Family Holloway

Now this is a project my wife and I and dozens of helpers have been working on for months, and tonight we finally released the site!

CreativeFreedom.org.nz Launches With Campaign Against Guilt Upon Accusation Laws In NZ

The Creative Freedom Foundation launches today in New Zealand to unite artists who are against the removal of New Zealander’s rights through proposed changes in Copyright law, done in the name of protecting creativity.

The Creative Freedom Foundation’s first campaign is against a proposed law in New Zealand: Section 92 of the Copyright Amendment Act. S92 assumes ‘Guilt Upon Accusation’ – cutting off internet connections and websites based on accusations of Copyright infringement, without evidence or even a trial.

Foundation Co-Founder and Director, Bronwyn Holloway-Smith says:

The result of this law could be that one rogue employee or even one virus infected computer could bring down a whole organisation’s internet and it’s highly likely that schools, businesses, hospitals, and phone services will be harmed by this.

On 28 February 2009, S92 will come into effect in New Zealand if there is no positive action on the part of the Government to change it. To date the Government has shown support for the bill and, unless there is major public protest against it, it will “roll over” in to law.

Although the Creative Freedom Foundation has just launched, it is already gathering steady support. Artist, Curator, and PHD Candidate Dan Untitled says:

25% of computers are infected with viruses that download and distribute material without the owners knowledge. What if that owner is a school or hospital? Clearly, this situation is ridiculous. Laws like this are outrageous, and as an artist I don’t want them done in my name. For me, the decision to support the CFF was clear cut. What they are doing is fantastic – I fully endorse it, and encourage others to as well.

A petition against Guilt Upon Accusation laws in New Zealand has been started by the Foundation. It can be signed on their website: www.CreativeFreedom.org.nz

COMPLAINT FORM

Mr Matthew Holloway [Male]
Age: 25-34
27^th November 2008

COMPLAINT REGARDING: Chicken Burger

COMPANY: Burger Edge Australia

Dear ACCC [Australia Fair Advertising],

When visiting the beautiful state of New South Wales I found myself heading home after a long night drinking past a takeaway bar called Burger Edge and their advertisement of “chemical free chicken” burgers. A similar claim is currently made on their website which reads “Burger Edge’s uses 100% chemical and hormone free chicken breast” which can be found here http://www.burgeredge.com/be_menuchicken.asp

I was wary of the next day’s oncoming hangover and thought I should probably eat something, and as a vegetarian this meal item intrigued me. Would it be possible to eat a chicken burger without the chicken chemicals? I purchased one and took it home to my hotel room only to be shocked at what I discovered… chemicals! The chicken breast was composed almost entirely of chemicals (some that I could see with the naked eye). It smelt like chicken. It was moist and dihydrogen monoxide came steaming off it. It was delicious.

I went back to complain but they had closed and as I had a flight back home the next day this was never resolved. I felt ripped off. Your site reads: “Whether labels are required by law, or are voluntary, they must accurately reflect the product contents because consumers depend on this information to make informed and better choices”. I could not agree more, and I hope that you will prosecute this company to the full extent of the law.

Please contact me if you have further questions.

Best Regards,
Matthew Holloway

——— END ———

Now while that email was a joke it’s got a tiny molecule of truth in it. This ludicrous “chemical free” advert is not a isolated incident but a trend in advertising and public understanding. Here in New Zealand we have street adverts from Phoenix Juice that read “Don’t Drink Science“, and on the Phoenix site they say “Our water source has been tested and proven free of chemicals” (source).

The word “chemical” is now synonymous with poison.

I was stirred to write that letter to the ACCC after reading this from the Royal Society for Chemistry:

The Royal Society of Chemistry is today reclaiming the word chemical from the advertising and marketing industries.

It has been misappropriated and maligned as synonymous with “poison”. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) recently defended an advert which perpetuated the myth that natural compounds are free of chemicals.

The truth, as any right-minded person will say, is that everything we eat, drink, drive, play with and live in is made of chemicals – both natural and synthetic chemicals are essential for life as we know it.

If, as the ASA says, the public believes materials can be “100% chemical free”, the RSC will soon be inundated with examples from people wishing to claim the £1 million pound bounty announced today by the RSC. (source)

That’s right – a £1 million pound prize for anyone who can advance science by producing chemical free materials. Like the James Randi Institute’s $1 Million dollar prize for proof of the paranormal it’s also about providing an easy response against ludicrous claims… “well then, why don’t you go claim the $1 million dollar bounty?”

The negative associations being created around “chemicals” and “science” are a subtle trend in advertising and public understanding. Perhaps like reclaiming the word “hacker” it’s a lost cause.

Still, it does annoy me.