Firms get green Oscars for environmental whitewash
Date: 26-Aug-02
Country: SOUTH AFRICA
Author: Jodie Ginsberg
A coalition of green groups distributed the dubious honours in their version of an Oscars ceremony to companies they say are guilty of 'greenwash' - using an environmental veneer to disguise continued poor practice.
"These polluting companies are posing as friends of the environment and leaders in the struggle to eradicate poverty," said Kenny Bruno of campaign group Corpwatch. "But often they spend more advertising their green projects than on the projects themselves."
Oil giant BP Plc received the 'Best Greenwash Actor' award for a rebranding campaign that has included the adoption of a flower-like logo and the slogan 'Beyond Petroleum'.
None of the recipients attended the awards but BP rejected suggestions improving the environment was not core to its work.
"It's not dressing up our activities, it's an integral part of our activities," BP spokesman David Nicholas told Reuters.
"Our aim is to operate with no harm to the environment...we are moving consistently forward on that route and it informs every action we take," he said from London.
The awards come as thousands of delegates and over 100 world leaders gather for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development that aims to set targets for tackling poverty and ending environmental degradation.
Some rights groups say the summit is already in danger of being hijacked by business interests.
They point to changes in a draft declaration the summit is expected to ratify that has moved increasingly towards stressing voluntary responsibility over strict rules and regulations. "We want a legally binding framework on corporate accountability," Friends of the Earth's Craig Bennett told the 'Oscars' audience.
"BEST BLUEWASH"
Other winners included food group Nestle , which was awarded 'Best Bluewash' for branding itself a UN-approved firm despite what activists said was continued bad practice.
"It's their word against ours," commented Nestle spokesman Marcel Rubin. "We have put the relevant international labour organisation regulations into practice...on child labour and so on. We have agreed to follow the World Health organisation on marketing of breast milk substitutes."
Rights groups argue that the UN is increasingly prepared to endorse firms with poor human rights and environmental records, saying that accords like the UN's Global Compact allow firms to ally with the UN without having to commit to its principles.
The United States got 'Best Supporting Government' for backing corporate interests in environmental treaty talks.
Green groups have slammed U.S. President George W. Bush for repudiating the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Bush will not be attending the Earth Summit.
Accountancy firm Andersen, which shredded files on energy company Enron, was awarded 'Best Documentary Destruction.'
Oil giant Shell , perhaps the company best known for efforts to change an image among environment groups as an environmental pariah, was handed the 'Lifetime Achievement' award.
