Big Bother…Ofcom receives 1,225 complaints about racist abuse and Parliament receives 1 from Keith Vaz

Read more UK TV and Radio News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from parliament.uk See also article from  guardian.co.uk

Keith Vaz has had a whinge about Big Brother via an Early Day Motion in Parliament. It has only attracted 5 signatures so far.EDM 382: Racism in the Big Brother House That this House: strongly condemns recent abusive comments made in the Big Brother house in the Channel 5 television programme Big Brother, some of which have been perceived as racist; notes, in particular, that a total of 1,225 complaints were made by members of the public following those comments, 1,108 of which followed one specific, particularly severe comment; further notes that Big Brother has been warned in the past about racist comments made in the Big Brother house; and calls on Ofcom to ensure that Big Brother enforces its rules more effectively.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3…Recommended by Keith Vaz in yet another parliamentary EDM

Read more UK Parliament Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from parliament.uk Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is available at UK Amazon

Early day motion 3014: VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES (No. 2) Primary sponsor: Keith Vaz That this House is reminded of the consequences of the ineffectual Pan European Game Information (PEGI) classification system for video games following the testimony of Anders Breivik about the tragic events in Norway in July 2011; notes that in his submission of evidence to the court Breivik describes how he trained for the attacks using the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare; is disturbed that Breivik used the game to help hone his target acquisition and the suggestion that the simulation prepared him for the attacks; is concerned that PEGI as a classification system can only provide an age-rating and not restrict ultra-violent content; recognises that in an era of ever-more sophisticated and realistic game-play more robust precautions must be taken before video games are published; and calls on the Government to provide for closer scrutiny of aggressive first-person shooter video games. Signed by: Bottomley, Peter Conservative Party Worthing West Hopkins, Kelvin Labour Party Luton North McDonnell, John Labour Party Hayes and Harlington Russell, Bob Liberal Democrats Colchester Vaz, Keith Labour Party Leicester East

Fear of PEGI…Keith Vaz has a parliamentary knock at PEGI games ratings

Read more UK Parliament Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from parliament.uk

Keith Vaz has been casting doubt on PEGI ratings suggesting that these require further government scrutiny As usual Vaz has voiced his concerns via an Early Day Motion 2761 in Parliament saying: That this House notes that: Tiga, the trade body representing independent UK video games developers, has come out in support of targeted tax relief for the games industry; encourages tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises for its role in generating and safeguarding jobs, especially in these current difficult times; remains concerned that regulation of the video games industry is lacking in comparison to other industries; is anxious that the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) classification of video games is taken as seriously as the British Board of Film Classification by both retailers and shoppers; wishes the public was more aware of the risks to children and young adults; and calls on the Government to place more scrutiny on the PEGI classification system. The only signature supporting the motion so far is sponsor Mike Hancock.

Indian Tirade Mission…Keith Vaz has another knock at the Top Gear Christmas Special about a trade mission to India

Read more UK Parliament Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from parliament.uk

Keith Vaz has had another knock at the Top Gear Christmas Special that featured a few jokey comments about India. Vaz has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament saying: That this House is deeply concerned by recent events which have served to undermine the excellent relationship between India and the UK; notes that the Top Gear India Christmas Special, featuring the unhelpful comments of Jeremy Clarkson and Dow Chemicals’ sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics in particular have had a very negative reaction in India; is concerned that Indian student applications to UK universities are falling; is disappointed by Britain’s failure to secure the fighter jet contract from India despite the efforts of successive defence ministers; and calls on the Government to re-energise this vital, special and enduring relationship which ought to be one of the closest and most beneficial in the world.

Banging On…Keith Vaz calls for a debate on violent computer game censorship

Read more UK Parliament Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from theyworkforyou.com

Business of the House House of Commons 1st December 2011 Keith Vaz (Leicester East, Labour) Could we have a debate next week about the harmful effects of violent video games? Last week, the university of Indiana published research that showed that regularly playing those games resulted in physical changes in the brain. At a time when parents are thinking of purchasing video games for Christmas, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that it is important to hold a debate on this matter? This is not about censorship—it is about protecting our children. George Young (Leader of the House of Commons, House of Commons; North West Hampshire, Conservative) I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, and I know that this is an issue that he has pursued with vigour for some time. I cannot promise a debate next week. Home Office questions, I think, will be held on 12 December, but in the meantime I will draw his concern to the attention of the Home Secretary. Last week Game Politics pointed out that the research cited was in fact supported by the Center for Successful Parenting, Indiana. This is in fact a nutter group with a website that is designed for parents to learn about the negative side effects of violent video. See article about the cited research from melonfarmers.co.uk.

Keith Vaz…’Concerns’ about nutter MPs spending too much time whingeing about video games

Read more TV and Radio News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from eurogamer.net

MP Keith Vaz appeared on the BBC Radio Three show, hosted by Ben Jackson, on the subject of the amount of time that children spend playing video games. Vaz contributed: The internet can be used as a force for good and video games can provide the opportunity for people, young people to be able enjoy themselves. But the concern is the length of time they are spending on the internet and playing video games and also, and perhaps more importantly, the fact that those video games that have adult content are being seen by those under the age of 18. The problem with the gamers is that they go berserk any time anyone says anything about these video games as if they were the Holy Grail of entertainment. I cite as my evidence a Mr Miyamoto, the creator of one of the greatest video games ever – Super Mario, Vaz added, who suggested in an article in The Times on 22nd April that young people should drop their joypads and venture out into the sunlight once in a while. If someone like that can say it then it is something that we need to be concerned about. Vaz revealed that his two teenage children have game consoles and I’m constantly telling my son to come off of his machine. But it is a bit of a battle and one doesn’t want to upset one’s children, he said, especially when they’re teenagers ha ha ha ha.

Time Out…Keith Vaz has another minor knock at video games

Read more UK Parliament Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from parliament.uk

Early day motion 1807: Video Games and Young People Primary sponsor: Keith Vaz That this House welcomes the call by Shigero Miyamoto, creator of Super Mario, for people to drop their joypads and venture out into the sunlight once in a while; recognises that video games have addictive properties; notes that children flourish when they undertake a variety of extra-curricular experience; further notes the current Hungarian EU Presidency priority of protecting minors from harmful audiovisual media content in media legislation; is concerned about the potential impact of violent video games on those under 18; and calls on the Government to ensure the purchase of video games by those under 18 is carefully controlled and that parents are encouraged to limit the amount of time children spend on video games. Signed by 11 MPs: Campbell, Ronnie Labour Party Blyth Valley1 Caton, Martin Labour Party Gower Clark, Katy Labour Party North Ayrshire and Arran Corbyn, Jeremy Labour Party Islington North Dobbin, Jim Labour Party Heywood and Middleton Hancock, Mike Liberal Democrats Portsmouth South Hopkins, Kelvin Labour Party Luton North Meale, Alan Labour Party Mansfield Simpson, David Democratic Unionist Party Upper Bann Tredinnick, David Conservative Party Bosworth Vaz, Keith Labour Party Leicester East

Vaz Strikes Out…Keith Vaz raises another anti-games EDM after a trivial newspaper comment about the Malmo gunman

Read more UK Parliament Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from liberalconspiracy.org See also EDM from edmi.parliament.uk

Keith Vaz has widened his blame game in Swedish territory. He has posted the following Early Day Motion before the British parliament VIDEO GAMES AND SHOOTING 27.10.2010 That this House notes with concern that the recent race shootings in Malmo, Sweden have been associated with the violent video game Counter-Strike; further notes that the internet-based, first-person shooting game that pits a counter-terrorist team against terrorists was previously banned in Brazil and in 2007 was associated with US College Campus massacres; recognises the potential impact of violent video games on those under 18 years; and calls on the Government to ensure the purchase of video games by those under 18 years is controlled and that parents are provided with clear information on the violent content of certain games. The background is that police in the Swedish city of Malmo have confirmed that an as yet unnamed 38 year old man has been arrested in connection with a series of gun attacks on people with ethnic minority backgrounds. Prior to the arrest, local police had suspected that more than a dozen unsolved shootings over the last year, in which one person died and eight more were wounded, may have been the work of lone gunman. The man arrested at the weekend has now been charged with one count of murder and seven attempted murders. So how do we get from racist nutjob shooting at the local migrant population to a three-year old video game? It appears to have been The Times that decided to have a bit of dabble in stirring up a faux moral panic by quoting the opinions of a Mr Ahmad al-Mughrabi in its coverage of the story… I am sure that this is down to some crazy kid who plays that sniping game Counterstrike all day. I don’t believe in the lone Nazi theory So who is our mysterious Mr al-Mughrabi? Is he a police officer? A city official? A representative of the Swedish Justice Ministry? No, as far as anyone has managed to ascertain, to date, he’s just some bloke that The Times picked off the street at random and that’s all the evidence that Keith Vaz needs to put down an EDM and start banging on about violent video games, yet again.

Publicity Seeking…Keith Vaz submits another games related Early Day Motion

Read more UK Parliament Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from edmi.parliament.uk

Early Day Motion EDM 340 Submitted by Keith Vaz That this House notes with grave concern that despite the 18 rating that the most violent video games carry, some children and teenagers are still able to acquire them; congratulates the work of Mothers Against Violence with regard to their campaign to increase parental awareness of violent games; urges the Government to support the promotion of parental awareness of the violent content of video games which are 18-rated; and calls on the Government to urge Pan-European Game Information to take further steps to highlight the inappropriate content of these games for under 18s.

Parliament Playing a Nutter Game…Keth Vaz retains the chair of Parliament Home Affairs Committee

Read more UK Parliament Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from timesonline.co.uk

Keith Vaz who so notably blames all the worlds ills on computer games has retained his chairmanship of the Parliament Home Affairs Committee. A fascinating achievement for an opposition MP who often gets linked with sleaze. The Times has a knock with: Keith Vaz, the MP for Leicester who was suspended from the Commons in 2002 after the Standards and Privileges Committee found that he had given them misleading information – has been made chairman of the Home Affairs committee. The Daily Mail put together quite a piece on Vaz: Truth about Keith Vaz and crooked lawyer: Sleaze scandal as Labour MP tries to take charge of crucial committee Controversial Labour MP Keith Vaz was at the centre of a sleaze scandal last night after bombshell evidence emerged of his favour-for-a-favour relationship with a corrupt lawyer. A Daily Mail investigation has found that Shahrokh Mireskandari treated the MP’s wife Maria Fernandes and their young daughter to a weekend jolly in Rome – just weeks before Mr Vaz intervened in a potentially ruinous court case on behalf of the solicitor. …See article from dailymail.co.uk