San Francisco's Toxic Sludge - It's Good for You!

John Stauber — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:26:15 -0500

Fifteen years ago, CMD's book Toxic Sludge Is Good for You! first exposed the hidden government and industry PR campaign greenwashing toxic sewage sludge as "biosolids," an invented PR euphemism used to cynically re-brand toxic waste as "fertilizer" given free to farmers. Today, unfortunately, the biosolids scam is bigger than ever. The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) reports that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission "has come up with an ingenious plot to trick city residents into taking their toxic sewage sludge back and disposing of it in their own gardens. San Francisco is having Synagro, the corporate giant of the toxic sludge industry, 'compost' some of the toxic sewage sludge. Then they give it away to San Francisco's gardeners telling us it's 'high-quality, nutrient-rich, organic Biosolids Compost.' " OCA has launched a grassroots campaign calling on San Francisco's mayor to stop the practice, noting "municipal sewage sludge routinely contains thousands of dangerous pathogens, toxic heavy metals, flame retardants, endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, pharmaceutical drugs and other hazardous chemicals coming from residential drains, storm water runoff, hospitals, and industrial plants."

Cindy McCain Poses for Pro-Gay Marriage Ad Campaign

Anne Landman — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:18:55 -0500

After California voters passed Proposition 8 -- the law that amended the state's constitution to ban same-sex marriage -- in November, 2008, celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and partner Jeff Parshley created the "NOH8 Campaign," a photo project and silent protest that began with Bouska taking photos of everyday Californians who supported marriage equality. The project grew to include celebrities, politicians, military personnel and others. The campaign recently drew national attention when Cindy McCain, wife of Arizona Senator John McCain, contacted the project and asked to be photographed in support of the Campaign. Her photo is posted on the NOH8 Campaign's web site. In it, Mrs. McCain appears with silver duct tape over her mouth and the phrase "NOH8" written over her right cheek. Mrs. McCain's position supporting gay marriage is opposite that of Senator McCain, who backed an Arizona ballot measure in 2008 that defined marriage as between one man and one woman. The photo, reprinted here with the permission of Adam Bouska, is posted alongside an article titled, "Redefining Republican."

U.K. Police Lobbied Power Company to Sue Protesters

Bob Burton — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:52:33 -0500

Documents obtained by the Guardian reveal that the chief constable of Kent police, Mike Fuller, lobbied the power generation company E.ON UK to seek injunctions to counter protests against the proposed Kingsnorth power station. In a letter to the head of security at E.ON, Fuller wrote that he was "surprised" that the company had not used injunctions to "restrain" protesters and urged the company to initiate legal action "in advance of protests, where possible, and if not as soon as possible after" they start. "My concern was that E.ON should improve their own site security, which if neglected could cause unnecessary costs for the policing of protests, not that individuals who wished to protest should be prevented from doing so," Fuller told the Guardian. However, in an earlier report the Guardian had revealed that the police had also lobbied "the local council to assist with automatic number plate recognition cameras to track protesters. When the council voiced objections, officials were told that senior officers were 'less than impressed, given the importance of this operation as the new power station build is likely to create a considerable number of jobs'."

Tea Party Money-Bomb Elects Scott Brown, Blows-Up Obamacare

John Stauber — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:28:55 -0500

Six months ago, the vocal factions of the Tea Party revolt organized among anti-Obama right wingers were mostly an annoyance to the Democratic Party. Today, the Congressional Democrats are scared for their political lives after Scott Brown, with the help of a Tea Party-organized online "money bomb" and get-out-the-vote campaign, won back for Republicans Ted Kennedy's former Massachusetts senate seat. The "money bomb" is a tactic borrowed from MoveOn and the liberal netroots movement through which the Tea Party activists raised way over one million dollars online in 24 hours for Scott Brown. Even though the Republicans have only reduced the still large fifty-nine member Democratic senate majority by one person, the fact that Brown ran an uphill campaign that came from nowhere and steamrolled to victory means that all the Congressional Democrats are now looking over their right shoulders, fearing a similar populist attack as the 2010 electoral season heats up.

The Tea Party money bomb has also blown up Obamacare, the President's muddled health care reform plan. While many pundits point to local issues that helped Brown win, the fact is that Brown ran hardest against Obama's health care bill, and won despite personal appearances in Massachusetts by Obama and Bill Clinton, and despite a desperate but failed Democratic effort to beat back the insurgency.

Tea Party Convention Squeezes Fans

Anne Landman — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:06:36 -0500

The Tea Party movement is putting on its "First National Tea Party Convention" next month in Nashville, Tennessee, but the event is drawing the wrath of some Teabaggers. The convention will be held at a swank hotel where room rates start at $189 per night, and admission to the conference costs $549 -- a lot for a movement that purports to consist of ordinary grassroots Americans. Also, one faction of the party called the Tea Party Patriots, is irritated that another faction, the Tea Party Express -- which is strongly linked to a Republican consulting firm -- is attending, even though the "Patriots" faction doesn't mind working with FreedomWorks, a front group backed by ExxonMobil and billionaires Steve Forbes and Richard Scaife. Fox News commentator Sarah Palin is scheduled to speak at the conference, too, but Tea Partiers who can't afford to attend the whole conference will have to pay $349 to hear her speak.

Support CMD's Fight Against King Coal

John Stauber — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:28:14 -0500

Perhaps you are making some year-end decisions to donate money in a way that makes a real difference. If you have not contributed recently, I would urge you to support SourceWatch and the work of the Center for Media and Democracy. Here is one more reason why: your donation makes possible CMD's crucial work on global warming and the fight to stop the destructive and dangerous use of coal.

My friend, author and activist Ted Nace, is CMD's partner in the CoalSwarm wiki inside SourceWatch. Ted has written a new book titled Climate Hope: On the Front Lines of the Fight Against Coal, his most recent since his much-lauded Gangs of America. Climate Hope tells a dramatic story:

When US power companies revealed plans to build over 150 new coal-fired power plants, climate scientists sounded the alarm. If this wave of massive plants were built, there would be little chance of preventing greenhouse gases from reaching truly dangerous levels. In response to the crisis, hundreds of local and regional groups, along with a handful of national groups, rose to the challenge of blocking the wave of proposals. Through courageous action on a variety of fronts -- from sit-ins at coal mines to blockades at big-city banks -- the anti-coal movement succeeded ins stopping over 100 power plant proposals, bringing the coal boom largely to a halt.

The Center for Media and Democracy is playing a crucial role in this struggle through our partnership with Ted in creating the CoalSwarm wiki. Ted tells this story in his book, excerpted below. It's a success story that many other activists and organizations working on other issues could also repeat if they would follow Ted's example and partner with CMD to create their own wiki inside SourceWatch.

As you read this excerpt below, please consider donating to CMD's important work maintaining SourceWatch. As you see, it is a dynamic online information system that is invaluable to environmental, social justice and democracy activists, as well as journalists and the public at large. Success like this, often unheralded, is only possible with your ongoing support.

LIVE! From the Big Showdown in Chicago

Mary Bottari — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:12:51 -0400

With the newspapers full of talk about “zombie” banks and parasitic “vampire squid” financial institutions, it was particularly fitting that the “Showdown in Chicago” started with a ghoulish group of zombies rocking out to Michael Jackson's “Thriller.” Chicago's own South Shore Drill Team opened the three days of banks protests with a bang and had the crowd of thousands of activists dancing in no time.

What Are You Doing This Weekend? You Can Help Protest the Banksters and Join in a Global Day of Action on Climate Change

Lisa Graves — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:02:24 -0400

As part of our new Bankster campaign on economic justice, the Center for Media and Democracy is highlighting the "Showdown in Chicago," October 25 through 27. If you can make it to Chicago, I hope you'll join Mary Bottari and "thousands of Americans - retirees, farmers, workers, homeowners, renters, students, clergy, and small business owners - coming together on the streets of Chicago to demand a banking system that puts the American people first and a Congress that makes it happen!" On Monday, the 26th, the protests will be focusing on the annual convention of the American Bankers Association (ABA), which has been lobbying hard against new protections for American consumers in the aftermath of the banking meltdown. As you know, CMD's Real Economy Project recently gave the ABA's lead lobbyist, Edward Yingling our first "Golden Throne Award."

Similarly, as you know, CMD as been working hard to highlight critically important environmental issues, including climate change. So I wanted to help spread the word about some ways you can take action this Saturday as part of a global day of action on global warming. All around the world on October 24, 2009, ordinary people like you and I will be taking steps to highlight the need to unite around solutions to the climate crisis. Click here for an interactive world map that can help you search for activities you can take in your local area.

Where's Wendell, The 'Ideal Whistleblower'?

John Stauber — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:25:23 -0400

A business news website notes, "Since early summer Wendell Potter, a former public relations executive for the health insurer CIGNA, has testified before Congress, given speeches and granted interviews aimed at boosting the cause of health care reform and especially a strong public alternative to private industry. He’s done it with the backing of Center for Media and Democracy, a progressive-leaning watchdog that seeks to expose and counteract business and government PR campaigns. Since CMD appointed him Senior Fellow on Health Care earlier this year, Potter has been busy. Time magazine profiled him in September. and President Obama alluded to some of his comments (though not naming him) in his televised national health care speech to Congress Sept. 9. ... In one mid-September weekend Potter turned up on shows with MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, HBO’s Bill Maher -- even Fox Business News. He shows little sign of letting up. 'I have never ever seen somebody get the sort of media attention that Wendell has,' says CMD founder John Stauber. Potter’s story is probably the biggest reason. Time called him 'the ideal whistleblower.' "

Where's Wendell, TIME's 'Ideal Whistleblower' ?

John Stauber — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:25:23 -0400

A business news website notes, "Since early summer Wendell Potter, a former public relations executive for the health insurer CIGNA, has testified before Congress, given speeches and granted interviews aimed at boosting the cause of health care reform and especially a strong public alternative to private industry. He’s done it with the backing of Center for Media and Democracy, a progressive-leaning watchdog that seeks to expose and counteract business and government PR campaigns. Since CMD appointed him Senior Fellow on Health Care earlier this year, Potter has been busy. Time magazine profiled him in September. and President Obama alluded to some of his comments (though not naming him) in his televised national health care speech to Congress Sept. 9. ... In one mid-September weekend Potter turned up on shows with MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, HBO’s Bill Maher -- even Fox Business News. He shows little sign of letting up. 'I have never ever seen somebody get the sort of media attention that Wendell has,' says CMD founder John Stauber. Potter’s story is probably the biggest reason. Time called him 'the ideal whistleblower.' "

Recent posts about activism

San Francisco's Toxic Sludge - It's Good for You!

Cindy McCain Poses for Pro-Gay Marriage Ad Campaign

U.K. Police Lobbied Power Company to Sue Protesters

Tea Party Money-Bomb Elects Scott Brown, Blows-Up Obamacare

Tea Party Convention Squeezes Fans

Support CMD's Fight Against King Coal

LIVE! From the Big Showdown in Chicago

What Are You Doing This Weekend? You Can Help Protest the Banksters and Join in a Global Day of Action on Climate Change

Where's Wendell, The 'Ideal Whistleblower'?

Where's Wendell, TIME's 'Ideal Whistleblower' ?