---------- Forwarded message ----------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 1995
CONTACT: Mark Westlund
rainforest@ran.org
415-398-4404
DAVID FIGHTS GOLIATH ON WEB
Dueling web sites: Rainforest Action Network refutes Mitsubishi greenwash
A small, grassroots organization is taking on the world's largest
corporate group in a mano a mano fight on the World Wide Web. Rainforest
Action Network is using its web site to directly refute Mitsubishi
Corporation's claims that it runs a clean, green operation.
RAN's page at URL <http://www.ran.org/ran/> quotes three specific
statements the Mitsubishi page makes at URL <http://www.mitsubishi.co.jp/>.
RAN responds to each claim.
Mitsubishi Corporation, for instance, says, "In all our commercial
activities, we exercise extreme care to ensure sound environmental policies
and sustainable development, in keeping with our founding principles."
RAN replies: "Mitsubishi Corporation is among the world's worst
corporate destroyers of forests. It is one of Japan's oldest timber traders
and one of the largest importers of logs from Indonesia, Malaysia, Chile,
Australia, Canada, U.S., and now Siberia. There is no evidence that any of
Mitsubishi's operations or suppliers are logging in an environmentally
sustainable manner."
The "they say, we say" duel takes place entirely on RAN's page, but
the rainforest activists invite skeptical netsurfers to verify each
Mitsubishi claim. The RAN web site has pointers to each statement in
Mitsubishi's web site. Since Mitsubishi is not providing a corresponding
return link, RAN reminds people to use their "back" button to get back to
the head-to-head action.
After three back-and-forths, RAN invites people to let Mitsubishi
"know your thoughts on the subject." The RAN sites provides a final link:
right to the Mitsubishi site's comment form.
"The web is an equalizer," said Rainforest Action Network executive
director Randy Hayes. "It gives us a level playing field to confront
Mitsubishi Corporation's attempts to cover up the damage they do to the
environment. We call it 'greenwash.'
"This may be the first time grassroots activists have taken on a
major corporate eco-villain on the web," Hayes continued, "but it won't be
the last. Our page sends a message to the growing number of corporations
with web sites that activists will be watching and responding."
Rainforest Action Network has been leading a global boycott of
Mitsubishi since 1990. RAN's responses are linked to same-page footnotes
detailing Mitsubishi Corporation's misrepresentations, and the "Boycott
Mitsubishi" section of RAN's web site provides further documentation of
Mitsubishi Corporation's wrongdoing around the world.
Rainforest Action Network works to protect the Earth's rainforests
and support the rights of their inhabitants through education, grassroots
organizing, and non-violent direct action.
RAN's web site is attracting lots of favorable notice. HotWired
featured the site in its NetSurf section and called it "substantial and
info-packed." Netscape calls RAN's site "a beautifully designed resource
for the activist and professional." Netscape's "What's Cool" page carries
an easily-found link to the RAN site.
RAN's home page at <http://www.ran.org/ran/> has a "Duel" button
that takes you directly to the confrontation.
SIDEBAR: complete text of RAN-Mitsubishi dueling web sites
(accompanies main release: "David fights Goliath on Web")
DUELING WEB SITES: RAN vs. Mitsubishi
URL: http://www.ran.org/ran/ran_campaigns/mitsubishi/duel/1.html
Mr. Minoru Makihara, President of Mitsubishi Corporation says:
"In all our commercial activities, we exercise extreme care to
ensure sound environmental policies and sustainable development, in keeping
with our founding principles."
(If you'd like to verify this quote, go to Mitsubishi's own site.
Remember: it doesn't have a pointer to the RAN site, so use your back
button to return here.)
but:
Mr. Randall Hayes, Executive Director of RAN says:
"Mitsubishi Corporation is among the world's worst corporate
destroyers of forests. It is one of Japan's oldest timber traders and one
of the largest importers of logs from Indonesia, Malaysia, Chile,
Australia, Canada, U.S., and now Siberia. There is no evidence that any of
Mitsubishi's operations or suppliers are logging in an environmentally
sustainable manner."
In fact, while it continues to claim that its environmental
policies ensure sustainability, it refuses to allow an independent
commission to analyze any of its logging operations to verify this claim.
Even the International Tropical Timber Organization officially acknowledges
that less than 1% of all tropical forests are logged sustainably.
yet:
Mr. Minoru Makihara says:
"We also initiate and participate in international cooperative
ventures, such as experimental reforestation projects in Malaysia, Chile,
and Brazil."
(If you'd like to verify this quote, go to Mitsubishi's own site.
Remember: it doesn't have a pointer to the RAN site, so use your back
button to return here.)
but:
Mr. Randall Hayes says:
"Mitsubishi Corporation's experimental reforestation projects are
primarily a public relations ploy. In Malaysia, for example, Mitsubishi has
admitted that it has no intention of ever reforesting degraded lands
itself, even though it degraded about 32,000 acres directly, and hundreds
of thousands more, indirectly through its timber purchases."
Its experimental project in Malaysia is actually a small five-acre
plot where 25 different plant species are being grown. While this may be
interesting research, it is not the solution to deforestation. Eyewitness
reports suggest that the experiment is failing, and we have not been
allowed to examine this project with independent scientists.
yet:
Mr. Minoru Makihara says:
"We realize that we must live in the same world in which we work;
it is only natural that we exercise care for the environment."
(If you'd like to verify this quote, go to Mitsubishi's own site.
Remember: it doesn't have a pointer to the RAN site, so use your back
button to return here.)
but:
Mr. Randall Hayes says:
"As the head of the powerful family of Mitsubishi companies, Mr.
Makihara has the opportunity to make the above statement true. The world's
tragically dwindling forests, wildlife, and native people are crying out
for real help. The actions must be bold and taken quickly, as over half of
the world's tropical rainforests are already gone.
"Mr. Makihara, we stand guard because the jaguars and howler
monkeys - the rainforest - can't speak on their own behalf. We wish Mr.
Makihara well with this sacred task. RAN is watching."
and:
RAN has proposed that Mitsubishi allow an independent panel of
experts to examine its operations and make suggestions on how to make them
truly ecologically sustainable.
We suggested the panel begin with the notorious Alberta Pacific
operation and then study Mitsubishi operations in Chile and Brazil. To
date, this proposal has been rejected, as have others before it.
When you consider doing business with Mitsubishi, remember that
you, personally, are contributing to the destruction of the environment by
supporting this company.
Insist that Mitsubishi adopt and follow the recommendations of a
truly independent commission to study its various logging operations and
evaluate their environmental impact.
Mitsubishi should walk its talk. Let Mr. Makihara know your
thoughts on the subject. ###
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Rainforest Action Network WWW site: http://www.ran.org/ran/
450 Sansome, Suite 700 IGC news: rainfor.general, ran.news
San Francisco, CA 94111 General email: rainforest@igc.apc.org
Phone: (415) 398-4404 Gopher: gopher.igc.apc.org:70/11/orgs/ran
Fax: (415) 398-2732 Automatic info return: ran-info@igc.apc.org
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