Australian flisters - 60 minutes
On Sunday night Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes program aired a piece called ‘Poisoned’. As per their usual tabloid-style of reporting, they have misrepresented a lot of the facts and provided almost no scientific evidence.
While some of the complaints presented may well be valid, it was a pity there was no balanced reporting, simply their usual scare tactics. I watched the program, it was enough to make anybody shit-scared.
As I get annoyed at unbalanced reporting, I simply wanted to point out that there is a lot of information currently being put up on the APVMA website. This included the information the APVMA provided to 60 Minutes as part of the investigation into the story (almost none of which was presented in the show), The APVMA's response to the show and a summary of information about some of the main chemicals that were named in the article, Atrizine, Carbendazim and Endosulfan. I believe more of these summaries, as well as FAQ are to become available on the website soon, as they've realised this is an area of public concern.
Anyway, this certainly isn't me pushing views on to anyone. It's a very sensitive issue. But I thought people out there who watched the program may be searching for some more information and this is the official regulator of these products in Australia, so a reliable source. Obviously they are attempting to allay fears with their responses, but at least the facts are there for the reading and it makes for a more balanced idea of what is really going on.
Oh and there is to be an interview tonight on the ABC's 7:30 report where they're talking about the questions that Choice and WWF have raised in regard to the regulatory system and the way it works. The whole system is to be overhauled soon, including the review process, so its a reasonably hot topic...well at least if you're a public servant, farmer or environmental activist.
Or not. Where did the interview go? Weird. I guess the debate took its place. :(
While some of the complaints presented may well be valid, it was a pity there was no balanced reporting, simply their usual scare tactics. I watched the program, it was enough to make anybody shit-scared.
As I get annoyed at unbalanced reporting, I simply wanted to point out that there is a lot of information currently being put up on the APVMA website. This included the information the APVMA provided to 60 Minutes as part of the investigation into the story (almost none of which was presented in the show), The APVMA's response to the show and a summary of information about some of the main chemicals that were named in the article, Atrizine, Carbendazim and Endosulfan. I believe more of these summaries, as well as FAQ are to become available on the website soon, as they've realised this is an area of public concern.
Anyway, this certainly isn't me pushing views on to anyone. It's a very sensitive issue. But I thought people out there who watched the program may be searching for some more information and this is the official regulator of these products in Australia, so a reliable source. Obviously they are attempting to allay fears with their responses, but at least the facts are there for the reading and it makes for a more balanced idea of what is really going on.
Oh and there is to be an interview tonight on the ABC's 7:30 report where they're talking about the questions that Choice and WWF have raised in regard to the regulatory system and the way it works. The whole system is to be overhauled soon, including the review process, so its a reasonably hot topic...well at least if you're a public servant, farmer or environmental activist.
Or not. Where did the interview go? Weird. I guess the debate took its place. :(