Greenpeace unleashes Captain Kirk on HP
PAAAAAAAACKAAAAARD!!!
Greenpeace today claimed the support of TJ Hooker himself, William Shatner, in its battle with IT giants over their use and disposal of toxic chemicals.
In a guerilla action against HP's global headquarters in Palo Alto, activists daubed "HP = Hazardous Products" in paint ("non-toxic finger paint") on the roof this morning. At time of writing, 0800 local time, a climbing team was negotiating with local police.
Meanwhile employees are being greeted at their desks by automated phone messages from Shatner calling on the firm to phase out toxic chemicals, which Greenpeace says cause major environmental and health damage when obsolete equipment is dumped in the developing world.
The pressure group has singled out HP as the world's number one PC vendor, claiming its environmental efforts are poor compared to rivals Acer, Apple, Dell and Lenovo.
"Instead of going back on its commitments, HP should be following the lead of companies like Apple, which has led the sector in phasing out these toxic chemicals," said campaign manager Casey Harrell.
Greenpeace said that earlier this year HP postponed a commitment to stop using brominated flame retardants and polyvinyl chloride plastics in its products.
Harrell told The Register he and fellow campaigners were anticipating a long day at HP headquarters. He said pictures from the protest as well as audio of Shatner's message will be posted on Greenpeace's US website here.
We called HP for a response, but their phones were engaged, presumably as they all listened enthralled to the voice of Kirk. ®
Update
HP said in a statement: "The unconstructive antics at HP's headquarters today did nothing to advance the goals that all who care about the environment share.
"HP will continue its efforts to develop new products and programs around the globe that help the company, its business partners and customers conserve energy, reduce materials use and reduce waste through responsible reuse and recycling."
COMMENTS
@Stef 4
"I'm suprised greenpeace have time for these kind of antics. Usually they are too busy hiring whalers to hunt, kill, and butcher whales so they can film it and say "Look at the nasty whalers"."
You are pro whaling then? Also Greenpeace has more than a few workers.
Good on 'em. Their campaign is working on Apple. Also why does anyone cry about HP being targeted by "terrorists"? It's a corporation like Microsoft/Apple/BadCo. They are nice when they try and sell you something but are fucking stubborn knobjockeys the rest of the time -> whatever suits the shareholder.
Re: Apple Batteries
For a start, the Apple batteries in question are non-USER-replaceable. Anyone can take their poorly iThing into an Apple store and have the battery replaced (eventually). Also, such batteries are usually more capacious for their size, and this ensures a longer life, as well as exerting a lesser stress on the environment over the entire manufacturing process and supply chain.
Finally, all batteries - be they user-replaceable or not - are classed as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment). This means that you are legally obliged to dispose of them in an environmentally-conscious manner - usually the original manufacturer is required to recycle them. As such, the throwing out of any batteries is technically illegal.
Unfortunately, many electronics are viewed as commodity devices and are disposed of long before their useful life is up, just because of silly things like the battery failing or a newer model coming out.
I hope that's enough thinking done on the subject, or does someone wish to respond with a reasoned rebuttal....?
A title is required
<---- + Greenpeace = green pieces....
On a serious note, these planet destroying eco-fucktard-terrorists are seriously out of control and need to be stopped, they are the biggest bunch of hypocrites to ever roam the planet. period...
I grew up the child of an oil field worker in the 70's and 80's, i used to see these people hold demonstrations and picket the entrance to my fathers company, i would ask my father why he would get so mad at them, they're just trying to save the planet...
One day father stopped and sat me down and said: The first person that comes up here riding a horse, wearing leather moccasins, and clothes made of hand-stitched animal hide, carrying nothing made of plastic or anything which relies on petroleum products for its production or operation, i will sit down and listen to that person. until then they are nothing but a group hypocrites and environmental terrorists who cant live a day of their lives without relying on the very products they say is destroying our planet. everyday these idiots get out bed and brush their teeth with toothbrushes made of plastic, heat food in a microwave, put on rubber soled shoes and jump in their oil lubricated gas burning cars and come down here to tell me how i am destroying the planet. these are soulless people who only care about fighting a cause even though they rely on that very cause every minute of their lives, they are retarded but the law says we cant kill them, so we just have to live with them...
Amen
HP, Greenpeace and Cardboard
HP's response was particularly funny considering your article on cardboard overuse earlier. I nearly choked on my coffee (which would be almost as big a waste).
@ Mike Gravgaard
"Is this the same Apple which build non replaceable batteries into their products - clearly they are thinking of the environment."
- Did you think this through before you posted? What does user replaceable vs non-replaceable batteries have to do with the environment? Now rechargeable batteries are more friendly of course, and Apple has done that. But your argument that a non-replaceable battery is somehow not enviromentally friendly boggles the mind and defies all logic. Why didn't you just be honest and say that when you saw the word Apple you lost your mind and decided to post something anti-Apple because you hate them? At least it would have been an honest opinion instead of a factually incorrect slam on a company you hated.
