The problem with Greenpeace
When I was eight my friends and I planned to build a tank. None of us told our mothers why or how we would do this tank project, but once we had it there was no doubt we would be the kings of the neighborhood. We got a bunch of old tires together, broke scissors cutting the treads out, and planned to wrap them around some discarded wheel wells. We gathered wood from an abandoned house development to build the frame, which then we could nail sheet metal too. Then it hit us, we really had no idea how to build a real tank. We had to abort the project in favor of hide and seek for the rest of the afternoon.
Which is exactly my problem with Greenpeace. To rate a company based on the tank they might build over the tank they produce is ridiculous. If anyone can take them seriously, then this green scorecard of theirs needs to be based on facts not promises. Which is why Apple got into the spat they did with them, because the company prefers to promote things they accomplish over things they promise. This policy, as aggravating as it might be at times, keeps Apple out of trouble. I mean, would you like Michael Dell if he kept flipping the switch on distributing Linux? Of course not, which is one of many reasons I am not their customer.
In Job’s letter, he spells out one thing over and over again. Greenpeace, we’re ahead of everyone else in this game while the competition is basing their score on promises. If after all the blasting Greenpeace has done to Apple, perhaps it is time they work on their own scorecard and level the field so we can have a green earth based on fact and not politics.
#1 Mark 2000 says:Think targeting apple - who is the innovator by which all follow - is the best strategy. Just because one company is as bad or a little less bad (how many CRTs did Dell actually sell in the past two years?) doesn’t mean either one is absolved. Two wrongs don’t make a right. I like pressure on Apple. It gets us a better product and trickles down to everyone getting a better product. Would we be getting LED screens so soon if GP hadn’t hardlined on Apple? Want to bet the rest of the industry adopts LED soon after.
#2 Suresh says:acutally, the whole industry is moving to LED as its become economical.
Lower batter requirements, more brighter screens.
Apple’s decisions to use LED displays has NOTHING to do with Greenepeace.
#3 MacRat says:Greenpeace Drone 1: We are getting less donations now. What can we do to boost our visibility?
Greenpeace Drone 2: Lets attack Apple!
#4 GTG says:Apple surely had already made the decision to move to LED screens before the pressue from Greenpeace. Jobs went ahead and announced it to get them off his back.
So, essentially, Greenpeace has gone and spoiled our surprise party. Thanks Greenpeace.
#5 Xander says:Years and years ago, Apple has been working on reducing harmful chemicals in the production of their equipment, as stated in Jobs’ article.
Then Greenpeace, ignoring this, starts the vicious and unjustified “campaign” (read: attack) on Apple seen here:
http://members.greenpeace.org/sites/greenmyapple/about.php
Greenpeace site:
“Right now, poison Apples full of chemicals (like toxic flame retardants, and polyvinyl chloride) are being sold worldwide. When they’re tossed, they usually end up at the fingertips of children in China, India and other developing-world countries. They dismantle them for parts, and are exposed to a dangerous toxic cocktail that threatens their health and the environment.”
Compare with…
Jobs article:
“A note of comparison — In 2007 HP stated that they will remove PVC
from all their packaging. Apple did this 12 years ago. Last year, Dell
began the process of phasing out large quantities of brominated flame
retardants in large plastic enclosure parts. Apple’s plastic enclosure
parts have been bromine-free since 2002.”
“All the e-waste we collect in North America is processed in the U.S.,
and nothing is shipped overseas for disposal.”
Jobs releases his article on how Apple is doing (and has been doing) so much more than the majority of IT companies. Greenpeace writes it off as a victory due to their campain:
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/tastygreenapple
“You did it! Thousands of you wrote, called, and sent cards to Steve Jobs, asking him to green your Apples. Because of you, he listened, and just announced a greener Apple.”
#6 Paul Allen says:I’m dissapointed in Microsofts large donations to Greenpeace with the stipulation that they focus their attack on Apple.
Apple has always been ahead of us and Dell.
I’m concerned that Apple will surpass us in market cap within 3 years.
#7 Ricki says:quote “Which is why Apple got into the spat they did with them, because the company prefers to promote things they accomplish over things they promise”
*cough* iPhone *cough*
..sorry.
The greenpeace vendetta can’t be all what it seems, there must be both money and a hidden agenda behind it all … or maybe they are just out to make asses of them selfs again.
#8 Tim says:I mean, just look at the picture you are using from Greenpeace, out of all these heap of thrown-away plastic PC keyboards, the only Apple keyboard (and it’s pink too!) is held by the girl in the front. This is all about visibility.
#9 Steve says:I don’t know if apple is ahead of everyone, I believe HP is the leader in environmental standards, but they are ahead of most, i mean companies like IBM should be the ones getting the heat from Greenpeace.
#10 Tim says:Completely agree with Mark. The simple fact is that despite what Apple are doing, its still not enough and pressure from Greenpeace is needed. And they have applied pressure on each and every company. companies such as lenovo are doing alot on recycling old computer hardware, apple is not.
Stop trying to bash greenpeace merely because your being a fanboy. The last article on this topic suggested that apple should get let off because they have small market share. That argument is intellectually (and morally) bankrupt.
#11 Mark 2000 says:Yeah, Tim. I didn’t want to cite fanboyism, but it reeks in here. I mean not matter what Apple’s doing now their still putting chips in their systems that are bathed in chemicals so toxic people have to wear hazmat suits in the factories (those intel guys where those suits to protect themselves, not the chips as some assume).
But lets not attack the biggest uber company that ships its disposable music players that have to be tossed out when the battery dies straight from slave production center in China. Lets go after the people who have the balls to get in boats and form blockades against illegal lumber and whaling. Screw you, Greenpeace!
And before you say “Everyone else does the same” remember two wrongs (or seven) don’t make a right.
#12 Matt says:Yeah Tim - i have to agree with you.
Though i am happy that Apple decide to change things… now - let’s see some action steve! Hopefully Apple can be the leader in this field as well - because we have to overthink some things.
At least Greenpeace i trying to change something - maybe in unusual way - but he - they did it with success…
#13 ketan says:stop thinking of greenpeace as environmental terrorists. and if you believe that and hate them for some reason, then walk away with their environmental ideals. this is a important debate, and they are absolutely right for addressing it.
#14 Todd Baur says:I don’t have a problem with them addressing environmental issues, and in fact I support their efforts. I do have a problem when one group unfairly targets a company to make an example out of them when said company’s peers are behind the curve on the issues presented. I have a second problem when the group uses measurements that aren’t scientifically based to further their causes. This isn’t fanboy malarky, it is calling Greenpeace on their touchy-feely scorecard policy and asking them to base it on performance and not promise. Using Apple as an example for the rest of the computer building business is a direct result of Apple’s policy on speculation and rumor. Greenpeace feels Apples lack of responding to inquiries demonstrates a lack of resolve, when in fact Apple prefers to say “Look what we’ve done” over “Look what we MIGHT do”. So no wonder Apple has more respect in the sector. I feel Greenpeace had very little to do with Apple’s progress in environmental responsibility. Look at the demographics of Apple customers and you’ll find a large population of environmentally concerned citizens. Greenpeace simply exploited this to their advantage. Regardless of all of this, we still get a cleaner earth and that’s fantastic news. I just don’t feel they need to smear companies with an artifically produced scorecard to do it.
#15 Steve says:mark raises some very good points
#16 TTim says:Apple get publicity far beyond their marketshare for their products. They relish in this positive and generally free publicity. They have to expect that conversely, they will be a target for negative publicity as well.
If apple need to made an example of for bad practices in the tech hardware industry then so be it. Its already secured committments from other companies and a response from apple (stating what they are already doing rather)so is a tacitc that is justified and working.
the only possible result is that it will force apple to change their practices so little kids in SE Asia don’t have to be exposed to toxic chemicals while disassembling computers in garbage dumps. And that will be a good thing.
#17 michel says:politic is GOOD
it ’s the process to debate and decide what is better
and it’s what we need to protect earth : GOOD POLITICS to decide and SHAPE earth in a BETTER place for everything living
if greenpeace use politics and manipulations to force everyone to go better I say : FINE.
ho if I should do the same job than greenpeace I would target apple too. why? because it’s a tool, a target of medias. what apple says, the industry and medias listen.
they know what they’re doing. It’s working !
#18 Kendall Tawes says:This is just sad. In the old days Greenpeace went out to stop whaling ships. Now all the do is make up arbitrary rules. The Greenpeace that took action and tried to make a difference is long dead and it’s carcass is just mucking up the place. If something’s wrong fix it or just shut up. Until they take action in any reasonable manner I will not listen to them one bit.
#19 NAdia says:i love men