Update 3: This afternoon, ten activists were arrested for protesting at Mattel headquarters. But at this time, online activists in China, Indonesia and beyond are now waking up to take on Barbie’s rainforest destroying habit!
Update 2: Update: On ground level, Barbie cruised around in her bright pink “dream dozer” more worried about her wardrobe than the fate the forests, tigers, and our climate. When asked what her reaction was to Ken’s objection to her role in forest destruction, she smiled, batted her lashes and said, referring to her bulldozer “do you think they will let me park this at the mall?”
Update: Another breakup banner from Ken has appeared hanging off the parking garage.
Today in Los Angeles, Ken, the perma-tanned, long time boy-toy of blonde icon Barbie, freaked out.
Why? He found out that Barbie, and the company that makes her, Mattel, have been destroying rainforests in Indonesia for disposable packaging. Check out the video of what happened when he learns the news:
But the story doesn’t stop there. Wearing baby blue formal wear, Ken and a few buddies paid a visit to the Mattel HQ in Los Angeles today. And, by ‘pay a visit’, I mean they climbed on top of the building, strapped on climbing gear, dangled off the roof outside the windows of awe-struck employees, and hung a 2,500 square foot banner reading “It’s OVER” for Barbie to see. I guess you could say the guy has a flair for the dramatic.
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If Barbie didn’t get the message, let’s hope Mattel executives will. They have a big problem in their supply chain. Research by Greenpeace reveals that Mattel has been buying paper for packaging linked to notorious rainforest destroyer Asia Pulp & Paper (APP). APP is responsible for more forest destruction on Sumatra than any other company. And they’re showing no signs of stopping even as endangered wildlife like Sumatran tigers, elephants and orangutans are pushed to the brink of extinction.
It is safe to say most parents don’t want to buy toys for their children wrapped in rainforest destruction. Why then does Mattel wrap toys like Barbie in packaging full of rainforest wood? Why don’t they have a global paper buying policy to prevent this sort of thing? Maybe Mattel executives should spend a little less time thinking about their next marketing campaign, and a little more time about the sort of world they’re leaving behind for the kids they want to sell toys to.
Want to help make sure Mattel brass get the message? Take action now!
