New Sky Sport commercial in Italy offends Vatican - Part 1 translation

Sky Sports commercial in Italy on Youtube. Framed by Antonia Scott

With about 95 per cent of Italy's population Roman Catholic and with arguably about just as many football fans, coupling parables with footballs to promote Sky sports to the Italian masses probably seemed like a good idea at the time.

However, the Vatican has expressed outrage at the latest series of commercials released by Sky Sport with its slogan: “Solo su Sky lo sport fa miracoli. Beato chi si abbona”, "Miracles only happen on Sky Sport. Blessed are those who subscribe". View here.

The first commercial of the series, seen above, features footballer Ambrosini, from Milan and footballer Zarate from Lazio catching footballs with nets from a small fishing boat. The scene refers to the well known Parables of Jesus, found in the gospels, which are a key part of the teachings of Jesus. The particular parable acted out refers to the Parable of Drawing in the Net, which is apparently about the final judgment. In the parable the fishermen separate the edible from inedible fish caught in the net in a similar way to how the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous according to the gospel of Matthew.

Following this parable is the miracle of “live pause”. Acted out by young football fans and footballer Eto'o from Inter Milan, this "miracle" is not to be found in the bible but instead refers to the Sky function of being able to pause in real time while watching a game live.   

The final part of the first advertisement features footballer great Totti, from Roma. Today Totti, does arguably have an almost godlike status in Italy as he captained the Italian Football team to victory in the 2006 World Cup. In this advertisement Totti has been “saintified” into a statue that sweats. While sightings of statues that weep tears, blood, or oils have been reported all over the world and often associated with miraculous healing in most cases upper levels of the Roman Catholic church have dismissed these claims.

While dismissing weeping statues, the Vatican is not dismissing the new Sky commercial without comment. According to a site called progress online Cardinal Ersilio Tonini has said "È una gravissima mancanza di rispetto. Associare la religione al concetto di vendita e acquisto insito in una pubblicità è contro la dignità. E se perdiamo questo rispetto, come facciamo a insegnare i giusti valori ai più giovani?"

"It is a grave act of disrespect. Associating religion with the concept of sales and insistance to purchase is not dignified. If we lose this respect how can we teach our children the right values?"

In response, Sky, which is owned by the Murdochs, said it wasn't their intension to offend with this advertisement, but only to, 

"fare riferimenti al patrimonio religioso che, insieme al calcio, si divide le domeniche degli italiani".

"refer to the heritage of religion that, together with football, makes up Sundays for Italians.”

That's two strikes for the Murdoch group in the last month.

First the British government, celebrities and general public over the phone hacking scandal and now the Vatican and religious Italians. While being cross examined by the British Parliamentary Committee seems tough enough, if there's one group of people I'd least like to be judged by it'd be those guys in cloaks at the Vatican, those who are the closest to the one 95 per cent of Italians believe will make the final judgment in the end.

For a translation of the second part of this commercial visit this blog.

For a translation of the third part of this commercial visit this blog.

If you like this you may also like...

Drying clothes verses watering plants - a domestic battle in downtown Milan

Washing hanging in laudry friendly city Rome. Photo by Antonia Scott.

So here's the thing. In Italy the majority of people live in apartments - one on top of the other.

Growing up in Australia I'm used to living in houses with backyards and washing lines so my apartment requirements in Italy have always included a balcony for a slice of open air and most importantly, somewhere to sundry my washing.

There are picturesque zones in Italy where washing hangs freely from long lines that extend from one end of your apartment to the other. Often accessed via a window with fresh green shutters and a pulley system that circulates the line around allowing for all your colourful garments to blow in the breeze drying under the sun's care.

However, in cities like Milan this rainbow of laundry neck lacing your building is less frequent. In fact, I am the only apartment on my side of the block where you can find a load of washing drying from  a mobile line attached to the outside of my balcony. My neighbours have similar structures but tend to use them about once a week for their bigger items like sheets and tablecloths. Instead of laundry their balconies are full of cascading vines and beautiful bright flowers.

While perplexed over where everyone else is drying their washing, surely not inside or worst still in a dryer in such wonderful weather, I carried on drying freely outdoors, my only fears: random bird droppings and the shaking of floor rugs from the apartment above (both of which have only occurred a few times in the last six months - thankfully).

That was until this morning. After carefully putting out a load of fresh bright whites I was horrified to see water cascading down from the balcony above soiling my laundry.

I ran out calling to the neighbour above "Excuse me! Excuse me!" I called up while grappling with the heavy line of laundry trying to lift it and pull it away from the dirty sludge falling from the pot plants above.

An older woman's face popped up over the balcony above, annoyed at me!

"It's just water!" she called out as the water from her pot plants that hang over the balcony spilled over dribbling soil down as it went.

"It's not just water!" I called up, at that moment more in shock that she wasn't apologising than at her ridiculous self serving rational.

"You need to look down before you water your plants!" I called up, irritation returning but all the time trying to remind myself that courtesy is different in Italy to what it's like in Australia, America and the UK. Jumping the queue in Italy or parking your bike in the middle of a supermarket entrace obstructing entry for everyone else, is not done to be intensionally rude, it's just done as in this country courtesy rules don't apply to these two activities. So jump the queues and park your bike whereever you like and noone will be offended.

Anyway, back to my encounter with my nemice neighbour.

So, when I suggested she look down before watering her plants she responded with a pearler: "You always have your washing out!",

Uh! A cardinal sin: neighbour always drys washing.

I almost laughed before I realised she was deadly serious. Apparently, I had offended her and perhaps other neighbours by often drying my washing outside.

Irritation now reached anger. A few expletives ran freely from my mouth (swearing in Italian iss so much easier than speaking) and moved my washing inside.

So while the sun streams through my balconiesdwindows my washing is indoors. Instead of a few hours it will take at least a day to dry. The additional load which I washed this morning will now have to sit for a day in my machine before there is space to put it out to dry, or rather put it "in" to dry.

But the good news is my neighbours plants have been watered without being moved onto her balcony as a courtesy for her neighbours who may want to use their balconies without getting covered in wet dirt.

Either my neighbour is exactly what my earlier expletives suggested and my first nemice in Milan or I've missed some hidden laundry law here. If the law is anything like the Sky antennae law - we can't access Sky as a Sky antenna on the roof is thought to be aesthetically displeasing - then I'll be sure to let you know.

Australia swaps people like cars - international disgrace



Julia Gillard (bottom right) with family around the time she immigrated to Australia in the 60s. Photo from Eight Women Around the World. Framed by Antonia Scott.



Asylum seekers in Australia today. Photo from the Telegraph. Framed by Antonia Scott.

As far as I know there are only two types of situations where the "swap" of innocent human beings is permitted in today's civilised society.

One involves uber rich footballers who voluntarily partake in swapping from one club to the other regardless of geographic boundaries and the other involves criminals trafficking human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation or forced labour. The latter, where the participants are not volunteers, is illegal.

So how is it that a few people in government in Australia and Malaysia can legally engage in human being swapping? According to this new arrangement that is inhumanly referred to as the "swap deal" Prime Minister Julia Gillard will send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia and accept 4,000 verified refugees in return. Could they have simply confused a human being swap with a car swap? Surely, there's been some kind of mistake? 

According to PM Gillard, the swapping has been designed to send a message to asylum seekers that they should not risk their lives in the hope of having their claims processed in Australia.

Surely, she has missed the point? Human beings don't risk their lives and the lives of their children fleeing countries on small boats because they hope to have their claims processed. Surely she must know that many are fleeing war torn countries, famines, human torture, rape and critical poverty stricken conditions and have no other choice but to flee. For many there lives are already at risk, which is why they risk their lives in the hope of saving themselves. 

Ironically, PM Gillard is herself an immigrant from Wales. I find it interesting that an immigrant can take such a strong stand against immigrants. If Julia Gillard hadn't been allowed to immigrate to Australia she obviously would not be its current PM. So ironically it is the immigrant who in the end expels the immigrant.

A classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Sure, there is a difference between legal and illegal immigrants, the criteria for which seems to change over time depending on the economic needs of a country. But in times like these it does make you wonder why someone like Julia Gillard was allowed to immigrate into the country, to be educated and prosper, while someone of a different origin is not. 

Apparently, one of the reasons Julia Gillard's parents decided to immigrate to Australia was that when Julia was younger she suffered from bronchopneumonia and the doctor advised that a warmer climate would help Julia recover from this treatable condition.

In this case there are unaccompanied children, children whose parents have sent them off on boats, with a high risk of never seeing them again, in the hope that they will make it to Australia and a better future. Arguably those fleeing deadly conditions for themselves or their children should be priortised over those who are fleeing bad weather in the UK?

Undeniably, immigration is a complex issue but isn't that what we have PMs for? To tackle and solve complex systems and processes like immigration. How is "swapping" 800 innocent adults and children, some unaccompanied, with Malaysia, playing with their whole lives, going to deliver an improved immigration system in Australia? Why should people, who have already suffered horrendous trials that most of us will thankfully never have to experience in our lives, suffer more because Australian and Malaysian politics can't do their jobs properly?
 

Malaysia, Australia's human swapping buddy, has not even signed the international conventions on refugees. Additionally, the new policy does not concur with the United Nation's practice of allowing asylum seekers to be processed in the country in which they arrive.

According to PM Gillard it's suppose to "stop people smugglers". But according to the dictionary "to smuggle" is to bring in or take out illicitly (not sanctioned by custom or law). So isn't that exactly what Australia and Malaysia are doing in the eyes of the United Nations - people smuggling?

Shame Julia, that you do govern Australia with the insight from your personal experience. Australia saved your health and provided you with opportunity to become Australia's first female PM. Yet, you impose laws which stop Australia from providing the same sanctuary and opportunities that you and most Australians (as we are all immigrants except for the Aboriginies) have benefitted from, to others in desperate need.

Who knows one of the children you swap back to Malaysia could have one day become PM of Australia and introduced the comprehensive immigration system that you have failed to deliver. One which we could all be proud of instead of hanging our heads in international disgrace.

Union Jack trend in Italy.

Union Jack trend in Italy. Framed by Antonia Scott.

So California and I were out today shopping during the final moments of the summer sales in Milan and started talking about national emblems and symbols in fashion.

So here's the thing, in Italy the Union Jack flag and pretty much anything Londonish eg: Big Ben, Westminster, Notting Hill is super cool. For instance I've seen the Union Jack flag on jumpers, jeans, t-shirts, scarves, undies, belts, handbags and mobile phone covers. I've even seen it on the side of scooters and helmets.

While London may be seen as a "cool" city to Italians it doesn't quite explain why there seems to be a strong need to plaster oneself in the Union Jack to be on trend.

But for arguments sake (whoever argument is) let's just say right now for Italians the Union Jack is cool just as the Brazilian flag and colours were "cool" for the Brits in around 2003. What happens if you are a Brit in Italy today or were a Brazilian in London in 2003. Would you still think it was cool and on trend?

According to me and California the answer is "no". I'm technically from the UK (I'm part Scottish) and I don't think it's cool to wear the Union Jack. Likewise, California doesn't think it's cool wearing a jersey with the USA flag emblazed across the chest.

However, we were in accordance with the notion that there were times and places where we would wear such national paraphernalia - namely the Olympics, world cup and/or the Eurovision song contest.

But we would never grace the streets of the world's fashion capital wearing our own or someone else's flag. It's just not cool.

Not only is it not cool in some instances it is boarder line offensive. The other day I saw an Italian woman wearing a large scarf draped over her shoulders with the design and colours of the Union Jack. Now, I'm not sure about the etiquette or customs around the Union Jack but I do know that the Australian flag should only be handled in a particular manner. Around ten years ago there was an outspoken Australian politician Pauline Hanson who draped the Australian flag over her shoulders as part of her publicity campaign. In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Administrative Services said that the Australian flag is supposed to be treated with dignity and respect, not worn like a bath robe.

So while it is still unclear why it is cool it is clear that it is not cool to those who identify most with the said national emblems.

Therefore, for any trend hunters, take note: national emblem fads are unlikely to transcend national boundaries. Despite Italians being known as global trend setters their infactuation with wearing the Union Jack seems unlikely to catch on. No doubt, the English are as unlikely to wear a Union Jack as a fashion statement as they are to wear the Italian flag or, dare I say it, the French one.

If you like this you may also like...

Why friends and nemice (enemies)?

One tricky thing about being an Internationista and always moving around is the establishment of new friends.

Over the years I've experienced the pitfalls and pinnacles of the friend finding affair. I attended one new school where I spent my lunches in the toilet cubicles. The following school I attended I became school vice captain. I made one lifelong friend in my first year of university, two in my second and five in my third. I made loads of friends in America but not so many in London.

The trick I've learnt is that it's all about timing. No hesitating. From the moment you open the door to your new environment the key is to open your mind and friendship vault and go for it.

So these posts are dedicated to all the Internationista friends I make in Milan.

Nemice (enemies in Italian), on the other hand, are as easy to catch as a cold on a London tube when you are the newbie in town (especially in Milan where a mix-matched ensemble is likely to offend).

So these posts are also dedicated to those who I can't call my Internationista friends in attempt to highlight actions which may hamper ones efforts in the quest to make new friends in a foreign land. 

G'Day Bidet! Dirty notions of bidet are passe.

Bidet. Photo from Wikipedia. Framed by Antonia Scott.

Having recently returned to Italy after a few years in London there was one household fixture I was thrilled to be reunited with the Bidet!

The Bidet, which is a french word for pony, apparently based on the notion that one might ride a bidet like they do a pony. Invented in the late 17th Century, the bidet once was located in the bedroom but in the 1900s was moved into the bathroom. As the 1800s bedrooms consisted of basins of water for the sometimes daily wash of hands and face, it would seem a basin that could be sat upon to clean the lower region was a welcomed hygienic advance for those who could afford it.

It's primary function both then and today is the cleaning of the genitals. When accompanying a shower, bath, sink and toilet unit, for me, the bidet is the piece de resistance of hygiene the ammonia icing on the deep clean cake.

Why then for so many of my foreign friends is it seen as a "dirty" fixture and exiled from bathrooms around Australia, the UK and USA?  On a recent first trip to South West Europe my friend confessed that she cringed at the look of the bidets as it reminded her of oral sex.

Interesting, according to a Wikipedia entry, bidets "once served as a practical way for couples to prepare themselves before sex, as well as to rinse themselves afterward". Arguably, the bidet is still used for this purpose and if it is, is this not a good thing? A clean thing? One to be embraced and encouraged in all bathrooms not one to turn ones head away from in disgust?

I just don't get it. What is it about the bidet that makes us non-Europeans smell foul play?

Is it the fact that it looks a little like a toilet so our brain digests it into the potty file? Another Aussie friend of mine once confessed that upon spying her French hotel bathroom she'd been surprised to find a male urinal opposite the toilet and thought it a novelty that her and her boyfriend could both use the lavatory at the same time.

Another had thought it s toilet for children. Once the true identity of the "second" toilet was discovered both friends had crinkled their noses up in disgust at the fixture of filth.

But why?

The bidet is not a toilet. It's more like having an additional wash tub or sink. An extra place to wash whatever you like. Aside from its primary purpose, I've seen children use it for brushing their teeth and even quick baths. I've also seen people use it for washing their feet. At times I even use it as a tub for holding water when I'm cleaning the house or washing my delicates. The end product is always clean.

In some parts of India just water is used to clean below after going to the toilet.  In other parts of the world just toilet paper is used. In boundless bidet countries both concepts are combined to get a cleaner result than ever.

It seems clear that bidet's are clean. And a champion for good personal hygiene. So why do we still think they are so obscene?

Is it some unchecked overhang from past British verses French or American verses French sentiments where each claimed hygiene superiority over the other? Or is it still harboured due to this claim to hygiene superiority between cultures still being rife today.  

For instance, apparently according to the Urban dictionary a "dirty frenchman" is when a man doesn't shave for a couple of days, and there is stubble growth. "I didn't shave this morning. I feel like a dirty frenchman.

I say that our dirty notions of the bidet are passé. It's time we all said "G'day to the bidet". 

Model stops traffic (and a real minicab) in Milan





Model stops traffic in Milan. Photo by Antonia Scott.

   Milan is the one place in the world where tall people feel short and where short people feel... well... short.

Every outing guarantees an encounter of the giant supermodel kind. And today is no exception.

Here's one of the taller than life models stopping traffic (and a real minicab) during filming a commercial or movie right in the heart of Milan.

And while megamodels and minis are not unusual in Milan a mini version of a New York taxi is.

Aside from all the cameras the telltale sign that this is the filming of a commercial or movie is the taxi fare noted on the side door - you can't get anywhere in Milan for 2 euros let alone 2 dollars!

If you like this you may also like...

Wendi Deng right hooks protester to protect Murdoch

Wendi Deng reacts against Murdoch attack. Framed by Antonia Scott

Watch it now on youtube

They say behind every great man there has to be a great woman and lucky for Rupert Mordoch there sure was.

Just minutes before the end of the phone hacking hearing at Westminster involving James and Rupert Murdoch, a protester armed with a shaving foam pie ran and launched it at Rupert Murdoch. While the dark suit clan of men and a few women along with helmetted policemen stood and gasped, Rupert Murdoch's wife, 42 year old Wendi, reacted with superhero speed, launching a Charlie's Angel right hook straight at the male protester, knocking him off to the side before grabbing the foam pie and shoving it back in his face.

In response, Rupert Murdoch reportedly said, "An average afternoon for an 80 year old!"

Rebekah Brooks Arrested For The Colour Of Her Hair?

Rebekah Brooks. Framed by Antonia Scott

Sorry is this the 1400s? The age of the great inquisition where we drowned and burnt redheads over allegations of witchcraft?

On reading and watching reels of footage and articles on the British phone hacking scandal, I've been sickened by the number of times Rebekah Brook's hair colour is mentioned.

In Italy, almost every news report introduces her as the "Red Rebekah Brooks" and a quick look online reveals many mainstream news outlets are behaving in a similar manner.

For instance, a Sky report includes comment from Guardian media commentator, Roy Greenslade, who says in regards to Rebekah's resignation:

"It was the right decision, but it came far too late.

"Rupert Murdoch should have requested her resignation on the day that he discovered she was editor of the News Of The World when Milly Dowler's phone was hacked.

"That revelation was so shocking in and by itself to have warranted her red head on a platter."

Meanwhile on the flip side of the world, the Sydney Morning Herald refers to her as the "fiery redhead" though from all accounts I've seen of her so far through this scandal her demeanor has been anything but "fiery". In fact, contradictorily, in front of cameras she has been the very image of composure amidst the chaos: smiling and controlled at all times.

The Independent and the Belfast Telegraph are currently running a story on the top 10 actresses that could play Rebekah Brooks listing a long line of Hollywood "fiery redheads" who could play the part.

While The Guardian opinion writers are starting their pieces with:

"Rebekah Brook's cardinal sin

"It isn't her hair, charm or connections that have defined her. Brooks is the archetypal tabloid editor".

The opinion piece is accompanied by a profile photo of Rebekah with a photo caption that starts: "A red-top editor..." Just in case you didn't realise she had red hair from her photo.

The Guardian is also happily printing opinion peices that draw parallels between the scandal and the movie Citizen Kane:

"With his  (Murdoch's) stubborn refusal to fire News International's beleaguered chief executive Rebekah Brooks in mind, I am reminded of that moment in the movie when Orson Welles (as Charles Foster Kane) dies while holding a snow globe and uttering a single word: "Rosebud".

"So, when his time comes, I wonder whether a chastened Murdoch will replicate that scene by also muttering a single word: "Redhead".

Though in this case Rebekah's nickname is not "Redhead".

While the Economics Newspaper is using the word "redhead" as a keyword to optimise site hits, even though they don't seem to have the word in their copy, the coverage gets ever more crass as personal blogs and discussions join the inquisition:

"Rebekah Brooks Finally Resigns! Here's 5 Alternative Careers for the Witch of Wapping"

And there's more. Much more.

So in the midst of international discussion on journalism ethics I'd just like to make the point that the colour of Rebekah's hair is completely irrelevant.

Just as we don't intro. in the following manner: the baldheaded Murdoch, the darkhaired Michelle O'Bama, the greying Hillary Clinton, Rebekah's intro does not need to be linked to the colour of her hair.

To do so not only ignores her professional attributes but also invokes the typical discrimination against redheads that has been around for over 1000 years. By all accounts of the snapshot I've provided above this discriminatory behaviour is still rampant in our society today.

So how about we start to behave a little less medieval and prosecute Rebekah Brooks over the allegations of phone hacking at News of the World not the colour of her hair.

If you like this you might also like...