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Magazine Issue 2 - Winter 1996
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| Editorial The Babylonian Times Features Industrial Espionage Finding out - by fair means or foul. The words 'Industrial Espionage' conjure up images of cloak-and-dagger secret agents furtively slipping into their competitors and stealing all their most closely-guarded secrets. Or, alternatively, they could describe the activities of concerned shareholders or customers attempting to find out potentially embarrassing or damaging information about large companies they don't particularly like. Burson-Marsteller Burson Marsteller (BM) is a large and powerful public relations company which is adept at creating a positive image for corporations involved in unethical business practices including human rights violations, environmental destruction and animal-testing. Many of these companies have faced public scrutiny and even convictions for their various activities. Genetic Engineering It's food, Jim, but not as we know it... In the great global genetic experiment, which is being pursued by chemical and food multinationals in their search for greater profits, we - the consumers - are the guinea pigs. If we let them win their battle to force us to accept genetically engineered produce, reports Mark Lynas, the course of life on planet Earth may be changed for ever. Water Companies Privatised water companies are at it again. Not content with rising their prices 5% a year above the rate of inflation and raking in huge salaries and share options from mergers and takeovers, the ten water companies are siphoning off funds from their core business - the supply and treatment of water - in order to fund their other, wholly unregulated activities. The Roads Page Costain in need. Poor old Costain. Having made a substantial loss the last few years while struggling under the sheer incompetence of the Board, and having seen their share price fall from 326p in 1987 to 39p at its suspension this summer, fate has dealt the company another cruel blow. British Nuclear Fuels Corporation Without a Cause... If you had only seen their television advertising you could be forgiven for thinking that BNFL Plc spends its vast budget on building virtual reality simulations of sheep dog trials and teaching yoga to robots. Alas the truth is somewhat less inspiring. Story by Chris Grimshaw. Land Contamination Wherever I dump my waste... A lack of legislation regulating use of contaminated land has left Britain's remaining greenfield sites as a corporate free for all. Paul Vernon reports Lobby Groups Talking Shop: everything you ever wanted to know about lobbying but didn't get round to finding out about so bought a copy of Corporate Watch. Campaign Updates |