The piracy of America : profiteering in the public domain / edited by Judith Scherff.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Scherff, Judith S.

Berry, Thomas, 1914-2009.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political ecology.

Environmental policy--United States.

Environmental policy.

United States.

Public lands--United States.

Public lands.

Environmental justice--United States.

Environmental justice.

Physical Description:

x, 278 pages ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

Profiteering in the public domain

Place of Publication:

Atlanta, GA : Clarity Press, [1999]

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.

Contents:

Foreword / Thomas Berry

The science of communion / James Parks Morton

Introduction / Judith Scherff

The killing grounds : the destruction of Native American species / Conger Beasley, Jr.

American forests / Douglas B. Trent

Cash register rivers : waterways lost to private profit / Ann Vileisis

The mining law of 1872 : a law whose time has gone / Johanna H. Wald & Susannah French

Living dangerously : chemical contamination in our air, water & food / Sandra Steingraber

Science for sale / Dan Fagin & Marianne Lavelle

News pollution / John Stauber & Sheldon Rampton

Legalized extortion : the 'takings' threat to people, property & the environment / Glenn P. Sugameli

Mobilizing against environmentalism : the 'wise use' movement & the insurgent right wing / Tarso Luís Ramos

How industry combats efforts to protect our climate / John Passacantando

Popular epidemology : lay discovery of hazards & causes of illness / Phil Brown

Environmental organizing & public service employees / Jeff DeBonis

A healthy environment : the evolution of a fundamental right / Robert V. Eye

Agriculture of the future : conceptually rich or a technological tour de force / Wes Jackson

Spending our capital

/ David Ehrenfeld

None so blind : the problem of ecological denial / David Orr & David Ehrenfeld

Complicity with evil / Thomas E. Punzo

Resources for activists / Judith Scherff.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0932863280

OCLC:

40953230