Exaggerated Reporting

[Ralph1Malph]

I am getting mighty sick of exaggerated reporting by our nations reporters, news presenters and weatherpeople.:mad::bat:

Very soon, they will run out of adjectives, verbs and superlatives to describe what are really normal or mildly exciting events.:(

Brisbane is about to enter a heatwave and upon hearing the words 'scorcher', 'set to sizzle' and 'sweltering', I found that the temp was actually only expected to reach 37!:eek::mellow:. Surely, more accurate desriptors would be 'hotter than usual', 'fairly hot', 'warmer than yo mamas booty' (well maybe not that one):petc etc, saving the others for 40-45 plus.

When I hear news reporting like 'worst on record', 'the people are devastated', 'Australias worst (insert phenomenen here) ever' I just cringe for the reporter and exude hate for the autocue man:twisted::toilet:.

For example, in the days following Katrina’s landfall, news reports described apocalyptic horror that the hurricane supposedly had unleashed: 'descended into anarchy as corpses lay abandoned in street medians, fights and fires broke out, cops turned in their badges and the governor declared war on looters who have made the city a menacing landscape of disorder and fear'.
I found this gem - 'bands of rapists going from block to block, people walking around in feces, dead bodies floating everywhere. And we know that sniper fire continues.'

Of course, five years on, we know that no shots were fired at rescue helicopters, there were no known child rape victims, no bodies stacked like logs, no bands of rapists going from block to block and no sharks plying the flood waters.

Breakfast television is just as bad. One of the morning shows, when promoting an appearance by Coldplay, described it as 'The Television Event of the Year'. Sheesh.

Just now, I read that the smoke haze over Brisbane is caused by a 'massive' grass fire on Bribie Is. I am sure the folk of Tassie could trump our 'massive' with their 'super gi-normous mega massive' fire.

Anyway I have rabbited on enough.

Just watch any of the commercial news and current affairs programs to be treated to an orgy of over the top superlatives and descriptors.

Rant over, enjoy the news.

Ralph

[richard4u2]

we have a tv station here in perth and the same two news readers have been there since nealy the opening of the station which was back in the 60's and i am sure the news is written by a playwright :mad:

[Sleepy]

Of course the 'commercial' news has become pseudo entertainment...you only have to watch fox news to see what our commercial channels aspire to.

I was amused the other day when it was over 40 degrees down here. Small grass fire near Dandenong was the only local serious fire. No one injured, lost one shed, a beer fridge, a trampoline, 30 metres of fencing and a couple of hectares of grass.

Yeah sure it could have been worse ......but it wasn't.

Helicopters, numerous crosses "live from the scene" and occupied the first 5 minutes of the news.

[solmanic]

My pet peeve is reporters who routinely refer to something that was totally destroyed as "decimated" when decimate actually means only a tenth of it was destroyed.

[V8Ian]

Trouble is once a small event has been exaggerated how do you then describe a large one? It snowballs from there.

[Ralph1Malph]

Trouble is once a small event has been exaggerated how do you then describe a large one? It snowballs from there.

You can't . Unless you invent better superlatives or get a prettier presenter.:twisted:

[Chucaro]

News readers and editors feed the information in the way that the majority of people like. It is following marketing studies.
The same thing applies to the articles in Woman's Weekly, Woman's Day etc.
Craps, gossips, invading privacy, etc is what the readers want and that it is what they get.
Remember when Ita Buttrose stopped being active in publications like Cleo, Woman's Weekly, etc and funded a reasonable informative woman's magazine? she went broke.
Have a look the percentage of people that look the commercial TV news programs compared with ABC and SBS. That will give you an idea of what the majority of the public want.
Is a reflection of the intelligence of the population?.....I live it up to you....

Rant over.............well for the moment :D

[GJP]

As Winston Churchill said, Not to read Newspapers is to be uninformed, to read Newspapers is to be misinformed!
We in Australia are further handicapped with such a mediocre media in all forms.

[spudboy]

Same with advertising. No-one has just a sale. It is always AMAZING or MEGA or Lowest EVER pricing, etc. Don't miss out......

[Homestar]

I'm glad this subject was bought up. I have been complaining mightily to SWMBO who is sick of me now and just says "why do you watch it then". She has a point...:D

[Don 130]

I try to keep to SBS and ABC for news for this very reason. I like what I call my sanity.
Don.

[disco2_dan]

And this over exaggeration is passed on to the younger generation. Quite regularly talking to younger people 14-18, some thing quite normal is refured to as "rare or rare as", things we have all been doing for generations is the most " hektic thing ever" and the one that peeves me the most is " I literally! insert specific action here" and my response is usually well that's a bit hard to do metaphorically and they look at me like an idiod cause they don't understand the difference.... Rant over lol

[101RRS]

Canberra is both the hottest and coldest Capital in Aust. Temps in January are always between 30 an 40 every day with the occasional temp higher or lower. If you listened to the media you would think we are experiencing abnormal temperatures when this does seem quite normal.

Garry

[nugge t]

Have a look the percentage of people that look the commercial TV news programs compared with ABC and SBS. That will give you an idea of what the majority of the public want.
Is a reflection of the intelligence of the population?.....I live it up to you....

Rant over.............well for the moment :D

Maybe the majority see the ABC and SBS as being biased, but I would have thought it an insult to any forum members who prefer commercial TV to have it inferred that they are not intelligent enough to chose to watch Aunty :D

Certainly agree with ralph though.

[gavinwibrow]

And my non favourite is using "unique" for describing non unique situations - but I've given up trying to save the world from itself's destruction of the English language.

[Chucaro]

Maybe the majority see the ABC and SBS as being biased, but I would have thought it an insult to any forum members who prefer commercial TV to have it inferred that they are not intelligent enough to chose to watch Aunty :D

Certainly agree with ralph though.

What biased towards not exaggerate in the news :confused: .....or.......never mind :D

[Hall]

The recent hot spell in N.S.W was, as you would expect, was described by commercial news not in a particularity accurate manner. Hottest days ever records are going to fall etc etc. Seems that as explained by the ABC that there has been a worse spell of hot weather back in the 1930`s. Yes the temps got close but they did not exceed the record. I tend to watch the ABC news for this very reason. They at least try and do a bit of research on what they are reporting.
Cheers Hall

[KarlB]

People may like to have a look at the following from the Bureau of Meteorology: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs43a.pdf (http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs43a.pdf)

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

On a similar note about TV, how many times must a show or movie be on TV before it stops being a Premier sometimes prefixed by Australian or Television?

I can't count the number of times I've seen a show on the box, multiple times and then it appears on another channel for it's latest premier! :mad:

[Ivan]

In the Australian National Anthem are the words "this Land of Fire and Flood" yet the newsies seem quite surprise when you get either. It's been happening over here for years learn to live with it.

Ivan

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Canberra is both the hottest and coldest Capital in Aust. Temps in January are always between 30 an 40 every day with the occasional temp higher or lower. If you listened to the media you would think we are experiencing abnormal temperatures when this does seem quite normal.

GarryNow if the term was Capital of Australia the term hottest or coldest would be instinctual. However on the coldest capital in .... I would have thought with all the hot air coming from Parliament House, winter would be quite mild in Canberra! :D

[PhilipA]

I had to have a wry laugh while watching 7.30 report on ABC.

The reporter was trying desperately to get the BOM guy to say that climate change was causing the heatwave and the BOM guy was having none of it.

The reporter pointed out that the BOM had added 2 new colours to the temp maps, and the BOM guy said yeah we replaced white with black and purple because it is easier to see. No , not new. But of course we have never got to the highest yet. Apparently they replaced white for 40+ and added a new division of 40-42 purple and 43-45 black. AFAIR

The Bias of the reporter was subtle but pretty evident.
Why can't they play it straight and not try to ride their hobbyhorse when "reporting"

Regards Philip A

[isuzurover]

Canberra is both the hottest and coldest Capital in Aust. ...

Who says?

Wikipedia for Canberra

The highest recorded maximum temperature was 42.2 °C (108.0 °F) on 1 February 1968.[76]

The lowest recorded minimum temperature was −10 °C (14.0 °F) on 11 July 1971.[76]

ABC News

Hottest days on record

State by state:
NSW: 49.7C, Menindee, January 10, 1939
ACT: 42.2C, Canberra, February 1, 1968
NT: 48.3C, Finke, January 1, 1960
SA: 50.7C, Oodnadatta, January 2, 1960
Qld: 49.5C, Birdsville, December 24, 1972
Tas: 42.2C, Scamander, January 30, 2009
WA: 50.5C, Mardie, February 19, 1998
Vic: 48.8C, Hopetoun, February 7, 2009

Capital cities:
Sydney: 45.3C, January 14, 1939
Canberra: 42.2C, February 1, 1968
Darwin: 40.5C, October 17, 1892
Adelaide: 47.6C, January 12, 1939
Brisbane: 43.2C, January 26, 1940
Hobart: 41.8C, January 4, 2013
Perth: 46.2C, February 23, 1991
Melbourne: 46.4C, February 7, 2009

This page (scroll to bottom) has a table of average max and average min temps. Canberra does not win either.
http://www.gungahlinweather.com/articles/greatweatherdebate.htm

So it seems canbera can only claim to be the coldest capital, but not even the coldest average.

[isuzurover]

I had to have a wry laugh while watching 7.30 report on ABC.

The reporter was trying desperately to get the BOM guy to say that climate change was causing the heatwave and the BOM guy was having none of it.

The reporter pointed out that the BOM had added 2 new colours to the temp maps, and the BOM guy said yeah we replaced white with black and purple because it is easier to see. No , not new. But of course we have never got to the highest yet. Apparently they replaced white for 40+ and added a new division of 40-42 purple and 43-45 black. AFAIR

The Bias of the reporter was subtle but pretty evident.
Why can't they play it straight and not try to ride their hobbyhorse when "reporting"

Regards Philip A

What strange twisted reality do you live in???

Here is a link to the episode in question. ABC iview (http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/1056040)
I assume you mean the section after 21:50. I would challenge any rational person to view the reporter's questions [or commentary prior to the interview] as biased.

[Chucaro]

going by some posts here I think that some members have a high level of caffeine in their blood :angel: :p

Perhaps is me that I am getting old and mellow? :D

[ezyrama]

If I have told you once, I have told you a million times,DONT EXAGGERATE!!!;)

[Disco44]

When with Qld Emergency Services They just badger you to say what they want you to.I jacked up on that early in my career and I was reported to my higher authorities I stuck to my guns just for the sake of accurate reporting which even then was doctored. I just said to my boss I did not say that and played back the little recorder I carried.That fixed them.

[sashadidi]

Of course the 'commercial' news has become pseudo entertainment...you only have to watch fox news to see what our commercial channels aspire to.

I was amused the other day when it was over 40 degrees down here. Small grass fire near Dandenong was the only local serious fire. No one injured, lost one shed, a beer fridge, a trampoline, 30 metres of fencing and a couple of hectares of grass.

Yeah sure it could have been worse ......but it wasn't.

Helicopters, numerous crosses "live from the scene" and occupied the first 5 minutes of the news.
One of the only excellent reports we had in New Zealand described the morning or evening news as " a series of 38 second non factual sound bites written for the brain dead and containing no real information.
I watch AL jeerza or similar as there is a a small amount of factual information and the news clips can be over one minute long explaining a story.

[nugge t]

What strange twisted reality do you live in???

Here is a link to the episode in question. ABC iview (http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/1056040)
I assume you mean the section after 21:50. I would challenge any rational person to view the reporter's questions [or commentary prior to the interview] as biased.

The way I read it, PhillipA was only referring to the interview with the guy from BOM which was the section after 21:50.

Why do people have to live in a strange twisted reality or be of limited intelligence if they disagree with an ABC report?

[Lotz-A-Landies]

When with Qld Emergency Services They just badger you to say what they want you to.I jacked up on that early in my career and I was reported to my higher authorities I stuck to my guns just for the sake of accurate reporting which even then was doctored. I just said to my boss I did not say that and played back the little recorder I carried.That fixed them.Firstly let me express to all the (families) (victims) (farmers) (etc) <select one> that our hearts (and prayers <insert if spoksperson is religious>) are with them through this trying (time) (hours) (days) (period) <select one>. Secondly I have to send a thank you to all the (fire-fighters) (police) (ambulance) (SES) (volunteers) <select one> who are putting tremedous and professional efforts in (battling) (working) (investigating) (etc) <select one> this highly stressfull (incident) (bushfire) (flood) (cyclone) (event) (crash) (etc) <select one>. Now what was your question? <comment to reporter>

Ever heard those lines on the media????? - ALL THE TIME - you can always tell who has had media training ;) ;)

[Chucaro]

.......or Chucaro's option: "me no english" :D

[sashadidi]

Firstly let me express to all the (families) (victims) (farmers) (etc) <select one> that our hearts (and prayers <insert if spoksperson is religious>) are with them through this trying (time) (hours) (days) (period) <select one>. Secondly I have to send a thank you to all the (fire-fighters) (police) (ambulance) (SES) (volunteers) <select one> who are putting tremedous and professional efforts in (battling) (working) (investigating) (etc) <select one> this highly stressfull (incident) (bushfire) (flood) (cyclone) (event) (crash) (etc) <select one>. Now what was your question? <comment to reporter>

Ever heard those lines on the media????? - ALL THE TIME - you can always tell who has had media training ;) ;)

Like the All Black captains after a game, Game of two halves, put pressure on... boys responded well... really proud etc etc All Credit etc etc

Post match interview with Fitzpatrick - 1992 return match - YouTube

[isuzurover]

...

Why do people have to live in a strange twisted reality [removed as I made no such statement] if they disagree with an ABC report?

Phillip did not disagree with the report, he was implying things which did not occur. Which suggests either an extreme bias or an altered state of consiousness...

Of course the ABC and SBS must seem biased - as it presents factual and balanced information, compared to the sensationalist politically and financially motivated propaganda of other media outlets (the few that still remain).

What next?
Commercial news will soon need to be approved for release by Roy Hill Iron Ore Co.???

[KarlB]

The way I read it, PhillipA was only referring to the interview with the guy from BOM which was the section after 21:50.

Why do people have to live in a strange twisted reality or be of limited intelligence if they disagree with an ABC report?
As I read isuzurover's post, he made no reference to anyone's intelligence. But he did find it odd (strange and twisted to use his colourful language) that the particular interview with the BOM’s Alasdair Hainsworth could be interpreted as biased. There was no comment about disagreeing with an ABC report.

[incisor]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/01/1149.jpg

[nugge t]

hahahhahahaha....just playing with ya guys.....not hard to get the same old gang jumping through the same old hoops in defence of the same old sacred cows.....have a good one guys...:D

[redrovertdi]

The word that annoys me the most is "inundated" every time the rain falls, it used to flood but now its "inundated" although we need the rain now....

[Sleepy]

Who says?

Wikipedia for Canberra


ABC News


This page (scroll to bottom) has a table of average max and average min temps. Canberra does not win either.
The Great Australian Weather Debate (http://www.gungahlinweather.com/articles/greatweatherdebate.htm)

So it seems canbera can only claim to be the coldest capital, but not even the coldest average.

You forgot to add 10 degrees from all the hot air coming out of parliament.
And subtract 10 degrees from the cold hearted sods that work there!
:p

[bob10]

This article says it well, Bob


Viewpoint (http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/viewpoint)


Gripped by disaster, are we fuelling an industry of exploitation?



by: Karen Brooks
From: The Courier-Mail (http://www.couriermail.com.au/)
January 09, 2013 12:00AM



http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/01/08/1226549/800251-reporters.jpg
No matter where disaster strikes, television news reporters gather, but how many fly-in/fly-out journalists will stick with the story after the immediate threat passes? Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied



MAINSTREAM TV reporting of catastrophes is turning reporting of human struggles, the mighty elements, loss and consequences, into nothing more than disaster porn.

Nowhere has this been so evident than with recent "live" coverage of Tasmania's bushfires.
Late last week and into this one, the southeast of Tasmania burned, forcing thousands of residents and holidaymakers to evacuate as homes and livelihoods, never mind pets and livestock, perished.
Operating under the guise of "human interest" and "keeping the public informed", reporters from various TV networks descended on the Apple Isle and into the afflicted communities and evacuation centres, determined to be the first with a scoop.
Crossing in situ during any disaster has become de rigueur, as if live reporting endows the story with more gravitas. The last thing a community in calamity needs is extra people, strangers, who aren't there to help as much as they are to exploit.

Finding bewildered and displaced people in affected areas, reporters posed and repeated invasive and stupid questions ("Are you heartbroken?"), set ridiculous expectations ("When do you expect to start rebuilding?"), and tried to make those interviewed emote to the point of breakdown.
Tears become justification for keeping cameras rolling, to capture grief for all to share - for what purpose exactly?
An emotional soundtrack accompanied some reports; a soap opera instead of news.
Sadly, for all the earnest reporting and faux displays of empathy, the media interest only lasts until the next emergency.
The commercial imperative that drives the networks means as soon as the next "big story" breaks, the TV crews will move on.
Until then, however, the current disaster is recycled ad nauseam across news, current affairs and morning shows. New angles are found for our consumption - and consume them we do, like fast food.
Why is suffering newsworthy? Focusing on loss, fear and trauma, this type of reporting, our expectations about broadcasts and even our reactions, are normalised.
Some victims willingly talk to the reporters, believing they're doing the community a service by explaining what happened, their grief, gratitude for the help they received and that they survived.
But where will the crews be when rebuilding starts?
Answer: Doing what's required of them. Filming and filing from elsewhere.
Where will the interested audiences be? Answer: Glued to the next catastrophe, oohing, aahing and feeling grateful it's not us burning, drowning, being blown to smithereens.
No doubt, the media serves a very important role in terms of the social understanding of all kinds of events: triumphs, tragedies and everything in between.
In this, print media especially has the time to display a degree of sensitivity and appropriateness.
But, somewhere along the way, particularly in TV current affairs, the need to inform has blurred with the desire to entertain.
Hence, we have disaster porn, a media sideshow from which we're unable to look away; where we, the audience, become the worst kind of voyeurs, fascinated by the spectacle of others' despair and trauma.
The ethics of this kind of "on the ground" and "in your face" reporting, and the insidious nature of the interviews, need to be balanced against respect for human dignity and an awareness that those in crisis must be allowed time and space to process what's occurred without a camera or microphone in their face.
We need to ensure that, as both audiences and human beings, we don't overlook the people at the heart of these stories.
Long after the cameras stop rolling, their suffering and attempts to rebuild continue, as does their hope for the future.

[nugge t]

Excellent article Bob, although I am not sure that by describing it as "disaster porn" this journalist is being any less sensationalist than those she is criticising.

Whilst agreeing in general with her, she may have forgotten the excellent work those same networks do subsequently hosting the inevitable disaster appeals.

[bob10]

Excellent article Bob, although I am not sure that by describing it as "disaster porn" this journalist is being any less sensationalist than those she is criticising.

Whilst agreeing in general with her, she may have forgotten the excellent work those same networks do subsequently hosting the inevitable disaster appeals.
My wife works for Quest newspapers, in the Courier Mail building, and sometimes sums it up with a shake of the head, and a quietly muttered " Journos...." :) Bob

[AndrewGJones]

Fear trades like gold on the entertainment 'stock market' and the kicker is most 'disasters' are entirely foreseeable (building on fault lines, cities below see level, house in dense scrub, swimming in shark feeding grounds, stripping the land of trees and wondering why it got hot, fly blown and the soil full of salt, just to name a few)

After visiting africa for a month, I no longer let myself get caught up in the 'stay inside and buy more insurance' society we live in. What counts as a unprecedented crime wave in perth, wouldn't rate a mention in alot of parts of the world.

It's all relative. People get all bent out of shape relative to the information and experiences they become conditioned to.

[sheerluck]

The description that always gets me is where "outrage" is used too often. Like where apparently thousands of public transport users were "outraged" at the fare price increases.

They weren't "outraged". At worst, they might have been mildly ****ed off, and expressed their dissatisfaction by getting in the car instead. No burning of effigies outside local government offices, no rioting, just a quiet shake of the head and a few oaths.....

[Disco Muppet]

Look at it from a business perspective.
They're in the business of selling newspapers/television shows.
If you opened the paper and the headline was something like
""Small fire does no damage, takes up headline space"
You're not really going to be interested are you?
But if the headline is " 'Killer fire rages towards homes, thousands of lives at stake in unprecedented disaster due to climate change spurred by the carbon tax', says Lindsay Lohan from rehab." then the average punter is going to think "Sensationalised news, snide political comments and celebrity scandal all in one?! My lucky day!"
Easiest way to make money is to jump on the bandwagon of whatever the latest moral panic or sensationalised garbage is ;)
Cheers
Muppet

[trog]

Maybe Elvis had the answer when he shot his tv.

[AKW]

ABC tv Melbourne report about 10 days ago on B/triples to be trialed on the
Hume, every time B/triple was mentioned video of triple livestock road trains was shown. Only a small difference, 20mts longer 25/30t heaver and never
going to be less than about 1000km the hume. But it looked good.
Ford Aust run 3 or 4 B/triples between Geelong and Broadmedows every day
and know body even notices them,but lets scare the public any way.

Andrew

[DiscoMick]

The commercials are certainly the most likely to exaggerate because they are in a desperate fight for shrinking ratings as more people switch to the Internet. I see ABC TV news now outrates Channel 10, which is a positive sign, I reckon.
The TV networks are scared of losing their relevance and monopoly over peoples' viewing habits.

[bob10]

. I see ABC TV news now outrates Channel 10, which is a positive sign, I reckon.
.
I agree, but most of the ABC news seems to come from a Melbourne studio, nothing wrong with that, of course, but sometimes the only way to view local content is the local commercial channels. The best local news for Brisbane is the radio, 612 ABC, Bob

[bob10]

Maybe Elvis had the answer when he shot his tv.
:D Like it, Bob

[Homestar]

Turned the telly on this morning and the first words I heard were -

"Another day here in America, another school shooting..."

Pretty sure it's been more than a day...

[richard4u2]

bigpond news item " half of all food thrown out " i am not thrown any food out so that must mean someone on here is throwing out all there food ???

[mikehzz]

Harvey Norman is having a Massive Computer Clearance. Not many people want massive computers these days, no wonder he has too many. :)

[sheerluck]

Tile place near Browns Plains is having a "Giant Sale". Anyone want to buy a giant?

[isuzurover]

bigpond news item " half of all food thrown out " i am not thrown any food out so that must mean someone on here is throwing out all there food ???

That headline is actually accurate if you read the article. Your quote states half of "all food", not half of everyone's individual food items or purchases.


A new study has found that a staggering 50 per cent of the world's food goes to waste.

The UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which carried out the study, says the waste is caused by poor storage, strict sell-by dates, bulk offers, and consumer fussiness.

The report says half of the food purchased in Europe and the US is thrown away after it is bought.

Does the figure surprise you? How much food do you waste? Have your say

The Institution's engineering director Dr Colin Brown says the issue of food wastage is increasingly important as the planet's population heads towards a predicted 9.5 billion people.

"Somewhere between 30 and up to 50 per cent of all food is wasted between it being grown, being harvested, transported and eventually us eating it – in that whole process coming up to half of it doesn’t actually get eaten," he said.

He says a more efficient food production and distribution system would provide enough food for the planet's growing population.

"It's a very positive report from that point of view," he said.

"The population is only going to increase by another 3 billion or so people and if we could have 100 per cent efficiency in the way that we are creating food now, we would have enough food for all of those people.

"So it is positive in saying if we can solve these problems, then the world is large enough to feed these people."

He says the wastage is "an economic as much as an engineering issue."

"There are some engineering things we can do straight away. If you have a little allotment yourself and you grow crops, everything tends to crop at the same time. You get a glut of stuff and you wonder what on earth to do with it all. Commercial farmers are no different in that everything tends to come to ripeness at the same time. And so a lot of the waste comes from the fact that prices drop or it is easier for them to leave things in the field."

He says that means much of the world's food never even reaches a delivery truck, let along somebody’s stomach.

"In developing countries part of the issue is that the infrastructure isn't there," he said.

"The railways aren't there, the chilling equipment to dry this stuff [isn't there], a lot of stuff goes rotten because it is hot and wet.

"So you’ve got to look at the way that we've got the engineering in place to capture this food. We do have techniques for canning food and we have techniques for preserving food. It would mean a lot of it would not get wasted in the way that it does now."

The report says the issue of water is what Dr Brown calls a "pinch point".

"We already use twice as much water for our agriculture as we use for all of our other human uses and so if we carry on using more in this way, we are going to run out of what is essentially drinking water," he said.

"You can't put a lot of salt water onto crops. It needs to be relatively good, pure water, and it is hugely wasteful. And unfortunately one of the realities is that the more meat that we eat, and meat is becoming more popular around the world as a food, the more water we have to put on for the same number of people.

"If you’ve got a real pinch on water, the last thing you want to do is try to raise cattle using water."

I have seen studies in other parts of the world which come up with about the same numbers.

Just because you do not throw out any food [ever???] does not mean two people don't throw out more than half the food they buy to offset your personal statistic.

[bob10]

I have seen studies in other parts of the world which come up with about the same numbers.
I do not know anyone who throws out or wastes that much food. Not an individual. Corporations, perhaps, multinationals, perhaps. I would like to read some of those studies you have seen, if you don't mind, Bob

[EchiDna]

? do you really think distribution and shops have a zero waste/loss/spoilage system guys?


Having not lived permanently in Oz for many years now, I find it amusing to see the high proportion of people in Oz that must watch the news daily. In all seriousness, what in the news actually changes the way you act or work or live? maybe it can change the way your dress the following day, but that's about it! I really don;t need to waste my time seeing images of natural disasters, serious crimes and the like. Turn the thing off and do something useful with your life! plant a herb garden, fix the kids broken toys, cook the wife dinner, go for a run... all of these will do something positive in your life whereas the news is typically downbeat, negative and depressing with some fluff piece added at the end to put a smile on your face for 2 seconds after depressing you for 23 minutes between ads.

[isuzurover]

I do not know anyone who throws out or wastes that much food. Not an individual. Corporations, perhaps, multinationals, perhaps. I would like to read some of those studies you have seen, if you don't mind, Bob

These studies are done on a country-wide basis, so statements like "I do not know anyone who throws out or wastes that much food." do not carry any weight statistically - unless you personally know more than 50% of the people and food outlets in Australia?

I first heard the statistic of 50% loss presented by an Australian packaging company at a conference. I don't have a reference, sorry. The statement was something like "only 50% of the food sold in supermarkets in Australia is consumed"

Some other literature:



Total and per capita value of food loss in the United States
Author(s): Buzby, JC (Buzby, Jean C.)1,2; Hyman, J (Hyman, Jeffrey)1,2
Source: FOOD POLICY Volume: 37 Issue: 5 Pages: 561-570 Published: OCT 2012
Times Cited: 0 (from Web of Science)
Cited References: 52 [ view related records ] Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: There are few peer-reviewed or major published studies that estimate the total amount of food loss in developed countries and even fewer attempt to estimate the monetary value. We compiled estimates of the amount and value of food loss for more than 200 individual foods in the United States using the US Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service's Loss-Adjusted Food Availability data and then aggregated these values to estimate the total value of food loss and the value by food group. The results indicate that in 2008, the estimated total value of food loss at the retail and consumer levels in the United States as purchased at retail prices was $165.6 billion. The top three food groups in terms of the value of food loss at these levels are: meat, poultry, and fish (41%); vegetables (17%); and dairy products (14%). Looking more closely at the estimates for the consumer level, this level of loss translates into almost 124 kg (273 lb) of food lost from human consumption, per capita, in 2008 at an estimated retail price of $390/capita/year. Food loss represents a significant share of household food expenditures: our estimates suggest that the annual value of food loss is almost 10% of the average amount spent on food per consumer in 2008 and over 1% of the average disposable income. This consumer level loss translates into over.3 kg (0.7 lb) of food per capita per day valued at $1.07/day. Our estimates of the total value of food loss in the United States and loss estimates by food group are useful in that they can generate awareness of the issue among the food industry members, governments, and consumers. Potential large-scale approaches and economic incentives to mitigate food loss in developed countries are also discussed. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Accession Number: WOS:000308787100008


Food losses in six Swedish retail stores: Wastage of fruit and vegetables in relation to quantities delivered
Author(s): Eriksson, M (Eriksson, Mattias)1; Strid, I (Strid, Ingrid)1; Hansson, PA (Hansson, Per-Anders)1
Source: RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING Volume: 68 Pages: 14-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2012.08.001 Published: NOV 2012
Times Cited: 0 (from Web of Science)
Cited References: 20 [ view related records ] Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: To prevent retail food wastage, better understanding of waste patterns is necessary. Flows of fruit and vegetables at six Swedish retail stores were analysed in this study, both by analysing recorded data and by performing physical measurements. Total wasted fresh fruits and vegetables were 4.3% of delivered quantity. The largest category was pre-store waste (goods rejected at delivery; 3.01%), followed by recorded in-store waste (0.99%) and unrecorded in-store waste (0.3%). A positive correlation between unrecorded in-store waste and total waste was found, indicating that a thorough recording of waste could be an effective way to reduce retail waste of fresh fruits and vegetables. The praxis allowing large amounts of reclamations of delivered goods was recognised as the main reason for waste, since pre-store waste contributed with the majority of the waste flow. Initiatives to reduce fresh fruit and vegetable waste in the studied retail chain thus need to focus on the pre-store waste to be efficient. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Accession Number: WOS:000311007900002


The Value of Retail- and Consumer-Level Fruit and Vegetable Losses in the United States
Author(s): Buzby, JC (Buzby, Jean C.)1; Hyman, J (Hyman, Jeffrey)1; Stewart, H (Stewart, Hayden)1; Wells, HF (Wells, Hodan F.)1
Source: JOURNAL OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS Volume: 45 Issue: 3 Special Issue: SI Pages: 492-515 DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-6606.2011.01214.x Published: FAL 2011
Times Cited: 3 (from Web of Science)
Cited References: 44 [ view related records ] Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: Food loss at the retail and consumer levels in the United States includes 14.8 billion pounds of fruit and 23.4 billion pounds of vegetables, valued at $15.1 billion and $27.7 billion, respectively, in 2008 retail market prices. The total value of these losses is $42.8 billion per year, or roughly $141 per capita. To most efficiently reduce the annual food loss, it may be beneficial to focus efforts on the four fruits (fresh apples, grapes, peaches and strawberries) and four vegetables (fresh and canned tomatoes and fresh and frozen potatoes) that have the greatest amount of loss.


Food losses in food service institutions - Examples from Sweden
Author(s): Engstrom, R (Engstrom, R); Carlsson-Kanyama, A (Carlsson-Kanyama, A)
Source: FOOD POLICY Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Pages: 203-213 DOI: 10.1016/j.floodpol.2004.03.004 Published: JUN 2004
Times Cited: 18 (from Web of Science)
Cited References: 21 [ view related records ] Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: Lowering food losses is a potential measure to overcome hunger and reduce the ecological side effects from the food system. However, few observations of food losses have been reported in the literature during recent years. We studied food losses in four food service institutions in Stockholm, Sweden. The results show that about one-fifth of the food is lost. Plate waste is the single largest source of loss, at 11-13% of the amount of food served. Losses in food service institutions can be of significant economic value, and arable land equivalent to 1.5% of the area under cultivation in Sweden may be used to produce food eventually lost in food service institutions. The results indicate that the economic and environmental consequences of current levels of food losses may be substantial. More research is needed in order to better estimate levels, devise prevention strategies and identify policy implications. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Accession Number: WOS:000223520100001

[trog]

The dumpster divers or free- gons [sp] do all right from the supermarket throw outs.

[vnx205]

the news is typically downbeat, negative and depressing with some fluff piece added at the end to put a smile on your face for 2 seconds after depressing you for 23 minutes between ads.

Does the news you watch have ads in the middle of it? :D:D:D

That must be annoying! :D:D:D

[bob10]

These studies are done on a country-wide basis, so statements like "I do not know anyone who throws out or wastes that much food." do not carry any weight statistically - unless you personally know more than 50% of the people and food outlets in Australia?

I first heard the statistic of 50% loss presented by an Australian packaging company at a conference. I don't have a reference, sorry. The statement was something like "only 50% of the food sold in supermarkets in Australia is consumed"

Some other literature:
Dear, oh dear, you must be very naive, just what these conferences want, Bob

[isuzurover]

Dear, oh dear, you must be very naive...


pot, kettle?

[bob10]

pot, kettle?
Possibly, old mate, Bob:)
"Oho!" said the pot to the kettle;
"You are dirty and ugly and black!
Sure no one would think you were metal,
Except when you're given a crack.""Not so! not so!" kettle said to the pot;
"'Tis your own dirty image you see;
For I am so clean – without blemish or blot –
That your blackness is mirrored in me."

[Disco44]

Possibly, old mate, Bob:)
"Oho!" said the pot to the kettle;
"You are dirty and ugly and black!
Sure no one would think you were metal,
Except when you're given a crack.""Not so! not so!" kettle said to the pot;
"'Tis your own dirty image you see;
For I am so clean – without blemish or blot –
That your blackness is mirrored in me."

HaHaHa Good one Bob.
John.

[Blknight.aus]

bigpond news item " half of all food thrown out


I could easily buy into that figure IF it counted food as in food from source to belly and thrown out as meaning not put into someones stomach.

if you look at one cow by the time you gut it, skin it, bone it, slice it, defat that then cook it and throw out any scraps I'm certain that less than half the cow turns out to be edible.

but Factor in The bones go to fertilizer, the fat goes to a soap farm, the hide goes to a tannery and the scraps goto the family dog, the guts goes into animal food and all of a sudden the statement doesnt seem so dramatic.

Its just a statistic and give me enough raw data, tell me what you want it to prove and let me come up with the sample filtering method and anything becomes provable.

[DiscoMick]

It would be interesting to know how much food is wasted in supermarkets because it is trucked so far around the country that it could be a week before it even hits the shelves. Sometimes thats unavoidable of course if the town is isolated, but why should it happen in the east coast cities? Yet they call themselves the 'fresh food people"?
We grow quite a lot of our vegetables and buy most of the rest at the local Sunday morning market and its amazing how much longer it lasts than the stuff from the supermarkets.
Local production and sales would seem to be a useful answer, particulary in poor areas where it reduces the need to earn cash to get food.

[disco2_dan]

After being a meat manager for both the large chain supermarkets I can say I'm horrified by the amount of food that they throw out, when I surgested that we could donate the food to a homeless shelter/food kitchen for the homeless and under privileged I was laughed at and told they won't do they I case someone gets sick from it and sues!!! With what an average store throws out in a day I think concervitivly you could feed 200 people till their bellies popped!!!

[disco2_dan]

Oh and one store I worked for found out local hippies where trash diving for food in the bins they started padlocking them as company policy....

[Ralph1Malph]

case someone gets sick from it and sues!!!

Not nice, but a very, very valid reason.
Until we can ensure that a vested interest group won't launch a class action suite on behalf of all the homeless for sickness brought about by a well meaning soup kitchen or food redistribution service, it won't happen.

For the same reason, many bakeries give or sell excess bread to zoos or feedlots instead of homeless.

Some interest groups see a quick buck in holding philanthropy to account.:mad:

BTW, Ministerial concession or law change is all that is required in respect to limiting damages claimable.

Ralph

[sam_d]

Not an exaggerated report but one with no real substance:

Paying the penalty for driving a Range Rover (http://brisbanetimes.drive.com.au/motor-news/paying-the-penalty-for-driving-a-range-rover-20130112-2cmh6.html)

This is one of those articles that makes you wonder why it was written. There is no "news" in it. Perhaps it might serve as a reminder to people to make sure you know what the law says with regard to what you can drive on your P plates and that ignorance is no excuse in law ("I didn't know it was a turbo / V8') etc.

[EchiDna]

Does the news you watch have ads in the middle of it? :D:D:D

That must be annoying! :D:D:D

I haven't watched free to air TV for 15 years mate and even when I do watch tv, its sport a movie or educational... the good old AM radio for 15 minutes in the morning tells me all I need to know!