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Crikey Whistleblower Archive ABC's Catalyst ignores whistleblower

Tom Lonsdale
Animal activist and anti pet food campaigner

You have to admire a whistleblower with a website called: rawmeatybones.com. So when Tom Lonsdale responded to our call for Australian whistleblowers who've received poor coverage due to their dissenting opinions, we had to give him a run. Below are details of his dealings with Catalyst which he claims suppressed his "multi-billion dollar consumer and scientific fraud story".

March 13, 2003

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whistleblower US hypocrisy paralyses UN
RAW MEATY BONES vs CATALYST

At 14:51 2/08/2002 +0100, Tom Lonsdale wrote:

Dear Mr Moore,

In response to a request for 'compelling' science stories I wrote to Owen Craig on 8 March 2002 and again on 11 April 2002. I provided him with a copy of my book Raw Meaty Bones and http://www.rawmeatybones.com/ web address.

It seems to me that the Raw Meaty Bones stories, whether taken severally or jointly, meet the criteria laid down by Catalyst (see February media request below).

Please note that the Law Society Journal and the University of Sydney Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science have given the book solid support. In the UK The Sunday Times commissioned me to write about the issues. In the USA, where I'm about to begin a four city lecture and media tour, concerned pet owners have united to bring legal action against the pet food companies (see http://www.rawmeatybones.com/).

Despite the importance of the issues, five months has elapsed without a response.

Does this non-response accord with ABC TV Science Unit policies? When will the ABC TV Science Unit investigate these matters? When can I expect a reply?

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely
Tom Lonsdale

'CATALYST' program - ABC TV Science Unit

Catalyst, produced by the ABC-TV Science Unit, has returned for another series of 20 episodes in the new timeslot of 8pm on Thursday nights. The first episode went to air last week.

Right now they're searching hard around Australia for compelling science stories that provide new insight into the world of science, and are capable of engaging the interest of a broad audience.

They're still focussing on fascinating, good quality and groundbreaking science and research, but are also looking for some additional elements. They want to combine scientific stories with the classic principles of dramatic story-telling. This could involve a debate over a particular piece of science or research, a moral dilemma or ethical issue to explore, a strong character who's on a mission to achieve a goal, a political stouch concerning the best way to act on the scientific solution to a problem, and even exploring conflict between scientists themselves where appropriate.

In summary: They want to tell a good story and inform and educate the viewers about the science involved as they go, challenging them to think more deeply and carefully about their world and the science behind their lives.

If you've got a good science story, but you're not sure about the story-telling elements, just give Owen Craig a call or email your thoughts and he'll chat about the possibilities with you.

Contact any of the research team by phone, email Owen directly, or email all of them at once via the Catalyst researchers' email address catalyst1@your.abc.net.au. The "Catalyst1" email address is also best for regular media releases and newsletters.


At 09:27 PM 1/09/2002, Owen Craig wrote:

Dear Tom,

First of all, my apologies for taking so long to respond to your email to Stefan Moore, CC'd to me, regarding your book - 'Raw Meaty Bones'. As we receive so many suggestions for stories, it is sometimes difficult to reply quickly to them all.

I did first look at your book when it was mailed to me for review, with a form letter, in August 2001. I decided not to take up the story at that time for a number of reasons. Chiefly, however, because we tend to try and cover science and technology stories that are new and groundbreaking. The story that packaged pet food has a detrimental effect on pets' health has been well reported since at least 1996.

At around the same time that you sent me a letter in April of this year (2002) which suggested we take a look at your book as the basis for a story on Catalyst, I believe we had telephone discussion about your book. At the time I regarded that your query had been dealt with via the telephone call and that no formal reply was required.

We get many hundreds of suggestions for possible stories each year - both from the public and from the scientific community - and only very few actually make it on to the show for a whole variety of reasons. I will, however, take another look at your book and see if there is something new we can add to the topic. If we do decide to seek more information, I will contact you directly.

Thanks again for your story suggestion, and I hope your upcoming promotional tour in the US goes well.

Best regards
Owen Craig


At 14:49 5/09/2002 -0400, Tom Lonsdale wrote:

Dear Mr Moore,

The correspondence below tells a sorry tale.

i.) It has taken five months and four separate enquiries to your program to elicit one disingenuous reply.

ii.) I do not share Mr Owen's belief that he spoke with me on the telephone.

iii.) Mr Owen asserts: 'The story that packaged pet food has a detrimental effect on pets' health has been well reported since at least 1996.' The commercial TV stations have touched on the subject. When has the ABC Science unit (radio or TV) dealt with this issue, whether superficially or in depth?

iv.) The book Raw Meaty Bones is about much more than the detrimental effects of packaged pet foods. It meets or exceeds your criteria:

They're still focussing on fascinating, good quality and groundbreaking science and research, but are also looking for some additional elements. They want to combine scientific stories with the classic principles of dramatic story-telling. This could involve a debate over a particular piece of science or research, a moral dilemma or ethical issue to explore, a strong character who's on a mission to achieve a goal, a political stouch concerning the best way to act on the scientific solution to a problem, and even exploring conflict between scientists themselves where appropriate.

v.) Mr Owen seems to have been aware of the detrimental effects of packaged pet foods, at least since 1996. You may be aware that Robyn Williams and Jonica Newby were exposed by ABC Media Watch (in the case of Newby on three separate occasions) for alleged improper use of the ABC airwaves to promote those same detrimental products.

vi.) Jonica Newby was a long time 'consultant' to the Pet Care Information and Advisory Service, which Stuart Littlemore told viewers: 'It seems fair to say, is nothing more than a front for the multinational pet food manufacturer Mars, through its Australian subsidiary Uncle Bens.'

vii.) Jonica Newby's father, I'm informed, is (was) a high ranking Mars executive.

viii.) Despite the apparent awareness, since 1996, of the activities of Williams and Newby they both are now employed on your program. Simultaneously your program fails even to extend the common courtesy of responding to correspondence regarding matters of considerable scientific and economic interest.

Please advise if the employment of Williams and Newby on your program has any bearing on whether you will adequately deal with the pet food scam and the veterinary profession collusion with the pet food makers.

If your employment of Williams and Newby has no bearing then please advise when you propose to enter into discussions to ensure that the ABC Science unit acquits itself of its responsibilities to the Australian public in respect to the pet food scam and the veterinary profession collusion with the pet food makers.

Yours sincerely
Tom Lonsdale


At 02:31 AM 6/09/2002, Stefan Moore wrote:

Dear Mr. Lonsdale,

We have received your email of 6 September regarding Catalyst's decision not to produce a piece related to the topic of your book "Raw Meaty Bones".

As Executive Producer of the ABC TV Science Unit I make the final decision about what stories are covered. You have been informed by the head of our research unit that Catalyst is not interested in doing a story about the pet food issue at this time. That decision remains unchanged.

Thank you for your interest in Catalyst.

Stefan Moore
Executive Producer
ABC TV Science


At 14:30 6/09/2002 -0400, Tom Lonsdale wrote:

Dear Mr Moore,

Thank you for confirming the attitude behind the conduct of the ABC TV 'Science' Unit.

It seems reasonable to expect the ABC, at the very least, to present both sides of an important issue. Where one side of an issue is known to be harmful to the interests of the community then it would be reasonable for the ABC to take sides with the community.

In this instance, concerned with multinationals obtaining influence and poisoning the community's animals, the ABC 'Science' Unit has sided with the multinational corporations. The alternative view does not get an airing -- although your researcher Mr Craig says the issue 'has been well reported'.

ABC viewers and ABC management deserve the opportunity to form their own opinions on this important topic. Please supply contact details for the head of the ABC.

Yours sincerely
Tom Lonsdale

PS. The dictionary defines poison as a substance that when introduced into or absorbed by a living organism causes death or injury -- commercial pet foods, the diet of most pets, poison three ways.









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