Big Business Intrusion

I just read an article in the latest National Geographic Traveler titled "Lessons from the Grand Canyon." While the article is mainly about the importance of national parks and how to successfully maintain and run a beautiful park, the article brushes on the idea that popular American culture and big business are a threat to national parks (and therefore other civic, cultural, non-profit, or public organizations, spaces, and ideas).
Big businesses and others of political or economic power often have a behind-the-scenes hand in decisions and regulations having to do with national parks. For example, the Grand Canyon National Park researched the main cause of pollution in the park and discovered that the leading cause was plastic water bottles. They decided to put a plastic water bottle ban in place, effective January 1, 2011, and steer visitors toward refilling stations and reusable water bottles instead. Coca-cola, who is a major donor to the Grand Canyon National Park, got wind of this intended ban and was very displeased (Coca-cola owns Dasani water). After conversations with Coca-cola, the Grand Canyon National Park decided to halt the ban, presumably fearing a huge loss in funding from Coca-cola. It took another year for the park's superintendent to push back and put the ban into effect, questioning the influence of big business over the needs and health of the wildlife in the park and it's visitors.
Costas Christ, the author of this piece, also sited other decisions that Grand Canyon has made throughout it's history in order to assimilate with American societal norms and pressures. When the park was built, Grand Canyon village, an array of parking lots, shops, accommodations, and tourist attractions was built among the park's natural beauty. Cars were incessantly driving through out the park, attributing to pollution, unsightly long lines and traffic, and distracting from the natural beauty and serenity. These amenities were created in order to serve the American population, with no regard for preservation. Now, the park is backtracking, encouraging visitors to use the public transportation system put in place in the park, and attempting to reuse old facilities instead of build new ones on the precious land.
In the past, parks have catered to the popular culture of the time, including luxuries and allowances that did not benefit the health of the park. Big business has stepped in and made even sacred, wild places places that are full of marketing and human extravagance.
The Grand Canyon is learning it's lesson and is slowly looking in other places for "friends"--non-profits, foundations, and local community groups--to help support it's mission and look out for the preservation of the park as it is. These groups and donors in place that are interested in benefiting the park, and not interested in advertising and making profits off the park.
This article was a good reminder to me about the influence of large companies. Advertising and corporations literally control and own much of this country; it is challenging to make ethical decisions without factoring in these giants in charge of our economic system. Things such as the plastic water bottle ban, which benefits the park, were a threat to Coca-cola and other bottled water producers. Because money equals influence in this country, they were able to sway this decision to meet their needs, all while contributing to the pollution of the park.
The Grand Canyon is a great example of fighting back against the intrusion of big business. Let us all be cautious of the hand that big business plays in many political decisions in this country and speak out against it.

--Megan