RT, it would be nice if you could actually discuss live exports
and stick to the thread, rather then get bitchy. I have posted
a number of links, you are free to read them, inform and educate
yourself, criticise on an informed basis so to speak. Then we
can all make some progress.

PF, thanks for taking the trouble to read some of those articles.
A balanced view is all I ask, I don't think that is unreasonable.
Life is not black and white, none of these issues are either.
Information from various sources can only further all our knowledge.

There is actually quite alot going on in the Middle East. One of the
mistakes has been that alot of information was going out to farmers
and people in the West, but that information was not goint out to
the general public, eg those in the Eastern States. I've contacted
people to change that, they tell me its in the process of happening,
but will take another few weeks to have it in place.

Interestingly the public survey discussed in the Weekly Times a couple
of weeks ago mentioned exactly that. ie the public want more balanced
information available on animal welfare. They don't think they are
getting it from animal activist groups or from the press, who often
sensationalise. So hopefully those changes will happen.

For your interest:

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/stories/s1197862.htm

RSPCA extends campaign against live exports

The RPSCA is stepping up its campaign to ban the export of live animals from Australia.

In newspaper and radio advertisements running from today, the RSPCA says the trade is unnecessary and cruel and hurting the rural economy.

National president Dr Hugh Wirth says 12,000 jobs and $1.7 billion could be generated if the trade was replaced with chilled meat exports.

"I think everybody is going to benefit from what the RSPCA is proposing: not only the farmer, but people in regional areas who have got more job creation, and also more money to spend in those areas; it will help the Government solve the infrastructure problems in the major capital cities due to immigration.

"There are people who do want to work in regional areas, but no jobs for them to go to."

But the live export industry says the RSPCA's argument is simplistic.

Meat and Livestock Australia says importing countries would find live animals elsewhere, rather than import chilled meat from Australia.

MLA's Mike Haywood says chilled meat exports to Saudi Arabia have actually fallen by 17 per cent, despite a ban on live exports from Australia since last year.

"It's based on an incorrect assumption: and the assumption is that if you close the live trade down, we'd simply sell more sheepmeat into the markets previously taking our live animals; and there's simply no evidence to support that: and in fact the evidence we have, which is what's happened when Saudi [Arabia] opened the markets in 2000 and then closed again last year; that evidence suggests there is no substitution of meat imports for live animals."

Celivia - that article was from 2004.

Do you know if their campaign had any success?

It would seem that live exports will not be halted in any hurry, so I think efforts to improve on conditions for those animals on the ships and at the other, would be better placed?

Live exports have actually increased since then havent they?

Celivia, Hugh is clearly wrong in some of the claims he made two
years ago, but then the industry has moved on a long way since
then.

Where are all these workers? Why don't they apply for the jobs
that are there, screaming to be filled? If there is so much
money to be made, why do these meatworks only pay 55c a kg for
mutton, compared to $2.40 from the live trade? Clearly Hugh
got his wires crossed then. You could always invite him onto
OLO, to debate the trade on a rational basis.

Yabby
Its Dr Wirth . I hardley think it appropiate you refer President of the RSPCA by his first name.

Cilia Dr Wirth is also President of WSPA. - World Soceity Protection
for Animals. As such he is better informed than most people not only in Australia but world wide.

Dr Wirth didnt get anything wrong. He also sits on many boards and has extensive material sent to him regually that most time does not meet the publics eye.

Dr wirth has a long stand against the cruel live export trade along with his organisation.

last year the RSPCA stepped up its protests against live exports.
Nornally a pretty conservative organisation they took the unual steps to take out major advertsing in all capital cities including radio as well.
The endless media realeases put out by dr Wirth over a long time are a matter of record.

I think the last media realse put out by the RSPCA and Dr Wirth was only just a few days ago.
They have made it clear to the Federal Government for years they totally oppose the live animal export trade.
No if and buts.

Nobody got it wrong especially Dr Wirth.

I feel sure Dr Wirth would not have the time to come on the OLO Yabby.

However if you do a Googles he has already left over fifty messages for the public expressing his outrage by the barbaric trade.
perhaps you could start there.

Well benny, get used to it, doctors are people just like you or
I, I am fairly sure that Hugh would have no problem with his
first name being referred to.

If Hugh got it right, where are all are all the workers? Why don't
they apply for the jobs on offer around the country?

Once again, the posts quoted from Hugh are years old. Things
have changed, get used to the reality of change, or life will
pass you by benny!