Member Article

Group launch campaign to highlight “worst” Olympic sponsors

A group of environmental and human rights groups are launching a campaign focussing on the ‘worst’ Olympic sponsors, called Greenwash Gold 2012.

The group have identified The Dow Chemical Company, BP and Rio Tinto as three controversial Olympic sponsors, and will be awarding the Greenwash Gold Medal to one, based on the results of public voting.

A launch event has brought together members of communities supposedly impacted by the operations of these companies, including a representative from the Gulf Coast which is dealing with BP’s catastrophic oil spill, a mother from Utah fighting against air pollution caused by one of the mines from which Rio Tinto is providing the metal for Olympic medals, and a survivor of the Bhopal disaster, caused by Union Carbide’s chemical explosion.

Meredith Alexander, ex Olympics ‘ethics tsar’ who resigned over controversies surrounding Olympic sponsorship, will chair the launch.

She said: “The Olympics are meant to be about so much more than how fast Usain Bolt can run or how many medals Britain’s finest athletes score.

“The modern Olympics was founded here in the UK to promote peace and understanding between the peoples of the world. The Olympic values are all about celebrating our common humanity.

“But the Olympics is also big business. There is an expensive machine behind the Games that is funded by corporate sponsors.

“Sadly when these sponsors are selected, money talks much more loudly than values. As an ex-member of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, I know first hand just how little scrutiny is allowed when sponsors are chosen.

“Greenwash Gold 2012 is a chance to turn this around by letting the public vote for the least ethical sponsor.”

Jess Worth, from the UK Tar Sands Network, said, “BP has bought itself the prestigious title of London 2012 ‘Sustainability Partner’.

“But this is dangerous greenwash. BP is one of the least sustainable companies on earth, responsible for the Deepwater Horizon disaster and the extraction of highly-polluting tar sands. Its entire business is geared towards keeping the world addicted to fossil fuels and driving us towards uncontrollable climate change. And the Olympics are helping BP get away with it!”

Colin Toogood, from the Bhopal Medical Appeal said: “The Dow Chemical Company are the owners of the Union Carbide Corporation wanted, in India, on the criminal charge of culpable homicide.

“The Bhopal disaster site has never been cleaned up and highly toxic chemicals are now found in the drinking water of over 30,000 poor people.

“If we can clean up the London Olympic site in readiness for the games, why can’t Dow take responsibility for cleaning up Bhopal.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .