| Tweet |
さすがは英国が誇る「ジ・インデペンデント」紙だけあって、記者も読者も議論の内容にユーモアがあると分かるが、コケにされて笑われた日本政府やG8のリーダーのノー天気ぶりは、こんなバカ騒ぎに税金を無駄遣いされた日本国民にとり、それこそ踏んだりけったりの大盤振る舞いということになつて増税の口実になりそうだ。コメントの傑作は安倍首相を「腰抜けファシス」という形容わ使ったEagleさんか、マチルダのワルツを歌いながら、この豚のサミットをDarfurの難民キャンプでやるべきだと思ったMAさんかのどちらかだと思うが、発言に豚やヒポクラットという言葉が並んでいて壮観だ。
THE INDEPENDENT
Over caviar and sea urchin, G8 leaders mull food crisis
By Andrew Grice, Political Editor in Hokkaido
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
AP
Wives of the G8 leaders at a social event in Hokkaido yesterday
World leaders are not renowned for their modest wine selections or reticence at the G8 summit's cheese board. True to form, discussing the global food crisis – spiralling grocery prices in the developed world and starvation in Africa – was clearly hungry work that left their stomachs rumbling.
Shortly after calling for us all to waste less food, and for an end to three-for-two deals in British supermarkets, Gordon Brown joined his fellow G8 premiers and their wives for an eight-course Marie Antoinette-style "Blessings of the Earth and the Sea Social Dinner", courtesy of the Japanese government.
The global food shortage was not evident. As the champagne flowed, the couples enjoyed 18 "higher-quality ingredients", beginning with amuse-bouche of corn stuffed with caviar, smoked salmon and sea urchin pain-surprise-style, hot onion tart and winter lily bulbs.
With translations helpfully provided by the hosts, the starter menu (second course) read like a meal in itself. A folding fan-modelled tray decorated with bamboo grasses carried eight delicacies: kelp-flavoured cold Kyoto beef shabu-shabu, with asparagus dressed with sesame cream; diced fatty flesh of tuna fish, with avocado and jellied soy sauce and the Japanese herb shiso; boiled clam, tomato and shiso in jellied clear soup of clam; water shield and pink conger dressed with a vinegary soy sauce; boiled prawn with jellied tosazu-vinegar; grilled eel rolled around burdock strip; sweet potato; and fried and seasoned goby with soy sauce and sugar.
That was followed by a hairy crab kegani bisque-style soup and salt-grilled bighand thornyhead with a vinegary water pepper sauce. The main course brought the "meat sweats" – poele of milk-fed lamb flavoured with aromatic herbs and mustard, as well as roasted lamb with black truffle and pine seed oil sauce. For the cheese course, the Japanese offered a special selection with lavender honey and caramelised nuts. It was followed by a "G8 fantasy dessert" and coffee served with candied fruits and vegetables.
This was washed down with Le Reve grand cru/La Seule Gloire champagne; a sake wine, Isojiman Junmai Daiginjo Nakadori; Corton-Charlemagne 2005 (France); Ridge California Monte Bello 1997 and Tokaji Esszencia 1999 (Hungary).
The G8 leaders had earlier made do with a "working lunch" of white asparagus and truffle soup; kegani crab; supreme of chicken; and cheese and coffee with petit fours. The lubrication of choice, for those drinking, was Chateau Grillet 2005.
The TV cameras were sadly not allowed to loiter long enough to discover whether Mr Brown practised what he preaches by not wasting any of his food. The Prime Minister has been shocked by the finding that an average British household could save about £420 a year by not throwing away edible food.
It is a fair bet that much more than that was wasted last night at the opulent Windsor Hotel in Toya, 30 miles from the general public and with 20,000 special police officers for security. Sixty chefs were flown in for the occasion, foremost among them the Michelin-starred Katsuhiro Nakamura.
The total cost of staging the event on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido is estimated at £285m, enough to buy 100 million mosquito nets, and dwarfing the £85m Britain spent on the Gleneagles summit three years ago.
"If it costs this much for them to meet, they had better make some serious decisions to increase aid to poor countries," said Max Lawson, senior policy officer at Oxfam. "If they are just going to sit around and eat, while millions of people face starvation, that is not good enough. They must act– not eat."
While the dinner went on, officials from the G8 nations haggled late into the night over the summit declaration on aid to the poorest nations. Pressure groups fear the G8 is trying to water down the commitment it made at Gleneagles to double aid to poor countries to $50bn by 2010. They want the figure included in this week's statement, rather than a restatement that Africa will receive $25bn by then, and single out France and Italy for criticism. "It's 50-50," one aid campaigner said.
Andrew Mitchell, the Conservatives' international development spokesman, said: "Surely it is not unreasonable for each leader to give a guarantee that they will stand by their solemn pledges of three years ago at Gleneagles to help the world's poor. All of us are watching, waiting and listening."
Bush's prayer for end to tyranny
"I wish for a world free from tyranny: the tyranny of hunger, disease and free from tyrannical governments," was George Bush's wish, handwritten on a piece of parchment and tied to a bamboo tree as part of the Japanese Tanabata festival.
The annual ceremony, which this year coincided with Japan's hosting of the G8 summit, is based on the myth of two star-crossed lovers condemned to meet only once a year in the Milky Way on 7 July. Every summer Japanese people write prayers on thin strips of paper and hang them in bamboo branches in the hope their wishes will be granted.
"I wish for a world in which the universal desire for liberty is realised. I wish for the advance of new technologies that will improve the human condition and protect our environment. I wish God's blessings on all," Mr Bush concluded.
Gordon Brown, mindful of the third anniversary of the London bombings, sought an end to terrorism as well as to poverty.
Comments
27 Comments
Wonderful that Britains very own Mr Creosote should be able to offer food management advice for the the silly peasants of the UK.Posted by Gandi | 10.07.08, 01:03 GMT
I am sure they felt guilty eating up like that. NOT. And here are people like me coaxing chickens to lay and tomato plants to produce *something*. Our world is dying, and the powers that be are killing it. The sumptuous feast described proves it. Posted by Brian | 09.07.08, 18:15 GMT
And afterwards you are surprised that men like Chavez or Castro appears Posted by Jean Pierre | 09.07.08, 14:52 GMT
You say you want a revolution.. Posted by Steve | 09.07.08, 10:23 GMT
Leaders of the G8 are assembling in Hokkaido and their wives for an eight-course "Blessings of the Earth and the Sea Social Dinner", courtesy of the Japanese government. World journalists know very little about Japanese under and over table politics with caviar, smoked salmon and sea urchin to hide poor political quality of the Japanese Prime Minister. There is an interesting comment in the book "Mountains of Dreams" by Dr. Fujiwara as follows;
“In summer 2007, Abe’s governing LDP suffered a humiliating defeat in an Upper House election, and Abe’s refusal to step down as prime minister irked many voters and politicians. However, two months later, Abe suddenly announced his resignation. This chicken fascist tried to escape in the face of the enemy.
Immediately, the LDP picked Yasuo Fukuda as its chairman. Fukuda became Japan’s new prime minister, despite his lack of ministerial experience….”
Now I understand so why Japanese government prepared Marie Antoinette-style Dinner. Posted by Sherrie Eagle | 09.07.08, 07:06 GMT
The "annual ceremony" of the reunion of two lovers stems from a chinese myth.....Posted by Silver | 09.07.08, 05:17 GMT
It also strikes me as ironic that, not only does Japan over package everything, but the amount of food discarded daily by 120 million people cannot be imagined.On top of that the Japanese Government dissallows its farmers to grow as much rice as thet want to (or can)- leaving land fallow and ensuring a market price for rice of around US$4 a kilo -go figure if anyone at the G8 is serious.Posted by Gregory | 09.07.08, 04:25 GMT
Pigs with they'r snout in the throe!!!!!Posted by Boris | 09.07.08, 04:07 GMT
The nicest word that comes to mind.....hypocrites.
The only good thing to come out of this would be for the average citizen of the world to learn to simply cultivate a profound and abiding attitude of indifference to their respective politicians. These guys can't stand not feeling important and not being at the center of attention. Ignore the SOBs. Live your lives as creatively as possible on a local scale, fight government encroachment on your rights at a local level, and hide all the money you can from the tax collector. Posted by Dennis Spain | 09.07.08, 03:53 GMT
HOW WOULD JESUS VOTE? If He were a member of the G-8, how would he view the issues to be voted upon, and the votes cast?Posted by Jacques | 09.07.08, 03:12 GMT
I've never been terribly proud to be an American, mostly because of our foreign policies and bullying. There is also damned near everything else and we seem to take down with us whomever we come into contact with. I mean IQ points and other things. But since Bush came to office, I've hung my head in utter shame. This is another slice on the cake. And of course, taking all other world leaders with it. The whole affair is disgusting. They are all disgusting. I love my country, but I loathe my government. As stated, they are pigs of the lowest caliber.Posted by WhiteSage | 09.07.08, 01:41 GMT
What is wrong with fish & chips and a bottle of white plunk ?Posted by Claude Piquemal | 08.07.08, 23:35 GMT
I wish for an end to hypocritical politicians dictating to us what we do with the leftovers in our fridges, while they blow half a billion freaking US dollars to have a chin-wag.
Posted by David | 08.07.08, 23:32 GMT
Thank you for an interesting article. Posted by janye | 08.07.08, 18:16 GMT
Hypocrisy lives!It's all just hope, and crossed fingers at the G8 meeting, lots of wasted time , and very lttle action. Meanwhile the world population is determined to breed itself into oblivion!Posted by David Vinter, | 08.07.08, 16:28 GMT
It would have been so much more sensible for Brown to keep his mouth shut on the topic of food waste before filling his face at this junket.But sensible behaviour and Brown do not gel.Posted by r.tanneau | 08.07.08, 15:35 GMT
Its good to hear fools critise fools. You all vote for people to represent you, and yet dont like what they do when in power. So what if they have an extravagant meal, no point in being the boss if you dont get the perks. Remember without money and class systems no one would be available to do the lower paid and menial jobs. i'm just surprised they didnt get a better class of beverage! Posted by LB | 08.07.08, 14:31 GMT
285 million pounds spent on this event !!
it's 2008, when will man's indifference to man cease ? Posted by pat | 08.07.08, 14:08 GMT
Reminds me of a song called "And the Band played waltzing Matilda".
This summit shoould have been held in Darfur in the refugees camps and the straving people made to sit around and watch the excesseses of these renowned(?) world leaders like pigs at the trough. Do you think they would have walked out alive?
Vote the bastards out and install a new bunch of bastards who have similiar views of the state of the world. And the band played waltzing Matilda.Posted by MA | 08.07.08, 13:17 GM
Pigs feeding at the trough of global misery created by their incompetence and greed. Why is Murdock's pet foreigner (Brown) allowed to dictate to us, He is not English and has no morality or decency.Posted by Keith | 08.07.08, 12:53 GMT
If Bush had wanted to protect the environment so bloody bad, he had nearly 8 years to do something about it for the USA. Hollow words. I would be interested though, to see Gordon's, though I still think its a pity that he will be the fall guy for Blair's faith-driven delusions whilst in office.
But none of this surprises me. As long as people are willing to be led by these people like a pack of Herefords, listen to only what they want to hear, and happy to turn their backs on "That which does not directly affect them" this will happen, and as resources are strained, it will get worse, and their vulgar displays of excess in the face of suffering will continue unabated.
Bad form, people. Bad form.Posted by K Douglas | 08.07.08, 12:15 GMT
Gordon's "moral compass" seems to have a bit of a problem finding its way these days.
The unelected prime minister wouldn't know a principle if it ran over him.Posted by Mikko | 08.07.08, 11:51 GMT
Typical! They wouldn't know a food crisis if it smacked them in the mouth.Posted by Michael Hayward | 08.07.08, 11:37 GMT
" OLD FATHER TAMES KEEPS ROLLING ALONG WHATEVER THE END MAY BE..." HENRY VIII-FRANZ JOSEPH-LOUIS XIV-OSCAR III-MARIE ANTOINETT-AND SO MANY OTHERS ARE STILL "LIVING" AND HAVING A VERY GOOD TIME NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REST OF MANKIND.Posted by Enrique | 08.07.08, 11:36 GMT
Should we be outraged at this unashamed debauched wastefulness?
Or should we sit back and say "Told you so.."
Yet again, our "noble leaders" have shown they have feet of clay. Wahta miserable pantomime collection of clowns, eating and sleeping at vast expense, while considering the fate of starving millions all round the world.
Hypocrisy is not strong enough. This is criminal , cynical lust and gluttony. It really is a sick joke, with sickos like these trying to persuade the rest of the world they're being philanthropic!!
I wonder why the vote in elections is dwindling, why the public is so sour and disillusioned... Yet another nail in the coffin of respect for politicians.
Posted by Cary Elcome | 08.07.08, 11:08 GMT
going to get a 50% decrease in greenhouse gases after eating that lot. Complain about this commentPosted by Chris Pannell | 08.07.08, 10:59 GMT
▲このページのＴＯＰへ HOME > 政治・選挙・ＮＨＫ51掲示板
フォローアップ:- Re: 日本政府がゾンビ政府だったことが証明された カオスモス 2008/7/10 12:04:55
(0)
- 洞爺湖サミットの本当の議題 スパイラルドラゴン 2008/7/10 10:29:04
(2)
- Re: 洞爺湖サミットの本当の議題 語巻き 2008/7/10 12:13:09
(1)
- 少なくともあなたのような名無しのよりも、社会的信用力と情報収集分析能力は高い思いますよ。 スパイラルドラゴン 2008/7/10 12:29:08
(0)
- 少なくともあなたのような名無しのよりも、社会的信用力と情報収集分析能力は高い思いますよ。 スパイラルドラゴン 2008/7/10 12:29:08
(0)
- Re: 洞爺湖サミットの本当の議題 語巻き 2008/7/10 12:13:09
(1)
投稿コメント全ログ コメント即時配信 スレ建て依頼 削除コメント確認方法
題名には必ず「阿修羅さんへ」と記述してください。
掲示板,ＭＬを含むこのサイトすべての
一切の引用、転載、リンクを許可いたします。確認メールは不要です。
引用元リンクを表示してください。