Tone down the Green Apple Ping!
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Posted on 04/21/2015 1:53:58 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Apple has made it clear that it believes in global warming, and that it wants to fix what it regards as a problem. But should the company tone down its rhetoric on the issue?
Under the leadership of Tim Cook, Apple has been a vocal advocate for certain policies, including what the company calls "climate change." While some have applauded Apple's commitment to battle global warming, I'm forced to wonder if the company's efforts aren't simply misguided.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Apple is paying attention to the environment and that it's aware of its own impact on it. But I think that Apple's climate change efforts might be based on misguided idealism.
Before I offer my thoughts about Apple and global warming, here's a recent story at The Verge that sums up the company's perspective on the issue:
Jacob Kastrenakes reports for The Verge:
Apple is continuing to take a strong stance against climate change, writing in its newly released 2015 Environmental Responsibility Report, "We don’t want to debate climate change. We want to stop it." This is framed as a major piece in Apple's reasoning for turning to more environmentally sustainable practices when it comes to use of power and materials. "We’ve made real progress in reducing the impact of the things we control directly — our offices, retail stores, and products," Apple writes. "But there’s still a lot of work to be done to reduce the carbon footprint of our supply chain. And it’s our responsibility to lead that effort."
The 2015 report, which covers Apple's 2014 fiscal year, shows Apple continuing to move closer to its goal of using entirely renewable energy to power its operations. All of Apple's U.S. operations are now powered with renewable energy, and 87 percent of its global operations are now renewable. The weak link appears to be Apple's retail stores, as it says that all data centers and offices are already on renewable power.
More at The Verge
I generally hate getting into issues like global warming because they are political, and the politics of this country have become utterly toxic. Anytime a political issue is discussed, even if it relates to a technology company like Apple, there's usually an outpouring of venom and hate from all sides of the issue. But I think it's worth considering if Apple's take on climate change or global warming or whatever you want to call it is a worthwhile expenditure of the company's resources.
Put me in the global warming skeptic category
You can officially put me in the skeptic category when it comes to global warming. I prefer to use that term, by the way, because "climate change" has been happening since the very beginning of the planet. So when I see people referring to climate change, I have to chuckle a bit since the planet has been undergoing that since its inception and there's absolutely nothing that human beings can do to stop it one way or the other. Ultimately, we have as much control over climate change as the dinosaurs did.
Speaking of dinosaurs, one very interesting program that is worth watching on Netflix is "Walking With Dinosaurs." It covers about 165 million years of natural earth history. And one of the things that stood out for me is that the temperature of the planet went up and down significantly over that period of time. Some of the dinosaurs adapted and survived, while others did not and went extinct. But the important point is that climate change was happening already back then...and there were no humans around to leave "carbon footprints" anywhere on the planet.
Another reason why I'm a global warming skeptic is because of the "global cooling" fraud of the 1970s. I'm old enough to remember the media pushing that line on the public. Remember what they were saying then? The planet was cooling and that we'd be entering a "new ice age" and that sort of thing. Well, the global cooling advocates and the media were wrong then, and I think they're quite wrong now about global warming. It's hubris on a planetary scale for humans to think that we can directly control the temperature of Earth.
Apple should probably tone down its global warming rhetoric
So now you know my own take on global warming, and it's that skepticism that makes me wonder if Apple's efforts to push the climate change narrative are misguided. I think the company means well, and I'm glad they care about the environment. But I also think they are contributing to the unnecessarily alarmist misinformation that gets pushed on the public by the media. Let's face it, when a company has large and powerful as Apple jumps into the global warming fray, it's going to have an impact to one degree or another.
Apple's CEO even told some investors a while back that they should get out of the stock if they didn't like Apple's global warming initiatives:
Chris Taylor reports for Mashable:
Apple has made vast improvements in its use of renewable energy since Cook took over from Steve Jobs. More than three-quarters of the company's facilities worldwide, including all of its data centers and its Cupertino HQ, now run on solar, wind, geothermal or hydro power, up from about a quarter under Jobs. Last year, Cook hired Lisa Jackson, former head of the EPA, to lead the company's sustainability efforts.
Anyone who had a problem with that approach? They should sell their Apple shares. "If you only want me to make things, make decisions that have a clear ROI, then you should get out of the stock," Cook said to applause. Danhof's proposal was voted down by shareholders.
More at Mashable
It's unfortunate that things got so ugly between Tim Cook and the group of investors that questioned Apple's global warming initiatives at that shareholder meeting. But it's also a clear mark of the differences in viewpoints on that issue. While I can appreciate Tim Cook's frank comments, I also think he might live to regret them as time goes by and the global warming issue fades and is forgotten.
His response to those Apple investors was the verbal equivalent of taking a two by four to the heads of the people who saw the issue differently than he did. But the remarks played well in the media, and perhaps that was part of what Tim Cook was trying to achieve when he made them. He is a very media savvy CEO, and I think he probably had a pretty good idea of how his remarks would be characterized in the press.
Don't misunderstand me here, I appreciate Apple's efforts to make its products as environmentally-friendly as possible. And I think it's great that the company is using renewable energy and is getting into sustainable forestry. But I think the company could do all that without joining the chorus of "the planet is doomed if we don't fix global warming" types.
In a way that sort of rhetoric might actually damage the company's credibility since a significant chunk of the public still refuses to join the global warming hysteria being pushed by governments and many media outlets. I suspect that some Apple customers probably just roll their eyes when they see the words "Apple" and "climate change" in the same headline. I know I did when I saw the latest story from The Verge about it.
Part of the problem of course is that every company wants to be seen as "doing something" about "the problem." And Apple is no different in that sense. It wants to be praised and respected by the media, its peers and the public for doing the responsible thing. But time may prove this to be a very bad idea.
As with the global cooling farce that happened in the 70s, I think we will eventually see that global warming is just as much of an overhyped bit of nonsense. When that finally happens, I think Apple will unfortunately end up with egg on its face if the company doesn't promptly tone down its rhetoric on the issue.
Apple should STFU and build little electronic things.
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When the next ice age starts.
Enjoy the cold.
Are you suggesting we are heading into another Maunder Minimum?
Tim Cook looks like the guy in the 1984 commercial!
A key axiom of Apple’s success is: don’t get caught up in arguing with people. Just decide what the right thing to do is, and do it. (Yes, even if you’re wrong - learn from your mistakes.)
Cook et al don’t want to get caught in the tarpit of arguing over “global warming”. Cut thru it, and yes there is a sensibility in reducing dependence, producing less pollution, and keep things (physical & conceptual) clean and simple. Heck, if I had a significant pile of cash well beyond my needs, I’d immediately go off the power grid, reduce trash output by replacing with reuse/recycling, drive toxins (mercury etc) out of whatever I can, etc. all while maintaining a high level of precision and sophistication. Don’t confuse the AGW hysterics with conservation & responsibility; just because someone wants to take care of what we’ve got doesn’t mean they’re crazed drooling watermelons.
Geez, Apple seemed to be doing just fine before, why are they peeing in their pot with all this homosexual and globull warming stuff? Do they not care about the huge current and potential segment of customers they are pissing off?
Can you translate your mythical lost dollars into something tangible? What have they lost?
A couple of FReepers with their panties in a wad?
or over priced junk
Build a Death Star. Blast the planet to bits. No more climate change, it will be stopped.
If people do believe in Global Warming (I don't), a far more effective method is to ban take-out food. Saves a lot of resources that go into temporary packaging that is quickly discarded. But Liberals would scream and holler in complaint, as they swear by take-out and trash the planet. Sustainability can also mean not making the garbage that is tossed out, something that is lost on Liberal thinking. Meanwhile, the planet will get along just fine weather-wise despite what we humans do; humans may drown in their garbage.
Marketing said: “Stupid, gullible customers are the best customers. They pay more for less. Stupid, gullible people believe in global warming.”
Sales said: “There’s our PR campaign!”
That describes seventy percent of their customers to a “T”.
Good to know you approve of it.
Amen and Amen!
Apple should STFU and build little electronic things.
Yep.
Business and politics don’t mix very well on the front-end, which is sales.
Number one rule in sales, never ever introduce anything that can be construed as “political” when talking to a prospective client. Even if they bring it up, you must exercise extreme caution because they may be trying to bait you.
Personally, I avoid companies that attempt to “tell me” what I’m supposed to think politically.
I would like to see efforts made to toss their products out of State Governments. I think they are no longer a business, but are now instead a political entity with a sideline in making and selling products, that we should refuse to support.
They should stick to making computers instead of lying about the boogey man.
http://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-owns-steve-jobs-private-jet-2014-9
And in another article from last Nov...
“...And on Tuesday, Apple CEO Timothy Donald “Tim” Cook boarded his private jet and flew to Beijing for a Wednesday meeting with China's Vice Premiere Kai Ma...”
Bingo....we have a winner....
(PhysOrg.com) -- Sunspot formation is triggered by a magnetic field, which scientists say is steadily declining. They predict that by 2020 there may be no remaining sunspots, and the sun may stay spotless for several decades.
The last time the sunspots disappeared altogether was in the 17th and 18th century, and coincided with a lengthy cool period on the planet known as the Little Ice Age....and lasted 400 years. Good luck surviving with no coal powered electricity.
more at: http://phys.org/news203746768.html#jCp
Apart from all of the above....if you haven't noticed, the Obama administration lies about everything....
so they don't lie about global warming?.....I got a bridge by the sea in Wyoming for sale....
So many deaths will occur....fits in with Bill Ayres forecast of 23 million.
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