Al Gore Knows an Inconvenient Truth About Apple

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http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/al-gore-knows-an-inconvenient

Al Gore Knows an Inconvenient Truth About Apple

As part of the Board of Directors for Apple Inc., Al Gore is in a

unique position to help green the company. In fact, Greenpeace and 73

other groups have called on Gore to help make Apple an industry

leader against the growing problem of electronic, or e-waste. So,

when two shareholder proposals were recently introduced to Apple's

Board, calling for an elimination of toxic chemicals in Apple's

products, and a comprehensive take-back and recycling program, we

were sure Al Gore would champion our cause.

We were wrong. According to Draft documents, the Board " unanimously "

opposes both proposals, and is due to send out a statement

recommending that stockholders vote against them both.

" It would be shocking if Vice President Gore opposed stronger

environmental policies at Apple, " said Rick Hind, Legislative

Director for the Greenpeace Toxics Campaign. " If anyone can convince

this company to be a leader on the environment, it's Al Gore. The

last thing he should be doing is opposing stronger policies on toxics

and e-waste take-back, " he continued.

Greenpeace is urging Vice President Al Gore to use his clout to

convince Steve Jobs and Apple Inc. to lead the electronics industry

in marketing green products free of PVC & BFRs, embrace a global take-

back and recycling program and ensure that no e-waste is exported to

the developing world.

E-waste is one of the fastest growing streams of toxic wastes in the

world today. The United Nations estimates that roughly 50 million

tons of e-waste is generated each year globally. Greenpeace first

engaged Apple on this issue in 2003, and since then has been urging

the company to become a global leader on its toxics and take-back

policies.

In a March 19 letter to Vice President Gore, Greenpeace asked that he

use his clout as a political leader and an environmental visionary,

as well as his $5.3 million in Apple stock options to surpass the

policies of competitors such as Dell.

In a March 21st letter from more than 70 organizations including,

Consumers Union, Friends of the Earth, Environmental Action,

Physicians for Social Responsibility, Mike Farrell (of M*A*S*H), the

Computer Take-Back Campaign and Greenpeace, Gore was asked to, " use

your influence as a member of the board of Apple, Inc. and a global

environmental leader to keep Steve Jobs and Apple from making a

serious mistake. "

" All we are asking Apple to do is apply their technological

leadership to the environment. Apple should be the first company to

put products on the market that are free of toxic substances such as

PVC and BFRs and implement a global take-back program that accepts e-

waste from all points-of-sale. " added Hind. " As Mr. Gore would say,

Apple merely lacks the political will to do the right thing. "