Part 1: Ad Breakdown
I decided to use ads for products which I use, and consider to be eco-friendly, and then go a bit further and try to find out what the true nature of the product is. I chose Irish Spring soap which has an eco-labeling on the back of the box which says it is considered eco-friendly, and its ad on the internet shows the pristine "Irish" environment, the crystal spring and lush greenery. Of course, the entire ad and image being sold to you is that of fresh natural processes, the wonder of life, the perfection of nature being equated to the fresh, perfect feeling you will receive upon using the product.
I used the Organic Consumers Association website to try and figure out what is actually in my bar of soap, and as most would assume the label eco-friendly couldn't be farther from the truth. According the links from the website, my bar of soap contains 1 & 4 Dioxane's which have both been linked to cancer and to developmental/reproductive toxicity. The idea that advertising and connecting the consumer with one or more forms of environmental brainwashing with absolutely no regulation as to the validity of the marketing, can get me to use a soap which is potentially poisoning me, is a mortifying fact.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Week 11: The End of "Toxic Sludge" & The Search for the "Good" in America
Chapter 12 "Toxic Sludge":
In the opening for this final chapter, in a book which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend, is a poignant statement of fact as to the devices of PR and its development in America. As I have read I reached a plateau of emotions, having ridden the wave from fear, to sadness, to hopeless, to numb, and I can honestly say that my final feeling is hopeful having read the final chapter. It is important to understand that in order to create change, even in its simplest forms, first one must know the truth. The fact that it shocks you, or makes you sick, is a sign that you need to step up and make something happen. For me, the story of Lynn Tylczak and her minor league defense against corporate PR being a success, is a major victory for the little guy, and in all seriousness we are all the little guy. Anyone can make something happen, its ideas, and emotion, and anger, and perseverance that builds momentum for any cause, and that all it takes is a spark, that first truth.
Now I didn't really want to sit down and detail my perfect world, because I felt like I had come so far in working away from feeling beaten, and that visualizing my Utopia would only drag me down (in that it would be so far from reality). But when you think about it, for me at least, my Utopia is a conscious America, one that knows the facts, can decipher the propaganda from the reality, and stand to make things of the highest quality for everyone. I guess I just wish everyone read this book, and "Feed", and Bill Mckibbens work, and David McCullough, people working in the system to feed the truth to whoever will listen. I'm hopeful, and not afraid.
Observing Two Sides of America:
Lone Rock Point: I sat at Lone Rock Point as I have many times before, my legs dangling over the edge of one particularly steep drop, and as sat there I realized that to me the importance of the natural world is clarity. To be out in nature, the air, the water, the growth, both its destructive power and its creation of new life, I don't feel separated, but connected. Nature isn't trying to sell you something, and I'm not trying to be simple about it, but really nature doesn't ask anything of you, it exists on a plane unlike that of humanity, because it doesn't need us, but it still struggles to coexist. I think that for me nature is about clarity, honesty, the order of things, and finally it's about knowing who you are, and you are of nature; Humanity is imbibed with all that that nature is, all the good, a history of great successes, and to realize that you must give yourself up to the natural world even if its for 30 minutes.
Televised America: So I spent 30 minutes in front of the television, knowing full well I would be experiencing a variety of flashes and colors, catch-phrases and sales pitches, and a slice of how corporate America sees the American people. I chose not to flip channels, imagining the experience would be disorienting enough, and as I watched I focused on the manner in which, we the American people are perceived on television, how we are represented. And from what I gathered the American is oversexed, unintelligent, loud, vulgar, forceful, and egotistical. Not melodious, beautiful, sensitive or creative, understanding or intelligent, but rather senseless "boobs," but then again that's why its called the "boob-tube." I'm glad I don't have to do this experiment everyday.
In the opening for this final chapter, in a book which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend, is a poignant statement of fact as to the devices of PR and its development in America. As I have read I reached a plateau of emotions, having ridden the wave from fear, to sadness, to hopeless, to numb, and I can honestly say that my final feeling is hopeful having read the final chapter. It is important to understand that in order to create change, even in its simplest forms, first one must know the truth. The fact that it shocks you, or makes you sick, is a sign that you need to step up and make something happen. For me, the story of Lynn Tylczak and her minor league defense against corporate PR being a success, is a major victory for the little guy, and in all seriousness we are all the little guy. Anyone can make something happen, its ideas, and emotion, and anger, and perseverance that builds momentum for any cause, and that all it takes is a spark, that first truth.
Now I didn't really want to sit down and detail my perfect world, because I felt like I had come so far in working away from feeling beaten, and that visualizing my Utopia would only drag me down (in that it would be so far from reality). But when you think about it, for me at least, my Utopia is a conscious America, one that knows the facts, can decipher the propaganda from the reality, and stand to make things of the highest quality for everyone. I guess I just wish everyone read this book, and "Feed", and Bill Mckibbens work, and David McCullough, people working in the system to feed the truth to whoever will listen. I'm hopeful, and not afraid.
Observing Two Sides of America:
Lone Rock Point: I sat at Lone Rock Point as I have many times before, my legs dangling over the edge of one particularly steep drop, and as sat there I realized that to me the importance of the natural world is clarity. To be out in nature, the air, the water, the growth, both its destructive power and its creation of new life, I don't feel separated, but connected. Nature isn't trying to sell you something, and I'm not trying to be simple about it, but really nature doesn't ask anything of you, it exists on a plane unlike that of humanity, because it doesn't need us, but it still struggles to coexist. I think that for me nature is about clarity, honesty, the order of things, and finally it's about knowing who you are, and you are of nature; Humanity is imbibed with all that that nature is, all the good, a history of great successes, and to realize that you must give yourself up to the natural world even if its for 30 minutes.
Televised America: So I spent 30 minutes in front of the television, knowing full well I would be experiencing a variety of flashes and colors, catch-phrases and sales pitches, and a slice of how corporate America sees the American people. I chose not to flip channels, imagining the experience would be disorienting enough, and as I watched I focused on the manner in which, we the American people are perceived on television, how we are represented. And from what I gathered the American is oversexed, unintelligent, loud, vulgar, forceful, and egotistical. Not melodious, beautiful, sensitive or creative, understanding or intelligent, but rather senseless "boobs," but then again that's why its called the "boob-tube." I'm glad I don't have to do this experiment everyday.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Week 10: Chapter 8&9 "Toxic Sludge is Good for You"
Chapter 8
1) The number of chemicals in sewage sludge and the manner in which these companies use words like "biosolids" to define the sludge when in reality it sits and poisons the environment for generations.
2) The idea that cities dumps tons of toxins and chemicals into their waterways for years is ridiculous to try to comprehend. What kind of limited brain power does it take to think that was a good idea? All I could think of was the Cuyahoga River fire in 1969, and how it took 6 foot high flames on a river to get Ohio from polluting their waterways.
3) Toxic sludge being called an organic by companies with no scientific or logistical data for the title. Straight up lies! But no one calling them out on it? Where is the help?
4) The shipping of toxic sludge across the country? Cost-Effective? Logical? Not really, but out of site, out of mind, that's been our policy for generations.
5) I loved the section about the "greasing" of mayors and other public officials by companies needed a place for their toxic waste. The idea that all it takes is a little cash in hand, and a publicly elected representative will allow someone to plop 50 tons of sludge on your town. So wrong.
Question: When are we going to get some serious legislation and protection from the government? Some officials with pride, morals, consciences?
Chapter 9
1) As stated in "The Corporation," the news is what the company who owns the broadcast says it is. So I was not shocked by the thought that only 40% of news is broadcast unedited, I actually thought it would be more like 20%.
2) The topic of companies altering their names so that the public might not quite understand what the company is or does. It made me think of all the companies you think are small organics, Annie's, even Vermont Bread Co., all owned by major conglomerates. Check this website out, it has a great chart of the companies connected to a number of my old favorites http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa/services/corporate-ownership.html.
3)Earth Day sponsored by McDonald's? Ridiculous!
4) The title organic, or green becoming an exploited marketing strategy where consumers have no idea the true nature of the branded green products background. When are we going to get some strict regulation, and blatant/clear icons for registered green products?
5) Are we the problem?
1) The number of chemicals in sewage sludge and the manner in which these companies use words like "biosolids" to define the sludge when in reality it sits and poisons the environment for generations.
2) The idea that cities dumps tons of toxins and chemicals into their waterways for years is ridiculous to try to comprehend. What kind of limited brain power does it take to think that was a good idea? All I could think of was the Cuyahoga River fire in 1969, and how it took 6 foot high flames on a river to get Ohio from polluting their waterways.
3) Toxic sludge being called an organic by companies with no scientific or logistical data for the title. Straight up lies! But no one calling them out on it? Where is the help?
4) The shipping of toxic sludge across the country? Cost-Effective? Logical? Not really, but out of site, out of mind, that's been our policy for generations.
5) I loved the section about the "greasing" of mayors and other public officials by companies needed a place for their toxic waste. The idea that all it takes is a little cash in hand, and a publicly elected representative will allow someone to plop 50 tons of sludge on your town. So wrong.
Question: When are we going to get some serious legislation and protection from the government? Some officials with pride, morals, consciences?
Chapter 9
1) As stated in "The Corporation," the news is what the company who owns the broadcast says it is. So I was not shocked by the thought that only 40% of news is broadcast unedited, I actually thought it would be more like 20%.
2) The topic of companies altering their names so that the public might not quite understand what the company is or does. It made me think of all the companies you think are small organics, Annie's, even Vermont Bread Co., all owned by major conglomerates. Check this website out, it has a great chart of the companies connected to a number of my old favorites http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa/services/corporate-ownership.html.
3)Earth Day sponsored by McDonald's? Ridiculous!
4) The title organic, or green becoming an exploited marketing strategy where consumers have no idea the true nature of the branded green products background. When are we going to get some strict regulation, and blatant/clear icons for registered green products?
5) Are we the problem?
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