[CounterCorp] National broadcast of film about founder of the anti-corporate movement

[CounterCorp News and Events List]

Dear CounterCorp supporter,

	In 1966, General Motors -- then the most powerful corporation in the  
world -- hired a team of private investigators to dig up dirt on an  
obscure 32-year-old, Lebanese-American public interest lawyer named  
Ralph Nader, who had written a book critical of one of their cars,  
the Corvair.

	The scandal that ensued after GM's deliberate smear campaign against  
Nader was revealed launched him into national prominence, marked the  
birth of the modern consumer movement -- and heralded the beginning  
of the anti-corporate activist movement, too.

	Over the next 30 years, and without ever holding public office,  
Nader built a legislative record that would rival that of any  
contemporary president.

	Many things we take for granted -- from seatbelts, airbags, and  
product labels to the free ticket you get after being bumped from an  
overbooked airline flight -- are largely due to the efforts of Ralph  
Nader and the citizens groups he created.

	Nader's unwavering belief in the power of -- and absolute necessity  
for -- grassroots citizen participation in a genuine democracy made  
him the perfect scapegoat for Al Gore's utterly inept campaign and  
Hamlet-like performance in the 2000 presidential election.

	Unfortunately, as a result of this second smear campaign, Nader's  
seminal and untiring role in containing (and even rolling back)  
corporate power has been largely forgotten today. But that can all  
change, with your help.

	Thanks to the last vestiges of our nominally "public" broadcasting  
system (now replete with the same ads as the privately controlled  
commercial networks), you can watch an excellent documentary on the  
life and times of Ralph Nader in the comfort of your own home -- for  
free!

	"An Unreasonable Man" traces the birth of consumer activism back to  
1968, when a handful of young and idealistic 'Nader's Raiders' began  
working on issues ranging from abuses of public health and safety to  
nursing homes to economic concentration.

	Utilizing rare archival footage and over 40 on-camera interviews  
conducted over the past two years, "An Unreasonable Man" traces the  
life and career of Ralph Nader, one of the most unique, important,  
and controversial political figures of the past half century.

	Don't miss it!
	And, just as importantly, please forward this message (or send one  
of your own) to your friends, colleagues, neighbors, and associates  
and urge them to watch this important film.

	Whether or not you like Nader as a person, the continued importance  
of anti-corporate activism as demonstrated in the film cannot be  
overstated.

Thanks as always for your support: We -- and Ralph -- couldn't do any  
of this without you!

The CounterCorp Core Corps



	CounterCorp: "Putting an end to business as usual"

	Organizers of the 2008 Anti-Corporate Film Festival

	  For more information, visit www.countercorp.org

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