Why the special treatment for Google, IBM and Microsoft?
Google, Microsoft and IBM are amongst the largest and most influential of US companies in terms of market share, numbers of employees and contribution to GDP.
We expect them to be leading the field in this area, and yet they have not spoken out against the Chamber of Commerce's position. They are all members, and IBM are actually on their Board of Directors. we need them to take a public stance against the position of the chamber, as many other companies have already done, including Apple.
Additionally, none of the companies are lobbying for strong enough action on climate change. The closest any of them have come so far is Google, who have produced a 2030 plan, which is a start, but it is not clear to us how they are pushing this plan, and the climate needs more urgent action. None of these companies have said that mandatory cuts of the levels that the science says we need are necessary, acheivable and good for business.
When companies of this size say something, you can be sure that politicians will listen, so the question is why are they so silent on this issue, when it is clear that they have a business interest in addressing CO2 emissions? We think the companies with the most potential for a positive influence should also be heard, in public and as loudly and frequently as possible.
2. More actions:
- Use your network: Share this link on Facebook with your friends, or Share it on LinkedIn with people you know from work.
- After you've signed the petition, try writing directly to Google, IBM and Microsoft in particular.
- Read frequently asked questions about the campaign.
- Blog about the campaign, and anything related you know about top IT company bosses (e.g. google for things they've said about climate change, leadership, and corporate social responsibility). The more that Cool IT turns up on their radar, the more likely they are to get the message.
- If you use tags with your blog, include "coolit" and "greenpeacebuzz" for your post to appear on our Bloggers' Centre page.
- Add http://www.greenpeace.org/coolit to your del.icio.us, furl or other social bookmarking sites.
- Digg it, mixx it, you-know-what it.
- Add information and links about this campaign to relevant Wikipedia entries.
- Create a video or a game about the campaign.
- Change your email signature to link here: http://www.greenpeace.org/coolit
- Do you work in IT? Grab these graphics, print them, and stick them up in your office: Cartoon image, Executive job ad image.
