Hi PALE,

I've never had any connection with AWB. I was Western Australian Wheatbelt manager for an insurance company in the early to mid 1970s. My clients were mainly farmers, with some farm managers and workers, also shearers and shearing contractors, farm contractors and owner/drivers, stock transporters etc.

I was a self-employed "working manager" and sold business in the field, at the same time managing a team of self-employed insurance agents. We systematically called on both existing clients and anyone else who we could get to listen to us for a few minutes. I went anywhere I could to find prospects, including some of the small abattoirs which existed in those days.

I'm inclined to be friendly and informal and was generally treated as a friend by my clients, being invited into their homes, and often into their family and social lives. I saw that these people are almost invariably decent people, who have to survive in an often difficult industry. I think that my experiences have given me an insight into some of what Yabby says.

I have no problem with other peoples' religious/spiritual beliefs, but bitterly resent having them forced onto me, when they restrict my freewill in a significant way. I gave some of these examples in an earlier post and made mention of the Catholic heirarchy in this respect.

cont

But I have no problem whatsoever about eating Halal food, in fact I think that asking for God's or Allah's blessing on one's daily work is a nice concept. It's a bit like when you have a health problem and your good friend says that his/her group is praying for you. Whether your friend is Christian, Muslim or whatever, that's probably the nicest thing your friend could say to you, or wish for you, so why not accept it as such?

I have been a member of the WA Greens for a good many years. That doesn't mean that I invariably agree with Greens policies or priorities, but I like the Greens attitude to the environment and to social justice. I have no particular opinion on Andrew Bartlett. And I don't expect everyone to necessarily agree with me on a variety of subjects.

Have I covered all your concerns?

And if I really wanted to avoid the possibility of eating Halal meat, then I would make sure that I bought all my meat from places which also sell bacon, ham and pork. And because I'm happy to include pig meat as part of my regular diet, that's what I do anyway, but not because of any aversion to Halal. Doesn't sound complicated to me.

Rex
Sorry I thought you said AWB. I know Elders were into insurance at that time for farmers so to compete against them would have been hard core.

Which ever way its come out Jolanda has tripped over something thats certainly worth looking into futher.

People might enjoy their Halal meat but we need to know who is behind the prayer.

Other than that yes I agree with you just shop where they sell pork

I am guessing you have read all my comments on Halal meat and pointed out the things we do need to watch.

As I already said there has have done some work on a national accreditation of Halal with more to do.

I will be travelling to WA sometime to meet with some PFF people and I will bring along Australian Muslim leaders and Malaysian delagates

As we are in QLD with it would be good if you would like to meet with some of these to assist you with your propoal to WA State Government.

I would be more than happy to make the introductions and put them in contact with a local person after that.

Or if not dont worry we will just have to send somebody down each time they come to look at propects, land plants and to meet farmers.

Our part is simply really in so much as we meet reet and make intros diect to farmers.

If you are interested we have a MOU with Australian Federation Of Islamic council and we work in conjunction with RSPCA QLD.

Would be very happy to be able to give them a WA person to contacts as the different ones fly over.

Here is the web site and og course there is a good agents fee available.
http://www.halakindmeats.com/

I am mentioning this to you because you expressed interest to Yabby. If your not interested - no problem.

Hi Pale,

Thanks for the offer, but I wouldn't know where to start. Maybe ask Brian Burke LOL. I'm 90% retired and have a small business interest which I operate from home. This suits me fine.

And thanks for the interesting website.

I enjoy meeting interesting people and would be happy to say "Hi" to you when you are in the West, if you can find the time. I live in the pleasant beachside suburb of Waikiki, which is part of the small City of Rockingham, about 30 minutes drive south of Fremantle. But I would have nothing whatsoever to offer your associates by way of helping them in their objectives.

Rex.

You have already offered more than most- `You care`.

Yabby suggested we contact some WFF people he posted.

I spoke with one of those people.

We would VERY much appreciate being able to meet and just chat with you.

Local knowledge is what we are starving for.

What you might think unhelpful would be pure Gold to us.

Anyway its always a big help to know there is somebody friendly in another state to contact to say hello.

John Howard and Peter McGauran after holding meetings with Mr McGuarans advisor last year on the Gold coast have advised the following.

That they find the proposal of co joint ventures"[quote] Interesting in principle "and invited us to do basically as biz plan etc with promises of meeting with Ministers of trade and Agriculture pending.
Which I am personally unable to do being a basic bushy. We have five thousand dollars to pay somebody but its hard to find the right person.

We are far more interested for them to adopt this as a policy of course and not interested in just a grant to promote 'any" partucular company.

HKM is a copmany that does have a MOU with AFIC was sent up for the soul purpose showing how it can be and should be done in the interests of Animal Welfare and jobs for the Australian economy.

What I would like to do is provide you with copies for the Greens.

If you are wondering why we dont just sent it direct - It is because of the way the manipluation has been entrenched by other Animals Welfare groups. We are not libbers so there for NOT popular with the others who refer to us as animal killers.

Apart from that I would like to meet you and who knows maybe we could even get old Yabbs there for a beer. [ Wouldnt that be something![smile]
I think he likes Chardoney.
Thank You Rex I will let you know when we are going to WA.
You might let us know a good place to stay.
http://www.halakindmeats.com/

I live in Canada and if I want Halal meat then I have to go out of my way to find it, that's just how it is where I live. I don't have to jump mountains or anything, but it's easier to get non-halal meat. That said, I don't eat either because I am a vegetarian and have been since I've been 12. If an item has gelatin or rennet in it I don't eat it and that works with both being a vegetarian and Muslim.

But I don't get what the big deal is about halal meat. Jolanda, if you have such a big problem with it, then find another butcher. No one is force feeding you anything. To do so would be to physically put halal meat down your throat. You can simply choose not eat the meat. It is up to the butcher to sell halal meat or not. The government can't stop you from serving halal or non-halal meat. No one forces anything upon anyone else. McDonald's are everywhere in the world, that doesn't mean you HAVE to eat there. And in places where it is easier to just serve halal only then why not?

If I'm not mistaken you're problem is that you think a precedent is set. Well precedents can be set easily, open your on meat shop and don't sell an ounce of halal meat. It is the butcher's prerogative to sell what he wants, I don't think he/she should care what you think (unless you but huge amounts on meat and losing you as a customer would hurt sales).

Someone earlier on said you can't taste the difference anywhere and how do Muslims tell if some thing's Halal or not. It's up to the intention. If you believe something is halal and eat it and it turns out it isn't then it's not a sin or anything because you had the intention.

My suggestion is to be a vegetarian and that way you eat healthier and you don't have to worry about eating Halal meat, non-halal meat or meat from animal cruelty.