International

Ian Plimer's Mining Connections

by Bob Burton — November 12, 2009 - 1:02pm
  • Topics: Global Warming, International, Science

    • Since the publication in May of his book, Heaven and Earth: Global Warming - The Missing Science, Ian Plimer has been the darling of conservative media commentators and the global network of climate change skeptics. Plimer, an Australian geologist, has been strongly criticized by climate scientists for errors in his book. More recently, he has been in the news over his challenge to British journalist, George Monbiot, for a debate over climate science. Monbiot agreed, subject to Plimer answering some questions in writing ahead of a debate, but Plimer retreated.

    While a few news stories have made a passing mention that Plimer is a director of several mining companies, none have looked with any detail at which companies he is involved with, and how substantial his interest is. Recently, a volunteer editor on SourceWatch (hat-tip to Scribe), did some digging into Plimer's directorships with three mining companies, Ivanhoe Australia, CBH Resources and Kefi Minerals.

    Conspiratorial Skeptic

    by Bob Burton — November 11, 2009 - 4:45am

    The British climate change skeptic, Christopher Monckton, warned those attending an Australian conservative think tank seminar that bureaucrats will mastermind a "coup d'etat" in the aftermath of the COP15 climate change negotiations and establish a "world dictatorship".

    Main Source: 
    The Age (Australia), November 11, 2009

    Hill & Knowlton's Carbon Two-Step

    by Bob Burton — November 7, 2009 - 1:45pm

    In a media release, the PR firm Hill & Knowlton (H&K) boasts that the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has awarded the company a short-term consultancy for "an information campaign to encourage climate conscious behavior by delegates and others to help reduce GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions" related to the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen in December.

    Main Source: 
    Hill & Knowlton media release, October 29, 2009

    U.S. Drone Strikes: A Propaganda Bonanza for the Taliban?

    by Anne Landman — October 26, 2009 - 12:50pm

    A recently-released study from the New America Foundation finds that after inheriting the drone program from President George W.

    Main Source: 
    FoxNews.com, October 26, 2009

    U.K. Government Backs Self-Regulation for Lobbyists

    by Bob Burton — October 26, 2009 - 3:59am

    The U.K. government has rejected a parliamentary committee's recommendation for the mandatory registration of lobbyists and the disclosure of their meetings with civil servants. The Cabinet Office dismissed the recommendation claiming that this “would involve collating a huge amount of information and divert significant resources within departments”. Nor did the Cabinet Office support the establishment of a mandatory register of lobbyists.

    Main Source: 
    Times Online, October 23, 2009

    Flooding Chile's Media with Pro-Dam Ads

    by Bob Burton — October 21, 2009 - 4:01am

    With opposition mounting to the proposed US$3.2 billion HidroAysen hydropower scheme in southern Chile’s Patagonia, the project proponents have launched a "multi-million dollar public relations campaign to sell their project to Chile." The HidroAysen project, which involves five major dams, is being proposed by a consortium of the Chilean utility ColbUn and the and Italian-owned electricity utility Endesa.

    Main Source: 
    The Patagonia Times, 19 October 2009

    The Free News Tide That Threatens King Murdoch

    by Bob Burton — October 12, 2009 - 7:19pm

    In a King Canute-like speech to the World Media Summit in Beijing, Rupert Murdoch, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of News Corporation, took aim at Google and Yahoo.

    Main Source: 
    The Independent (UK), October 9, 2009

    Water: The Newest Wave of Corporate "Social Responsibility"

    by Diane Farsetta — September 1, 2009 - 7:38am
  • Topics: Cause-Related Marketing, Issue Management, Corporations, Health, International

    • Even critics of World Water Week, held annually in Stockholm, Sweden, agree that it's an important forum where thousands of people working on water issues share information.

    This year's event, held from August 16 to 22, placed special emphasis on the relationship between water and climate change. The closing statement (pdf) was literally a message to COP15, the major United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, this December. "Water is a key medium through which climate change impacts will be felt," it reads, adding that "water-related adaptation" should be seen as part of the solution. The statement also calls for funding "to assist vulnerable, low income countries already affected by climate change," along with longer-term adaptation efforts.

    So why are there critics of World Water Week? In a word, Nestlé.

    PR: War by Other Means

    by Diane Farsetta — August 19, 2009 - 2:35pm

    "The PR race is not that different from the arms race," writes John Feffer. "Russia, for instance, recently paid nearly $3 million to Ketchum for a six-month media blitz to promote the country's leaders and policies. Georgia has retained Public Strategies, Inc. at $50,000 a month.

    Main Source: 
    Foreign Policy in Focus, August 18, 2009

    Lobbying for "Economic Stability" and the Coup

    by Diane Farsetta — August 4, 2009 - 2:10pm

    "Trade associations and companies both inside and outside of Honduras have stepped up their lobbying efforts in Washington," reports The Hill. U.S.

    Main Source: 
    The Hill (Washington, DC), July 28, 2009
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