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I was depressed, but not surprised, at the announcement a few months back that former TV gardener Don Burke had taken a position as spokesperson to defend Gunns, the timber mill in Tasmania to assist in “environmental issues.” As Vica Bayley, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society said, “With Gunns still logging and wood chipping old growth and high conservation value forests, clear felling areas in domestic water catchments, clearing critical habitat of endangered species, poisoning animals with 1080 and emitting millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, Mr Burke has his work cut out for him.” At the time of the announcement Don was on radio explaining his environmental credentials (something about turning his property back to native rainforest) but since then we haven’t heard a word.
Now I am very disappointed to see one of Australia’s leading actresses in full page colour advertisements touting the virtues of Coca-Cola by “busting” the popular conjecture or “myths” about this drink. Kerry now informs us there are no ADDED preservatives or artifical flavours in Coke. It doesn’t make you fat as they offer non fat drinks like diet Coke. Kerry concludes by saying “As a Mum . . . it’s good to know our family can continue to enjoy one of our favourite drinks.”
Well I’m glad she’s not concerned. But I am. In my book celebrities compromise their credibility when they do such endorsements. One assumes they are being paid very well for this commercial product plug. How gullible do advertisers think we are? Didn’t we learn anything from cash-for-comment?
I’m in Sydney on my book tour. On old pal Kerri-Anne’s TV show, as well as Susie on WIN-TV, and doing a huge Herald-Dymocks literary lunch today. I still get nervous facing an audience of five or five hundred. But first reactions to the book have been positive.
Cheers
Di’s latest book The Islands, published by Pan Macmillan, is now on sale.
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