Astroturf

Ex-NATO Commander Trades Military Power for Lobbying Power

by Diane Farsetta — March 5, 2007 - 2:03pm

"General James L. Jones, who retired last month as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces in Europe, has joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a lobbyist," reports O'Dwyer's.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), March 5, 2007

Pombo's Clear-Cut Path to the Revolving Door

by Diane Farsetta — February 21, 2007 - 4:30pm

"Former [U.S.] House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo has joined a lobbying and public relations firm that backed his attempts to rework the Endangered Species Act and open the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve to oil drilling," reports Josh Richman.

Main Source: 
Contra Costa Times (California), February 21, 2007

Turf Changes Favor Corporate "Grassroots" Lobbyists

by Diane Farsetta — February 6, 2007 - 4:09pm

"When Congress reeled in traditional lobbyists in January, it gave a boost to lobby firms and trade associations that specialize in swaying lawmakers by stirring public sentiment in their districts," writes Jessica Holzer. House and Senate bills "ban gifts and trips from lobbyists," but "lobbyists escaped having to disclose their grassroots activities when the Senate ...

Main Source: 
The Hill, February 6, 2007

Illinois Power Company Cash Lines "Consumer Group" Coffers

by Jonathan Rosenblum — January 8, 2007 - 3:22pm

An apparent astroturf group calling for an end to an electricity rate freeze received $10 million for its programs from ComEd, the largest power company in Illinois. An administrative law judge with the Illinois Commerce Commission has ordered an investigation of financial ties between the company and the group Consumers Organized for Reliable Electricity (CORE).

Main Source: 
Chicago Tribune, January 5, 2007

More Nukes? Moore Spin

by Bob Burton — January 2, 2007 - 8:41pm

Patrick Moore, a former environmental activist who left Greenpeace twenty years ago and is now a PR consultant, argues "it is now far more effective to work with governments and industries to encourage positive change." As a consultant, Moore has dismissed concerns about the impact of logging in the Amazon, supported Newmont Mining over controversies at its mines in the U.S., Ghana and Peru, defended the use of PVC in plastics and extoll

Main Source: 
Pallet Enterprise, January 1, 2007

Degrees of Dependency: Drug Companies & Patient Groups

by Bob Burton — November 7, 2006 - 9:38pm

In a survey of 29 U.S. patient groups, New Scientist found only two ruled out drug company funding. Seven of the patient groups surveyed received less than 5% of their income from drug companies, while others were reliant on them for over one-third of their budget.

Main Source: 
New Scientist, 27 October 2006

Roche's Cancer Front Group Flounders

by Bob Burton — October 22, 2006 - 3:52am

Cancer United, a cancer patient group created and launched by the PR firm Weber Shandwick with funding from the drug company Roche, has got off to a rocky start. On its website the group states that it aims to run an 18-month-long campaign for more uniform cancer treatments across the European Union.

Main Source: 
Guardian (UK), October 20, 2006

Ben Santer Speaks (While "Global Climate Coalition" Slinks into History)

by Jonathan Rosenblum — August 14, 2006 - 1:46pm

It "was one of the most vicious attacks I have ever seen on the integrity of a scientist," says one scientist on how the energy industry used to treat federal global climate expert Ben Santer.

Main Source: 
Environmental Science & Technology Online News, August 9, 2006
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