Dear Mr. Fry,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Nestlé® Juicy Juice® regarding to inform us you will no longer buy our beverage because it is a product of China. We welcome questions and comments from loyal consumers and appreciate this opportunity to assist you.
The juice itself is processed here in the United States. The apples come from China, which provides over 50% of the apple juice used in the United States. Nestlé is one of the world's largest buyers of apple juice and works with the largest facilities in China. We understand that you question the safety of the product, despite our supervision, but do please be aware that we have long-term relationships with these facilities in China and have established high standards for the apple juice supplied. [Is it juice or apples they are getting from China?] Our quality managers audit these facilities to ensure that they meet our high standards. Nestlé tests every lot of apple juice for both authenticity and compliance to our standards. Product quality is our number one priority and we will continue to follow this issue closely.
We would like to assure you that we have reported your comments to our Marketing department. We are committed to providing you with products that live up to your high standards for taste, quality, nutrition and enjoyment - in short, "the very best."
We appreciate your interest in our products and hope you will visit our website often for the latest information on our products and promotions.
Sincerely,
J********
Consumer Response Representative
Nestlebeverage@casupport.com
Ref: N********
Here is this news item concerning Chinese products that have failed inspection:XIAN, China — This is where much of America's apple juice now comes from — the outskirts of historic Xian, where the orchards stretch for miles and miles. Apples are so plentiful here that they are often left to rot in the fields. They are scattered on the ground in old farming villages and pitched against walls by playful little boys like red and gold baseballs.
There are so many apples in China — which over the last two decades turned itself into the world's biggest apple grower — that the world price for apple juice concentrate has been depressed for nearly five years. Apple juice makers in the United States purchase more of China's cheap concentrate every year — though they do not like to talk about it — and every year American apple growers complain of devastating losses. - Export Apple of China's Eye Is, er, Apples - NY Times Article, April 2003 / Posted at Mindfully.org
The Government said, for instance, that canned and preserved fruit and dried fish contained excessive bacteria; that 20 per cent of fruit and vegetable juice was substandard, and that some children's products were defective or laced with harmful chemicals. - The Age, Australia
The vote generally followed party lines: 219 Democrats and four Republicans in favor, and 191 Republicans and 10 Democrats opposed. - Breitbart
This is hardly how the vote is being portrayed in the mainstream media.Reps. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) and John Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.) were the only new defectors though Duncan voted against the 2002 war authorization measure. The other two GOP members to vote with Democrats were Reps. Walter Jones (N.C.) and Wayne Gilchrest (Md.), who have consistently broken with their party on Iraq this year.
Ten Democrats, mostly conservatives, voted against the measure, which passed 223-201.
The lack of Republican defections meant the vote failed to live up to Democratic hopes to put additional pressure on President Bush on the war. That, for now, will be left to the Senate, where several Republicans have publicly broken with Bush in recent weeks and senators are to vote next week on a similar measure. - The Hill
Progess 'possible': US envoy (Audio) - The split between Hamas and Fatah in the Palestinian territories has galvanised Israel, which refuses to deal with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas. The United States has made it clear it wants to relaunch talks on a future Palestinian state. Hear our interview with the US Assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East, David Welch. - BBC Newshour
(55 Seconds into the interview)BBC: Are there any circumstances in under which you would reconsider your approach to Hamas. Many observers are now pointing out that now that Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, although you did describe them as ‘gangsters’ there is now a much more secure environment there.David Welch: Well, that’s because I am not sure who controls the Gaza Strip.BBC: But Hamas leadership does control it and there is a greater, a better security environment than when Fatah was there. This is the observation of people who live in Gaza. Would there be any conditions under which you would say, well actually, perhaps Hamas is an organization that we can deal with?David Welch: Yes, if they were to accept the Quartet principles. Let me say though that Gaza is part of the Palestinian Territories. It is Palestinians who live there and they deserve better and they need attention and support themselves. We would hope to provide that.BBC: Do you forsee that it’s possible to make any progress on Israeli-Palestinian talks, movement towards a two-state solution without Hamas which just a year ago had been elected by the Palestinian people?David Welch: Yes. It is possible to do so and it should be possible now with this new (Abbas Emergency) Government as well. We would hope that Hamas would eventually do what everybody else has seen fit to do which is understand that there is an Israel, it isn’t going to go away and this is not rocket science. If your going to have a two-state solution, the other state is going to be Israel. Second. We would hope that they see fit to agree that negotiations should be pursued in an atmosphere free of violence and terror. And finally, you know there is a body of work that comprises the peace process. Previous agreements, resolutions, decisions and we would hope that the Hamas political party could subscribe to those agreements. But I don’t see them doing it. - BBC direct link to audio interview*
"America is offering political, financial and logistic cover for the Zionist occupation crimes, and it is responsible for the Beit Hanoun massacre. Therefore, the people (Note: Muslims) and the nation all over the globe are required to teach the American enemy tough lessons," Hamas' military wing said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. - Hamas Declares War on USDon't take this post as any indication that I have no problems with Israel. Both sides are at fault. My issue here is with the BBC for it's biased reporting.
Sure, some of the sellers are attempting to take advantage of the hype with huge markups, but some others are charging as low as a $50 markup, which sounds reasonable if you consider the only other option was to spend hours in line. Yet, as you can see, there are two $650 8 gig iPhones above that attracted no bids. Here are some more for sale that attracted no bids:
Here are a couple that did manage to attract buyers, and going for the reasonable, as far as the iPhone is concerned, final price of $650:
Surely there are people who paid over $800 for a $600 iPhone, but that was probably on the first day when the hype was still strong. (Here some idiot paid over $300 for an iPhone bag.) It is just that nobody is ever going to pay that much for your iPhone.
I wonder how deep the support is for this phone to sustain ongoing sales. Or are those who want an iPhone simply going to wait the two-four weeks for the stores to be resupplied, or perhaps for the next generation to be introduced in a year or so?
Surely, you will be able to pickup 8 gig iPhones for well under $600 on eBay in a couple weeks once Apple and AT&T get in new supplies. Even now it makes sense to sell the phone on eBay if you intend to return it given that you'll be charged a $60 restocking fee for the privilege of returning the phone.
Previouse iPhone Post:
Being Less Poor: iPhone Madness - 28 June 2007
Comrade Putin had just completed a long day interrogating suspected enemies of the state. On the way out the gate, a guard instructs him to return to his office. There he finds his boss the General with a puzzled doctor.
General: Comrade Putin. What happened to the prisoners?
Putin, walking to the head of the first body: He ate the mushroom soup.
General: But what about the rest?
Putin, walking down the line: Mushroom soup, Mushroom soup, Mushroom soup, Mushroom soup, Mushroom soup, Mushroom soup, Mushroom soup and Mushroom soup.
Doctor: And what about the last one? (With an obvious bullet wound to the head)
Putin: He refused to eat the mushroom soup.
There are 13 names on that list. Only one managed to escape the Soviets.
Of the 12 that were caught, only one managed to survive his imprisonment. The 11 remaining members died in Soviet captivity, with only one managing to live past the end of 1943. Seven of them simply 'Died'. The other four were shot, most likely for refusing to die.
This would be a joke, but the killing goes on in Russia. Take a look at the List of journalists killed in Russia at Wikipedia which notes that "many of the journalists killed were critical of the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin."
Maybe, just maybe, one day Russia will decide that it wants to be a first-world nation. Until then, it will remain a third-world joke, and a dangerous one at that.
They operate the railships BALI SEA and BANDA SEA.CG Railway, Inc. a subsidiary of International Shipholding Corporation, is a Short Line railroad established March 2000. CG Railway connects the railways of Southern Mexico to the railways serving the United States and Canada - Homepage
Photos are from the presentation available on their homepage.
American Shipper also has a story on the company at "Where the rail meets the water"
This Weeks Items:
Eagle Speak has "Caribbean basin terrorism concerns?". EagleSpeak also has his weekly series "Sunday Ship History: Beach Jumpers"
Shipping Times (UK) has the ITF's backing of the IMO plan to allow foreign warships to enter Somali waters to fight piracy. The hope is that the Somali Government will now request the UN Security Council to approve the plan.
Smit Salvage has raised the MIGHTY SERVANT 3.
Glenn Kasner at Shipspotting has photos (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) of the MIGHTY SERVANT 3 entering drydock in Cape Town, South Africa . (And you thought she was still sitting on the bottom...)
The MSC NAPOLI still remains where it was left, but salvage of the vessel itself continues after full discharge of the cargo was completed in May. It should be refloated any day now.
Cargo Law has the container stack disaster onboard the M/V ITAL FLORIDA.
gCaptain remembers the PIPER ALPHA disaster that took 167 lives. It was the worst offshore oil accident. They also point to other rigs disasters here.
Tims Times appreciates the oxygen he breathes a little bit better, while discussing submarines.
There has been lots in the news about merchant seafarers criticizing how they are treated by the US Coast Guard. Maritime Links provides one perfect example why they are being criticized in the post "Security Farce: Holes in Maritime Security" which includes this jewel:
"recently had the Coast guard come aboard and do a surprise security inspection. I got scolded for not checking their ID and checking their bags"
“The officer in charge showed his ID, while the deputy did not have one. This is against the rules, and it is also against the rules for our ship to have any unknown persons onboard.” The officer in charge insisted on vouching for the deputy. - SHIPGAZ
Scandinavian Shipping Gazette has an interview with an apologetic Captain Villy Larson, the Danish Captain of the DANICA WHITE, who ended up spending 104 days in jail from what appears to be no reason other than the US Coast Guard boarding officer being a jerk. (Note: FFI is highly Pro-Coast Guard!) Summary of the initial incident at Tim's Times (Link redirected to new blog). - Maritime Monday 50
Fairplay Daily News has:IMO – proposal for action on piracy off Somalia - The IMO issued a news release stating that the Council endorsed the proposal of IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon be requested to bring, once again, the piracy situation off Somalia to the attention of the Security Council, so that it may request the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to take appropriate action, including consenting to ships entering its territorial waters when engaging in operations against pirates. (6/29/07). - Dennis Bryant Holland & Knight homepage (Used with Permission)
IMO joins migrant taskforce - LONDON 04 July – More than 100,000 migrants cross the Mediterranean Sea each year, according to estimates from the International Centre on Migration Policy Development; at least 10,000 are thought to have died trying to reach Europe's southern shores over the past decade. The plight of these migrants is now to be addressed by the IMO, which has been working with sister UN agencies, including the refugee agency UNHCR, and others concerned with seaborne migration. At the first meeting, the IMO and UNHCR got together with four other bodies – including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime – to seek a co-ordinated approach. There have been two more inter-agency meetings since then, one hosted by the IMO, and another is to be held at the UNHCR later this year. “The issue causes serious concern in relation to the safety of life at sea, which is IMO’s primary objective,” IMO secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos said in a statement. LR-Fairplay's security news service Sea Sentinel provides regular updates on migrant movements. - Fairplay Homepage (Used with Permission)
The Live Earth event is, in the words of one commentator: "a massive, hypocritical fraud".For while the organisers' commitment to save the planet is genuine, the very process of putting on such a vast event, with more than 150 performers jetting around the world to appear in concerts from Tokyo to Hamburg, is surely an exercise in hypocrisy on a grand scale.Matt Bellamy, front man of the rock band Muse, has dubbed it 'private jets for climate change'.A Daily Mail investigation has revealed that far from saving the planet, the extravaganza will generate a huge fuel bill, acres of garbage, thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions, and a mileage total equal to the movement of an army.The most conservative assessment of the flights being taken by its superstars is that they are flying an extraordinary 222,623.63 miles between them to get to the various concerts - nearly nine times the circumference of the world. The true environmental cost, as they transport their technicians, dancers and support staff, is likely to be far higher. - Daily Mail UK (Go read the whole story)
...the world meat industry produces 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, more than transportation produces. Nitrous oxide in manure (warming effect: 296 times greater than that of carbon) and methane from animal flatulence (23 times greater) mean that "a 16-oz. T-bone is like a Hummer on a plate."Ben & Jerry's ice cream might be even more sinister: A gallon of it requires electricity-guzzling refrigeration and four gallons of milk produced by cows that simultaneously produce eight gallons of manure and flatulence with eight gallons of methane. The cows do this while consuming lots of grain and hay, which are cultivated by using tractor fuel, chemical fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides, and transported by fuel-consuming trains and trucks. - Washington Post
John Trumbull
Oil on canvas, 12' x 18'
Commissioned 1817; purchased 1819; placed 1826
RotundaThe first painting to be completed by Trumbull shows the signing of the Declaration of Independence in what is now called Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776. The painting features the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence--John Adams, Roger Sherman, Thomas Jefferson presenting the document, and Benjamin Franklin--standing before John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress. The painting includes portraits of 42 of the 56 signers and 5 other patriots. The artist sketched the individuals and the room from life.
John Trumbull (1756–1843) was born in Connecticut, the son of the governor. After graduating from Harvard University, he served in the Continental Army under General Washington. He studied painting with Benjamin West in London and focused on history painting. - AOC
070528-N-5459S-004 BALTIC SEA (May 28, 2007) - Guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) approaches guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) during a "Sail Pass" in the Baltic Sea. Mahan recently turned over duties to Normandy as the flagship for Rear Adm Michael K. Mahon, commander of Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Vincent J. Street (RELEASED) - Navy NewsStand
There has been speculation that his parole was granted as part of a covert prisoner swap, in exchange for the release of Susanne Osthoff. Taken hostage in Iraq a month prior, Osthoff was released the week of Hammadi's parole. - Wiki
The Chairperson of the Working Group and the Special Rapporteur note that, while United States Armed Forces continue to be engaged in combat operations in Afghanistan as well as in other countries, they are not currently engaged in an international armed conflict between two Parties to the Third (POWs) and Fourth (civilians) Geneva Conventions. (Pages 13-14 of the report)
Product of China?, June 9, 2007 - I bought some juicy juice from Target recently. It had "Product of China" on the package. I won't take the risk of giving Juicy Juice to my children let alone given all the recent problems coming out of China involving poisened pet food, toothpaste, etc. Why take the risk? People from China living in the U.S. would rather not eat or drink anything from China. Take it from me - I am Chinese and all of my Chinese friends say the same thing. - Amazon
Photos: Fred Fry
This Weeks Items:
EagleSpeak has "China: Taking on flags of convenience" as part of it's attempt to get Chinese-owned vessels to actually register under the Chinese flag. (Russia is also attempting the same. More on that later this week.) EagleSpeak also has his weekly series "Sunday Ship History: A Hero Passes - Rear Adm. Eugene Fluckey"
Cruise Bruise has the grounding of the DISKO II off the Western Coast of Greenland north of the Arctic Circle.
Tims Times has an example of possible danger when the cadet doesn't understand that you are only joking.
Bellona has "The last 17 Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTG) have been taken down from light houses on the coast and sent out for disposal."
The Wall Street Journal has an update of Exxon Mobil and Conoco's problems in Venezuela with the possibility of losing their full interest in the oil fields there, and the further possibility of the Oil Corporations hunting after Venezuela's oil assets abroad including the arrest of tankers carrying Venezuelan crude oil.
PeteRepublic.Org has a problem with the Navy honoring Astronaut Alan Sheppard by naming a 'cargo ship' (USNS ALAN SHEPARD T-AKE-3) after him, believing that he deserves better, such as a carrier to carry his name. (Have faith in that the aircraft carrier you wished named for him is not very useful without unrep vessels like the ALAN SHEPARD.) Update: See the comments below for clarification from Pete.
The Lewis and Clark class of dry cargo ship is the next class of Combat Logistics Force (CLF) underway replenishment vessels to be constructed for the United States Navy. Lewis and Clark-class ships will replace the existing fifteen Mars- and Sirius-class combat store ships and the Kilauea-class ammunition ships. When operating in concert with a Henry J. Kaiser-class oiler the Lewis and Clarks will also replace Sacramento-class combat support ships. The first of the planned twelve ships is scheduled for initial operating capability in 2006, and is being designed for a forty-year service life. The ships will be named for famous American explorers and pioneers. - Wiki
The Monitor has coverage of the capsize of the $50 million clam fishing vessel ATLANTIC SEA HUNTER currently under construction for Clearwater Seafood.
Sailors, Mariners & Warriors League has the collision between the Christian Missionary ship / Christian bookstore LOGOS II and an oyster boat.
Maritime Global Net has news of the largest cattle shipment to Asia. The vessel was the DENEB PRIMA which was highlighted in Maritime Monday 60.
gCaptain provides options in contacting that other ship who is supposed to give way but is not even responding to your radio calls. Also at gCaptain is a compilation of maritime disaster footage. Lots more good stuff there as well.
The June edition of Marine Log is available online. Click the image to visit it:
Neptunus Lex has "When I was a plebe"
Shipping Times (UK) has the launch of the NINA BRES at the Marpro Shipyard in Gdansk, Poland.
Panbo has what you might find inside the Pilot's bag, part 1.
Finland for Thought has "Why Finns Buy Boats" Go and check out the picture he has posted.
MarEx Newsletter has "Congestion in European Ports Expected to Worsen"
Navy Newsstand (US) has the rescue by the French Ship DUPLEIX and USNS KANAWHA of the crew of a North Korean flag cargo vessel in distress in the Arabian Sea.
The Pilot Boat has a safety drill on the FAR SWIFT supply vessel in the Gulf of Mexico.
Wow has photos of the partial collapse of the Jiujiang Bridge on the Xijiang River after being hit by a cargo vessel.
The hospital ship USNS COMFORT is in Belize where it has been treating hundreds of patients.
Kurt of Gerolstein joins the cargo ship M/V TIKEIBANK as a passenger and critiques the accommodation. Once you check that out, go to the homepage and scroll through his record of the voyage, including coverage of the vessel's equator-crossing ceremony.
The Times Online has the ongoing story of the rubber duckies that escaped from a container after falling overboard in the Pacific in 1992 and are about to wash ashore in the UK. Here is a technorati search for the rubber duckies as dozens of people are blogging about it.
Haight's Maritime Items has:
Fairplay Daily News has:The GENERAL SLOCUM casualty - On June 15, 1904, fire broke out on the excursion vessel GENERAL SLOCUM in New York Harbor. The vessel was carrying over 1,300 passengers on an excursion from Manhattan to Long Island Sound. Approximately 1,000 people died in the disaster. Investigation revealed criminal neglect by numerous parties. The master of the vessel, managing directors of the vessel owner, and several officers of the Steamboat Inspection Service were prosecuted. (10/8/1904) - Dennis Bryant Holland & Knight homepage (Used with Permission)
Manning is key to fighting piracy - LONDON 21 June – A "unique insight" into the views of seagoing staff has shown that seafarers regard higher manning levels as their best protection against piracy. Ship officers’ union Nautilus UK conducted a survey on security, including measures to beat piracy, among its UK and Dutch members. Nautilus head of communications Andrew Linington presented its findings to the IMB’s anti-piracy summit in Kuala Lumpur last week. Almost two-thirds of Nautilus respondents said that increased manning would be the move most likely to improve security and reduce the risk of a pirate attack, Linington told the conference. And while most respondents felt their employers took piracy seriously, a substantial number complained of failure to invest in extra manning or equipment. Over half those polled said that the Ship Security Officer role was a worthwhile one – but not if its responsibilities were doled out to a crew member on top of existing duties. “People can’t be security patrollers and do their proper jobs as well”, was one comment received. CCTV and security equipment were other welcome tools, the survey had revealed, while a third of respondents favoured naval protection for merchant shipping, and over 25% favoured armed guards on board. Linington is urging governments and the industry to take the survey’s findings seriously. www.nautilusuk.org - Fairplay Homepage (Used with Permission)
Submissions for future editions:
Please submit articles for inclusion in next week' edition using the following submit form at Blog Carnival. You are also welcome to email photos for inclusion in future editions as well as suggest area of coverage.
** Sponsorship **
Send me an email (address in the sidebar) if you would like to sponsor an edition of Maritime Monday. I accept money and gear.
Previous Editions:
Here or click on the label below 'MaritimeMonday'.
I just don't buy that these guys are out there under some moral conviction to be there. Maybe they were planning to hit on some protester chicks or someone is paying them. Under their definition, most terrorists would not be guilty of torture. (and no, there were no protest chicks there.) This protest is taking place just down the road from Washington, DC whose rampant crime problem is nothing short of terrorism on it's law-abiding residents. Don't expect that problem to be solved any time soon as cracking down on crime is seen as terrorism on the black community.Mir Aimal Kansi was a Pakistani citizen who spent four years on the United States Department of Justice's FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list after he shot five people with an AK-47, killing two, in their cars as they were turning towards the entrance to US CIA headquarters on January 25, 1993. He was captured in Pakistan more than four years later and following a trial, was executed by lethal injection in the state of Virginia, United States in 2002.On the morning of January 25, 1993, he drove his brown Datsun station wagon to the intersection and shot into several cars, killing two people (Frank Darling and Lansing H. Bennett) and injuring three others. He had the opportunity to kill two females but did not do so. Upon being asked why by the FBI, he said that it was because Islam forbade the killing of women.[Really??] After the shooting, he was surprised that he was still alive and returned to his vehicle and fled the scene. He returned to his apartment and went to a convenience store where he purchased an airline ticket through the owner, who also owned a travel agency, and boarded the flight to Pakistan shortly thereafter.On February 9, 1993, The FBI named Kansi as the 435th fugitive to be added on their Top Ten Most Wanted List. The State Department offered a $2 million reward and later increased the reward to $3.5 million. After four and a half years, he was captured. On June 15, 1997, Kansi travelled to the town of Dera Ghazi Khan in central Pakistan as part of a business venture to import Russian electronics into Pakistan. He was captured in an early morning raid led by the FBI and transported to Fairfax, Virginia to stand trial. Kansi suspected that he was set up by his business partners to obtain the reward money offered by the United States.Although he pled not guilty at trial, he did not deny the acts. He was convicted and sentenced to death. He died by lethal injection in a Virginia state prison on November 14, 2002.When his body arrived in Quetta, Pakistan, many of his hometown residents welcomed him like a hero. - Extracted from his Wikipedia Entry.
I am against torture yet I could not push myself to honk the horn. For that, she gave me the evil eye. This woman should be sent to Gitmo to simply stare at the prisoners. She is sure to scare them much more than the Government can.
