Show 39: Drinking Water for Sale

Bottled drinking water is an $11 Billion per year US industry, and the withdrawal of water has been referred to as a "Blue gold rush." With impacts to local water supplies and quality of life looming, citizens groups are challenging the right of corporate water companies such as Nestle to withdraw drinking water from local supplies. In March 2006, Barnstead, New Hampshire, (population 4,800) passed a law banning corporations from mining and selling town water. The law also purports to strip corporations of their constitutional power and authority. Corporate Watchdog Radio cohost Sanford Lewis interviews Ruth Caplan, chair of Sierra Club's project on water privatization.

Listen

Sierra Club on Water Privatization

Alliance for Democracy on Water Privatization

New Hampshire Town Bans Corporate Water Withdrawals

Show 38: Blackwater Carves No-Man's Land Free From Accountability

Jeremy Scahill discusses his new book "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army." "Blackwater has openly declared its forces above the law," he writes. "While resisting attempts to subject its private soldiers to the Pentagon's Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)--insisting they are civilians--Blackwater has simultaneously claimed immunity from civilian litigation in the United States, saying its forces are a part of the US Total Force." The conversation also touches on Blackwater's bid to serve as "peacekeepers" in Sudan, and the dangerous precedent of Blackwater's domestic deployment in New Orleans. Francesa Rheannon of Writer's Voice co-hosts the program with Bill Baue.

Listen

Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army

Writer's Voice

Show 37: Shareholders Seek Portfolio Detox

In the current corporate annual meeting season, shareowners have stepped up demands on companies to seek alternatives to toxic materials in their products. A shareholder resolution at Apple calls on the company to set an accelerated timetable for ending the use of certain toxic materials. But why has the Board of Directors, which includes Al Gore, unanimously recommended against the resolution? At DuPont shareholders are continuing their quest for the company to end the use of the so-called Teflon Chemical. Corporate Watchdog Radio cohost Sanford Lewis, who is counsel to the Investor Environmental Health Network, discusses these and other fights with Richard Liroff, Director of the Network. Other companies discussed include Chemlawn, Bed, Bath & Beyond, SC Johnson, CVS, Dow Chemical, Wal-Mart, Mohawk Carpet and others.

Listen

Investor Environmental Health Network