What's behind the U.S. epidemic of children's chronic illnesses?

[Guest guest]

GMW: What's behind the U.S. epidemic of children's chronic

illnesses?

" GM WATCH " <info

Thu, 5 May 2005 13:22:54 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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Looking for Leads on an Environmental Story

Topics: citizen journalism / environment

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton

http://www.prwatch.org/node/3629

 

Here's your chance to help with an important journalistic

investigation. Former New York Times reporter Philip Shabecoff and his

wife Alice

are doing research about the links between environmental toxicants and

the epidemic of children's chronic illnesses in the United States today,

and they're looking for some leads.

 

The research will lead to a book for the general public. Beyond

documenting the evidence arising from the new sciences, the Shabecoffs

intend

to

tell stories about families and communities affected by corporate

behavior. The Shabecoffs will try to " follow the money " to explain

government laxity.

 

The following are questions for which the Shabecoffs would appreciate

responses or leads to sources of information:

 

*The revolving door question: What government officials have joined the

chemical, energy, waste management, automotive, agribusiness, and food

industries?

 

*Which companies and industry associations in those sectors provide

substantial contributions to elected officials, at the county, state and

federal

levels?

 

*What nonprofit think tanks and research organizations represent

corporate interests in these sectors? And who are the

pseudo-scientific and

pseudo-public service organizations that front for polluters in the

chemical, energy, waste management, automotive, agribusiness and food

industries?

 

*How do the following specific companies exert influence on

policymaking and public opinion: Dow, Dupont, IBM, Exxon Mobil, Shell

(and other

petrochemical companies), Monsanto, GE, and energy companies?

 

*Who are the scientists with corporate connections?

 

*Who are the scientists with corporate connections who have been placed

on government advisory boards?

 

*What links are there between the political and religious right and

industrial polluters?

 

If you have information that can help answer these questions, please

contact the Shabecoffs at shabecof AT erols.com. (Replace AT with the @

symbol.)

 

 

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