Corporate Criminals of the Year

Yes, it's time for the First Annual Corporate Criminal Awards for Excellence in the Pursuit of Malfeasance. It's been a busy year for corporate evil, so the competition has been vicious and cruel. Who will win these prestigious Awards? Sadly, the Trent Lott Medal for Insincere Apologizing could not be awarded, because no corporate criminals actually apologized for their heinous acts.

But a dazzling array of miscreants and evildoers were given their just compensation in this highly competitive race for prizes. No ordinary criminals can compete with the highest echelons of corporate crime. A crook who robs a bank every day would barely be noticed in comparison to the millions and billions stolen by these white-collar criminals. [Full Article]

Waterfowl Under Fire at Evergreen Lake

McLean Co. Audubon Society Opposes a Proposed Hunt

I am writing on behalf of the John Wesley Powell (JWP) Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society based in McLean County, to submit comments on the proposed waterfowl hunt at Evergreen Lake. Our local chapter has over 500 members in the area and our mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.

Our understanding is that the impetus for initiating a waterfowl hunt is to reduce the resident Canada Goose population at Evergreen Lake because of (1) aesthetic impacts due to waste material left in public use areas and (2) feared impacts on water quality (specifically, fecal coliform, which currently is within safety limits) should the flock increase further. [Full Article]

Campus Corporate Criminal: Battling Boise

In a world full of corporate crime and ethically inferior decision-making by the leaders of Big Business, common citizens are often overwhelmed and apathetic regarding such conditions caused and created by Corporate America that affect our lives as human beings. Quite simply, the corporate realm creates a myriad number of problems regarding the fiscal, social, and environmental well-being of our nation in which people simply do not know where to begin the fight to counter such problems.

Naturally, the best place to start would be to become informed and active regarding the corporate problems that are most relevant to one's own area. On the ISU campus, perhaps no corporation creates more problems than Boise (formerly Boise-Cascade), a corporation that ensures the destruction of our nation's old growth forests. ISU continues to do business with Boise despite constant pressure from many students and faculty on campus to end the contract with this company, which is widely known as the most environmentally-unfriendly logging company in America. [Full Article]

Progressive Websites

It is important to a functioning democracy for citizens to have many viewpoints to consider when they make decisions about issues and policies. However, sometimes it is not always easy to find decent reporting and alternative viewpoints to current events so you can make informed decisions. Maybe you have heard dissenting voices from your friends on campus, or seen protestors against the war in Iraq. However, you do not have anywhere to get informed other than the TV and the newspapers. Unfortunately, the corporate media hardly ever gives you the critical perspective and the important facts you need to analyze current events.

So, if the corporate media is not doing it for you, where do you go? I have listed a few websites here that give progressive viewpoints to issues and events that directly affect our lives. Next time that you are faced with the question like, "Should we go to war with Iraq?" or "Should we legalize hemp?" you can make an informed decision. You do not have to agree with the position that is given to you at these websites. However, be open-minded and use your own logic to determine if the views that are presented are consistent with freedom, democracy, equality, and justice, whether the views are from CNN or Z magazine. [Full Article]