Corn Cob Bob on hunger strike!

Corn Cob Bob may die.

Irrespective of his own health, the scrawny, veggie-dude decided to risk life (and limb?) to take a stand.

It appears the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association mascot is taking this stand because Telecastor Canada -- the nation's advertising watchdog -- attempted to thwart an advertisement that aired a clip of Prime Minister Harper making a campaign promise. According to Telecastor Canada the clip of the PM could not be used without his permission. According to Kory Teneycke, the Renewable Fuels Association executive director, Telecastor evnentually approved the advertisement, which focuses on the Conservative party's promise to require 5% biofuel content in gasoline, but said it would yank it if the Conservatives filed a complaint.

This is ridiculous! Since when do Canadians (including individuals, corporations and organizations) need permission to use publid domain material? The very fact that Harper declared his party's intent publically puts this material in the public domain. If, then, the clip helps emphasis a) the importance of such a decision, b) the promise of our currently elected members of parliament, then it is open season!

While one could appreciate any apprehension if a statement or clip was taken out of context, this does not appear to be the case. As a result the Canadian Renewable Fuels Associaton denounced the decision as stifling its freedom of speech. In turn, it announced that its mascot, Corn Cob Bob, would go on hunger strike. While the water-only diet for Bob the Cob may be a tongue-in-cheek response to Telecastor's obvious interference, Teneycke said the decision is due to the serious implications.

Tenecyke believes that Telecastor's willingness to pull an ad campaign with a Harper clip has implications across the country. He believes that by preventing public display and use of campaign promises by our politicians it, effectively, gives these same politicians a veto over their statements.

The fact is media (of all sorts -- whether it is theoretically objective or decidedly biased) should be allowed to hold all our leaders accountable. One way to do this is to offer evidence of promises and failures. The Renewable Fuels Association saw an opportunity to do just this and decided to act. The fact that a watchdog organization almost tried to quash the event bodes poorly on the future of free speech in this country.

For more words on this issue go to:

http://www.devonrowcliffe.ca/blog/?p=236
http://churchofwhatshappeningnow.blogspot.com/2007/01/its-bloody-outrage.html
http://domesticfuel.com/?p=1032