Disney trying to silence children's advocacy group?

Now don't get me wrong, I generally like Disney things (although the princess overkill bugs me). I went to Disney World on my honeymoon, owned many Disney movies before having children, and have Disney books and toys in my home.

But increasingly, some of their corporate policies and actions bother me.

Remember last year when Disney had to give refunds to Baby Einstein customers for false advertising? Since then, it seems that the advocacy group at the heart of the campaign is being squashed by the big foot of Mickey Mouse. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has done fantastic work for years, and it's sad to see their funders being leaned upon by such a huge corporation.

I won't rewrite the details here, but have a look at the New York Times article about the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood's problems, and learn more about their advocacy work on their website (highlights of their most groundbreaking work here).

Media and corporate culture is such a huge influence on our children, and I for one am happy that there are people out there making us think twice about the messages children receive. I'd hate to see that silenced.