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’.
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Editorial Reviews
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
--This text refers to an alternate
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Global Spin is outstanding... This is such an important book that I would put it on every school curriculum Jon Pilger
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
Professor Sharon Beder worked as a professional engineer before she began researching and teaching environmental politics and corporate strategies for maintaining and gaining power.
She has held a number of appointments at Australian universities over the past two decades -- most recently as professor in the School of Social Sciences, Media and Communication at the University of Wollongong in Australia.
She has held a number of appointments at Australian universities over the past two decades -- most recently as professor in the School of Social Sciences, Media and Communication at the University of Wollongong in Australia.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent investigation of corporate anti-environmentalism,
By JW (Wageningen Netherlands) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Global Spin: The Corporate Assault on Environmentalism (Paperback)
I was recently invited to present seminars on the environmental backlash at Princeton and Stanford Universities, and Beder's well-researched book provided me with excellent information on some of the tactics employed by the political right aimed at undermining science. Most importantly, I want to put the negative reviewer's comments (below) into some perspective: in 1998, ALL environmental NGO's (including Greenpeace), spent a paltry 4.7 million dollars lobbying members of Congress, whereas all self interest groups spent a combined total of 76.2 million dollars on diverse issues ranging across the political spectrum. In the SAME year, the agribusiness industry alone spent 119.3 million dollars lobbying members of congress, whereas the combined expenditures of all industries added up to a staggering 1.2 billion dollars. This money includes only that used exclusively for lobbying, and not the "soft" money corporations use also to buy political influence. So, to answer the critic below, I would reiterate, we need to put this in perspective. I don't want to use my position as a scientist to defend NGO's when they exaggerate problems, but I am frankly much more concerned when immensely powerful multinationals attempt to manipulate science. At present, corporate power is being used question the seriousness, or even the existence, of environmental problems such as global warming and rates of species extinction, even though these are areas where there is broad consensus amongst my peers. As Paul Ehrlich said, this has very little to do with science, but more to do with dirty politics with the agenda of looting and polluting for profit. I applaud Beder for her efforts and this book reflects that.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
*Must reading* for every concerned citizen!,
By
This review is from: Global Spin: The Corporate Assault on Environmentalism (Paperback)
Sharon Beder has done a fabulous job in assembling a vast amount of high quality information on a crucial topic. She clearly demonstrates, with numerous case studies, how transnational corporations and elite "big money" special interests have used every devious trick imaginable in a chilling attempt to destroy the environmental movement and our democracy along with it. Those of us who read ecological works and the alternative press know a lot about the greedy and "deceptively green" tactics employed by the corporate world and rightwing pseudo-"think-tanks." But Beder, who draws on a wealth of material from the U.S., U.K., and Australia, takes us much further into that truly evil world of cunning and mean-spirited avarice. Her introduction, which is alone worth the price of the book, gives a succinct overview of the multi-faceted problem. She then details the horrific rise of numerous, deceptive, corporate front-groups; the nasty "wise use movement" (which exploits the fear of rural peoples and scapegoats environmentalists rather than bad economic policies and greedy corporations); the creation of expensive, phony, anti-green "grassroots campaigns"; the terrifying use of free-speech threatening SLAPPS ("strategic lawsuits against public participation"); the undeserved power of "conservative," pro-business, pseudo "think-tanks"; ecology-bashing P.R. firms; slick "green marketing"; youth-targeted propaganda; and the tragic failure of our major media to inform us about what's actually going on. Beder also has a special chapter on the dioxin controversy and shows how corporate interests have duped us and the media concerning the real dangers of this most poisonous chemical substance. If you value the health of your family, loved ones, progeny, and Earth's ecosystems, buy and read this splendid, eye-opening book!! I agree with reviewers' testimonials on the backcover blurb, which state "this is such an import! ant book that I would put it on every school curriculum" and "[this is] the most important contribution to the environmental debate that I have read."
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
First rate!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Global Spin: The Corporate Assault on Environmentalism (Paperback)
A first rate unmasking of the continuing corporate assault on democracy. The insidious manner in which the PR industry undermines truth and the very conditions necessary for democratic participation reveals these thugs to be the moral equivalents of J. Goebbels. What these parasites won't do for a buck, will freighten and astound you. One wonders how these people can look themselves in the mirror. Especially illustrative is Beder's 9th chapter on Dioxin and the Chlorine Industry's investment in PR. The recent revelations about Big Tabacco only serves to support the authenticity of Beder's work.
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