Monsanto & Co. begins 2012 in court - again

The Charleston Daily Mail, 27 December 2011:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Several hundred Nitro area residents gathered Tuesday at the Charleston Marriott as attorneys attempted to forge a mediation in a class action lawsuit against the former Monsanto Company.

Representatives of the West Virginia Supreme Court mass litigation department and the attorney's law firms would not allow media access to any of the plaintiffs, saying those settlement discussions were confidential.

The case is scheduled to begin trial Jan. 3 in Putnam Circuit Court before specially-appointed Circuit Judge Derek Swope. If a settlement is not approved before then, jury selection is expected to begin next week and the trial is predicted to take up to six months.

The mass-litigation mediation involving 193 cases of alleged personal injury and wrongful death is being presided over by Circuit Judges Booker T. Stephens of McDowell County and Circuit Judge Alan D. Moats of Taylor County…..

The Charleston Gazette, 3 January 2012:

As jury selection began Tuesday in the class-action lawsuit seeking medical monitoring for those who may have been exposed to hazardous chemicals produced at Monsanto's former Nitro plant, the judge expanded a gag order on the lawyers prohibiting comments to the media.

"No lawyer is to discuss anything about the case," said Mercer County Circuit Court Judge Derek Swope. "If asked, you are to have no comment, end of story."

Swope's comments came after Monsanto lawyers filed a motion Tuesday asking him to hold lead plaintiff attorney Stuart Calwell in contempt of court for comments he made concerning the case to the Gazette and other local media outlets.

The judge did not immediately rule on the motion, but indicated he would hear arguments and rule later.

Swope was appointed to hear the case after Putnam Circuit Judge O.C. Spaulding was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and retired at the end of the year…….

Background

Court rejects Monsanto’s attempt to hide behind government contractor defence, 28 September 2011.

* This post is part of North Coast Voices' effort to keep Monsanto's blog monitor (affectionately known as Mr. Monsanto) in long-term employment.

What looks suspiciously like crudely constructed Japanese propaganda concerning the Forest Rescue protesters boarding of Shonan Maru 2

The YouTube legend accompanying the two videos shown below state that they were created by the Institute of Cetacean Research:

These videos were provided by Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR)

The first video shows boats launched by Sea Shepherd's vessel MY Bob Barker (between 4-6 January 2012) engaging with the Yushin Maru No. 3 which forms part of the Japanese Government-sponsored whaling fleet operating in the Southern Ocean.
Yet it is tiltled Three Australians board Japanese whaling ship.

If the video origin statement is correct, then it is a clumsy attempt by the whaling industry or its supporters to imply that the three Forest Rescue protesters - who boarded the Shonan Maru 2 in waters off Australia's west coast on 7 December 2012 - were involved in a physical confrontation with that ship.

The Australian protesters were many hundreds of miles away from the MY Bob Barker and were not engaged in anything but peaceful protest when they boarded the Shonan Maru 2.


http://youtu.be/GELv0KXv6zA

The second video titled How To Slow Down A Japanese whaling research vessel SS Style attempts to equate the crew of the Bob Barker with Third Reich SS personnel - who ironically were former allies of the Government of Japan during World War II and, presumably much admired by them then.


http://youtu.be/wCHmXkDjE_U

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott gets his industrial relations figures muddled yet again

On 6 January 2012 The Australian reported:

Speaking in Brisbane yesterday, the Opposition Leader said the rate of industrial disputation had increased since the government changed and the Fair Work Act was brought in and it was important the review of the act ordered by Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten addressed these problems.

On the same day The Sydney Morning Herald also reported:

THE crop of industrial disputes across the nation has been described as run of the mill by the Workplace Relations Minister, Bill Shorten.

Mr Shorten said the rate of industrial disputation was far lower in Australia than a decade ago - a claim challenged by the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, who spoke of his pride in the Howard government's record on industrial relations.

In Australia the Federal Coalition Government under Howard was in power between the federal elections of 2 March 1996 and 24 November 2007. The Federal Labor Government under Rudd and Gillard has been in power from 3 December 2007 to the present day.

Work Choices was enacted over the period 14 December 2005 to 27 March 2006 and the Fair Work Act was enacted over the period 7 April to 26 May 2009.

So who is right, Abbott or Shorten? I am giving the point to Shorten.

Firstly because there was an equal rise and fall in the annual instances of industrial relations disputes in the four years since Labor gained government and disputes only rose in one year out of three since 2009 – Tony Abbott was in error in seeing an increased rate directly related to the 2009 Fair Work Act. Secondly, because Abbott misrepresents industrial relations disputes under the Howard Government - in those eleven years dispute instances randomly rose in five years and randomly fell in six years.

Thirdly, the industrial relations landscape was varied enough between 1996 and 2011 for Shorten’s overall assessment to be accurate.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS):

1996

http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/B66FAAFB13622C15CA25722500073791/$File/63210_1296.pdf

1997

The number of working days lost in 1997 was 528,800, a decrease of 399,700 (43%) from the 1996 calendar year.  The number of disputes  reported in 1997 (446) was 18% less than in 1996, with the number of employees  involved decreasing by 46% to 312,700.

1998

There were 518 industrial disputes reported in Australia in 1998, 71 more than the previous year according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This is the first increase in the number of disputes for a calendar year since 1995.

Nationally the number of disputes (514) and number of employees involved (347,000) increased by 15% and 10% respectively in 1998 compared to the previous year.

1999

There were 717 disputes during 1999, the highest number since 1992 (728). The number of employees involved in industrial disputes (459,900) and working days lost (649,600) were the highest since 1996.

2000

There were 691 disputes during 2000, a decrease of 5% compared with 1999 (731).

The number of employees involved in industrial disputes decreased by 30% to 324,800 during this period.

2001

During the twelve months ended December 2001, there were 675 disputes, 23 less than in the twelve months ended December 2000 (698).

2002

During the twelve months ended December 2002 there were 766 disputes, 91 more than in the twelve months ended December 2001.

2003

During the twelve months ended December 2003, there were 642 disputes, 124 less than in the twelve months ended December 2002.

During the twelve months ended December 2003, there were 439,400 working days lost, 180,400 more than in the twelve months ended December 2002.

2004

During the year ended December 2004, there were 691 disputes, 48 more than in the year ended December 2003.

During the year ended December 2004, there were 379,800 working days lost, 59,600 less than in the year ended December 2003.

2005

During the year ended December 2005, there were 472 disputes, 220 less than in the year ended December 2004.

2006

During the year ended December 2006, there were 202 disputes, 270 less than in the year ended December 2005.  

2007

During the year ended December 2007, there were 135 disputes, 67 less than in the year ended December 2006.

During the year ended December 2007, there were 49,700 working days lost compared with 132,600 in the year ended December 2006.

2008

During the year ended December 2008, there were 177 disputes, 42 more than in the year ended December 2007.

During the year ended December 2008, there were 196,500 working days lost compared with 49,700 in the year ended December 2007.

2009

During the year ended December 2009, there were 236 disputes, 59 more than in the year ended December 2008.

During the year ended December 2009, there were 132,700 working days lost compared with 196,500 in the year ended December 2008.

2010

During the year ended December 2010, there were 227 disputes, 9 less than in the year ended December 2009.

During the year ended December 2010, there were 126,600 working days lost compared with 132,700 in the year ended December 2009.

2011

During the year ended September 2011, there were 197 disputes, 36 fewer than in the year ended September 2010.

During the year ended September 2011, there were 214,400 working days lost compared with 144,100 in the year ended September 2010.**

** December 2011 ABS industrial dispute statistics should be released in March 2012.

Battle of the Blogotariats

In the dying last quarter of 2011 that terrific Australian blog aggregate site, Blogotariat, decided to change its format and content and I’ve been groaning ever since.

Now before you rightly mutter than I’m a geriatric blogger who dislikes change which challenges my ability to read or negotiate a website easily, I have to say I’m not alone in my groaning – Maud up the Street is fair choleric over its metamorphosis into Punch & HuffPo Downunder (or any combination of the commercial media-owned ‘blogs’ you like to name) and she is not the only one.

But never fear, for those who liked the old Blogotariat (which actually promoted Aussie blogs) there is still hope of ol’ Bloggo goodness being read here.

Whale Wars 2012: Forest Rescue boards Japanese vessel Shonan Maru 2 off West Australia coast

Approximate position of Shonan Maru 2 on January 5, 2011
MarineTraffic.com
Click on map to enlarge

Statement from Forest Rescue on January 7, 2011

We have come from the forests of Australia to defend the whales being slaughtered in Australian territorial waters.

We are Australian citizens and we have boarded the Japanese flagged Shonan Maru #2 in Australian territorial waters at a position of (32 degrees zero minutes south and 115 degrees 21 minutes east) We have taken this action of boarding the Shonan Maru #2 to protest the fact that this vessel is part of a whaling fleet that is operating in contempt of the Australian Court and is in Australian waters in defiance of the Australian Federal court ruling and the will of the Australian people.

“We are onboard this ship because our government has failed to uphold its pre-election promise to end whaling in the Southern Ocean.” Said Simon Peterffy.

Forest Rescue has decided to take action to prevent the Shonan Maru #2 from tailing the Steve Irwin back to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Forest Rescue is making a stand to assist Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in their campaign to end illegal whale poaching in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

We are taking this action to remind the Australian government of their obligation to enforce existing laws pertaining to the prohibition of whaling ships in our waters.

We as Forest Rescue are insulted and disappointed in our government for allowing the transit of whale poaching vessels in Australian waters.

Forest Rescue Contact: Michael Montgomery 0451058005

Forest Rescue Media Contact: Amy Flee 0428048632

File photo of the Shonan Maru 2 from Sea Shepherd archives

Watching the watchers watching NSW North Coast concerned citizen groups

It would appear that the Australian Federal Attorney-General Nicola Roxon (like her predecessor) is rather interested in protests which may be occurring around Australia.

Of course that also means that from time to time she is interested in concerned citizens living on the NSW North Coast.

Particularly those who organize and/or attend community meetings, rallies, protest events concerning water and food security - eg. keeping the Clarence River system undiverted and unpolluted, stopping hazardous mining in the upper reaches of the Nymboida River, protecting agricultural land from the negative impacts of coal seam gas mining, saving remnant rainforest and koala habitat from being destoyed by urban or industrial development.

Her department has employed a private surveillance company National Open Source Intelligence G  aka Global Edge Group Pty Ltd or National Open Source Intelligence Centre since 2007 and its current contract (worth est. $16,500 annually) is in effect until 20 June 2012.

This Victorian-based group, allegedly jointly owned by Jody and Amanda Lambden, specializes in the provision of protective security intelligence and actively monitors the Internet, television, radio and print media for its clients. In the case of the Attorney-General’s Department it will supply protest alerts.

Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson, who requested the additional surveillance, has been prompted by energy company lobbying to urge stronger criminal penalties against protests that disrupt critical energy

On its Australian website it states:

NOSIC seeks to identify and provide both information and intelligence on upcoming events in Australia and abroad that require consideration of a visual police presence or implementation of protective security measures.

NOSIC also provide tactical intelligence support in response to spontaneous events and incidents where knowledge of issues can be of use to decision makers to neutralise or minimise disruption.

In 2006-2008 the company had a rather more expensive contract with the Australian Federal Police to monitor the internet communications and websites of anti-war campaigners, environmentalists, animal rights activists and other protest groups.

According to The Age on 7 December 2012:

NOSIC also provides services relating to specific events. These include a $15,400 contract with the AFP for "information services" between October 24 and November 17 last year ....

When monitoring cyberspace it appears to use Queensland-based servers in IP ranges 202.125.32.0 - 202.125.47.255 and 202.148.128.0 - 202.148.159.255.

The group's headquarters is said to be in this residential block in Hewish Street, Croydon, Vic:

* Images from Google Images and The Age

That's it! Kraft's off the menu on Australia Day

At first I thought April Fool’s Day had come early this year, then I remembered that we’re talking about Kraft here.

The company that wants to celebrate Australia Day by defacing an Aussie icon in the lead up to 26^th January 2012.

“VEGEMITE is taking its national iconic status to a whole new level - it's changing its name to "Australia".

Why stop there? How about giving the Eureka Flag a design makeover, rechristening Ned Kelly, banning Sunday barbies and dyeing tap beer pink for the rest of the month?

Drongos!

Internet security on the home computer in 2012

With The Daily Examiner newspaper’s website triggering so many PC threat alerts for a couple of days this week and with a growing number of people on the NSW North Coast now reading much of their daily news online – perhaps it’s time to refresh our memories concerning Internet security:

McAffee 2012 Threat Predictions

Cisco 2011 Annual Security Report

Sophos Security Threat Report 2011  

Classic Aussie Blackboard Advertising

Courtesy of Aunty ABC

Google Maps: Going to Whoop Whoop via Wollongong anyone?

Alerted on 3rd January by @R_Chirgwin Google Maps has to be taking the piss this time: http://t.co/yEZKWRqz, it became obvious that Goggle Maps was having a bit of a 2012 breakdown.

By 6th January the Pacific Highway had virtually disappeared as a desired route to anyway along the NSW east coast:

According to ABC North Coast News:

Drivers travelling between Sydney and the Queensland border are being steered inland.

A Google Maps request for directions between Sydney and Byron Bay recommends an inland route through Armidale and Tenterfield, rather than the more direct Pacific Highway trip.

Transport Management Centre spokesman David Wright says he is aware of the problem.

"The issue we're experiencing is due to a third-party map provider which does have some routing issues at the moment," he says.

The welfare status of live cattle exported to Indonesia

After the May 2011 revelations that all was not well in relation to the export of Australian live cattle to Indonesia and the discovery that instances of animal cruelty were occurring at certain abattoirs, the Federal Government sought to develop a new supply chain assurance framework.

This involved the requirement for ESCAS independent Audits of Indonesian feedlots and abattoirs which held/fattened/ processed Australian cattle.

One has to commend the Gillard Government for this action and note that it was more than the former Howard Government.

However, the usefulness of the framework may be limited due to the lack of transparency within these independent audits (which includes extensive black pen censorship) and, the fact that one of the more common sentences contained in these audits to date is a comfortably fuzzy observation which tells Australian citizens and their parliamentary representatives absolutely nothing about the current welfare status of these live cattle:

Click on image to enlarge

SAI Global Limited and its wholly-owned Indonesian subsidiary PT SAI Global Indonesia which conduct these audits may have to be re-educated as to the dictionary meaning of the words transparent, open and honest.

Perhaps this is something for Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Joe Ludwig and his department head can look into before the situation deteriorates.

View from the far side of American politics

2012 U.S. Presidential Election – Republican Pre-selection Race - Iowa Caucus frontrunners in as few words as possible......

Rick Santorum
Conservative, Catholic, Creationist, Climate Change denier, Included in CREW Most Corrupt Members of Congress list in 2006, Former U.S. Congressman and two-term U.S. Senator sacked by voters in 2006,  Lawyer, Energy industry consultant and former FOX NEWS contracted contributor, Endorsed by Rupert Murdoch, Described Wikileaks as being led by a terrorist, Annual income estimated at around $1 million, 53 years old, IQ debatable.

Mitt Romney

Conservative, Mormon, Pro-Lifer, Climate Change sceptic, More policy positions than the Karma Sutra, One-term Massachusetts Governor 2003-2007 then retired, Former private equity dealer, Biotech multinational Monsanto & Co a former client, Endorsed by John McCain, Refuses to publicly release his tax returns & allegations of tax evasion, Personal wealth estimated at $250 million, 64 years old, IQ debatable.

A Christian view of domestic violence [exit laughing cynically]

The Canberra Times reports on U.S. evangelical creationist Jack Chick's hateful Chick Publications, 4 January 2012:

The pamphlet, entitled Is Allah Like You?, depicts an Islamic man who abuses his wife and son until he converts to Christianity and learns the error of his ways.

I wager that comforts the millions of women and children, down the centuries and up to this very minute, who have suffered domestic violence at the hands of ‘good’ Christian men.

CLC Christian Bookworld Australasia and ELE Trust of Queensland and Word Bookstores of Victoria should be ashamed of selling this arrant nonsense.

Mrs Gaddafi calling for your help

Gawd bless us! It’s supposed to be Gaddafi’s rich missus begging for help in the latest scam email doing the rounds. Pity ‘she’ has such trouble remembering how to spell the family surname……………..

I am Mrs. Safia Farkash Gaddafi the wife of the late Libyan Leader Colonel Muammar Gahdafi, I  have funds worth Million Dollars with a Bank in one of our neighbouring country whose name is withheld for now until we open communication. If you are capable of handling this funds, get back to me with your consent and I will explain in details the procedures and percentage of sharing.

Please note that honesty is the watch word in this transaction. I will require your telephone and I will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith.

I appreciate your timely suggestion and interest over this matter

Best Regards

Mrs. Safia Farkash Gaddafi

Email:safiagaddafi71@gmail.com

"Moggy Musings" [Archived material by Boy the Wonder Cat]

A rumoured whiff of corruption musing: Which Clarence Valley local currently housed at Her Majesty's pleasure is allegedly having his government-subsidised NCCHC social housing held indefinitely for him because he has family connections in the Commonwealth welfare bureaucracy?

A Clarence by-election musing: One young puss who sometimes calls round to flirt with me says her owner thinks his choice on 19th November isn't a matter of Nats or Labor, but rather one of Greens or Labor - Labor or Greens. Wonder how many other voters are giving the Nats a miss?

An economic credibility musing: Word around the catnip patch is that a certain politically incorrect local wag is asking "If the Greeks are such bad economic managers, why would we vote for one in Clarence?"

A still chortling musing: Word is that former Nats MP Steve Cansdell is handing out business cards with the motto Get elected, stay elected.

An it's only a rumour, but... musing: My little canine friend Veronica Lake swears her hoomins heard that when the then NSW Nats MP for Clarence refused an elector's request, to assist someone currently serving a gaol sentence, he said it was because the person involved was a "crook". Ronnie wants to know what could a disgraced former MP (who admitted to signing a false statutory declaration) possibly know about crookedness? ROFLOL!

Bagging supermarket plastic

http://xkcd.com/990/
Click on cartoon to enlarge

Uncle Joe puckers up and blows the first dog whistle of the season

On the 3^rd January 2012 @JoeHockey tweeted that “I warned of this a year ago!!!”

I clicked on the link wondering what financial horror the federal shadow treasurer had uncovered.

The article merely confirmed the bleeding obvious; “Among banks trading in Australia, the major lenders account for 86.7 per cent of the home loan market.
Well, knock me down with a roo’s tail feather!

Now mortgage holders can switch between banks with no financial penalty for doing so, they are still sticking with the big banks.

I wonder why?

Could it possibly be that these aspirational borrowers believe that solid reputations built up over decades or centuries by the banks really matter in periods of global financial uncertainty?

Or did many of them approve of the big banks following the November 2011 example of the Reserve Bank rate cut? After all there was a surge in mortgage lending to first home buyers and investors right after that – mostly within the banking sector.

Were they cheered by the fact that in December all four of the big banks had passed on another rate cut to their borrowers?

Now Uncle Joe likes to blow his dog whistle loudly over Twitter, this time crying out that Teh Big Four are still big!
A few street mutts might even scamper his way. This old mongrel won't be one of them.
I may hail from a long gone time where you actually knew your bank manager and it was the price of our schooners which concerned us all, but for the life of me I can’t see that consumers exercising choice is a problem for the country. Specially those consumers taking out a new mortgage.

Why should they go and pay higher borrowing rates in the non-banking sector just to please Hockey’s notion of how the world should turn?

Running dogs from http://www.halhigdon.com/
Dog cartoon from http://www.webweaver.nu/

In light of the base nature of both the political and corporate classes........

Herewith, a timely reminder to all economic development policy makers and resources industry ‘players’ in 2012.

Excerpt from NSW Parliament Code of Conduct for Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council:

2. Bribery

(a) A Member must not knowingly or improperly promote any matter, vote on any bill or resolution or ask any question in the Parliament or its Committees in return for any remuneration, fee, payment, reward or benefit in kind, of a private nature, which the member has received, is receiving or expects to receive.

(b) A Member must not knowingly or improperly promote any matter, vote on any bill or resolution or ask any question in the Parliament or its Committees in return for any remuneration, fee, payment, reward or benefit in kind, of a private nature, which any of the following persons has received, is receiving or expects to receive:

(i) A member of the Member’s family;

(ii) A business associate of the Member; or

(iii) Any other person or entity from whom the Member expects to receive a financial benefit.

(c) A breach of the prohibition on bribery constitutes a substantial breach of this Code of Conduct.

Excerpt from the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption website:

Corrupt conduct, as defined in the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988, is deliberate or intentional wrongdoing, not negligence or a mistake. It has to involve or affect a NSW public official or public sector organisation.

While it can take many forms, corrupt conduct occurs when:

·     a public official improperly uses, or tries to improperly use, the knowledge, power or resources of their position for personal gain or the advantage of others

·     a public official acts dishonestly or unfairly, or breaches public trust

·     a member of the public influences, or tries to influence, a public official to use his or her position in a way that is dishonest, biased or breaches public trust.

The NSW community expects public officials to perform their duties with honesty and in the best interests of the public. Corrupt conduct by a public official involves a breach of public trust that can lead to inequality, wasted resources or public money and reputational damage…..

The full definition of corruption which applies to the ICAC is detailed in sections 7, 8 and 9 of the ICAC Act.

I note that as yet the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia has not created A Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament nor created the promised Parliamentary Integrity Commissioner. Nevertheless there are avenues open to deal with corrupt conduct within that institution.

A New Year's Honours List conceit

Newspapers typically report that those receiving an honour from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II are astonished to hear they have been gonged in some way – it came out of the blue and dropped on the doorstep with an unexpected thump which woke the sleeping household.

You’ve gotta love the conceit of that myth.

This is how it really goes for one ‘fictitious’ couple…….

Mr. Far Right and his spouse Hyacinth decide that another honour is needed to boost his profile and his worth on the international freeloader circuit.

Both begin discreet inquiries about what might be on offer for former politicians of his lack of stature.

Both even more discreetly let it be known that he would like one of those honorific titles – say a mere trifle like The Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Thistle or The Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

Hyacinth takes the lead in ferreting out suitable sponsors, while the pukka Mr. Far Right pretends to step back as is right and proper.

Once these sponsors (who might expect favours or bonbons in return) take up the cudgel on Mr. Far Right’s behalf, he and Hyacinth begin crafting the required novella which lays out the reasons he should receive a Great Big Gong.

Armed with what is now a mini-version of “War and Peace” the sponsors lay siege to the Royal Household and British Establishment until Her Maj consents to give Mr. Far Right what he wants, or a close consolation prize like the newfangled Order of Merit for which all citizens of Commonwealth countries are eligible for appointment.

The sponsors privately prepare the grasping couple for the inevitable disappointment, by assuring them that if Mr. Far Right fills a dead woman's shoes to even up the OAM numbers it is bound to lead on to further glory in the near future.

Buckingham Palace then formally notifies Mr. Far Right of his consolation prize. Hyacinth brews a new pot of Earl Grey and she and Mr. Far Right hit the phone to the family and one or two close friends – swearing all to absolute secrecy and pretending that he didn’t really want just a little of what his hero, Teh Mighty Ming, wore on his ample chest.
Reflecting that this gong means that she and hubbie will get to have tea with the Queen every so often and that her beloved will have his portrait drawn and hung (no quartering allowed thank you very much), Hyacinth wets her knickers.

The day before the Honours List is formally announced someone close to Mr. Far Right informs select media of the totally unexpected news and indicates a suitable time for photo ops and quotable gems.

Come the day of the announcement, Mr. Far Right (having washed the brown substance off the end of his nose) acts humble and surprised on finding himself in a group which includes his political opposites - Sir David Attenborough who is a passionate lobbyist for an international response to climate change and Nelson Mandela who steadfastly opposed South Africa's apartheid system.
Australia gives a bored yawn as it watches Mr. Far Right on the tellie that night telling the world he is trooly rooly touched.

Pic of Order of Merit found at Buck House website

Queensland genetically modified bananas anyone?

Is Genetically modified becoming something of a dirty term with the Australian general public?

Putting two and two together it is obvious that the Queensland University of Technology tried very hard to avoid both the GMO acronym and again naming its funding source as the Grand Challenges in Global Health (GCGH) Initiative - which was launched as a health initiative by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is in turn is associated with Monsanto & Co through its shareholdings in that notorious biotech giant.

ABC NEWS 22 December 2011:

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has met Queensland scientists who are trying to develop better bananas for Africa's sub-Saharan region.

The philanthropist has invested $10 million in banana research in recent years through his foundation's global health program.

Successful field trials have been carried out at Innisfail, south of Cairns, in the state's far north.

Professor James Dale, from the Queensland University of Technology, says he was pleased to update Mr Gates and his wife during their visit to Cairns last week…….

Unfortunately for UTS the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator reveals what is was hoping to cover with a little bit of verbal smoke:

* This post is part of North Coast Voices' effort to keep Monsanto's blog monitor (affectionately known as Mr. Monsanto) in long-term employment.