Jon Queally – This Wondrous National Park… Brought to You By McDonald’s?

A controversial set of new rules quietly given final approval over the recent holiday—allowing national parks in the United States to expand corporate sponsorships and commercial contracts with private companies—is being called a “disgrace” by those who say the move is a betrayal of what the nation’s parks should be. Despite outcry from citizens, documented in public testimony and hundreds …

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: protecting the private good? – Jeanne Lenzer

After revelations that the CDC is receiving some funding from industry, Jeanne Lenzer investigates how it might have affected the organization’s decisions The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes the following disclaimer with its recommendations: “CDC, our planners, and our content experts wish to disclose they have no financial interests or other relationships with the manufacturers of commercial products . …

Truth from the Tap: A Water Industry PR Blitz – Darcey Rakestraw

The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) has launched a new campaign, truthfromthetap.com, to undermine advocates who want municipal water systems operated and owned by local, democratically elected councils—not by big companies accountable to shareholders. But the truth is, the private water operators behind the site have a poor track record when it comes to serving communities. Company executives drive the management …