Clean Watershed Campaign

Is this corporate accountability?

Is this corporate accountability?
Brian McKenna, Ph.D.

Dow Chemical is an unaccountable corporation. As is true for any corporation, profits, not people, are its fundamental concern. But Dow is in a league by itself in its ability to create a benign corporate image, even in the face of massive environmental health pollution, illness, death and civic distress.

These effects take place throughout the globe, from its Michigan headquarters to Bhopal. Dow is able to maintain quiescence through a well-heeled lobbying effort, strategic “philanthropy” and crafty public relations. As a result Dow has inordinate influence over Michigan media, government and even its higher education institutions. Dow Chemical is a principle force behind the “company town” culture, a culture of control, not democracy, cruelty, not compassion.

Brian McKenna, Ph.D. Is an applied anthropologist and journalist with more than two decades of experience as a public anthropologist. Brian received his Masters Degree from Temple University and his Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Dr. McKenna writes a regular column in the Society for Applied Anthropology Newsletter.

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=10008