Critical analysis of the Texas Youth Commission's response to a crisis

Links to press releases on TYC site:
Press release: March 1, 2007:http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/news/newTYCActingExecDir.html

Statement to employees March 1, 2007:http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/news/newTycChairmanStmt.html

Dallas Morning News Feb. 18, 2007:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/021807dntextycsex.1bd0f05.html


If the TYC did anything right, it was that they directly addressed their employees about their situation, even though it lacked any information whatsoever. Also, the Dallas Morning News had published the story 11 days before the TYC had made any type of statement on their website! Why on earth would they have waited this long to make a statement to their employees and to the press? The March 1 news release actually has a quote that says, “It became clear this week we couldn't wait another day to set a new course,” said the new Board Chairman Don Bethel. Did you really have to wait for this week to make it clear to you?

Also, as if it could get any worse, the news releases don't directly address the situation. They kind of go around it by saying they have elected a new board chairman and executive director. They give all sorts of background information on the new executive director and they give a few quotes on how they are changing the way things are run at TYC. The statement is very broad and general.

Upon further investigation, no immediate steps are taken to prevent abuse at the center until March 6, where they activated a "youth abuse hotline". This occurred 2 weeks after the story is originally published.
Finally, on March 16, 2007 the TYC's Acting Executive Director Ed Owens presented his "Rehabilitation Plan" to the TYC board on March 16, 2007 which addressed all the things he had done and will continue to do to insure that TYC is safe. This informations seems geniune and organized.

The tone the news release gives is a lack of sympathy or embarrassment that this happened at their center. They just don't sound genuine.

Rainforest Action Network

grass roots or astro turf?

The following information I found in RAN's webiste, and other environmental websites.

The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) works to protect the Earth's rainforests and support the rights of their inhabitants through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action. RAN accomplishes its mission through dynamic, hard-hitting campaigns that work to bring corporate and governmental policies into alignment with popular support for rainforest conservation. RAN works in alliance with environmental and human rights groups around the world, including indigenous forest communities and non-governmental organizations in rainforest countries.

According to Friends of the Earth International, " It plays a key role in strengthening the worldwide rainforest conservation movement through supporting activists in tropical countries as well as organizing and mobilizing consumers and community action groups throughout the United States. RAN places an emphasis on grassroots education and action, with strong networking capabilities and a commitment to mobilizing citizen activists to respond rapidly and directly to the forces that threaten the rainforests "

President Randy Hayes has been arrested 18 times and Executive Director Michael Brune a dozen for crimes like trespassing and disorderly conduct.

All of this evidence has lead me to believe that they are grass roots.

Waterways 2007 Lead

Waterways 2007 is proud to present Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Natarajan Ishwaran as relevant keynote speakers of this eye-opening event. Both speakers have dedicated their lives to protecting water supply and will be speaking to the public in the one’ o’clock lounge on Wednesday as part of a weeklong event of current water issues.
Mr. Kennedy is a Harvard graduate, and is responsible for saving much of New York city’s water supply as the senior attorney and national spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Currently, Mr. Kennedy works at the Pace University School of Law where he works as a clinical professor and supervising attorney at the Environmental Litigation Clinic.
Dr. Ishwaran is a published author and editor in several books on the management of natural reserves and protected areas, as well as science and technology. He received his PH. D. in Wildlife Biology and Wildlife Management form Michigan State University. Dr. Ishwaran is currently the director of the UNESCO Ecology and Earth Sciences division. Waterways is Free and open to the public.