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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent investigation of corporate anti-environmentalism, June 19, 2001
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.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
*Must reading* for every concerned citizen!, July 6, 1998
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."
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
First rate!, July 25, 2000
By A Customer
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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