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BRIAN FORD

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Tasty news from Apple! | Greenpeace International

Seeded on Wed May 2, 2007 11:42 PM EDT
Read ArticleArticle Source: Greenpeace News
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Seeded by Brian Ford
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Unfortunately, there's no option for "bull@!$%#" under: Type of Seed

Today we saw something we've all been waiting for: the words "A Greener Apple" on the front page of Apple's site, with a message from Steve Jobs saying "Today we're changing our policy."

What they don't mention is that the "change" in question is that Apple plans to be more open about their existing plans for the future (regarding their stance on environmental issues) in order to combat the misdleading FUD and lies that Greenpeace has been spreading about Apple.

Steve's open letter can be summed up thusly:

"@!$%# you, Greenpeace."

And Greenpeace is celebrating?

Typical.

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MasterNav

Nailed it Brian. Of course Greenpeace is all over this claiming they forced Apple to become greener - when most of what was mentioned in the article was already in place and better than the competitors. In counter claim to what Greenpeace was claiming against Apple, rather pathetic ultimately.

Wait! Where's Simon? Why isn't he all over this on behalf of Greenpeace here in the 'Vine? Once again Greenpeace justifies my withdrawal of contributions years ago.

  • 3 votes
Reply#1 - Thu May 3, 2007 12:21 AM EDT
Simon L

(I am here! Have you missed me so much?)

You are wrong. Greenpeace didn't do it. Apple fans from around the world did it.

And to all the Apple fans who have contributed their thoughts and blogs and creativity to this campaign, reach over your shoulder and pat yourself on the back. Put a happy tune on your ipod and do a happy dance. You've proven you can make a real difference. You convinced one of the world's most cutting edge companies to cut the toxic ingredients out of the products they sell.

Now, let's take it to the next level! An Apple green to the core!

I have no time to chit chat so I just leave a (another) quote:

Steve did announce new things but of course they would never say they where not going to do them anyway. Even Steve said himself they are changing:

"Our stakeholders deserve and expect more from us, and they're right to do so. They want us to be a leader in this area, just as we are in the other areas of our business. So today we're changing our policy."

Green my Apple campaign is all about Mac fans asking Apple to be an environmental leader.

New things

Toxic Chemicals

Apple has declared a phase out of the worst chemicals in its product range, Brominated Fire Retardants (BFRs) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) by 2008. Previously they put no date on this pledge so now lets see if they beat competitors like Dell to this goal.

Recycling

"Dell has proposed a simple measure - assume a seven year product lifetime, and measure the percentage of the total weight you recycle each year compared to the total weight of what you sold seven years earlier. This makes sense to us, and has the added advantages of clarity and simplicity."

That's Apple agreeing to measure its recycling goals by industry standards so they can be compared to Dell, HP to see which one is doing the most on recycling. Previously Apple only measure recycling amount in less meaningful weight.

Both these are a direct result of mac users asking for a greener Apple. Otherwise Steve wouldn't even have bothered with a statement. Hopefully the next one will annouce a Apple product free of the worst toxic chemicals and a global takeback scheme.

Tom
Greenpeace

GREEN MY APPLE!

  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Thu May 3, 2007 7:05 AM EDT
MasterNav

Sigh. Simon, Simon, Simon - merely repeating the continuing FUD from the Greenpeace website does not validate it. The small number of actual Apple fans who made any comment on this were easily deceived by the Greenpeace FUD, and misguided if well-meaning pawns in the Greenpeace media game. That's all. No real changes in anything except Apple stating the obvious which, if your Greenpeace researchers had done the most minor attempt at real research would have been obvious.

But no. Greenpeace thrives on the repeated attempts at media manipulation and the deliberate misleading of naive and ignorant, if sincerely concerned people. That's it. I used the term in another seed "media whore" to describe Greenpeace, and I think it remains evocatively true. The fact that you are so willing to pimp for them here, is sad but at least I think your motives are, well, is there such a thing as a sincere, generous and well-meaning pimp?

  • 2 votes
#2.1 - Thu May 3, 2007 9:14 AM EDT
MatthewM

So Greenpeace say "Do this Apple", Apple waits a bit and says "Well, we were already doing this and had plans for that", Greenpeace then respond with "Look, we told Apple to do this and that and they have".
Did I get this right?

Are Greenpeace trying to take credit for something Apple was doing anyway?

  • 4 votes
#2.2 - Thu May 3, 2007 10:23 AM EDT
Brian Ford

Yep -- that's pretty much it.

As usual -- Greenpeace is reporting half-truths and outright misrepresentations to further their agenda.

  • 3 votes
#2.3 - Thu May 3, 2007 10:34 AM EDT
Tim Baxter

Exactly Matthew.. Many of the things Greenpeace was lambasting Apple for "not" doing have actually been in place for years... Greenpeace just didn't know it.

It's pretty obvious when Apple's "Green" rating doubles overnight, even though they made no changes.

The irony is that the companies that were held up as "greener" than Apple typically have much worse records of actually doing anything. They just had press releases touting how they plan to make changes someday.

As for Apple fans patting themselves on the back... for what? They didn't do anything. They sure as hell didn't do anything 5 or 10 years ago when Apple itself first began seriously looking at these issues.

  • 3 votes
#2.4 - Thu May 3, 2007 10:51 AM EDT
Brian Ford

Greenpeace just didn't know it.

Debatable.

I think they "chose" not to know it -- because it made their campaign sound better if they willfully ignored the truth.

But, other than that -- I agree with you.

  • 2 votes
#2.5 - Thu May 3, 2007 12:38 PM EDT
Reply
MasterNav

Well, I wouldn't say "miss" so much - but at least you met my expectations and popped in! *grin*.

  • 2 votes
Reply#3 - Thu May 3, 2007 9:15 AM EDT
gecko85

Greenpeace has lost all credibility.

  • 2 votes
Reply#4 - Thu May 3, 2007 3:00 PM EDT
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