“There Greenpeace goes again,” Arik Hesseldahl writes for BusinessWeek. “First it was the Mac. Now it’s the iPhone. I’ve harrumphed before, in this column and in my blog, about Greenpeace’s flawed attacks on Apple for using certain toxic chemicals in its computers. And now I’m ready to harrumph anew.”
“It’s not that Apple’s environmental conscience should be entirely clean. The company is in no better shape than other major computer makers when it comes to the use of these chemicals. Yet while it’s not an excuse, Apple sells just a fraction of the number of computers sold by Dell and Hewlett-Packard, both of which draw less consistent ire from Greenpeace,” Hesseldahl writes.
“It’s clear why Greenpeace picks on Apple so incessantly: The unique place that Apple and its chief executive officer, Steve Jobs occupy within popular culture and the technology industry make them both convenient whipping boys for publicity-hungry environmental organizations. Calling out Apple over environmental issues simply gets more headlines than criticizing HP would,” Hesseldahl writes.
“And Apple makes an especially juicy target when you consider that its branding and identity tend to overlap with so many cultural touchstones that the modern, left-leaning consumer is likely to consider important. Demographically speaking, Mac users are more likely to care about global warming, deforestation, and other environmental issues than your average Windows user. They’re also more likely to respond to one of Greenpeace’s calls to write letters, send e-mail, and show up at shareholder meetings to lobby for whatever the organization is up in arms about at any given moment. And having Al Gore, a freshly-minted Nobel laureate, on its board of directors also sends a strong message about how Apple wants to be perceived on the environmental front,” Hesseldahl writes.
Much more in the full article here.
Hell, I’m just interested in making a little money with my Macs….that’s all…..
And that spotted owl I had for breakfast was mmm..mmm..mmm tasty!
It’s all about the donations.
Save the whales!
Mama wants to winter in Hawaii.
Gotta keep an eye on those whales.
I’m an environmentalist, but Greenpeace is starting to tick me off big time. They are making enemies of the exact people they want to get support from.
They need to address BIGGER companies who’s “footprint” is more damaging than Apple’s.
Spotted owl? Yum, Try clay-baked hedgehog! Seriously, you could make fruits-of-the-hedgerow jelly and get brownie points at your local produce show.
As for Greenpeace, well I used to belong until I wearied of their publicity-hungry ways. A shame because much of their message seems OK, but the way they carry on makes you wanna vom.
Everytime Greenpeace pulls this crap I’m going to chop down 5 trees…. big ones.
I encourage everyone to do the same.
Never underestimate the amount of cynicism and pandering any political organization will use to get its point across.
Save the Whales!
Collect the Whole Set!
I don’t think Macintosh owner are more concerned about “global warming, deforestation, and other environmental issues”. Don’t think that I believe they are less concerned.
There has been this idea that Macintosh users are more “red” than “blue”. There is no basis for it.
I would bet that P.E.T.A and Greenpeace both have offices full of PCs.
What about the Al Gore effect? Does Greenpeace imagine some leverage there?
Key words here are “more likely to care”. I could give a purple fuck about this so-called global warming. I think it’s a bunch of horse shit. Besides, sometimes it’s too cold anyway. I believe in the cyclical temperature bit. Warming and cooling trends. Besides, by the time the world warms to an extent that would matter much to me, I’ll be pushing up daisies so fuck you Greenpeace.
The M-O
Have you noticed how much Spotted Owls taste like California Condors?
You also get more meat with the Condors.
And to the Democrats, the ultra-libs are killing your once great party.
When Bill Clinton and Bill Maher can’t even speak without the loonies childish rants blaring, then it’s time to distance yourselves.
Just some honest, friendly advice from the right. (about the Condors….)
For the last twenty years I’ve given Greenpeace money, but I emailed them about a week ago to tell them they would no longer be receiving donations from me.
I’d have no trouble with Greenpeace going after the entire computer industry, but to single out Apple? It amounts to enivronmental pandering.
…. cause they’re dumber than a recycled post?
Big dirty business is winning this one, Greenpeace was a thorn in their side so they set about emasculating it. The infiltration took a few years but clearly they are comfortable with their power so they have set about discrediting Greenpeace. These stories about Apple are so farcical that they have the qualities of spoofs, it is clear that there is a hidden agenda.
If anyone doubts this compare with the actions of Microsoft, they have recently be caught out infiltrating international standards organizations to get their junk approved, there was the recent story on MDN about how they infiltrated the BBC to get their way with iPlayer. Don’t believe that such dirty tricks are restricted to the software industry, most every industry has its rogue players. The prize is selling shit for loads of money and some people are just incurably greedy.
Time to move on, found a new organization to represent the ideals. Better still do what is best in your own life and encourage people around you to do the same.
Hey, I’m not left-leaning. Heck, I’m nearly a libertarian.
Close down Greenpeace. Give the money to the whales.
the extreme wings of both parties should be taken off the endangered list…
a nut is a nut, pandering to special interests is incredibly destructive, and there are no excuses for bad policy making… cause we all lose.
by the way… OSX ROCKS!
Nuke the Whales.
Gotta nuke something
I’m with Marco.
Extremists in BOTH parties make me sick. Over the top for their causes Right or Left wing extremists are ruining this country.
Politicians are more concerned about not angering any extremist votes than doing what’s best for the country as a whole.
Most of us lie somewhere in the logical middle ground.
HA HA–MDN magic word = “center”
I hate Spotted Owls. They crap all over my Mercedes.
Heres an interesting article on the Dems and their sneaky ways if anyone cares to read. Personally I think it should be mandatory.
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58295
Their sneeky bastards I tell you and their history is out there if you look. Even Gore Sr.’s record
Just sell the Spotted Owl crap on Ebay.
Esp. the Virgin Mary shaped one…
you’re comments are unworthy of refutation.
you are a very dense individual!
Hi, Steve, send a big check to Greenpeace!
with fu#ktards