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October 27, 2006

events

Greenpeace shown the door at MacExpo

Posted Oct. 27, ’06, 5:22 AM PT by Derik DeLong
Category | Apple » Events

Greenpeace kicked out It wasn’t too long ago we reported on Greenpeace’s environmental parody site. There was no love lost from me over that and it looks like MacExpo likes them about as much as I do. They forced them to close their booth and take a hike (of course, they said it in a far more British way). They’ve vowed to return and continue to try to attract attention by acting as leeches on Apple’s current media visibility.

“It’s time for Apple to use clean components in all of its products and to provide a free take-back program to reuse and recycle its products wherever they are sold. We are challenging the world leader in design to also be a world leader in environmental innovation. We challenge Apple to have a product range on the market by 2007 which is free of the worst toxic chemicals,” Kruszewska concluded.

That’s funny. I got an email from Apple on the 24th that read:

Got an old computer, printer, or monitor lying around? Recycle your hardware free right now with the Apple Recycling Program. Equipment received through this program is recycled domestically in an environmentally friendly manner. Plus it’s so easy, why wouldn’t you?

Emphasis added is mine. Greenpeace and its supporters are implicating Apple as the “unnamed” complainers. They have no proof, but it makes this controversy oh so juicy. It’s becoming painfully clear they’re willing to do anything for more attention. I have to wonder if the unidentified objectors were really just Greenpeace members. See? I can make up conspiracy theories too.


8 Comments

Rob Hill said:

You rightfully pointed out the fact of Apple's recycling program.
However, you ignored serious issue of toxic chemicals in their computers. On this Greenpeace is correct.

October 27, 2006 6:13 AM
Scott Silverman Author Profile Page said:

I'm pretty much in agreement with Greenpeace. Apple has surely got the money, and being such a leader in technology they should be environmental leaders as well.

Perhaps Greenpeace didn't handle this specific situation too well (or maybe isn't handling the whole situation too well) but that doesn't change the fact that Apple needs to change its ways.

October 27, 2006 6:35 AM
Erik said:

I haven't heard about Apple's recycling program here in the UK.

Any idea if it's worldwide, or just the US?

October 27, 2006 8:03 AM
Moe said:

Regardless of whether or not they have a valid point, I disagree with their handling of this entire situation. They singled out Apple (even though their computers represent only a fraction of the total sold in comparison with Dell or HP) because they wanted more press, and everything associated with Apple gets more press.

If you're going to protest toxic chemicals in computers, fine, but do it industry-wide. Don't single out one company because only because of its high press coverage. It just makes the public question your motives.

October 27, 2006 8:14 AM
spiderbat said:

Environment is a serious issue, but whenever I see someone doing a business out of it I become immediately skeptical.
In Europe, where I happen to live, pretended environmentalism and "securism" are used very often to push the interests of companies that thrive by forcing individuals and other entrepreneurs to throw away perfectly working appliances and buy the new "kosher" ones they produce. This trend reaches sometimes in Italy a real paroxysm of "eco-talibanism".
That said, the issue with toxic stuff used during the manufacturing may be of real concern (I doubt that a similar threat may exist for the users of the final products), but it is clear that the move of greenpeace, as focused as it is against Apple, is mainly aimed at gaining visibility at the expenses of the company.
I'd wish that some militant of greenpeace would appear someday at my workplace, to protest against the efflux of substances from a nearby waste disposal site, that causes me strong headaches and nausea!

October 27, 2006 9:35 AM
matthew said:

> continue to try to attract attention by acting as leeches on Apple’s current media visibility.

I thought the days when people dismissed the seriousness of environmental issues was behind us? Apparently not.

You might dig up a little more information about Apple before you crack on Greenpeace. They've got Apple's number due to the fact that Al Gore is on Apple's BOD and because, as you point out, Apple's products are highly visible right now.

That someone's pointing out the risks to your children's environmental future shouldn't be the focus of criticism, that should be placed on the companies that are putting that future at risk.

As they say, don't kill the messenger.

October 27, 2006 10:07 AM
Moe said:

That someone's pointing out the risks to your children's environmental future shouldn't be the focus of criticism, that should be placed on the companies that are putting that future at risk.

@matthew

You seem to ignore the fact that from sheer numbers, the companies doing the MOST damage are the ones Greenpeace is ignoring, such as Dell and HP. They're not latching onto Apple because it's the greatest offender; they're latching on because it gets them the most press.

October 27, 2006 12:17 PM
rueyeet said:

C'mon. Apple uses pretty much off-the-shelf components these days, same as everyone else. Those same "toxic compounds" are in EVERY computer manufactured today.

Greenpeace is simply using Apple's visibility to draw attention to the issue. But they're also making it sound like Apple is the only one, and that's unfair.

Take a look at the photos on that parody site, of the cute widdle kids standing in front of heaps of discarded keyboards and other electronic detrius. Sure, the kids are holding Apple-logo'd bits--but you want to make a wager, based on Microsoft's marketshare, that all the junk behind those kiddies is also bears the Apple logo? I wouldn't.

I could respect Greenpeace a lot more if they didn't use such methods to get their message across.

October 27, 2006 12:53 PM

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