Palm | Kelapa Sawit

When I hear the greenwashing, I recall the emission of car engine or organic something or such things. But I found this and I think it’s interesting. It is actually greenwash since they talk about the wild life and there are certain people who are deceived.

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David Hancocks, a former director and architect of zoos in the United States and Australia, is skeptical of the conservation benefits often claimed by zoos.
While many zoos tout breeding as a success story, Hancocks sees it as "merely basic zoo business: zoos must breed their animals to preserve their collections. Hardly any animals born in zoos are introduced to the wild."
Despite this, he wrote in an opinion column, "they nonetheless loudly position themselves as leaders in wildlife conservation. In truth, government and non-government agencies are most successful in restoring habitat and reintroducing wild species. Zoos play an occasional minor role - and want all the glory." Nor is he persuaded by the claims of many zoos that their redesigned enclosures improve conditions for the animals: "The new zoos, sans cages, make visitors feel better, but it is all deception. The animals typically have no contact with living plants, separated from them by electric wires." The attraction of such green washing is in attracting greater visitor numbers.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Greenwashing_Zoos

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My past two blogs have talked about how companies are using the term green to make more money without actually being green. This post is no different. As I was exploring the internet and the vast amount of articles about green and greenwashing, I ran across a site that goes one step further and shows how corporations are getting around regulations and getting to call themselves green. The interactive site on MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18288820/) puts you in the driver’s seat to make the decisions for an industrial type of company. It gives the overview of how emissions credits work, the regulations, and the typical techniques to make sure your company does not go over. Getting to play with this simulator gives a graphical representation of how a company has the ability to abuse the system in order to look good to the community. It brings to the forefront that it is very much our responsibility as citizens to watch for this kind of misuse of the law and take action no matter how small we may think it is.
In order to know what we can do as individuals or as a small group, we first must understand and learn what we can do to make small differences in the world. It is not about going out and spewing the word of green wherever we are; it is make the small differences and leading by example. One fun and simple way to learn is by visiting Green My Brain (http://greenmybrain.com/ ) and playing the online game. The game is a way to inform people what they can do to make the small differences in the world that eventually makes the big differences. A public broadcasting company recently received a grant to develop a green game for kids. Though I feel this is yet another part of greenwashing, and with this it is starting at bottom rung of society, it is at least being acknowledged that it is important to teach children the little things they can do in their own lives to make the world a better place for their future.

-Josh R

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There once was a time when people did not have such an active hand in the environment. One day something changed and people started to realize that we had to take care of the planet we live on or it would no longer be capable of taking care of us. Unfortunately like most good intentions, corporations got a grasp on the green movement. While at first this did not seem like a bad thing, but rather a turn for the better to get more people to take part; it eventually became an overwhelming message. As with radio stations that play the same song over and over, companies were and are using the term green wherever they possibly can. As consumers we are bombarded with the green message and because of such the term has lost its meaning. Who is to say what it means anymore to be green… How can everything be green all of a sudden… Who is determining what is green and what is not… Or has it become a free for all of labeling products green… Today there are several online watchdogs to help us put on our rubber boots and tread through the garbage of media that has become greenwashing. One of these watchdogs that helps to call attention to the worst, and the best, has been the EnviroMedia Greenwashing Index With the tools that have created the capabilities of spreading the greenwashing over us all, EnviroMedia is publishing the most authentic green and the worst offenders. Watch the videos below and see what you think… Who is benefiting, society or the pockets of the companies…You decide.

BMW (South Africa) - Defining Innovation
The New TXU
GE Energy
Malaysian Palm Oil Council
Ford Commercial

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For me the most blatant example is greenwasing is a Hybrid vehicle. It's not the Toyota or Honda vehicles, which may not live up to hype but it's the transformation of the worst polluting vehicles into "hybrid" models. If you look at the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 2WD the first thing you will notice is the giant "HYBRID" written across the bottom of the doors. General Motors uses this in an obvious attempt to let the customer know that they will not face the scorn of other SUV owners because their car is “green”. It must be, it says so right on the door.

Now of course no one can argue with the MPG numbers right? It's a hybrid after all it must get amazing mileage. Not really, when compared to the standard 2WD model it only averages 20 MPG or 5 MPG better than the non-hybrid model. What do you pay for this huge HYBRID graphic and 5 MPG fuel economy? According to Edmunds.com the 2009 model is going for $71,915, that's $16,015 more than the non-hybrid model. According to a side-by-side comparison at the USDOE fueleconomy.gov website, that's only an annual savings (based on 15000 miles) of $453 per year. Now for salesmen this gives them the ultimate trump card, why would anyone pay over $16,000 for a savings of 453 per year? What this does for General motors is it allows them to claim that they make "environmental" vehicles that they never have to sell. They use this same treatment for the hybrid models of the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid.

Ok, the good news is that if you need a SUV hybrid there are better models. The 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid has a combined MPG rating of 32 MPG. That is an annual fuel cost of $850 per year and has an MSRP under $30,000. According to fueleconomy.gov that's more than seven (42 gallon) barrels of oil per year better than the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid.


http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm

http://www.edmunds.com/ford/escapehybrid/2009/review.html

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I apologize for being cynical, but I always chuckle when I think about the big Live Earth event that was thrown last year. The event itself was a take on the famous "Live Aid" and "Live 8" concerts meant to raise awareness of poverty and human suffering. On the outside, something like Live Earth sounds like a noble idea - a huge event designed to raise awareness about global warming and man-made pollution? What's not to like? Well... a lot, it turns out. As I watched clips of Live Earth on TV and on the internet - it was also broadcast on the radio - I couldn't help but think about how hypocritical and ironic the whole thing was. The event - headlined by who else? Al Gore - brought together more than 150 musical acts in eleven locations throughout the world, with celebrities and more "green" messages than you can count. However, it was just hard for me to believe in the "sincerity" of what these celebrities had to say, especially when so many of them have multiple homes, private jets, swimming pools and live lives of luxury. Does anybody really believe that these celebrities are "green"? Give me a break.

Another irony of Live Earth was how much energy it probably took to actually put ON the concerts. Wikipedia sums it up pretty well: "Although the intention of Live Earth was to raise awareness about human destruction of the environment, the event shuttled its participants largely through gas-based travel which has been viewed by many as a primary influence of the ozone destruction and the deterioration of earth. Additionally, it seems that the event's intention was to curb the destruction of the planet, but it is questionable if the event has had any considerable influence."

Chris Rock was interviewed by a MTV reporter before the event, and I think his comments sum up the whole thing pretty well: "I hope Live Earth does for global warming what Live Aid did for starvation and poverty in Africa." Ricky Gervais, standing beside him while being interviewed, burst out laughing at the comment... and so did I!

- Cassie H.

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The concept of Greenwashing applies to companies, industry, government, politicians and non-government organizations. As I read the comments and posts of the members of this class as well as conduct my own research online, I cannot help thinking about the massive hypocrisy of many individuals as well. Similar to that of the many organizations that are trying to put a spin on their environmental virtuosity, there are a tremendous number of people who are claiming a disingenuous or insincere commitment to environmentalism or to present and environmentally responsible image. Some examples are those who oppose traditional deforestation practices, but turn around and live in wooden houses and heat their homes with wood fireplaces.

Of course, there are many people and organizations that are becoming more aware of the impact our footprints are leaving on the environment and are working to make an effort to become more environmentally friendly. It is the hypocrisy and dishonesty that is creating another significant layer of concern.

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