News

China milk

Written by ... Tuesday, 30 September 2008

In one of the saddest stories of the last little while, 4 children have died and over 50,000 have been sickened in China by milk containing Melamine. Melamine makes milk appear richer in protein, but is a chemical used to create industrial plastics. Sure businesses have limited social responsibility, but the sheer negligence and blatant disregard for human life expressed by milk producer Sanlu Group (who have been receiving complaints since last year about contaminated milk) is truly sickening. The sad part for us Kiwis is that New Zealand dairy conglomerate Fonterra has a 43% stake in the business, and they knew about positive Melamine tests for over 6 weeks. Fonterra CEO Andrew Ferrier apologised to Chinese families and stated that Fonterra had no awareness of any issues before August of this year. Claims that the toxic test results have been around for over 8 months shocked Ferrier. "If people were aware of it, it should have gone to the board."Let's see how this one plays out. The fact remains that innocent children have become victim of something that should not only NOT happen, but shouldn't even be ABLE to happen. In the words of TV3's Target, shame on you Sanlu Group, and shame on you Fonterra by extension.

Space - The Last Frontier (for the third time)

Written by ... Tuesday, 30 September 2008

 

When the world is falling apart and the price of everything is soaring through the roof, why not spend billions on a big plane and shoot some Chinese people into space? At the time of writing, the Shenzhou 7 is set to take off tonight, which is always an exciting position to be in. It's like I can talk to you from the past. Did the shuttle leave successfully? Did anything blow up? What are the lotto numbers for this week? This mission is the third time Chinese astronauts have popped up into the dark black abyss that surrounds our infinitesimally tiny planet, but this is the first time they've done it without borrowing spacesuits off the Russians. Instead they spent over US$20m making their own. I'd prefer the hand-me-downs. Good luck astronauts.

Islamabad bombing

Written by ... Tuesday, 30 September 2008

 

The United States aren't the only ones fighting a war against terror. Pakistan's capital city Islamabad was the scene for a chilling terrorist attack a couple of weekends ago leaving over 50 dead. The esteemed Marriott Hotel was the setting for one of the most explosive terrorist attacks in Pakistani history. After a truck rammed into a gate outside the hotel and caught fire, civilians ran for cover and fire-fighters attempted to extinguish the blaze. The truck was carrying the main blast of the attack, over 600kg of high quality explosives, as well as mortar and grenades. Reports have emerged that Pakistani officials were scheduled for a meeting at the hotel, providing a possible cause for the attack. The Marriott Hotel has since released a statement denying that there was ever a reservation for the officials that day; it's hard to derive any sure-fire factual evidence from the plethora of misleading news reports since the attack.

Debt - Hide it under the rug.

Written by ... Tuesday, 30 September 2008
The good old US of A have found a way in which they will attempt to burrow themselves out of a depressingly downward-spiralling economy. "Great!" You say. And great it may turn out to be. From an early perspective, however, things may not be looking too fantastic. The plan is that the US Government will spend about US$700b buying depreciating mortgage related assets from struggling financial institutions in the hope that the economy will strengthen. Sound like a bunch of gibberish. Effectively the government is bailing out the nation by borrowing more money. The idea is that this will solidify the economy in the short time, but surely borrowing more money to fill a hole created by a lack of money is a pretty sketchy tightrope to be walking. Who are we kidding...If any country knows how to avoid crippling debt, it's the US. Oh wait, they already owe about ten trillion. Historically, the NZ economy has (to an extent) followed that of our rib-eating friends across the Pacific, and we are now stuck firmly in the mud with our own economic wobbles. Let's just hope our nation's solution is slightly more economically viable in the long term.

Seal of Quality for New Zealand Feijoa Industry

Written by Juita Tuesday, 23 September 2008
The highest recognition of quality and a friendly mascot to represent the face of the New Zealand Feijoa Growers Association became the main strategies for Team AUT in their strategic business proposal presented to the President of the association. The strategy was aimed to create a reputable Seal of Quality to endorse the class of feijoa fruits to be marketed both locally and internationally, while developing a public relations campaign between the local markets and the association through the use of a mascot.
Read more...
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next > End >>
Results 1 - 10 of 52