Dingo bytes

Last week in an opinion piece in The Age newspaper, human 
rights advocate Tony Fitzgerald gave a timely reminder of the 
treatment of asylum seekers who have been locked up by the Howard 
Government. It includes the "dehumanising" practice of giving 
them, men, women and children, each a number which they must wear 
at all times and by which they are known and called. Also, 
parents are not allowed to take any photos of their children, so 
that babies born in detention have no photos recording their 
development. Said Fitzgerald: "That a society which calls itself 
civilised continues to countenance the prolonged and 
indeterminate detention of children, in conditions closely 
resembling those of a high security prison, shocks me profoundly. 
That this society is Australia saddens and angers me more than I 
can say."

* * *

The movie Super-Size Me exposed the dangerous and deadly 
effect of McDonald's food on people's health: high cholesterol, 
obesity, increased blood pressure, depression. But the purveyor 
of fat and sugar sure has some high profile backers; PM Howard 
has been promoting McDonald's since the movie came out. And last 
week News Ltd paper The Australian weighed in. "Jenny 
Craig and GutBusters, watch your backs. The new road to slimness 
and well being runs directly through the golden arches." So began 
an advertisement — dressed up as journalism — by Imre 
Salusinszy, who says he went on a McDonald's-only diet, like the 
bloke in Super-Size Me. Yet, shock and surprise, Salusinszy's 
foray into Ronald's chew-and-spew resulted in him becoming 
healthier! The ad/article lists the McDonald's menu, says how 
cheap it is, compares it to diet programs and finishes with a 
promo for — are you ready for this? — Ronald McDonald Weight 
Management Clinics. Not surprisingly, this big Mac ad was 
conveniently placed beside an article headed "PM acts to stem 
growth in fat kids".

* * *

And it turns out that AFL players are being used to promote 
McDonald's in Victoria's secondary schools. McDonald's is the 
sponsor of the "Do It, Don't Dream It" motivational program. The 
players go to the schools and talk about their lives and goals, 
during which they just happen to mention that the McDonald's 
salad menu is part of their "eating choices".

* * *

CAPITALIST HOG OF THE WEEK: is Bill Gates. The world's richest 
man ($67 billion) didn't get that way being charitable, but that 
was the stated reason he was here last week. The real reason was 
twofold: to give the Howard Government a leg up into the coming 
election and to strengthen Microsoft's software monopoly. Gates, 
with Howard at his side, announced the launch of the Australian 
branch of Microsoft's charity facade, Unlimited Potential. Under 
it, organisations like the Smith Family will receive money, 
computers and software. Of course, by donating Microsoft software 
Gates is simply expanding his market. Gates also took the 
opportunity to condemn the free Open Source software programs, 
which is really the way to go for charities and NGOs, instead of 
becoming hooked on Microsoft.