The Piracy of America: Profiteering in the Public Domain

by Scherff, Judith

• ISBN13: 9780932863287
• ISBN10: 0932863280
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-04-01
• Publisher: Clarity Pr

Summary

Are there of the wealth of America which should be safeguarded in the public interest -- our waterways, the air we breathe, our forests, wildlife, and mineral resources? This collection of over 20 well-researched articles by authoritative environmentalists addresses the full spectrum of issues surrounding the exploitation of the natural resources of America. It documents how the current mix of public and corporate policy generates private profit at public cost, and raises serious questions as to whether current practice provides either overall systemic efficiency, or protects the rights of future generations -- let alone the health, wealth and well-being of the present generation of Americans. Further, this anthology illustrates how corporate America, striking back at growing public environmentalism, seeks to sway public opinion through influencing the gathering and dissemination of scientific information and research. Business practices within the communications industry threaten the integrity of media reporting on environmental issues. As corporate America steps up its onslaught on the perceived environmentalist threat, we now witness the mobilization of pro-business political constituencies among religious groups and the public at large in support of the corporate agenda as it concerns the environment. Some sample articles: "American Forests", "Cash Register Rivers: Lost to Private Profit", "Science for Sale", "Corporate Welfare and the Environment", "Environmental Disease Clusters", "An Environmental Wedge: The 'Wise Use' Movement and the Insurgent Right Wing". Challenging whether the pro-business perspective advocated by diverse religious groups accurately represents the trueposition of Christians, anthologist Scherff opens her collection with "The Science of Communion" by the Very Reverend James P arks Morton, elaborating the Christian concepts of stewardship and respect for all creation, and closes it with Reverend Thomas Punzo's call to action, titled "Complicity with Evil". A list of activist resources and organizations is included in the Appendix.

Table of Contents

Appreciation	p. vii
Publisher's Foreword	p. ix
The Science of Communion: The Very Reverend James Parks Morton	p. 4
Tracking Corporate Greed & Destruction in the Public Domain	p. 13
The Killing Grounds: The Destruction of Native American Species22c6	p. 15
American Forests	p. 28
Cash Register Rivers: Waterways Lost to Private Profit	p. 49
The Mining Law of 1872: A Law Whose Time Has Gone	p. 67
Living Dangerously: Chemical Contamination in Our Air, Water & Food	p. 87
How Corporations Combat Environmentalism	p. 95
Science for Sale	p. 97
News Pollution	p. 109
Legalized Extortion: The "Takings" Threat to People, Property & the Environment	p. 124
Mobilizing Against Environmentalism: The 'Wise Use' Movement & the Insurgent Right Wing	p. 146
How Industry Combats Efforts to Protect Our Climate	p. 168
On the Environmentalist Front	p. 181
Popular Epidemiology: Lay Discovery of Hazards & Causes of Illness	p. 183
Environmental Organizing & Public Service Employees	p. 197
A Healthy Environment: The Evolution of A Fundamental Right	p. 207
Agriculture of the Future: Conceptually Rich or A Technological Tour De Force	p. 216
Spending Our Capital	p. 221
None So Blind: The Problem of Ecological Denial	p. 225
Complicity with Evil	p. 229
Resources for Activists	p. 234
Un World Charter for Nature	p. 241
Contributors	p. 245
Endnotes	p. 247
Index	p. 270
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.