Wow! eBook
Global Spin: The Corporate Assault on Environmentalism First Edition
Author(s): Sharon Beder (Author)
- Publisher: Green Books
- Publication Date: 1 Oct. 1997
- Edition: First Edition
- Language: English
- Print length: 192 pages
- ISBN-10: 1870098676
- ISBN-13: 9781870098670
Book Description
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 astroturfartificially created grassroots support for corporate causes; deterring public involvement by imposing SLAPPSstrategic 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 Greenpeaces ideals are being compromised by greenwash.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Global Spin is outstanding. Sharon Beder has taken the taboo subjects of propaganda and censorship in free societies and exposed their insidious threat. This is such an important book that I would put it on every school curriculum” — – John Pilger
“The most complete study so far of the elaborate multi-billion dollar propaganda machine that the transnational corporations have built up to discredit the environmental movement” —
– Edward Goldsmith“The most important contribution to the environmental debate that I have read” —
– from the Foreword by David EdwardsAbout 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.
