Education Official Hits Out At 'Junk Food' Media

Education Official Hits Out At 'Junk Food' Media
http://www.pmc.aut.acnz/pacific-media-watch/2011-03-24/fiji-education-minister-hits-out-junk-food-media

SUVA (The Fiji Times/Pacific Media Centre/Pacific Media Watch): The media has become the storyteller in most homes in Fiji, says a senior Education Ministry official.

Principal education officer Tomasi Raiyawa said the media - as the storyteller - "dished out lies" and even prevented people from attending church in favour of viewing the Hong Kong 7s.

The media had also given rise to neighbourly competition and subsequently theft, he told participants at the Fiji Media Watch's community based workshop in Suva earlier this week.

Families could barely make ends meet and were led to steal to meet the needs and wants of their respective families, he said.

Through the media, culture and taste has changed, Raiyawa said.

He said the rise in obesity in the country's three major ethnicities was partly attributed to the influence of advertisements for junk food.

The media was also the cause for the increase in cost of domestic bills, Raiyawa said.

"I switch off the power box for some peace at home," he said adding that through such means he was able to take the time to talk to his family members and reduce the cost of domestic bills.

The media, he said, bred a culture of dependency on the use of and need for internet and television.

ENDS

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