Greenpeace on Gore, Apple board
updated 10:45 am EDT, Thu April 19, 2007
Greenpeace on Apple board
Apple on Monday expressed its public opposition to two environmental proposals on which shareholders will vote at the May 10th annual shareholders meeting. The proposals call on the Cupertino-based company to strengthen its policies on toxic chemicals and the recycling of electronic waste, as well as prohibiting the export of electronic waste to developing countries. Greenpeace today responded to Apple's opposition, noting that Al Gore -- a member of Apple's board of directors -- was part of the unanimous vote to oppose both resolutions. "It is disappointing to see Vice President Gore oppose proposals that would strengthen Apple's lagging environmental policies," said Rick Hind of Greenpeace. "However, it will be far more important if Gore can convince Steve Jobs to make Apple an industry leader in green policies and deeds."
More than 70 organizations in March of this year urged Gore to use his influence as a board member to make the company an industry leader on environmental policy. Apple ranked last out of 14 companies in the latest Greenpeace report on environmental friendliness.
"We were encouraged last year when Apple announced on the eve of Earth Day that it would recycle a computer of any brand if a consumer bought a new Mac," said Ted Smith, Chair of the Computer Take-Back Campaign. "However, we were not thrilled when the details were revealed that make the program hard for consumers to use."
"Given Apple’s opposition to modest shareholder proposals, we fear that Steve Job's upcoming announcement is likely to be a classic Greenwash package of pretty words and ignore specific actions and timelines," said Jim Puckett of the Basel Action Network, the organization that first documented global dumping of electronic waste. "But if Al Gore can convince Jobs to stop using the worst toxic chemicals, stop dumping toxic computer waste in China and Africa and adopt a comprehensive recycling program worldwide, it will be a grand slam for the environment."
Gore is a politician
04/19, 11:00am reply
and as such is highly skilled at talking out of both sides of his mouth - the "tell the folks what they want to hear" approach to fitting into whatever group you happen to be in at the time.
psdenno
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2003
kirktalon
04/19, 11:09am reply
I'm disappointed in Al Gore's vote and this article doesn't give us the chance to see the whole proposal.
Apple's policy on recycling could be better and when i did buy a mac last year they did take the old one even though I hadn't mentioned it in the store nor did the store staff ask me about recycling like they are supposed to. The store even said there was nothing I could do but email Apple recycling and ask for an exception which they sent without any more hassle.
kirktalon
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Joined: Jun 2002
hmmm
04/19, 11:09am reply
Gee heres an idea. Hows about macnn actually post what these resolutions were, and apple's reasons for declining them. That would seem to be very important information that us readers need to form an opinion. Its as if macnn wants us to form an opinion against apple. BUT I doubt this is the case. More than likely, macnn is just recycling someone else's story, for the sake of more ad impressions.
l008com
Professional Poster
Joined: Jan 2000
What about others?
04/19, 12:01pm reply
What do actual environmental organizations think of Apple's policies? It seems Gore and Greenpeace disagree. Hmm... I wonder why that is? Could it be that Greenpeace are alarmists with no interests other than pushing their own agenda, no matter how misguided?
hayesk
Professional Poster
Joined: Sep 1999
disappointing by apple...
04/19, 12:06pm reply
As 1008com said, it is hard to form an informed opinion on this since we don't know the details but I find that generally speaking Apple is getting environmentally worse and worse recently. This is not good even at a basic business level. It is even more surprising with Gore on board. Whatever one thinks of Greenpeace, they are certainly right to expose any offender to the public. This is too important a long term issue to simply pretend that anyone can ignore it. And Apple definitely should be a leader in this area. This could quickly be getting highly embarassing for them.
Lebodde
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2000
Once Again,
04/19, 01:27pm reply
Once Again, Greenpeace, Who Cares?
bsnoel
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Joined: Feb 2006
greenbore
04/19, 03:12pm reply
whenever I see greenpeace (but they look for wars, indeed) or AlGore, I press the Off button: who cares about the bullshits these losers are trying to put on our fans? Let's just ignore them as we do with every other unreal nightmare..
ERG
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2003
Greenpeace...
04/19, 11:02pm reply
Greenpeace is becoming the PETA of environmentalism. Let's just hope that means naked people outside 1 Infinite Loop! LOL
tonton
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2001