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REVIEWS ©® BATTLING BIG BUSINESS specially targeted grassroots actions. edited by Eveline Lubbers The high-calibre contributors include Scribe Publications, Australia, 2002; Sharon Beder (Global Spin, see 7/04), Ann Common Courage Press, USA, 2002 Doherty and Olivier Hoedeman (Corporate ISBN 0-90801 1-77-6 (Scribe); Europe Observatory), Nicky Hager (Seeds of 1-56751-224-0 (CCP) (224pp tpb) Distrust, Secret Power, 3/06), George Price: A$27.50; NZ$34.95; £10.95; Monbiot (Captive State, 8/03; Guardian), Euro 22,90; US$13.46 + sah , and Eveline Lubbers herself. Whether Availability: Aust—Scribe Publications, tel You'te fighting a supermarket chain coming (03) 9349 5955, website to town or an engineering transnational http://www scribe ub.com.au: NZ— building a pipeline in your area, this is a Addenda, tel (09) Bad 5511: UK—Green must-read for those who want to know what Books. tel 01803 863260: Europe— they're up against and how to overcome it. NEXUS Office; USA—Common Courage . Press el (207) 525 0900, website by Gal vy Nall, PRD OPINION tip: www commoncouragepress.com Seven Stories Press, USA, 2002 ISBN 1-58322-062-3 (750pp hc) Price: £23.99; Euro 44,90; US$34.95; C$49.95 Availability: UK—Turnaround, tel 0181 829 3000; Europe—NEXUS Office, tel +31 (0)321 380558; USA—Seven Stories Press, website http:/Avww.sevenstories.com; ganada—Hushion House, tel (416) 285 eading American alternative health prac- titioner and writer Gary Null, PhD, (with editor James Feast, PhD) has produced a S mega-guide to alternative, traditional and caleyee Bane orthodox approaches to AIDS. ye a an AIDS: A Second Opinion is divided into his is an important book about corporate Seven parts: evidence against the current tactics of greenwashing, infiltration and © AIDS hypothesis; alternative causes of other forms of bullying—and how tocoun- _—_ AIDS; the business of AIDS, Inc.; conven- teract them. It is edited by Dutch grassroots _ tional treatment programs; the AZT hoax; activist Eveline Lubbers, who commissioned _ alternative treatments (with some age-old some well-known writers and campaigners wisdom); and a grand finale on the increas- around the world to contribute. ingly popular new medical paradigm. In the first part, the emphasis is on how Dr Null analyses the science bandied about powerful corporations try to silence their on both sides of the HIV/AIDS debate, the critics and "keep up appearances" by using rubbery statistics issued by health authori- public relations tactics to bolster their ethical __ ties, and the African AIDS origin hypothesis and environmental profile, while hiding the _in light of US anticancer and biowarfare true harm that their products and practices programs, drawing here on testimony from may be wreaking on the environment and Dr Leonard Horowitz. There's analysis of people, both in the developed and develop- the African AIDS situation and the problem ing worlds. Represented are industries of making available cheap anti-AIDS drugs including oil (Shell and bp), "life sciences" (yet ones already known by US scientists to (Monsanto), forestry (Timberlands), tobacco be dangerous). The alternative therapeutic and food (Philip Morris/Kraft) and fast food protocols covered have much going for them (McDonald's). Their strategies include compared with pharmaceutical drug cock- rebranding themselves, forming front groups __ tails, and the case studies and experiences of to masquerade as citizens’ organisations, co- _ long-term survivors suggest a paradigm shift opting their critics by hiring high-profile is required in the approach to treatment. environmentalists, adopting divide-and-rule There's a chapter on oxygen and ozone policies, targeting classrooms, spying on therapies, but no mention I can see of Basil critics and suing them for libel, lobbying Wainwright's successes against AIDS and stakeholders and governments behind the other diseases in Kenya and elsewhere with scenes, cyber-surveilling, and so on. application of his polyatomic apheresis The focus in the second part is on how the "blood ozonation" technology. But that's concerned citizen can battle big business not to say that the personalities and politics, bullying through patient investigation, the realities and deceptions in the AIDS Internet activism, non-violent protest and drama are not writ large in these pages. BATTLING BIG BUSINESS edited by Eveline Lubbers Scribe Publications, Australia, 2002; Common Courage Press, USA, 2002 ISBN 0-908011-77-6 (Scribe); 1-56751-224-0 (CCP) (224pp tpb) Price: A$27.50; NZ$34.95; £10.95; Euro 22,90; US$13.46 + s&h Availability: Aust—Scribe Publications, tel (03) 9349 5955, website http://www.scribepub.com.au; NZ— Addenda, tel (09) 834 5511; UK—Green Books, tel 01803 863260; Europe— NEXUS Office; USA—Common Courage Press, tel (207) 525 0900, website http://www.commoncouragepress.com BUSINESS sea greenwash, Tntiltratio nd other one Re r ASRS : , ¢ ~ Eaited Dineaes| i re seperti [et his is an important book about corporate tactics of greenwashing, infiltration and other forms of bullying—and how to coun- teract them. It is edited by Dutch grassroots activist Eveline Lubbers, who commissioned some well-known writers and campaigners around the world to contribute. In the first part, the emphasis is on how powerful corporations try to silence their critics and "keep up appearances" by using public relations tactics to bolster their ethical and environmental profile, while hiding the true harm that their products and practices may be wreaking on the environment and people, both in the developed and develop- ing worlds. Represented are industries including oil (Shell and bp), "life sciences" (Monsanto), forestry (Timberlands), tobacco and food (Philip Morris/Kraft) and fast food (McDonald's). Their strategies include rebranding themselves, forming front groups to masquerade as citizens’ organisations, co- opting their critics by hiring high-profile environmentalists, adopting divide-and-rule policies, targeting classrooms, spying on critics and suing them for libel, lobbying stakeholders and governments behind the scenes, cyber-surveilling, and so on. The focus in the second part is on how the concerned citizen can battle big business bullying through patient investigation, Internet activism, non-violent protest and NEXUS + 77 OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2002 www.nexusmagazine.com