Environment

Greenwashing, Meet Water-Washing

by Diane Farsetta — December 2, 2008 - 7:28pm

On December 2 and 3 in San Francisco, "international business representatives will discuss their use of water." The $1900 conference -- titled "Corporate Water Footprinting" -- gives major corporations an opportunity to "announce their new efforts to promote 'water neutrality,' the claim that they can return to local aquifers every drop of water taken for business." Speakers at

Main Source: 
AlterNet, December 1, 2008

Bush Administration Quietly Working to Weaken Clean Air Act

by Anne Landman — November 19, 2008 - 4:09pm

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to relax air quality rules and make it easier to build coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and other pollution-emitting enterprises near national parks and wilderness areas, even though half of the EPA's ten regional administrators have formally opposed the plan.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, November 19, 2008

Bush Pushing Anti-Consumer, Anti-Environment "Midnight Regulations"

by Anne Landman — November 3, 2008 - 4:16pm

In the final months of his administration, George W. Bush is working to enact a flurry of new federal regulations that will weaken rules protecting consumers and the environment.

Main Source: 
Denver Post, October 31, 2008

Energy Front Group Calls for Investigation of Environmentalists

by Diane Farsetta — October 2, 2008 - 12:00pm

Americans for American Energy (AAE), an energy front group established by the public relations firm Pac/West Communications, asked Congress to investigate "possible illegal coordination between U.S.

Main Source: 
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah), September 25, 2008

PickensPlan Pushed by Patton Boggs

by Bob Burton — September 22, 2008 - 6:43am

In July, oil industry figure T. Boone Pickens launched the PickensPlan to promote "energy independence" from "foreign oil" for the United States. In the plan, Pickens promotes the use of wind power to generate 20 percent of U.S. electricity, and natural gas and biofuels for transportation. Pickens now has business interests from funds management, water projects and the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyers PR Daily (sub req'd), September 19, 2008

PR Driving "Carbon Neutral" Greenwashing

by Bob Burton — September 16, 2008 - 5:10am

The Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) is alarmed about the extent of corporate greenwashing. The authority's chief executive, Frank Goodman, explained, "You are not allowed to say your product is good for the environment unless you can prove this.

Main Source: 
The Sunday Times (UK), September 14, 2008

Auto Association "Empowers" Consumers

by Judith Siers-Poisson — September 9, 2008 - 4:04pm

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade association of car and light truck manufacturers, has launched "EcoDriving," "a national campaign intended to empower consumers on an individual basis to reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions." The campaign will utilize social networking, events, and media outreach to "offers manufacturers an opportunity to show consumers they are part of the solution." Colorado Gov.

Main Source: 
PR Week (US), September 2, 2008

Mixed Signals at the World Bank

by Judith Siers-Poisson — August 28, 2008 - 6:19pm

A year ago, World Bank President Robert Zoellick committed the lending institution to "significantly step up our assistance" to fight climate change through its loans. Instead, the World Bank is increasing its financing of fossil-fuel projects worldwide.

Main Source: 
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 24, 2008

Have a Coke and a Greenwash

by Diane Farsetta — August 21, 2008 - 2:07pm

Coca-Cola wants you to think of it as green. That's why its public relations firm, Manning, Selvage & Lee, promoted the premiere of the soft drink company's film "Environmental Champions" at the Beijing Olympics complex.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), August 20, 2008
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