International

Polishing Demand for the iPhone

by Judith Siers-Poisson — August 28, 2008 - 5:34pm

There were long lines of people in Poland to buy the new iPhone 3G, just like in the U.S. But in Poland, those lined up were paid actors. The Polish subsidiary of the French firm France Telecom (Orange) admitted that they had staged the popular demand for the new device. "It was a marketing stunt," said Wojciech Jabczynski, the spokesperson for the French company.

Main Source: 
PCINpact, August 24, 2008

Mixed Signals at the World Bank

by Judith Siers-Poisson — August 28, 2008 - 5:19pm

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

ICE Wins by Failing with "Scheduled Departure"

by Diane Farsetta — August 28, 2008 - 10:52am

"I think this proves the only method that works is enforcement," concluded U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official Jim Hayes. He was referring to "Scheduled Departure," a controversial ICE program that encouraged undocumented immigrants to deport themselves.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, August 22, 2008

Branding al-Qaida as Losers Through the British Media

by Diane Farsetta — August 27, 2008 - 4:55pm

In an attempt to "taint the al-Qaida brand," a British counter-terrorism unit has targeted the BBC and other domestic media outlets.

Main Source: 
The Guardian (UK), August 26, 2008

Philip Morris Caught in Second Concert Sponsorship in Philippines

by Anne Landman — August 13, 2008 - 4:22pm

Last month, when pop singer Alicia Keys protested Philip Morris International's (PMI) sponsorship of her concert in Jakarta, Indonesia, PMI was forced to pull down posters and billboards that promoted the event.

Main Source: 
MarketWatch, the Wall Street Journal Digital Network, August 12, 2008

Faking Reality in the Name of National Interest

by Anne Landman — August 13, 2008 - 10:20am

First the organizers of China's spectacular Olympic opening ceremony admitted that they digitally faked the dazzling "footprint" fireworks that viewers saw on TV leading up to the Bird's Nest stadium.

Main Source: 
ABC News, August 12, 2008

Help Yourself to Deportation

by Diane Farsetta — August 6, 2008 - 3:08pm

Following a raid on a meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa that's been condemned as "inhumane" and "a Kafkaesque travesty of justice," U.S.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, August 6, 2008

Edelman Likes It Hot

by Bob Burton — August 1, 2008 - 12:26am
  • Topics: Activism, Corporate Social Responsibility, Issue Management, Global Warming, International

    • Over the next week, campaigners from around the United Kingdom will converge on the site of a proposed expansion of the coal-fired Kingsnorth Power Station and participate in civil disobedience protests. The company behind the proposal, E.ON UK, a subsidiary of the German energy company E.ON, is so worried by the prospect of the planned civil disobedience campaign that it has hired the PR firm Edelman, to see if it can help ensure that the company's proposal retains government support.

    Private Spooks Court Journalists

    by Bob Burton — July 31, 2008 - 9:04pm

    Melissa Sweet, a freelance Australian health journalist, reports that she recently received an email from a staffer with the private intelligence company Hakluyt.

    Main Source: 
    Crikey (Australia, sub req'd), July 31, 2008

    Olympics Ideals Prove as Fragile as China

    by Diane Farsetta — July 30, 2008 - 1:24pm

    When China submitted its bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, it promised that journalists would have "complete freedom to report" from the country. However, "sites such as Amnesty International or any search for a site with Tibet in the address could not be opened at the Main Press Center [in Beijing], which will house about 5,000 print journalists when the games open Aug.

    Main Source: 
    Reuters, July 30, 2008
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