Slaughtering Indonesia's cattle trust

The government’s decision to halt live cattle exports to Indonesia, without prior warning, deeply disturbed Indonesia. Australian beef accounts for 25 per cent of the country’s meat and is a vital source of protein for millions of Indonesians. There are also thousands employed in feedlots, abattoirs and downstream processing, and Indonesia had considered Australia to be close enough to form part of its own food security.

In addition, the Australian government has long had a policy of supporting neighbouring countries that are members of global animal health organisation OIE as they progressively implement its standards of animal handling and welfare. Indonesia is such a member.

The export ban undermined all that. Many in Indonesia now regard Australia as an unreliable supplier, and there are strong indications the country will seek to diversify its sources by importing cattle and beef from other countries while renewing efforts to become self-sufficient in beef by 2014.

It will be some time, perhaps several years, before we see the full impact of that. For the moment, the Indonesians are displaying remarkable tolerance, probably much more than Australians would show if another country had suddenly cut off a major part of our food supply. Permits to import live cattle have been reissued and there is no overt resentment at Australia’s insistence on supervising the treatment of cattle owned by Indonesians within Indonesia.

The Indonesian government allows live imports because they satisfy demand for freshly slaughtered meat sold in wet markets. This is popular for financial and cultural reasons and a necessity for those who do not have access to refrigeration. Live imports also generate local employment in feedlots and abattoirs. Indeed, the reason cattle from Australia cannot exceed 350 kg is to ensure they must undergo local fattening prior to slaughter.

Australia has a natural advantage as a supplier of live cattle, given its proximity and Brahman species, but is not the only possible source. Brazil, with more than six times Australia’s cattle population, would be quite happy to supply Indonesia. So would Argentina, which has double Australia’s cattle population.

There is also a large market for boxed beef in Indonesia, chilled and frozen, into which Australia sold over 50,000 tonnes in 2009. Chilled beef, which is higher quality and more expensive, is mainly sold in supermarkets and restaurants.

Articles 20VN | Where in the World to Learn Spanish | learn ...

Spanish is currently a fast growing language, particularly in the Americas where the Latin American influence on the United States has created a surge utility and essentialness of learning Spanish. Indeed Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world and its knowledge grants the ability to communicate with a huge proportion of the world. But there are a mind bogglingly high number of countries that speak Spanish so where the world should you start?

Spain

The mother land of the language and perhaps the obvious place the start. Its has a distinctive accent as opposed to the rest of Latin America. Within Spain itself there are its own distinctive dialects. The country is well developed and as a result has plenty to offer in terms of Spanish Schools as well as culturally and historically to any visitor eager to learn Spanish

Costa Rica

Lush, tropical, and Spanish speaking. If the natural world is what interests and excites you then this perhaps rarely thought of option could be for you. With its distinctive pacific and Caribbean beaches warm and friendly people and slow pace of life you can learn one of the most useful languages in the world as well as enjoy your time in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Peru

Home to the great wonder of the world Machu Pichu , Cusco and Lima are the popular places to visit and learn Spanish. You can pick up a new skill as well as see some of the wonders of the world in a friendly country with stunning landscapes and tasty food.

Argentina

Found lost at the bottom of the world, Argentina is becoming a very popular place to learn Spanish. The accent has been influenced heavily by its Italian and Latin immigration and has developed its own very distinct dialect. Buenos Aires is the popular place to learn as there are the most number of schools to be found in the capital.