Monday, May 20, 2013
Angelina Jolie, Corporate Science, and “Prevention”
“Corporate science puts profit before the public interest. Corporate science is often secretive, not peer-reviewed, laden with lobbying power, and driven by profit-seeking strategies.”
- Ralph Nader
By now, I’m guessing the vast majority of you have heard about movie star Angelina Jolie choosing to have a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of breast cancer. As explained by the New York Times, “Ms. Jolie had a family history of cancer and tested positive for genetic flaws in the BRCA1 gene, which indicates an elevated risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Her doctor estimated that she had an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer.”
I’m gonna also guess that you’ve experienced the predictable spin—from scientific to sexist and beyond—this story inspired. To follow are two angles, in the name of context.
+++
One of my recent photos:
Occupy Dance at the NYC Dance Parade
ShareThursday, May 16, 2013
Let Them Eat Bugs (when capitalists address hunger)
Billions of humans are hungry, industrial propagandists have corrupted our understanding (sic) of nutrition, and much of how we’re programmed to eat is rapidly killing the eco-system. What are we to do?
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in its infinite wisdom, suggests we eat insects and the corporate media jumps at the chance to publish articles with oh-so-clever titles like, “Some salt with your spider? U.N. says bugs good for you.”
Pardon me while I try to stop my brain from exploding.
Too…many…possible…angles…for…article…must…cover…it…all…
+++
One of my recent photos:
Release Lynn Stewart
ShareSunday, May 12, 2013
Life & Death/Revenge & Justice
For a wide variety of reasons, I rarely write specifically about high profile mainstream news spectacles but the Cleveland kidnapping story contains so many socially relevant angles.
For example, while Ariel Castro is being charged with rape and kidnapping, Cuyahoga County prosecutor Timothy McGinty may also bring aggravated murder charges in connection with the pregnancies that were terminated by force.
Such charges, McGinty was quick to clarify, are punishable by death.
+++
One of my recent photos:
End Gap Sweatshops!
Even more new activism photos here
Yet more new activism photos here