October, 30 2019, 12:00am EDT
New Information About Australia Proves Privatized Meat Inspection Does Not Work
The USDA must protect public health and stop pursuing similar privatized meat inspection models.
WASHINGTON
Today, Food & Water Watch sent a letterto the U.S. Department of Agriculture demanding the agency conduct a re-evaluation of the Australian Export Meat Inspection System and stop similar privatized meat inspection models in this country.
The group also requested information still pending in a Freedom of Information Act filed nearly eighteen months ago on May 8, 2018.
"The USDA's pet project in Australia has backfired and proven that private meat inspection does not work," said Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter. "Higher numbers of contaminated meat and a shift back to full government inspection in Australia condemn efforts to "modernize beef slaughter inspection" here in the U.S."
Background:
In 2011, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) approved meat imports from Australia by deeming Australia's private meat inspection system "equivalent" to plant inspection in the United States. However, as Australia has continued to experiment with privatized inspection, the quality of its meat inspection faltered and unusually high numbers emerged of meat contaminated with visible fecal and ingesta matter arose.
We recently received information indicating that a substantial number of Australian slaughter facilities that used the privatized inspection model have opted to revert back to full government inspection. There has been a 32 percent increase in the number of plants that use the full complement of government inspectors, making traditional inspection the predominant model in Australia.
The Australian meat inspection system was categorized as "equivalent" to those systems in the U.S. and is regarded by FSIS as a model project. FSIS must stop efforts to "modernize beef slaughter inspection," also known as privatized inspection because its "model project" in Australia is showing signs of unraveling.
Food & Water Watch mobilizes regular people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people's health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests.
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Montanans Launch Push to Get Abortion Rights on November Ballot
"With 2024 shaping up to be the biggest year ever for abortion on the ballot, it is critical that Montanans can make their voices heard on this issue."
Apr 17, 2024
As abortion continues to dominate this year's state and federal political contests, Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights on Tuesday launched a signature collection drive to get a citizen-initiated state constitutional amendment on the November ballot.
Since the right-wing U.S. Supreme Court reversedRoe v. Wade with Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization nearly two years ago, Republican state lawmakers have ramped up efforts to further restrict abortion care—and voters, including residents of red states, have responded by protecting reproductive freedom when weighing in on related ballot measures.
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After a legal battle with Republican state Attorney General Austin Knudsen, the ballot language is:
CI-128 would amend the Montana Constitution to expressly provide a right to make and carry out decisions about one's own pregnancy, including the right to abortion. It would prohibit the government from denying or burdening the right to abortion before fetal viability. It would also prohibit the government from denying or burdening access to an abortion when a treating healthcare professional determines it is medically indicated to protect the pregnant patient's life or health. CI-128 prevents the government from penalizing patients, healthcare providers, or anyone who assists someone in exercising their right to make and carry out voluntary decisions about their pregnancy.
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Palestine is already recognized as a state by the vast majority of United Nations members—139 out of 193 countries—and by a handful of European nations, but the European Union as a whole, the United States, and the United Kingdom are among those that have long refused to recognize statehood.
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Al Jazeera reported Wednesday that Sánchez aims to formally recognize Palestinian statehood by July, even if he does not secure enough support from other E.U. countries.
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Sánchez has also met with leaders in Ireland, Malta, and Norway in recent weeks.
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Al Jazeerareported Wednesday that Belgium—which has called for economic sanctions on Israel over its bombardment of Gaza—is likely to join Spain's push after June, when the country no longer holds the E.U. presidency.
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"While the attention of the world is focused on Gaza, abuses in the West Bank, fueled by decades of impunity and complacency among Israel’s allies, are soaring."
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The wave of settler violence came after a missing 14-year-old Israeli boy was found dead in the area around the West Bank city of Ramallah. The Israeli military said the boy was killed in a "terrorist attack."
Since October 7, according to the United Nations, Israeli settlers have launched more than 720 attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, displacing at least 206 households comprised of 1,244 people—including 603 children. Israeli soldiers in uniform have been present at many of the attacks.
"Settlers and soldiers have displaced entire Palestinian communities, destroying every home, with the apparent backing of higher Israeli authorities," Bill Van Esveld, associate children's rights director at HRW, said in a statement Wednesday. "While the attention of the world is focused on Gaza, abuses in the West Bank, fueled by decades of impunity and complacency among Israel's allies, are soaring."
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