Science

Indian Point on the Potomac: Entergy's New Safety Panel and PR Firm

by Diane Farsetta — April 2, 2008 - 9:50am
  • Topics: Nuclear Power, Corporations, Environment, Public Relations, Science, U.S. Government

    • There's no question that New York's Indian Point nuclear power plant could use some public relations help. But Entergy, Indian Point's owner, might have chosen their new PR firm a little more carefully.

    Last year, the state of New York asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to deny the plant's license extension application, citing "a long and troubling history of problems." It was "the first time that a state had stepped forward to flatly oppose license renewals," according to the New York Times.

    Then, in January, the NRC proposed a $650,000 fine against Indian Point, for having repeatedly missed deadlines to install a new emergency siren system. The fine is "10 times the normal size" of such sanctions, reported the Times.

    To address such criticisms, Entergy has retained the Burson-Marsteller firm, funded the pro-nuclear "New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance" and brought Greenpeace activist-turned-PR consultant Patrick Moore to New York. Last month, Entergy made another effort to, in their own words, "provide public assurances about the operation and protection of New York's largest nuclear power facility." They announced the formation of an "Independent Safety Evaluation" panel to investigate Indian Point.

    Lavishing Doctors with Drug Money

    by Bob Burton — April 1, 2008 - 9:16pm

    Medicines Australia (MA), the peak drug industry lobby group, has unveiled details of how much its 42 member companies (and one non-member) spent in the last half of 2007 on each one of over 14,000 events that were designed to promote their drugs to doctors.

    Main Source: 
    Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia), March 29, 2008

    Imaging Study Leaves Tobacco Funding Out of the Picture

    by Anne Landman — March 26, 2008 - 3:12pm

    The lead author of the largest lung cancer screening study ever performed has come under fire for accepting cigarette company funding for the study. Dr.

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, March 26, 2008

    Congress Discovers Independent Studies Ignored in Favor of Industry Findings

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — March 26, 2008 - 11:05am

    When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration determined that a particular chemical in plastic was not harmful, they used scientific studies to prove it.

    Main Source: 
    Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, March 21, 2008

    Telling It Like It Is

    by Bob Burton — March 25, 2008 - 12:27am

    The director of external relations for Procter & Gamble, Mark Chakravarty, recently told a UK healthcare PR conference that the drug industry is less than popular with the public. "There is a high suspicion of the pharma industry. Greed, dishonesty and fraud are some of its associations. The clinical trial press this week and an increased number of drug scandals add to this image," he said.

    Main Source: 
    PR Week (UK), March 13, 2008

    Introducing the coalSwarm

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — March 21, 2008 - 4:19pm
  • Topics: Activism, Front Groups, Global Warming, Corporations, Democracy, Environment, Lobbying, Politics, Public Relations, Science, Social Justice, U.S. Government

    • In the spring of 2007, when author Ted Nace set out to profile the emerging No New Coal Plants movement for Orion magazine, he had no idea that the assignment would turn into more than just a single article.

    This Is Your Brain on Logos

    by Diane Farsetta — March 20, 2008 - 1:21pm

    Subliminal advertising may be "more effective than regular advertising, because people don't have time to raise their anti-ad defenses," according to a new study.

    Main Source: 
    CNET News, March 19, 2008

    Global Warming Hurts Our Feelings

    by Sheldon Rampton — March 16, 2008 - 5:05pm

    "A pair of agriculture groups has temporarily suspended about $1.5 million in grants to the University of Minnesota to protest a controversial study by U scientists earlier this month about biofuels and global warming," reports Tom Meersman.

    Main Source: 
    Minnesota Star Tribune, February 25, 2008

    Despite Congressional Direction and Funding, EPA Libraries Remain Closed

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — March 14, 2008 - 2:26pm

    The Environmental Protection Agency began closing several of its libraries in 2006 due to a shrinking budget. But the agency did not take into account how access to important environmental data would be blocked for legislators, researchers and citizens.

    Main Source: 
    Washington Post, March 14, 2008

    No-Bid PR Contract Bugs California Officials

    by Diane Farsetta — March 13, 2008 - 4:41pm

    "State officials struggling to convince critics about the safety of aerial spraying to control an invasive moth awarded a $500,000 no-bid contract to a prominent public relations firm with ties to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger," reports Associated Press.

    Main Source: 
    Associated Press, March 13, 2008
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