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The Forum > Article Comments > Devil in the detail > Comments

Devil in the detail : Comments

By Sharon Beder, published 17/3/2006

The new Tourism Australia advertisements are offensive for a reason other than an innocuous swear word.

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Stepping outside your area of knowledge to attack the forest industry is rather poor from and does the green move no favours.
Posted by Kenny, Friday, 17 March 2006 11:34:36 AM
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I think you put this on the wrong message board, this is about the commercial, not logging.
Posted by bluerock, Friday, 17 March 2006 11:46:16 AM
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Professor Beder’s penchant for conspiracy theories is well-known. Her publications demonstrate her world-view: "Global Spin" and "Setting the Global Agenda: Corporate Coalitions, Coercion and Control". Yep. Sure. Whatever.

Today’s article is in the same vein: snide allusions, rather than logical argument or fact.

Thus, the conspiracy theory gets prime billing: “Some argue that the chemicals used in forestry are contributing to the cancer. Others that the cancer is contagious and is spread when the devils bite each other.” Who, exactly, attributes the cancers to chemicals and on the basis of what evidence? She doesn’t say.

On the other hand, Professor Beder goes on to impute that the researchers who favour the latter explanation are up to no good because “the [Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment] which employs them [that is, they’ve been paid to reach those conclusions, right Sharon?] is responsible for the permitting, control and supervision of 1080 use and for administering legislation covering aerial spraying of atrazine and other chemicals. Its 2005 Code of Practice for 1080 recognises that ‘Farmers and foresters frequently have a real need to reduce damage to pastures and crops by native browsing animals.’” The bastards.

“Naturally the forestry industry has hailed the publication by the DPIWE researchers as proof that their chemicals are not the cause of the cancers.” Naturally. Whatever you say, Sharon.

Professor Beder is already preparing her escape, and implying that regardless of the results of DNA testing on the animals’ tumours, it was the chemicals what done it: “However, even if it is subsequently proved that the cancers are contagious, it may well be that forestry chemicals have weakened the immune systems of the devils and made them vulnerable to cancers.”

It may well be. Or not.

Green academia? It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it.
Posted by KenH, Friday, 17 March 2006 11:58:14 AM
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What is being criticised here is simply a neat marketing turn of phrase. The target audience of this marketing campaign is not supposed to critically analyse every word, but to react emotionally and bloody well put Australia on the top of its priority list of "must see" tourist destinations.

The fact that our unique and fascinating flora and fauna is being highlighted as one of the prime reasons for coming here creates a win/win situation. International tourists who come here if only partially to experience our amazing wildlife will expect to see that wildlife protected and well managed.

We all know that until comparatively recently, Australia has had an appalling record of looking after our native wildlife and forests and this is perhaps why some environmentalists are accused of going over the top with their accusations and demands. Hopefully the tide has well and truly turned and all of us can look beyond our narrow financial or work related viewpoints and see what is good for Australia and for the world as a whole.

I know that if I came here to see a Tasmanian Devil in the wild [is this possible, I live in WA and have never been to Tassie?], I would expect to see healthy specimens as part of a healthy and adequate breeding stock. And if this was obviously not the case, then I may want to know what the Australian govt was bloody well doing about it!
Posted by Rex, Friday, 17 March 2006 5:49:24 PM
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Thought "Devil in the Detail" might suit this one?

Kerry and Condy

Re’ the discussion between Kerry O’Brien nad Condoleeza Rice the other night, it was interesting to note Condy’s change of nature under questionng. From the point of view of a writer and historian there was the illustration of a person who though able to put on a front good enough for an Academy Award, the lady seemed strangely nervous when asked two particular questions, one about a coming US attack on Iraq, and the other about what the US was going to do about China?. With both suggestions or queries, her colouring turned almost ashen for a split second, but hardly enough to notice as the expression changed back to the Academy Award look.

In some ways we might say, that for Condy to feel tension like that, could be an omen for the future, and a hope, in a way, that US dangerous-sounding threats as published in today’s West’’, might be all just talk or spin. Anyhow, let’s hope so, for America’s sake alone, because it seems the only way most appreciate the Americans these days, is not for friendliness, but mainly for protection, which in a way, is not a very healthy climate for our world, especially for our great grandkids in the future.

George C, WA - Bushbred
Posted by bushbred, Saturday, 18 March 2006 2:24:37 AM
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I am still trying to connect the forest, the pomm tourist and the little devil. Cancer is no new infliction, my paternal great grad-daddy worked in timber-cutting/milling all his adult life, and contracted 'bowel cancer.' Well, timbers, trees and other flora have their own toxins, they do not need added ones to affect the fauna(man included) that should eat it, brush up against it, or inhale it... it all can be toxic..
Posted by ELIDA, Saturday, 18 March 2006 12:14:40 PM
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