Ok, ok, Greenpeace isn't going after Al Gore, they're going after Apple. But it's an inconvenient truth that Al Gore is on Apple's Board of Directors. Ironic, no?

Greenpeace is turning up the noise about our beloved Apple Computer with a parody site that points out Apple's environmental wrong doings. Now I don't feel so bad for railing on Apple a while back (actually a long while back, as in 2004) about the company's environmental practices.

What I continue to be confused by is the fact that Apple doesn't seem to be getting their Green Act together despite having the planet's environmental poster boy on its Board of Directors. What gives?

A few people have asked me why I'm so hard on Al Gore. I write here about Al Gore as he relates to Apple Computer because I think he's a bit of a hypocrite, but that's where it ends. I respect Al Gore tremendously for obvious reasons.

He's doing incredible things to bring environmental issues to the mainstream public's attention. I grew up in Boulder, so a lot of the issues he talks about resonate with me; these issues were dinner conversation growing up. I was instilled with the idea that my actions and choices have an impact on the planet's health. I mention this because I want to make it clear that I'm not anti-environment or anti-concervation. Quite the opposite.

So what is Al Gore actually doing on the board of one of America's least-environmentally friendly computer makers? What does he intend to accomplish there? Why does he consume in ways that go against the ideals he promotes in his speeches? Here's a clip from an Al Gore entry I posted in May:

"If Apple can make the iPod shuffle sexy, they can do the same with an (environmentally-friendly Macintosh) upgrade program. Al Gore, you listening with your two 30" Displays?"

That link to Wired's article mentioning Al Gore "hunched behind two 30-inch hi-def Apple displays, trying to finish his book on climate change" is still active. The irony in that sentence is so rich. What does an environmentalist need 60 inches of Desktop for? Seriously.

Well, I'm only privy to what I read, of course, as I'm not an Apple insider nor am I in contact with Al Gore. But I have to say that from all appearances it doesn't seem like Al Gore is making enemies at Apple for preaching about climate change.

Perhaps he is, but since he's been on the BOD the heat from organizations like Greenpeace is only getting worse, not better.



Don't forget How to Buy a Mac. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=kkamVIAoNIM&offerid=78941.10000092&type=3&subid=0" >Sample and subscribe to thousands of free podcasts at the iTunes Music Store.