U.S. Watchdogs: A French Perspective
Submitted by Judith Siers-Poisson on
Le Palais Bourbon, seat of the French National Assembly, the lower legislative chamber of the French government.
No
Main Source:
U.S. Government
Has the Internet Changed the Propaganda Model?
In their groundbreaking 1988 book, Manufacturing Consent, professors Ed Herman and Noam Chomsky not only explained, but documented with extensive case studies, how mass media and public opinion are shaped in a democracy. Twenty years later, can their "propaganda model" still be used to explain modern media distortions? That was one of the main questions discussed last week at a conference in Windsor, Ontario, titled "20 Years of Propaganda?" Organized by Dr. Paul Boin, the conference drew hundreds of scholars and activists including myself, and more than 1,000 people attended a closing speech by Chomsky on May 17.
Food and Water Watch Covers Offshore Fish Farming Legislation on Congresspedia
As part of our ongoing series of partnerships with research and advocacy organizations, Food and Water Watch has established an informative page on offshore fish farming legislation on Congresspedia. Here's FWW's Andrianna Natsoulas (who edits SourceWatch and Congresspedia under the name Anatsoulas) to explain why they think this is an important issue:
House and Senate Face Busy Week of Committee Hearings
Both the House and Senate are in session this week, with each chamber expected to debate and consider several important bills and resolutions. Highlights include:
- The House is set to vote on a bill which would repeal rights granted to the executive branch in 2006 allowing for the appointment of U.S. attorneys without the approval of the Senate.
- The Senate will likely spend considerable time debating comprehensive changes to U.S. immigration policy
- Both the House and Senate are again planning to hold a number of important committee hearings, including one by the Senate Judiciary Committee on a bill which would grant the District of Columbia a voting member of the House, as well as a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on rebuilding efforts on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.
After the jump is a full listing of this week's House and Senate hearings, courtesy of GovTrack and Thomas:
With Shrinking Protections, Who Will Speak for the Trees?
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
A recent U.S. Labor Department ruling against a whistleblower states that the department, which "has jurisdiction over environmental whistle-blower cases," only recognizes whistleblower protections in the "clean air and solid waste-disposal acts, not laws governing clean water, drinking water, toxic substances and hazardous waste." A department spokesperson said the wording does not reflect "any change in policy or practice." Environmental advocates and watchdog groups aren't so sure.
No
Main Source:
U.S. Think Tank Calls for More Troops, More Propaganda
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
"A new security study released by the Third Way, a Democratic-leaning think tank," and authored by two former Clinton administration officials, discusses how to rebuild U.S. credibility overseas.
No
Main Source:
TheWeekInCongress (May 14-18, 2007)
Both the House and Senate tackled a busy legislative schedule this past week, as issues such as the Iraq War, defense spending, and the federal budget were addressed. For an in-depth look at the legislation considered in Congress since Monday, we again turn to Robert McElroy’s TheWeekInCongress. His site is a great resource for citizens wishing to keep track of what their members are up to in Washington, and we urge you to check it out.
BP's "Buddy System" for Politicians
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
A report commissioned by BP "to investigate corrosion-related oil pipeline spills last year in Prudhoe Bay ... offers a rare glimpse inside the London-based oil giant's corporate tactics in Alaska," writes Wesley Loy.
No
Main Source:
Deleting (or Defeating?) Climate Change Language
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
U.S. representatives "are trying to soften the message" of a climate change declaration to be issued at the June summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrial countries. G-8 draft documents obtained by the Washington Post show that the U.S.
No
Main Source:
Pages
