The NGO has launched a harsh attack on HP for postponing its plans for removing toxic items from its products
The NGO has launched a harsh attack on HP for postponing its plans for removing toxic items from its products
Saving the environment is a serious business and Greenpeace, which has been criticised by some for being an eco-terrorist, recently took a rather nasty way of reminding HP about its 2007 commitment to stop putting toxic chemicals in its computer products. To convey this message, Greenpeace painted a huge 'Hazardous Products' message onto the roof of a HP building using what it claims is toxic-free paint.
At the same time, a voicemail from William Shatner, who played James T Kirk in the original Star Trek series, was sent to all the phones in the building with an automated system. Of course, this becomes completely internal who can read what is written on a roof? But Greenpeace also took pictures and has posted them on their site pictures that are being carried all over the world by the global media.
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It is hard to take sides in this case. Criticism apart, Greenpeace has done its bit to save the world, and HP, as a large MNC, is no doubt also keen on curbing pollution. And it is also a bad thing that HP, after making a commitment to phase out substances like brominated flame retardants and PVC from certain products, should postpone the same.
But, this said, Greenpeace and all of us have to understand that the recession is hurting green technology, and hopefully, when we emerge from its clutches, investments in this sector will be perked up. In fact, in an analytical piece that appeared on reuters.com, Rebekah Kebede says that the recession has been both good and bad for the economy.
It has been good because people are driving less even though gasoline prices have tumbled, but at the same time, some investors have scrapped plans for clean energy ventures as financing for major projects shrinks.
When the economy recovers, both these will also no doubt go up.
Kindly adjust
In this context, maybe, Greenpeace should go a little easy repeat, just a little easy, no sense giving polluters too free a hand and cut companies some slack. Maybe, commitments made for reducing pollutants can be pushed by one year for all companies, and not just for HP.
This should give the companies some breathing space. However, Greenpeace should make it clear to these companies that, once the economy is back on the rails, they will have to redouble their efforts to clean up the environment.
Saving the environment is the top priority of the world, but this is for the long run. As long as the recession lasts, Keynesian economics suggests that we should concentrate on the short term. After all, "In the long run we are all dead," as John Maynard Keynes so wisely said.
QUICK TAKE
>>Greenpeace is using harsh tactics with HP
>>In some ways, this is good for the environment
>>However, we should go slightly soft on pollution when the recession lasts
Criticism of Greenpeace
Early Greenpeace member, Canadian Ecologist Patrick Moore left the organisation in 1986 when it decided to support a universal ban on chlorine in drinking water. Moore called chlorine "the biggest advance in the history of public health." He has argued that Greenpeace today is motivated by politics rather than science and that none of his "fellow directors had any formal science education."
Source: Wikipedia
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