14 DAY TRIAL // In late February, Greenpeace launched yet another green-oriented campaign. This time, the organization lashed out at Procter & Gamble, and accused the company of working with palm oil suppliers guilty of destroying natural ecosystems in Indonesia.
Just yesterday, nine Greenpeace activists saw it fit to remind the company that the organization had no intention to quit trying to save orangutans, tigers and other endangered species, and rappelled down Procter&Gambles headquarters in Cincinnati, US.
According to Eco Watch, the activists hung two oversized banners, each intended to let people know that the company's business agenda further endangers the long-term survival chances of species that already at risk of going extinct.
“Head & Shoulders, Stop Putting Tiger Survival on the Line,” one of these banners read. “Head & Shoulders, Wipes out Dandruff and Rainforests,” the other one said.
Hoping that the protest would draw even more attention, one of the Greenpeace activists that took part in it scaled Procter&Gamble's headquarters while wearing a tiger costume, media reports say.
As was to be expected, the company did not take lightly to the idea of having two banners accusing it of forest destruction hanging on the sides of its headquarters. Hence, Procter&Gamble employees who were at work at the time of the protest did not take long to alert authorities.
It was at about 1 p.m. local time when police officers arrived at the scene, and arrested the nine Greenpeace members. Information shared with the public says that, after being arrested, the environmentalists were all charged with burglary and vandalism.
Just one hour after they had been set in place, the banners protesting Procter&Gamble's use of palm oil linked to destruction of natural ecosystems in Indonesia were taken down.
Later on, company officials issued a statement saying that police officers had been called at the Cincinnati headquarters due to the fact that Procter&Gamble was concerned about the safety of its employees and even that of the Greenpeace members. Besides, the security of the building was also an issue.
In the same statement, company officials stressed that efforts were being made to use only sustainably sourced palm oil by 2015 at the latest, and that there was consequently no need for the Greenpeace activists to act the way they did.
“We have already pledged to reach 100 percent sustainable sourcing of palm oil by 2015 and we will continue to drive to that goal with urgency,” the statement reportedly read.
Greenpeace responded to this promise by pointing out the fact that, if not careful, the company might find itself buying palm oil that, despite being labeled as sustainably sourced, was actually the result of deforestation.
“Instead of ignoring the demands from thousands of people and trying to hide the facts, Procter & Gamble needs to address the issue as a serious company.”
“It will only do that when it adopts and implements to a No Deforestation policy that goes beyond their commitment to buying palm oil that, while certified by the RSPO as sustainable, is still linked to the destruction of forests, including orangutan and tiger habitats,” said Greenpeace member Joao Talocchi.