Nader came to the public's attention in 1965 when his best-selling book, Unsafe at Any Speed, exposed unsafe cars such as GM Corporation's dangerously defective Corvair. When GM went to extraordinary lengths to discredit Nader, Nader sued it for invasion of privacy. GM's directors, having admitted wrongdoing before a Senate committee, settled the case and publicly apologized. With the money from the settlement, and the reputation for standing up to predatory corporations, Nader launched the modern consumer rights movement, issue by issue.
Citizens from around the country poured in to Washington D.C. to work with Nader. "Nader's Raiders" successfully pushed for numerous laws to protect consumers, workers, taxpayers and the environment, combating corporate abuse and increasing citizen access to government.
Nader's effort led to the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Traffic and Motor Vehicle Act, the Wholesale Meat Act, the Radiation Control Act, the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, and the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. He was influential in the passage of the Freedom of Information Act, and the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts.
He also helped create the Consumer Product Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Nader helped to establish the PIRG's - Public Interest Research Groups Ð student-funded and controlled organizations on college campuses in 23 states. He founded the Center for Responsive Law, Citizens Consumer Action Group, Freedom of Information Clearinghouse, Center for Auto Safety, Disability Rights Center, Pension Rights Center, Congressional Accountability Project, and Public Citizen (the largest of his organizations Ð founded in 1971 with projects including the 100,000-member Global Trade Watch).
Thanks to Nader, cars sold in the US have seat belts, airbags, and bumpers; and smoking is banned on airline flights.
He has fought against numerous corporations, global trade arrangements which overwhelm American sovereignty, and corporate lobbyists who would block safety standards and deny fair access to court for injured parties.
He has authored, co-authored, or sponsored many books, including Action for a Change, Taming the Giant Corporation, The Menace of Atomic Energy, Who's Poisoning America, Winning the Insurance Game, and No Contest.
Nader speaks fluent Russian, Spanish, and Chinese. He is a bachelor, and does not own a TV or car.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2000
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