For atreides ;) - Pink angers Australian government

[Keit]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6196691.stm

The Australian government has challenged US pop star Pink's campaign to boycott the country's wool.
Pink said the practice of "mulesing", or cutting flesh from lambs' rear ends without anaesthetic, was "sadistic".

But Australian Treasurer Peter Costello said the practice stopped sheep dying of maggot infestations and was humane.

He questioned Pink's expertise, saying: "Pink is entitled to her views but at the end of the day would Australia's farmers take advice from Pink?"

Costello said that that mulesing was a better option than leaving sheep to die.

"Sheep are at risk of being fly-blown and dying... it's not a pretty sight," he said. "Mulesing is not a pretty sight either but it's a damn sight more humane than letting a sheep die fly-blown in a paddock."

Pink video

Pink claims that Australian sheep farmers are cruel in a video she's made for pressure group People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (Peta).

The mini-film on the Peta website features lambs undergoing mulesing, which is illegal in the UK.

Pink also condemns live sheep exports from Australia to the Middle East and Asia.

The singer says: "I am calling on consumers to check labels on sweaters before buying them, and if they're merino wool or made in Australia, to leave them on the racks."

Peta argues that humane alternatives to mulesing are available, but Australian farmers say it is necessary to prevent many slow and painful deaths.

Australian actress Toni Collette and Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde have previously campaigned with Peta to end mulesing.

Celebrity support

It's not the first time that Pink has flown the flag for Peta. She's previously written to Prince William to chide him for fox-hunting.

The singer also claims to have turned down an invitation to sing at the prince's birthday party because of his participation in other blood sports.

Other Peta supporters include actors Pamela Anderson and Sadie Frost, singer Moby and music mogul and X Factor star Simon Cowell.

 

[Ryan]

That's the worst thing she could find to criticize Australia about? She obviously hasn't been looking that closely...

She should boycott Australian wheat products for the industry's bribes, double-dealing and hypocrisy over Iraq.

 

[Rabelais]

That's the worst thing she could find to criticize Australia about? She obviously hasn't been looking that closely...

Absolutely. The Howard regime's destabilization of East Timor could use a little light of day. The vast offshore oil reserves, there, being the prime target. With the support of the US zio-cons and the Murdoch media, Howard seems to be creating the empire of Oceana in the south western Pacific. Timor could be the first stepping stone to Jakarta. New Guinea's mineral wealth is probably in the cross hairs too.

In the meantime, wherever the followers of Islam are in close proximity to natural resource wealth, the clash of civilizations seems to find fertile ground for meddling from the partners of the coalition of the willing. Australia is slowly morphing into one giant Diego Garcia and a grand staging point for the extension of globalist empire hegemony in that corner of the world.

The Peta people's goals might be better served with some fund raisers to buy those ranchers some sheep dip. Pink could probably talk Bono and Geldolf into backing some concerts for the cause. The celebrities seem to be lining up for a potential Sheep Aid Tour with live worldwide pay per view TV coverage and operators standing by to take your donations. This could all be preceded by a heavily promoted release of a full ensemble recording of We Are The Wool.

OK, I'll quit now. I am getting carried away.

 

[Ruth]

That's the worst thing she could find to criticize Australia about? She obviously hasn't been looking that closely...

She should boycott Australian wheat products for the industry's bribes, double-dealing and hypocrisy over Iraq.

I don't think Pink has the kind of 'influence' that these people do. I always thought that this business with the Wheat Board, was entirely a bit too 'convenient', like they're just trying to go after and/or ruin an Australian export market. Its all perfectly legal. Its just how big business operates and where timing is everything.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/iraqis-sue-awb-for-millions/2006/12/23/1166290780780.html

Iraqis sue AWB for millions
December 23, 2006 - 4:22PM

Embattled wheat exporter AWB has been dealt another blow, with Iraqi citizens seeking massive damages from the company for its role in the oil-for-food kickbacks scandal.

A civil lawsuit, filed in a US court today on behalf of northern Iraqi people, seeks $A255 million in damages from AWB in conjunction with action against European bank BNP Paribas.

The suit claims the companies cheated Iraqis out of humanitarian supplies between 1999 and 2003 by funnelling money into Saddam Hussein's coffers instead of putting it towards food and medical supplies through the UN oil-for-food program.

The legal action continues the fallout from the Cole inquiry, which found AWB paid more than $A290 million in illicit kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's former regime in exchange for access to Iraqi wheat markets.

AWB Limited today vowed to fight the legal action, which it described as ill-conceived.

"It would be an ill-conceived action, and if it's brought to fruition it would be vigorously defended," company spokesman Peter McBride said.

The federal government said today it had not been formally told of the lawsuit but was confident in AWB's competency as a wheat exporter.

"We haven't had any confirmation of it happening at an official level," a spokesman for Trade Minister Warren Truss said.

"AWB will continue to sell wheat around the world and it will do that very well."

The legal action comes just a day after the Australian government broke AWB's 67-year monopoly over wheat exports by granting export permits to two rival companies.

Labor warned the lawsuit would place added costs on AWB and its shareholders, even if it was successful in defending the case.

"It's going to have an impact anyway because they're going to have to defend it; and that means costs to the shareholders," opposition trade spokesman Simon Crean said.

"Wheat growers, and especially shareholders, would be concerned by this.
"If it gets up, there will be a loss to shareholders."

Mr Crean said the federal government should have been more closely monitoring the integrity of the oil-for-food program, aimed at helping Iraqi civilians.

"It's highlighting, in my view, just how dramatically deficient and negligent the government was in relation to this program," he said.

"What was used to pay bribes should have gone towards food.

"We should have been ensuring that the money went to more food and more medical supplies, not trucking fees (for Saddam's regime)."

AWB is now banned from selling wheat to Iraq.

Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran has granted Wheat Australia permission to export to the country, one of Australia's most important markets.

Mr McGauran declined to comment on the civil case against AWB today.

Yesterday, he approved applications from Wheat Australia and CBH to export a total of 800,000 tonnes of wheat to Iraq and Indonesia.

 

[Ryan]

I always thought that this business with the Wheat Board, was entirely a bit too 'convenient', like they're just trying to go after and/or ruin an Australian export market. Its all perfectly legal.

I don't follow. What do you mean by convenient? Who are 'they'?

 

[Ruth]

I don't follow. What do you mean by convenient? Who are 'they'?

Those who benefit. Sometimes commercial interests, sometimes political, sometimes both. They are also known as the PTB, or at least they attact these people.

Reminds me a little of how Osama gets 'wheeled' out every time the US administration wants something. Convenient. Maybe certain sections of the global ecconomy just wanted the Australian share of the wheat market. There must be a fair bit of money in it afterall and it does keep some sections of other political communities 'happy'.

That's how come some peoples commercial 'wrong doings' gets supressed, whilst others gets wheeled out, just in time for another interest to benefit.

Money is a HUGE motivator, or so it seems.