Environment

Fenton Communications Helps Rainforest Action Network

Submitted by Laura Miller on

Fenton Communications is helping the Rainforest Action Network respond to a conservative non-profit group's claims that RAN illegally uses tax-deductible donations to fund its advocacy campaigns. In a move that could begin what the Wall Street Journal called a "war of the non-profits," Washington, D.C.-based Frontiers of Freedom, which bills itself the "antithesis" of the green movement, has urged the Internal Revenue Service to revoke RAN's tax-exempt status.

No
Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, June 25, 2001
Topics: 
Environment
Public Relations

"Biodevastation" Facing Biotech Industry

Submitted by John Stauber on

In San Diego the annual meeting of BIO, the official trade and lobby association of the genetic engineering industry, is facing huge demonstrations from family farmers, consumers, environmentalist and others outraged at US policies that have forced untested, unlabeled GE foods onto the market. Industry front groups including the American Council on Science and Health and the Guest Choice Network are viciously attacking the real citizens groups in news releases and on websites such as www.guestchoice.com.

No
Main Source: 
http://www.biodev.org/calendar/cal_23.html
Topics: 
Genetic Engineering

Genetically Modified Canola Becoming a Weed

Submitted by Laura Miller on

Genetically modified (GM) canola is appearing in farmers' fields where it wasn't planted, and because the plant has been engineered to resist conventional herbicides, it's tough to kill. "The GM canola has, in fact, spread much more rapidly than we thought it would," said Martin Entz, a plant scientist at the University of Manitoba. "It's absolutely impossible to control." Monsanto, which created one of the GM canola strains, says that if farmers call the company, they'll send out a team to manually pull up the weeds.

No
Main Source: 
CBC News, June 22, 2001
Topics: 
Genetic Engineering

"Beware of Anti-Biotech Propaganda," says ACSH

Submitted by Laura Miller on

The industry-funded American Council on Science and Health is warning journalists to beware of accepting misleading information presented by activists protesting the Bio 2001 conference being held in San Diego June 24-27. ACSH wants journalists to report on what it views as the sound science used by the biotech industry to demonstrate the safety of biofoods.

No
Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, June 22, 2001
Topics: 
Genetic Engineering

Industry's "Environmental Excellence" Award Winners

Submitted by Laura Miller on

The 2001 Environmental Excellence Awards, presented by International Paper and The Conservation Fund were presented to William H. Crawford of Frederick, Okla., and Keith Etheridge of East Lansing, Mich. Each award is accompanied by a $10,000 grant from the International Paper Company Foundation.

No
Main Source: 
Press Release, June 21, 2001
Topics: 
Corporate Social Responsibility
Environment

Conservative Think Tank Attacks Tax Status of Environmental Group

Submitted by Laura Miller on

The conservative Frontiers of Freedom Institute has petitioned the Internal Revenue Service to rescind nonprofit status for the San Francisco environmental group Rainforest Action Network (RAN). The Arlington, VA-based research and education group--funded by the John M. Olin Foundation, the Bradley Foundation, and other right-wing foundations--has condemned RAN for being "fundamentally radical, anti-capitalist and lawless." Environmentalists worry this may have a chilling effect on activist organizations.

No
Main Source: 
San Francisco Chronicle, June 21, 2001
Topics: 
Right Wing
Environment
Think Tanks

Sierra Blanca Sludge Field to Shut Down

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

In Toxic Sludge Is Good For You we described a PR campaign to rename sewage sludge as "biosolids" so that it could be used as fertilizer. We also detailed the implementation of this plan by New York City, which began shipping its sludge in 1992 to help "fertilize" Sierra Blanca, a tiny, impoverished town in Texas. Now New York has cancelled its sludge disposal contract, but will leave behind the world's largest sludge field.

No
Main Source: 
El Paso Times, June 19, 2001
Topics: 
Sludge

Nevada Plans $4-Million Fight Against Yucca Mountain Nuclear Site

Submitted by Laura Miller on

The Nevada State Legislature allocated $4 million for PR and legal fees to stop the creation of a nuclear waste depository at Yucca Mountain. PR Week quotes an unnamed Washington public affairs executive predicting that the PR contract would attract an unusual selection of bidders, because any company with nuclear interests would support the creation of the Yucca Mountain site, and most large PR agencies are likely to have clients that would be in direct or in indirect conflict with the state's campaign. "The pro-nuke side is much more lucrative," said the executive.

No
Main Source: 
PR Week, June 18, 2001
Topics: 
Nuclear Power

ExxonMobil Emerges as Major Funder of "Greenhouse Skeptics"

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

ExxonMobil, the world's largest oil group, has become a major funder of the most visible "greenhouse skeptics", most of whom who have traditionally been funded by the coal industry -- including S. Fred Singer, Patrick Michaels, Robert Balling and Sherwood Idso. Now the Guardian of London reports that ExxonMobil is planning a public relations offensive to win back consumers and investors, amid fears the company is losing the war of words over climate change.

No
Main Source: 
http://www.heatisonline.org/contentserver/objecthandlers/index.cfm?id=3645&metho…
Topics: 
Climate Change

Oil Companies Spy on Environmentalists

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Since 1995, a private intelligence firm with close links to the British government's MI6 spy agency has been working for Shell and BP oil, collecting information on green activists. The firm's agent, who posed as a left-wing sympathiser and film maker, was asked to betray plans of Greenpeace's activities against oil giants. He also tried to dupe Anita Roddick's Body Shop group to pass on information about its opposition to Shell's oil drilling in Nigeria.

No
Main Source: 
Sunday Times (London), June 17, 2001
Topics: 
Corporations
Environment

Pages

Subscribe to Environment