Anne TootillVegemite
April 30th 2008 00:19
Holy cow, forget about Tibet and arms to Zimbabwe - this is serious stuff. China has banned Aussies from taking Vegemite to the Olympics. The Chinese have introduced the ban to maximise revenue for local food producers.
Remember all those TV shows on Boder Patrol, Asians at the airport trying to bring in food from their own countries, unaware of what a devastating effect it could have on our fauna and flora? Well now it's on the other foot, how can we possibly live without our morning Vege?
The issue must be resolved because Australia has already sent a container ship of supplies to China, 100 days before the Opening Ceremony. It includes 2000 boxes of cereal, 5500, muesli bars, twist bars and more than 3000 "power" bars - high energy foods used by endurance athletes. Our team is planning a second shipment closer to the August Games, which includes Vegemite.
The Australian team is not expecting any resistance from the Chinese on a planned shipment of pharmaceuticals for our athletes. But it is not clear whether China will also ban athletes from bringing in individual supplies of food.
The Australian ban comes after American athletes caused a furore in China by boycotting local food. The US Olympic Committee plans to transport its own produce because of fears about China's public health and food standards.
Can't say I blame the Americans, our food cultures are so far apart. I wonder what the Chinese ate when they came to our Olympics in 2000. I bet we didn't stop them eating their favourites.
No Vegemite? It's like asking the Chinese to stop drinking tea - unthinkable!
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Comment by Mrs M
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I watched a doco last night on tv talking about the censorship in China. Bloggers arrested for being controversial. The Chinese government blocking sites like wikipedia.
A hot topic - the Olympics. If you write about the Olympics you are likely to have your post/article taken down. The Olympics are coming right? How can you stop people from discussing it.
It seems that China is really big on control. They must be in for a rude shock because the rest of the world doesn't act this way.
Stopping a country from importing their own food is ridiculous.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
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It's not about "control", it's about giving a leg up to local farmers and producers. Not such a crime then is it?
How can you blame the Chinese government given the way that American Free Trade Agreements kill local production pretty much everywhere they are signed?
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theres nothing else quite like it!
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I can't imagine breakfast without my toast and vege and a cuppa tea.
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Say, isn't Vegemite yeast? Some of our groceries sell it here where I live. I hear it's very good for you, but an acquired taste.
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