chinese music TV or Film may not compete in quality with western output, China is increasingly becoming westernised, and in both China and Hong Kong there are many English speaking students, not to mention many who want to learn the English language.

The main problem for some BBC's is the Chinese language, having already integrated with western society or encouraged to continue to speak Cantonese/Mandarin growing up, as well as we ought to,  though it may take some time to get back to a fluent level, if we are lucky to have helpful parents, and sometimes friends/relatives or spouses who do,we can have an advantage when it comes to improving our speaking ability which can obviously help us when it comes to finding work out there.

In the UK, It's clear western media will not tolerate Chinese,except at arm's length, BBC's will never create an independent media, FOBS will continue to run their FOB businesses and create their own exclusive FOB-only circles, all of which will do nothing for British Chinese social identity despite China's growing world presence.

Despite partnering with British Companies, until China buys up western media, which could be some time off, if ever, and British Chinese community takes more social interest beyond 'Self-interest', for BBC's who want to reconnect with our Chinese heritage, looking to the Far East as a serious option for relocation, if not a long extended stay, could be the missing piece in our culture-starved lives.

As an ethnic Chinese living in Britain,  how do you feel, about the fact you and future generations growing up in the UK may never be fully accepted by British society, and only tolerated? And if relocating to the Far East, is an option by contrast, is it one worth considering?

The Orphan of Zhao play

 The Orphan of Zhao at the RSC

From the Guardian:

'This production of a Chinese classic has already caused controversy because only three actors out of a cast of 17 are of east Asian origin. But, although there are serious issues about the plight of east Asian actors that need to be addressed, it would be sad if that obscured the fact that this is a stunning act of theatrical reclamation. Gregory Doran, as the new head of the RSC, has unearthed a drama of which most of us were unaware and given it a superlative production.'

 Graham Turner (Dr Cheng Ying) and Jake Fairbrother (Cheng Bo) in The Orphan Of Zhao. 

Photograph: Tristram Kenton

            

Read More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2012/nov/09/the-orphan-of-zao-review