The Death of Integrity

In working with Wal-Mart, activist Adam Werbach is abandoning his principles

Posted by Bricolage at 12:46 PM on 19 Jul 2006

Former Sierra Club President and high-profile green activist Adam Werbach has reportedly signed on to consult with Wal-Mart -- a move that Ruckus Society President John Sellers and former Greenpeace USA head Barbara Dudley argue is way off-base.

new in Soapbox: The Death of Integrity

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The enemy of my enemy is my friend

I wonder how Wal-Mart feels about a carbon tax applied on imports made with Chinese coal power. And how they feel about a carbon tax on gasoline.

Adam Werbach will be in a position to know.

I am happy to hear about these developments at Wal-Mart.

by sunflower at 2:25 PM on 19 Jul 2006

it's articles like this...

that help me to understand why the Republicans continue to be able to run roughshod over the Democrats (and their some of the time leftward allies) in this country.

Werbach makes an honest attempt at doing something that could actually make a difference and it doesn't take a week for someone to tear it down.

Way to go, Team Left!

by rh at 12:12 PM on 20 Jul 2006

Cynicism Run Amok?

John Sellers' and Barbara Dudley's cynicism is disheartening, and their use of it to personally attack Adam Werbach is just plain mean-spirited, and counterproductive.

There are many different perspectives on what are the best methods to use to achieve environmental goals, and they are often presented in
opposition: work within the system (in this case a system the size of a small country) or, oppose the system on principles, compromising
nothing. What if instead of opposition, we allow each to work within their own framework and accomplish what they can within their own
perspectives. In other words, work within the system, AND continue to challenge the system from the outside (being its conscience or
voice of integrity). It's time for to use the word "and" rather than "or". Every perspective has a piece of the truth, places of effectiveness and places of limitation. In the end - using many approaches, from many perspectives, working together, will get us the environmental results we all want.

by kcmobirdie at 12:15 PM on 20 Jul 2006

is the talk being walked?

during 'the death of environmentalism' debate adam made the correct point that 'we' enviros should recognize that 'environmentalism' isn't just protecting the birds and bunnies (something environmental justice activists will certainly agree with), but that it connects to a variety of broader issues of livelihood. if i recall correctly adam made the call that this broader vision essentially mandates telling those who wish to wrap themselves in green must cannot simply shun the issues wrapped in blue (labor).

there is no doubt that wal-mart has no love for giving its workers the type of voice that can only come through collective bargaining, so its disheartening to see what appears to be an abandonment of a call made only a few years ago.

by wideye at 1:40 PM on 24 Jul 2006

counter productive

In Werbach's "Death" speech, he ends by saying that if you are "a conservative, and believe in dismantling our government, selling off our common assets, and endless war, but you still love nature, we wish you well, but we need you to leave this movement." I think the same thing can be said for helping a corporation that is genuinely a blight on our society, even for green purposes. So, Adam, take a hike, your services are no longer needed.

Although Dudley and Sellers might seem cynical, they are giving Werbach a treatment right out of his own book and I think he deserves it. (I would encourage the doubting commentators to read or re-read Werbach's speech, it's great.) As Werbach himself said, this movement can no longer be green - it is about progressive policy, secular humanism, and improving life generally for all on this planet. Werbach himself acknowledged that all things are connected - he is doing no good at Wal-Mart if he is "selling" green light bulbs to people who can't afford health-care. But I bet he is being well compensated.

by Aaron Ostrovsky at 11:14 AM on 28 Jul 2006

Walmart "greening"

Strange how quickly both big business and the general public forget. Not too many years ago, Walmart offered their shoppers a choice of paper bags (which will disinterate in landfills) or plastic bags (which apparently will never, ever disintegrate) when checking out. Very quietly and without any fanfare WallyWorld did away with the choice. I also understand that plastic bags take more energy to create being petroleum based. I see nothing wrong with WalMart buying land and growing replaceable trees in order to go back to the paper bags. And thus offer a little real help in their "greening" program. Oh, I forgot. They might have reduce their annual dividend by a hundredth of a cent. Shame on me.

Catmoves loves you

by Catmoves at 11:46 AM on 02 Aug 2006

Fingers In All Pies

It may be difficult for "environmentalists" (such an ethereal word) to cope with, but in the apparently cosy green world which we inhabit there is as much conflict as "outside". Greenpeace think they run the show, even though their efforts in combatting climate change have been parochial and weak of late rather than the massive impact that such a well known and GLOBAL organisation could have with a concerted and focussed campaign. The deep greens fight against the light greens, even though each is connected to a distinctly different part of society - equally valid in terms of getting ideas and gaining ground, but different. And even those "demons" in the oil, coal and chemicals industries that try to change things from inside are reviled by both greens and industrialists as, respectively, frauds and turncoats.

So who is right? Well, in fact all of them are to a certain extent. As long as positive change is being achieved, and I mean change that doesn't come at the expense of other parts of the natural environment, or is simply "greenwash", then it should be supported. Each of us may have our own favoured niche, but we all need to look inwards for a minute and consider whether we are being too insular and that there are other, equally valid ways, of making a difference.

Keith Farnish
http://www.theearthblog.org
http://www.reduce3.com

Keith Farnish www.theearthblog.org

by farnishk at 1:04 PM on 02 Aug 2006

Werbach at Wal-Mart

This "corporation that is genuinely a blight on our society" is the reason my family can afford to eat every week.

Mr. Werbach is first trying to reach the people who work for Wal-Mart and then the people who shop there. How many people is that? Across how many states?

This is a bold move he has made and only time will tell whether it has a real impact. He is reaching out to those who live paycheck to paycheck and giving them reasons to change. Reasons that will have a positive impact on their daily lives.

Perhaps he will fail. Perhaps he will succeed. Again - only time will tell.

I am looking forward to following his work in the coming years and pray that he has the positive impact he envisions.

Best of luck Adam!

by South Park Diva at 7:59 AM on 26 Aug 2007

kick ass article.

I have an alternative, though still environmental, motive in submitting this 2 cents. I would love to rekindle my activism, and could my contact info. PLEASE be forwarded to John(aka Lincoln Tunnel *) Sellers. I am a former co-worker who is psyched to see that he is still an active part of the solution. And that he learned how to write.haha.

by Kimberly Glass at 7:50 PM on 31 Jan 2008

ADVERTISING POLICY

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