Environment

Oregon Health Officials' Rocket Science

by Diane Farsetta — January 9, 2007 - 6:10pm

In 2004, Oregon health officials began investigating whether perchlorate, a rocket fuel chemical present in some of the state's water wells, "might be creeping into the breadbasket region's produce and dairy milk." Their conclusion, based on "limited food sampling," is that "perchlorate doesn't pose a health danger to area residents." But records obtained by The Oregonian reveal that the Northwest Food Processors Association "urged top state health administrators to kill the food study," claiming

Main Source: 
The Oregonian, January 7, 2007

One Hand Gives, The Other Takes Away

by Bob Burton — January 8, 2007 - 2:53am

One of the projects funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been to immunize children living in Ebocha, Nigeria. But at the same time the foundation owns shares in the French oil company, Eni, that pollutes the residents air and water by the open air burning of gas considered to be waste.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, January 7, 2007

Anxious About Greens

by Sheldon Rampton — December 28, 2006 - 3:43pm

Public relations consultant Alan Caruba, who runs the anti-environmentalist "National Anxiety Center," is anxious about the upcoming switch to Democratic Party control of the U.S.

Main Source: 
Alan Caruba news release, December 26, 2006

Important Information Shelved as Federal Libraries Close

by Diane Farsetta — December 11, 2006 - 3:32pm

"Across the country, half a dozen federal libraries are closed or closing," including several run by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, December 8, 2006

Detailed Corporate Social Responsibility Reports Rare, Publicity-Driven

by Jonathan Rosenblum — December 11, 2006 - 12:19pm

Only a small proportion of annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports -- perhaps 15 to 20 percent -- provide "very thorough" accounts of real ethical problems faced by companies. Even that measure comes from within the CSR report industry, in interviews with writers Andrew Brengle of KLD Research & Analytics and Jeff Erikson of SustainAbility Inc.

Main Source: 
The Christian Science Monitor, December 4, 2006

Perchlorate Makers Blow Smoke on Health Issue

by Diane Farsetta — December 5, 2006 - 7:02pm

The Los Angeles-based group Environment California says an industry-funded group is using "misleading research and tobacco industry-style lobbying to influence the debate on the effects of perchorate." Perchlorate is a rocket fuel ingredient and "a known thyroid inhibitor" often present in water supplies near military and manufacturing sites.

Main Source: 
DailyBulletin (Ontario, California), December 4, 2006

Oiling The Wheels For the New Congress

by Bob Burton — November 20, 2006 - 3:46am

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is planning to launch a major "educational advocacy" program in January 2007 to influence the incoming Congress. The API represents 400 major oil and gas producers. According to PR Week, the program will include increased television advertising, speeches by economists and industry executives and tours of oil and gas operations for think tank staff and politicians.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), November 16, 2006

Uranium Miners Want PR Push

by Bob Burton — November 20, 2006 - 3:40am

With the Australian government supporting plans by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto for a major expansion of uranium mining, a recently released report proposes a major PR campaign to counter public concern. The Uranium Industry Framework report, written by a mining industry dominated group, notes that a majority of the Australian public oppose the establishment of additional uranium mines.

Main Source: 
Australian Department of Industry Tourism and Resources (Pdf), November 15, 2005

Malaysian Palm Oil Producers Plan PR Blitz

by Bob Burton — November 17, 2006 - 12:00am

Source: Orangutan Foundation

The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), a lobby group whose members dominate the global trade in oil produced from palm oil plantations, is looking to launch a PR blitz in the U.K. to overcome criticism from environmentalists.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), November 15, 2006

One "Bad Event" Could Ruin An Industry ... And A Whole Lot More

by Bob Burton — November 15, 2006 - 4:14am

Jim Rogers, the Chief Executive of Duke Energy, a power company that is keen to build nuclear power plants in North and South Carolina, told reporters at an energy conference that he was "cautiously optimistic on nuclear, but public opinion turns on a dime." The nuclear industry faces considerable hurdles.

Main Source: 
Reuters, November 15, 2006
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