Ten years ago, on this day, July 31st, 2014, an Australian eco-group got its reputation burned.
2014 Planet Ark on the receiving end of criticism about its tie-in with forestry outfit –
The founders of environment group Planet Ark are speaking out about the charity they say has lost its way.
Environmentalist Jon Dee and tennis great Pat Cash founded Planet Ark 20 years ago.
It soon forged a high profile, thanks in part to the backing of celebrities like Olivia Newton John, Kylie Minogue and Pierce Brosnan.
But times have been tough for Planet Ark lately.
It has made substantial losses for three years running, sold some major assets and offered redundancies to staff.
After National Tree Day at the weekend, Mr Dee and Mr Cash have told 7.30 they are particularly upset about Planet Ark’s links with the timber industry.
Planet Ark has allowed its logo to be used on advertisements for timber, paid for by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA).
It is part of a sponsorship deal in which Planet Ark gets $700,000 from the timber industry [continues]
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-31/planet-ark-founders-cut-ties-with-lost-organisation/4167146
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 399ppm. As of 2024 it is 426ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The context was that the Australian outfit Planet Ark had been going since 1992 (and set up its website in 1996). And they, like any NGO, needed money, and the people with the money said they didn’t want anything in return, but there’s always strings attached.
What we learn. It suits the needs of organisations with environmental reputations that need a bit of polishing to partner with outfits that have some sort of credibility And so it comes to pass. This tension plays out again and again. Because it’s a market for reputation. There are buyers and sellers.
What happened next? Planet Ark is still around.
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
Also on this day:
July 31, 1981 – US politicians hold “carbon dioxide and climate” hearings.