Secrecy

How the Gun Lobby Beat Activists to the Draw

by Diane Farsetta — July 31, 2008 - 3:53pm

Readers of the book "Toxic Sludge Is Good for You" may remember the name Mary Lou Sapone -- a corporate spy who, while secretly in the employ of U.S. Surgical, infiltrated animal rights groups.

Main Source: 
Mother Jones, July 30, 2008

Olympics Ideals Prove as Fragile as China

by Diane Farsetta — July 30, 2008 - 2:24pm

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

4,000 U.S. Deaths and a Handful of Images

by Sheldon Rampton — July 27, 2008 - 9:14pm

Zoriah Miller, a freelance photojournalist who published images of marines killed in a June 26 suicide attack in Iraq, has been forbidden to work in Marine Corps-controlled areas of the country and may be barred from all United States military facilities throughout the world. His case "has underscored what some journalists say is a growing effort by the American military to control graphic images from the war," write Michael Kamber and Tim Arango.

Main Source: 
New York Times, July 26, 2008

Whose Conventions Are They Anyway?

by Judith Siers-Poisson — July 23, 2008 - 3:21pm

Both the Democratic and Republican conventions are bringing in millions of dollars in corporate sponsors, but there is no reporting requirement for either the political parties or the companies. There are a reported 146 organizational and corporate donors, but less than a quarter have chosen to disclose information about their donations.

Main Source: 
Democracy Now!, July 22, 2008

Peak Drug Industry Body Sin Bins Roche

by Bob Burton — July 22, 2008 - 1:40am

The Swiss drug company Roche has been suspended from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) after adverse findings over its promotion of the weight-loss drug Xenical.

Main Source: 
Financial Times (UK), July 15, 2008

See You Later, Alligator!

by Anne Landman — July 16, 2008 - 1:15pm

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless plans to hand out free movie tickets, free passes to the Zoo, Denver's Museum of Nature and Science and other cultural attractions to homeless people during the Democratic National Convention August 25-28. They will even provide free bus tickets for the homeless to visit attractions that are beyond walking distance.

Main Source: 
Rocky Mountain News, July 16, 2008

A Deal So Good It Could be Illegal

by Judith Siers-Poisson — July 14, 2008 - 11:30am

Former Congressman Curt Weldon's employer Defense Solutions got a good deal in Iraq. So good, that "the deal, for decades-old, equipment, included terms so lopsided, they likely would have been illegal under U.S. law." Defense Solutions got a contract with the Iraqi government in 2005 to refurbish obsolete Soviet-era Hungarian tanks. While U.S. law would dictate that the company's fee be tied to performance, Defense Solutions' contract not only ensures payment, it also gives them a percentage of the total cost.

Main Source: 
Wired's Danger Room, July 10, 2008

Europe Backpedals on Biofuels

by Judith Siers-Poisson — July 10, 2008 - 2:50pm

The European Union (EU) has drastically changed its course for the future of biofuels. Until this week, the EU planned to be the world leader in using biofuels as an alternative to petroleum-based fuel, aiming for 10% of transportation fuels to be derived from biofuels by 2020.

Main Source: 
International Herald Tribune, July 7, 2008

Cheney's Office Pushed Purge of Climate Change Testimony

by Sheldon Rampton — July 8, 2008 - 5:47pm

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's office was behind a push to censor congressional testimony that global warming poses a danger to the public, according to Jason Burnett, a former associate deputy administrator at the U.S.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal, July 8, 2008

The Hidden War: Big Tobacco and the GOP Team up Against Southern Democrats

by Anne Landman — June 27, 2008 - 12:59pm

When the major American tobacco companies signed the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with the 46 states who sued to recover the costs of treating sick smokers, the companies agreed to nominal advertising restrictions and massive yearly payouts to the states.

Main Source: 
Raw Story, June 24, 2008
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