In a classis case of David and Goliath, one of India’s biggest IT service provider (but relatively small PC manufacturing company), Wipro, has beaten giants like Dell, Samsung, Lenovo and LGE to the finish line in producing a computer, which is first major electronic product in India, free of worst toxic chemicals. This announcement marks another clear success for our green electronics campaign driving tech companies around the world to clean up their products.
The computer named "Greenware" is completely free of both hazardous PVC (polyvinylchloride) and BFR (brominated flame retardants) including Power Chords, a longtime demand of Greenpeace. Greenware will cover 15% of Wipro’s total PC produtc portfolio.
In the race to produce greener electronic products Wipro joins biggies like Apple, HP and Nokia who are leading the way on eliminating toxic chemicals. It took several years of campaigning for Greenpeace to obtain this result(Greenpeace has been campaigning since the year 2005 for greener electronics), and we are delighted to see that more companies are realising that greener computers are vital.
2010 is the year many electronics companies pledged to remove toxic chemicals like PVC and BFRs. Those that took this pledge to the public seriously such as Apple, HP, Acer and now Wipro are now delivering the same. Other companies that are far bigger than Wipro in the global market such as Dell, Lenovo, Samsung and LGE are failing to deliver what they promised.
Wipro, a rather small electronics manufacturing brand in global market, is therefore doing what industry giants like Dell and Samsung have failed to do - prioritise taking its responsibility for a healthier planet. In the last ranking, Samsung lost points for failing to give a clear timeline for removing toxic chemicals, and so did other giants like Dell. We are thrilled to see there are some leaders in the industry willing to show that tech and toxic don't necessarily go hand in hand.
E-waste in India
Toxic waste is a particular concern in India along with other Asian countries like China as a lot of the waste produced in developed countries ends up being dumped here for crude recycling. Poor regulations and control enable a traffic that is essentially illegal.
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/campaigns/toxics-free-future/hi-tech-highly-toxic/where-does-e-waste-end-up
These toxic chemicals are more often than not handled by children and poor workers who cannot protect themselves.
The current initiative by Wipro will add value to the on-going e-waste law process where Wipro along with other Indian electronic producer HCL are at forefront of leading the industry on their active lobby work for e-waste rule and voluntary action on e-waste management in the country. This new initiative will definitely set the new horizon on toxic free computer manufacturing in Indian and global market.
Now it’s time for Wipro to use its leadership to steer the Industry towards low carbon economy and high efficiency standards
— Greenpeace India
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Greenpeace challenges political parties to fight elections on development plank
Greenpeace today called upon political parties to focus on people's issues in the elections instead of jeering at each other.The past few days have seen political parties and key leaders targeting each other through poetic mudslinging.
Bihar is in the thick of political activity and parties are busy working on their strategy. Leaders are busy changing their position, party and ideology. Media space is being overtaken by issues related to political dynasty, attacks and counter attacks, poetic renditions, corruption charges, caste, class and religion. As is the case generally in elections, all political parties have forgotten the main issues of development, which should be fundamental to their election.
“Before the election dates were announced, there was optimism in Bihar that the transformation will continue and elections will be fought on issues of development. This hope has been replaced with despair with the return of identity politics, and political mockery. This melodrama needs to be stop and be replaced with political consensus for development”, said Ramapati Kumar, campaigner, Greenpeace India.
Many issues are plaguing Bihar – lack of electricity being the foremost. There have been constant protests all over the state for better supply of energy. So much so that the state government is even purchasing electricity from other states at higher rates. But that also is not helping. A recent report by Assocham says that Bihar has the highest peak deficit at -33.7 per cent.
In spite of such pressing issues, not a single party until now has come forward to present their vision on how the state could become self reliant in terms of energy.
“Bihar Renewable Energy Development Support Network has been demanding political parties to espouse renewable energy to empower Bihar and illuminate the lives of millions still living in darkness. There is an opportunity for Bihar to choose an alternative energy path which will take the state in the direction of sustainable and inclusive development,” said Ramapati Kumar.
To compel parties to focus again on development issues during elections, Greenpeace along with civil society network is going to launch a campaign to advocate decentralized renewable energy as the solution for the energy needs of the state. The campaign will reach out to lakhs of people and political leaders to make sure that development remains the centre stage of elections. Notes to Editor
1. The Bihar Renewable Energy Development Support Network (BREDSN) is a network of civil society organisations, academicians, intellectuals, renewable energy entrepreneurs working in the state of Bihar.
Vision, video, photos, report information
Ramapati Kumar, Greenpeace India, +91 98455 35414, ramapati.kumar@greenpeace.org Shashwat Raj, Greenpeace India, +91 96868 61974, shashwat.raj@greenpeace.org Shachi Chaturvedi, Greenpeace India, +91 98187 50007, shachi.chaturvedi@greenpeace.org
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Bihar is in the thick of political activity and parties are busy working on their strategy. Leaders are busy changing their position, party and ideology. Media space is being overtaken by issues related to political dynasty, attacks and counter attacks, poetic renditions, corruption charges, caste, class and religion. As is the case generally in elections, all political parties have forgotten the main issues of development, which should be fundamental to their election.
“Before the election dates were announced, there was optimism in Bihar that the transformation will continue and elections will be fought on issues of development. This hope has been replaced with despair with the return of identity politics, and political mockery. This melodrama needs to be stop and be replaced with political consensus for development”, said Ramapati Kumar, campaigner, Greenpeace India.
Many issues are plaguing Bihar – lack of electricity being the foremost. There have been constant protests all over the state for better supply of energy. So much so that the state government is even purchasing electricity from other states at higher rates. But that also is not helping. A recent report by Assocham says that Bihar has the highest peak deficit at -33.7 per cent.
In spite of such pressing issues, not a single party until now has come forward to present their vision on how the state could become self reliant in terms of energy.
“Bihar Renewable Energy Development Support Network has been demanding political parties to espouse renewable energy to empower Bihar and illuminate the lives of millions still living in darkness. There is an opportunity for Bihar to choose an alternative energy path which will take the state in the direction of sustainable and inclusive development,” said Ramapati Kumar.
To compel parties to focus again on development issues during elections, Greenpeace along with civil society network is going to launch a campaign to advocate decentralized renewable energy as the solution for the energy needs of the state. The campaign will reach out to lakhs of people and political leaders to make sure that development remains the centre stage of elections. Notes to Editor
1. The Bihar Renewable Energy Development Support Network (BREDSN) is a network of civil society organisations, academicians, intellectuals, renewable energy entrepreneurs working in the state of Bihar.
Vision, video, photos, report information
Ramapati Kumar, Greenpeace India, +91 98455 35414, ramapati.kumar@greenpeace.org Shashwat Raj, Greenpeace India, +91 96868 61974, shashwat.raj@greenpeace.org Shachi Chaturvedi, Greenpeace India, +91 98187 50007, shachi.chaturvedi@greenpeace.org
PrintSend Search
Search this site Search Greenpeace Worldwide
Websites worldwideSelect other Greenpeace websites worldwide Websites worldwide International Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada Chile China Czech Republic Denmark Fiji Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India International Israel Italy Japan Lebanon Luxembourg Malta Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Pacific Papua New Guinea Philippines Poland Russia Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey United Kingdom USA
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