[Peace] Protect kids from manipulative marketers

[Robert McChesney]

Recently, Senator Tom Harkin unveiled the HeLP (Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention) America Act with important provisions to restore the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) authority to regulate all advertising to children and to restrict junk food marketing to children under 18.

Since 1980, when corporate lobbyists pushed Congress to rescind the FTC's power to regulate advertising to children, child-directed marketing has escalated exponentially with virtually no government oversight. During that period, the number of overweight kids in the U.S. between 6 and 11 years of age doubled, while the number tripled for those 12 to 17 years old. On average, a child sees 40,000 commercials each year on television.

The commercial exploitation of our children must be stopped.

Please urge your Senators to take a stand for children and families by supporting the HeLP America Act. Go to http://www.freepress.net/action/kids.php

A little background: The U.S. consumer is saturated in advertising. Under current law, it is more difficult to regulate advertising to children than to adults! The Harkin bill is an important step towards fixing the problem. By restoring the FTC's authority to control children's marketing, we will have the regulatory structure needed to fight back against an advertising industry gone wild.

Stop Commercial Exploitation of Children (SCEC) and Free Press have launched a national campaign to support the HeLP America Act.  Please take a moment to support this crucial legislation. Go to http://www.freepress.net/action/kids.php

Thanks,
Robert McChesney
Free Press


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