Commercialization of our National Parks

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From Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

The National Park Service is getting ready to adopt new policies that would dramatically increase the commercialization of our National Parks. Under the new plan, the Park Service would aggressively seek corporate sponsorship of park projects and facilities. In return for financial sponsorships, the plan will give corporate donors naming rights to park facilities (but not the parks themselves) and allow use of National Park symbols and personnel in advertising.

Please take a moment to tell the Park Service not to pollute our national treasures with advertising and corporate sponsorships. Comments should be sent to partnerships@nps.gov. Please act today – the deadline for comments is December 5.

NATIONAL PARKS TO SEEK CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS — Corporate Funds Will Alter Park Landscapes and Sway Policies

Washington, DC — In a quiet but far-reaching change, the National Park Service is poised to adopt a new policy of aggressively seeking corporate sponsorship of park projects and facilities. In return for financial sponsorships, the plan will give corporate donors naming rights, use of National Park symbols and personnel in advertising and much greater influence over park managers, according to public comments filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

“This starts a slow motion commercialization of the national park system,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. “What will be allowed stops just short of licensing ads for ‘The Official Beer of Yosemite’ or ‘ Old Faithful, Brought to You by Viagara.’”

The Park Service has put forward a draft directive encouraging active pursuit of potential financial donors and repealing the agency’s current passive posture of merely accepting donations. Public comment on the plan closes this week. Interior Secretary Gale Norton has hailed the plan as an “exciting” new approach for broadening the funding base for national parks.

Park managers would be encouraged to offer packages that attract big corporate donors, including –

Liberalized naming rights for trails, benches, rooms and other facilities (but not parks themselves), as well as display of logos and slogans on park literature, computer screens, and plaques; Exclusive media advertising rights to the official NPS Arrowhead symbol, the term “Proud Partner” of the National Park Service and the use of uniformed park employees in ads; and Flexibility to negotiate customized recognition deals that “meet the needs of individual donors.”
The plan jettisons bans against accepting or soliciting donations from vendors, concessionaires, permittees and others doing business with a park. Alcohol, tobacco and even gambling companies would also be eligible park sponsors. The only up-front review of major gifts would be a subjective “totality of circumstances” test applied by top officials to determine whether the donation is “appropriate.”

The plan is designed so that private donations develop into a much more significant factor in overall park budgets, as well as high-profile capital projects and improvements. Currently, the Park Service raises an estimated $17 million from outside sources each year.

“This is a thinly disguised scheme to subject the public commons to corporate branding campaigns,” added Ruch, pointing to related effort by both the Bush administration and House Republicans to sell naming rights of certain park facilities, as well as some parks in their entirety. “Will anyplace be off-limits to the Nike swoosh or the McDonald’s arches?”

Read the PEER comments on the proposed donation solicitation policy

Compare the proposal with current restrictions

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Men.Style.Com/GQ

Sinclair Broadcast Group receives another lengthy review.  If you haven’t yet read the great piece from Le Monde, you should.   Now, GQ provides another view of the same phenomenon. 

By Wil S. Hyton

Chances are you’ve never heard of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sure, it might be the largest independent owner of television stations in America, an empire of sixty channels spread across thirty-seven cities with a signal that reaches nearly a quarter of the TV-watching public, but even if you happen to receive that signal and watch it every night, getting your Sinclair news and Sinclair weather and Sinclair commentary from a Sinclair station, chances are you’ve still never heard of Sinclair and have no idea you’re watching it.

You won’t see the word Sinclair on your screen, and you’ll probably just think you’re watching ABC or CBS or NBC, whichever network you thought you tuned in. Right there on the screen, you’ll see the old familiar logo—a peacock, an eye, the ABC bubble—and the anchors will look the same as ever, and the fact that the station has been purchased by Sinclair will be no more apparent than the fact that twenty or thirty minutes into the program, the real news will suddenly fade to black and Sinclair’s news will take over.

It may be a glowing interview with a defense contractor or a fiery commentary on the evils of the French, something brief and punchy lasting two or ten or fourteen minutes, then slipping back into the regular news as quietly as it came. Not so much as a blip or a bleep to let you know that what you just witnessed was not the local NBC or CBS broadcast but just a little insert from the guys who own the station.

That’s the goal at Sinclair: to be seen without being seen.


(click here to read the entire article)


(Click here to listen to the latest FreePress Media Minute)


(Click here to find out if your station is owned by Sinclair)

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Click here to sign our petition to the FCC

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  Why the Campaign to change Walmart is so Important

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by Caroline Vernon

The last time I shopped at Walmart was about a year ago. I remember thinking how wonderfully convenient it was that I could purchase my groceries, my household items and get my film developed in one full swoop, and get a bargain to boot! But then something happened that really burst my bubble... I got a crash course in Walmart Economics. The more I learned about Walmart’s philosophy and business practices, the more concerned I became, and ultimately, the more committed I chose to be toward sharing all that I’ve learned with as many people as possible.

As a person of conscience, there came a time when I was forced to reconcile all that I had learned and accept responsibility for it. That meant taking a stand... and that meant standing on the principal, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. It’s really as simple as that.

As a single mom on a fixed income, with three children at home, I full well know the importance of being as frugal as possible but I do not what to be responsible for the grief that someone else has to endure as a way of life in order to make ends meet in my own life. How anyone can justify this is beyond my understanding.

The truth is, Walmart can afford to offer some of the low prices that they do because they are paying sweat shop wages, sometimes as low as 3 cents an hour, to manufacture the same goods that were once manufactured here at home. The effect of this has resulted in the loss of good paying jobs at home as well as a lowering of a work standard and ethic that had once made America great. Rather than raising standards throughout the rest of the world, Walmart is systematically lowering standards at home -  all this in the name of the almighty dollar, with no regard to the impact that such detrimental practices have on individuals, families, and communities throughout, not only this country, but the world.

Walmart currently has 3700 stores throughout the country and has ambitious plans to raise that number to 6,000 within the next 5 to 6 years. Is this in line with your vision of America? Where Walmart is the only place to shop... where the nostalgia of our historic downtown communities no longer exist because Walmart intentionally sets out to annihilate all competition? Where Walmart is one of the few places left in our communities to work? Where our brothers and sisters are denied good benefits, a decent living wage, respect and dignity on the job, and the right to organize and form a union?

How can we forget the sacrifices of our forefathers who gave their lifeblood to ensure our way of life?  Yes, we live in a capitalist society but does that mean that everything we are, everything we believe, must be reduced down to the “bottom dollar?” Is this not the same as worshiping mammon? Does the bible not warn us against the “love of money?” At what point do people matter more than profit? What happened to “we are our brother’s keeper?” These are the many questions that continue to make my head spin and my heart ache and I for one, cannot ignore them.

This philosophy of profit at any cost, is undoing America, and every one of us who chooses to turn a blind eye to what is happening right under our noses, is partly responsible for the harm that is being done. As the largest corporation in the world, Walmart has the power to do right, and to do good, and sometimes they do, but all things considered, when you step back and look at the big picture, Walmart is responsible for doing far more harm than good. It seems strikingly apparent to me that The Walmart Corporation chooses to live by the old adage, “he with the most gold make the rules”, and given the millions of dollars they spend lobbying for subsidies and other favors, it seems they are well on their way to doing exactly that. Other small businesses don’t get subsidies so why should Walmart? Isn’t America supposed to represent fairness, equality, freedom and justice for ALL? We should have a fair and level playing field with everyone being held to the same standard.

America may be financially wealthy, but if we allow corporations like Walmart to continue to choose profit over people, what does that say about the wealth of our collective spirit? We can no longer afford to rationalize unto ourselves at the expense of others, here at home or abroad. As a matter of principal, we can no longer allow greed to trump need. Wake up America! Wake up Walmart!

www.wakeupwalmart.com

www.walmartwatch.com

A SLAUGHTERHOUSE AND CONFINEMENTS WITH AMMONIA AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE COMING TO A LOCATION NEAR YOU

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Today a press conference was held in Moline, IL.  It was to notify the press that TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3RD.

 The meetings (ONE IN MOLINE AND ONE IN ELDRIDGE, IOWA) are to INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT A HOG SLAUGHTEHOUSE IS PROPOSED CLOSE TO BARSTOW, IL ON A FLOODPLAIN.  The site is on land that this year was annexed by the city of East Moline, IL.  

If the slaughterhouse is built, word is that 16,000 HOGS A DAY OR OVER 4,000,000 HOGS A YEAR…THAT'S RIGHT 4 MILLION… ARE EXPECTED TO BE KILLED.  THIS MEANS AN EXPLOSION OF HOG CONFINEMENTS IN EASTERN IOWA AND WESTERN ILLINOIS COUNTIES WILL FOLLOW.

THE PUTRID AIR THAT EMINATES FROM LARGE HOG CONFINEMENTS (ALSO KNOWN AS "FACTORY FARMS") CAUSES AN INCREASE IN ASTHMA RATES, DISORIENTATION, LOSS OF MEMORY, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, AND DEATH.  

THE IMPACTS DO NOT JUST AFFECT THE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN OUR COUNTIES, BUT MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED BY MEDIUM AND LARGE URBAN AREAS SUCH AS THE METRO QUAD CITIES. Just last Wednesday while I was in Moline, the strong winds from the north (over 40 mph) brought the smell of manure from somewhere out there.

So, our ENVIRONMENTAL/SUSTAINABILITY/ENERGY group of the PROGRESSIVE ACTION FOR THE COMMON GOOD (PACG), thought it was time for more citizens to be informed.

The morning meeting on Saturday, December 3rd will be held in Moline, IL at Riverside United Methodist Life Center, 2420 41st St. from 10AM -12 Noon.

The afternoon meeting the same day will be held in Eldridge, IA in Scott County in the Eldridge Public Library/First Amendment Room from 2 - 4PM.  

Speakers will be KAREN HUDSON AND TERRY SPENCE of GRACE (GLOBAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT).  They are part of a national organization that helps others who may not have the funding to educate others on the hazards of CAFO's (CONFINED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS).

Come if you can and tell others about the meetings.  Get active in your county and keep track of what is going on.  As I said in an earlier article, once you step outside and are slapped in the face with the stench, it will be too late.

So check these web sites to gain further knowledge: www.farmweb.org
And www.thenation.com by searching for "Meatpacking" where you will find "The Shame of Meatpacking" by Karen Olsson and "Bad Meat" by Eric Schlosser.

Keep up the good work you all do in helping to CPR…CONSERVE/PARTICIPATE/RECYCLE

A Media Monster Is Eating the Dems

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by Flavia Monteiro Colgan, AlterNet.org

The ever-consolidating news media in this country is not only destroying political discourse, it's favoring the right-wing over Democrats.

Recent momentous news about the continuing elimination of variety in our news sources has gotten scant coverage.

First, it was announced that Village Voice Media intended to merge with the New Times papers. The Voice was, for years, a dependable independent news source available not only in New York, but in major cities everywhere, while its sister papers independently covered local news in four other areas....

And, just days ago, it was reported that Knight Ridder, the publisher of 32 newspapers, including the Daily News and the Inquirer, will likely go up for sale, and the vultures are circling. Gannett, a likely suitor, already owns 99 daily papers.

This is a trend not just in print, but in broadcast and even the Internet. Today, 90 percent of the top 50 cable stations are owned by the same conglomerates that own the top networks, where more than 80 percent of prime-time viewing is dominated by these same five media giants. They also own the top 20 Internet news sites! And it's only going to get worse.

Media consolidation eats away at the fabric of democracy, which, as Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, a nonpartisan media reform group, points out, "demands an informed citizenry with access to a variety of voices and viewpoints."

(Click here to read the complete article.)

 This Week in Media

The news this week included nominations for Commissioners to the FCC, indecency, low power community radio service and a sex discrimination complaint against Fox News.  Also a new book on the ongoing attempt to discredit and emasculate the media.  Details below.

The White House announced nominations of Michael Copps and Deborah Tate to the FCC. Stories here, here and here.

A report of Indecency Complaints to the FCC was released and Chairman Martin offered his thoughts on the topic.

The FCC is now accepting public comment on a petition to create low power AM radio stations similar to those currently available on FM. 

Fox is a defendant in a sex discrimination suit filed by the  EEOC.

A review of the book Attack the Messenger: How Politicians Turn You Against the Media by Congressional Quarterly columnist Craig Crawford.

Click here for the audio weekly summary Media Minutes from Free Press.
 

  

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A Town Hall Meeting on Wal-Mart:  Low Prices at what cost?

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A Town Hall discussion on ensuring Iowa’s workers have fair and equal access to affordable, quality health care.

Monday, November 14
7:00-8:00 PM
Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A
123 S. Linn St.

In a disturbing nationwide trend, more state studies are revealing that Wal-Mart employees are the top recipients of tax-payer paid health care.  Come and learn about how this practice impacts you as an Iowa tax-payer and local efforts to hold large corporations accountable.

This event is part of Wal-Mart Watch Higher Expectations Week (Nov. 13-19) nationwide.

Guest Speakers

Sen. Joe Bolkcom
Sarah Swisher, Iowa for Health Care
Mark Ginsberg, owner, Ginsberg Jewelers
Andy Grossman, Executive Director, Wal-Mart Watch

Sponsors

Iowa For Health Care

Iowa City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

Iowa City Stop Wal-Mart

Working Families Win

SEIU 199

Wal-Mart Watch

For questions contact Michael Edwards at (319) 621-0222
Joe Bolkcom at 319-337-6280www.joebolkcom.org

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Click here to join 

  Iowans for Better Local TV (IBLTV)

Iowa's Media Reform Group

Click here to sign our petition to the FCC

 

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 This Week in Media

Another week of action for those concerned with the state of the media in this country.  The battlegrounds are ownership rules, the transition to Digital TV, and the broadcasting company that is owned by US, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  

The biggest news has to be the resignation of Kenneth Tomlinson from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board.  It was first thought that his resignation was caused by an upcoming Inspector General  report on his efforts as the Chair of CPB to impose his partisan agenda at PBS and NPR.  It then was learned he is now under investigation for misusing funds and hiring "ghost employees" as Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors — which oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, TV Marti and other "public diplomacy" programs.  Here is the short version by Free Press and the long version by the New York Times.
 
The issues for Digital TV this week are broadcast flags,  indecency, and the date for stations to complete conversion.  In addition, the FCC announced a notice of proposed rule making regarding the franchising process for multi-channel video providers.  They also  extended the emergency alert system to digital TV stations, and modified the DTV-tuner mandate to cover TV sets smaller than 13 inches.

The battle over ownership rules is still in its early stages, but public interest groups are beginning to define the issues.

And lastly, an important event that didn’t happen - the almost total absence of media coverage of the GAO report identifying serious flaws in the 2004 election and our voting process in general. 

The MP3 version of  Media Minutes from Free Press is here.