It's the Pakistani equivalent of the Price is Right meets Jerry Springer. But instead of new televisions, the host is giving away...babies. Yep, you read right. In a bid to boost ratings during peek Ramadan viewing, controversial presenter Aamir Liaquat Hussain has been handing childless couples abandoned infants.
According to an article in the National Post, two babies have so far been doled out to audience members as part of Islam’s holy month celebrations, which some are interpreting as a holy "gift."
Described as a "heady mix of charity, piety and kitsch," Hussain's show may be a hit with viewers, but is it actually ethical?
“This is the beautiful girl who was thrown on a pile of garbage by somebody. See how beautiful and innocent she is,” he said in a recent broadcast, holding a baby girl up to the cameras.
A second baby was subsequently presented to a couple by a representative of Chhipa Welfare Association. It's not clear how or if the 'winning' parents were vetted.
“It just speaks to the commercialization of everything in Pakistani society including religion,” said Karachi-based writer Bina Shah. “And giving away the baby stunt on television was the worst violation of media ethics I can think of.”
Of course abandoned babies are a sad reality in Pakistan. Many are left to die in dumpsters.
But is giving them away, in a televised spectacle to boot, the proper forum to address the issue? Or is Hussain preying on the vulnerable at a time of religious fervour?
A huge aspect of Facebook's allure, at least at its inception, was being able to track down (optional: stalk) ex partners. But is it advisable or even healthy to keep your former significant others in your social media circles? According to a writer at Slate, the answer is yes, but with it comes with a very large caveat—if and only if the exes in question weren't the truly toxic variety.
Personally, given that the likes of Facebook prevent our past from ever truly receding, I tend to think sleeping dogs (ahem, exes) should lie. After all, exes are exes for a reason. Though we may be deeply curious about what they're up to, keeping them in the forefront of our internet activity is potentially hazardous, as the myriad ex-avoidance apps—Killswitch, Ex Lover Blocker, Eternal Sunshine—will attest.
Even if there are no hard feelings, that little ember of attraction often remains a kindling distinct possibility on Facebook. And as this research proves, cyber-based dalliances can be just as emotionally damaging as the ones that take place face to face, in the flesh.
Do you keep in touch with your exes via social media? Why/why not?
Health Canada, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (US CPSC) and Kids II Inc. have jointly recalled Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper Sun Toy, manufactured prior to November 2011, with the model number 90564.
The activity centres affected by the recall have the following date codes on the back of the blue seat pad label:
OD0, OE0, OF0, OG0, OH0, OI0, OJ0, OK0, OL0, OA1, OB1, OC1, OD1, OE1, OF1, OG1, OH1, OI1, OJ1, OK1
The sun attachment on the jumper may rebound forcefully, causing a potential injury.
In the United States, 100 incidents have been reported, including 59 injuries, and 2 in Canada—from bruises, lacerations to the face. A 7-month-old boy in the U.S. suffered a linear skull fracture, and an adult's tooth was chipped.
Customers are advised to stop using the jumper immediately and contact Kids II for a replacement toy attachment.
For further information, customers can contact Kids II toll-free at 1-877-325-7056 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, or visit the company's website.
Between May 2010 and May 2013, approximately 8,500 of the jumpers were sold in Canada and 400,000 in the United States.
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