The fracking debate in Europe continues to fascinate and provoke. The most fascinating part? The concerns voiced by opponents are not their real concerns. And the real concerns are rarely discussed.
“How fracking low can carbon go?”
February 27th, 2013PubTalk: What a politician is really thinking about when you’re talking
January 24th, 2013When you are advocating your case to a politician, you are often dealing with complicated and highly technical topics (hazard, classification, nanomaterials, etc). What the politician is really listening for, is how he could explain the issue outside the beltway, in the bar, to a voter. What words would he use to explain it over a beer? Read more….
The Daily Mail – the most powerful campaigning organisation in the world?
September 25th, 2012In several recent meetings, we have been involved in discussions about the UK newspaper the Daily Mail. The paper is tackling many issues, in a manner which most would describe as ‘populist’. Read more….
Endocrine disruptors – where are we headed and what can we learn?
July 18th, 2012There are a number of public affairs issues which hold lessons beyond their immediate impacts. One of these currently is a debate in Europe and North America about the ability of certain chemicals to disrupt human hormone systems. Read more…
The next sweet spot: lessons from the sugar tax
June 15th, 2012The ongoing policy debate about sugar tax is an interesting case study for many sectors. Governments are short of cash and are looking for victims. How do you ensure you escape their clutches? Read more….
HLC cartoons: retailers as gatekeepers
February 20th, 2012Several years ago, we coined the phrase ‘retailer as gatekeeper’, to describe the growing trend for public policy issues to be impacted by the decisions of retailers and other brandholders, as opposed to regulators (to read more on the subject, click here). The trend continues, and will play a large role in many debates to [...]
‘What makes people tick’ – The secrets of NGO success?
November 23rd, 2011Many of the people with whom we work in the corporate world seem honestly bewildered by the effectiveness of pressure group campaigns. The purpose of this blog is to draw your attention to two books that go a long way to explaining why the best pressure group campaigns are so successful. Read more…
No need to talk to them; they don’t have the support anymore
November 2nd, 2011What can oil and gas executives learn from the collapse of the credit bubble? That no matter how good the situation looks now, and how friendly politicians act: they have already thought who to blame in case something goes wrong. A good lesson to keep in mind before turning the back on environmental and climate change groups. Read more…
EuroFish TV: “TV about fish, for fish, made by fish”
September 22nd, 2011EU Commissioner Damanaki tweeted our first episode of EuroFishTV to over 2000 people this week.
There are few policy areas more complex than the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy. Hence, the public rarely pays attention. Here is our effort to make it simple – to make the message travel further. Read more…
