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?

BT Ripping Us Chinese Apart For London 2012

Media advertising during the 'multicultural' London 2012 Olympics and London 2012 Paralympics focused on crossing demographic boundaries with British Citizens unified behind the Union Jack. There's multiculturalism and there's agenda driven multiculturalism, the latter is a visionary yet artificial representation of British society. Two examples include the middle class interracial Black White family in the Olympic opening ceremony and the Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO advertisement 'BT Bringing Us All Together,' this advert will be played throughout the London Paralympics until September 15th.

In the advertisement, a lower class Black family share a barbecue with their White middle class neighbours, they sit in unison Black-White-Black-White-Black in support of Great Britain. British Blacks are not always portrayed as inter racially dating Whites (Black families in Eastenders are a further example), however the same rule does not apply to East Asians, typically British Chinese are represented as multiculturally integrated (and inter racially dating) with Whites, Blacks and Indians, but segregated from their Chinese peers.

Representation 1. Chinese female is cheering on Great Britain in the Olympic Stadium in the unlikely company of a turban wearing Sikh male.

Representation 2. Chinese female is alone with her White boyfriend in the middle of the English countryside.

Representation 3. In this crowd scene, Chinese female is intentionally placed in the front row to fill the ethnic diversity quota, she is standing in front of a Union Jack with a Black, a White and an Asian.

'BT Bringing Us All Together' advertisement attempts to normalise the segregation of the Chinese female from her Chinese community, segregation from her Chinese family, segregation from her natural partner - the Chinese male and segregation from her Chinese heritage (hence support for Great Britain not China), whilst calculatingly circumventing representations that run contrary to the interests of British Multiculturalism - three invisible examples in the British media are Chinese with a group of Chinese friends, Chinese male/Chinese female same race couples, ethnic Chinese families in the UK, not the Far East. This is media agenda driven multiculturalism through stealth, subliminal representations with designs to erase the traditional ethnic Chinese family. (BBCZeitgeist)

I Feel British - But Not British Enough To Support Team GB At The London Olympics

Whilst patriotic Brits industriously paved the roadside with Union Jacks for 140km from Dorking to The Mall to inspire road racer Lizzie Armitstead to claim Britain’s first medal of the games, observing this as a discombobulated British Chinese, the feel good factor is hard to masticate let alone swallow, I feel British, but not British enough to fly the Union Jack in support of 'Team GB.'

We’re constantly reminded by the British multiculturalism debate that ethnic representation promotes both inclusion and the feeling of being part of something bigger, whilst it maybe partly true, the argument is not entirely convincing. In the run up to the London Olympic Games 2012 there was East Asian representation aplenty. The Olympic torch passed through the hub of London's Chinatown, carried by popular Spectrum Radio DJ Steven Cheung (half Chinese half Filipino speaks fluent Cantonese).

Judging by his Twitterings, Steven Cheung appears somewhat enamoured by the British monarchy, so is pianist Lang Lang for that matter, nonetheless it's still East Asian paper representation, not to mention British Chinese musicians Andy Leung and Liz Liew who were commissioned to compose XX/XY for the games.

Roll on the opening ceremony, East Asian faces were bountiful but none were given a prominent role. Instead Black producer Catherine Ugwu and ebony obsessed Danny Boyle - blatantly agenda driven by his own inter racial relationship with mixed Black actress Rosario Dawson, intentionally over-hyped and over-represented Blacks with their Windrush, their urban music, their inter racial relationships and even their mixed Black offspring, however, our Chinese culture, our struggle, our journey was absent from the ceremony, tokenism is not to be taken lightly - as usual our identity is only tolerated within the narrow context of being multicultural rather than being Chinese.

Onto the games itself. Who am I expected to cheer for if there are no British Born Chinese sportsmen nor sportswomen representing Team GB? Of the 564 athletes representing Great Britain at the London Olympic games 2012, only two are of East Asian origin. Laotian Anne Keothavong is British Born East Asian, she's not a big name, nor is Chinese immigrant Na Liu. Hypothetically if high profile Chinese legend Wang Hao jumped ship to become a British citizen to compete for Team GB, would that be persuasive in supporting Team GB unequivocally? The answer would probably still be No. Its not that I'm anti-British nor anti-English, as a Londoner I paid my contribution to the games, I recognised all the ‘Best of British’ references in the opening ceremony...William Henry Monk’s Abide With Me, Blur, Brunel, Jk Rowling and I'm proud of the NHS, however none of the aforementioned will ever rescind my Chineseness, I will never willfully fly a Union Jack flag nor sing God Save The Queen, nor am I alone - five Team GB footballers including Welshmen Ryan Giggs snubbed the British national anthem.

To put it in perspective, University of Essex's Institute of Social And Economic Research recent household study Understanding Society revealed that of Britain’s ethnic groups, Whites (Scottish and Welsh hold strong non-British identities), Chinese and Afro-Caribbeans associate least closely with Britishness, though as expected, identification with Britishness was higher among the children and grandchildren of migrants.  Evidently, for those of us who take pride in being Chinese and consider our mother roots to be important, our ethnic identity as 'Chinese' remains very strong, stronger than any concept of Britishness.

By BBCZeitgeist

Why Its Unsafe To Call John Terry a ‘Fucking White Cunt’

In January, Dianne Abbot was metaphorically hung by the British public for tweeting something as innocuous as “White people love playing divide and rule, we should not play their game.”

Against hounding accusations of racism against White people, she backtracked claiming a historical reference to the colonial past even though the tweet was clearly written in the present tense. Evidently, tolerance for radical outspoken ethnic speakers within the mainstream appears to be diminishing, even within the virtual realm of the internet it is no longer ‘safe’ to speak out nor fight against ‘white racism’ nor fight for ethnic causes without retribution or consequence - whatever happened to Britain’s tolerance of oppressed racial minorities' Black rights?

In 1964, Malcolm X orchestrated a highly charged ‘racial’ speech at the Oxford Union, the ‘White man’ was labelled a ‘devil’ and a ‘racialist’ to shuddering rounds of applause from the debating chamber, yet forty eight years on, times have changed, the election of Barack Obama opened new discussions on race and ethnicity discourse (Listen to podcast with Ralph Eubanks and Professor Mark Anthony Neal).

The Guardian is currently running a series of articles on racism in the digital age. It is argued in a post-racial age, the ‘White man’ neither tolerates nor feels burdened by the cries of racial suppression from its racial minorities. Whilst racial minority bloggers and journalists maybe given license on the Centre-Left Guardian newspaper to share their tribulations promoting race and ethnicity issues within the sphere of the mainstream, ironically 'below the line' comments accompanying these articles are less sympathetic, overflowing with (mostly white) egesta lacking an iota of empathy towards the plight of its ethnic minorities.

The internet mob heckle the ethnic bloggers till they scarper with their tails between their legs seeking sanctuary in the Huffington Post. 'Racism is the new McCarthyism,' the internet mob shout, ‘how dare you play the race card and drum up hysteria accusing poor innocent ‘White’ people of racism?!’ 

The mob are jubilant, vindicated by the courts decision in R v John Terry racist use of 'you fucking Black cunt,' yet Rio Ferdinand loses his place in the England team after making a stand against racism. So Where does this leave those still brave enough to fight or speak out against racism?

"The consensus that societies are post-racial has supported a range of political strategies often described as "cultural racism". The people are not racist, the argument goes, and any prejudice is merely a natural defensive response to the "reverse racism" of "migrants" who refuse to adapt and accept "our way of life" (Titley and Lentin, The Guardian)

In a 'post-racial age,' ethnic minorities are increasingly having to justify their position in even attempting to develop an strong ethnic identity, large sections of the community truly believe our identity should not be based on race as it is divisive. As The Guardian puts it eloquently..."being blind to race often involves being blind to racism." In attempting to deny us our ethnic identity, denying us the chance to fight back or speak out, they hope to deny us our ethnic voice, if race doesn’t exist- there can’t be any racism can there?

By BBCZeitgeist

Chinese Irish Player Racially Abused By Opponents In Football Game

The GAA have banned two players for racially abusing a Wexford county footballer – born and bred in the county.

Star player Lee Chin was the victim of the racial abuse when playing for Sarsfields against Duffry Rovers.

A noted dual star, Lee Chin has played hurling and football for Wexford at every level.

Wexford county chairman Diarmuid Devereux condemned the incident.

He stated: “Lee Chin is a Wexford man, born in Wexford, living in Wexford, educated in Wexford and working in Wexford. He is one of our stars of the future. Hopefully, many more will follow his example."

The two opponents were named in referee Brendan Martin’s report for racially abusing Chin. The ref specially outlined the racist remarks made by one player on the field from Duffry Rovers and by a substitute on the sideline.

The Wexford County Board have since banned both players for two months and re-iterated that they will not tolerate racism in their sport.

Duffry Rovers co-operated with the investigation and were not fined.

The decision to ban both players has been welcomed by the Gaelic Players Association which represents inter-county players in gaelic football and hurling.

A GPA spokesman told the Irish Independent: “Racism is a problem that, if allowed to go unchecked, is a huge threat, and the GAA have made huge strides to promote integration.“

Read more: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Chinese-Irish-player-racially-abused-by-opponents-in-football-game-159846495.html#ixzz1z2gA218l

Mark Allen Comments Are Racist To Chinese

World Snooker Championship 2012: Mark Allen Accuses Cao Yupeng of Cheating

Full Article BBC

World number 11, Mark Allen crashed out of the first round of the world Snooker championships in Sheffield accusing Cao Yu Peng of failing to declare an illegal push shot when leading 5-4. No foul was given and the 26-year-old Northern Irishman eventually lost 10-6. During a post match press conference, he said: 

“It was quite obvious to me and anyone who was watching at home. Cao looked at the referee too, so I'm very confident on where I stand on that."

He went on to say that it was 'a trait' for Chinese players to engage in blatant cheating. Allen, 26, could face a fine, suspension or expulsion if found guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute.

Mark Allen's racism to Chinese snooker came to the forefront in March when China hosted Haikou World Open. Posting his Twitter account, Mark Allen racist tweets said:

"Journey a nightmare. (Chinese) People are ignorant. Place stinks. Arena's rubbish, tables poor, food is horrendous. Other than that I love China."

"Dead cat found this morning, Any wonder this place stinks. Must be dead cats all round the town." 

Here's the alleged Cao Yupeng foul shot. Was it a push? Judge for yourself.

ESF KITCHEE Hong kong Football Match Sparks White Chinese Racism Row

The 10 year old Caucasian boy (#2) arrested on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm after violently kicking a Chinese opponent in the head during an under 12's school football match between ESF Lions and Kitchee Escola has been bailed.

The video generated a torrent of 'racist' commentary.

"These are English Men... Shame of mankind!" wrote one viewer on the YouTube website. Others called the coach and mainly Caucasian players for the English Schools Foundation (ESF) team "animals" and "white scum", and demanded the government stop subsidising the English-language school system. "The Hong Kong government should cancel its funding of the ESF. Gweilos should leave Hong Kong immediately," said one user.

Full Article Here 

BBCZEITGEIST COMMENTARY: Reading western press articles, white journalists considered the term gweilo to be racially offensive by playing the race card. Its an attempt to negate the damage inflicted onto the Chinese boy by turning the issue into a race row, i.e the white boy is victimised because of his Caucasian ethnicity! I have not seen evidence of an actual racism beyond Youtube commenting. Incidently, there are also comments calling Chinese 'chinks,' but the western press conveniently forget to mention that.

British Chinese Kickboxing Association

' Jet Li? Oo's that ? Ah loov Van Damme me! '

Take a look at the following website  :

http://www.bckakickboxing.com/

Like many of these kinds of martial arts schools in the UK, its a franchise. The website states the following:

"The BCKA is a non-elitist organisation that caters for all. Students of all ages, abilities and either gender are welcome to train with the BCKA and maximise their potential in whichever side of the BCKA they choose to concentrate, whether this be kickboxing for sport or martial arts in its pure form. With top quality instructors, upcoming and proven fighters and unrivalled choice - opt for the BCKA for a true martial art experience."

Non-elitist? This implies that it doesn't matter if the founder isn't Chinese despite being called a British Chinese Martial Arts Association as its open to all. But if its open to all why doesn't it say the word ' races' above? Is it assumed? Does that mean its okay for a British Chinese to enrol? 

Well looking at the website, it doesn't look like it...

'Fo' Queen and Country ey oop smell mi chip fat armpits lad'

'Fo me next trick Um gonna poonch dat daft coont out at the local Chinky'

 'Ow did dat fookin Paki lad get in da photo?'

British Chinese martial arts as a euphemism for White English barbarianism ?

Whilst Chinese in the UK are scrambling to be accepted by British elitism, Chinese culture is being abused and appropriated in whatever way as seen fit. If 'British Chinese Kickboxing' is just a technicality, they could  at least have renamed it ' White English Kickboxing Association guest-starring South Asian janitor.' The example of this school in the north of the UK is not special, it is the same all over the UK - its usually white people teaching Chinese martial arts, there's never a Chinese in sight. Or if its run by a Chinese, the assistants are usually either White or Black.

Kickboxing as we know isn't Chinese, its based in Korean martial arts tae kwon do,  most Chinese martial arts that's taught in the UK is Wing Chun. But in the instance that a school can call themselves 'British Chinese' shouldn't it bother British Chinese? 

What if those same Chavs used martial arts against you? Wouldnt that be ironic?

There are enough BBCs who want to be White, so why aren't there any BBCs exclusively exploiting White culture?

Where Does Your Loyalty Lie? East or West?

Figure skater Patrick Chan received a rousing ovation from a home Canadian crowd at the ISU Grand Prix during the world champion's first competition since he caused a furore saying that he felt unappreciated in Canada and is becoming increasingly drawn to his Chinese heritage. Chan was quoted as saying...

“Several years ago I felt more Canadian but I’m slowly feeling more Chinese and feel I should be more proud of being Chinese and appreciate where I’ve come from. (This is because) of the support I get from the Chinese community in Canada,”

“I do (wish I could have represented both China and Canada when I compete). That would be the ideal situation… in a perfect world.”

Patrick Chan, 20 years old from Toronto, is a CBC, Canadian Born Chinese of Hong Kong Chinese immigrants, suffered a backlash with Canadian fans and media pundits questioning his loyalty.

Chan supports a tattoo on his left calf of a Canadian Maple Leaf with the Olympic rings and flame was crowned world champion in April after romping to victory with record scores in Moscow, was asked about the furore caused by his remarks during a taped CBC interview that aired ahead of his routine.

"All I can say is I apologise and there is no doubt in my mind that I am more than happy to represent Canada ... and I really don't want people to think differently....I am extremely happy to be born in Canada and skate for my country and the support is just unbelievable and I couldn't ask for more."

Full Article Link: Yahoo Eurosports

Given a choice, would you represent your Chinese ancestral homeland or the west? Should we be forced to choose? Should western born Chinese apologise for showing pride in their race and their ancestral home over their western home?

Chinese Inter Milan Football Fans Attack AC Milan Jersey

Chinese Inter Milan football fans attack a fellow Chinese football fan wearing a AC Milan team shirt, during an Inter Milan training session. Picture one shows the fan wearing his shirt and the second displays the fan after that Red and Black shirt has been forcibly removed.

Source: http://www.caughtoffside.com/2011/08/02/one-stupid-ac-milan-fan-attacked-by-hundreds-of-chinese-inter-supporters-photos/

This comment said...

anonymous465203 - August 2nd, 2011 at 10:11 pm

Do those idiots believe they are Italians or what?!

To be a fan for a foreign club is acceptable, but to be a fanatic and to abuse fans of other “foreign” rivals..that’s stupidity and madness.

BBCZeitgeist Commentary: Chinese brothers fighting Chinese brothers over a non-Chinese team is disgraceful, why are they supporting a non-Chinese team? They should be  unifying behind a Chinese team. You are Chinese, not White. Further evidence: Arsenal Liverpool chelsea Asia Tour 2011 

Arsenal Liverpool Aston Villa Chelsea Asia Tour

London's bookish Charing Cross Road may not be illustrious for its football supporters, but a Chinese couple caught my eye, highly fobbish, in their early 20's, both kitted out in matching Steven Gerrard Liverpool Football shirts. The idiosyncratic manner in which these types of Chinese worship English or non-Asian football teams with religiose fervour is a reflection of their failed Chinese consciousness in shunning their own domestic leagues, teams and players in the Far East.

During a recent visit to the Far East, one attended a Hong Kong Division One Football match, attendance was visibly low,  lower than Scottish Division 3 League matches (that's saying something),  the sports news bulletins show similar low attendance for all matches across Hong Kong, however when an 'English' team tours the Far East, we see quite a different reaction from the local Chinese.

Arsenal and Liverpool have just ended their pre-season training tours playing local teams in Asia. 

A simple examination of the crowds in the photographs reveal local Asian's overwhelmingly wearing English shirts energetically spurring on their favourite English clubs to defeat their own Asian teams. Yet, do we ever see White Brits supporting China over England in sporting competitions? Do we ever see White British couples sauntering down Charing Cross Road in matching Yao Ming (before his retirement) shirts? Do we ever see a huge army of White British fans egging on Marco Fu or Ding Junhui to crush Ronnie O'Sullivan? The answer is an unequivocal no.

The Chinese couple spotted in Charing Cross Road may have an excuse - they're in the UK, however Asian's residing in the Far East supporting English football without equivocation are completely illogical, even more so in consideration of the fact they have no White English friends, do not have a firm grasp of the English language, have never visited the UK nor the city of Liverpool, nor are there any Chinese players contracted to play for any of these Premiership teams touring the Far East. So why do Chinese support England and English Football club teams?

Reasons for Asian Chinese fanaticism of English football

One would be hard pressed to explain 'Asian Odds' gambling, football comes first, gambling comes second, rather there's a more simpler superficial explanation...

Read more: http://www.wbs.ac.uk/news/releases/2007/01/11/england/football/big

In 2007, Warwick Business School conducted market research on Chinese football fans on behalf of the English Football Association. Their findings...

 "Interest among Chinese fans in international football (78.01%) vs Chinese local football (31.24%)"

 "In major tournaments where China was not present, 96.3% of Chinese supported England"

"Chinese fans were drawn to English football because of the players' glamorous lifestyles and their WAGS."

"England team shirt is the most popular football shirt seen in China followed by Manchester United and Brazil"

Its time these inebriated Chinese developed Chinese consciousness and annulled their conspicuous consumer driven tomfoolery for both western culture and as well their blind support for English Football. If British Blacks can proudly declare "I support whichever team has the most Black players," then so can Chinese. Chinese should support Chinese clubs, Chinese national teams and international clubs with Chinese players.