Om Shri Ganeshaye Namah.

Before Ganesh and Laxmi poojan this year on Diwali, make sure you sign this petition to stop insult of our faith, belief and Gods.

In the year 2013, it first came in to our notice that Sydney based "4 Pines Brewing Company" is selling a product "Brookvale Union Ginger Beer" with a very offensive and insensitive label on the beer bottle bearing a mix image of Hindu deities Ganesha and Laxmi. On approaching the brewery, they portrayed as if they understood the issue and promised to redesign the label going up to the extent of calling upon designer to help with redesigning. 

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/offensive-hindu-brookvale-union-ginger-beer-label-to-be-redesigned/story-fngr8hax-1226761256498

Time went past and the Indian community thought that the matter has resolved and the beer label will now be changed. But, in January 2015 we were again notified by the community that the label is still there. On examining what we found can only be defined as an attempt by 4 pines Brewery to fool us. The company did redesigned the label but without any major changes and it still looks like a morphed image of Hindu deities.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/new-controversy-brews-over-offensive-ginger-beer-brand-using-hindu-imagery-20150109-12kv0j.html

This can only be defined as an act of complete ignorance towards the Indian and Hindu society of Australia. We find it completely disgraceful, humiliating, disrespectful and insulting towards Hindu religion and Indian community. The god Ganesha and goddess Laxmi have big significance and is not only worshiped in Hindu homes but also in homes of other faiths coming from India and South Asia. Having Hindu religious symbols or gods on beer bottles is not acceptable to our society and will not be tolerated.

It is disappointing to see that where on one hand the Indian Festival of Diwali is being celebrated with full excitement in all major Australian Cities, there is such ignorance and acts of disrespect towards same god which are worshiped on Diwali in every house to kick off Diwali celebrations around the world.

We call upon 4 Pines Brewery to withdraw this label immediately and not use any symbol resembling to or having significance to followers of Hindu faith and Indian community. While the 4 Pines Brewery is responsible for changing and withdrawing the label, we are also calling upon Woolworths Ltd and Dan Murphy's owned by them to withdraw this product from sale. We also call upon Australian Liquor Marketers owned by Metcash Ltd to refrain from distributing this product to their liquor stores and supermarkets under famous buying group brandings we won't name at this stage to protect their image and giving them a chance to take action on this as we believe they are innocently involved.