News from tinsel town, McCain under scrutiny and some pointless transport
One to watch?
Actress Neve Campbell is set to star in a television movie about greenwashing. The Canadian star will play an environmentalist working in an oil company who meets serious resistance to her green ideas.
So far the forthcoming film, called “Burn Up”, has yet to get a US TV network deal. Perhaps a chance for GE-owned NBC to burnish its environmental credentials is in the offing? Now that the US car companies, which often sponsor American networks, are all realising the future lies in energy efficiency, perhaps they’ll be keen for it to be shown. Then again, maybe not.
McCain under fire
US presidential candidate, and star of last month’s Ethical Corporation cover, John McCain is the latest target of environmentalists (or should that be “democratic activists”?). Having told the media that he is “committed to saving the Everglades”, a vulnerable eco-system vital for Florida’s environment and tourism, the senator has been accused of massaging his environmental credentials.
McCain once voted against a $2 billion restoration plan for the region, which is in a key electoral “swing” state for the presidency. Now he also faces the embarrassment of having Republican colleagues in the Senate recently vote down a piece of legislation aiming at tackling climate change.
Green transport goes bling
Greenwasher has attempted to rewrite this wonderful tale of surreal PR excess several times. However, he is unable to do a better job than the original press release scribbler themselves. It announced:
“Britain’s most expensive bicycle – sold with its own security guard”
A bicycle has gone on sale today that is so expensive it can’t be insured, so it is being sold with the ultimate optional extra – its own security guard.
The £9,500 custom-made, 24ct gold-framed machine has been commissioned by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), a bicycle insurance provider. But unable to insure bicycles worth more than £4,000, the ETA is offering as an optional extra a security guard who will stand guard over the gold bike when it is left in public. With less than ten days before the start of National Bike Week, it is believed the bike will be bought by a ‘cyclist who has everything’. Director at the ETA, Andrew Davis said: ‘A personal security guard is not a practical option for most people, but with over half a million bicycles stolen across Britain each year, it’s vital that cyclists are properly insured.’”
The missive goes on to note that “Celebrity cyclists who could afford the gold bike include: Madonna, David Beckham, Paul McCartney, Paul Smith, Boris Johnson and Fatboy Slim.” The rest of us, it seems, are excluded from gold bike buying. Shame: it sounded so practical.
Putting a cost on reverse greenwashing
Always keen on new terminology – given that Ethical Corporation’s own columnist, Jon Entine, was one of the first to use the term Greenwashing back in the early 1990s – Greenwasher would like to introduce this publication’s audience to the concept of “reverse greenwashing”. This is when environmental groups talk up eco-threats to scare people into action.
Appropriately, Greenpeace is known to be rather good at this. Back in the mid/late 1990s, the group exaggerated the science around the disposal of Shell’s Brent Spar oil storage platform, arguably for the right reasons.
Now, though, the zealous campaigners may have gone a step too far. Spanish property investors are out for the self-proclaimed eco-warriors’ blood. This is because Greenpeace has produced images of the Spanish resort of La Manga, under water, due to forthcoming climate change. Now, say investors, the property price has plunged downwards, and they are talking about suing the green group for their lost cash. They want €27 million in an out of court settlement.
Greenpeace says that shooting the messenger is the wrong way to go about it. Still, Greenpeace has to be careful. Business groups and fire-breathing right-wingers like nothing better than attacking NGOs that fudge the science.
More carbon offsetting PR nonsense
Famous advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi has produced a masterclass in enviro-nonsense down under in sunny, drought-ridden Australia. The designer media glasses brigade (no stereotypes here, thank you!) has come up with a brilliant scheme to promote the fact that Sony Australia has bought some carbon offsets. They have made a car out of grass. Then parked it outside the company’s head office, and in other smart locations.
Saatchi seems confident the idea will be hugely successful somehow, proudly boasting on its website: “From June 2008, the print ads will feature in a range of national and metro publications as well as environmental features and supplements.”
Good news for Saatchi, but does a grass car promoting carbon offsets really help anyone that much, apart from Saatchi’s bank balance? Greenwasher doubts it.