This past Thursday in class, Adam and Tasha presented "Corporate Power" to our class. I find it very uncomforting (but yet, oddly interesting) how such a large portion (50%) of the mass media is controlled by 23 corporations - as mentioned in the video "Manufacturing Consent". This brings me to the question: Who are the elites? Corporations' control over resources and dominant political institutions feed both the degradation of the environment and the perception that they are able to overexploit their surroundings at alarming rates, with no associated costs. A section of one video, I think it was "The Corporation", showed the insane amounts of money corporations were fined as a result of their actions. I think that to fine corporations that are swimming in their wealth is the wrong approach. To pay-off legal fines as a way of getting out of trouble doesn't help the environment, and it surely doesn't help to change their attitudes. There needs to be another approach.
Another idea discussed in the presentation/films was the idea of corporations buying out the "green image" as a way of portraying a sustainable image for their company. Not only is the validity of this image untrue in most cases, but is also a very strategic approach to increasing profit. Is society that uneducated that we continue to buy into this lie? or do we want to believe those with power are using it properly?
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First I agree with you about the buying out of the wrongful doings. It does not seem right that money is controlling the situation. If one of these 23 multi billion dollar corporations has to pay a few million to get away with illegal actions I’m sure the "person" (corporations) will do it for the best of the stakeholders. I was wondering if this cooperate person should have jail time! Money clearly is not getting the message across. Also maybe perhaps giving back to the environment they destroyed as a way of punishment. I feel both of these measures would be seen as to time consuming on both ends of the transaction and so money will remain the slap on the wrist for those wronged.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to the buying into the lie of the green image. Yes i believe people will continue to buy into the image. People in our consumer culture feel a need to fit in and might not even know what their t-shirt or bag is doing to help. People continually buy shirts for over 100 dollars that probably cost under a dollar to make so in my opinion green is a fad that people are buying, an environment image for themselves. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if the buying of environmental products was also a way of helping justify for themselves another purchase whether it be a car or t-shirt (they are just helping the environment). People don’t want to see enviable self-destruction.
I too also found the parts about fining particularly shocking, interestingly how much media attention was even given to those companies for breaking the law? Little to none! I think that lack of information just shows the intricacy of the system- if corporations are receiving million dollar fines I would definately like to know about it.
ReplyDelete"White collar crime" as it has often been called is vastly under-represented, and is often much more serious then the street crime that is often targetted. I think in this regard we're meant to see particular images (often stereotypical) as criminal and dangerous, where as CEO's in offices in towering buildings just fly under the radar. Then again, these are also the corporate bodies controlling what we do and do not see.