Posted by jamie — 1 July 2014 at 3:49pm
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The news of LEGO's cosy relationship with Shell has led to tiny protests erupting around the country - nay, the world. Famous national and international landmarks have been festooned with banners as the streets resounded the stamp of little plastic feet. What a day it's been.
Greenpeace today launched a major new
global campaign targeting the world’s biggest toy company [1], LEGO. They’ll be
mobilising more than 5 million online Arctic supporters and thousands of
activists to take creative action in six continents as part of the campaign
[2]. There have already been high-profile protests just this morning at
LEGOLAND in the UK.
In a new report [3], released
today, Greenpeace accuse LEGO of putting sales above its commitment to the
environment and children’s futures.
Lego has a longstanding relationship with Shell, with plans
to renew its deal later this year.
Shell wants to drill for oil in the Arctic. The only reason
they’re able to do this is because the Arctic ice is melting because of climate
change. Something that oil companies are responsible for. Scientists say that
it’s extremely risky to drill in the Arctic and any oil spill in those freezing
conditions would be impossible to clean up.
Imagine you’re eight years old and picture the Arctic. There are no oil rigs, no
industrial shipping and no politicians fighting over it.
It’s just an endless sparkling expanse of sea and ice, populated by brave scientific
explorers, magical animals and Indigenous Peoples who have called the far north
home for millennia. An enchanted place to explore, create stories and let your imagination run free.
The Arctic is undergoing fundamental and rapid change. Temperatures are rising faster at the top of the world than anywhere else on Earth. Arctic ice is vanishing. The extent of northern sea ice reached its lowest level in recorded history in 2012, whilst the figure for 2013 remained far below the seasonal average. Melting is occurring even more rapidly than many climate scientists had predicted and for the Arctic this means dramatic impacts on the landscape, on Indigenous communities and cultures and the unique wildlife of this region.
For over 50 years, LEGO has inspired children’s play and creativity. The company which was founded in 1932 is loved and admired not only for producing quality toys, but also for its efforts around safety, climate and the environment. It is ranked as one of the top ten most reputable companies in the world. For all these reasons, LEGO is a wonderful playmate for children around the world.
