Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin says one of the more popular characters in the history of kids’ movies may be fattening up his audience and killing it.
In a conference call with Iowa Independent and other media today, Harkin, D-Iowa, said that he sent a letter to Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks, protesting the use of the movie cartoon character “Shrek” to sell junk food to kids.
“Shrek 3” opens Friday, May 18.
“DreamWorks has licensed ‘Shrek’ to market Cheetos, Pop Tarts, Skittles, M&Ms, Frosted Flakes, Snickers, Fruit Loops, Cheez-Its, Keebler Cookies — the list goes on and on,” Harkin said. “This is totally irresponsible and damaging to our kids’ health — damaging to our entire country.”
“Shrek” should be peddling fruits and healthy snacks instead, Harkin said.
He said both parents and corporations have responsibilities on this matter.
“Kids love Shrek and if Shrek says, ‘Eat Cheetos,’ kids want to eat to Cheetos then,” Harkin said.
When one reporter asked him pointedly if families should boycott “Shrek,” Harkin said: “I think people have to start understand that Shrek maybe really is an ogre. Maybe he’s not good for kids’ health.”
Harkin said corporate America spends $12 billion annually on ads aimed at children. Many of the ads are intended to drive kids to the point of temper tantrums to get their sugar and fast food fixes, Harkin contends.
“It’s fueling an epidemic of childhood obesity,” he said.
Harkin cited a just-released Center for Digital Democracy report on marketing of products to youth over the Internet and cell phones. Harkin has read the full report and called its revelations “frightening” and “insidious.”
“What makes these new techniques especially effective for marketing to children is that parents are clueless,” he said.
Harkin said his Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention Act would give the Federal Trade Commission authority to regulate “unfair marketing” aimed at children.
The senator dismissed challenges that his proposed approach on the matter amounted to creation of a “nanny state” which would go so far as to prevent a cartoon character from selling candy to kids.
He added that he would use both legislative powers and the bully pulpit to force more responsibility from Hollywood and the food industry.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter