octane
I have issues, OK!
Today in the UK, the government have dismissed the idea of banning junk food adverts during kids television because they feel that the advertising isn't the issue. Instead, the government feel the issue is lack of exercise.
Such is the world we live in, children are no longer safe walking to school on their own. So now most parents choose to drive them there instead.
This problem extends to [and is compounded by] their out-of-school hours where their parents would prefer that they remain in doors, thus perpetuating the indolent lifestyle.
The British weather doesn't help matters and so kids and glued to the TV screen; either playing a video game or killin' brain cells watching some vacuous soap opera and the like.
Back to the governments stance on advertising: in the real world, the position would be pretty clear; OK, kid-friendly advertising can't be wholly responsible, but it's bound to have some impact .. if it didn't, someone ought to tell the advertisers, their message isn't reaching their target audience.
Common sense dictates that it would be a positive start to ban these adverts during children's television, but the government won't.
So my question is: why?
I can only imagine that _yet again_ the UK government has caved in to pressure from commercial sector and other lobbyist who live in the back pocket of big business, much the same way George Bush has kowtowed to the petrochemical industry.
The problem of obesity isn't unique to the UK. I think the figures for the America is something 30% of the population are clinically obese.
Is it the disease of western culture? Are we all going to have to shop at Big 'n' Beautiful from now on? Will I have man boobs by the time I'm forty?
You decide...
Such is the world we live in, children are no longer safe walking to school on their own. So now most parents choose to drive them there instead.
This problem extends to [and is compounded by] their out-of-school hours where their parents would prefer that they remain in doors, thus perpetuating the indolent lifestyle.
The British weather doesn't help matters and so kids and glued to the TV screen; either playing a video game or killin' brain cells watching some vacuous soap opera and the like.
Back to the governments stance on advertising: in the real world, the position would be pretty clear; OK, kid-friendly advertising can't be wholly responsible, but it's bound to have some impact .. if it didn't, someone ought to tell the advertisers, their message isn't reaching their target audience.
Common sense dictates that it would be a positive start to ban these adverts during children's television, but the government won't.
So my question is: why?
I can only imagine that _yet again_ the UK government has caved in to pressure from commercial sector and other lobbyist who live in the back pocket of big business, much the same way George Bush has kowtowed to the petrochemical industry.
The problem of obesity isn't unique to the UK. I think the figures for the America is something 30% of the population are clinically obese.
Is it the disease of western culture? Are we all going to have to shop at Big 'n' Beautiful from now on? Will I have man boobs by the time I'm forty?
You decide...