Global Spin : The Corporate Assault on Environmentalism - Softcover

Sharon Beder

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1903998093 ISBN 13: 9781903998090

Publisher: Green Books Ltd, 2002

Synopsis

Global Spin reveals the sophisticated techniques being used around the world by powerful conservative forces to try to change the way the public and politicians think about the environment. Large corporations are using their influence to reshape public opinion, to weaken gains made by environmentalists, and to turn politicians against increased environmental regulation. The corporations' techniques include employing specialized PR?firms to set up front groups that promote the corporate agenda whilst posing as public-interest groups; creating 'astroturf' - artificially created grassroots support for corporate causes; deterring public involvement by imposing SLAPPS - strategic lawsuits against public participation; getting corporate-based 'environmental educational' materials into schools; and funding conservative think-tanks, which have persistently tried to cast doubt on the existence of environmental problems and to oppose stricter environmental regulations. In the media, corporate advertising and sponsorship are influencing news content, and industry-funded scientists are often treated as independent experts. This updated edition includes new chapters about the business campaign to prevent action on global warming, and whether Greenpeace's ideals are being compromised by 'greenwash'.

About this title

About the Author

Dr Sharon Beder is a visiting professor in the School of Social Sciences, Media and Communication at the University of Wollongong. Sharon's research has focussed on how power relationships are maintained and challenged, particularly by corporations and professions. She is interested in environmental politics; the rhetoric of sustainable development; the philosophies behind environmental economics; and trends in environmentalism and corporate activism/public relations. Most recently she has broadened her research interests to critique various manifestations of neoliberalism including privatisation and deregulation, market solutions to social problems and the business takeover of school education. She has written 10 books and around 150 articles, book chapters and conference papers.

From Booklist

Beder is a professional engineer who heads an environmental education program at the University of Sydney. She is also the author of two books published in Australia, The Nature of Sustainable Development (1993) and Toxic Fish and Sewer Surfing (1989). Rather than focus on direct assaults on the world's environment, Global Spin, which was already published in England last fall, is a well-documented survey of how corporations attempt to influence public opinion and garner political support when it comes to environmental issues. Beder reports on massive advertising and public relations campaigns designed to fight environmental regulations and portray supporters of restrictions as extremists. She shows how conservative think tanks and some so-called grassroots organizations with innocuous-sounding names, such as Coalition for Vehicle Choice or Mothers Opposing Pollution, are funded by companies and industry trade associations, and she uncovers corporate attempts to influence the media with threats to withdraw advertising. Beder is based in Australia, but her examples and her perspective are truly global. David Rouse

About this edition

• Publisher: Green Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1903998093
• ISBN 13: 9781903998090
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 336