IT'S NOT EVEN NEW YEAR AND EASTER EGGS ARE ALREADY ON SALE

By Tamara Cohen 30th December 2010

After all the indulgence of Christmas, many of us will surely be glad to see the back of turkey and mince pies.

What is less certain, however, is whether we are quite ready to stomach Easter eggs.

But such thinking did not deter one supermarket which started selling them on Christmas Eve, four months before Easter.

The store’s Christmas tree is still standing, yet next to shelves of leftover festive food sit treats including Disney Easter Egg Hunt Buckets and Cadbury Easter Egg Trail Packs.

Hard to stomach: Easter eggs are already on the shelves of the Tesco Metro store in Portslade, East Sussex, with customers accusing them of jumping the gun

Customers were shocked to see staff putting out the eggs in a decorative Easter display at the Tesco Metro in Portslade, East Sussex, and many accused the store of jumping the gun.

Carol Weatherhead, from London, pointed out the confused religious symbolism of blurring the festivals, one celebrating Christ’s birth and one commemorating his death.

She wrote on the social networking site Twitter yesterday: ‘He’s no sooner been born than they are trying to crucify him – my local Tesco Metro is full to the rafters with Easter eggs already.’

James Devile, from London, wrote: ‘On the fifth day of Christmas I bought everyone Creme Eggs from the new Easter aisle in Tesco.’

A Tesco spokesman said: ‘Basically we put them on sale now because that’s what people want. There is a huge clamour for Creme Eggs as soon as they go on sale.

‘We think that at least for the week between Boxing Day and the start of the New Year they will be our most in-demand chocolate treat.’

This is believed to be a record early start. Last year a Tesco in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, came under fire for selling Easter eggs in January.

REVIEW OF OUR ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN

Tom Hyland September 26, 2010

THE federal cabinet's national security committee has ordered a review of Australia's role in Afghanistan, amid mounting casualties and claims troops are being denied essential combat support.

The review was ordered by the committee when it last met before the August election. It comes before a promised parliamentary debate on Australia's commitment to the war, now in its ninth year. There are 1550 Australian troops in Afghanistan.

Separately, the defence force is looking at factors behind this year's spike in casualties; 10 of the 21 Australian deaths in the war happened this year.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith revealed the review last week when he was questioned on leaked claims by an Australian soldier that troops lacked essential firepower in a battle on August 24 in which a soldier was killed.

The review, aimed to inform the incoming government, was ''ongoing'', he said.

A spokeswoman for Mr Smith did not respond to questions from The Sunday Age about the nature of the review, and when it would be completed.

''The government has previously said that our military commitment in Afghanistan is constantly under review to ensure that our policy settings are appropriate to the task,'' the spokeswoman said.

While opinion polls show growing popular opposition to Australian's commitment, the government also faces increasing criticism from ex-army officers over the lack of artillery and helicopter support for the troops.

This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/national/review-of-our-role-in-afghanistan-20100925-15ro5.html

COUNCIL LOOKS TO STUB OUT OUTDOOR SMOKING

Council looks to stub out outdoor smoking

Jason Dowling
September 13, 2010 - 3:00AM

SMOKING may soon be banned outdoors at cafes and football and other sports events in parts of Melbourne.

Monash City Council will vote tomorrow on a motion to begin community consultation on new outdoor smoking bans. Monash was the first in Victoria to ban smoking in playgrounds.

Cr Micaela Drieberg said although no specific outdoor areas had been nominated in a council report, they could involve alfresco dining, sporting and recreational clubs and shopping strips.

She nominated Eaton Mall in Oakleigh as one area that could come under attention.

''I think people want to be able to enjoy a meal or a coffee or just sitting outside with friends and family, especially as the weather is getting warmer, and not have to be exposed to second-hand smoke,'' Cr Drieberg said.

''They have just as much right to fresh air as a smoker has the right to smoke in certain places,'' she said.

Cr Drieberg said the community was interested in tighter smoking rules.

''It's about giving everyone the opportunity for fresh air, it's about giving everyone the opportunity to live in a place that is a healthy community and it is about de-normalising smoking and decreasing the amount of litter from cigarette butts.''

Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie said many councils in New South Wales had already moved to limit smoking in outdoor areas.

''There is some increasing evidence to show that in outdoor eating areas that have canopies or awnings over the top, people who eat in those areas or sit in those areas are still at risk of second-hand smoke,'' Ms Sharkie said.

''We want to see more smoke-free legislation and more smoke-free areas in [places] like sporting areas for the purposes of de-normalising smoking, particularly to children.''

''The majority of people don't smoke and the majority of people would prefer to have these areas smoke free and even a large proportion of smokers agree on smoke-free legislation.''

She said about 17 per cent of adults in Victoria were daily or weekly smokers.

Heart Foundation chief executive Kathy Bell said the time had come to further restrict where people could smoke.

''Smoking is the leading cause of avoidable chronic illness and hospitalisation, not only from lung cancer, but also heart disease, so we really want to help save lives and help save suffering,'' she said.

''No parent wants their child to smoke and if kids see people smoking all the time it makes them think smoking is something that is normal and OK,'' she said.

A spokeswoman for cigarette company Philip Morris said: ''We do not believe that banning smoking in outdoor public places is the right approach.

''We believe smoking should be allowed in outdoor public spaces, except areas intended primarily for children.

''In establishments such as restaurants and cafes, proprietors should be free to decide whether to permit, restrict, or prohibit smoking,'' she said.

This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/council-looks-to-stub-out-outdoor-smoking-20100912-15709.html